Savannah: True Crime Pub Crawl

Crime stories make Savannah’s nightlife more memorable. This two-hour crawl pairs gritty local crimes with drinks at well-known historic bars, giving you a different way to see the city after dark. I like the small group limit of nine, and I like that the guide leads you through town on foot rather than treating Savannah like a backdrop from a bus window. The main catch: drinks cost extra, and loud music can sometimes make the storytelling hard to hear.

The tour begins at Dub’s, A Public House, at the base of Savannah’s so-called Stairs of Death. From there, your English-speaking guide covers Samuel Little, the Mercer-Williams house, and other crimes that shook the city. Apollo has earned special praise for his personable style, though the experience can feel less lively with only two people in the group.

Key points to know before booking

• Start at the Stairs of Death: Meet at Dub’s, A Public House, beside one of Savannah’s more unsettling landmarks.
• Crime stories come first: Hear about Samuel Little, the Mercer-Williams house, and grim events from different periods of the city’s past.
• Bars change by day: Possible stops include Pour Larry’s, PS Tavern, Churchill’s, Tondee’s Tavern, The Olde Pink House, and Abe’s on Lincoln.
• Small groups help: With no more than nine participants, you have a better chance to hear the guide and ask questions.
• The $35 covers the guide only: You pay separately for every drink, so bring cash and budget for bar purchases.
• Plan for weather and walking: The tour runs rain or shine, and comfortable shoes are a smart choice.

Starting beneath Savannah’s Stairs of Death

Your meeting point is Dub’s, A Public House, at the base of the Stairs of Death. It is a memorable place to begin, since you are not gathering at a generic street corner or hotel lobby. The setting puts you in the right frame of mind before the first story begins.

The opening focus is Samuel Little, described here as Savannah’s axe murderer and infamous serial killer. That is a dark introduction, but it gives the tour its purpose: you are not just moving from bar to bar. You are connecting present-day nightlife with crimes tied to the city’s past.

I would arrive a little early so you can find Dub’s without rushing. Bring your identification, since this is a 21-and-over activity, and wear shoes suitable for two hours on foot. The supplied information also asks you to bring cash, which is useful for drinks and any bar purchases.

The title Stairs of Death creates a dramatic first impression, but the value of the stop depends on the guide. A strong guide can turn a strange landmark into a clear piece of Savannah lore. Apollo, one of the named guides associated with the experience, has been singled out for being personable and doing an excellent job. That matters on a story-based tour, where delivery is nearly as important as the facts.

Samuel Little and Savannah’s darker side

The Samuel Little story is one of the tour’s main anchors. You should expect a serious account rather than a light ghost-story routine. The subject matter is violent, and the crawl is best for adults who are comfortable hearing about murder and other grim crimes while moving through a nightlife setting.

This mix of dark history and busy bars may sound odd, but it is part of the appeal. Savannah is often sold through its squares, architecture, and polished historic image. This tour points toward the less comfortable side of the city, showing how crime stories can cling to places that now feel social and ordinary.

The guide also covers crimes that shocked Savannah over the centuries. That broad time span gives the experience more range than a single case study. At the same time, the available details do not promise a full scholarly crime-history lecture, so you should book this for engaging storytelling and local context, not for an academic crime archive.

The best way to approach the tour is to listen for how the guide connects people, buildings, and public memory. You may recognize the streets from daytime sightseeing, but the stories can change how you look at them. That is a useful reason to schedule this after you have spent some time seeing Savannah’s historic center in daylight.

The Mercer-Williams house story

The Mercer-Williams house receives special attention. The house is one of Savannah’s most recognizable addresses, and its connection to a notorious crime gives the tour a natural bridge between architecture and scandal.

You should not expect a standard house tour or a formal visit inside the property from the information provided. The emphasis is on the crime connected with the house and on the shock it caused in Savannah. If you already know the building from the city’s famous stories, the guide may add context. If you do not, this section gives you a strong reason to pay attention when you later pass the house during your own sightseeing.

This stop also shows why a walking format works well. The guide can place the story in the city around you instead of presenting it as a detached list of cases. You get a sense of location, not just names and dates.

Still, keep your expectations measured. The supplied details do not list the exact length of time spent at the Mercer-Williams house or promise entry. Think of it as a narrated exterior stop within a larger pub crawl.

The pub stops change with the day

The bar portion is flexible. Depending on the date, the group may visit Pour Larry’s, PS Tavern, Churchill’s, Tondee’s Tavern, The Olde Pink House, or Abe’s on Lincoln. That changing route is useful if you are staying in Savannah for more than one night, since the experience may not repeat itself exactly.

Each possible stop gives the crawl a different feel, but the available details do not identify the precise order or guarantee every bar on the list. You should treat these as possible locations, not a fixed six-bar itinerary. If one specific pub is your main reason for booking, confirm the route before paying.

The tour does not include drinks. That keeps the ticket price at a reasonable $35, but it means your final cost depends on what you order. Two hours can become much more expensive if you buy several cocktails or rounds, especially in a group. I would set a drink budget before you start and remember that the guide fee and bar tab are separate.

