Historic District North

The northern Historic District is the easiest place to stay in Savannah, with restaurants, shops and squares within a few minutes' walk and good street lighting. It is touristy and crowded at night, so petty theft and rowdy bar crowds are the main concerns, and the quiet edges are best avoided after dark.

The northern Historic District runs from the riverfront at River Street down through Johnson, Wright, Chippewa and Madison squares to roughly Gaston Street, and holds most of the hotels, the City Market and Broughton Street. It is the best base for a first visit because everything is a short walk and the streets are busy from morning until late evening with tour groups, diners and ghost-tour crowds. Lighting is good and visibility is high, so walking back after dinner is generally fine, but the area is not crime-free. Pickpockets work the crowds on River Street and in City Market, and the busiest bar blocks get rowdy late at night when to-go cups are in circulation. Lanes and lots that run off the main squares can be empty after 10 PM, so stay on Bull, Broughton, Bay and Abercorn. River Street's cobblestone ramps and stairs are steep and uneven, which is a particular concern after a few drinks or in heels.