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Savannah First-Timer's Guide

Plan the Perfect Trip to Savannah

Old Savannah Trolley Tours 1-Day Itinerary

• ITINERARIES , PLANNING , THINGS TO DO
• by Erin Clarkson

If you have only one day in the city and want to hit as many of the high points as possible, my Old Savannah Trolley Tours itinerary is the way to go!

You won’t need a car at all — you’ll just use the Hop-On/Hop-Off trolley to get around.

I’ve included my favorite suggested stopping points along the route for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts (of course)! I’ve also noted a few tours you might want to try.

Finally, I’ve made note of any reservations you’ll need to make in advance.

Note: This guide contains affiliate links to my trusted travel partners.

If you’re new around here, first of all… welcome . Thanks for stopping by!

My name is Erin, and I authored the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide . It’s a helpful ebook that contains all of my top tips about Savannah.

Trip Planning: Before You Go

If it wasn’t obvious by the title, I’ve based this itinerary on the Old Savannah Tours Hop-On/Hop-Off trolley .

It’s the one I recommend most since I always try to promote locally-owned businesses. They’ve been voted Best Trolley Tour in Savannah every year since 2003!

Technically you can do this itinerary using Old Savannah Tours Hop-On/Hop-Off trolley or Old Town Trolley’s Hop-On/Hop-Off option.

The stop numbers vary between the two, but otherwise they’re very similar!

NOTE: If you’re trying to decide which trolley tour would work best for you, my Savannah trolley tours review post includes a map and in-depth comparison chart of all the options.

Step 01: Purchase Your Trolley Tickets

• Purchase Old Savannah Tours Hop-On/Hop-Off Tickets
• Purchase Old Town Trolley Hop On/Hop-Off Tickets

Step 02: Research Restaurant Menus

There are a few restaurants along the trolley route that I recommend. I’ve linked to each one so you can check out the menus in advance to see which look the most appealing.

• Breakfast: Collins Quarter Cafe at Forsyth Park , Clary’s Cafe , Mirabelle Cafe , or J. Christopher’s
• Lunch: Vinnie Van Go Go’s or The Pirates’ House
• Dinner: Vic’s on the River

My personal favorites are Clary’s Cafe (locally-owned) or The Collins Quarter for breakfast and Vinnie Van Go Go’s (locally-owned) for lunch.

Related Post: A Local’s Guide to the Best Breakfast in Savannah’s Historic District

Step 03: What to Pack

On the day of your trip, bring a refillable bottled water, a pen for note-taking, and your camera.

Our rainy season peaks June through September, so you might also want to bring a travel rain poncho those months. They’re lighter and easier to carry than an umbrella.

Trolley Tour Parking

If you’re driving into Savannah and need to park your car, you can park for free in one of the lots owned by the trolley tour company you selected.

Each company owns two lots, and all of the lots are within an approximate 5-minute walk to the trolley departing point.

Old Savannah Tours Parking – Their larger lot is at 215 W Boundary Street – Their smaller (but closer) lot is at 255 Montgomery Street

Old Town Trolley Parking – 234 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (closest lot) – 214 W Boundary Street

If the trolley company lots are full or if you have mobility issues and want to park as close to the starting point as possible, then I suggest parking at the Savannah Visitor Center.

Parking at the Visitor Center is free the first hour and $1/hr thereafter.

Savannah Visitor Center – 301 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Related Reading: Everything You Need to Know About Parking in Savannah

Old Savannah Trolley Tours Itinerary

Let’s plan your day.

Stop #1 (Starting Point): Savannah Visitor Center

The trolleys depart from the Savannah Visitor Center. If your hotel isn’t close to the Visitor Center, Old Savannah Trolley Tour company will send a shuttle to pick you up at no additional cost.

There are restrooms inside the Visitor Center, so you might want to take advantage of them before you depart.

If you forgot to bring a water bottle, you can purchase one inside.

Don’t worry too much about breakfast, because you can stop to eat within the first 30 minutes or so of this tour.

NOTE: If you’re a big Forrest Gump fan, the Savannah History Museum is located inside the Visitor Center. It’s where the famous Forrest Gump bench is located.

Breakfast & Non-Stop Trolley Ride

First things first, you’re going to relax and ride the trolley all the way around so you’ll get a good overview of the city and its history. You’ll only hop off for breakfast.

Use your pen to make notations on the map of any landmarks that look interesting to you!

Depending on which menu you liked best, you’re going to hop off at Stop 4, 5 or 6 to get some food in your belly!

Here are your breakfast options:

• Stop # 4: Collins Café at Forsyth Park – The setting is beautiful — right in the center of Forsyth Park — and the food and coffee are delish. You can’t go wrong with the Raspberry French Toast and a hot latte or refreshing strawberry mimosa.
• Stop #5: Clary’s Café – This is such a classic Savannah spot! It was featured in the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil , so there are photos of the cast and crew hanging along the back wall. It’s a no-frills kind of place, but the staff is friendly, and you’ll get a very hearty breakfast. FYI: This is my favorite option!
• Stop #6: Mirabelle Café – This adorable Parisian-style café has a perfect view of the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. You absolutely can’t go wrong with any of the waffle options!
• Stop #6: J. Christopher – This is a nice all-around spot if you’re traveling with picky eaters. There’s something for everyone here! Service is usually quick, so it’s also a good option if you’re traveling with a large group of people.

After breakfast, hop back on the trolley and listen as the guide provides an overview of Savannah’s history. If you opt for Old Savannah Tours, a few characters will hop on the trolley to help bring history to life!

Related Reading: The Best Restaurants in Savannah, According to a Local

Savannah Visitor Center Break

After you’ve done the entire loop once, hop off at the Visitor Center for a little break.

This is a good time to “check out the restrooms” as my mom likes to say or to pick up brochures for some of the attractions that looked interesting to you.

Afternoon Hop-Off Trolley Ride

The second time around, you’re going to exit at any of the stops that looked appealing to you.

You’ll essentially create your own itinerary from the notes you made on your map, but I’m going to provide some suggestions to help out!

Stop #2: Chippewa Square – Hop OFF & Back ON

I adore this square and think it’s a good place to hop off.

Chippewa Square is known as the “Forrest Gump square”, since it’s where his famous bench scenes were filmed.

The bench was just a movie prop, so you won’t actually see it in the square (although there are plenty of other benches scattered about), but the square is very beautiful and so are the surrounding buildings.

📸 Photo Opportunities: My top suggestions include The Historic Savannah Theatre, Independence Presbyterian Church (also of Forrest Gump fame — the feather blew past it in the opening scene of the movie), and the haunted Foley House Inn. There are two beautiful homes on the square that you might also want to photograph.

Stop #3: Madison Square – Hop OFF & Back ON

Architecture fanatics should hop off at this stop to see the stunning Scottish Rite Building.

