Which Savannah Trolley Tour is Right For You?

Savannah, Georgia, is proud to be one of the oldest cities in the United States. As Georgia’s founding city, it has many popular historic and cultural sites. The historic district has 22 beautiful park squares, many of them with monuments to Savannah’s notable figures. History and art museums tempt tourists, along with restored 18th-century homes to explore. 

You can wear yourself out trying to get to all of them, but I have some advice. Take a trolley tour! There are three main companies to choose from, so knowing what you want from your tour is key. The amount of time you have for touring, your interests, and different styles of tour guides are all considerations. We can help you figure out which Savannah trolley tour is right for you. 

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Savannah Trolley Tours For Busy People

If you’ve only got a couple of hours to devote to sightseeing, then the 90-minute tour is for you. Gray Line Savannah and Old Savannah Tours offer tours that don’t make any stops for tourists to hop on or off. The tour guide will call your attention to sites and share interesting things about them.

This is a great way to introduce yourself to Savannah and decide on any place you want to explore further. Old Town Trolley only offers tours where hopping on and off is allowed, but if you choose to stay put, their tours will be between 90 minutes to two hours. 

Savannah Trolley Tours For The Intrepid Tourist

Both Old Town Trolley and Old Savannah Tours offer flexible hop-on/hop-off tours. Begin your tour at their respective visitor centers, but then hop off the trolley when you see something you’d like to explore further.

When you’re ready to pick the tour up again, head to the nearest trolley stop and pick up where you left off. You can do this as many times as you want until the last trolley runs, which is 4:30 for both companies.

While Old Savannah Tours offers a one-day touring ticket, Old Town Trolley also offers a two-day ticket for tourists who can’t go home until they’ve seen it all. This allows you to spend more time off-trolley without worrying about being able to fit everything in. If you have much in common with the Energizer Bunny, this Savannah trolley tour is right for you.

Savannah Trolley Tours With Children

Savannah is a great city for kids! I know that sightseeing with kids doesn’t always go as planned, so you need flexibility. I like the hop-on / hop-off model for this reason. It lets you jump off if the kids are getting antsy or hungry and pick up the tour when they need to sit again.

The two-day ticket from Old Town Trolley is especially helpful when your kids hit the wall by nap time, and pushing them any further that day is bad for everyone. 

If you know that your family is not up for several hours of touring, then take the “express” option offered through Gray Line or Old Savannah Tours. The kids will love the novelty of the open-air trolleys, and the 90-minute tours are likely just enough time to hold their interest. Ensure that food and potty needs are handled before boarding. 

Savannah Trolley Tours If You Love To Laugh

If you prefer to take your history less seriously, then check out the new Savannah for Morons tour by Old Town Trolley. The website claims you’ll get 300 years of Savannah history, “comedy skits, musical numbers, costume changes,” and some special appearances.

Hosted by a professional comedy duo, this one is for ages 13 and up. Making the most of Savannah’s open container law within the historic district, this tour makes a stop for thirsty tourists 21 and over to pick up a drink for the ride.

If you like a side of chills with your laughs, try the Boo Y’all Comedy Tour from Old Savannah Tours. My husband loves darker tales, but they make me too tense, so we compromised by booking this ghost tour led by a professional comedian.

In between the jokes and tales, our trolley stopped for actors portraying well-known Savannah ghosts. The stop at McDonough’s Pub isn’t the only reason for the 21 and up restriction; while I enjoyed the humor, it can get a bit off-color. This tour is definitely heavier on comedy than ghost stories.

Savannah Ghost Tours For Thrill Seekers Of All Ages

With almost 300 years of history, there are a lot of opportunities for ghost stories. Tour guides claim Savannah is the most haunted city in America (St. Augustine, Florida, begs to differ), so it’s only natural to take a ghost tour. You’re covered if you’ve got kids who like to walk on the wild side.

Old Town Trolley’s Grave Encounters Tour promises thrills that are okay for the whole family. It’s a 90-minute tour that, like the Boo Y’all tour, includes hop-on appearances by actors portraying spirits. Tourists remain on the trolley for the tour’s duration. If you want to tack on dinner at the reputedly haunted Pirate’s House restaurant, that’s an option. 

Savannah Ghost Tours For Mature Audiences

The Ghosts & Gravestones Tour offers a lot of bang for the buck. This 80-minute night-time tour includes two stops: the Andrew Low House and Perkin’s & Sons Ship Chandlery. The Andrew Low House staff report apparitions and strange occurrences in the house.

Perkin’s & Sons is a shop on River Street selling items that were used on ships back when Savannah was a busy port city. The shop is considered one of the most haunted buildings in Savannah. 

No one under six is allowed on the tour, and minors must be accompanied by an adult. As I mentioned, I don’t love ghost stories, but I went on a G&G tour with two of my kids, ages 19 and 12 at the time. I found it to be a good amount of creepy without getting overly dramatic.

My 12-year-old was fine, but my slightly anxious 19-year-old got a bit nervous. If you’re worried about jump scares, we didn’t experience any on our tour. 

Which Savannah Trolley Tour Is Right For You?

I hope we’ve been able to help you make this decision. Savannah’s rich history means that it’s full of interesting sights and stories. While the historic district is very walkable, it’s also very large, making a trolley tour appealing. The Savannah trolley tours mentioned allow you to see the city with an expert guide and enjoy the ride. 

About the Author

Amy Albers is a freelance travel and lifestyle writer based in Atlanta. She has over a dozen years of experience writing and using social media to share her family travel and solo travel experiences. Amy enjoys tent camping and has special expertise with state and national parks.

However, she has never been mad about a hotel stay. She loves exploring her home in the southeastern United States but is always happy to explore other destinations. As a genealogy and historic history librarian, Amy is a sucker for all things historic.