Are you searching for some travel inspiration? If your wanderlust has kicked into high gear, I’m betting these incredible photos of River Street in Savannah, GA, will have you dreaming of your next getaway!

Even though I live in the city, I’m still drawn to River Street on a near-daily basis. I love strolling along Savannah’s waterfront, watching giant cargo ships pass by and enjoying pretty sunset views over the water.

Pinnable image of an iron walkway shaded by a large oak and a sunset photo of River Street in Savannah GA

Note: This guide contains affiliate links to my trusted travel partners.

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 absolutely is), but I think it’s unique and a fantastic spot for photographers.

What to See Along River Street

There are a few notable landmarks you might want to take pictures of as you’re strolling along the waterfront.

I’ll list them from west to east to make things easy for you.

The Talmadge Memorial Bridge

This bridge is named after Eugene Talmadge. He was a (very racist) politician who served multiple terms as the governor of Georgia during the 1930s and 40s.

Due to Talmadge’s reputation as a white supremacist, many locals refuse to call the bridge by it’s official name and instead call it the Savannah Bridge.

In fact, I usually refer to it as the “big Savannah bridge” on this site.

It’s located along the far west end of River Street near the Plant Riverside District, but you can spot it from anywhere along the waterfront.

Artistic photo showing details of the Talmadge Bridge in Savannah during a peach-toned sunset
A massive cargo ships coasts along the Savannah River toward the Talmadge Bridge at sunset

The bridge connects the city of Savannah to nearby Hutchinson Island and then to the S.C. border just beyond that.

The Propeller Club Memorial Fountain

If you’re exploring from west to east along River Street, the next landmark you’ll come across is a fountain that was erected by The Propeller Club of Savannah.

Ship fountain silhouetted against a golden sunrise on River Street Savannah GA
The Propeller Club Memorial Fountain sprays water from a metal ship sculpture. Fall color is visible in the foliage in the background
Close-up of the Propeller Club Memorial Fountain as water sprays from its base

The fountain honors Savannah’s maritime history and the fact that this is a port city.

“A World Apart” | The Cracked Earth Monument

The next landmark you’ll see is the Cracked Earth Monument, which honors veterans from Chatham County who fought in WWII.

African American Monument

Next up, you’ll find the African American Monument.

It shows a formerly enslaved family with broken chains at their feet to represent the family’s newfound freedom. A quote by Maya Angelou at the base of the statue describes the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade.

The African American Monument on River Street in Savannah shows a family of four looking towards the river as a giant cargo ship passes by, loaded with colorful shipping containers
Close-up of a Maya Angelou quote etched in stone on the African American Monument along River Street in Savannah GA

You can learn more about the history of the monument and see some of my favorite photos of I’ve taken of it here: The African American Monument in Savannah.

NOTE: There’s a public restroom located at the Savannah Visitor Center’s River Street location, which is within sight of the African American Monument. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

River Street Sweets

River Street Sweets is one of the most popular stops along the Savannah riverwalk.

It’s a nostalgic little candy shop, with a warm atmosphere and some of the tastiest sweets you’ll ever put in your mouth.

Candy shop with a red awning dimly lit at night with two women passing by

Make sure you sample their pralines and bear claws, as well as the candied nuts.

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 are instead further south in the city’s Starland District.

BOOK A FOOD TOUR

Historic Stairs

The most famous historic stairs along Savannah’s waterfront are the Stone Stairs of Death, which are located in the Plant Riverside District.

However, there are plenty of other spots where you can test your climbing abilities!

If you keep walking east after passing River Street Sweets, you’ll come across a few additional scary stairwells tucked between the historic buildings.

Vantage point looking down from the top of the Stone Stairs of Death along River Street in Savannah, GA. A yellow and black warning sign reads, "HISTORIC STEPS | USE AT OWN RISK"
Yellow and black sign warns of "Historic Steps Use at Own Risk" along River Street in Savannah GA
Close-up of a yellow and black sign warning of "Historic Steps Use at Own Risk" in Savannah. The stairs are steep with a short tread, and they appear even more treacherous since they are in disrepair and damp from a recent rain

These historic stairs stay damp and slick, so be careful and “use at own risk” as the sign says.

Psychics, Tattoo Shops, and Souvenirs

River Street is one of the city’s primary entertainment zones.

That means the area is filled with restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops. There are even a few tattoo shops and psychics!

