Top Charleston Culture in 2026

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.

As one of America’s oldest cities, Charleston is considered one of its most haunted. During this hair-raising walking tour, visit the city’s famous paranormal hotspots including Poogan’s Porch, one of America’s top 10 haunted restaurants, and St Philip’s Church graveyard, the location of a famous haunting. From stories of pirates, gangsters and serial killers to tragic lovers, you choose the narrative to suit your interests during this unique ghost tour.

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.

Charleston's landmarks stretch from the Battery at the southern tip up to Hampton Park in the north, and walking between them can eat up most of a day. This minibus tour covers the same ground in one loop, with a guide talking you through the pastel houses of Rainbow Row, the live oaks of White Point Gardens, and the Citadel's riverside campus along the way.

Embark on a horse-drawn carriage tour through the heart of historic Charleston, one of the most charming cities in the US. Ride along cobblestone streets and take in the antebellum architecture, historic landmarks, and lush gardens. Your knowledgeable guide shares fascinating stories about Charleston’s rich history and Southern culture. This is a charming introduction to this part of Charleston.

Travel back to Colonial times aboard a horse-drawn carriage and discover more than 300 years of history on this guided, 1-hour tour of Charleston. See the many mansions, churches and gardens of yesteryear on this narrated tour around historic Charleston. Enjoy the romantic clip-clop sound as this educational adventure winds through the streets and learn about this ‘Holy City’ and its rich history and role in Civil War times.

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.

Visit the site where the first shots of 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 a round-trip, narrated ferry ride from Charleston. Enjoy time to explore the historic fort and museum, watch a battle reenactment, and browse for souvenirs before the return ferry ride.

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.

Get all the thrills of a Charleston ghost tour without any walking on this haunted horse and carriage ride. A horse and carriage takes you down twisting side streets and cobbled alleyways with ease as your guide shares spooky stories from Charleston’s past. Make your way past the Mills House, the Circular Congregational Graveyard, and and Provost Dungeon in the heart of the Holy City.

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 the Charleston Harbor by boat with a leisurely sightseeing tour along the Cooper River to Fort Sumter National Monument. Leave the guidebook at home, because this fully-narrated tour focuses on Charleston, South Carolina's history from Civil War sites to antebellum houses and landmarks, passes under Cooper River bridges, and explores a waterfront that’s home to bottlenose dolphins and pelicans.

While others offer scripted stories, we offer the raw, unfiltered truth. What sets us apart is simple: we are the only tour in Charleston led by a full-blooded Gullah Geechee historian, Chief Godfrey Gullah Jack. This isn’t a rehearsed performance—it’s a living history. Your "Truth Offensive" takes you where conventional tours won’t go. We dive deep into the real lives of African American craftsmen, landowners, and the enslaved people who built this city. You won’t just hear dates; you’ll experience the Gullah language and culture firsthand from the people who carry its legacy. We provide the most accurate, nuanced account of Charleston’s history, moving past the polished versions to reveal the strength and redemption of your ancestors. Choosing us means choosing authenticity over gloss. You aren't just a tourist; you’re a witness to a story that has been waiting to be told. Join us for an educational, soul-stirring experience that will change how you see Charleston forever.

Take a small-group tour of Charleston on this haunted boos and booze tour with your pirate guide. You can sip on cocktails (at your own expense) while your guide takes you through the city to places like the Powder Magazine, Charleston City Market, Washington Square, and more.

Discover the spookier side of Charleston’s history on this haunted tour of the Old City Jail. With an expert guide, learn about some of Charleston’s most notorious criminals, pirates and despicable characters like Lavinia and John Fisher, 19th-century hoteliers who allegedly poisoned their guests. Visit eerie spaces such as prisoner cells, hallways and locations where criminals died. Brace yourself for a possible ghostly apparition!

Get an inside perspective on Charleston's lesser-known black history during this guided walking tour. Hear forgotten tales and facts about important figures in the city's history. Set off through Charleston's historic neighborhoods on foot, taking in the local ambiance from the ground up, with stops at sites such as the Old Slave Mart Museum and Catfish Row.

Magnolia Plantation sits well outside Charleston, which puts it out of reach without a car. This half-day tour includes round-trip transfers from the Charleston Visitor Center, and a guide who walks you through the plantation house on arrival. Choose either the nature train ride through the gardens or the boat trip along the Ashley River to finish.

Explore Charleston's historic pub culture with this all-inclusive tour uncovering 350+ years of history and Pub Culture on this expertly guided tour. Journey through the Historic French Quarter, visiting local pubs where you’ll learn about the city's rich heritage and intriguing tales of Pints, Pubs, Prostitutes, Pirates, and Politics*. Each tour includes a City-Certified guide, drinks at three pubs, and at least one sharable appetizer to complement your experience. Perfect for culture buffs and beer enthusiasts alike, this tour promises education, entertainment, and enlightenment! - Professional guides certified in history and beer (Unique in Charleston!) - Enjoy craft beer, wine, or cider at three local pubs - Includes at least one sharable appetizer - Ideal for guests aged 21 and older, with a maximum of 15-20 minutes of actual walking. *No Politics after 1940

Prohibition made have made liquor illegal in Charleston for a while, but it didn’t end the party for this South Carolina city. Learn all about the history of the 18th Amendment and get a taste of the wild Charleston scene of the 1920s on this prohibition-themed pub crawl. You’ll visit historic landmarks along with vintage restaurants and bars.

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.

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, voodoo, and botched burials from your guide. Pass by infamous locations with grisly histories and wander through Charleston’s oldest cemetery after hours.

See the highlights of Charleston in comfort on this guided tour on a climate-controlled minibus. Learn more from your guide’s narration as you ride past must-see Charleston sights such as the Battery, the Citadel, Old City Market, and Hampton Park. Also enjoy spectacular views of Fort Sumter, Castle Pinckney, and the Sullivan Island Lighthouse from a distance. The express tour provides an ideal overview for first-time visitors to Charleston.

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.