Is Savannah Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Savannah, Georgia, is a city so rich with Southern culture that you can almost see it from the Spanish moss canopies that spread from tree branches.

Here you get a world of history, a walk through Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil, ghost stories, stunning architecture, modern amenities, and all that near some of the best East Coast beaches and golf courses.

U.S. News & World Report ranks Savannah as the country’s #1 Most Relaxing Getaway, so it’s no surprise you’re looking for a safe and quaint place to enjoy during your travels.

While it has a lot of similarities to Charleston, South Carolina, the two are different in some key areas.

Sometimes referred to as “Slow-vannah,” you’ll need to adapt to the Southern pace of life, which is walking, talking, and driving slower than you might be used to in your hometown.

Here you’ll find that strangers wave to you when passing while the tea is sweet and the food scene is bustling with Southern food and home-cooked deliciousness.

You’re also less than an hour from Hilton Head, South Carolina, or Tybee Island if you want to explore the beaches and oceanfront amenities.

Warnings & Dangers in Savannah

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

There's a medium overall risk with elevated crime rates, and a new crime action plan is lowering some crime categories but not helping others. Even between the 2021 full-year numbers and a partial look at 2022, there are some real concerning areas for tourists to be aware of, but it's not risky enough that you should avoid visiting.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Chatham Area Transit (CAT) is a public transportation system with fixed-route buses and direct routes to and from the Savannah airport. A free system called "DOT" offers shuttles around the top 20 or so stops in the downtown area. A ferry takes tourists between Savannah and Hutchinson Island, which is especially important for those attending conventions to know, as the convention center is on the island. You can also get taxis, rideshares, or rental cars easily.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

The Savannah Police Department (SPD) refers to this crime as "Sudden Snatching." In 2021, there were 58 of them, yet as of November 5, 2022, there had already been 78 - a three-year high. Since there's a lot of transient traffic here and busy tourist areas, treat this as a medium risk.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

You should be aware of tropical weather from June through November, as hurricane season can send storms directly toward Savannah. Severe thunderstorms, flooding, and tornadoes are also possible. Extreme heat can happen in the summer.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

SPD calls this a "Street Robbery" instead of a "Highway Robbery" as other cities do. Street robberies far outnumber residential or commercial robberies, and in 2021 there were 157 of them, making up 66% of all robberies. By November 11, 2022, the number of street robberies was at 153 - on track to break the previous year's number. Treat this with medium risk and avoid walking around at night by yourself or wearing flashy and expensive things.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

The only part of Savannah that makes it a more likely target is the port, which is one of the top 5 busiest in the nation. From a tourist perspective, there's a bigger risk of petty crime, but you should always be prepared for random acts of terrorism - even domestic attacks. Check out the Homeland Security website for advice on how to be vigilant when traveling.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

The biggest scams tourists need to be aware of involve where they stay during their visit. Rental scams are common in any tourist city, and scammers will post fake listings at low prices to get your money wired ahead of time. Then you arrive with no place to stay because the house wasn't actually for rent. Even staying at a well-known hotel can make people fall prey to the "Front Desk Scam." This is when someone calls the hotel room phone and says they are from the front desk. They claim a processing error requires you to give your credit card number again. If you get one of these calls, refuse to give info over the phone and head to the front desk to confirm if it's legit.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

Sexual assault is another case where the 2022 numbers already surpassed the 2021 official data. That said, the risk is about 25% higher than the national average. This is a fun city, but you should use caution when you're drinking alcohol or walking at night. The city has a certain lure to it that makes people want to spend time outdoors at night, so always travel with a buddy and never go alone with someone you don't know well.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

There are several different water quality regions in the Savannah area, so if you aren't staying in the central part of the city, visit SavannahWaterQuality.com. Savannah's 2021 Water Quality Report shows no violations and full compliance in all water testing. If flooding happens during your visit, check for water quality alerts from the city.

Safest Places to Visit in Savannah

VisitSavannah.com is the official tourism site, meaning you search on a secure website with safe options for things to do during your visit.

Check the Deals & Special Offers section for ways to save money on restaurants, hotels, or tours.

The Historic District, the Victorian District, and the Starland District are three of the most popular districts in Savannah.

Moon River’s District, which inspired the song of the same name, is a place for those who want to get close to the outdoors and learn about marine and wetland life.

For first-timers, take a tour or two of Savannah.

There are a lot of options. You can do tours ranging from a standard walking history tour to a graveyard tour of the “Garden of Good & Evil” to the “Savannah for Morons” tour, and then there’s a slew of haunted tours too.

You can learn a lot about the city and the things to do by taking a tour first.

A daytime walk along River Street is like a mix of several eras.

You’re walking on cobblestones while impressive cargo ships pull into port and the smell of Southern food fills the air.

NOTE: You will have to walk down steep, historic (aka “somewhat tricky”) stone stairs to get to the west end of River Street. Ask the visitors center if you need more ADA or less exhaustive ways to get there.