One past booking specifically wished for more pubs. That is a useful clue about the format. This is not designed as a fast bar-hopping marathon. The crime stories take up much of the time, so the bars are part of the setting and social rhythm rather than the whole point.

Why the small group size matters

The group is limited to nine people. That is a real advantage for this kind of outing. A crime story loses its force when you are standing at the back of a large crowd, trying to hear over passing traffic and nearby conversations.

A small group also gives you a better chance to ask about a case, a building, or a detail that catches your attention. You can stay closer to the guide and may find the experience more conversational than a large walking tour.

There is one tradeoff. A small group is not automatically a lively group. When only two people joined one outing, the experience felt boring to that pair, even though they considered the guide very good. That is not a problem with the guide’s ability, but it does show how much the mood depends on the size and mix of the group.

If you enjoy easy conversation with strangers, a fuller group may make the pub stops more fun. If you prefer quiet attention and direct access to the guide, a small turnout may suit you better.

Clear storytelling matters in a noisy bar

The strongest praise for this experience centers on the guides. Apollo is noted for a personable approach, and another booking described the guide as great. Those comments point to the most important part of the crawl: the quality of the narration.

The main warning is sound. Music was loud at one stop, and it was not always easy to hear the guide. This is a practical issue, not a minor detail. If you are booking for the crime stories, a loud bar can undercut the very thing you paid for.

Stay near the guide when possible, and do not be shy about asking for a detail to be repeated. You may also find the earliest available start time easier for listening, though the exact effect will depend on the day and the bar route. The tour operator does not promise silent rooms, so some background noise is part of the deal.

The no-video rule also supports the nature of the experience. You are expected to listen rather than record the storytelling. Bring your phone for practical use if needed, but plan to experience the tour in the moment.

Rain or shine in Savannah

The crawl runs in all weather. That makes the tour easier to fit into a short visit, but it also means you need to prepare properly. A light rain can change the comfort of a walking tour quickly, especially when you are moving between bars.

Comfortable shoes are listed as essential. Wear something practical rather than dressing only for a night out. You should also carry identification, a driver’s license or passport, and cash. The tour is for people aged 21 and older, and those requirements are worth handling before you reach the meeting point.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Since the tour begins at the base of the Stairs of Death and includes several city locations, I would still confirm the practical route details if you use a wheelchair or have limited mobility. Accessibility is stated, but the precise path between bars is not described.

Is $35 a fair price?

At $35 per person, the price is fair if you value guided storytelling and a small group. You are paying for two hours with a local guide, not for drinks, food, or entry to a private attraction. Compared with a basic bar crawl, this gives you more history and a stronger sense of place.

The value drops if you mainly want to drink. Since the drinks are extra and one booking wished for more pubs, someone looking for a long night of bar-hopping may find the experience too focused on narration.

I see the best value for someone who wants one organized evening activity and would otherwise spend time choosing bars alone. The guide supplies the route, the subject, and the local context. You can then decide what to order at each stop without paying a premium for an all-inclusive package.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start gives you useful flexibility, and the reserve-now-pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. Those terms are helpful when weather or a changing Savannah schedule could affect your plans.

Who will enjoy this pub crawl most?

I would recommend it to adults interested in true crime, local stories, and historic Savannah after dark. It suits you especially well if you prefer a guided walk with drinks along the way instead of a formal museum visit.

You may also like it if you have already seen the main squares and want a different angle on the city. The Mercer-Williams house and other crime locations add a darker layer to familiar streets.

I would skip it if you dislike violent subject matter, want a quiet bar setting, or expect a nonstop crawl through many pubs. The changing route and extra drink costs also make it less predictable than a fixed itinerary.

The experience can work for solo participants, couples, and small friend groups. Just remember that the mood depends partly on the turnout. A full group may bring more energy, while a very small group may feel more subdued.

Should you book the Savannah True Crime Pub Crawl?

Book it if you want local crime stories with a social evening, and if you are happy paying separately for drinks. The small group, memorable meeting point, and strong guide feedback make it a solid choice for adults who want more than a standard ghost walk.

Skip it if your priority is drinking at as many bars as possible, or if loud music would make it hard for you to follow a guide. Before booking, confirm the expected route if you have your heart set on one particular pub.

For most visitors, the best plan is to treat this as a two-hour storytelling walk that happens to include bars. That mindset matches the format, keeps the $35 price in perspective, and leaves room for an enjoyable night in Savannah afterward.

FAQ

Where does the Savannah True Crime Pub Crawl start?

It starts at Dub’s, A Public House, at the base of the Stairs of Death.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts two hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $35 per person.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are not included, so you pay separately for anything you order at the bars.

Which bars might the tour visit?

Depending on the day, possible stops include Pour Larry’s, PS Tavern, Churchill’s, Tondee’s Tavern, The Olde Pink House, and Abe’s on Lincoln.

Is the tour suitable for people under 21?

No. The experience is not suitable for anyone under 21.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

What happens if it rains?

The tour takes place rain or shine. Comfortable shoes, identification, and cash are recommended.