It’s not open for touring, but the street level is currently home to SCAD’s Gryphon restaurant.

The restaurant is a cozy place to stop for tea or a light lunch on a rainy day.

Another compelling reason to hop off is to venture inside adorable E.Shaver, Booksellers.

It’s one of my favorite bookstores in Savannah! It’s a great place to pick up local souvenirs or to visit with the cats that freely roam about the store.

If you’re a history buff (Civil War-era), make note that the Green-Meldrim House is where General Sherman was headquartered when he stayed in Savannah.

🎁 Souvenir Opportunities: Consider purchasing something by a local author at E. Shaver, Bookseller. My current favorite book by a Savannahian is “Sketching Savannah” by Ivan Chow.

📸 Photo Opportunities : The top photo opportunities at this stop include the stunning Scottish Rite Building, the charming E. Shaver Booksellers, the haunted Sorrel Weed House, and the historic Green-Meldrim House.

Stop #4: Forsyth Park – Hop OFF and Walk

Hop off here to see the famous Forsyth Fountain — one of the most classic photo locations in Savannah.

If you want to take a stroll, the homes on the Whitaker and Gaston sides of the street are prettiest.

My advice is NOT to hop back on the trolley when you finish at Forsyth Park, but to instead walk directly north on Bull Street.

You’ll pass an impressive white house at the north end of the park — that’s the Armstrong-Kessler Mansion.

You’re probably going to want to snap a selfie in front of it since it was in the movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”

Keep walking straight for one block and you’ll run into Monterey Square, which is one of my all-time favorite squares in Savannah. So many incredible homes and landmarks surround this square!

From there, stroll down Taylor Street two blocks east to Calhoun Square, where you’ll hop back on the trolley.

You’ll pass some beautiful homes on the way.

🎁 Souvenir Opportunity: V&J Duncan Maps and Antiques is a true hidden gem and a great place to purchase locally-authored books and unique maps.

🏠 Tour Opportunity: The Mercer Williams House is available for touring.

📸 Photo Opportunities: The stunning Alex Raskin Antiques building, which is one of the oldest unrestored mansions remaining in Savannah; Congregation Mickve Israel, the third oldest Jewish synagogue in the country; and the Mercer Williams House, which was also made famous by Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil .

Stop #5: Calhoun Square – Hop Back ON

Massie Heritage Center is the main draw at this stop. Venture inside if you want…they have a cool 3D model of the Historic District.

There’s also a beautifully restored home located at 432 Abercorn Street that’s so pretty you might want a picture of it.

You’d probably never guess by looking at it, but some people think it’s one of the most haunted homes in Savannah !

Calhoun Square itself is also considered haunted, since it’s reportedly the site of a mass slave burial ground.

Historic Wesley Monumental Church, established in 1868, also sits on this square.

It’s a fairly boring stop, so I don’t recommend spending too much time here. Hop back on the trolley at this location to head to the next one!

📸 Photo Opportunities: Calhoun Square and Wesley Monumental Church, plus a few of the surrounding homes

Stop #6: The Cathedral of St. John – Hop OFF & Back ON

The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist is one of the most incredible sights in all of Savannah.

Definitely go inside, since the interior is breathtaking and very photo-worthy.

There’s no cost to enter, but you’re welcome to leave a few dollars at the donation station by the door.

Donations help with the maintenance of the building…and that lovely air conditioning you’ll enjoy while inside.

If you’re not running low on time, walk across Liberty Street to see historic (and haunted!) Colonial Park Cemetery .

It’s filled with historic gravesites from duels, wars, and the Great Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1820.

Head back to the Cathedral to hop back on the trolley after you’ve seen the cemetery.

📸 Photo Opportunities: The interior and exterior of Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, and the east wall of Colonial Park Cemetery

Stop #7: The Pirates House – Lunch Option

This is the first lunch option out of two spots, so if you’re getting hungry you might want to hop off and grab a bite to eat at their buffet.

The She Crab Soup and the Pecan Crusted Fried Chicken are two of their most popular dishes.

Both are on the buffet, but you’ll have to request the honey pecan sauce for the chicken from one of the servers. (Insider tip: This dish is better for when you order it as your entire meal [only available on the dinner menu] vs. ordering from the buffet!)

The Herb House portion of the Pirates’ House was constructed in 1734, so it’s one of the oldest still-standing structures in the state of Georgia.

And yes, the building is aptly named since actual pirates used to hang out there.

If you aren’t hungry, you can take photos of the building from the trolley and head on the next stop.

Stop #8: Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters

While I absolutely love the work that has gone into restoring this home and consider it one of the top tours in Savannah, they have a frustrating check-in process and it’s rather difficult to fit it in if you only have one day in Savannah.

For that reason, I suggest staying on board and photographing it from the trolley.

If you’re ever in town for a longer period of time, definitely include this as a “must-see” on your list!

It’s actually one of the top ten tours I recommend in Savannah in my Savannah First-Timer’s Guide .

Stop #9: Telfair Museum

Unless you’re an avid art lover, this is yet another stop where you can photograph the buildings and adjacent square from inside the trolley.

Stop #10: City Market – Lunch Option – Hop OFF

By now I imagine you’re probably getting pretty hungry.

I suggest hopping off at this stop to grab a slice of Vinnie Van Go Go’s pizza. The price is right at less than $5 for a giant slice.

Be sure to request extra crispy crust!

If Vinnie’s has too long of a wait (it’s very popular), you can opt for a fancier meal at Belford’s or walk over to Little Duck Diner — an adorable retro diner at the corner of Barnard and W. Saint Julian Street.

While you’re in City Market , stroll around and check out some of the talented artists in their studios.

Be sure to sample the sweets at Byrd Cookie Co. and Savannah Candy Kitchen!

You’ll be back in this area for Stop #16, so wait to make your purchases then. (That way you won’t have to lug items around with you.)

Tour Opportunities: One of my favorite tours in Savannah is the First African Baptist Church tour (also a “top ten” in my ebook). The church is located just west of City Market and Franklin Square. If you have the time, I highly suggest it! Tours are Wed-Sat at 3 pm only. Plan to spend an hour and a half inside. Another really fun tour to try in this area is American Prohibition Museum . I suggest purchasing tickets in advance.

Related Reading: City Market Savannah: What to See and What to Skip!

Stop #11: Reynolds Square

The Olde Pink House restaurant is the main attraction at this stop.

It’s an iconic restaurant in Savannah and so popular that you need to make reservations months in advance.

Take photos from the trolley or hop off to get better shots. There’s a tavern in the basement if you’re in the mood for drinks!

If you’re craving dessert and don’t mind standing in ridiculously long line to get it, stroll one block south to Broughton Street to enjoy some Leopold’s Ice Cream.

