Savannah
Savannah scams: what to watch for
Savannah's main tourist scams are small and street-level: fake parking attendants, bar and club drink padding, overpriced ghost-tour tickets sold by touts, and card skimmers at gas stations. Walk the Historic District by day, keep to lit streets and rideshare at night, and pay tour operators directly rather than through anyone who approaches you.
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GuideSavannah
Key facts
- Most common
- Fake parking attendants asking for cash near the Historic District
- Second most common
- Bar tabs padded with drinks you did not order, especially on River Street
- Tour tickets
- Buy ghost tours and trolley tickets from the operator's own site or booth, not from a street seller
- Card skimmers
- Reported at some gas stations and ATMs; use chip or tap inside a store
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance) nationwide
- Non-emergency police
- Savannah Police Department non-emergency line (check)
- Night risk
- Low in the Historic District, higher on the edges of downtown and near the bus station (check)
Top picks: what to watch for
Savannah is a small, walkable city and most visitors never meet a scam. The ones that do happen are low-value and easy to spot once you know the pattern. The list below is ranked by how often travellers report them, not by how much money is at stake.
The single best defence is to pay by card or phone, keep cash for small tips only, and never hand money to someone who approaches you first. If a deal is only available from a person on the street, it is not a deal.
| Scam | Where it happens | What it costs | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fake parking attendant | Historic District, near squares and River Street | US$10–20 cash (2026 estimate) | Use a metered space or a city garage; pay the meter, not a person |
| Padded bar tab | River Street and City Market bars | US$20–60 extra (2026 estimate) | Ask for an itemised receipt and check it before paying |
| Tour ticket tout | Around City Market and the visitor area | US$10–30 over the operator's price (2026 estimate) | Book on the operator's own website or at their booth |
| Card skimmer | Gas stations and some standalone ATMs | Your card limit | Tap or insert inside the store; cover the keypad |
| Fake charity or petition | Busy squares and the waterfront | US$5–20 (2026 estimate) | Decline and keep walking; do not open your wallet |
| Unlicensed rideshare | Outside bars late at night | US$20–50 over the app fare (2026 estimate) | Order through the app and match the plate and driver name |
Costs are 2026 estimates; most reports involve small amounts rather than large losses.
Prices and hours
Legitimate paid attractions in Savannah run on published prices and posted hours, so anything that is not on a sign or a website is worth questioning. Trolley and ghost tours typically sell fixed-price tickets online and at a booth, with departures through the day and into the evening. City parking meters and garages have posted rates and hours; meters are enforced on most days (check).
If someone offers you a discount that is not printed anywhere, treat it as a red flag rather than a bargain. The table below shows the shape of normal pricing so you can compare.
| Item | Typical price | Hours | Where to pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trolley or hop-on tour ticket | US$30–45 (2026 estimate) | Daytime departures, roughly 9am–5pm (check) | Operator website or booth |
| Ghost tour ticket | US$25–40 (2026 estimate) | Evening departures, roughly 7–10pm (check) | Operator website or booth |
| City parking garage | US$1–2 per hour, daily max around US$15 (2026 estimate) | Open 24 hours | Garage machine or app |
| Street meter | Around US$1–2 per hour (2026 estimate) | Enforced most days (check) | Meter or city parking app |
| Bar drink | US$8–15 (2026 estimate) | Varies by venue | Card at the bar, check the receipt |
Prices are 2026 estimates and vary by operator and season.
How to arrive
Most visitors reach Savannah by air into Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), about 20 minutes by car from the Historic District (check), or by train on Amtrak's route along the East Coast, with the station a short drive from downtown (check). From the airport, a rideshare or taxi is the simplest option; confirm the fare in the app before you get in.
If you drive, park once in a city garage and walk. The Historic District is compact and mostly flat, so a car is more of a cost than a convenience once you are there. Arriving by train or plane and using rideshare at night avoids both the parking scam and the late-night walk.
- Air: SAV airport, roughly 20 minutes to downtown by car (check)
- Train: Amtrak station near downtown, short taxi or rideshare ride (check)
- Car: park in a city garage and walk the Historic District
- Night: order a rideshare through the app and match the plate
FAQ
Questions people ask
What scams target tourists in Savannah?
The common ones are fake parking attendants asking for cash, bar tabs padded with extra drinks, tour tickets sold by street touts above the operator's price, and card skimmers at gas stations and standalone ATMs. All are small-value and avoidable by paying by card and booking direct.
Is Savannah safe at night?
The Historic District is generally busy and well lit in the evening, and most visitors walk it without trouble. Risk rises on the edges of downtown and around the bus station. Stay on lit streets, walk in a group, and take a rideshare after late drinks.
What should I do if my wallet is stolen in Savannah?
Call 911 if it is happening now, or the Savannah Police non-emergency line to file a report. Freeze your cards through your bank's app, then replace your ID. Keep a photo of your passport and card numbers somewhere separate from the originals.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialCity of Savannah
- officialVisit Savannah
- officialSavannah Police Department
- officialFederal Trade Commission – Scams
- secondaryWikivoyage – Savannah