Are you searching for travel inspiration these days? If your wanderlust has kicked in as much as mine, I’m willing to bet these incredible photos of River Street in Savannah, GA, will have you dreaming of your next getaway!
Just imagine strolling down the ballast stone streets of Savannah’s riverfront….watching as giant cargo ships pass by while the golden rays of the sun dance over the water. Sounds pretty dreamy, doesn’t it? I know the feeling; I live in Savannah, and I’m still drawn to River Street on an almost daily basis.
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase through one of my links. Please see my full affiliate disclosure for additional information.
By the way, if you’re new around here — welcome! I’m Erin, and I authored the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide. I love introducing visitors to the city, and River Street makes a great place to start. Plenty of locals consider it a touristy area (and it is!), but I think it’s absolutely beautiful and a photographer’s dream.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the pandemic, I currently advise against any unnecessary travel and hope you’ll stay home and stay safe. If you’re committed to traveling to Savannah, be advised that the city is under an active mask mandate and do your part to keep our residents — and yourself — safe and healthy.
Looking for a specific photo? I created a handy table of contents you can click on to jump to specific sections of interest…
River Street Savannah GA
The area along Savannah’s waterfront is probably one of the busiest areas in the entire city. The Savannah River has nearly as much traffic as the city’s crowded streets and sidewalks! It’s common to see huge container ships sailing into port, as well as smaller tugboats…and the occasional fancy yacht.
Rousakis Plaza

The early morning hours are always the quietest time to visit River Street. Most of the shops open around 9 or 10 am. If you arrive before then you’ll find locals arriving for work, a few early-bird tourists, and the usual joggers who use the waterfront area for their daily route. River Street gets the most crowded with tourists in the late afternoon and evenings, thanks to its fairly active restaurant and bar scene.
The Georgia Queen Steamboat

To get a shot of River Street from the water, you can pay to take a cruise on the Georgia Queen steamboat or take the free Savannah Belles Ferry, which departs from two locations on River Street and then crosses the water to drop passengers at Hutchinson Island.
If you choose the steamboat tour, I suggest selecting a sunset cruise for the best photo opportunities. There’s not a lot to see from the water, but you’ll get a unique perspective of River Street and you’ll see Fort Jackson. You might even spot a few dolphin if you’re lucky!
I don’t usually recommend the food cruises, since you’ll find much tastier food elsewhere in Savannah, but there’s a bar on board, so you can order drinks while you’re cruising. (River Street is synonymous with alcohol, if you haven’t guessed that yet. More than half a million people attend the second largest St. Patrick’s Day festival in the United States each year, and River Street where it’s held.)
Factors Walk

Factors Walk is easily one of the most unique places to take pictures in the Historic District. The bridge above is a popular spot for wedding portraits and graduation shots. It looks prettiest in April when the Confederate Jasmine is in full bloom (that’s when I took this shot).
The Factors Walk area also takes one of the top spots in my list of The 11 Most Haunted Places in Savannah, GA. The lowest level of Factors Walk feels particularly spooky after dark! (Like much of Savannah, it’s beautiful by day and slightly sinister by night.)
Related Reading: When is the Best Season to Visit Savannah, GA?
The Cluskey Vaults

The Cluskey Vaults look (and feel) a little eerie on the inside, but the lighting makes for some fantastic portraits. The vaults are a popular stop on many of the local ghost tours. Click here to see a list of my favorite tours in Savannah.
The story behind the vaults is rather interesting, so make sure you read the markers located at the entrance to each opening. (In short, some people — myself included — think they were once used to house enslaved individuals. The official stance is that there’s no proof of that, therefore it must not be true.)
The Old Cotton Exchange Building

Back in the 1800s, Savannah was known for exporting more cotton than any other port on the entire East Coast. In fact, Savannah was the second largest exporter of cotton in the world. Millions of bales of cotton moved through the city each year, and the old Cotton Exchange building was the epicenter of all the activity.
To see the old Cotton Exchange building today, you’d probably be surprised at how little it has changed in appearance since it was completed in 1887. It almost appears untouched — especially if you look closely at its crumbling facade and the sagging support beams near the base of the structure. Unfortunately, you can’t go inside (unless you’re a freemason there to attend one of their monthly meetings).
Sunsets on River Street

My favorite time (by far!) to take pictures on River Street is during a sunset. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, especially if the water is still and you’re able to capture a good reflection. The lampposts turn on automatically at dusk, and photos usually look prettiest if you wait until just after they turn on.

On a clear night, you’ll usually get varying shades of purples, oranges, and yellows, like you see in the two photos above. The sun sets behind the Talmadge Bridge (also known at the Savannah Bridge), which connects Savannah to Hutchinson Island and then leads into S.C.

Sometimes I like to place items in the foreground of my photo to frame a particular scene or add dramatic effect. Make sure you’re not too skittish if you try this method with bushes and trees like I did in the photo above. The river rats tend to come out at dusk, and they lurk in the shrubbery. They’re pretty big. And fast. And they’ll run over your feet if you’re in their path. (Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!)

