Best Tours in Charleston

Among the things you can see and do in Charleston I recommend that you do not fail to include a guided tour. It is much better to travel with the guide of an expert who knows the history of the places and the directions, than to travel alone. In addition, the guides make useful recommendations of places to eat or activities to do.

Depending on your tastes and what you want to do, you will find a tour for you. If you like history you should take a historical tour, either by bus or on a cruise ship. If you want to try different food then you should take a gastronomic tour. In case you don't like crowds, a private tour is for you.

The horse-drawn carriage tour is one of the activities you can do in winter in Charleston. You won't have to expose yourself to the cold and you can ride seated and comfortable inside the carriage. You can even take a blanket with you as you pass historic sites in the city.

This carriage is powered by horses that take you on a ride through Charleston's Historic District. On the tour you will pass mansions, churches and old gardens. Another iconic site you will see is the Old Exchange Building and Provos Dungeons.

The tour lasts approximately one hour and costs approximately $250. Other sites you can see from the carriage are the Charleston City Market, The Powder Magazine, Battery & White Point Gardens and Rainbow Row, which are rows of Georgian houses that you will be fascinated to see.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately $250.
• Duration: about 1 hour.
• Advantages of this option: it allows you to sit comfortably while you see the sights.
• Disadvantages of this option: it can be expensive and does not cover all the important sites of the city.

If you like horror stories and ghost tales, I recommend you to choose one of the best ghost tours in Charleston. These tours usually have an average cost of 35 € and can last about an hour and a half.

On the tour you will hear all the dark legends of the city and visit the places that inspired those stories, how scary!

This is definitely a worthwhile activity to do in October in Charleston on the eve of Halloween. The tour usually begins in the afternoon in the company of an expert guide who will take you to the historic old town.

There you can walk through buildings, squares and monuments. You will also pass by the harbor to admire the views from there and listen to stories about the spirits that roam the city.

An important part of the tour is passing through the cemetery of the Unitarian church. Here you'll pass graves and crypts covered in hanging moss and foliage. Don't let fear freeze you as the guide tells you the tragic stories of the people buried there.

At nightfall don't be afraid: the figures hidden in the dark can't scare you, it's all part of the tour.

Details of interest

• Price: about 35 €.
• Duration: about 1 hour and a half.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: it allows you to see another side of the city, one full of myths, legends and ghosts.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you are easily frightened this may not be the best option for you, since at the end of the tour there are terrifying surprises for the participants.

Boat tours in Charleston are an excellent option to see the city from another perspective. On these boats you can enjoy the sunset and the breathtaking views of the historic sites of the city.

The tour lasts about an hour and a half and costs about 35 €. On this tour you will travel down the Cooper River to Fort Sumter National Monument. As you approach the different sites, you will listen to the narration of the guides.

If you book it, you will go over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, where you will see huge boats. You may even see dolphins while on this tour. You'll also see the USS Yorktown, a historic U.S. aircraft carrier.

Details of Interest

• Price: approximately $35.
• Duration: about 1 hour and a half.
• Means of transportation: by boat.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to have another perspective of the city and learn more about its history from the Cooper River.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you get seasick easily on boats or cruise ships it is better to look for a more comfortable way for you to take a tour in Charleston.

If you are traveling to Charleston during the fall, a walking tour of the city might be a good idea. The weather is ideal, not too cold and not too hot.

In the afternoon, you can leisurely go out with your private guide who already knows the city by heart.

Private walking tours with a specialized guide are a good option, as you can ask him to show you specific sites. Maybe you are interested in the artistic side of the city, its history or maybe you just want a general tour. Your guide will be able to adapt to your requirements and offer you a personalized service.

Keep in mind that in this case, you can be the one who proposes, but for that you must make sure that the guide is an expert on what you want to know. Charleston is a very varied city and there are many areas with different themes.

The most frequented sites in this type of tours are the Charleston City Market and the Historic Charleston Foundation. The latter is a well-known gift store in the city, where you can buy some phenomenal souvenirs.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 70 €.
• Duration: about 3 hours
• Advantages of this option: you have much more time to walk around the city and you can ask your guide to take you to the sites you prefer.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you don't like to walk much, this is not the option for you. To do this tour you must endure the sun and walk for at least 3 hours.

If you're going to be in Charleston for two days or maybe less, you'll probably want to take as many souvenirs with you as you can. If this is your case, I recommend taking a tour with a local photographer.

This professional will guide you to the most emblematic places to take the best pictures. The tour lasts at least an hour and a half and costs about 50 €.

The tours usually start at Washington Square Park. Here you will be able to take some pictures taking advantage of the natural beauty of the park. In the Historic District of Charleston there are also certain spots where you can pose comfortably.

This tour is one of the things you can do in the city with children. This way you will have a nice souvenir of this experience.

Other stops are in the French Quarter, a place with beautiful buildings of admirable architecture. You will also pass through the South of Broad neighborhood and the High Battery. In addition to taking pictures, your guide will explain some historical or curious facts about the sites you visit.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 50 ¤.
• Duration: about 1 hour and a half.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you can get a nice permanent souvenir in professional photographs.
• Disadvantages of this option: for some people it is not easy work to pose, so this part of the tour may take longer, which can delay the whole tour.

