Things to do nearRousakis Riverfront Plaza

Rousakis Riverfront Plaza sits along a stretch of the Savannah River that has served as the commercial and cultural heartbeat of the city since its founding in the eighteenth century. The plaza itself is named for John P. Rousakis, a former mayor of Savannah who championed the revitalization of River Street during a period when the waterfront had fallen into neglect. That transformation turned a working industrial corridor into one of the most visited public spaces in the American South.

Today the plaza extends along a broad promenade of brick and cobblestone, framed by restored cotton warehouses that now house restaurants, galleries, and shops. Visitors come to watch the constant river traffic, which ranges from tugboats and barges to enormous container ships bound for the Port of Savannah, one of the busiest ports on the East Coast.

The open plaza hosts a busy calendar of public events throughout the year, including a well-attended Fourth of July celebration, a St. Patrick's Day gathering that draws enormous crowds to Savannah's already festive annual tradition, and various arts and music festivals that use the waterfront as a natural stage. The surrounding area rewards slow exploration, with the ramp system connecting the lower plaza to Bay Street above offering access to the city's historic district within a short walk. The combination of living history, working waterfront, and genuine public life makes Rousakis Riverfront Plaza a place that captures something essential about Savannah's character.