📸 Photo Opportunities: The Olde Pink House Restaurant, Lucas Theatre, and the Leopold’s Ice Cream sign with the SCAD sign in the background.

Stop #12: E Factors Walk

I’m a huge fan of Factors Walk, but in the interest of saving time I’m going to suggest you stay on the trolley here and hop off two stops later on West Factors Walk. There’s more to see on the west end.

Enjoy the scenery in this area as you make your way down towards River Street!

Stop #13: Market Landing – Hop OFF and Back ON (or walk!)

River Street is one of the most well-known streets in Savannah, so you’ll definitely want to hop off here!

The east end of River Street is the quieter and less crowded end of the street.

Head over to the Waving Girl Statue to take a photo of Florence Martus, who gained notoriety for waving at all the passing ships.

If you’re lucky, you might even spot a giant container ship coming into port while you’re there!

There’s an open-air marketplace where you can do more souvenir shopping, but nothing there particularly screams “Savannah” to me.

If you’re in the mood to stretch your feet, you can walk from this area along the riverfront to get to the next stop…or you can hop back on the trolley to ride to the next stop.

📸 Photo Opportunities: The Waving Girl Statue, River Street, and any giant container ships that happen to pass by

Stop #14: Cotton Exchange Building – Hop OFF

If you haven’t already read my post about Factors Walk , you should! There are so many unique things to see in this area.

The Old Cotton Exchange Building is the famous building that most people think of when they picture River Street, and the winged lion stands guard in front of it.

You can actually walk underneath the Cotton Exchange building to get to River Street, and I recommend doing so just to say you’ve done it!

When you get to River Street, you’ll see the Georgia Queen Riverboat (if it isn’t out on a cruise) and you’ll be near my favorite candy shop, River Street Sweets.

To get back to the trolley, walk up the ramp located next to Olympia Café (you’ll be walking towards the City Hall building with the gold dome at the top).

You might want a photo of the exterior of the cafe, since it was in the Joe Jonas movie, “Devotion.”

Once you round the corner of the ramp, you’ll see the unique Cluskey Vaults, which are worth exploring.

Be sure to look to your left and make note of Vic’s on the River, since it’s a potential dinner spot!

🎁 Souvenir Opportunity: River Street Sweets is the top seller of pralines in the world. I suggest sampling them while they’re warm, and then buy a half-dozen (or more!) to take home with you.

📸 Photo Opportunities: The Old Cotton Exchange Building, the Old City Exchange Bell, the winged lion statue, the Georgia Queen Steamboat, and the Cluskey Vaults

Stop #15: City Hall

There’s no need to hop off at this stop.

City Hall is a pretty building, but if you only have one day in the city you can certainly find better ways to spend your time.

Stop #16: Franklin Square

This is essentially the same stop as stop #10.

If you were smart and took my advice about not purchasing souvenirs to lug around earlier, now is the time to revisit City Market to purchase lots of sweet treats from Byrd Cookie Co. and Savannah Candy Kitchen.

After you’ve made your purchases, you can hop back on the trolley to head back to the Savannah Visitor Center and place your purchases in your car, OR you can walk a few blocks north to River Street to have dinner at Vic’s.

Just make note that if you plan to stay late, you’ll need to have your car out of the Visitor Center by 6 pm!

🎁 Souvenir Opportunity: Key Lime Coolers, Salted Caramel, and Georgia Peach cookies from Byrd Cookie Co. or pralines from Savannah Candy Kitchen

After the Trolley Tour: Dinner Options

I run a private Facebook group for people who are planning trips to Savannah, and Vic’s on the River is consistently one of the most popular restaurants mentioned in the group.

Sometimes it even gets higher marks than The Olde Pink House! Make note that it’s best to make reservations at least few days in advance.

If you still have energy to explore after dinner, you might want to stroll down to the Plant Riverside District . It’s the new development on the far west end of River Street.

Just look towards the Talmadge Bridge and you can’t miss it…you’ll see two giant smokestacks reaching towards the sky.

Whew, that was a pretty jam-packed itinerary, wasn’t it?

Hopefully you feel like you were able to fit a lot in and get a good overview of the city!

Savannah Travel Resources

If you had fun and want to plan a return trip, I’ve created some Savannah travel resources to help you out.

My Savannah First-Timer’s Guide is the easiest way to plan a future trip. You’ll get free updates for the life of the guide with your purchase!

These blog posts are also a great place to start…

• W hen is the Best Time to Visit Savannah ?
• Where to Stay in Savannah, GA

You can also sign up for my email list , and you’ll get a handy list of 50 things to do on-foot in the Historic District.

Don’t Forget: If you’re reading this post to get inspiration for your trip, don’t forget to book your Hop-On/Hop-Off trolley ticket !

Do you have any questions for me about this Old Savannah Trolley Tours itinerary? If so, let me know in the comments below!

9 Comments on Old Savannah Trolley Tours 1-Day Itinerary

I’ve never been to Savannah, but your beautiful photos make me want to plan a trip there ASAP!

Awww, thank you! I love photography, and it’s a very photogenic city.

I love Savannah, and I love your guides. I am actually considering going back soon, and your site is AMAZING, gives me ideas and inspirations on how to visit it even better and more efficiently. Thank you!

That’s awesome. Happy to help! Fall is a great time to visit. We’re just about to head into peak hurricane season at the moment (late Aug to the end of September/early October).

I didn’t know much about Savannah, but this post made me put it on my to-visit list. Really love how the buildings look!

I want to come to Savannah on December 22 and stay through December 29. Are the stores open for Christmas Eve shopping? And the restaurants open for dining? Also I would assume everyone closes on Christmas Day which is Saturday this year, but by Monday, will stores and restaurants be open back up? Are the trolly and carriages available during these days?

Hi Vickie. This year might be a little different than most, due to the pandemic. We’ll have to see how things play out. But in a normal year, shops would be open on Christmas eve, and many restaurants would be open for dining. A select few restaurants are also open on Christmas day, but those are usually the ones attached to hotels. Try places like the 17Hundred90 Inn & Restaurant or some of the restaurants at the JW Marriott Plant Riverside. By that Monday, many businesses will reopen…unless pandemic restrictions tighten. The trolleys and the DOT shuttles run the majority of the year, but they might close down on Christmas day. It’s probably best to call them to verify. Even if they aren’t running, if you’re able to walk without too much trouble (I realize not everyone has those capabilities), the Historic District is very walkable and beautiful during the holiday season. You could spend Christmas day exploring places like Jones Street, Taylor Street, Charlton Street and some of the more residential areas, which look beautiful. Here’s a post about Christmas in Savannah: https://savannahfirsttimer.com/christmas-in-savannah/

Thank you for writing this post. I used it on Thursday for my one day in Savannah and it was so helpful. So glad I found it!

