Self-Guided ‘Old Squares of Savannah’ Solo Walking Tour

Savannah’s old squares are the real attraction here, and this self-guided walk gives you a simple way to connect them. You’ll hear stories about Tomochichi, the founder of the Girl Scouts, the Owens-Thomas slave quarters, and the movie site at Chippewa Square. It is part city history lesson, part gentle stroll, and just a little spooky around Reynolds Square.

I like the freedom to start whenever you want and pause for a museum, lunch, or a shaded bench. I also like the small-group format: your phone is the guide, so you are not tied to strangers or a fixed schedule. The main drawback is the app. Several people had trouble with the code, GPS permissions, directions, or audio timing, and the narration can feel uneven.

Key points to know before you go

• A flexible 55-minute to 1-hour-15-minute route: Start and stop as you please, with the option to take the walk in one go.
• Seven history-focused stops: Reynolds Square, the Owens-Thomas House, Davenport House, Wright Square, Telfair Academy, Juliette Gordon Low’s birthplace, and nearby landmarks.
• A strong introduction to Savannah’s squares: You’ll learn how the city developed around these public spaces.
• Museum doors are not included: The tour stops outside several museums, but admission costs extra.
• A phone and working location services are essential: The app needs GPS permission to trigger the next story correctly.
• A memorable finish at Chippewa Square: This is the square associated with Forrest Gump and one of Savannah’s best-known movie locations.

What this Savannah walking tour actually feels like

This is not a guided group walk with a person leading you through the city. It is a private, GPS-guided audio experience for your own group, delivered through your smartphone in English.

The route takes about 55 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes, depending on how quickly you walk, how long you pause, and whether you stop at a museum or shop. The recorded content at the listed stops is short, often two to five minutes. The rest of your time is spent walking between squares and finding the next location.

That format works well in Savannah. The squares are close enough to explore on foot, and you can stop whenever a building catches your eye. You are not being hurried along by a guide who has to keep the whole group moving.

At the same time, you need to be comfortable managing the technology. The access code is separate from the main booking number and is found in step three of the booking ticket. The operator has also sent codes by text in some cases. If the app asks for location permission, allow it. Without GPS access, the next recording can start too early or fail to trigger properly.

Starting at Johnson Square and finding your route

The meeting point is Johnson Square in central Savannah. The listed endpoint is Chippewa Square, where the tour finishes at the square made famous by Forrest Gump.

There is one practical point to watch here. The start is listed as Johnson Square, while the first named stop is Reynolds Square. That means you should give yourself a moment to check the route on your phone before walking. Some people found the directions hard to follow, particularly when the narration used terms such as facing without making the orientation clear.

The route is not a race. If the app seems to move ahead before you have finished a story, stop the audio and check your position. The experience is designed to be paused, and that feature is one of its better ideas.

You may also encounter ordinary Savannah street noise. One person found a train whistle distracting, and outdoor audio can be affected by traffic, pedestrians, or other city sounds. Bring headphones if you want to hear every detail clearly.

Reynolds Square, malaria, and the Olde Pink House

Reynolds Square gives the walk an appropriately old-fashioned opening. The story here includes the Olde Pink House and people who died of malaria in the square, giving the first stop a darker edge than a standard architecture walk.

The audio stop lasts about three minutes. That is long enough to introduce the square without keeping you planted in one spot, though it may leave you wanting more detail. If you enjoy Savannah’s ghostly side, this is one of the more distinctive parts of the route.

The Olde Pink House is also a useful landmark for getting your bearings. You are not simply listening to a story in an abstract place. You can connect the narration to a recognizable building and the surrounding square.

The tone may not suit everyone. The narrator tries for humor at times, and the comic delivery does not always land. I would approach this as a light audio tour with historical and spooky touches, not as a polished theatrical performance.

Lucas Theatre and a quick architectural pause

The walk briefly passes the Lucas Theatre, where you hear about its history. This is a short stop rather than a full theater visit.

