Charleston History, Homes, and Architecture Guided Walking Tour

Recommended by 98% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Charleston, USA

Popular pick

Booked 5+ times last week!

2 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9

· elana_g ·

Mar 2026

What a spectacular way to spend two hours ! Al was so knowledgeable and engaging Loved every minute Thank you!

· Ted_W ·

Feb 2026

His level of knowledge was exemplary. Great personality. Answered all my questions. Great having a guide who grew up in Charleston

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Overview

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 in the historic district, including the French Quarter and "South of Broad." Admire landmarks, including Rainbow Row and White Point Garden, and learn about the city's history from your licensed guide.

Enjoy a guided walking tour of Downtown Charleston
Benefit from the expertise of a licensed and professional guide
Choose from morning or afternoon departure times
Includes entrance to the Powder Magazine Museum

What's Included

2-Hour Charleston Historic Downtown Guided Walking Tour
Explore Charleston's Historic District, including the French Quarter
Hear the tales of historic churches and view the city architecture
Professional & Licensed Local Guide
Learn about the history and events that shaped Charleston
Several popular points of interest including Rainbow Row
Explore the residential area "South of Broad"
Stroll through the quaint and charming streets of the historic district

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

80 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
Please meet your tour guide outside City Hall on the corner of Meeting St and Broad St at the "Four Corners of Law"

End point

94 Battery Pl, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
The end point will vary depending on the guide and the route taken, but will only be a few blocks away from the start and the guide will always walk you back to the start if requested.

Itinerary

This guided educational tour of historic Charleston, South Carolina begins at the designated meeting spot outside City Hall.

Visit points of interest, such as St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, where George Washington once worshipped, and the oldest surviving religious structure in Charleston; Rainbow Row, the colorful Georgian Houses along East Bay Road; the Old Exchange Building, South Carolina's most historic building and the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, a colonial building with a 300-year history featuring pirates, patriots and presidents alike.

Along the way, learn about Charleston’s pivotal role in American history, from the American Revolution to the Civil War and beyond.

The tour ends a few blocks away from the starting point. You can also explore the Powder Magazine Museum at your leisure with the included tickets.

Charleston City Hall

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Washington Square

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

St. Michael's Church

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Rainbow Row

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Battery & White Point Gardens

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Wheelchair accessible
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Stroller accessible

Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
Water bottle and comfortable shoes recommended
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

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

4.9

based on 276 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Very educational and extremely fun

elana_g, Mar 2026

What a spectacular way to spend two hours ! Al was so knowledgeable and engaging Loved every minute Thank you!

This was a wonderful...

stephanie_s, Mar 2026

This was a wonderful walking tour, I loved being able to learn more about the architecture and history of Charleston. Al was a great tour guide and very knowledgeable.

Al M is a terrific storyteller

Colleen_C, Mar 2026

Al M is a terrific storyteller…we learned so much about Charleston in 2 hours and would highly recommend this tour

Charleston History tour

Krystyna_S, Feb 2026

Highly recommended! Our tour guide, Al, was very knowledgeable and passionate about Charleston architecture and history and at the same time was entertaining and engaging. Thank you, Al!

We learned so much about...

Lora_V, Feb 2026

We learned so much about Charlestonian (and American) history and architecture from Duggar. Excellent, informative tour; highly recommend.

Evan

Ted_W, Feb 2026

His level of knowledge was exemplary. Great personality. Answered all my questions. Great having a guide who grew up in Charleston

We spent two hours...

Ann_S, Feb 2026

We spent two hours walking slowly through historic areas of Charleston with our guide. Al shared a wealth of information while maintaining a light and pleasant mood. It was worth the fee and worth the time.

this tour was excellent. ...

Deirdre_J, Feb 2026

this tour was excellent. Our guide - Duggard - was so well informed and provided a vast amount of information surrounding the history of the city. I would highly recommend as it was enjoyable.

Beautiful city, super guide

Dean_H, Jan 2026

Dennis was fantastic - very knowledgeable, quite considerate in his layout of the walking and the planned stops for bathroom and resting, and threw in just enough humor combined with some serious topics that I found him to be magnificent as a guide and respectful when needed. Really wonderful guide!

History tour

Teresa_M, Jan 2026

Very interesting. I think the leader may have had a couple of his history items incorrect but overall he was very informational and entertaining.

Wonderful tour!