Awesome! I’m glad it was helpful 🙂

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Old Savannah Tours

Review Highlights

“ If you do this tour do yourself a favor and request Mr Komedy . ” in 12 reviews

“ The 3 guides we had on our tour were entertaining and informative with my favorite being Gertrude (or maybe Donna). ” in 15 reviews

“ This tour company has trolleys running all day and you can get off the trolley and get back on to explore. ” in 144 reviews

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255 Montgomery St

Savannah, GA 31401

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About the business.

Locally created and owned, Old Savannah Tours gives you an authentic experience of our beloved city. While exploring Historic Savannah, we fill our tours with lively historical re-enactors who bring history to life. Come see why we've been voted Best Trolley Tour in Savannah every year since 2003! …

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Where do the tours start-215 Boundary street or the address listed in their Yelp profile?

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Pretty fantastic. The tour was more ghostly than jump-scare. The talking was good. I feel the price matches the expectation. Paulie and Ro were fun.

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I've been to Savannah many times and even lived there for over a year when I attended Armstrong Atlantic State University, now Georgia Southern University. However, I've never taken a trolley tour until this past September when we visited for a few days. We had several hours to kill on a Thursday and my history loving husband suggested we take a trolley tour and I thought why not? It would be a great way to see and learn more about the oldest city in Georgia! We chose the hop on-hop off tour, which is 90 minutes long. The tour begins each day at 9:00am and the last tour leaves at either 4:30pm or 5:00pm depending on the season. This tour goes through 14 stops and a trolley comes by every 15 minutes or so. We hopped off pretty early on to explore one of the squares by foot and ended up walking around, getting coffee, and shopping for over an hour. We hopped back on and stayed for several more stops, but had to hop off once we got closer to our hotel. We appreciate that you have the freedom to "customize" your tour experience. The tour was very informative and enjoyable! We loved the addition of historical characters who hopped on at different stops. The actors did a phenomenal job. Highly recommend!

See all photos from Gretel Y. for Old Savannah Tours

I bought the tickets through Orbitz. It was a good price for two people. Get there early to have a parking spot. The tour starts at 9 am and it goes through historic Savannah neighborhoods. The best thing to get is the hop-and-on pass. There are trolley stops all around the tour and you're able to get off and on. I gave them three stars because of my experiences. It started when I checked in. No one was on the front counter. She was doing multiple people's jobs. I've waited like 10 minutes. I showed my Orbitz confirmation on my phone. She asked me if I had a printout. So, I didn't and she didn't print it out. She explained that I have to have a sticker to get on and off the trolley (this will evolve into an experience later). I didn't know there was a way to get around and re-rise the trolley when I booked my tickets on Orbitz. Unfortunately, I didn't get those tickets :/ Moreover, we sat inside the trolley and sat on the front row with the tour narrator just one foot in front of us. When he was talking he projected saliva on us. It was disgusting! Also, during the tour, she stopped talking and looked at young females walking on the sidewalk. It was not necessary to do that in front of people while narrating historical facts. It was very creepy and perverted. During the ride, I noticed we stopped at the trolley stop tourists coming on to ride the trolley without the Old Savannah Tour. The driver didn't say anything to them and asked them for their tickets. At the end of the tour at the Savannah Welcome Center. It is the last stop to take a break. Therefore, we had to take another trolley back to the Old Savannah Tour Center. When we hopped inside the trolley the driver asked if we had tickets. He didn't ask the other non-persons of color who were getting inside the trolley. That irritated me! I felt singled out. Overall, I liked the facts about the historical park squares and houses during the trolley tour. However, I wouldn't recommend this for older adults with mobility difficulties. My mom didn't enjoy it because it was a lot of walking and River Street had an even sidewalk.

See all photos from Grace R. for Old Savannah Tours

We enjoyed our tour, they are open air trolley busses. Seating is comfortable enough. The guide we had was fun and energetic throughout as well as knowledgeable about all of our stops. The actors at each stop are a fun encounter with stories and it was entertaining more so for our children. Would recommend again when having guests from out of town to get a tour of a lot the haunted stops around Savannah if they've never been.

See all photos from Rebekah A. for Old Savannah Tours

Old Savannah Tours: For the most part the tour provided us with a lot of information about Savannah with all its history. A cool service they provided is that you call them and they'll pick you up - our pick up spot (on Bay Street) was super close to our hotel (Hyatt Regency Savannah) actually it was in front of the Bohemian which was located right next door. Once you're picked up they take you to the Savannah Welcome Center where you'll check in (showing your email receipt or paying for your tour). They'll give you a sticker to place on your shirt to use throughout the day for hopping on and off at the different stops (16 total) Whenever we travel to a city we take hop on hop off tours and run the entire route to see all the stops then we figure out which stops we like and go back to those stops. Overall the Tour was decent it was just that the driver/tour guide spoke to fast and the volume of the speaker was not high enough to hear everything. Also the bus moved very fast through some of the areas so seeing everything that the driver/tour guide was pointing out only allowed us a moment to see what he was talking about. The tour takes you through the many squares with Spanish Moss hanging from the Oak trees- the old south look you always see in pictures/movies very cool. A nice extra is that from time to time the bus would stop and a character actor (dressed in the period of time or subject of the particular area/time) would join us on the bus to tell us stories about the area/city of Savannah. All in all it is a very good way to see all the historical spots, but again we felt slightly rushed. I felt we missed a few things

Nelson was a fantastic tour guide, very informative, and extremely friendly. My wife and I enjoyed the tour and recommend anyone visiting Savannah Georgia to visit this establishment. Thank you, Nelson.

I did the Trolley Ghost tour near Halloween. It was such a blast! It was educational and entertaining. The guide used to be a history teacher and had excellent story telling skills! Very spooky ghost stories were told. Some I had not heard about even though I listen to spooky stories all the time on YouTube. I loved the actors portraying different stories of old historic Savannah. We got to go inside one of the art museums at night during the tour. It was breath-takingly beautiful and definitely eerie at night. I loved it. This tour exceeded my expectations! This is a great family friendly Halloween event if you have older children (might be too spooky for young children).

This was a great way to get an overview of Savannah. Our driver/guide shared a little history in a humorous way. We enjoyed the 'guests' who hopped on and added a little extra fun to the ride. I wish the hours of operation were a little longer than 4:00 or they offered a 'two day ticket' option. With that in mind, you will want to start early in order to fully utilize the 'hop on hop off' feature.

I've been on this tour a few times and each time it's different. The stories seem to change as well. They added where different people portraying historical characters get on at various stops to tell a story. It wasn't my favorite tour experience. If was okay. We tipped the tour guide and driver because it seemed like hard work and they did their best.

Customer service - 5 stars Safety - 5 stars Entertainment - 3.5 stars Went on the "Boo Y'all Comedy Ghost Tour". It was primarily a ride along comedy show with lots of ghostly story telling. We weren't sure what this one would be like. You only get off the bus one time and that was to stop at a bar. The comedy was pretty funny. Not sure that we would do this one again, but it wasn't bad. This bus has windows which does impede seeing the old buildings at night. Might have been better on a different bus.

