Top Charleston City Tours

On this historical Charleston tour, journey back in time as your guide reveals the beauty and charm of one of America's most historic cities. Learn about the history of Charleston and discover its pivotal role in American history with visits to more than 100 points of interest including Rainbow Row, Colonial Lake, the Old Exchange Building and Whitepoint Gardens. Upgrade to include a visit to the restored Joseph Manigault House, an early 19th-century plantation home or the Charleston Museum.

Every corner of Charleston hides a world of history. Join us as your guide shares with you hundreds of years of stories, history, and local knowledge. This is a relaxing 2-hour stroll through the quaint and charming streets of the historic district including the French Quarter and the residential area "South of Broad", all the while learning about the people and events that shaped Charleston. Admission to the Powder Magazine Museum is included with the price of your walking tour! Just show them your ticket at the door. Visit the museum at your leisure before or after your walking tour. Located at 79 Cumberland St. Visit their website for more info and opening hours.

Experience 25-30 blocks of Charleston’s historic downtown district on this 1-Hour Daytime Palmetto Carriage Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour. See houses, gardens, mansions, churches & parks, learn about buildings, history, architecture, flora & the people that make up the “Holy City." Palmetto Carriage Works is the oldest carriage tour company in Charleston and has developed the greatest carriage experience in the city! A Palmetto Carriage tour offers a blend of knowledge, wit, humor, and history and is exciting and ever-changing; a seamless fusion of 19th-century conveyance in a 21st-century city.

Come walk with us on The Ghosts of Charleston walking tour, leaving nightly from Buxton Books, Charleston’s independent bookstore located at 160 King Street. Our licensed guides are expert storytellers who lead you through centuries old alleys and paths while sharing stories and solid history from Julian Buxton’s best-selling book, The Ghosts of Charleston. The true tales of intrigue, tragedy, and lost love reveal a rich underside of Charleston’s character that isn’t apparent during the day. The highlight of your tour is our exclusive nighttime access to the 18th century Unitarian Church Graveyard, where you will experience something magical. The Ghosts of Charleston is Buxton Books’ signature and most popular book-based walking tour -- a favorite of visitors and locals for over 23 years.

Explore some of Charleston's enchanting alleyways and historic sites on this small group, 2-hour walking tour. With our small group tours, you are guaranteed a more intimate and up-close experience. Charleston's alleyways are fortunately located within the popular historic district which allows us to include some well known points of interest and go a little "off the beaten path” while exploring the history and beauty of Charleston's enchanting alleyways. Generally, we include between four to six different alleyways/passages as well as popular points of interest like Rainbow Row and of course, tons of history! These pedestrian passageways are often overlooked, but walking along these cobbled paths is an opportunity to appreciate Charleston's rich history and hidden, more intimate charms.

Charleston, see it all on a city tour and explore the best of the city! This relaxing and informative 90-minute city bus tour is the best way to be introduced, or re-introduced, to the 'Holy City'. Professional and knowledgeable guides will share 350 years of the city's history with you while you cruise through its historic district in cool, air-conditioned comfort. Bus tours can cover so much ground that you can experience and see everything that is Charleston! Join a memorable tour and explore the city together.

Tour in comfort and safety as we show you the beauty of the Holy City. Let us do the driving as you relax and watch as 300 years of history pass by your window. Our guide will escort you and your group through the historic streets of Charleston. You will see the beautiful buildings and churches of the queen city of the south in air conditioned comfort.

Our two hour Highlights of Charleston walking tour guides guests through the historic French Quarter and South of Broad neighborhoods of downtown Charleston. Along the way, your guide will describe the long history, unique culture, architecture, and geography of Charleston and the greater lowcountry area, painting a detailed picture of how Charleston's tumultuous past formed the city now beloved by travelers the world over. You'll view some of the city's oldest houses of worship, burial sites, theaters, the forts of Charleston harbor, and the antebellum mansions that look out across the waters of the Cooper and Ashley rivers, among many other historic and picturesque sites. Our guides also offer their expert advice on other activities, restaurants, and bars for guests to explore once they've finished their tour.

The 2.5-hour Downtown Charleston Culinary Tour visits four different food establishments and combines elements of a historical tour with a culinary adventure! Learn about Charleston's history as you enjoy tastings of traditional favorites and contemporary innovations, all of which highlight the cuisine of locally-owned restaurants. Insight into Lowcountry cuisine accompanies the broad range of samples on your food tour. This is our original tour around the French Quarter and City Market and focuses on the traditional flavors of the region.

On this twilight tour, discover where spirits are reported to linger in downtown Charleston.  A licensed guide will regale you with spooky tales from Charleston's long history as you pass haunted alleys, graveyards, churches, hotels and even a dungeon! 

Listen to the lost stories of black Charleston on this 2-hour walking tour. Hear forgotten folktales and learn about the heroes and heroines who were left out of the history books. Gain more understanding about Charleston's role in the nation's history on this enthralling walking tour.

This 2-hour, walking tour explores Charleston's Historic District by visiting the streets of the French Quarter and the residential area "South of Broad". Hear the stories of Charleston's founding, see historic homes and churches and view the city architecture. Learn the story of this beautiful city—from its first settlers to today.