If you don't like walking tours or the tour bus that runs through Charleston, then your best option is to travel by private vehicle.

These types of tours are very exclusive as they are limited to groups of three people, have an average price of $90 and generally last at least 2 hours.

The driver will travel to the hotel where you are staying to pick you up. From there he will take you to the Waterfront Park and The Battery.

Along the way your guide will tell interesting stories about the culture of the city. You can even ask him for anecdotes of your own. This is very valuable because you will get to know Charleston from the point of view of one of its inhabitants.

The French Quarter, the harbor and Rainbow Row, are just some of the sites you will be able to admire on this tour. At the end of the tour, the driver and guide will take you back to your hotel.

You can take advantage of the driver to take you home to taste the local beer and cocktails in one of the restaurants recommended by the guide.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 90 €.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: by private vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: you can travel as comfortably as possible and make as many stops as you wish since it is a personalized trip.
• Disadvantages of this option: from the car you may not be able to see all the sites clearly. However, you can always get out of the vehicle to admire closely the sites you find.

If you travel to Charleston in January, you'll find several fun activities, most notably Restaurant Week. However, if you can't travel during that month, a private dining tour is an ideal option for you who love food.

The tour usually lasts 3 to 4 hours and costs approximately 200 €. The guide you hire will take you to discover the best places to taste the local food of Charleston. On your tour you will discover the most traditional South Carolina foods such as fried green tomatoes, oysters and grits.

The place where you will taste the appetizers is the Historic District of Charleston. There you can visit different restaurants that have food tastings ready for you.

While enjoying the food, you're going to hear the history behind many of their ingredients and recipes. Some were introduced to American culture because of the African slave trade.

Details of Interest

• Price: approximately 200 ¤.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Means of transportation: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: includes coffee, tea and water. You will be able to try all the local food so you will know which is the best option to come back one more time and have dinner or brunch.
• Disadvantages of this option: many of the food samples are not adapted to most diets. That is, you won't always find vegan, gluten-free or fat-free options.

If you like to explore the hidden places of the cities you visit, this is the tour for you. Embark on an adventure through Charleston's hidden alleys and passageways with a specialized guide. This tour has an approximate value of 27 € and lasts approximately 2 hours.

These expeditions are conducted in small groups, this way you will feel more at ease, because the experience is more intimate and enjoyable. The streets are located in the historic district of Charleston, so you will also be able to see the most popular sites.

During the walking tour, you will see at least six different cobblestone alleys full of history. It is worth noting that at all times the guide will narrate historical facts about the sites you visit.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 27 €.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transportation: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: it is led by a specialized local guide.
• Disadvantages of this option: does not include snacks or bottles of water to drink along the way.

If you like to tour the city in comfort, I recommend taking a tour bus. This vehicle is driven by a professional driver and will show you at least 100 points of interest in Charleston. The tour takes about 90 minutes and has an average cost of 28 €.

As you walk the streets of this city you will feel like you are traveling back in time. As you learn about Charleston and its role in American history, you will see sites such as Rainbow Row, Colonial Lake, the Old Exchange Building and Whitepoint Gardens Park.

Sometimes the tour includes an entrance to the Joseph Manigault House Museum. This was an early 19th century plantation house, so it is part of the economic and slave history of the region.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 28 €.
• Duration: about 90 minutes
• Means of transport: tourist bus
• Advantages of this option: it is led by a specialized local guide.
• Disadvantages of this option: all the tourist sites must be observed from the bus as it does not make stops.

Tips for a tour in Charleston depend a lot on the type of tour you take and the time of year you decide to travel.

For example, if you are traveling to Charleston in July you should prepare for the heat of this month. In that case I would recommend walking tours, bringing an umbrella, sunscreen and water.

If you are traveling to Charleston in December it would be best to take tours where you can protect yourself from the cold. Private vehicle or carriage tours are a good option for this. Always remember to bring your coat.

In case you decide to take a special tour to take pictures, I recommend you to bring a change of clothes to have different looks. This is not as difficult as it seems. You can take two different sweaters, two hats or something similar. The idea is to play with your outfit and have different pictures.

Guided tours are a good option to explore Charleston in just 1 day. In just 1 or 2 hours you can learn a lot about the city and pass by historical sites that are important for both the city and the country.

If you have more time I recommend taking a tour of the Charleston plantations.

A guided tour is much better than traveling on your own. This is because an expert guide knows all the sights and knows how to get there as quickly as possible. On the other hand, if you were to travel around the city alone you would have to rely entirely on your internet connection.

On the other hand, these tours often have different focuses that help you make the most of your time. If, for example, you want to know about the art of the city, you just take an architectural tour and visit museums.

If you want to try new food, the guide already has agreements with Charleston restaurants for you to eat a little bit of everything. This is ideal if you are short on time, because if you go on your own you can get into a trial-and-error dynamic and end up not getting the most out of your time in the city.

In addition to the themes, the guided tours provide you with a means of transportation if you wish. Don't want to walk? You can choose a private vehicle. Sound too expensive? Then take a historic cruise or a tour bus - you have a lot of options to choose from!