Charleston Horse & Carriage Historic Sightseeing Tour

Recommended by 92% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Charleston, USA

Popular pick

Booked 5+ times last week!

1 hour (approx.)
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.6

· David_J ·

Aug 2026

Arrived and greeted nicely. Tour started on time, and guided tour was great. Shared great history and was very engaging and professional

· Naji_T ·

Jul 2026

The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of Downtown Charleston. She was very welcoming and engaging from start to finish. This is a must-travel in Charleston!

Overview

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.

Experience the romance of a horse-drawn carriage tour
Learn about Charleston’s storied past from the tour guide
See one of the most historic buildings in America
Fun for the entire family

What's Included

1-Hour Historic Horse & Carriage Ride of Charleston
Professional guide
See beautiful gardens and parks, stately mansions, and historic churches
Learn about the people and events that shaped the history of this "Holy City"
Opportunity to engage with the horses up close ahead of or after tour
Photo opportunities with the horses

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

45 Pinckney St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
Directions: Please check in with an attendant at the desk inside our barn at 45 Pinckney Street. Dates: Tours depart approximately every 20 to 30 minutes from 9:30 am to 5pm during daylight savings (the last carriage will depart at 4pm during non-daylight savings time)

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Start time
.9:30 am

Ticket Redemption Point

45 Pinckney St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA

Itinerary

Charleston City Market

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Battery & White Point Gardens

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Rainbow Row

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Nathaniel Russell House

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

St. Philip's Church

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
Please note: Routes are chosen prior to departure on the date of travel. This is determined by a City of Charleston Tourism official and is out of the control of the local operator.
Please note: Tours depart approximately every 30 minutes starting at 9:30am on a first come first served basis, you will be assigned a specific departure time when you check in for your tour on the day of travel.
Please note: The last tour will depart at 4pm during non-daylight savings time (Nov through March) and 5pm during daylight savings time (March through Nov).
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.6

based on 519 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Sort by: Most insightful

Tour was informative and...

Sarah_T, Sep 2026

Tour was informative and loved seeing all of the historical houses and buildings around Charleston..

Wonderful Charleston tour..

David_J, Aug 2026

Arrived and greeted nicely. Tour started on time, and guided tour was great. Shared great history and was very engaging and professional

Good ride but could have been better

Barbara_C, Aug 2026

The driver was friendly and knowledgeable. We skipped some parts because the horse wasn’t fully cooperative. I wasn’t happy about sitting with dogs who were barking at the horse before we got on the ride. Service animals are trained this emotional support animal stuff is annoying and dangerous.

It was nice, horse is so...

Sandy_S, Aug 2026

It was nice, horse is so friendly. They pick your route by drawing balls...I didnt care to much for our route but was still a nice time.

Fantastic guide!!

Jyliann_M, Aug 2026

It was the guide that made the trip a lot of fun. He was super knowledgeable about the area and funny!! What I didn’t like was my reservation said it begins at 930 but they wouldn’t board until 945. Annoying but not a deal breaker.

Luck of the colored ball.

Jill_Y, Aug 2026

The horse trolleys are assigned certain paths according to what colored Ball pops up at the corner overseer. This process is to keep the horse trolleys dispersed evenly throughout Charleston. So, where you might want to see the French Quarter or the color row of houses, you might get the outskirts of town as we did.

Horse carriage tour

Stephanie_D, Jul 2026

Eric was a great tour guide he wasn’t very knowledgeable and very informative I would recommend others to use this horse carriage company.

Horse and Carriage Tour - Downtown Charleston

Naji_T, Jul 2026

The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of Downtown Charleston. She was very welcoming and engaging from start to finish. This is a must-travel in Charleston!

Highly Recommend

Rachel_S, Jun 2026

Caroline did an amazing job of telling the history of the Charleston architecture. We enjoyed her humor and side stories.

