Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Charleston, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
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.
- Guided walking tour of Charleston’s historic sites
- Stroll through the historic district, including views of opulent mansions, outdoor spaces and city landmarks
- Choice of morning or afternoon tour
- Insightful commentary from a fun local guide
What's Included
- Rainbow Row
- Historic Waterfront Battery
- Antebellum Mansions
- A visual tour of Fort Sumter
- Hidden Gardens & Courtyards
- Historic Churches & Graveyards
- The Revolutionary and Civil War
- Gratuities
- Transportation
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 115 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
Please arrive at 115 Meeting St, the Mills House Hotel. You will meet your guide outside near the courtyard gates. Please look for your Bulldog Tours guide.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Rainbow Row
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Charleston Waterfront Park
Admission Ticket Free
Charleston City Market (Pass By)
Fort Sumter National Monument (Pass By)
3
The Powder Magazine
Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- The pace of our walking tour is leisurely
- Wheelchair accessible
- Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the tour.
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Operates in all weather conditions, dress appropriately
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 714 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Joana_M, Aug 2026
Janet was an amazing guide with great knowledge of the city and history. We got a good mix of history and fun facts along with all the city charming homes and she showed us the less seen alleyways that led to beautiful courtyards.
Maury_K, Aug 2026
Dave, our tour guide was terrific. Knowledgeable, funny, and very engaging. Nothing more to say but I have to fulfill the hundred character minimum of this review which is absurd.
Keisha_P, Aug 2026
If you want to truly experience the timeless charm and rich heritage of Charleston, this walking tour is an absolute must. Strolling down the historic streets and taking in the breathtaking 18th- and 19th-century architecture feels like stepping back into a more gracious era.
Mr. James and his stories were absolute perfection! He brought the grand churches, hidden courtyards, alleyways, antebellum mansions, and iconic pastel facades of Rainbow Row to life with incredible depth and engaging storytelling. The route offers a wonderful blend of scenic beauty and historical context, making it the ultimate way to get acquainted with the Holy City. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates classic elegance, architectural depth, and a memorable, immersive experience;)
Response from Host, Aug 2026
What an awesome review! Thanks for the recommendation. We have to agree; James is the best!
Kelly_S, Jun 2026
June was the best guide. She had such incredible knowledge of the area and even historical facts about where each of us hailed from. I learned a lot of fun and interesting things on this tour and would recommend it to anyone that has a couple hours to spare and wants to see more of the city than just King St.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
We appreciate your kind words about June's tour! Thanks for joining us!
Christy_W, May 2026
Nancy, our guide, was very knowledgeable about the areas she took us to and the tour was very informative! Enjoyed it very much!
Response from Host, May 2026
We are thrilled to hear you had a great time. Thanks for joining us!
Sandy_S, May 2026
Excellent tour. Guide very knowledgeable and helpful. Great way to get oriented to sights and history.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thanks for joining us, Sandy!
demont414, May 2026
Susan was great and very knowledgeable about city history
We saw some beautiful homes and gardens I recommend this tour!!
Response from Host, May 2026
We appreciate your recommendation!
Kelly_B, Apr 2026
This was a fantastic way to get your bearings in Charleston. As a local Charlestonian, our tour guide Keith was amazing at providing insight into both city history and modern culture. I appreciated that this tour didn't have one single focus; Rather, we discussed architecture and real estate, religious history, naval influence, cuisine and cocktails, Southern Charm, and of course sights to know. Taking the tour with Keith made me feel a part of the city rather than just a passerby. I will absolutely be booking with them again in the future. Thank you again "Uncle Keith"!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thanks for joining us, Kelly! We look forward to seeing you again soon.
James_R, Apr 2026
Great historical perspective on a beautiful City. The guide, James, was very knowledgeable and clearly enthusiastic about his home.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you, James!
Amy_L, Apr 2026
Very informative. Love to hear the stories of the town that would would not otherwise know. Clara was a great guide.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thanks for the 5-star review and kind words about Clara!
Siew_T, Mar 2026
Excellent informative tour. Our tour guide Ann was wonderful , accommodating and knowledgeable of Charleston’s history
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for joining us!
Colette_D, Dec 2025
You will be standing and walking for 2 hours. The guide was very knowledgeable and informative about Charleston. It is a worthwhile tour. I am so glad we did it.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for joining us!
Tracy_L, Oct 2025
Keith did an excellent job sharing the history of Charleston. This tour was very interesting and we enjoyed walking through the historic district.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for joining us, Tracy!
Thomas_M, Oct 2025
Graham was by far the most articulate and intelligent on the 3 wars that transcended in South Carolina. Very knowledgeable and explained it very well
Response from Host, Nov 2025
We are so glad to hear you had a great experience on Graham's tour.
