Top Charleston Half-day Tours

Step back in time with a 4.5-hour visit to one of America's oldest working, living plantations. Be transported to this historic site with an experienced driver on a comfortable, air conditioned mini bus.  Boone Hall Plantation has been recognized as the #1 Plantation in the Charleston area, according to USA TODAY. Tour includes round-trip transportation from the Visitors Center in Charleston, all entrance fees, a guided house tour, Gullah Theater (in season), self guided garden and grounds tour, and a tram tour (based on availability). Small-group tour is limited to a maximum of 25 people.

On our Secret Food Tour: Charleston, let our experienced guides take you on a foodie adventure through the picturesque and historic streets of the French Quarter. Learn how pirates, pandemics, natural disasters, and war have all shaped our local food scene. At the end of the tour, you'll have sampled classic Carolina-style BBQ, fresh seafood, and even a local delicacy crafted for a U.S. President. Plus, our decadent Secret Dish might just make you leave singing a happy song!

Charleston's only chef led historic walking tour, cooking demonstration and lunch! Our experience begins with a 90 minute food history walking tour in the historic district, followed by a cooking demonstration, lunch & paired wine tasting at the popular local's spot Bistro a Vin. It's led by Charleston's only South Carolina Chef Ambassador & Palmetto Guild Certified tour guide, Forrest Parker. Leading the teams at some of Charleston's most iconic restaurants, Parker has been called a "visionary who calls upon the culture, history & flavor traditions of South Carolina to create heritage-infused experiences." Parker was recognized by then Governor Nikki Haley as a S.C. Chef Ambassador in 2016, a capstone for a culinary career that began in 1995. Chef Forrest invites you to take the path less traveled; to see, touch, sip and taste the Undiscovered Charleston!

Explore historic Middleton Place on this all-inclusive 5-hour excursion from downtown Charleston, SC. Home to two of America's Founding Fathers and boasting the oldest landscaped gardens in the country, Middleton Place is a must-see for those seeking to be immersed in American history and culture.  This exclusive tour includes round-trip transportation from Charleston aboard a luxury, air-conditioned motorcoach. Enjoy scenic views through the plantation's Gardens; a Narrated 45-min House Museum Tour; and self-guided tours through the Plantation Chapel, Butterfly Lakes, Plantation Stable Yards, Eliza's House, and the Museum Shop & Garden Market. Don't forget the Low Country lunch at Middleton Place Restaurant. Selection includes she crab soup, shrimp & grits, fried chicken, pulled pork, sides or a salad, and dessert. Guarantee your seat on this popular luxury tour to Middleton Place by booking today.

During this scenic and relaxing 90 minute tour you will experience Charleston Harbor on the unique 80-foot Carolina Belle. Your professional licensed captain will narrate history, sights, and facts about the Charleston Harbor as you pass locations critical to United States history. Enjoy the beauty of the Charleston Harbor and learn its rich history while you are in town.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Enjoy this 2.5-hour small-group boat cruise through the treasured tidal creeks of Charleston, South Carolina. This tour includes up to an hour long stop on the beautiful Morris Island, during which you can set out on foot and explore the pristine beach, collect seashells, hunt for sharks teeth, and enjoy the beautiful views of the historic lighthouse. On your way to and from the island, your naturalist captain will share information about the local ecosystems and history. Your captain will also point out and describe any wildlife seen along the journey, including Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, wading birds, pelicans, sea turtles, and much more! 

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.

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 the beautiful sights and sounds of the Charleston harbor and surrounding waterways aboard our 45-foot USCG certified power catamaran as Charleston’s unique skyline comes alive with peaceful and breathtaking views of sunset silhouetted steeples. Dolphins and shore birds will entertain you with their whimsy. You'll enjoy seeing sites such as the forts, the Battery, the islands and the lighthouses. See the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from a different perspective as we cruise under it. This is not a guided tour. However, our captain and mate are prepared to answer any questions that you may have. Soft drinks, beer and wine are available for purchase.

WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL OBX FILM LOCATIONS TOUR! NOTE: THIS IS A PRIVATE TOUR; MINIMUM 2 PERSONS Fans of the Netflix series Outer Banks are in for a thrill! As a background actor on Season One, Two and THREE, I share tons of behind-the-scenes stories of the cast, crew, and other fun stuff. Tour includes snacks, bottled water, and other surprises. Parents will love this tour because as a licensed tour guide, I also share some wonderful history while we're traveling from one site location to the other. It's such a fun and new way to visit Charleston! 3-hour private tour MINIMUM 2 GUESTS - MAXIMUM 4 GUESTS Tour vehicle is fully insured for liability and City Certified. Luxury sedan: BMW 540i/2018

Spend an incredible day on Wadmalaw Island, Charleston's rural farming sea island, and tour 3 unique locations. Join Snap! for an intimate, small group tour, of no more than 8 guests. First, we visit the magnificent Angel Oak tree. No words can describe this surreal park. Then we are off to Charleston Tea Garden, America's only farm to table, tea growing & production plant. The trolley tour around the tea garden is included, as well as all you can drink tea! Finally, we will drive over to Deep Water Vineyard for wine tasting and vineyard strolling. All this in one complete tour. I am a city certified tour guide that takes you outside the limits! Come enjoy the tranquillity of Charleston's sea islands. Please note! Sometimes the tour takes longer than the 5 hours. Dinner reservations should be scheduled at least two hours after tour ends.

This 3-hour tour showcases the seasonal bounty of the Lowcountry and the creative prowess of a local chef. - Handpick local seasonal produce at a neighborhood market alongside a Charleston chef. - Explore the historic Cannonborough-Elliotborough neighborhood with a city-certified guide. - Enjoy a one-of-a-kind farm-to-table experience at a local restaurant with a 5+ course feast, created from your seasonal Market selections. This is a great way to explore a beloved local produce shop and historic neighborhood, meet a Charleston chef (or two!), and see their creativity in action. Come enjoy a true Charleston farm-to-table experience, that's unique, local, and not-to-be-missed.

Don't settle for one plantation! Here is your chance to get a taste of 5 historical sites, all on the same tour, in small group(8 or less) Mercedes Sprinter style. We will visit 4 plantations and the family church... history that dates over 300 years and is the foundation of American history in the south. We start with McLeod Plantation, and will enjoy their interpretive tour and learn the very core of real plantation life. We then travel through Ashley River Road to get a taste of Drayton, Magnolia and Middleton properties, with short, scenic stops, learning of the family history. Please note this is a driving tour, and we do not enter the admission areas of the grounds. We finish with a trip to Old Saint Andrews Church circa 1706. I am a city certified tour guide that takes you outside the limits! Come enjoy the journey into the past. 4-person minimum.

There is so much more awaiting you off the Charleston peninsula! Here is your opportunity to take a small group tour (10 or less) in my 2021 Mercedes Sprinter. This tour has something for everyone, while we visit the most picturesque spots outside the limits in the Lowcountry. Get your dose of lighthouses, beaches, piers, forts and endless history. You will quickly understand how important the Charleston area is in American history, while taking in the ocean breeze. First, we travel to Folly Beach to visit the lighthouse, beach and pier. Next, a drive through historical Citadel Military college. Then, on to Sullivan's Island, and to stroll the grounds of Fort Moultrie, out to the beach, and the best view of Charleston from the water. Finally, the lighthouse. I am a city certified tour guide that takes you outside the limits! There are walks on this tour, and includes beach dunes. Please note, if less than 3 are booked, guests get a private tour in my 2019 Subaru Outback.

Unlike walking tours, this adventure is not only getting you to the hidden gems around Charleston, but we operate on your pace. We never rush you or hurry you along. Take all the time you need at each location to get the best shot, and our guides are always available to answer any questions you might have. We'll pick you up from your hotel or rental and whisk you away to your adventure! Don't miss this complete Charleston experience! UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: All tours will operate with the guests following in their own vehicle. We will designate a safe and secure meeting location near your place of stay.

Educational, entertaining, and enlightening! Have so much fun, lots of samples, and become a Beer Expert all in a few hours!

We offer transportation for Private Groups and Families to explore all that the Charleston Area has to offer. Enjoy a beautiful ride up the Spanish Moss Canopied River Road to the historic Plantations in West Ashley. Each offers a unique perspective on antebellum life and educational programs for all ages.

Experience Charleston like a local with your own Private Guide Come explore one of the oldest cities in America with its historic homes, French Quarter, and beautiful waterfront. Then let us take you out to discover another historic site, the charming Old Village in Mt. Pleasant. Let us do the driving and show you the best Charleston has to offer - both inside and outside downtown!

This 3-hour professionally-guided tour will take you through 350+ years of Charleston History and Pub Culture. As you journey throughout the infamous French Quarter, you will visit three local pubs while learning about the “Five P’s”: Pints, Pubs, Prostitutes, Pirates, and Politics! Your first drink at each stop is included, as well as a shareable appetizer in at least one stop.