Okay, so we scheduled a semi-short notice ghost tour through our concierge at our hotel. They highly recommended Old Savannah but the tour that was most popular, which included a stop for dinner, was booked up. They said tickets were still available for the next tour which was an adult comedy ghost tour referred to as Boo Y'all... she said guests have given good feedback and that it seemed to be a good time. We appreciated they had a shuttle to pick us up and drop us off at the tour station and as we are there, the station is packed! Then, just about 99% of those people load up on a trolley and they're on their way - not our tour. About 15 minutes later, staff calls for the next tour and my friend and I and two other couples, over the age of 60, hop on a bus. Now we were pretty bummed that the tour wasn't a trolley ride but we saw some pictures of the Boo Y'all bus and it was all blacked out, thought it looked ok, pretty cool. We did not get that bus, just a standard white Old Savannah Tours bus. All 6 of us hop in and we are introduced to our driver, our resident comedian, and then a woman-very nice lady- who claims spirits will attach themselves to us and we can come back to her and pay to be rid of them... okay... it's their thing. We got forewarning that this was a comedy and tour more than a ghost tour. I get it, but it was really not a ghost tour at all. The comedian would tell us about haunted places as we pulled up out front, he'd crack some jokes, sometimes getting off topic and would miss the que so he'd tell us - oh that place we just past "blah blah blah". He had his funny moments. And we appreciated the chance to sit after walking several miles around the city earlier in the day as well as the comfort of an air conditioned ride, even though it was pretty musty, stinky, and not very clean. Half way through the tour they make a pit stop at some hole in the wall Irish bar where you feel obligated to buy a drink and mingle for 10 minutes before hopping back on the bus for the last half. The bus obviously has windows which prevent you from taking any "ghost" pictures and the stops are very short. We got jealous seeing all the walking tours and if there had been enough people on the bus to where we wouldn't have been noticed missing, we would have bailed at that point and walked or Ubered back to our hotel. There we another moment when we stopped to have a "ghost" come on and tell us his story. Pretty lame, huh dressed in costume hops on in character, says his lines, gets off and goes on checking his phone. I think this has potential to be a good time, especially if there is a large group and people are drinking and having a good time and interacting but it was super awkward in my experience, not great. I was very thankful there was one off the wall lady who was a party of one and took care of being the one to interact. Comedian seemed like a nice guy, had his moments of humor, driver- kudos to him because the way people park I'm amazed that he is able to maneuver around all those vehicles without hitting someone. We told the concierge about how terrible this was and was offered our money back which we declined, lesson learned. This was about $35/person for about 90 minutes.

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Tybee Island Light Station and Museum

Rob B. said "This is a piece of history. Our family had a great time climbing the lighthouse to see how high the tower was. It was a challenge. The museum and great history signs helped us learn about the use of lighthouses and the history of…" read more

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Explore Savannah

Hop on – hop off trolley stops.

Click on each location below to learn a bit more about the historic stops on our most popular hop on – hop off trolley tour.

Or, click the button below to download your own route map.

On & Off Again Old Savannah Tours

• February 4, 2018

tybeeislandcom

Visiting Savannah for the first time can be overwhelming. Savannah’s Historic District encompasses over two square miles, and nearly every building in the district has a story to tell. Fortunately, there’s a way to experience and learn all about the Historic District – and at your own pace, too. Old Savannah Tours offers an On and Off Tour, a fully narrated experience that transports passengers as far north as River Street and south to the border of Forsyth Park.

15 trolley stops are thoughtfully placed throughout the district at important historic landmarks. A trolley collects passengers at each stop every 20 minutes, and one ticket is good for an entire day’s worth of hopping off and on. For passengers, that means there is plenty of time to check out the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, explore the  Telfair Museum , or take a tour through one of Savannah’s grand homes – and still hitch a ride back to your car or hotel at the end of the day.

The trolley takes passengers by the  African Baptist Church , the oldest African American church in the country, renowned novelist Flannery O’Connor’s childhood home, and Chippewa Square, where key Forrest Gump scenes were filmed. Passengers also learn about Savannah’s old police headquarters, built in 1869, that still functions as the city’s police department today.

One stop along the tour is the Pirates’ House.  The Pirates’ House  is now home to a seafaring restaurant aimed at tourists, but the staff is kind enough to lead visitors through a short tour of the home even when you don’t plan on a meal (just be sure to bring a small tip).

The Pirates’ House has layers of history, literally. Savannah was a thriving port town in the 18th century, and the Pirates’ House served a much-needed purpose as an inn and tavern for travelers. Today, tunnels quarried by pirates still exist underneath the building. Rumor has it that the tunnels were used to smuggle rum into the city and kidnapped sailors out to the riverfront. In the late 1800s, a young Robert Louis Stevenson traveled to Savannah and rented an upstairs room in the boarding house. It is said that his stay inspired Stevenson to write Treasure Island. Some even claim he wrote part of the novel there.

Neither the tunnels or upstairs are available to guests due to safety issues, but the main level of the Pirates’ House is worth exploring in its own right. While on tour, visitors can catch a glimpse of the rum cellar and an old trap door cut into the wood plank walls. The Herb House, originally a home for a Savannah gardener, once stood next door to the boarding house. Built in 1734, it is the oldest private residence in Savannah. Today, the Herb House is a part of the restaurant.

Near Lafayette Square is the  Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist , another stop on the On and Off Tour. The cathedral is one of the grandest buildings in Savannah. Built in 1896, it has a whitewashed, stucco facade, and two towering spires frame the entrance. The cathedral’s interior, with its painted ceilings and Austrian stained glass windows, is breathtaking and well worth a peek inside.

A short walk north of the cathedral is the  Colonial Park Cemetery , the oldest cemetery in Savannah and the only cemetery located within the historic district. Home to over 9,000 graves but only 1,000 tombstones, the site served as Savannah’s main burial ground from 1750 to 1853. It includes a mass burial site used for yellow fever victims during the epidemic of 1820.

Colonial Park Cemetery went through a period of disrepair in the 19th century, when many gravestones were scattered, lost, or defaced. During the Civil War, Union troops camped in Colonial Park Cemetery and desecrated several graves, carving the wrong dates into some tombstones and knocking down others. During a restoration project in later years, many tombstones that were misplaced found a home against the far east wall of the cemetery, where they can be seen today.

Other stops on the tour include the  Sorrel Weed house , City Market, and Forsyth Park. To book a tour, call Old Savannah Tours at 912.234.8128 or visit their website at  oldsavannahtours.com.

