Hop on Hop off Bus Tours in Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia mostly owes its existence to one man, the impressively named General James Edward Oglethorpe. In the early 1700s, he was given the task to establish a colony south of the Carolinas — a buffer against the influences of the French and the Spanish to the south.

Thus was born Savannah, America’s first planned city. The city soon grew in importance and the stunning new buildings and treelined streets reflected as much. Today, one of the best ways to discover the charm of this southern belle is during a historic on-and-off trolley tour of Savannah.

Why a trolley tour and not a bus tour, you may ask? Well, a trolley is a bus, kind of — at least in Savannah. You see, in the south, they do things a bit differently — a fact that you’ll soon discover on one of Savannah’s hop-on hop-off trolley tours. It’s best to put the dispute about nomenclature to the side, sit back and enjoy the ride through this striking city.

Here's everything you need to know about hop-on hop off bus tours, one of the most captivating sightseeing tours in Savannah, Georgia.

What are the best hop-on hop-off Savannah trolley tours? What are their prices?

Savannah hop-on hop-off trolley tour

This is the original Savannah hop-on hop-off trolley tour, and the orange and green trolleys have become synonymous with Georgia’s first city. Hop aboard and you’ll enjoy a laid-back crawl through Savannah, stopping at some of the city’s best attractions.

Your guide will narrate your entire journey, as you make your way past the city’s ornate mansions and Spanish-moss-covered trees. Learn about the city’s tumultuous history, the men and women who helped shape its destiny and how the residents look toward the future.

This on-and-off trolley tour of Savannah features 10 stops across the city — and you can disembark at any point that tickles your fancy to explore the site in more detail.

Route

The Savannah hop-on hop-off trolley tour follows its own route, which it has streamlined over the years to provide the best tour experience. The journey will start at Savannah’s visitors center and tourist information — there you’ll meet your guide and fellow passengers before setting off.

One of your first stops is the infamous Mercer Williams House Museum — where a murder helped inspire the 1994 classic novel “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”. Next stop is Forsyth Park, 30 acres of lush greenery in the middle of the city and home to beautiful fountains.

Following the park, you’ll head to Columbia square to marvel at the historic homes and some of the best examples of southern architecture. Listen to the tales of another age and discover the tragic legacy on which these mansions were built.

After some time spent in Savannah’s opulent suburbs, it’s time to head back to the Historical District — home to a number of important sites like the Cathedral of St. John and the City Market. The latter is also your best bet if you’re looking to experience Savannah's famed hospitality and accompanying cuisine.

Finally, your trolley will make its way to your final destination, rambling along and past stops and points of interest — until you arrive at the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. Explore this fount of knowledge and learn more about the city’s impressive maritime heritage. The entire journey takes 1.5 hours to complete if you don’t get off.

Timetable

Savannah’s hop-on hop-off trolley tours depart every 15 to 20 minutes from the tourist center. The tour is available every day of the week, right throughout the year and operates from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Tickets

Tickets for a 1-day hop-on hop-off trolley tour in Savannah cost around US$40 per adult. A child’s ticket (aged 4 to 12) costs about US$20 per person.

Tickets for a 2-day Savannah hop-on hop-off trolley tour cost about US$60 per adult. A child’s ticket (aged 4 to 12) cost around US$40.

Tickets covering a two-day period must be used on consecutive days.

Old Savannah hop-on hop-off trolley tour

When people mention the historic on-and-off trolley tour in Savannah, chances are this is the excursion that they are referring to. The off-gray vehicles can be seen roaming the streets of the city with gothic lettering proudly proclaiming “Old Savannah Tours”.

Step aboard and you’ll be transported to another time not only by the old buildings and mode of transport, but also by your costumed guide. Dressed as someone from Savannah’s 270 years of history, they’ll be joined by other costumed characters to tell the city’s tales.

As you can imagine, this tour offers much more of a narrative experience and makes learning about Savannah truly enthralling. And you can choose to pause or start the story at any point by simply hopping off or by getting back on.

Route

This tour does its best to give you an understanding of what life in Savannah used to be like — almost doubling as a city tour and a civil war tour all in one. The route of the historic on-and-off trolley tour in Savannah starts at the local tourist and visitors center before rambling its way through the city.

Apart from the flower-scented streets and beautiful architecture, Savannah’s main attraction remains the Historic District. It is home to a number of tales that will be brought to life by your ingenious guides. This area also served as the setting for numerous films, making it the base for a couple of movie location tours.

Then it’s on to the port and riverside, where you’ll learn how maritime activities shaped the destiny of Savannah. The next stop is at a park in the suburbs, allowing you to climb off and explore the beautiful houses and gardens on your own.