Nighttime scene with a wooden statue of an old sailor in a blue coat overlooking River Street in Savannah GA. Two shadowy figures walk by in the distance and a gas lantern glows dimly behind the statue
A fortune-teller machine featuring Zoltar sits inside a souvenir shop on River Street in Savannah, GA
Nighttime scene along River Street in Savannah, Georgia, showing dark blue skies in the background and a sign for a psychic shop and tarot reader in the foreground
The worn façade of an old warehouse displays exposed bricks next to the window of a tattoo parlor illuminated at night

Be on the lookout for signs pointing to dark alleyways where shop owners will happily help you part ways with your hard-earned cash.

Savannah’s Candy Kitchen

Savannah’s Candy Kitchen is another iconic candy shop along the waterfront.

People enjoy stopping in to sample the pralines and the other sweet treats they sell.

Reflection of the Savannah Candy Kitchen sign in a puddle on River Street in Savannah
Reflection of Savannah's Candy Kitchen sign in a puddle on River Street in Savannah GA

I enjoy photography, so I had fun capturing reflection shots of their sign in the puddles between the cobblestones.

The Waving Girl Statue

As you continue walking eastward along the waterfront, you’ll come across the Waving Girl statue. It honors a local named Florence Martus.

Martus was born in 1868 and was known for waving at each passing ship that visited Savannah’s port.

Legend has it she never missed a single ship in an entire 44-year time frame!

Close-up of Florence Martus, aka: The Waving Girl, against a backdrop of greenery on River Street in Savannah, GA
Close-up of a bronze statue of Florence Martus, The Waving Girl, on River Street in Savannah, GA
The Waving Girl statue against a backdrop of greenery on River Street in Savannah, GA,

Her reason for waving at passing sailors is a sad one, though.

When Florence was young, she met and developed a crush on a sailor. However, he only stayed in Savannah a short period of time before moving on to his next port of call.

Martus was brokenhearted, so — from that point forward — she waved at every passing ship in the hopes that he would someday return and recognize her standing on the shore.

1996 Olympic Yachting Cauldron

The Olympic Yachting Caludron is the next landmark you’ll spot along the waterfront. It’s just a short walk away from the Waving Girl.

The cauldron commemorates the 1996 Summer Olympics, which were held in Atlanta.

Tours to Take on River Street

There are a handful of tours that originate on or near River Street. The Georgia Queen Steamboat is easily the most popular one, but it’s not the only option!

The Georgia Queen Steamboat (paid)

The Georgia Queen Steamboat departs from River Street multiple times throughout the day, and there are multiple cruise options available.

Blurred image of the Georgia Queen riverboat docked along River Street in Savannah with American flags blowing in the wind on its deck. An electric box covered in stickers is visible in the foreground
The Georgia Queen Riverboat docked along River Street with gas lanterns visible on Rousakis Plaza in the foreground and a sunset of puffy lavender clouds in the background

In my opinion, the sunset cruise offers the best photo opportunities.

You’ll get a unique perspective of River Street from the water and will cruise past Fort Jackson.

You might even spot a few dolphin if you’re lucky!

I don’t usually recommend the food cruises (you’ll find much tastier food elsewhere in Savannah), but many readers in my Savannah Facebook group rave about them.

Sunset cruise was very nice. We had a wonderful time the food was amazing and the music was pretty good as well.

~ Gail D-F, via Savannah First-Timer’s Guide private Facebook Group

Savannah Riverboat Cruise Options

Since there are so many riverboat cruises available, I’ll post all the options here to help you out.

BOOK A RIVERBOAT CRUISE

Savannah Port Tour (paid)

If you want to check out the action at Georgia Ports Authority, you’ll want to take a Savannah Port Tour.

The 90-minute boat tour is run by Outside Savannah, and it takes you as close as you can get to the ports without security clearance.

During the tour, you’ll learn how the port operates and will see containers being loaded and unloaded.

You might even get to see one of the giant cargo ships up close and personal!

The tour departs from the Plant Riverside District, so I suggest parking in the Plant Riverside District Parking Garage. It’s located at 500 W River Street.

BOOK A PORT TOUR

Savannah Belles Ferry (free)

The Savannah Belles Ferry is a free alternative if you want to see the city from the water but don’t want to pay for a guided tour.

The ferries depart from three locations on River Street. They cross the water to drop passengers at Hutchinson Island and then return to their original location.

Multiple ferries run throughout the day and early evening. The current Belles are named after Susie King Taylor, Mary Musgrave, Juliette Gordon Low, and Florence Martus.

VIEW THE FERRY SCHEDULE

Sunsets on River Street

As an avid photographer, I find it hard to beat the sunsets along River Street!