About the Author: Lauren Winter Lauren Winter is a writer and blogger hailing from the Midwest. After a childhood vacation introduced her to the complex charm and history of the South, she promptly moved to Nashville, Tennessee following college. She now calls Savannah, Georgia home and lives in the Midtown district with her husband and one rowdy terrier. More about  Lauren Winter

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City of Savannah discusses potential of new ordinance for trolley tours and horse drawn carriages

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The city of Savannah may have a new outlook on trolley busses and horse drawn carriages.

This comes after city council members discussed both of these issues in a workshop earlier today.

When it comes to trolley tours, city officials say they’ve received a lot of complaints coming from residents and the Downtown Neighborhood Association over things like noise and traffic.

With tourism being a driving factor here for the city, bringing in about 9.7 million overnight visitors in 2022, city officials say they’re looking to find a balance between keeping Savannah a place tourists will want to visit, and making sure residents have a good quality of life.

Right now, they say they’ve changed some of the trolley routes, addressing concerns coming from the Washington Square area.

Council members also discussed the potential for a new ordinance, one that would require tour vehicles to use directional speakers or in-ear technologies to keep their tour narration quieter.

When looking at the potential for this ordinance, city leaders say there’s a lot to consider.

“You have to look at local businesses, local residents, tourism businesses, non-tourism businesses, and make sure that you can come up with ordinances and policies that address the issues but also support and foster those, because the tourism economy is important to our community,” said Susan Broker, Senior Director of Special Events, Film and Tourism, City of Savannah.

“We’re looking to bring an ordinance to city council in the next four weeks,” Broker added.

Also in today’s workshop, council members discussed horse drawn carriages.

They’re looking at three different options: keeping the existing ordinance, adding new restrictions for severe weather or adding weight limits, or getting rid of horse drawn carriages all together.

Again, something city officials say they’re continuing learn more about, hearing from people on all sides of the issue.

“We have in place a task force of the advocacy groups and the horse drawn carriages. We’re in active communication with both groups right now. We’ll continue that conversation, we’ll come back to council with more information so that they can make a more informed decision,” Broker said.

Just to emphasize, no decisions were made on either of these topics, council members simply discussed them to see how they feel conversations should continue to move forward.

Copyright 2024 WTOC. All rights reserved.

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THE 10 BEST Moscow Private Tours

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Moscow walking routes – streets, boulevards and more

To feel the magic atmosphere of the ancient and, at the same time, advanced Moscow you should discover the city with your own eyes and legs. We suggest you to walk around the famous places in the center of the city.

Arbat street walking route

Arbat is considered the oldest pedestrian street in Moscow. The name of this street was first mentioned in 1475. What is so special about this place – museum, theater scenes, marketplace, and a place for walking? Arbat is a kind of a cozy world where you can immerse yourself in the amazing creative atmosphere. The street became pedestrian in 1986. Soon, the renovated street attracted artists, musicians, street performers and vendors, creating custom creative world within Arbat. Contemporary Arbat is something like the ‘Montmartre’ where you can see people draw, sing, dance, recite poetry, oratory and much more. Perceiving its noble and intellectual traditions try to feel the uniqueness and charm of this corner of Moscow.

Restaurant «Prague»

1. Start a walk along Arbat at its eastern end – Arbatskaya Square. Here you can see a XIX century building – a famous restaurant – «Prague» . It has existed since the 1890s and always was a meeting place of the elite. The restaurant itself is now closed for a reconstruction.

«Khudogestvenniy» Cinema

2. The restaurant overlooks «Khudogestvenniy» Cinema – one of the oldest cinemas in Moscow. It was opened in 1909. Following the Arbat Street, you will see numerous beautiful buildings that represent mostly the XIX century architecture. However, the real treasures of Arbat hides in its lanes. Old building still preserve there

The Moscow State Museum «House of Burganov»

3. Turning to Bolshoy Afanasyevsky Lane you will find the beautiful Church of Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria . Following the lane, go to the Moscow State Museum «House of Burganov» . A part of its exhibition, by the way, is clearly visible from the outside, so you can choose either to observe it from a distance or to visit this museum. Coincidentally, you will see many works of this artist travelling along this route. Next, go along the Sivtsev Vrazhek Lane all the way to Denezhny Lane, and from there, you will arrive to the Arbat.

The Melnikov House

4.If you turn left to the Krivoarbatsky Lane, you will find one of the city’s most remarkable examples of Constructivist architecture, an idealistic and futuristic movement that swept the Soviet Union in the 1920s. The Melnikov House is named after the architect who designed it in 1927. An experimental design, the house is formed from two connected cylinders and dotted with hexagonal windows. Plans to create a museum here exist, but even before that happens it is worth going to peer through the fence. Continue on Kirvoarbatsky Lane and turn right to go back to the Arbat. At the end of the lane, there will be the “Victor Tsoi Wall” , a one-of-a-kind tribute to the beloved musician.

The Vakhtangov Theater

5. At the Arbat Street you will see the Vakhtangov Theater and 6 a small fountain with golden figure of Princess Turandot, the title character of Carlo Gozzi play, and the most celebrated production of this theater.

Statue of Bulat Okudzhava

6. At the Plotnikov Lane, you will see bronze statue of Bulat Okudzhava , a famous Russian songwriter and singer, walks sure-footed to meet you. The sculptor G.V. Frangulyan did his best to recreate the spirit of the legendary Arbat so adored by the bard around this composition.

Church of the Savior on the Sands (Spasa-na-peskah)

7. Head straight up Spasopeskovsky Lane to see the pretty Church of the Savior on the Sands (Spasa-na-peskah) dating the 18th century. At the far end of the lane is the elegant Spaso House , home of the U.S. Ambassador to Russia. Make your way back to the Arbat, and turn right to continue walking west.

Statue of Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin and his wife Natalia Goncharova

8. On the right, you will notice a bronze statue of Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin, and his wife Natalia Goncharova. After their wedding at the nearby Great Ascension Church, the couple lived in the blue house on the left, which is now the Pushkin House-Museum .

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

9. The Arbat ends at Smolenskaya-Sennaya Square, which is dominated by the massive Ministry of Foreign Affairs . This is one of seven skyscrapers known as the Seven Sisters, which were built in 1947 to commemorate Moscow’s 800th anniversary.

Moscow boulevards walking route

Monument to Nikolai Gogol

1. Start the walk from Kropotkinskaya metro station and follow the boulevards clockwise. You will find yourself at Gogolevsky Boulevard , the symbolic start of the Boulevard Ring. It stretched from Prechistenskie Gate Square to Arbat Gate Square. A striking feature of this boulevard is that it is a three-tiered – external, middle and inner parts are at different heights. There are many houses and mansions of the late nineteenth century. Almost in the center of the boulevard is a monument to Mikhail Sholokhov. Two departments of Moscow Museum of Modern Art are located here. At the end of the boulevard, you can see a monument to Nikolai Gogol.

