How do I get around Savannah?

Savannah's 1733 grid, designed by James Oglethorpe, is still the best transit system the city has. Twenty-two squares sit within roughly 1 square mile between East Broad Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. You can walk from the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist on Lafayette Square to Forsyth Park's 1840 fountain in about 12 minutes. Spanish moss hangs low enough to brush your hair where the oak canopy narrows. The sidewalks are uneven in places, tree roots cracking through old brick and tabby underfoot, so flat-soled shoes with ankle support work better than sandals. In September, the air sits heavy and warm, carrying the salt-and-pluff-mud smell of the marsh at low tide. Temperatures currently hover around 26°C but feel closer to 31°C at 90% humidity. Plan your walking before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. The live oaks shade most squares, but the cobblestone ramp down to River Street is slick when wet and has almost no canopy cover.

Chatham Area Transit runs a free downtown shuttle on two routes through the Historic District, with stops near City Market and the visitor center on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The Savannah Belles Ferry crosses the Savannah River between River Street and Hutchinson Island in about 5 minutes, also free. For anywhere beyond the district, CAT buses serve the wider metro area at a $1.50 single fare and a $4.00 day pass. Worth noting, weekend headways stretch to 45 minutes or longer, so check the schedule before you commit to a bus-dependent plan. That said, most first-time visitors won't need the broader network. The tourist map is almost entirely on foot.

Uber and Lyft both operate here. A ride from the Historic District to Tybee Island runs $25-35 depending on the time. From Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport to downtown, expect $15-22 and roughly 20 minutes. Mind you, surge pricing hits hard during St. Patrick's Day weekend in March, when the city's population roughly triples and that same airport fare might reach $50. Savannah's flat terrain makes it good cycling ground. Several rental shops near Bull Street charge $25-40 per day and will hand you a route map through the quieter squares. Dedicated bike lanes are thin, mostly on Price Street and Habersham Street, but car speeds inside the district rarely top 25 mph.

If you have a rental car, parking becomes the main friction point. Metered street spots in the Historic District cost around $1.25 per hour with a 2-hour limit, and meters enforce until 8 p.m. on weekdays. The Bryan Street Garage near City Market charges roughly $20 for a full day. The trolley tours, Savannah's most visible transit-looking option, are narrated sightseeing loops at about $35 per adult, not point-to-point transport. You'll spend more time listening to rehearsed anecdotes about Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil than covering ground between Mercer House and Telfair Museums. For a first visit, park at your hotel and forget the car. Your feet, the free shuttle, and one Uber to Tybee cover the full 3-day itinerary.