The Best Walking Tours in Savannah, GA
Explore America’s most walkable historic city with local guides who bring every square, street, and story to life.
“In Europe, you can do a walking tour everywhere – a lot has to do with their history and the logistics of the city since everything is walkable. There’s only a few walking cities in the United States since we’re a relatively new country and have urban sprawl.”
— CHRIS RAUERS, TRUE SAVANNAH
The Modular Ward System
General James Oglethorpe founded Savannah in 1733 and built it around his revolutionary ward plan, one of America’s earliest examples of modular urban design. While New Haven and Philadelphia came earlier with simple grids, he introduced a repeatable system that integrated open green spaces within structure grids, creating a pedestrian paradise.
Each ward centered on a square surrounded by residential blocks and civic spaces. This wasn’t just a street layout, but an urban planning genius that allowed the city to expand for nearly 300 years while maintaining its original vision. This design has more open space than any other city layout in history, and it can expand indefinitely.
Savannah grew from four squares to 24 by 1851. Three were later lost to development, but one was restored, and the addition of Yamacraw Square in 2022 brought the total to 23. Today, shaded streets, interconnected squares, and abundant public space continue to define Savannah’s character and make it an ideal city for walking tours.
Book a Savannah Walking Tour
Discover Savannah’s historic streets and hidden secrets by booking one of our intimate walking tours. Hear the stories, ask questions, and make sure to ask the guide where his favorite local bars or restaurants are. These are our tours:
Free Walking Tour
The perfect 90 minute introduction tour that ensures you hit the highlights, and some unmarked sites you might breeze by.
Endless Spirits
A haunted pub crawl through Savannah’s darkest history. Adult-only! Alcohol included. Experience both ghosts and alcohol at once.
Discover the Soul of the Hostess City
Savannah is the city for history enthusiasts, architecture and urban design lovers, families who want an authentic experience, and for those who believe cities should serve people, not just cars. Above all, this city was built to be walked.
Historic Architecture
Centuries of meticulously preserved buildings framing every square. Oglethorpe’s design allowed wide open streets interwined with shaded parks, creating a city that feels like a village.
Open Spaces
23 original squares acting as communal gardens and historic anchors, creating enormous amounts of open public space. In our opinion, it’s the most beautiful city in America.
Real-World Utility
See how modular planning can solve problems we still face today, and how it lays the foundation for community gathering spaces, pedestrian-friendly roads, and sustainable urban growth.
Dark History
Peel back the layers of Savannah’s beauty to find a city built on sorrow and secrets. From the legacy of the slave trade to restless spirits in the shadows, explore what’s lingering in every square.