Best Savannah Trolley Tours

Trams are one of the most interesting means of transport when it comes to sightseeing in a city. In Savannah, Georgia, you have the opportunity to enjoy them and I invite you to continue reading this post to learn all the details about how they work.

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

10 min read

Best Savannah Trolley Tours

Vista interna del tranvía |©pensivelaw1

If you're thinking about the best things to see and do in Savannah, you'll probably immediately think of taking a tram tour of the city. The essence of this community has to do with its historic past. So a ride through the streets in an antique vehicle while learning all the details about its founding is a great way to experience your time in one of the most beautiful places in the American South.

I advise you to continue reading this compilation of facts that I have prepared for you, so you won't miss any details about the duration, prices, benefits and even the drawbacks of such an activity. This will be extremely useful for you to make the most of the experience on your next visit to Savannah, Georgia.

The most recommended option

Savannah Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Bus Tour

Narrated tram tour of historic Savannah

Get to know Savannah's most iconic sights in a different way and with a guide to answer any questions you may have.

Recommended if you like the idea of touring the historic centre of Savannah with the accompaniment of a city specialist. Even better if you like unusual modes of transport just like a tram that resembles those that ran through the world's major cities in the early 20th century.

Also a good idea if you are looking for a transport system that you can use at your leisure during a day of sightseeing in Savannah's historic district and if you are interested in making it a family-friendly option.

What is a guided trolley tour of Savannah like?

Historic Savannah House|©Billy Wilson
Historic Savannah House|©Billy Wilson

Savannah is a city with over 200 years of history and throughout that time it has established itself as one of the most beautiful places in the state of Georgia. In fact, it is one of the most touristy places in the American South and for this reason, taking a guided tram tour is an excellent way to appreciate the architectural beauty of its streets. It's also a great way to be entertained as you learn all the details associated with the past and present of this beautiful community.

The logistics of this type of tour are quite simple to understand. You have a timetable that goes from nine in the morning until about four in the afternoon to enjoy the tour. As such the tour without getting off at any of the stops usually lasts an hour and 30 minutes. During this time you are accompanied by a guide who is dressed in typical pre-civil war clothing and who tells you all the stories about the flourishing of this town.

The flexibility of these tours is due to the fact that there are a certain number of stops, so you can get off whenever you want and then get on the next tram to continue the tour. This way you can find out all the things you missed while you were enjoying the attractions of the place you have just visited. This is undoubtedly one of the best Savannah tours from an economic perspective as well as if you value good use of your time and energy.

Interesting details

  • Price: The price for a tour of this nature is usually around 30 euros per person. Please note that children between 5 and 12 years of age usually pay around 12 euros to participate in the tour.
  • Duration: if you wish, you can spend the whole day touring the city in these trams, and this means that the tour as such can last up to eight hours. However, an uninterrupted ride where you don't get off at any stop usually lasts a maximum of one hour and 45 minutes.
  • Means of transport: the ride is said to be by tram because the vehicle looks exactly like this type of urban train that operated in the city for many decades. However, it is actually a bus that has been structurally modified to look like a tram.
  • Advantages of this option: With such a tour you can see a lot of the Antebellum mansions and important landmarks of Savannah's historic district. All this in a short time and at very competitive fares.
  • Disadvantages of this option: The major disadvantage of this alternative is that the vehicle is not wheelchair accessible, although it is possible to take prams if advance notice is given. Clearly, it is a shared experience with an average of 30 additional travellers and this can be uncomfortable for some people.

Narrated tram tour of historic Savannah

How to book a tram tour in Savannah?

Hands on computer|© Luke Southern
Hands on computer|© Luke Southern

You have different alternatives at your disposal if you want to book a tram ride in Savannah that meets the characteristics I have mentioned. The best of these options will always be an online booking and this has to do with logistical and economic convenience. The logistical benefits have to do with the fact that you can decide on what date, at what time and which company you will use for this tourist service.

On the other hand, the economic benefits have to do with the possibility of choosing and analysing the different existing fares to end up paying the one that suits you best. As well as the one that is most appropriate for you according to the budget you have for your visit to Savannah.

You have to keep in mind that most of the tourist experiences in this city and in the rest of the world are booked through the Internet. This is why boat tours in Savannah, both on the river as well as along the city's Atlantic shores, are often booked online. This is just as advantageous, as you can properly research the type of boat tour you like from the comfort of your own home and pay with your credit cards.

If you wish, you can also book these types of experiences directly with a tourist agency in the city. However, in such cases you may not be able to cancel your purchase for free and there is even a chance that you will not be able to get availability for the date and time you are interested in.

Duration of Savannah trolley tours

Savannah Georgia Street|©pensivelaw1
Savannah Georgia Street|©pensivelaw1

The length of Savannah trolley rides is quite subjective and it all depends on how you want to experience them. If you are comfortable with a guide and find the way he or she is telling the information interesting and you have no interest in getting off to explore the mansions and buildings in the area, then you can stay on the tram for an hour and 45 minutes continuously.

At the same time, if you are captivated by a particular site or plan to take advantage of the tram tour to visit a specific church or square, then you can get off at your leisure. The truth is, you' ll be hopping on the next tram that passes that stop knowing that there is a 20 minute frequency between each tram.