I’ve captured some of my most memorable shots here during the early evening hours.

Tree branches frame the foreground in a waterfront scene along River Street in Savannah, GA. Lamp posts line the riverwalk and the Georgia Queen steamboat, Talmadge Bridge, and a cargo ship can be seen in in the distance, illuminated by a pale yellow and pink sunset
Boat docked by river with yellow and purple sunset in background and dark tree leaves framing the foreground
Riverfront plaza along River Street at dusk with the Savannah River and Talmadge bridge in the distance
Waterfront plaza along River Street at dusk with the Georgia Queen Steamboat and Talmadge bridge in the distance

The streetlights 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 photos above.

The sun sets beyond the big Savannah bridge. (Ha! Notice how I called it that instead of its official name?)

Dark orange sunset on River Street Savannah GA
Tell me that doesn’t look like a shot straight from a vintage movie set?! I halfway expect to see Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing around those lampposts.

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 many of the photos above. The river rats tend to come out at dusk, and they lurk in the shrubbery. They’re big and fast, and they’ll run over your feet if you’re in their path.

Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!

River Street Savannah GA with a fiery red and orange stormy sky in the background
The only thing better than a sunset photo? A pre-hurricane sunset shot! I captured this image the night before Hurricane Dorian passed by Savannah in 2019.

One thing you should note when taking 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 or pouring rain).

While I don’t recommend staying in Savannah during a mandatory hurricane evacuation just to snag a good photo, I’ll admit 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!

In addition to the hurricane shot above, I took most of the others during the mandatory COVID-19 “shelter indoors” orders.

Related Reading: When is the Best Season to Visit Savannah, GA?

Savannah Riverfront Hotels

If you want to stay on River Street and have a direct view of the water, here are a few popular hotels:

River Street Inn is popular because it’s the most centrally located and is on the National Register of Historic Buildings.

Rows of gas lanterns illuminate the front entrance to River Street Inn at night
BOOK A HOTEL ON RIVER STREET

Related Reading: 12 Pros & Cons to Consider when Staying in a Hotel on River Street

River Street at Night (Safety Tips)

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 wander alone.

There are plenty of bars and restaurants that stay open late along River Street, so you can usually find lots to do.

The entire street is an open container zone, so you might want to go elsewhere if you’re traveling with kids.

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

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, it’s a good idea to follow suit. Visitors who aren’t familiar with the area shouldn’t be alone on the streets of Savannah late at night. Review my Savannah Crime Map for current statistics or check out these general safety tips.

When to Visit

The early morning hours are consistently the quietest time to visit River Street, since most of the shops don’t open until 9 or 10 a.m.

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 for their daily route.

During the late afternoon and evenings, River Street is usually crowded with tourists. That’s due to its fairly active restaurant and bar scene.

So — pick your ideal time based on whether you prefer quiet or lots of action!

More Places to See Near River Street

Factors Walk

If you wander around to the back side of River Street, you’ll find yourself in an area called Factors Walk. It’s one of my favorite photo spots in the entire city!

Walking bridge over Factors Walk with iron railings shaded by the branches of mature oak trees
The Cluskey Vaults on the lower level of Factors Walk with a walking bridge covered in jasmine stretching overhead
Looking towards a brick street towards warehouses in the distance
Row of brick buildings at night shrouded in mist
Pink and purple sunset over the Cotton Exchange building and other warehouses on Factors Walk
Remember what I said about pre-hurricane shots? This pink and purple beauty appeared over Factors Walk the night before Dorian made its way down the East Coast.

Factors Walk is home to a collection of historic foot bridges, the Cluskey Vaults, the Old Cotton Exchange Building, City Hall, and the famous winged lion statue.

Related Reading: 11 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Factors Walk

Savannah Travel Guide Info

My Savannah First-Timer’s Guide is where I’ve gathered all of my top Savannah tips from this website into one handy downloadable ebook. If you like having all of your information in one easy-to-access spot, it’s the best way to go!

When you purchase the guide, you also get access to a private Facebook group where you can ask questions about your trip, get advice, and see photos from others who have recently visited.

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!

Pinnable image of warehouse buildings on River Street Savannah GA
Pinnable image of the red stucco facade of the old Cotton Exchange Building in Savannah, GA
Pinnable image of an iron walkway shaded by a large oak and a sunset photo of River Street in Savannah GA
Erin authored the Savannah First-Timer's Guide and loves helping first-time visitors plan their trips. She lives in the artsy Starland District and enjoys exploring Savannah's hidden gems, as well as the surrounding Lowcountry.