Top Charleston Private Sightseeing Tours

See Charleston's most celebrated streets on your own schedule, without waiting for a group or keeping pace with a guide. This smartphone GPS walking tour leads you through the heart of historic downtown—past the grand antebellum homes of the Battery, the pastel facades of Rainbow Row, and along the waterfront—with location-triggered audio commentary that plays automatically as you walk.

Too hot for a walking tour? Enjoy Charleston's best history tour in the cool comfort of the Historic District's finest classic restaurants on the Tastes Through Time Tour. This unique four course foodie tour blends the perfect pairing of culinary delights with the captivating history of Lowcountry culture & the evolution of the region's cuisine. While you dine on Charleston's signature dishes & delicacies of the Lowcountry, your fun, knowledgeable, engaging guide, a lifetime local of the area, will escort you to some of the city's best known restaurants, where you will receive VIP service. Your guide will be happy to recommend the best local dining & touring experiences to make the most of your stay in Charleston. Our partner restaurants gladly substitute dishes for food restrictions upon request. *A minimum number of guests may be required for the tour to operate in peak periods.*

Discover Charleston, South Carolina with the help of a local to guide you around town and share fun facts about the city’s storied past and vibrant present on this private tour. See popular attractions as well as hidden gems you might have missed without your guide to show you. Get around Charleston in a comfortable, air-conditioned car with hotel pickup included, and save your energy for sightseeing.

See Charleston from the water, and enjoy a luxurious way to admire the sights, with this private sailing charter. This flexible experience is tailored to your preferences: pick your own departure time, bring aboard a picnic and drinks (or upgrade for gourmet catering), and request a photographer if you want to capture the moment. As you go, circle the Charleston Harbor, see landmarks like Fort Sumter, and enjoy a relaxing ambiance.

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.

Learn all about more than 300 years of history on this guided carriage tour of Charleston. See the many mansions, churches, and gardens as your horse-drawn carriage tour covers more than 2.5 miles and 30 blocks of historic Charleston. Belgian and Percheron draft horses lead you through the streets while you learn about this “Holy City” and its role in the Civil War—leave your guidebook at home, these stories are better.

Charleston's coastal waterways hide an entire ecosystem most visitors never experience up close. This private boat adventure heads out through the marshes and estuaries of Folly River with a local captain, as you scan for dolphins, shorebirds, and other marine life in their natural habitat. There's time to stop at Morris Island to see the Morris Island Lighthouse and stroll on the beach.

Discover the history of Charleston on this private walking tour. Follow your professional and native Charlestonian guide around the city’s historical downtown and see notable landmarks such as St. Michael’s Church, Rainbow Row, the Battery, Nathaniel Russell House, and more, and hear stories that bring the people, sites, and history of Charleston to life.

Just you and your crew! Private groups allow for more opportunities to ask questions and to interact with your native Charlestonian guide. This unique foodie tour blends the perfect pairing of culinary delights with the captivating history of Lowcountry culture and the evolution of the region's cuisine. While you dine on Charleston's signature dishes and delicacies of the Lowcountry, your fun, knowledgeable, engaging guide, will escort you through the famous Historic District to some of the city's premier restaurants, where you will receive VIP service. Your guide will be glad to recommend the best local dining and touring experiences to make the most of your stay in Charleston. *Minimum of 4 guests required for this tour to operate.*

CELEBRATE your milestone in a meaningful way. Plan a secret proposal, capture your engagement, honor your anniversary, honeymoon, babymoon, or simply document a special trip with the people you love. CUSTOMIZE your experience to match your vision. Choose from: historic downtown Charleston, Boone Hall, Isle of Palms, Cypress Gardens, Shem Creek. Together, we’ll create the perfect setting for your story. ENJOY a relaxed, private experience designed just for you. I’ll guide you through beautiful locations and help you with simple, natural posing so you always know where to stand and what to do, while I capture professional photographs along the way. CHERISH the memories long after your trip is over. Leave Charleston with timeless photographs that will remind you of this special chapter for years to come. At the moment, I don’t offer portrait sessions for a single person unless it’s for graduation or senior photos.

Savannah and Charleston are two of the most historic destinations in the American south, and the road connecting the two cities holds just as much history. This self-guided driving tour dives into the history and scenery of that route. Visit the haunting Old Sheldon Church Ruins, snap photos of the Angel Oak Tree, go birdwatching in the ACE Basin Wildlife Preserve, uncover stories of the Underground Railroad, see historic Drayton Hall, and so much more. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, entering your unique password, and accessing your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check opening hours before your visit.

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.

No more awkward selfies and no more dull walking tours. With this mini photoshoot package, your local guide takes you across Charleston’s most scenic spots, snapping great photos of your group along the way. You’ll get to see why Charleston is one of the prettiest cities in America—and get your crew looking even better than your backdrop.

Step into the storied streets of Charleston where centuries of American history unfold behind wrought-iron gates and beneath canopies of live oaks draped in Spanish moss. This self-guided walking tour leads you through the City's most captivating landmarks, from the pastel Georgian townhouses of Rainbow Row to the grounds where the Civil War began. Wander through the nation's oldest public market, pause in elegant gardens, and stand on the seawall at The Battery as the Ashley and Cooper Rivers converge. Along the way, hear stories of revolution and resilience, of enslaved Africans who shaped the city's culture, and of the devastating 1886 earthquake that nearly leveled everything. Charleston's charm lies in its contradictions — a city that celebrates beauty while confronting a complicated past. From the towering spire of St. Michael's Church to the limbs of the Angel Oak Tree, every stop reveals another layer of this remarkable Southern city.