Mike_B, Oct 2025
Very informative. Gordon was entertaining and knowledgeable about Charleston history. Would recommend it to other visitors.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for the review, Mike!
Shannon_M, Sep 2025
Excellent walking tour [be sure to wear comfortable shoes]! Our guide was very informative and we covered a nice size area. Guide paused in areas of shade and had a spot or two to rest your feet/back, lol! If you are looking to take in some history and culture, this is a great tour!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
We appreciate you sharing your experience!
Vlada_T, Jul 2025
Great tour, super knowledgeable, very engaging guide! The tour mostly includes walking in the formerly "walled" part of Charleston. We walked along the waterfront, East Bay and Battery Street for a part of the tour. Interesting, engaging, informative!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks for joining us! Glad to hear you had an excellent experience.
Charlene_N, Jun 2025
We had Gordon for our tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and we found the tour very interesting and fun. He was very accommodating as we had a stroller, we never felt like a burden. Tour leaves strictly on time, arrive early or you will be left behind!!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thanks for sharing your experience. We are glad to hear you had a great time!
Julie_W, May 2025
Eric knew so much about the history of Charleston. He was very personable, funny and interesting. He answered any and all questions we had. When we go back we will definitely take this tour again with Eric.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Eric is the best! We are glad to hear you agree. (:
Lisa_W, Apr 2025
Our tour guide, Diane, was amazing! She was a wealth of information and very amusing
She shared many wonderful stories that really brought historic Charleston to life.
We can highly recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for the 5-star recommendation. Lisa!
Kathleen_A, Apr 2025
Gordon was our knowledgeable tour guide for beautiful historical downtown Charleston. A two hour tour filled with loads of information fit for answers to Jeopardy questions. Gordon set a really good pace, allowed time for Q and A plus allowing time for photos. Gordon was a really amazing tour guide! Thanks!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience!
Ellen_R, Apr 2025
A wonderful walking tour. Linda was a great tour guide and extremely knowledgeable. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
We appreciate your recommendation, Ellen!
Theresa_R, Jan 2025
It is awesome. Tour guide very knowledgeable and entertaining. We learned so much about Charleston..
Response from Host, Feb 2025
We appreciate the 5-star review!
Ken_l, Dec 2024
Nelson, our tour guide, was very informative with many historical tidbits that brought historical life to the tour. Great job! Would highly recommend if you are interested in history.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you for the recommendation, Ken!
Nicole_B, Dec 2024
Loved learning about the history of Charleston while seeing old homes and exploring the neighborhoods. So much to take in and our guide David was great. Very knowledgeable!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
We are so happy to hear you were able to learn something new with David!
Victoria_P, Nov 2024
This was a really great experience for us. It was informative but not boring. She was funny and entertaining and we loved the little details about the homes, buildings she pointed out and interesting stories. I would recommend this tour, especially if the other guides are only half as good.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Victoria, we appreciate the 5-star review!
Russell_W, Nov 2024
David was an excellent tour guide. Very knowledgeable and respectful of the difficult past that defines Charleston. We highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
We appreciate the recommendation, Russell!
Brian_K, Oct 2024
Tour hostess, Charley, was entertaining and knowledgeable. Food selection was nicely varied. Pace was perfect. An enjoyable experience!
Response from Host, Oct 2024
We are so glad to hear you had an enjoyable experience.
Thomas_H, Sep 2024
My tour guide Lisa was extremely knowledgeable - and made the tour super interesting. She never missed a beat even when it started raining. It gave me a good layout of the city - and allowed me to impress my coworkers with what I had learned. Would highly recommend.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
We are thrilled to hear you had a great time with Lisa. We appreciate your 5-star review.
RIsa_D, Jun 2024
Seeing the rainbow row and listening to history behind Charleston. Seeing the original wall. I recommend this tour, however it was very hot. The Spring or Fall would have been a better time to visit.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
We appreciate you sharing your experience with us!
From $40.50
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More
712
2 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$40.50
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Charleston, USA
- Aiken-Rhett House Tours & Tickets
- Drayton Hall Tours & Tickets
- Charleston City Market Tours & Tickets
- Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon Tours & Tickets
- Rainbow Row Tours & Tickets
- Circular Congregational Church Tours & Tickets
- St. Philips Church Tours & Tickets
- Middleton Place Tours & Tickets
- Fort Sumter National Monument Tours & Tickets
- Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Tours & Tickets
- The Battery and White Point Garden Tours & Tickets
- Edmondston-Alston House Tours & Tickets
- Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center Tours & Tickets
- St. Michael's Church Tours & Tickets
- Aiken-Rhett House Tours & Tickets
- Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum Tours & Tickets
- Gibbes Museum of Art Tours & Tickets
More attractions near Charleston, USA