7 Fun Things to Do in Savannah Without a Car
Updated: February 29, 2024
AAA Travel Editor, Sherry Mims
Encompassing 2.2 miles, the Savannah Historic District is compact and easy to navigate whether by foot or by wheel. To visit Savannah like a local, consider walking, bicycling or taking a pedicab around the district, which ranges from River to Gaston streets and East Broad Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Alternatively, consider hop-on, hop-off trolley or a ghost tour to have a guided experience with many stops.
Wondering about Savannah's walkability? Thank General Oglethorpe's plan, which established Savannah's unique urban grid design, including 24 public squares and parks. Today, 22 squares are preserved within the 2.5-square-mile Historic District. These public spaces — often featuring fountains, greenery, monuments and benches — are named Chatham, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Ellis, Franklin, Greene, Johnson, Lafayette, Madison, Monterey, Oglethorpe, Orleans, Pulaski, Reynolds, Telfair, Troup, Washington, Warren, Whitefield, Wright — and Taylor, formerly Calhoun. (Elbert and Liberty squares are considered "lost.") Parks include Emmet, Morrell and Forsyth, a 30-acre oasis with a 150-year-old cast-iron Parisian-style fountain, playgrounds, fields and a Fragrant Garden for the blind or partially sighted.
But Savannah's appeal extends beyond its squares and parks. Architecturally significant buildings and a wealth of museums and restaurants make Savannah a city rich in walkable history, culture and beauty. Therefore, we've curated a list of the top seven car-free activities that blend cultural enrichment and culinary delight. Experience the kid-friendly Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, the poignant Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters, or aesthetic delights at E. Shaver, Bookseller, Savannah's City Market, Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room, the Olde Pink House or Paris Market.
1. City Market
Nestled between Franklin and Ellis Squares in historic downtown Savannah, the City Market offers a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly hub of activity. This open-air market is brimming with shopping options, a variety of restaurants and art spaces. With its heavy pedestrian traffic, City Market serves as a dynamic epicenter of creativity in Savannah, best explored by foot for an immersive experience.
2. E. Shaver, Bookseller
Famous for being the oldest independent bookstore in Savannah, this literary haunt features a variety of new and regional books, making it a delightful destination for book lovers. Adding to the one-of-a-kind ambience are the bookstore's resident cats, who are part of the experience and beloved by both locals and visitors alike.
3. Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
10 E. Oglethorpe Ave.
The elegant house museum offers 40-minute tours about the life and times of Juliette Gordon Low and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, the renowned youth organization she founded circa 1912. Book tickets in advance if you plan to visit during school holidays or the summer, as those times are popular for Girl Scouts and their families.
4. Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room
107 W. Jones St.
Bring cash and your patience; visiting the one-time boarding house, which the late proprietor Sema Wilkes guided from the 1940s until her death in 2002, is worth it. Would-be customers start a line early in the morning to sit at one of the three tables of ten in the dining room. Home-style fare includes fried chicken, biscuits, okra gumbo, green beans and other Southern favorites.
5. The Olde Pink House
23 Abercorn St.
Don’t miss one of the best restaurants in Savannah. Locals and tourists alike come to the pink-colored mansion on Reynolds Square. The 18th-century structure—rumored to be haunted—serves Southern specialties, such as smothered fried chicken and “Southern sushi,” also known as shrimp and grits, with a twist.
6. Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters
124 Abercorn St.
Revolutionary War hero Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de LaFayette, stayed at this circa 1819 Regency mansion designed by William Jay. The property also includes intact slave quarters that are said to contain America’s largest example of “haint blue”—a color thought to protect from evil—on the ceilings. Guided tours reflect on the history of the house and people who lived there, including the role of enslaved workers.
7. The Paris Market
Set on Broughton Street, the establishment — called a "design concept experience," offers a ever-changing, museum-like shopping experience. You can buy jewelry, home décor and scented candles among other objets d'art in the charming 1874 Victorian structure. An on-site café serves fresh pastries as well as beverages like coffee, tea, wine and specialty cocktails.
AAA Travel Editor, Sherry Mims
Sherry is an experienced #AAAEditor and former journalist who enjoys writing informative travel articles and reviews. Her commitment to making meaningful connections with people and places fuels her work for AAA. Favorite activities range from skiing to backpacking abroad and taking ghost tours.