Savannah’s squares come alive on foot. This self-guided smartphone tour strings together Savannah’s iconic squares with short, story-heavy stops, then finishes at Chippewa Square (the Forest Gump bench moment). You control the pace, so it feels less like a sprint and more like wandering with a good local in your pocket.

Two things I really like. First, the format is flexible: you can tackle it in one go, or pause and resume when the street scene pulls you in. Second, I like that it includes a virtual walkthrough you can use after the in-person portion to refresh the details.

One thing to consider: the experience depends on your phone setup. If you skip location permission, the guidance can get wonky, and a few people also found the directions and narration less than smooth.

Key takeaways before you go

• Smartphone-first, story-based route: One ticket on your phone with stop-by-stop narration on site.
• Real control over your time: You can pause, check places nearby, then press play again.
• A tight “orientation” loop: An efficient way to connect Savannah’s squares in under 90 minutes.
• Don’t expect museum tickets included: Several stops are exterior views only unless you choose to pay separately.
• Phone settings matter: Location permission helps the tour tell the story where you are.
• Narration is hit-or-miss: Some listeners found the tone annoying or the directions unclear.

Entering The Old Squares of Savannah on a phone

This is a solo-friendly, app-guided walking tour. You start at Johnson Square and end at Chippewa Square, with a sequence of squares in between. There’s no in-person guide marching you along, so your “guide voice” comes through your phone—headphones optional, but audio helps keep you oriented.

What makes this approach worth your time is how it shapes your wandering. Savannah’s squares can feel like a postcard loop if you just stroll. Here, each stop gets a specific story you can connect to what you see: landmarks, graves, statues, and even filming locations. It’s short stops, so you’re not stuck listening for long before you’re back outside looking around.

Also, the tour is designed so you’re not locked into a strict schedule. You can take the tour whenever you like during the listed open hours, and you can download it to begin whenever works for your day. The included virtual walk is a nice extra if you like to replay the route later—especially if your first pass was a little rushed.

Just be ready for one practical reality: you’re walking through a busy historic district. If you’re the type who likes lots of signage and easy turn-by-turn, you may want to keep Google Maps open in another window. Some people had trouble with navigation details, and a map can save frustration.

Johnson Square to Reynolds Square: malaria stories and the Lucas Theater stop

You kick things off at Johnson Square and immediately move into Reynolds Square, where the tour leans into the darker side of Savannah’s past. Expect stories tied to the Olde Pink House and victims of malaria associated with the square. It’s the kind of stop that turns pretty bricks and ironwork into something more memorable—equal parts historical and a bit spooky.

This part of the experience is also a good test of whether you’ll like the narration style. A couple of listeners said the voice tried for humor and didn’t always land, and others said the directions weren’t easy to follow. My advice: walk slowly at this stage. Let the audio finish, then check where you are before you move on. If you rush, you’ll feel it more here because you’re dealing with a story stop.

After Reynolds Square, you get a brief break with a stop near the Lucas Theater for a quick history moment. It’s short, so don’t expect a full film-and-theater lecture. Think of it as a story palate cleanser that keeps the route from feeling like it’s only about graves and old houses.

Outside Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters: what you can learn from the street

Next you move toward the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters. The tour focuses on what you can hear from outside, tying together the house and the slave quarters story. The Owens-Thomas House is a museum, but museum entry isn’t included, so you’re viewing the site from the sidewalk and learning as you go.

Here’s the smart way to use this stop: treat it as a preview. If the subject matter matters to you—and it often does—pause the app and visit the museum on your own time. The tour even gives you the option to pause and go deeper, then jump right back in later with the next audio segment.

Value-wise, this is a good chunk of the tour because it’s not just “pretty buildings.” You get context that helps the street scene make sense. At the same time, it’s not a replacement for an actual museum visit. If you want the full interpretive experience, plan for the extra time and ticket cost.

One practical note: this stop is quick. You’ll be outside, then walking again fast. If you’re the kind of person who likes to read every plaque, you might want to do a separate museum session afterward rather than trying to cram everything into this 55–75 minute window.

Davenport House Museum area and Columbia Square’s historic fountain

From there, you head to the Davenport House Museum area. You’ll hear the story of the house from outside, then continue toward Columbia Square for views connected to the historic fountain. This is another “short-and-sweet” storytelling moment: enough information to point you in the right direction, not enough to replace a longer guided visit to a specific site.

What I like about this section is the variety. You’re not bouncing only between graves, statues, and famous faces. You get architecture and city-plan mood—how these squares functioned as gathering places and how they stay central to Savannah’s layout.

The downside is also obvious: because admissions aren’t included, you’ll be mostly observing rather than stepping inside. If you’re the type who wants to physically enter every stop, this tour may feel a bit like you’re skimming. But if your goal is to get oriented and learn why each square matters, the pacing works well.

If you want to stretch the day, this is a natural place to pause and explore the square at your own tempo once the audio gives you the context.

Wright Square and Tomochichi: statue, grave, and city origin clues

Wright Square is one of the most important stops on this loop, and the tour uses it well. You hear about Tomochichi, the chief who helped establish the city of Savannah. The audio also points you toward his grave and the statue positioned in the middle of the square.

