A Tale of Two Southern Belles - Which City is Best?
Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, are often considered sister cities, both renowned for their rich history, stunning architecture, and quintessential Southern charm. Tourists flock to these coastal gems to stroll cobblestone streets, admire moss-draped oaks, and indulge in world-class cuisine. But for a traveler trying to decide where to go, a key question arises: “Which city offers the most value for my money?”
How Many Days to Spend in Charleston & Savannah?
SPEND 3-4 DAYS IN CHARLESTON: You can certainly spend more time and experience the Charleston area even more, however 3-4 days would give you a good overview. Spending 2 days downtown, 1 day exploring a Plantation and some tours on the way and and a 4th day either downtown or at the beach would be ideal.
SPEND 3 DAYS IN SAVANNAH: In Savannah, the historic district is where it’s at. The city was designed originally with 24 squares, however there are 22 squares today. The squares are basically mini parks with statues and green space and really make give the city a relaxed vibe. We recommend spending 3 days in total in Savannah with 2 days dedicated to the historic district and 1 day dedicated to Tybee Island and the beaches.
CHARLESTON VS. SAVANNAH VALUE COMPARISON
We’ll break this down by accommodations, getting around, touring and dining.
Where Should I Stay? Accommodations Value
Where you stay will make all the difference in your experience. In both cities it’s more expensive to stay in the historic districts. Being able to simply walk out of your hotel in the morning and be in the center of it all is obviously much more enjoyable than driving back to where you’re staying.
- Accommodations Value Winner = Savannah: Savannah is the hands-down winner in the accommodations value category saving you about 30% compared to what Charleston accommodations are in the historic district. You can stay in the historic district in Savannah for what it costs in Charleston to stay in North Charleston (a 15 minutes drive from the historic district).
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How Do I Get Around Charleston or Savannah?
Getting Around Charleston:
- Motorized Transportation: In the historic district there’s a free hop on hop off trolley called the CARTA Dash. The Visitor Center is the hub of all routes. It’s best to park at the Charleston Visitor Center located at 375 Meeting Street. There’s ample parking there. Unless you have a car, to explore areas outside of the historic district you can easily call an Uber or Lyft.
- Walking: Charleston is a very walkable city in the historic district. It’s considered safe as well.
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Getting Around Savannah: Savannah also has a free hop on hop off trolley called the DOT Trolley that services the historic district. Included on TourPass is the narrated Hop On Off Trolley operated by Old Town Trolley Tours. We recommend if you want to use the Old Town Trolley to do so on your first day and then use the DOT Trolley on subsequent days. Uber an Lyft are also available for use outside of the historic district.
Touring Charleston or Savannah
To really experience a city, it’s best to go on some tours and learn about the history from a professional. We recommend checking out TourPass which includes all of the must-see tours/attractions.
Charleston has many more tours to choose from with it’s close proximity of the expansive Charleston harbor and beaches simply gives travelers more options.
Savannah has some amazing tours as well, however the options are a bit more limited in scope. For instance, Savannah is on a river and does not have the expansive harbor that Charleston has, therefore water activities are there, however they are not as plentiful.
- Tour Value Winner = Savannah, however Charleston has more tours to choose from. Tours are not as expensive in Savannah typically. Based on our calculations you’ll spend 20% more on touring in Charleston versus Savannah.
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Why You Should Use TourPass for Touring
There are so many touring and directions that your days can go that it can be overwhelming. TourPass only includes the top tours and sites so you can have confidence knowing what’s truly the best.
- TourPass saves a considerable amount of time versus researching what to do.
- TourPass saves a considerable amount of money versus buying tour tickets individually. Save up to 40%. The more you do the more you save.
- TourPass is a hassle-free experience. The TourPass app has useful info and maps to enhance your experience.
- See more info below.
THE VERDICT: WHICH CITY IS THE BEST VALUE?
Ultimatley, the best value depends on your travel style and what you hope to get out of your trip. If you’re looking to spend less than Savannah will more than likely be the best option for you.
Choose Charleston if you’re looking for more options, higher-end accommodations, dining and cost doesn’t matter.
Choose Savannah if you’re a traveler that prefers a slower, more relaxed pace. There’s still higher-end options and many things to do.
