Top Charleston How to Get Around in 2026

Get out on the waters of Charleston Harbor during this cruise aboard an 84-foot-tall (25-meter) classic tall ship. As the crew hoists the sails of the schooner, you glide past some of the city's historical sights and watch for dolphins in the water. The route varies depending on the sailing conditions. Drinks are available to purchase on board. Select a morning or afternoon departure time when booking.

Dating back to 1670, Charleston is one of the most haunted cities in America. With a history of pirates and criminals, patriots and founding fathers, the city swarms with restless souls and unexplained phenomena. On this tour, your local guide takes you to all the spookiest spots, from haunted graveyards to execution sites and more, keying you into the spirits who walk the cobblestone streets.

The Holiday Festival of Lights fills James Island County Park with more than 700 displays and 2 million lights. Arrive by round-trip transfer from Charleston Visitor Center and take in the festival at your own pace. Pick up holiday treats, take little ones to meet Santa, ride the Festival Express train or join a reindeer-making workshop.

Charleston is the home of Lowcountry cooking, shaped by West African, French, and Caribbean influences, and this tour works through four courses across three restaurants in the Historic District. Eat signature Charleston dishes while a local guide explains how the city's cultures shaped its cuisine. Walk between stops past the City Market, St. Philip's Church, and Philadelphia Alley.

We are the only experience in Charleston led by a full-blooded Gullah Geechee Indian historian, Chief Godfrey Gullah JacK BlacK. While others stick to a sanitized script, we provide the raw, unfiltered, unscripted truth of America’s #1 slave-trading concentration camp. We reveal the ancient secrets of the people who built the Holy City’s economy. Your journey dives deep into the lives of enslaved builders, wealthy Black landowners, and resilient people. You will hear the Gullah Hebrew language and stand on the very ground where history was made. This is more than a tour—it's an eye-opening confrontation with the past. We offer a nuanced, deeply personal perspective you won't find anywhere else. From Indians to Negroes to Black, we trace the bloodline and the survival of a culture that still breathes today. Once you see the real Charleston through your eyes, you can never unsee it.

Enjoy a spooky adventure and learn more about Charleston’s haunted history with this self-guided audio tour. Download the app and tour on your phone and start the tour whenever you want by heading to the Old Exchange. Walk past some of the city’s most haunted sites while learning about the ghostly stories connected to them, including the the Dock Street Theater, Pirates Courtyard, Circular Church Graveyard, and more.

Charleston's haunted history comes alive on the Ghosts and Gravestones Night Tour. With exclusive access to Bethany Cemetery, guests are guided by a costumed Ghost Host who shares chilling tales of the city’s darker past. The tour allows for a unique nighttime exploration, complete with lanterns to light the way through the cemetery's eerie grounds. As you ride through the haunted streets, the stories deepen, revealing the ghostly legends that linger in Charleston's shadows. This 90-minute experience is designed for those seeking a thrilling adventure, perfect for an adult audience.

Explore Charleston by water taxi with this convenient harbor cruise. Utilize quick and scenic water-based transportation to reach several popular landmarks including Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum and the Aquarium. Check out attractions like Joe Riley Waterfront Park and the Charleston Harbor Marina at your leisure. Keep an eye out for dolphins during the cruise.

Decide for yourself if Charleston’s ghost stories are true on this haunted after-hours tour of the Holy City. Walk to infamously spooky locations—including the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon—and hear a mix of history and lore from your guide about soldiers who once fought within the city.

A walking tour of Charleston is especially pleasant when done in a small group of just 15 people or fewer. Discover the best tours in Charleston without the hassle of overcrowded sidewalks as you follow your guide through the historic French Quarter, past the majestic mansions of Broad Street, and down to the Charleston Battery As you walk, your guide regales you with tales of Charleston's fascinating history, which is all too easy to miss if you forgo a guide.

Experience the charm and beauty of Charleston on a morning or afternoon walking tour. With an entertaining guide, take a leisurely stroll through the city’s Historic District, passing antebellum mansions, hidden gardens, historic churches and graveyards, as well as famous sites like Fort Sumter, Rainbow Row, and the Waterfront Battery. Along the way, learn about Charleston’s rich history and contemporary culture.

