Savannah’s historic core is famous for its shaded, moss-draped squares, and the blocks around City Market, often nicknamed for their French colonial-style architecture and courtyard ironwork, capture that atmosphere as well as anywhere in the city. Cobblestone streets, wrought-iron balconies, and a slower pace than nearby Charleston give this pocket of Savannah a distinct, romantic character that rewards unhurried wandering more than a checklist of sights.

Best Things to Do in Savannah’s Historic Quarter

Wander City Market

This pedestrian-friendly stretch of restored 19th-century warehouses now holds galleries, shops, and restaurants, with outdoor tables and live music spilling onto the street most evenings, and it’s the natural hub for exploring the surrounding blocks.

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Walk the Historic Squares

Savannah’s famous grid of shaded public squares, each with its own fountains, monuments, and towering live oaks draped in Spanish moss, is best explored on foot, with Forsyth Park’s fountain and the smaller downtown squares each offering a slightly different mood.

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Take a Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour

A slow carriage ride through the cobblestone streets is a classic way to see the architecture and squares without covering the ground on foot, with drivers often sharing local history and folklore along the route.

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Join a Ghost or History Walking Tour

Savannah’s reputation as one of the most haunted cities in America draws a steady stream of evening ghost tours through the historic district, weaving local legend together with genuine history about the buildings and squares you’re walking past.

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Stroll Down to River Street

A short walk from City Market, the cobblestone riverfront along the Savannah River is lined with converted cotton warehouses now housing shops, restaurants, and pubs, with views out over passing cargo ships on the river.

Best Time to Visit

Spring brings comfortable temperatures and the height of blooming azaleas throughout the squares, making it the most popular season, while summer’s heat and humidity can be intense for extended walking. Fall offers a quieter, similarly pleasant alternative, and evenings year-round tend to be the liveliest time in and around City Market.

How to Get There

Savannah’s historic district is compact and highly walkable, with City Market and the surrounding blocks just a short walk from most downtown hotels. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport connects to the city by a short rideshare or taxi ride, and once downtown, a car is more of a hindrance than a help given how easily the district covers on foot.

Good to Know

  • Savannah’s open-container law allows to-go drinks in certain cups, part of what gives the district its relaxed, stroll-friendly atmosphere.
  • Cobblestone streets and uneven brick sidewalks make comfortable, sturdy shoes a better choice than sandals.
  • Carriage and walking tours typically run 60 to 90 minutes and depart regularly from the City Market area.
  • Parking downtown can be tight; many visitors park once at a hotel or garage and explore on foot for the rest of the day.

The blocks around Savannah’s City Market distill the city’s slow, atmospheric charm into an easily walkable stretch of cobblestones, courtyards, and shaded squares. It’s the kind of place best experienced without a rigid itinerary, letting one pretty street lead naturally into the next.