Top Charleston Cultural Tours

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.

As you wind through the city, you will encounter many of the iconic sights, sounds, customs and stories that have shaped the low country of South Carolina and our nation over three centuries. Beyond the iconic points of interest, we will also explore little nuances that have created the character of this amazing city. The tour is expected to last approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes in total.

Your guide brings history to life during this Charleston walking tour of the city's historical downtown. See notable buildings including the Nathaniel Russell House, the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, and the Old Slave Mart Museum. As you walk over the flat and easy terrain with your guide, discover the history that occurred right under your feet and around every corner from Rainbow Row to the Battery.

Bring your appetite for this tasty walking tour of downtown Charleston. You’ll spend a few hours of mouthwatering fun touring the culinary side of the Holy City, learning about the history of the city as you dine at four local restaurants. Explore the French Quarter and the Market while tasting traditional and contemporary Lowcountry cuisine.

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.

Learn about the history and heritage of Charleston during a small-group walking tour. Meet your guide for a city stroll that includes popular attractions such as the French Huguenot Church, the Dock Street Theater, and Waterfront Park. Hear stories about local architecture, historic figures, and cultural landmarks during this guided tour.

Explore the rich architectural heritage of Charleston on a two-hour walking tour that delves into the city's stunning preserved buildings. This informative journey showcases a variety of structures, including churches, civic buildings, and private residences, revealing the unique styles and construction techniques that define Charleston. Perfect for architecture enthusiasts or anyone interested in learning about the city's history, this tour provides valuable insights into the artistry behind each building. - Two-hour guided walking tour of Charleston’s architecture - Discover historic churches, civic buildings, and private homes - Learn about unique architectural styles and construction methods - Tour departs from The Griffon at 18 Vendue Range

Hear all about Charleston, South Carolina and its storied past with a Ph.D historian for a guide on this walking tour. Walk the city streets as part of a small group, seeing popular local attractions like the French Quarter, St. Michael’s Church, Dock Street Theater, Fort Sumter National Monument, and lots more.

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.

Pickup and drop-off from downtown Charleston, South Carolina make it easy to tour Magnolia Plantation, one of the oldest plantations in the South. This 4-in-1 tour includes a narrated drive out to the plantation, a walking tour of the garden, tram tour through the property, and tour of the house itself, providing incredible value.

The TouringBee audio guide is a convenient mobile companion for a self-guided walk through Charleston. The tour is designed specifically for getting to know the city in a short time (2–2.5 hours). Follow the route on the in-app map to walk from Washington Square to the Charleston City Market, passing the city’s main landmarks. You will definitely see: The Four Corners of Law, Rainbow Row, The Nathaniel Russell House Museum, The Williams Mansion, The French Huguenot Church. The tour includes 25 interesting stops. All stories are written by professional journalists and historians, with a touch of humor and a love of travel. After you download the tour, the app works offline. You can always hear the audio guide clearly through your headphones. Enjoy fascinating stories and legends as you move at your own pace, with no need to follow a tour group. You can stop at any time to rest in a café or turn down a picturesque alley, and then continue your walk around the city later.

Charleston has a rich history that’s exciting to learn about, but many of the city’s historical tours focus on just the Revolutionary War and Civil War. Go beyond that during this Charleston’s Historic Women Walking Tour that focuses on telling you stories of the strong women who helped make Charleston what it is today. Visit the Pink House Gallery, Rainbow Row, and more spots.

Experience the best of Charleston with this popular History and Architecture Tour of Charleston’s Historic Downtown. Take an immersive journey through secret alleys and colorful corridors, uncovering the city’s rich history and colorful architecture. Expert guides will provide fascinating insights into Charleston’s past and present, making this tour an unforgettable experience. The tour starts in the Historic Downtown. From there your guide will lead you through the South of Broad the French Quarter Districts with their charming architecture, cobblestone streets and historic homes, and finishes at the famous Pineapple Fountain. Highlights include visits to three hidden alleys, the beautiful wrought iron work on centuries old gates, famous Rainbow Row, bustling City Market and the Pineapple fountain

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.

Savor the very best of the Lowcountry on a unique Charleston food tour designed for true foodies. The family run business has designed a curated culinary experience for guaranteed line-skipping access to four of the Historic Downtown’s finest restaurants. You will enjoy iconic Charleston signature plates, including crispy hushpuppies, decadent carrot cake, she-crab soup and classic shrimp and grits. As you walk off your tastings along beautiful cobblestone streets, an expert local guide uncovers the deep history behind landmarks like the Old Exchange Building and the Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park. Discover where locals actually eat, learn the complex history of Southern spices, and enjoy a full meal's worth of world-class cuisine. (Note: Child tickets ages 0-6 do not include food samples).

Embark on Secret Strolls, a unique walking tour that unveils Charleston's most hidden charms. Your expertly guided journey takes you through exclusive alleyways (some)only accessible on foot, presenting a side of the Holy City rarely seen by the casual visitor. You'll wander past picturesque, cobblestone streets, discover breathtaking architecture, and find serenity among historic churches. The tour showcases quintessential Southern beauty, from majestic Spanish moss-draped live oaks to vibrant crepe myrtles. As you stroll through these tucked-away paths, you'll be immersed in captivating stories steeped in low country tradition, learning the intriguing origins of the alleys and intimate details about Charlestonian life. This experience offers unparalleled photography opportunities and promises a fresh, magnificent perspective on your treasured city.

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.

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.

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.

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.*

Boone Hall Plantation has had a long and fascinating history since its founding near Charleston in 1681. Learn about the estate and its place in South Carolina history by visiting the plantation with an all-access admission ticket. Nine original cabins where enslaved people lived, coupled with the Black History in America exhibit, demonstrate what life was like for many people at the plantation.

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.

Travel back in time to discover one of America’s most historic cities—Charleston, South Carolina—on this guided small-group walking tour. Explore some of the city’s most enchanting alleys and hidden passages. Visit the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, a colonial building with a 300-year history; Rainbow Row, the longest cluster of Georgian row houses in the United States; plus historic Philadelphia Alley, and many more.