That distinction matters. The tour points out the building and gives context, but it does not include admission or a performance. You will get the most from this pause if you enjoy noticing how Savannah mixes public squares, historic homes, museums, and entertainment buildings within a compact area.

The stop also helps break up the older colonial stories. You are not hearing only about founders and monuments. Savannah’s public life, arts, and film connections also enter the picture.

Owens-Thomas House and the story of the slave quarters

Outside the Owens-Thomas House, the audio turns toward the house and its slave quarters. This is one of the most important stops because it makes the city’s history more complete. Savannah’s grand homes cannot be understood only through their architecture and owners. The people who were enslaved there are part of the story.

The stop lasts about two minutes. It is an introduction, not a full museum visit. Admission to the Owens-Thomas House is not included, so you can pause the tour and enter separately if you choose. Press play again when you are ready to continue.

That pause-and-visit option is valuable, but it also means the final cost can rise if you add museum admissions. The $9.75 tour price covers the audio walk only. You are paying for orientation and storytelling, not entry to the historic houses.

Davenport House and Columbia Square’s fountain

The next stop is outside Davenport House, another historic residence with its own story. Afterward, the route heads toward Columbia Square and its old fountain.

This section gives you a feel for Savannah’s repeated pattern: a preserved house, a public square, and a story tied to the city’s growth. The tour does not simply send you from one famous address to another. It helps you see how the squares function as the connecting structure of the historic center.

The Davenport House stop is about three minutes. Admission is not included, and the same rule applies here as at the Owens-Thomas House. If you want an interior visit, you will need to arrange and pay for that separately.

Columbia Square is especially useful for a slower look around. The fountain gives the space a clear center, and the square offers a visual break between the house museums and the larger historical stories ahead.

Wright Square and the story of Tomochichi

Wright Square is one of the strongest history stops on the route. Here you hear about Tomochichi, the chief who helped establish Savannah, along with the story of his grave and the statue now located in the square.

The audio lasts about five minutes, making this one of the more substantial stops. I like that the tour gives the square a person at its center rather than treating it as only a pretty patch of greenery.

This is also where the walk can help you understand Savannah as a place shaped by more than one tradition. The story of Tomochichi adds an Indigenous perspective to the city’s founding, which is easy to miss if you spend all your time admiring the buildings.

Admission to Wright Square itself is free. You can pause near the statue, look across the square, and continue when you are ready. This is a good place to let the audio finish before moving on, since the narration contains several names and historical points.

Wright Square Vintage and Retro Mall

The route then pauses near Wright Square Vintage and Retro Mall. The audio connects the shop and the area to Georgia’s film industry, including the state’s role as one of the world’s major filming locations.

You can stop the tour and browse the shop if it interests you. That makes this a more relaxed, less formal moment in the walk. It also gives the route some local texture beyond museums and monuments.

The stop itself lasts about three minutes and is free. The shop is optional, and any purchases are separate. If you prefer history in a strict chronological order, this film-industry aside may feel like a detour. If you like seeing how Savannah’s past and present overlap, it is a welcome change of pace.

Telfair Square and the oldest art museum in the South

At Telfair Square, the tour stops outside Telfair Academy. The narration covers how the museum was established and points out the five statues in front.

The museum is described as the oldest art museum in the South, but the tour does not include entry. You can pause the audio and visit on your own, then return to the route. That flexibility is useful if art is a priority, though you should allow more time than the listed three-minute stop.

From a value point of view, this is where the low tour price becomes clear. You get an introduction to an important building and its setting without paying for a museum ticket. You also avoid being locked into a museum visit if you would rather keep walking.

If you do visit, remember that the tour is not designed to provide a full guided explanation inside the galleries. It gives you the outside context and lets you decide how far to go.

Juliette Gordon Low’s birthplace

The walk continues to the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts. The stop is outside the museum and lasts about three minutes.

This is a small but memorable point on the route because it connects Savannah to a familiar national organization. Even if you know little about the city’s history, you may recognize the Girl Scouts connection immediately.