This stop does two valuable things at once. It connects Savannah’s origin story to a specific person you can actually locate in the space. And it teaches you to look at what’s in the square—rather than treating it like a decorative pause.

Some people like this stop because it feels concrete: there’s a centerpiece you can see and a story you can attach to it. Others didn’t love the narration tone or clarity of directions, so again: don’t rush. Wait until you know you’re standing in the right place for the audio to make sense.

From there, you get a quick additional stop tied to Wright Square Vintage & Retro Mall. The story there shifts into film history in Georgia—an angle that pays off later when you reach the movie-famous ending square. This is also one of the best moments to pause, because the shop is easy to step into, and the tour explicitly gives you the option to check it out.

Telfair Academy entrance and Juliette Gordon Low’s birthplace exterior

The route then moves to Telfair Square and the entrance of the Telfair Museum. The Telfair Academy stop is framed as the oldest art museum in the South, with stories about how it was established and the statues outside. Since you’re at the entrance, you’re getting the exterior context, not an in-depth museum walkthrough.

After that, you stop outside the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum—tied to Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts. Again, the tour keeps it exterior-focused, but the topic is big enough that it lands. If you enjoy women’s history and social movements, this is the kind of stop that gives you a mental bookmark for later.

This section is where I’d recommend you think about your energy. The route is only about an hour, but Savannah heat and walking add up. If you need a slow-down moment, use the entrances and square edges to rest your feet. The stories are short here, so you’re not committing to a long sit-down.

Chippewa Square finish: the Forest Gump bench moment

You end at Chippewa Square, one of Savannah’s most beautiful squares. The tour specifically calls out its fame in the film world, including the Forest Gump connection—famous for that iconic bench scene.

This is the closing “hook” that makes the walk feel worth doing even if you’re not hunting every history fact. You’re finishing where many people already want to be, and the tour gives you a reason to look beyond the Hollywood association. You’re still looking at a square with a long-standing role in the city, not just a set location.

I also like that the experience ends at a place with a lot of natural foot traffic. When your audio stops, you don’t feel stranded. You’re in a good spot to keep exploring on your own—grab a snack, visit another nearby square, or just sit for a while and watch the street life.

Price, time, and value: $9.75 for an efficient square loop

At $9.75 per person, this tour is priced like a bargain for what it delivers: a guided narrative route that saves you the effort of stitching together square-by-square context yourself. You’re not paying for museum tickets, food, or an in-person guide, so the value is in the storytelling and the time saved.

Duration is about 55 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, which is a sweet spot for visitors who want an overview without losing half a day. It’s also well-sized for a first-time visit, especially if you plan to come back and do deeper museum visits later.

If you’re on a tight schedule, this tour can act like a framework. You’ll know which squares matter most to your interests—film, art, origins, or the heavier historical stories—and that helps you decide what to spend time on next.

One caution on value: if you strongly prefer physical experiences (inside museums, guided talks led by people, long-form interpretation), you might feel the tour is too quick and exterior-based. But if you like walking, reading the space with help, and getting oriented, the cost-to-time ratio is very solid.

Who should take this Old Squares app tour?

I think this works best for travelers who enjoy short, guided walks and don’t need constant interaction. It’s a good fit for solo travelers because it’s designed for one person moving at their pace. It’s also a good fit if you’re comfortable using a smartphone as your guide.

It may be less satisfying if you need very explicit navigation clarity at every turn. A few people found the directions confusing—especially around wording like facing—and a few had interface or playback issues. If you’re technically uneasy, do a quick test at the start: open the ticket, confirm audio starts, and make sure location permission is on.

On the plus side, the tour is described as private, meaning only your group participates. And service animals are allowed. It’s near public transportation, so you can fit it easily between other sightseeing plans.

Small practical tips so the tour runs smoothly

• Turn on location permission before you start. The tour works as a location-aware experience, and skipping permission can break the flow.
• Wear shoes you can walk in comfortably. Even at 55–75 minutes, you’re crossing Savannah streets on uneven surfaces.
• Keep your phone volume at a level where you can hear clearly over street noise.
• If you’re someone who likes to double-check your bearings, open a map app in parallel. A couple of people said the map element wasn’t obvious enough.

Also: if you have trouble with the code/app pairing, the tour provider indicated the code is found on your tour ticket (and starts with a prefix in the so… range). The key point is to use the code printed in your tour materials, not anything that looks like a booking number.

Should you book the Old Squares of Savannah smartphone tour?

Book it if you want an easy, low-cost way to connect multiple squares with short stories, then use the rest of your day for deeper visits. The price makes it low-risk, and the ending at Chippewa Square gives you a satisfying, photo-friendly finish tied to a worldwide film moment.

Skip it if you hate app-based navigation, you strongly dislike narrated audio, or you expect museum-quality interpretation at every stop. In that case, you’ll probably want a traditional walking tour with a person guiding you and a longer schedule that includes more time inside major sites.

If you’re flexible, comfortable with your phone, and you want a one-hour orientation through the city’s historic squares, this is a smart way to start your Savannah trip.

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