Note: Some tour providers on this list may be running more limited operations due to COVID-19 or may impose testing or vaccine requirements. Check with your tour operator about availability before you book.
A great way to get to know Savannah, Georgia, is with the aid of someone who lives there and knows the city’s history. With the help of traveler reviews and editor analysis, U.S. News selected Savannah’s best guided tours, some of which focus on the city’s architecture, others on its food and some on its ghostly residents. Whether you’re walking through the Historic District or riding a Segway through a storied cemetery, you’ll gain an insider’s perspective on Savannah’s culture and folklore on these tours.
Old Town Trolley – Savannah Hop-on Hop-off Tour
Old Town Trolley’s hop-on, hop-off tours allow visitors to explore Savannah’s most popular attractions at their own pace. Trollies make 15 stops in total, including Forsyth Park, City Market, River Street, Madison Square, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and Colonial Park Cemetery. Drivers provide commentary on the city and its sights – a point of praise for tour-goers. Tours begin at 9 a.m. and depart every 20 minutes until 5 p.m. depending on the season. One-day passes with unlimited hop-on, hop-off privileges start at about $40 for adults; two-day tickets start at $60. There is also a popular nighttime Ghost & Gravestones trolley tour.
Genteel & Bard – History Walking Tour
Genteel & Bard’s History Walking Tour takes visitors to many of the city’s most popular downtown attractions, including the Colonial Park Cemetery, the Green-Meldrim House, Jones Street, Lafayette Square and the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters. A local historian and storyteller leads the two-hour excursion. Many reviewers enthusiastically praise the guide’s knowledge and passion. Others appreciate the microphone/earbud system that makes it easy to hear the stories even from 100 feet away. Tickets start at $30 and reservations are required. Tours are generally available Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m., though additional days may be offered depending on the month. For those interested in the supernatural, the family-owned company also leads a Savannah Ghost Encounter Tour.
Ghost City Tours – Savannah Haunted Pub Crawl
The Savannah Haunted Pub Crawl takes visitors to three bars and pubs deemed the city’s “most haunted.” Over the course of the two-hour walking tour through Savannah’s Historic District, guides tell stories about the city’s famously spooky history, as well as its distinct architecture and landmarks. It also includes a stop at the Colonial Park Cemetery. According to travelers, the guides are experienced and entertaining. Plus, thanks to the city’s lack of open container laws, visitors can carry their drinks in to-go cups from bar to bar. Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, cost about $30. Tour-takers must be at least 21 years old. Tours are offered nightly at 8 or 9 p.m. Ghost City Tours also offers ghost tours suited for families and cemetery tours.
(Pablo and Britt Photography/Courtesy of Savannah Taste Experience)
Savannah Taste Experience – Famous & Secret East Side Food Tour
Savannah Taste Experience’s Famous & Secret East Side Food Tour takes visitors to nearly a half-dozen eateries to sample everything from South African-inspired cuisine to ice cream. The Savannah food tours, which begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday, are limited to 12 people. Reviewers – including those familiar with Savannah – validate the accuracy of the “secret” part of the tour’s name, acknowledging that they would not have found some of the restaurants on their own. What’s more, guides win high marks for their good humor and knowledge of local lore. Tickets cost about $60 per person. Tickets include food, but not adult beverages, which can be purchased separately. For families with young children, the company recommends signing up for its First Squares Food Tour.
Savannah Ghostwalker Tour
Savannah Ghostwalker Tours stop at multiple cemeteries, battlefields and other purportedly haunted sites, including Colonial Park Cemetery. Guides, also known as “ghostwalkers,” share their experiences of ghost research and related local history and folklore, which many reviewers find informative, entertaining and even a bit scary. As an added bonus, Ghostwalker Tours provides “ghost-hunting” equipment intended to detect paranormal activity. The 2 1/2-hour walking tours are limited to 15 people – a major pro for many travelers. Tickets start at $30 and must be purchased in advance. Tours are generally available nightly at 9 p.m.
