Private Historic Savannah Tour in a Vintage Citroën

Reviewed · SAVANNAH SQUARES & HISTORIC WALKING TOURS

Private Historic Savannah Tour in a Vintage Citroën

5.0 · 162 reviews 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) From $165 Operated by Daniel Richardson · Bookable on Viator
Book on Viator →

Savannah has a way of grabbing you fast. A private drive in a vintage Citroën turns the Historic District into something you can actually take in, while Daniel Richardson tailors the route to what you care about. I like the vintage Citroën 2CV-style open-air feel, and I like that you get a true private experience rather than weaving through crowds.

The main consideration is simple: it’s an open-top ride and the tour runs best with good weather, so plan for sun and wind, and don’t count on comfort if the day turns gray.

Key Takeaways Before You Book

Private Historic Savannah Tour in a Vintage Citroën - Key Takeaways Before You Book

  • Vintage open-air Citroën ride: Cobbles, trees, and spires feel closer when you’re not sealed inside a van.
  • Private, tailored pace: Daniel Richardson adjusts the story and stops to your interests and questions.
  • Forsyth Park loop plus surprises: You’ll get park history plus details that many people skip.
  • Square-to-square context: You’ll connect Savannah’s original plan to what you see outside.
  • Past the postcard spots: City Market, River Street, and the Colonial Cemetery round out the picture.
  • Easy start and end: Pickup within the Historic District (with one specific exception), then you return to your meeting point.

Riding the Historic District in a Vintage Citroën (and Why It Feels Better)

Private Historic Savannah Tour in a Vintage Citroën - Riding the Historic District in a Vintage Citroën (and Why It Feels Better)
If you want Savannah to feel personal, this style of tour helps right away. You’re in a vintage Citroën convertible, open enough that you catch the look of the live oak trees overhead and the vertical lines of the architecture. That changes the whole experience: you notice angles, not just faces of buildings.

The car also makes the tour memorable in a very physical way. From the cobblestones to the way you coast along River Street, it’s not just transportation. It’s a moving viewing platform. The open roof also gives you different sightlines through the streets and squares, which matters when you’re trying to understand Savannah’s layout instead of just snapping photos.

And yes, it’s fun. Daniel drives in a way that feels relaxed, not rushed. In the reviews, people kept pointing out how comfortable the ride was for big-and-tall guests, and how the car draws smiles and waves from other sightseers. That social side isn’t the point of the tour, but it adds a lightness to what can otherwise be a heavy-history city.

We have more walks through Savannah's historic squares and old district to wander

Your 90-Minute Private Route: What You’re Really Buying

Private Historic Savannah Tour in a Vintage Citroën - Your 90-Minute Private Route: What You’re Really Buying
You’re paying $165 per group (up to two people) for about 1 hour 30 minutes. That sounds short, but Savannah is built for “see it, understand it” walking-free sightseeing. The tour is set up as a loop through the Historic District, with multiple stops where Daniel can explain what you’re looking at and why it matters.

The private part is the real value. With only your group, you can ask questions without waiting your turn, and Daniel can steer the talk toward architecture, founders and early movers, local stories, or whatever you’re curious about that day. If you’ve ever done a group tour where you hear one story per stop and move on, this is the opposite.

Two practical notes you’ll feel immediately:

  • You’re limited to two people per booking. If you’re traveling with a larger group, the math won’t match this format.
  • The route is guided by “seeing,” not “staying.” You’ll view a lot of key sites, but you won’t have hours at each one. If you want museum time inside buildings, you’ll likely do that on your own after the tour.

Pickup, Meeting, and Getting There Without Stress

This tour offers pickup within the Savannah Historic District, including hotels, Airbnb-style stays, restaurants, and residences. The one exception noted is the Westin Hotel on Hutchinson Island. If you’re staying somewhere else, you’ll want to confirm the closest pickup point that fits your exact location.

After the tour, it ends back at the meeting point. That matters more than you might think. In cities with traffic and parking, ending where you started keeps your day simple and helps you move straight into lunch, coffee, or a self-guided stroll.

You’ll also get a mobile ticket, and confirmation comes at the time of booking. If you like to travel light and avoid printing, that’s a small but real convenience.

One more timing detail: on average, this is booked about 20 days in advance, so if you’re traveling in a busier season, plan ahead instead of hoping for a last-minute slot.

Forsyth Park: The Perfect First Stop for Context

Private Historic Savannah Tour in a Vintage Citroën - Forsyth Park: The Perfect First Stop for Context
The tour begins with a leisurely drive through iconic parts of the Historic District, including several squares and picturesque parks. It then zooms in on Forsyth Park, with a loop around the park and an emphasis on its history.

Forsyth is one of those places that looks obvious at first glance. But when you learn what to watch for, it becomes more meaningful. Daniel shares history and also highlights details people often miss—like the fountain and surrounding landmarks—so you don’t just see a famous park. You understand why it fits into Savannah’s story and daily rhythm.

If you’re doing this early in your trip, it pays off fast. Several people explicitly said doing it on day one helped them plan the rest of their visit. Even if you don’t do it first, it still works as a “reset.” After Forsyth Park, you’ll start recognizing patterns in the city instead of treating each square as a separate postcard.

Mercer Williams House and Monterey Square: Midnight in the Garden, Without the Confusion

Private Historic Savannah Tour in a Vintage Citroën - Mercer Williams House and Monterey Square: Midnight in the Garden, Without the Confusion
Next up is the Mercer Williams house, located on Monterey Square, right off Forsyth Park. It’s famous because of the book and film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, but the tour approach is practical: you’re brought to the place, and you get the framing so it clicks with Savannah’s identity.

What I like about this stop is how it connects literature and real streets. You’re not just hearing a trivia line. You’re getting a sense of how Savannah’s homes and public spaces feed into its reputation—its mix of elegance, mystery, and old-world character.

Even if you’ve seen the film, you’ll likely notice different things on a second pass once you’ve been given local context. And if you haven’t, you still won’t feel lost. Daniel makes it understandable and ties it back to the neighborhood.

Savannah’s Squares and the City’s Original Plan

Private Historic Savannah Tour in a Vintage Citroën - Savannah’s Squares and the City’s Original Plan
One of the core ideas of this tour is the city’s design. You’ll loop a central, iconic square and learn the history of the city’s original plan—the logic behind how Savannah was laid out and how that shapes what you see today.

This is a stop where the story matters as much as the view. Squares are not random; they’re part of a system. When you understand that, you stop thinking of Savannah as a collection of pretty locations and start seeing it as a planned grid with personality.

A good sign you’ve hit the “right” tour approach is when you start noticing relationships: which streets frame which sights, how buildings face the squares, and how the city’s layout affects walking routes. By the time you leave this section, you’ll get a better grip on where you are and how to move through the Historic District on your own.

Telfair Academy and Jepson Center: Museums You Can See From the Street

Private Historic Savannah Tour in a Vintage Citroën - Telfair Academy and Jepson Center: Museums You Can See From the Street
The tour includes a drive by Telfair Academy, along with the Jepson Center across the way. You’ll see both from the street as you move between key points, including Telfair’s iconic entrance and classical statues.

You don’t need to be a museum person to enjoy this segment. The value here is architectural. You get a sense of scale, symmetry, and how civic culture shows up in stone and details. It’s a classic Savannah move: art and history aren’t isolated inside a building; they’re part of the public image.

If you do want museum time, this stop works as a teaser. You’ll know what you want to check out later, because you’ll already have the layout in your head.

City Market and River Street: Food, Shops, and the View That Moves

Private Historic Savannah Tour in a Vintage Citroën - City Market and River Street: Food, Shops, and the View That Moves
From there, you’ll drive through City Market in loops so you can see it all. City Market is known for outdoor events, food destinations, art galleries, and frequent activity. The tour doesn’t attempt to slow you into every stall and shop. Instead, it gives you the big picture so you can decide what you want to do later.

Then comes River Street, and it’s handled in a very Savannah way: you coast along it end to end, with the ride rolling over cobblestones. River Street is one of those “you either get it or you don’t” places, and being out in the open helps you get it faster. You see the riverfront perspective, the movement, and the texture of the old waterfront vibe without having to fight crowds the whole time.

Practical tip: if you’re a photo person, this is where you’ll want to be ready. River Street is made for angles, and the tour timing gives you repeated chances to look and adjust.

The Colonial Cemetery and the Somber Side You Shouldn’t Skip

Not every Historic District tour gives the cemetery the attention it deserves. This one includes Savannah’s Colonial Cemetery, presenting it as both beautiful and somber and explaining its history while you view the historic building abutting it—along with the old Savannah police station and jail.

This is a meaningful pivot in the tour. Cemeteries in Savannah aren’t just burial grounds; they’re part of how the city tells its past. Daniel’s stories help you approach the site with the right mindset: respectful, curious, and aware that you’re seeing history shaped by law, daily life, and social structure.

If you prefer lighter, purely decorative stops, you might feel this section is heavier. But if you want Savannah to make sense beyond the prettiest views, it’s essential.

Lucas Theatre, Broughton Street, and Ending at the Armory Building

Toward the end, you’ll pass the Lucas Theatre, which is historic and visually striking on its own. Daniel uses it as a jumping-off point for Broughton Street, Savannah’s main shopping thoroughfare.

This is a smart move. Lucas Theatre gives you an anchor point—a recognizable landmark with style—then Broughton Street becomes the “what to do next” list. Even if you don’t shop, it helps you understand how the Historic District functions day to day: where people stroll, where energy gathers, and how the city connects its historic core to modern visitors.

Finally, you wrap up at the old Armory Building at the south end of Forsyth Park. It’s presented as an ideal end spot because there are places to grab coffee, lunch, or even a bottle of wine in nearby shops.

This matters because a tour ending in the right neighborhood turns sightseeing into an actual day plan. You’re not stuck figuring out where to go next. You already landed in a good spot.

The Real Value: Is $165 Worth It for Up to Two?

For many people, the question isn’t whether they like the car or the stories. It’s whether this private format is worth the price.

Here’s how I’d look at it:

  • You’re getting a private guide in a distinctive open-air vehicle, with route flexibility based on your interests.
  • You cover a dense chunk of top Savannah hits plus cemetery and waterfront, in a short time window.
  • Daniel’s approach includes stopping for pictures at scenic locations, and some reviews mention him acting as a photographer when needed.

So the cost makes sense if you’re traveling as a couple, want a smoother start (pickup helps), and you care about context rather than just checking boxes. If you’re the kind of traveler who reads plaques, asks questions, and likes to plan your remaining days smarter, this format is a strong match.

If you’re solo and don’t want to pay for a full two-person group rate, you might compare it to other options. But for two people who want a calmer, more personal Savannah intro, it’s easy to see why this tour earns repeat demand and near-perfect ratings.

Who Should Book This Private Savannah Citroën Tour

This tour is a great fit if you:

  • Want a first-day orientation to understand Savannah’s layout and priorities.
  • Like your history delivered through stories tied to specific buildings and squares.
  • Prefer a small, private setting where questions don’t get cut off.
  • Enjoy cars and don’t mind open-air sun or wind on a warm day.

It’s less ideal if you:

  • Need long stops inside museums or specific buildings.
  • Are only interested in a light, purely scenic loop with minimal cemetery or darker-history context.
  • Are traveling with a group bigger than two and don’t want to split bookings.

Should You Book This Tour?

If you’re visiting Savannah and you want to get past the surface fast—while keeping your day comfortable and organized—I’d book it. The vintage Citroën makes the experience memorable, and Daniel Richardson’s route style helps you connect Forsyth Park, the squares, the market, the riverfront, and the Colonial Cemetery into one coherent story.

Just be sure you pick a day with decent weather so you can enjoy the open-air ride as intended. If you do that, this is one of the easiest “yes” decisions for a couple looking for real Savannah context without the hassle of crowds.

FAQ

How long is the private Savannah tour?

It runs for about 1 hour 30 minutes.

What does it cost, and how many people is it for?

It’s $165.00 per group (up to 2 people).

What areas and landmarks does the tour cover?

You’ll see Forsyth Park, the Mercer Williams house on Monterey Square, Telfair Academy and the Jepson Center, City Market, River Street, Savannah’s Colonial Cemetery, the Lucas Theatre, Broughton Street, and the old Armory Building at the south end of Forsyth Park.

Is pickup available, and where can you be picked up?

Pickup is available anywhere within the Savannah Historic District, such as hotels, Airbnb, restaurants, or residences. The tour cannot pick up at the Westin Hotel on Hutchinson Island.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

Is the car open-air, and what if the weather is bad?

It’s described as an open, convertible vintage Citroën experience, and the tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Is a mobile ticket used?

Yes, a mobile ticket is provided. Confirmation is received at the time of booking.