The City Market has brought tourists and locals to gather since the 1700s and has impressive food selections and shopping boutiques.

There is a lot of history in this market area as well, but I won’t ruin the history tour for you.

It’s quite amazing what this area has withstood in its lifetime.

Savannah has a lot of museums for art, architecture, and history, but you can explore that on the tourism website.

One of the newest museums I wanted to tell you about is the American Prohibition Museum.

This museum is the only one of its kind and shows the moment in time when alcohol was banned in America (and how unsuccessful that was in practice and economy).

There’s also a speakeasy at the conclusion of the tour to celebrate the end of Prohibition!

The Starland District is an up-and-coming neighborhood rich with art and an eclectic hipster mentality.

This is a perfect neighborhood to grab that morning cup of coffee or an afternoon pick me up, and the pastry shops are popular too – I’m told the “Back in the Day” bakery has the best sweets in town.

Take a drive through a Spanish moss canopy in the Moon River District and visit Wormsloe, the remains of the estate of Noble Jones, who passed in 1775.

To be clear, the home is in ruins, and this isn’t one of those stately homes you can walk through, but WOW, is the drive there gorgeous, and the history of the land is impressive.

There’s really SO much more to learn about safe places to visit in Savannah.

The tourism site is well planned, and I don’t want to stop writing about it, but we must move on.

Places to Avoid in Savannah

The higher crime areas are west of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

There are also a few places on the city’s northeast side, just south of the river, with elevated crime rates.

The good news is that those areas aren’t in the places tourists are going to visit.

While the police do tell us their crime control strategy does include “hot spots” in the community, they won’t disclose which areas those are.

The busy tourism districts keep tax money coming into the city, so there’s a healthy police presence.

Plus, this region has survived a Civil War and a massive hurricane in the past.

It will not be impacted by rising crime rates, and city leaders aren’t letting Savannah become “too dangerous to visit.”

I can’t really tell you to avoid walking around at night because that’s why some people come to Savannah!

I would recommend sticking with the Ghost Tours if you want to explore cemeteries and “spooky” places.

Don’t let your tour guide leave until you have a way to get back to your hotel or next location.

Stay aware of your surroundings and avoid dark streets.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Savannah

So... How Safe Is Savannah Really?

This is a challenging one to answer.

Savannah once was a more dangerous city with high crime rates, which then tapered off.

The surge in gun crime in America has brought those numbers back up.

The Savannah mayor stated in late 2022 that the plan to reduce gun violence is working.

“Homicides down 36% … commercial robbery down 67%, residential robbery down 22%, domestic assault with a gun down 40%.

It works,” Savannah Mayor Johnson said.

Here’s what the mayor DID NOT say:

• Rape is up 17%
• Street robberies are up 27%
• Aggravated assault with a gun (non-domestic) is up 58%
• Aggravated assault without a gun (non-domestic) is up 46%
• Sudden snatching is up 36%

Another challenge in Savannah is that crime has moved out of the “bad” neighborhoods and into popular public areas in some cases.

On top of that, juveniles are more likely to commit gun crimes than in the past, but their age makes it challenging to hold them accountable for it.

There’s a new police chief in Savannah and large incentives to get more officers on the force.

Staffing shortages are hitting many American cities as there just aren’t enough police officers.

While there are some reports that say Savannah is more dangerous than Atlanta, that’s likely just data twisted to make a point.

You’ll need to have exceptional situational awareness here, a lot of common sense, and a confident walk to help keep anyone from trying to find a weak person.

Basic personal security will go a long way; there’s just so much history to see here.

You shouldn’t miss it because of some manipulated crime data, but you also shouldn’t write off the risks either.

How Does Savannah Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

The U.S. State Department oversees the issuance of all Visas. You'll either need a Visa or a Visa Waiver, but there's a detailed process before you get the right paperwork. Start planning a few months out. Once you're in Savannah, you can travel between Georgia and South Carolina without having to go through processing.

Currency

You can only use the U.S. Dollar here, but please don't use public ATMs to do currency exchange. Go into a bank, and limit how much cash you carry with you. Most purchases here can be made with a credit card or mobile device. If you get a receipt, don't throw it in a public trash can. Take it back to the hotel to be shredded.

Weather

Savannah gets relatively mild to hot weather throughout the year. There will be times in winter you might need a heavy jacket or coat, but usually, some layers of sweaters or sweatshirts will be fine. Summers are going to be humid, so plan to sweat a lot, and don't bring clothing that won't absorb sweat well. You'll want comfortable walking shoes because there are many steps to take to see it all.

Airports

Savannah Hilton Head International Airport is just 11 miles from downtown. You can also drive two hours to Jacksonville, with the Savannah airport should have plenty of flights without too many legs to get there.

Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend travel insurance for trips to the U.S. Healthcare is expensive, and if you don't have a health plan covered here, a sprained ankle could cost hundreds of dollars. You also want to ensure you can get airfare reimbursed if a hurricane causes cancellations.

Savannah Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Georgia - Safety by City