Back aboard, you’ll pass by and hear the tales of Colonial Park Cemetery — nowhere as infamous as Bonaventure Cemetery, but still well worth a visit. Finally, you’ll make your way back to the riverside, with the trolley stopping at the River Street Market Place — a trendy area dotted with bars, cafés, and small restaurants. This stop provides you with the opportunity to discover why Savannah is also called “the Hostess City of the South.”

With your body and soul now well and truly fed, it’s on to the final stop on the tour, the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. The entire tour takes 90 minutes to complete, and the number of costumed characters that tell their tales really makes this an unforgettable experience.

Timetable

The historic on-and-off trolley tour of Savannah operates every day of the week, right through the year. The first and last trolley depart at 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM respectively, and a tour will leave every 20 minutes.

Tickets

Adult tickets for the Old Savannah hop-on hop-off trolley tour cost US$29 per person. Tickets for children (aged 5 to 11) cost US$11 per person, and children aged 4 and below are free of charge.

Savannah’s haunted hop-on hop-off trolley tour

There is another side to Savannah that is talked about in hushed tones — a ghastly, ghostly and even ghoulish side. It should be noted that many people view the lavish mansions that line the city’s fragrant streets as monuments to ill-gotten wealth.

As a result, stories of restless spirits and hauntings are rampant in this old city — from a haunted factory where nightly cries can be heard, to the notorious Marshall House which served as a hospital during the civil war. It’s said that during the winter months of the war, the ground was frozen solid — causing doctors to dispose of amputated limbs in less conventional ways. Apparently, the house is still filled with spirits hellbent on reuniting themselves with their missing body parts.

On this hop-on hop-off trolley tour, you’ll encounter similar stories that may cause your blood to run cold and send a shiver down your spine. This excursion is aimed at those who are simply curious about tales of the undead — those travelers that consider themselves connoisseurs of the macabre should consider rather a paranormal activity tour in Savannah.

Route

This hop-on hop-off trolley tour in Savannah features 6 stops, visiting cemeteries and old haunted mansions alike. Most of the tour’s itinerary is shrouded in mystery, adding an element of the unknown to the outing. However, we can reveal that this excursion grants participants unfettered nightly access to a notoriously haunted museum.

Timetable

Because of the nature of the outing, Savannah’s haunted hop-on hop-off trolley tour only operates at night — with a trolley leaving every 20 minutes from 7 PM to 9 PM. The tour is available every day of the week, right through the year.

Tickets

Both adults and children pay a standard fare of US$36 per person. Children under the age of six are not allowed on the tour.

How do hop-on hop-off trolley tours in Savannah work? What is included?

Hop-on hop-off trolley tours in Savannah, Georgia operate a little bit differently than bus tours in other cities. First of all, it’s not a bus, it’s a trolley — a fact of which the locals will make you aware in a kindly fashion, usually with a lilting southern drawl.

Secondly, there’s no audio guide or modern gimmicks on these tours. The good people from Savannah like to keep things personal, so the tour is still conducted by a good old-fashioned tour guide.

Finally, your initial starting point will always be at the visitors and tourist center — which also serves as the point of embarkation for a couple of Savannah walking tours. Following this, you’ll be able to hop on and off at any of the stops.

Travelers will find that the trolley tours have a distinctly narrative quality to them, and the guides enjoy building up a rapport with the guests. Taking this into account, it might be worth it to enjoy the tour in its entirety without getting off to explore on your own. Then, once the tour has finished, you can use the trolley as transport — hopping off at locations that tickled your fancy the first time around.

Are there any combined tickets including hop-on hop-off trolley tours?

Combining a Savannah hop-on hop-off trolley trip with another activity is a great way to maximize your tour experience — while also being kind to your wallet.

Savannah historical hop-on hop-off trolley tour plus riverboat cruise

This excursion combines two of Savannah’s most famous forms of transport — the orange and green trolleys and the iconic river boats. What can be better than exploring the fragrant streets of this grand southern city and then enjoying a boat tour on an authentic river cruiser?

Both the trolley tour and the boat cruise are 90 minutes long, meaning you’ll be entertained for over 3 hours. By combining these tours, you’ll gain unique perspectives on famous areas like the Historic District, the Victorian District and the vibrant River Street.

Tickets for this combo tour cost US$69 per adult and US$36 per child aged between 3 and 12. It’s worth noting that this tour is extremely popular and very likely to sell out — booking in advance is crucial to avoid disappointment.

You’ll be able to choose your preferred time for the boat cruise when booking — and you should consider an early morning spot if you want to avoid the crowd.

Travel Tips

• The historic district is full of cobblestone streets and uneven sidewalks, so wear comfortable shoes if you plan on walking around and exploring on foot.
• Savannah is a popular tourist destination and the trolley can get busy, so join a trolley tour early in the day to avoid crowds and long lines.
• It can get quite hot and humid, especially during the summer months, so pack sunscreen and water to stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun.