Things to Do Alone in Savannah (Free Shuttle and Ferry)

Savannah can be done on zero fares: a free downtown shuttle called the dot and a free ferry across the river carry you between the museums, the park and the waterfront. That takes the planning out of a day alone, because you can hop on, get off and try the next stop without buying a ticket.

Last checked 2026-11-01.

The free loop: dot shuttle and Belles Ferry

Chatham Area Transit (CAT) runs the dot Express Shuttle with funding from the City of Savannah. It has two loops, Forsyth and Downtown, and connects visitor centers, attractions, shops, restaurants and hotels. It arrives every ten minutes at 18 stops, seven days a week. Hours are Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekends 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and holidays 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; there is no service on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's Day (CAT: dot Express Shuttle).

The Savannah Belles Ferry links the Riverwalk with Hutchinson Island at no cost. Operating hours are daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., with a boat every ten minutes outside of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Landings are at City Hall on the Riverwalk, at Waving Girl in Morrell Park and at the Westin and convention center on Hutchinson Island. The four boats are named after women from Savannah's history (CAT: Savannah Belles Ferry). Riding it one way and back is a short, easy outing for a first solo trip, as everyone on board faces the water and nobody expects small talk.

CAT's "Popular Spots" page lists which routes reach the park, the Telfair museums, the Davenport House, the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace and the Savannah Theatre, and marks the free dot as an option for most of them (CAT: popular spots).

One ticket, seven days, three museums

Telfair Museums. A single ticket covers the Jepson Center, the Telfair Academy and the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, with unlimited visits for seven days from purchase. The listed adult price is $30, with $27 for seniors and active military, $20 for students aged 13 to 25 and $10 for children 6 to 12. Telfair also lists a $3 adult rate for people with a SNAP card through Museums for All. The Telfair describes the Academy as the oldest art museum in the South (Telfair: hours and admission, Telfair: our three museums).

Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters. Guided tours leave every 15 minutes and last 45 minutes to an hour, in groups of up to 12. The last tour begins at 4 p.m.; the house is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Monday, when it is closed. A guided slot with a small group is an easy way to be alone without being by yourself.

Because the ticket stays valid for a week, you can see one site a day and never feel the pressure to see everything in an afternoon.

Two houses with timed tours

Davenport House Museum. Run by Historic Savannah Foundation. Museum hours are Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed on Sunday. Guided tours run on set times, are limited to 15 people and last about 70 minutes, and the museum suggests booking a specific time to guarantee your spot (Davenport House).

Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace. The home of the Girl Scouts' founder is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limited tour hours on Wednesdays. The site lists guided-tour prices of $15 for adults and $12 for seniors, students aged 5 to 21 and military (Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace).

Saturday in the park

Forsyth Farmers' Market. Open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Forsyth Park, year-round and in rain or shine, with more than 70 regular farmers, growers and food producers. The market says its schedule may shift with weather, so check its calendar first (Forsyth Farmers' Market). The dot's Forsyth loop and CAT's popular-spots list both serve the park. A market is a good place for a first conversation: asking a producer a question about what they sell is a small, natural way to talk.

An evening seat

Historic Savannah Theatre. At 222 Bull Street. Its schedule lists Fiddler on the Roof from November 13 to 29 and A Christmas Tradition from December 3 to 26, 2026. The box office is open Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and closed Sunday (Savannah Theatre). One seat is simple to book.

Out to the lighthouse

Tybee Island Light Station & Museum. On Tybee Island, which is a separate trip from the dot's loops. The site calls it Georgia's oldest and tallest light and lists visiting hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily except Tuesday, when it is closed; the last ticket is at 4:30 p.m., the lighthouse closes at 5 p.m. and the grounds at 5:30 p.m. Backpacks of any size are not allowed on the grounds, and the lighthouse can close without warning in bad weather (Tybee Island Light Station). Check the site on the morning you go.

First solo outings

Easy: ride the ferry. Board at the City Hall Riverwalk landing, cross, and come back.
Middle: a Saturday at Forsyth Park. Take the dot to the park, walk the market and buy one thing.
Bold: a weekday museum day. Buy a Telfair ticket, take an Owens-Thomas tour, and add the Davenport House the next day.

Looking ahead, the Savannah Music Festival is listed for April 2 to 17, 2027, which could be a longer trip to plan alone (Savannah Music Festival).

Solo Era for iPhone

Take a short public ferry crossing

Solo Era has a travel mission at level 2: "Take a short public ferry crossing." The free Savannah Belles Ferry is one place to try it. Free to download. A subscription is required to start missions. Prices and any free trial are shown in the app and depend on the offer and eligibility.

Where next

For the same slow pace in another southern port city, see Charleston, then Atlanta and Miami. Browse the cities hub, the solo travel guide, or read how to eat alone while traveling.

FAQ

Is public transport in Savannah free?

Part of it is. CAT's dot Express Shuttle and the Savannah Belles Ferry are zero-fare services, while other CAT routes are paid.

How often does the Savannah Belles Ferry run?

CAT lists a boat every ten minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

How long is a Telfair ticket valid?

For seven days from purchase, and it includes the Jepson Center, the Telfair Academy and the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters.

Is the Forsyth Farmers' Market open in winter?

Yes. The market says it is open every Saturday, 52 weeks a year, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., though its schedule may shift with the weather.

Which day is the Tybee lighthouse closed?

Tuesday. It is open the other six days from 9 a.m., with the last ticket at 4:30 p.m.

Sources (checked 2026-11-01)

Details change; check the venue before you go.