Go behind the scenes of the Netflix series "Outer Banks" on a filming locations tour in Charleston. Meet your guide, who was a background actor during the show, for a private behind-the-scenes tour. Hear stories about the cast and crew of "Outer Banks: as you visit locations seen in the series. Learn about the history, culture, and architecture of Charleston during the tour as well.

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.

Travel along the picturesque roads from Charleston to Savannah, exploring the captivating beauty of the Lowcountry. This tour highlights moss-draped oak trees and coastal marshes, while your guide shares fascinating insights into the region's rich history and culture. Once in Savannah, stroll through the Historic District, where cobblestone streets and elegant mansions await. Don't miss the iconic Chippewa Square and the bustling City Market, filled with local art and shops. A delightful stop at Gallery Espresso for artisan coffee and pastries rounds out this charming experience. - Scenic drive showcasing the stunning Lowcountry landscape - Discover Savannah's Historic District and its preserved architecture - Immerse in local culture at the vibrant City Market and River Street - Ideal for history enthusiasts, families, and adventurous couples

Get 3 tours in Charleston and explore the city, at your own pace. All highly rated and popular. You'll get the Ghosts of Charleston, Charleston's French Quarter and the Charleston Downtown, Rainbow Row and Battery tour. Step into the story of Charleston like never before with this all-in-one bundle of three immersive, highly rated (with 100's of reviews) self-guided audio tours. Whether you’re wandering the charming streets of the French Quarter, strolling past the iconic mansions along the Battery and Rainbow Row, or exploring the city’s darker, haunted past, this collection lets you experience Charleston at your own pace—on your schedule. Each tour is GPS-guided and professionally narrated, giving you the freedom to start anywhere, pause anytime, and explore at your own pace while still enjoying rich storytelling and local insight. If you want to truly understand Charleston—not just see it—this bundle is the perfect way to explore the Holy City from every angle.

Visit the site where the American Civil War began without the hassle of arranging transportation or waiting in line for tickets. This Fort Sumter package includes admission skip-the-line tickets as well as round-trip ferry transport. Take in views of Rainbow Row and the Battery as you cruise through Charleston Harbor. Then, enjoy time to explore the historic fort and museum, before the return ferry ride.

You’re coming to Charleston and you want the best experience possible. You’re staying at a great hotel, you’ve made reservations at some of Charleston’s finest restraunts and you want to learn about this wonderful beautiful city, it’s rich history and you want to know what it’s like living here today. Historic Charleston Tours is a boutique tour guide company that specializes in small group and private tours. All of our guides are licensed by the city (no longer required in Charleston), but more importantly all of our guides live in the Old and Historic District. They can offer you interesting and amusing insights as to what it’s like living in this truly fascinating, historic neighborhood. Virtually no other tour guide company in Charleston can make such a claim. And if you have trouble walking or it's too hot we will drive you. Your choice. See why so many of Charleston’s finest hotels choose Historic Charleston Tours for their guests.

Travel back in time to discover one of America’s most historic cities—Charleston, South Carolina—on this guided walking tour. Visit points of interest including Charleston City Hall; the Dock Street Theatre, America’s first theatre; the Old Exchange Building, South Carolina's most historic building; White Point Garden, in the heart of Charleston’s historic district with a spectacular view of Fort Sumter, and many more.

Download GuideAlong’s self-guided driving audio tour of Savannah and Charleston and explore scenic marshlands, historic estates, and coastal beauty. Visit iconic sites like ACE Basin, Angel Oak Tree, Charles Towne Landing, Drayton Hall, Old Sheldon Church Ruins, and Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. Along the way, enjoy stories of the region’s rich history, culture, and wildlife, all while driving at your own pace. Enjoy the freedom to explore offline at your own pace, spending more time at places that interest you and bypassing any that don’t. Stories, tips, and directions play automatically based on your location Travel at your own pace Tour offline using GPS. No cell service or WiFi is needed Suggested itineraries for half, full, or multi-day use No time limits or expiry, and free updates Like having a tour guide along for the drive Purchase one tour per vehicle.

Enjoy a quintessential lowcountry cruise through the salt marshes of one of Charleston’s most scenic rivers where we see multiple dolphin sightings on 99% of our tours! The waters here are calm and less crowded with land always in sight making this private tour more relaxing, intimate, and enjoyable! You will be onboard a 27’ Coast Guard Certified vessel. “Marsh Mama” is designed with an open concept. She has comfortable cushioned seats, and Bluetooth stereo for your enjoyment. Spacious coolers with ice and waters will be provided. You are welcome to bring whatever food and drink you’d like! (BYOB) Your captain will be experienced, knowledgeable, and fun. He will keep you safe, teach you interesting facts, and take great care of you. Your captain has a Masters License. The tour is great for guests of all ages! It is perfect for families, friends, and celebrations! You can even bring your pet! Inquire for group rates for up to 20 guests.