Great tour !

sajohnstonga, Jun 2026

High energy staff. Beautiful horses. Loved the flexibility of when to join the tour throughout the day

unforgettable horse and carriage ride in Charleston

Karen_R, Jun 2026

Our family recently went on the most amazing horse and carriage tour of Charleston. The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable, sharing fascinating stories about the city, and the pace of the tour was just perfect, allowing us to take in all the beautiful sights and historic streets. The horses themselves were well-trained, calm, and added to the overall charm of the experience. One small drawback was that the tour schedule wasn’t as precise as advertised. While the site mentioned tours left every 30 minutes, we ended up waiting 45 minutes for our departure even though we arrived early. We sat on the bench while waiting, but it was a bit frustrating to see last-minute arrivals getting first choice of seats, especially since our kids were eager to sit up front. Adjusting the boarding process could make the experience smoother for families.Despite this minor issue, the overall experience was memorable and enjoyable. The combination of historical insights, scenic streets, and the connection to Charleston through the horses made it a highlight of our trip. We would definitely recommend this tour to families and visitors looking to enjoy the city's charm in a relaxed, guided way.

I want a refund

mariakanaley, Jun 2026

Guide was horrible and wasn’t loud enough . Couldn’t hear anything he said . I have taken this tour before and it was a lot more informative. He didn’t give many facts about Charleston. I was disappointed because I wanted to share this experience with my daughter. It really ruined the rest of my day because it upset me that I spent nearly $100 for less than an hour tour. Waste of my money!

Good time.

Julia_S, Jun 2026

The driver gave some incorrect historical information, but he was very entertaining. The desk man, John, was very nice.

A must in Charleston

Tamara_B, Jun 2026

Our guide made it fun while learning about the history of Charleston. The tour was fun for our 12 year old granddaughter enjoyed that guide included her in the tour as well.

Carriage Ride

Rose_D, May 2026

Great way to see the historical part of the city and not have to fight traffic. Guide was very knowledgeable and the horse had a lot of spunk. We were a couple of minutes late and the company called to hold the carriage. Would do it again if we return to South Carolina

Very Informative, learned...

samuel_C, May 2026

Very Informative, learned lots about history of Charleston. Made our visit much more meaningful and relatable. Our Tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Highly reccomend.

The tour was great. The...

JLynneWilson_J, May 2026

The tour was great. The tour guide was informative and entertaining. Chico the horse knew the route and was cooperative! I do recommend highlighting the decorative wrought iron work of Philip Simmons that was on display on many homes in Charleston.

Enjoyed our carriage ride...

Lindsay_D, May 2026

Enjoyed our carriage ride with Ironside, guide was very informative and saw some beautiful sites. Great way to see the city!

Great tour

Ada_R, May 2026

Our guide was very knowledgeable of the history of the city. He had a good sense of humor and was gentle with the horse, Chico

Excellent guide

James_M, May 2026

Very friendly, informative and enjoyable. Full of history of city, the old South, and placed with self deprecating humor. Just a fun filled two hours.

Intellectual experience

Jackie_k, Apr 2026

Guide was very humorous answered all questions respectfully. He was instructive and knowledgeable about the history of the area and the homes.

Charleston tour ride

Christelle_R, Apr 2026

It was alright! It is a lottery of where the carriage is allowed to go, so you might see what you were hoping for or not at all. Carriage are packed to the fullest amount of people, so you are on for a tight 1 hour ride, and hard to see anything around you. Then, if you have a good tour guide, will be the second lottery of the day!

Jennifer was an excellent...

Lisa_B, Apr 2026

Jennifer was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable and friendly. I appreciated her candor with the group.

A+ Tour

Diana_M, Apr 2026

Ricky delivered an awesome, valuable, historically accurate tour of the picturesque streets of downtown Charleston. We loved his character and humor! Highly recommend this carriage tour company. It did not go unnoticed how kind they were to their horses and respect for the tourism industry of Charleston.