Which Do You Prefer - An Open Discussion - Savannah or Charleston - And Why? (hotel, home)

[WiseManOnceSaid]

Hi I know that the two cities are very similar, I have lived in both, and both have a certain uniqueness about them. Which do you prefer? And why?

[Lone Star Rooster]

Charleston wins out for me for a few reasons:

- More compact, walkable downtown
- Better beaches
- Better restaurant scene (Savannah has some good ones no doubt, but it seems like Charleston has more variety)

[Chs2014]

Savannah... Home of this gem

[WiseManOnceSaid]

The Thunderbird! That's one of the first things you see if you take the Hwy 17 route into town, that old beast has been around a long time!

[WiseManOnceSaid]

Originally Posted by Lone Star Rooster

Charleston wins out for me for a few reasons:

- More compact, walkable downtown
- Better beaches
- Better restaurant scene (Savannah has some good ones no doubt, but it seems like Charleston has more variety)

I would argue that Savannah has a very "walkable" downtown, although it's a much larger area like you said. Their squares make stopping and relaxing on your walks a nice touch.

[WiseManOnceSaid]

My first thought as to why I love Charleston more is accessible coastline and beaches. The way downtown Charleston is set up is to me more "open" than Savannah. Savannah has a lot of lovely parks and trees downtown, but that gives it a feeling of being closed in to me. I would say that the Battery and Marketplace are winners over River Street as well.

I do love Ft. Pulaski and the Ogeechee River, plus all the history of Sherman's march to the sea is wonderful in Savannah.

Dining is similar but I still would give the nod to Charleston.

Best rooftop bar goes to the Bohemian in Savannah.

Hmm, there's so many things to compare!

[driftaway123]

While both are Southern and historical they have very different personalities.

Charleston is preppy artsy and more conservative.

Savannah is hippie artsy and more liberal.

Appreciate that there are more indie stores than chains in their downtown
than ours. But that will change as the rents rise.

Our beaches,dining,scenery is better no contest.

Also wish we had more Savannahs funkiness in our core.

We have a "bigger city" vibe which I like but could see myself
living happily in Savannah.

[WiseManOnceSaid]

Yep all good points for sure!

[saint19]

Savannah wins for me because you can walk with a drink.

[WiseManOnceSaid]

Haha! +1- Although I learned my lesson one night in New Orleans about walking around with a drink, ended up at a casino and blew almost a thousand bucks (I think? Not really sure where the money went actually), woke up in a hotel room, couldn't find my car. It was baaaad.