James_C, Dec 2025

Duggar was a great guide! Very informative tour! Liked all the personal details that makes Charleston unique

We did this tour on...

Anais_D, Dec 2025

We did this tour on Christmas Day in the morning. So glad we did! “Captain Bobby” was so knowledgeable and had so many fun facts! It was lovely to see all the homes. It’s a great way to explore. Bring water.

Amazing historical and architectural tour

InnaDavidson, Nov 2025

Absolutely amazing tour guide. Tons of historical facts and information. Walked through Beautiful neighborhoods, Absolutely enjoyed the tour. Highly recommend

The Best Way To See Charleston

Eileen_C, Nov 2025

This was the perfect tour and the best way to get to know Charleston. Our tour guide Evans was so interesting, funny and knows everything about Charleston. We loved the incredible history that he shared, stories he told, recommendations he made and the hidden places he took us. This tour is a must experience to really experience Charleston and to get to know it. The highlight of our trip!!

Charleston charm

Sharon_S, Nov 2025

Dennis is the greatest. Very informative and fun. Lots of great local history. A South Carolina native.

The Perfect Way to See the City

Tom_C, Nov 2025

This is a great walking tour with loads of information about the history of Charleston and it's people. If you want to see the rich architecture of the city, this is the tour for you.

Guide was very...

Arlene_S, Nov 2025

Guide was very knowledgeable. Some of his stories were a little too long but he was very nice & we all learned a lot.

Great historical walking tour.

Patricia_M, Oct 2025

If you’re interested in the history of Charleston, this is a great walking tour. Our tour guide, Dennis, was excellent. He provided a lot of facts and information with a wicked sense of humor. I highly recommend this tour which takes two hours.

Dennis was very...

Vickie_S, Oct 2025

Dennis was very informative. The walking tour moved at a good pace. It is a good way to learn the history of Charleston.

Great tour of historic Charleston

Chris_P, Oct 2025

Our guide Dennis did a great job of providing us with very interesting information about the history of downtown Charleston, SC. He was very aware of his audience and was sure to make sure we were all safe and comfortable (bathroom considerations). Dennis has lived in the area for many years and this accounts for his deep knowledge of the importance of Charleston’s place in the revolutionary and civil war periods. He was sensitive in discussing Charleston’s slave history. Dennis discussed many important architectural features and historical aspects of society in Charleston since its founding. Both of us were extremely happy with our choice to take this tour. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in Charleston’s history.

Great, great tour

Janine_B, Oct 2025

Our tour guide, Al, made the tour extremely enjoyable. He is full of knowledge and humor. He explained in great detail and with much enthusiasm Charleston. The things we would walk past, he pointed out. I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants some history and background to the homes in Charleston.

History tour

Mbmcdonnell815, Oct 2025

Informative and fun history tour of Charleston. Guide was easy to understand. Passed along relevant information.

Dennis was great!! Not...

Heather_D, Jul 2025

Dennis was great!! Not too hot; lots of stops in air conditioning. Wear comfy shoes and bring some water!!

Duggar was such an...

Sarah_P, Jun 2025

Duggar was such an incredible guide! He gave us so much information about the history of Charleston, showed us some amazing homes, and kept us in the shade as best as possible on a hot Charleston day. Our group couldn't have been happier starting off our bachelorette weekend with this tour!

Not really their fault...

Alexis_C, Jun 2025

Not really their fault but we were only 5 mins late to the tour and they were GONE. Who knows if they were even there since they didnt answer the contact attempt. Maybe go for another! There’s like 7 other tours operating in the same area.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

We regret that you didn't get to experience our tour. We ask all of our guests to arrive 15 minutes prior to the tour start time (per the confirmation email) to allow for check in and to use the restroom etc. By the time the tour starts, most of our guests have been there for several minutes and so that is why we start promptly. We had a full tour that morning and the guide was at the starting point for 7 minutes doing his introduction before he left to go on to the next stop. We did not receive a phone call notifying us that you were running late, otherwise we would have tried to accommodate you. We would be happy to reschedule you either on this trip if you are still in town or on a future trip. Please call us directly to reschedule. We look forward to the opportunity to walk with you in the future!

Duggar was absolutely...

Ally_E, Jun 2025

Duggar was absolutely fantastic! We loved every minute of the tour. He was friendly, funny, and so informative. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Charleston.