With more than 300 years of history as an established city, Charleston has its fair share of frightening ghost stories. Wander around these historical city streets with a guide and uncover the gruesome chapters of Charleston’s history. As you move from pub to pub, you’ll hear tales of pirates, bootleggers, brothels, and more. Learn about the history and haunts of the city from the days of the piracy to the nights of Prohibition.

Trade the typical tours and peek into Charleston’s shadowy history with a chilling nighttime walking tour of the city’s eeriest sites. Wind through the dark corridors of the Historic District and hear spooky tales of graveyard hauntings, medical patients accidentally buried alive, and botched burials from your guide. Pass by infamous locations with grisly histories and wander through Charleston’s oldest cemetery after hours.

Enjoy a slow tour of Charleston without tiring yourself out by walking when you trade in a walking tour for a horse-drawn carriage excursion. Hop in a private horse-drawn carriage and head out on the town, checking out historic landmarks and listening to live commentary from the carriage driver you make your way through the city.

Discover the most haunted locations in Charleston with this small-group walking ghost tour. Hear ghost stories inspired by the city’s past during this stroll that includes landmarks like the Dock Street Theater and the Circular Congregational Church. Learn about paranormal activity in Charleston and go in search of spirits with a guide leading the way.

Join this combination bar crawl and ghost tour with a local Charlestonian and spend your evening learning about the haunted side of the city. Visit two bars as part of the tour and enjoy a complimentary snack at the first bar location. Hear ghost stories as you stroll by graveyards and historic sites. Finish the tour at a hauntingly beautiful local park where you’ll learn about one of the most feared ghosts in Charleston. (Please note we do not enter the graveyards).

Skip the generic audio guides and discover Charleston's layered history through the eyes of someone who grew up in it. This small-group walking tour is led by a local author with a talent for storytelling and intimate knowledge of the area. Wander cobblestone streets and take in the city’s iconic architecture in an intimate group of no more than 12 travelers.

If you’re someone who likes to discover a new city but aren’t interested in the crowds or the pace of a standard tour, then this self-guided audio tour of Charleston is an excellent choice for you. You’ll explore the city’s historical French Quarter on foot at your own pace and on your own schedule. Using your phone, you’ll be guided through the city streets, hearing stories from pre-Civil War times up to the present.

This walking tour and interactive lunch combo provides a two-in-one experience in Charleston. With a celebrated local chef, Forrest Parker, you'll start with a 1.5-hour historical walking tour about the influences of Lowcountry food in the city of Charleston. Then watch a cooking demonstration from Parker before enjoying lunch paired with wine.

From the city's brothels to gritty crime stories, explore Charleston's seedier history on this evening ghost tour. By combining aspects of the horrific, the salacious, and the just plain weird, this walking tour offers a unique look at the city. Keep in mind that this tour contains mature themes and language.

Visit Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens on this 4.5-hour tour from Charleston, South Carolina. One of the oldest working plantations in the United States, Boone Hall was founded in 1681 and still grows crops. During your tour led by a guide in period costume, you'll see the plantation's slave quarters and learn about its history and modern-day use. Select a morning or afternoon departure time when booking. Enjoy a personalized experience on this small-group tour of just 15 people.

Beat the heat while touring Charleston on this minibus tour. Relax and ride in comfort as your driver takes you to top Charleston sights such as Colonial Lake, Rainbow Row, and Whitepoint Gardens. As a bonus, this tour includes admission to the Charleston Museum—visit the downtown location on your own schedule.

Charleston is such a charming, laid-back city in South Carolina that you can’t help but slow your pace and enjoy the Southern weather. This private self-guided audio tour lets you explore at your own speed. Grab your smartphone, put your headphones on, and take a walk into Charleston’s past. As you stroll the streets, you’ll pass by historic buildings and hear stories dating back to the Revolutionary War.

Set sail on the Charleston Princess for an unforgettable evening of live music, stunning harbor views, and Southern BBQ. Enjoy a buffet of pulled pork, smoked chicken, mac and cheese, and more—all while local musicians provide the perfect soundtrack. With three spacious decks, open seating, and a lively onboard atmosphere, this cruise is ideal for date nights, group outings, or a laid-back night on the water.