Adventure Tours in Motion – Bonaventure Segway Tour
According to reviewers, the best way to traverse Bonaventure Cemetery’s 100-plus acres is via a Segway with Adventure Tours in Motion. On this 90-minute tour, you’ll glide past Spanish moss-draped oaks and the tombstones of famous residents like Conrad Aiken and Johnny Mercer while your guide shares historical and architectural facts. Along with the ease of using the Segways, travelers express praise for the guides, who they describe as insightful and funny. Cemetery tours are offered daily at 9:30 a.m. Tickets, which include round-trip transportation from the Historic District to the cemetery, cost approximately $75 per adult. The company also offers 60- and 90-minute Segway tours of the city’s Historic District, as well as a Movie Tour that visits some of the city’s top filming locations.
Old Savannah Tours – Historic Hop-on, Hop-Off Tour
On this trolley tour, visitors can take a roughly 90-minute ride around the Historic District or hop off to explore at any of the 15 stops along the way, including Savannah City Hall, River Street and Forsyth Park. Trolleys run every 15 to 20 minutes daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 or 5 p.m., depending on the season. Drivers provide running commentary and actors portraying historical figures appear at some stops – a highlight for many reviewers. Tickets start at $36 for participants ages 12 and older and $13 for children ages 5 to 11; kids 5 and younger ride for free. If the hop-on, hop-off element of the tour doesn’t appeal to you, the company also offers a version of this tour that doesn’t make any stops, allowing riders to stay on the trolley for the full 90-minute experience. Several ghost-themed tours are also available.
(Courtesy of Blue Orb Tours)
Blue Orb Savannah – The Zombie Tour
Blue Orb Savannah’s Zombie Tour is a two-hour, adults-only walking tour that offers an in-depth, “uncensored” look at the ghosts that haunt the city. Along the way, guides share stories of paranormal activity recorded throughout Savannah. Reviewers regularly praise the guides’ historical expertise and humor and say the two hours fly by. Tours generally depart at 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets start at $35 per person. The Savannah Shadows Tour is a shorter (90-minute), all-ages version of the tour with tickets starting at $25.
Southern Flavors Savannah – Taste Tour
Southern Flavors Savannah’s Taste Tour takes small groups (of no more than 12 people) on a walk through downtown Savannah and along its riverfront with stops at six restaurants. In between samples of low country fare like shrimp and grits, fried crab claws and blue crab stew, travelers pass by several of the city’s top attractions, including Johnson Square and Wright Square. The food, and the respectable quantities of it, receive fulsome praise from reviewers. The excursion starts daily at noon and lasts about three hours. Tickets start at around $55 and are available for culinary enthusiasts ages 16 or older. Southern Flavors Savannah also conducts a tour focused exclusively on desserts as well as a haunted pub crawl.
Savannah Dan Walking Tours
Savannah Dan’s public walking tours start in Johnson Square and take visitors through about half a dozen other squares in roughly two hours. Throughout the tour, the colorful, eponymous guide – a member of the Georgia Historical Society – will offer his thoughts and opinions on the history, legends and myths of his city. Many reviewers find the self-billed Southern gentleman who leads the outings engaging and knowledgeable. Savannah Dan is also known for offering helpful tips on where to dine in the city. Tours start at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Tickets cost approximately $25 per person. Savannah Dan also conducts private walking tours.
Segway of Savannah – Historical Squares Tour
On Segway of Savannah’s Historical Squares Tour, you’ll glide through the city’s celebrated squares and take in its varied architecture while expert guides share stories of Savannah’s history. Reviewers often cite the tour guides’ attention to safety and vast knowledge of Savannah as reasons to take these tours. Ticket prices vary by length of tour; they’re about $50 for an hourlong tour and about $70 for 90-minute rides. Tour-takers must be at least 16 years old. Segway of Savannah offers several excursions per day starting at 9 a.m. In addition to the Historical Squares Tours, the company conducts private outings.
