USA · CHARLESTON TOURS
Good charleston tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Ride 30 blocks of historic Charleston by horse and carriage, with certified guides, grand homes, church steeples, gardens, and Civil War stories.
“You would truly enjoy the experience, and everyone was so nice and professional. The tour guides are very friendly and informative. Great overall experience 😊”
Walk Charleston’s French Quarter, Rainbow Row, and White Point Garden with a local guide on this well-paced two-hour history tour.
“Pleasant walk with very knowledgable guide. Really enjoyed it. Never really knew all of the history. Home run.”
Explore Charleston after dark by horse-drawn carriage, hearing ghost stories near graveyards, churches, the Mills House, and Provost Dungeon.
“Such a stupid “tour”. We basically went around the block while being referred to photos of the places we were supposed to see rather than reliably being shown those locations. The tour guide’s spiel was so indecipherable we couldn’t follow her at all. Some of the photos in the QR code photo album weren’t even mentioned. We kept stopping near parking lots and construction areas. Beyond dumb and a total waste of money. Nice horse, though.”
Review of Charleston's horse-drawn carriage tour, with historic sights, guide tips, pricing, route limits, horse care, and booking advice.
“Lovely experience. We went early in the day and had an almost private tour. Jim was a great guide and Donald, the gorgeous Belgian draft horse, did a great job leading us around. Palmetto takes such good care of their horses!”
Review Fort Sumter’s ferry ride, ranger talk, museum, harbor views, timing, accessibility, price, and practical tips before you book.
“Beautiful ferry ride in Charleston harbor. Even saw many dolphins. The one hour stay was just enough to take in the history.”
Cruise Charleston Harbor to Fort Sumter, hear Civil War stories from park rangers, explore the ruins, and enjoy a scenic ferry ride for $43.
“Trip to Ft. Sumpter was excellent, the short ferry ride was good. When you get there you can go through the museum and ask questions of the park rangers on site. The last tour of the day is also involved in the lowering of the flag ceremony when a little history lesson was given.”
Explore Charleston after dark on a 90-minute ghost walk with Unitarian Church Graveyard access, local legends, and atmospheric old-city stories.
“The tour guide was extremely informative and knowledgable about events that took place around the city. Our guide had the ability of telling the stories in an exiting way that captivated our group.”
Cruise Charleston Harbor aboard the Carolina Belle for Fort Sumter, Civil War sites, bridges, dolphins, and sunset views.
“the cruise was very enjoyable. We had the perfect weather, so it made it even better. Nice narration on board regarding history of Charleston.”
Explore Charleston’s secret alleys, Rainbow Row, and colonial landmarks on a two-hour small-group walk led by a local guide.
“Evans was an amazing historian and horticulturist! Our 2 hour tour was so informative and a great way to learn the history of Charleston… as well as see historic downtown! Worth every dollar!”
Explore Charleston’s French Quarter and South of Broad with a lively guide, landmark stories, and practical tips for a two-hour walk.
“A fantastic fully engaged guide offering a grand historical perspective based on the groups understanding and goals. We fully felt like we left with a full understanding of the history, culture, and modern preservation of the city.”
Cruise Charleston’s tidal creeks to Morris Island for dolphins, marsh views, shelling, and a close look at its historic lighthouse.
“Great experience! Check-in was easy! Boat was nice and clean. Captain was knowledgeable of the area and its marine life. LOVED seeing so many dolphins! Definitely made a special memory during our visit to Charleston!”
Taste Charleston classics, from she-crab soup to shrimp and grits, on a small-group walking tour through the French Quarter or Upper King Street.
“Robin was fabulous! Her experience and knowledge gave us a really great tour. It’s not always easy to to entertain and to keep people focused and entertained for 3 hours. I will always remember her and the tour!! Thank you Robin! Becky and Janel Seattle Washington”
Explore Boone Hall’s oak avenue, slave cabins, Gullah culture, gardens, working farm, and historic home with one all-access ticket.
“It was a beautiful place, and it can all be seen within about four hours, but it's not spectacular. The staff was very helpful and friendly, and they all seem to appreciate our visit. Other than trying to keep the house tour short, I didn't see reason why they did not want visitors to take pictures of the inside of the house. It's not like anything would be harmed by it. However, the big disappointment was the price that Viator charged for tickets versus what Boone Hall Plantation charged. Viator charged $38 each for two senior adult tickets, while the official price of senior tickets at Boone Hall Plantation was…”
Charleston’s 2.5-hour haunted bar walk pairs pirate-led ghost stories, historic sights, and three self-paid drinks in a small group.
“We had so much fun,,,,, Jo was so Amazing she knew all the best stories and it was very entertaining. We also met some great people in our group. I’m glad we went , had some drinks and leaned some history. 🏴☠️”
Cruise Charleston Harbor aboard a 1920s-style steamer, hearing Civil War stories, spotting dolphins, and watching the sunset for $49.
“We took the 4 pm boat ride and it was excellent for the group of eight people we were with and it was a nice beginning to our evening and pre-dinner plans. The Captain gave us an overview of the harbour, and the historic sites along the harbor as well as some Civil War history of Charleston. A lot of fun, some dolphins and warm SC sun. Just a beautiful afternoon.”
Pick a skyline, a canyon or a coastline.