The birthplace is a museum, but admission is not included. You can pause the recording and visit if you want a fuller look at the house and Low’s life. If you are trying to keep the outing close to one hour, simply listen outside and continue.

The route is at its best when it gives you these short introductions and lets you choose which subjects deserve more time. You are not forced to commit to every museum.

Finishing at Chippewa Square and the Forrest Gump connection

The finish at Chippewa Square is a smart choice. The square is associated with Forrest Gump, where the character sat on a bench telling his story. The bench itself is not promised as part of the experience, but the square is the film location people come to see.

It is also described as one of Savannah’s most beautiful squares, so the movie connection is only part of its appeal. After several history stops, ending in a recognizable film setting gives the walk a simple, memorable finish.

The endpoint is Chippewa Square in Savannah. Once the audio ends, you can continue exploring on foot, take photographs, or use the square as a place to plan your next stop.

What the $9.75 price gets you

At $9.75 per person, this is inexpensive for a private walking experience. You get the English smartphone tour, the audio stories, the route through the old squares, and a virtual walk you can take again after the in-person outing.

The tour never expires, according to the operator’s response to an app-access problem. That gives you some flexibility if the technology fails on your first attempt or if you want to repeat sections later.

The value is strongest if you want a low-cost introduction before deciding which museums deserve your time and money. You can hear about the Owens-Thomas House, Davenport House, Telfair Academy, and Juliette Gordon Low’s birthplace without paying all their admission fees.

The value is weaker if you expect a highly polished app, rich narration at every stop, or detailed directions. The route is more of an orientation than a full history course. Some people found the interface hard to use, and the narration needs editing in places.

Who will enjoy this walk, and who may not

I would choose this tour if you want:

• A private walk without a scheduled group
• Freedom to begin at any time
• A quick introduction to Savannah’s famous squares
• The option to pause for museums, shopping, or food
• A low-cost route with several recognizable landmarks
• A short outing that can fit around other plans

You may want another option if you need an in-person guide, strong visual maps, or detailed architectural interpretation. You should also think twice if you dislike smartphone navigation or do not want to troubleshoot an app.

Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. The tour is near public transportation, though no specific transit route is provided. Food and museum admission are not included.

Book at least 24 hours before the start time if you want the option of a full refund. Cancellation within 24 hours is not refundable, and changes during that period are not accepted.

Final verdict: a useful first walk with a few technical snags

I would book this for a first look at Savannah, especially if you want to understand how the squares fit together before choosing longer museum visits. The strongest parts are the freedom to pause, the stories of Tomochichi and Juliette Gordon Low, the treatment of the Owens-Thomas slave quarters, and the finish at Chippewa Square.

I would not treat it as a replacement for a live historian. The short audio segments leave some subjects lightly covered, and the app may frustrate you if you do not grant location permission or locate the correct access code.

At $9.75, the risk is modest. Prepare your phone, allow GPS access, check the route at Johnson Square, and keep the tour’s code separate from the booking number. If you do that, this is a practical way to get your first sense of Savannah’s squares and decide where you want to spend more time.

FAQ

How long does the Old Squares of Savannah tour take?

The walk takes approximately 55 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes. You can finish it in one go or pause and restart as needed.

Where does the tour start?

The listed starting point is Johnson Square in Savannah, Georgia.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Chippewa Square, the square associated with Forrest Gump.

Is an in-person guide included?

No. This is a self-guided smartphone tour, and only your group participates.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Are museum entrance tickets included?

No. Admission to the Owens-Thomas House, Davenport House, Telfair Academy, and Juliette Gordon Low’s birthplace is not included.

Do I need to allow location services?

Yes. The WalknTours app needs location permission to provide its GPS-based experience and trigger the stories at the appropriate locations.

Can I pause the tour to visit a museum or shop?

Yes. You can pause the recording, visit a museum or the Wright Square Vintage and Retro Mall, and press play again when you are ready.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refundable.