Experience the beauty and history of downtown Charleston from underneath the awning of a horse drawn carriage. Listen to the rich stories told by your engaging guide as you are lead through a time of revolution and splendor. This relaxing 1-hour, fully narrated group tour leads you through the quaint and charming streets of downtown Charleston. You will see beautiful gardens and parks, stately mansions, historic churches and buildings all the while learning about the people and events that shaped the history of this "Holy City". Tours depart approximately every 30 minutes beginning at 9:30am and your specific start time will be assigned to you upon check-in.

Enjoy Charleston's beauty and charm in one of our private vis-à-vis carriages that accommodates up to 4 guests. This private carriage ride will sure to be a highlight during your visit to the holy city. This tour begins and ends in the Historic City Market. Hotel pick-up drop-off not included.

Limited to 14 guests, our Small Group Format ensure attentive service for any questions you may have along the way. Our guides have a deep knowledge of both Charleston and National history, and sometimes your questions determine whether we turn right or left at the next intersection! Take a stroll through Charleston's oldest neighborhoods on this 2-hour walking tour. Follow your licensed guide as they provide history, legends, and cultural insight about this historic city. Discover the significant French Quarter and tour past grand mansions South of Broad Street before seeing Charleston's High Battery which overlooks the Charleston harbor.

Tour where carriages and motorcoaches are not allowed as you take a fascinating stroll with stories and traditions revealing Charleston’s rich history and colorful past. This two hour tour through America’s most charming historical district is sure to be the highlight of your visit.

Enjoy the history and sights of Downtown Charleston on this 35-minute carriage ride. Learn about the buildings, architecture, and people of the Commercial District as you ride through the streets. Feel the cool evening breeze in Downtown Charleston on this 35-minute carriage ride.

Walk, talk and taste your way through historic Charleston South Carolina. This small-group 2.5-hour tour will immerse you in the history and culture of the Lowcountry and allow you to experience a remarkable culinary scene in downtown Charleston.  Stops along the way will include many of the city’s leading restaurants through out the city. Typical tastings include: stone ground grits, Southern pralines, sweet tea, collard greens, Lowcountry barbeque, and fried green tomatoes. ***PLEASE NOTE: If there are any food allergies in your party, we must know at least 48 hours in advance or some restaurants may not be able to accommodate. We also can't guarantee there will be a substitution at every location due to some allergies.

Packed full of history and charm, your one-hour tour with Charleston Carriage Works will expose fascinating stories of Charleston’s pivotal moments and unique culture. The experience will leave you falling in love with this breathtaking city just as so many have before you.  Boarding adjacent to Market Street, you will start in our stable where you can visit with our horses and then ride along in one of our modern custom carriages to see the sights of Charleston in style. Designed to be lighter and more comfortable than others in town, our garnet and black 16-passenger carriages enable our stunning draft horses to enjoy the tour as much as you will!

Looking for a stress-free way to see Charleston? Join local guide Jeff Zimmerman on his 2 hour citywide private driving tour. Beat the crowds in a comfortable full sized weatherproof SUV. Experience Charleston your way as Jeff tailors your private tour to suit your own personal interests. As a licensed tour guide since 1997, Jeff provides a unique narrative on the city's history, eclectic architecture, culture, and even the natural world. You will not only visit the must-see places but also get off the beaten path and get closer to less touristy nooks that are off limits to carriage and bus tours.

See what the Upper King Street fuss is all about with this relatively new tour featuring bites from the trendy neighborhood’s most delicious spots. Experience the unique Savor the Flavors food tour in the famous Upper King Street district. Sample mouth-watering dishes of Lowcountry cuisine from the popular culinary innovators in this ever-evolving restaurant district. Come join Charleston’s original food tour company as we enjoy what Charleston’s best Upper King Street restaurants are bringing to the table.

I promise you're going to learn more about history on this tour than on any other tour in this town. I will teach you things you did not know, and challenge things you think you know. But... we start by discussing what's important to you about history. What you like, and what you hope to learn. This allows me to focus the conversation where you want. I use a story format and I ask you a lot of questions to spur discussion. I'll walk you down the path of Charleston in a funny, interesting, sometimes irreverent way. We'll start at Waterfront Park and head south to the famous Charleston battery. We'll see some amazing sights and have some fascinating discussions about the very colorful history of the early fort of Charles Towne. When we’re finished we’ll end up very close to where we started, the proud new owners of the most valuable souvenir you can take home from your trip – knowledge. So come on ya'll, this tour ain't gonna book itself! :)

Discover the charming atmosphere of Charleston on this Private Small Group Narrated 1-hour Horse & Carriage ride. Tour the historic streets of the old walled city and enjoy the intimacy of the vis-a-vis carriage as you pass by notable and picturesque houses, gardens, mansions, churches, and parks. Hear the fascinating stories of Charleston as you pass by top sites such as City Market or Rainbow Row and learn about buildings, history, architecture, flora and the people that make up the “Holy City." Please select (1) during checkout for the group pricing per carriage. Each carriage can accommodate 1-4 people per group.