Top Charleston How to Get Around in 2026

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.

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.

Uncover Charleston’s darkest secrets on an evening ghost tour. Stroll through the atmospheric heart of the old city while a guide regales you with tales of the dark deeds, restless spirits, and supernatural phenomena that make Charleston one of the most haunted cities in America. Get exclusive after-hour access to the famous Unitarian Church Graveyard, where an overgrown southern garden surrounds historic plots. If you choose, you can book a shorter tour with just access to the Unitarian Church Graveyard.

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.

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.

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.

Join Charleston native and host of the popular Pleasing Terrors Podcast, Mike Brown, on this 90-minute Pleasing Terrors Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour. Join Mike as he combines suspenseful storytelling with unparalleled knowledge of the hidden and often frightening stories lurking in Charleston's past and present.

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.

See a new side of Charleston when you set off after dark—and learn all about the spooky side of the city’s history, thanks to your guide's stories—on this ghost tour. See major historical landmarks, as well as graveyards, alleyways, hotels, bars, and other lesser-known, supposedly haunted corners. As you go, hear creepy tales about ghostly brides, pirates, unexplained murders, and more.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Explore the haunted side of Charleston with a small-group history and ghost tour. Meet your guide for a city stroll that includes popular landmarks like Hibernian Hall, Washington Park, Chalmers Street, and St. Philip’s Church. Hear scary stories and learn about local history, including true crime, during this family-friendly walking tour.

This Charleston ghost cruise brings you to the city’s spooky sites that can’t be reached on foot. Board a 45-foot catamaran and set sail on the Charleston Harbor, passing by the sites of pirate attacks, naval battles, and more. As you sail, your guide tells haunting stories of Charleston’s past.

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.

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.

Explore Charleston through its food—and visit places you might miss while exploring alone. Stroll the streets of the Upper King Design District with your local guide in the lead, stopping for Southern and Lowcountry bites like shrimp and grits, biscuits, fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese, fried chicken with honey, and more. You’ll get to see landmarks like the Aiken-Rhett House, Charleston Music Hall, and Marion Square along the way.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.