Fountain rotunda «Natalia and Alexander»

2. Coming over the Arbat Square, you will find yourself at Nikitsky Boulevard , with lots of beautiful buildings and nice cafes. The mansion of Count Alexander Tolstoy was situated here. The Niktitsky Gate completes the Boulevard. On your left, you will see fountain rotunda «Natalia and Alexander», established in honor of the 200th anniversary of Alexander Pushkin’s birth.

TASS Main Entrance

3. Moving forward you get to the longest boulevard of the Boulevard Ring – Tverskoy . At the beginning of the Boulevard, you will see the monument to Timiryazev. Also, note the TASS building on your right. In the center of the recently renovated Boulevard is a monument to Sergei Yesenin.

Monument to composer Sergei Rachmaninoff

4. Crossing the Tverskaya Street, you will get to the Pushkin square where you will see the writer’s monument. Right behind the Pushkinsky Cinema begins the Strastnoy Boulevard , the widest at the Boulevard Ring. Here you will find a monument to composer Sergei Rachmaninoff and a monument to the actor and poet Vladimir Vysotsky.

Petrovsky Boulevard

5. Strastnoy Boulevard ends by Petrovskiye Gate and Petrovsky Boulevard begins. Here you will find many architectural and historical monuments.

Female Rogdestvensky Monastery

6. Rogestvensky Boulevard starts from the Trubnaya Square. The history of this place begins with the appearance of female Rogdestvensky and men Sretensky Monasteries in the area. In 2012, worship the cross in honor of the patroness St. Euphrosyne of Moscow was established at the boulevard.

Monument to Nadezhda Krupskaya

7. Go further to Sretensky Boulevard , the shortest boulevard of the Boulevard Ring. In the beginning of the boulevard is a monument to Nadezhda Krupskaya.

Chistoprudny Boulevard

8. At the entrance to Chistoprudny Boulevard , you will see a monument to Alexander Griboyedov, and later – a monument to Kazakh poet Abai Kunanbayev. Chistoprudniy Boulevard is the only one at the Boulevard Ring where you will find the pond – “Pure ponds”(Chistie Prudi).

Pokrovsky Boulevard

9. Coming through Pokrovsky Gates Square and Khokhlovskaya Square you will appear at Pokrovsky Boulevard that flows into the Yauzsky Boulevard . They are not so well known as Tverskoy or Chistoprudniy Boulevard, but they are also quite remarkable.

Monument to Motherland Border Guards

10. Ustyinsky drive completes the Boulevard Ring. Here, in the Yauzskie Gate park area you will find a monument to Motherland Border Guards. Perhaps we have not told you everything about the Boulevard Ring. Just have a walk right at the border of unpreserved White City and see wonderful nowadays Moscow through one of its best parts.

Kitay-gorod walking route

Kitai-gorod is one of the oldest and the most interesting areas of Moscow. It was a commercial and business district in the years before the Revolution. Here you will see traces of medieval Moscow.

Fragments of the foundation and the base of the Varvarskaya tower

1. Start your walk right at the Kitay-gorod metro station . In the wall of the underpass, you will see fragments of the foundation and the base of the Varvarskaya tower of the Kitay-Gorod. Kitaygorodskaya Wall was built in Moscow in the 1530s by architect Petrok Maly. It had 14 towers and was more than 2.5 km length. The Wall began from the Arsenal Tower and ended at Beklemishevskaya Tower of the Kremlin. It was almost completely demolished in the 1930s – 1950s.

Temple of St. George on Pskov Hill

2. Go to Varvarka Street , into the area of the former medieval fortress.The street is real reserve of old Moscow: ancient temple of St. George on Pskov Hill, the cathedral of the former Znamensky Monastery and Chambers of the Romanov Boyars are situated in the street.

Temple of the Trinity in Nikitniki of XVII century

3. If you go to the Ipatievsky Lane on the opposite side of Varvarka, then at the corner of the Nikitinskiy lane you will see the beautiful temple of the Trinity in Nikitniki of XVII century.

Gostinniy Dvor

4. Return to Varvarka and continue. To your left you will see one of the oldest buildings in Moscow – Old English Court , built in the late XV century by merchant Ivan Bobrischevym. On your right, there is Gostinniy Dvor . The first mention of it dates to the beginning of the XVI century, and at the end of XVIII century, it was rebuilt by architect Quarenghi. Now it hosts an exhibition hall, shops, restaurants and cafes. Not far from Gostinniy Dvor, Barbara the Martyr Church, which gave its name to the street, is located.

Burse Square

5. Turn right to the Crystal Lane (as you might guess, there used to trade crystal and glass)and go on to Ilyinka Street . The street is named after the ancient Elias Monastery. It was abolished, and the Church of Elijah the Prophet was built in its place. Follow the Ilyinka Street to the Burse Square. Exchange building (now a CCI of Russia) is on your right. Like a hundred years ago, it is – one of the main business areas of the capital: ministries, banks, representative offices of various companies. Many buildings have preserved from pre-revolutionary times. Near the Burse Square a beautiful Epiphany Cathedral of the Epiphany Monastery – one of the oldest in Moscow is located.

Nikolskaya Street

6. Reaching the Big Cherkassky Lane , turn left and walk along the early XIX century buildings to Nikolskaya Street. It is, perhaps, the busiest street of Kitay-Gorod. At all times it was one of the main streets of Moscow. There is a wide variety of shops, malls, restaurants, cafes and clubs.

Shopping Center «Sheremetyevsky»

7. Nikolskaya Street has always been famous for many bookshops. In the beginning of the XIX century, there were 26 out of 31 Moscow bookstores!

Tretyakovsky Passage

8. Go by the street towards the Kremlin. Right in the arch – Tretyakovsky Passage – a street with fashionable shops of famous international brands. This passage was arranged in the 1870s Tretyakov brothers. The Building in the Gothic style, with a sundial, bas-relief images of a lion and the unicorn is a former Synod printing. The house was built in the 1810s. Here, in 1564 the first Russian printed book “The Apostle» was published. Russian State Humanitarian University is now located here. Walk along the Nicholskaya Street and get to the Red Square, from where you can start a wonderful study of the Moscow Kremlin.

Zamoskvorechye walking route

The Zamoskvorechye District, located at the lower bank of the Moskva River, has almost undergone any renovation. Varied in style, Moscow churches XVII – XIX centuries, the Exchequers and the homes of famous Moscow merchants retain the image of old Moscow.

The first mention of the Zamoskvorechye in the documents refers to 1365, when first settlements began to form here. Since the second half of the XIX century, the area was popular among intellectuals. Outstanding figures of Russian culture lived and worked here. For example, young Lev Tolstoy rented an apartment in the merchant’s house in 1854-1855 in Pjatnitskaya Street. Fyodor Dostoevsky often visited his aunt in a house on Bolshaya Ordynka (known as Kumaninskoe farmstead). This area is closely associated with the names of Anna Akhmatova, the famous Russian publisher and educator Ivan Sytina. The Soviet era did not cause serious damage to Zamoskvorechye and despite modern development, here preserved historical architecture.