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Savannah Bike Tours – Pedal Through History Bike Tour
Savannah Bike Tours offers two-hour cycling trips that take visitors to some of the city’s most popular attractions. During the 3-mile ride, travelers visit several of Savannah’s famous squares, Forsyth Park, the Savannah River waterfront, historic mansions open to the public and sites that have been featured in well-known movies. According to visitors, the bike tour allows you to cover more ground than a walking tour and includes insider tips from the local guides. Tours are offered daily at 9 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets cost approximately $35 for participants 12 and older and $10 for kids 11 and younger. The price includes use of bikes with baskets and bottled water. Helmets, which are optional for adults but mandatory for children, are also available. Electric bike tours and ghost-themed bike tours are also available.
Gray Line Savannah – Savannah River Cruise & Land Tour Combo
Enjoy two quintessential Savannah experiences on this tour, which includes a scenic river cruise and a trolley ride. You’ll start your excursion with a 90-minute narrated trolley tour through the city’s historic district. Then, you’ll hop on a classic riverboat for a 90-minute cruise that features commentary from the captain about Savannah’s historic port. Travelers applaud the humorous, engaging trolley tour guides, but are less impressed with the boat ride, saying there’s not much to see. Tours are generally available daily and you can take your pick between a morning trolley departure at 10 a.m. or an afternoon departure at 1 p.m. River cruises depart at either 1 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. Note that the river cruise does not have to be taken the same day as the trolley tour. Tickets start at approximately $70 for adults and $35 for children ages 3 to 12. Gray Line operates a variety of tours in Savannah, including one that explores the Wormsloe State Historic Site.
Noble Jones – Savannah Saunter
For a crash course in Savannah history, consider this two-hour walking tour led by Noble Jones. As you stroll past top sights like Forsyth Park and River Street, you’ll learn about the city’s Colonial and Civil War history, as well as its modern-day renaissance. Tourgoers rave about the guides, who they describe as personable and well-versed in Savannah history. Savannah Saunter tours are available daily in the morning and afternoon (generally 9:30 or 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.). Tickets start at $25 for adults and $18 for youths ages 8 to 14. History buffs may also be interested in the company’s Civil War walking tour, which offers a more in-depth look at Savannah’s role before, during and after the war.
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Explore Savannah – Explore Savannah History Walking Tour
Hear stories about Savannah’s founding, its reputation as one of the most haunted cities in America and its connection to the Girl Scouts on this approximately two-hour tour. Tours begin at Wright Square and end at Forsyth Park. Travelers are impressed with the tour’s pace and the guides, who they say personalize the experience for each group and encourage questions. Some reviewers say this walking tour offers a better history lesson than the city’s popular trolley tours. Tours are offered twice a day at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Reservations are required. Tickets prices start at $30 for adults and $15 for kids ages 6 to 12. Explore Savannah also operates a ghost tour, as well as private walking tours.
Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventure
When you need a break from Savannah’s historic squares and ghost stories, consider heading to Tybee Island for a cruise with Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventure. On this 60- to 90-minute ride, you’ll cruise around the coastal waters of the barrier island passing historic lighthouses and Fort Pulaski National Monument while dolphins play in the boat’s wake. Reviewers praise the adept captain and crew, and report seeing an abundance of dolphins. Many travelers say this is a great activity for the whole family. Tickets start at $25 for passengers ages 13 and older and $15 for children 12 and younger. Infants 2 and younger can ride for $5. There are 2 p.m. departures daily, but an additional morning and late afternoon tour may also be available, depending on the month. Boats depart from Tybee Island, about 15 miles east of River Street. Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventure also offers a sunset tour, in addition to private tours.
Hearse Ghost Tours – Public Hearse Ghost Tour
Ride around Savannah’s Historic District in a convertible hearse on this 75-minute ghost tour. Each hearse, which was used by real funeral parlors for more than 15 years, can hold a maximum of eight passengers. As you ride around town, your guide will regale you with tales about Savannah’s paranormal activity and the stories behind the famous ghosts that supposedly haunt its streets. Reviewers applaud the entertaining guides and call the experience unique. Though it is a ghost tour, travelers say the guides manage to incorporate a fair amount of levity in their storytelling. Tours are available nightly at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. Additional daytime tours are available at noon and 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Tickets start at about $27 per person. Private tours are also available.