I don’t recommend staying in Savannah during a mandatory hurricane evacuation just so you can snag a good photo, but…I’ll admit that I’ve done it a few times. Those shots (like the one above) usually end up being my all-time favorite photos of River Street!
One thing you should note about sunset photos on River Street is that it’s nearly impossible to get a shot without people. You either have to be really patient or go during a time when no one wants to be near the water (ie: when a hurricane is coming or when it’s really cold out). In addition to the hurricane shot above, I took most of the others during the mandatory COVID-19 “shelter indoors” orders.
River Street Sweets

River Street Sweets is one of the most popular shops along Savannah’s riverwalk area — and for good reason! It’s a nostalgic little candy shop, with warm, friendly vibes and some of the most incredible sweets you’ll ever put in your mouth. Make sure you sample their pralines and Bear Claws, as well as the candied nuts. (Ok…just sample everything you can get your hands on. Trust me on this.)
If you’re a foodie, you’ll quickly discover that Savannah is a pretty awesome place to hang out. However, the best restaurants aren’t located on River Street, but further into the Historic District. Treylor Park, Little Duck Diner, and The Collins Quarter are a few of my current favorites. You can also sample a variety of restaurants by going on the Famous and Secret East Side Food Tour or the 3-Hour First Squares Food Tour.
River Street Savannah GA at Night

There are lots of bars and restaurants that stay open late along River Street, so you can usually find plenty to do. The entire street is an open container zone, so you might want to go elsewhere if you’re traveling with kids.
I tend to get a lot of inquiries about whether or not River Street is safe at night. Personally, I think it’s better to walk around with a buddy than it is to walk alone. I don’t suggest wandering around on the middle and lower levels of Factors Walk late at night, since those areas are less trafficked and that’s where many of the homeless tend to camp out.
Insider Tip: My general rule of thumb in Savannah is this: If you see lots of other people out and about, then you’re usually good to go. Once others head inside, you need to follow suit. You don’t want to be caught alone on the streets of Savannah at night.

Having mentioned all that, you can get some really incredible photos of River Street and Factors Walk once the sun goes down. Consider yourself doubly lucky if you’re in the area after a fresh rainfall; the lights reflecting off puddles between the cobblestones add a nice little touch to photos.
The Stone Stairs of Death

I had to save the best for last…the Stone Stairs of Death always make a great photo op! They’re impressive day or night. They’re located on the west end of the river between River Street and Williamson Street — just below Jere’s Antiques.
Savannah Riverfront Hotels
If you want to stay on River Street and have a direct view of the water, here are a few hotels I recommend:
- River Street Inn (huge remodel completed in 2020)
- The Alida
- Hilton Homewood Suites
The newest hotel to the Savannah riverfront area is the JW Marriott Kessler Plant-Riverside, which is located on the recently-developed far west-end of River Street.
Alternatively, you can often find some really great Airbnb options with balconies overlooking River Street!
Related: Best Accommodations in Savannah
Savannah Travel Guide Info
If you’re planning a trip to Savannah and need additional help, I’ve created plenty of great resources. Here are a few to get you started…
- Savannah First-Timer’s Guide – To learn the difference between the east and west sides of River Street, and to get all of my favorite insider tips about planning a trip to Savannah, be sure to pick up a copy of my ebook. It’s the only resource you’ll need to plan your trip to Savannah!
- The Best Tours in Savannah – I’ve rounded up a list of my favorite local tours. (My personal favorites are the food tours!)
- Savannah FTG Private Facebook Group – Meet other travelers who love Savannah, pick my brain about your upcoming trip, and see the daily photos I post when I’m out and about in the city.
- Savannah FTG Free Resources Library – Join my email list to get updates about Savannah and gain access to my free resources library.
Don’t forget to grab a copy of my Savannah First-Timer’s Guide. It includes all of my best insider tips and must-see places in Savannah!
My Photo Gear
I use an entry-level SLR and tend to spend more on lenses than I do on camera bodies. Perhaps I’ll upgrade soon, but all of the photos above were taken with my Canon T6i!
I usually use my 24-70mm lens for landscape photos. Although sometimes if I’m shooting at night I’ll opt for the 50mm fixed focal length with a wide open aperture and my tripod.
- Camera Body: Canon EOS Rebel T6i DSLR
- Macro Lens: Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM
- Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L II USM
- Lens: Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM
- Filters: Tiffen 82mm Digital HT Circular Polarizer
- Tripod: Manfrotto Befree Travel Aluminum
- Camera Bag: Vanguard Adaptor 46 or Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW II
- Laptop: Macbook Air 13-Inch 1.8 GHz Duel Core Intel i5
- Editing: Adobe Creative Cloud
So…which of these River Street photo spots do you want to visit first? Let me know in the comments below!
Love this post? Pin it now to save for later!
Gosh, these streets are simply stunning! I’ve been wanting to visit Savannah for years, so thanks for this inspiring post!
I need to get back to Savannah! It’s been over 5 years (I went for my bachelorette). Great post
Ever since reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, I’ve wanted to visit Savannah. Gorgeous photos!
What a great post! Savannah has been on my bucket list for a long time. It looks absolutely gorgeous and your photos just want me to go more.
I would love to visit Savannah one day! Your website is so helpful 🙂 Saving it for the day I do make it other there!
I last visited Savannah when I was 15 years old, but I still remember that candy shop! I got a bear claw and omg it was good.