In 2013, a new pedestrian zone near the Tretyakovskaya Gallery, and includes Pyatnitskaya street Klimentovskiy, Ordinsky, Lavrushinsky Lanes and Kadashevskaya embankment, appeared in Zamoskvorechye.

Pyatnitskaya Street

1. Start a walk from Novokuznetskaya metro station . Go through Pyatnitskaya Street to the vintage Klimentovskiy Lane that connects Bolshaya Tatarskaya and Bolshaya Ordynka streets.

Temple of the Holy Martyr Clement

2. Here you can see a wonderful piece of the XVIII century architecture – the Temple of the Holy Martyr Clement , Pope (1762-1774). The northern side of Klimentovskiy Lane forms a small district occupied by shops and cafes.

Church of All the Afflicted

3. Crossing Bolshaya Ordynka not forget to look in Ordynsky dead end , located right on your way.there you can see the Church of All the Afflicted.

The State Tretyakov Gallery

4. One of the main attractions of the pedestrian zone – The State Tretyakov Gallery is situated in Lavrushinsky Lane. The famous museum occupies the even side of the lane, called in the XVIII century by the name of the proprietor Lavrushina.

Sculptured composition by M. Shemyakin

5. Going to the Kadasheskaya Embankment , you will cross the drainage channel by Luzhkov Bridge and find yourself on Bolotnaya embankment. Nearby, at the Bolotnaya Square, you can find sculptured composition by M. Shemyakin and monument to the great Russian artist Repin. Then you can continue your walk and visit the «Red October», there are many restaurants, cafes and Lumiere Brothers Photography Center.

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Soviet Tour in Moscow

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Description

Highlights:.

• Explore a massive Soviet Park VDNKh (or VVC);
• Experience this special feeling of the good old Soviet times & dark and gloomy Cold War era;
• Get to the highest spot in Moscow city and one of the deepest metro in the world;
• Find out the rough truth about the insane 900-day siege of Leningrad (present St Petersburg);
• Take in the Triumphal Arch;
• Capture an extraordinary sculpture-memorial to the Holocaust;
• Join a guided Bunker-42, Cold War Museum tour (optional, not included in the price).
• See a harmony trio: an orthodox church, a synagogue and a mosque all in one park.

Tour Itinerary

With the 1000-year history, Russia has had a rich portfolio of conflicts, battles, wars. On this Soviet tour, we'll talk about various wars that happened in Russia, focusing on WWII.

Mother Russia has undergone a lot in its long life. Since ancient times, Russian rulers have taken nearly all political power into their own hands. By the beginning of the 20th century, the Russian oppositional movement was deadly set for the total destruction of the ever-lasting tsarist regime. All of Russia got involved in the bloody revolution of 1917 in an effort to abolish the current state of the government and gain freedom for the ordinary people.

You will learn about the every-day life of the Soviet people during the bloody Second World War with the Nazis, including the legendary Battle for Moscow, the 900-day siege of Leningrad, the hardships that local citizens went through, the consequences of the war and the scars it left on the Soviet people, as well as why the Cold War happened and what was the fundamental reason.

Our mission on the Soviet Russia tour is to find out

• - How much this 1917 revolution cost the people;
• - Whether they actually got the freedom they wanted and was it worth it;
• - What happened over the next 74 years;
• - Who were the main political communist leaders of the Soviet Union;
• - Were Russians happy and satisfied with the Soviet Union?

Our tour itinerary will lie in most Soviet areas of Moscow, which are quite spread throughout the city, as very few of them are left. You can choose how much you are ready to live this Soviet life on a 5, 7 or 10-hour tour. Depending on the duration of the tour, you will see part or all of the places below:

If you want to extend the tour, you are welcome to do so by paying $20/extra hour in cash on the tour.

Time stands still in Red Square. The Red Square is the heart of Moscow (and whole Russia). Saint Basil's Cathedral will make your mouth drop. If it is from May-October, have a cocktail on the outside terrace and simply people watch! The massive square offers so much to enjoy.

Lenin's Mausoleum

The burial place of one of the most influential communist leaders in the world.

Revolution Square Metro Station

Rub the Soviet dog's nose for good luck and admire the 76 bronze sculptures, devoted to the passionate, strong-willed and patriotic Soviet people.

Poklonnaya Hill

The highest point in Moscow, where Napoleon waited for keys of the city.

All-Russian Exhibition Center (VVC)

With its giant arch, amazing fountain, and huge pavilions of different Soviet Republics.

Victory Park Metro Station

The deepest undeground station in Moscow and one of the deepest in the world.

Victory Park

For an open-air museum as big as 135 ha (1 350 000 square meters), Victory park sure doens't lack diversity. The park is dedicated to the Russian victory in WWII, and was laid out in 1995 in commemoration of 50-year anniversary of victory.

Stalin had planned for its construction already in 1941, being sure of victory from the very start of the war.

Greeting Hill

The highest points in Moscow (172 meters), where Napoleon waited for keys of Moscow in vain.

Triumphal Arch

Stunning monument consisting of 12 cast-iron columns, each 12 meters high, and weighing 16 tons. Built to mark Russia's victory over Napoleon in 1812.

Museum of the Great Patriotic War

In the city that is as much about wars as it is about victories, there is one essential stopover - the Museum of the Great Patriotic War (that's what WWII is called in Russia). Must-do for those wishing to understand Russia's past and look at the whole war from the different perspective - Russian.

The museum is not for the faint-hearted. Here you can see films about the partisan experience, the scenes that will haunt you forever (no subtitles, but they are not necessary).

Museum of Contemporary History (from outside only)

We'll have a glance at Russian life of the XX century in the  Museum of Contemporary History , which houses bits of everything from Russian history of XXth century: from English club to a storage of Stalin's presents.

Memorial to the Holocaust,

devastating and breath-taking!

Unleash your inner spy. Highly recommended  Bunker-42 ,  Cold War Museum , explore the place where Khrushchev lived during the Cuban Crisis. Go down 18 floors to a gigantic bunker under Moscow that was designed to withstand a nuclear attack. Watch a short film about the severity of the Cold War. If you lived through the Cold War, you will hardly believe it is possible that you are in Bunker 42!

Wander through  Sparrow Hills  and climb up to the highest observation deck of Moscow with stunning views of all seven Stalin’s skyscrapers, including  Moscow State University . After that, experience the excitement of taking a  river cruise  on the Moscow river and catch the views of the Kremlin and Soviet times.​

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting tour, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

*This WW2 and Cold War tour can be modified to meet your preferences.

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