Keep in mind that these historic Savannah trams with free stops are part of the top 59 things to do in Savannah, as people really enjoy the flexibility in tourist services. Especially knowing that there are times when they will not book a specific experience due to the fact that they have to adapt to an itinerary that they are not entirely comfortable with.

You also have to keep in mind that not all guides have the same charisma and if you feel too captivated by one of them, it is advisable to enjoy the whole tour with him/her. Afterwards, you can take another turn to get off at the stop of your choice and start using the tram as a means of transport.

Savannah's historic free-stop trams

What am I going to see on this type of tour?

Forsyth Park|©Andrea Cheng
Forsyth Park|©Andrea Cheng

This type of tour focuses primarily on touring the most important parts of the city's historic district, almost in its entirety. That's why you'll pass through the streets that contain the most Antebellum mansions. These are typical Southern buildings that survived the Civil War and show the architectural trends followed by slave-owning families before the Civil War.

There are very specific monuments and sites that are usually part of this type of trolley tour route and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah is one of these sites. Forsyth Park, which is a 12-hectare site located in the geographic centre of the city, is another site that is usually part of these itineraries, since for many decades it has marked the cultural identity of Savannah.

The squares of the old section of the city are another of the great attractions of this itinerary. The historic district of the city has more than a dozen of these beautiful public parks.

Keep in mind that the route chosen for this tour is very similar to other of the best historic tours of Savannah. Segway tours throughout the city could also be a good alternative for another of your days if you want to explore the area from a different perspective while enjoying one of today's most curious and interesting individual vehicles.

Guided Segway History Tour of Savannah

Tips for a trolley ride in Savannah

People in the park|©Simon Heseltine
People in the park|©Simon Heseltine

Trolley rides in Savannah are such a pleasant and easy experience that they don't really require any prior preparation and there are no complicated consequences if you make a mistake during your participation in the tour. However, there are a few details that could make the whole ride a much more enjoyable event that you may remember more fondly over the years.

The first thing I can advise you to do is to opt to ride the entire route in a continuous fashion. This is so that after you have done this you get on the next tram and get off at the stops that really caught your attention on the initial route. This is especially the case if you feel very comfortable with the first guide who is accompanying you on the experience. Also if you have enough time in your visit to the city to go to other places the next day if you miss them on the date of the tram ride.

I advise you to bring alternative entertainment for children for the simple fact that it is possible that at some point the little ones of the house get exhausted of going around the city in a vehicle. At the same time, though, keep in mind that this is one of the best things to do in Savannah with kids. It is educational and totally harmless.

I advise you to bring drinks and some snacks to enjoy on the ride. Especially if you want to participate at a rather inconvenient time of the day which is between lunch and dinner or between breakfast and lunch. Also, this is a fairly sedentary tour and if you are looking for a bit more active and sporty activities I would advise you to opt for a two hour bike tour of Savannah, as this is an option that will combine your passion for cycling with exploring the city for sightseeing.

2-hour bike tour to explore Savannah

How much does a trolley ride in Savannah cost?

Range of fares|© Alexander Mils
Range of fares|© Alexander Mils

Rides in Savannah are generally quite inexpensive and those on a tram are no exception to this trend. On average fares throughout the year are around 30 to 35 euros per person with discounts offered for children between the ages of five and 12 to 15.

This means that you can perfectly combine two different sightseeing tours in one day and you would be spending the same as if you visited different places on your own. So in the morning you could have a tram ride, in the afternoon you could enjoy a food tour and in the evening you could have a spooky experience enjoying the best ghost tours in Savannah.

Don't forget the fact that the fee includes payment for your guide, however, it does not include tips. So if you want to add a couple of extra euros to thank the city's history specialist who will accompany you, you can do so without any inconvenience.

Why should I take a tram tour in Savannah?

Savannah's tram route|©Jasperdo
Savannah's tram route|©Jasperdo

Now, if we focus on why it is advisable to take a trolley ride in Savannah, the fact that it is a significantly inexpensive experience stands out. It reduces the amount of time you'd spend walking around the city's historic district and includes a virtually personalised guide who won't let you leave while you still have questions about the city's history and culture.

The experience of being on a tram is so entertaining that it's actually a must-do for those who have a three-day trip to Savannah. At the same time, if you're worried about missing out on other activities, you can always visit Savannah' s best museums before or after the tour. This is because it's actually quite short and won't take up such a significant section of your day.

What are the advantages of taking a guided tram tour vs. visiting Savannah on my own?

Streets of Savannah (tram)|©Mark
Streets of Savannah (tram)|©Mark

The main benefit of participating in the tram tours has to do with comfort. Ultimately, you're touring the city while sitting in a seat with the accompaniment of a guide and not having to deal with Google Maps or other GPS alternatives to get from one place to another. This while you end up admiring the same mansions and the same squares in a format more favourable to you.

Actually this issue of comfort becomes very important at certain times of the year. Savannah is a city that is characterised by being quite humid during the late spring and throughout the summer. So in that context, being in a speeding vehicle with the wind blowing in your face helps you cope with the high temperatures that can be reached on an average afternoon.

However, there are other types of tours that can be done on your own that are quite convenient. Among them are the best food tours in Savannah. Despite having a guide, they allow you to walk freely through the streets and feel that you have a little more flexibility in the choice of the route to follow.