Whether you’re a lifelong Charlestonian longing to embrace your inner tourist or you have a limited amount of time in the Holy City, here are 15+ tours guaranteed to show you the sights you want to see.
Note: Price estimates are based on individual adult rates available at the time of publishing. Check each company’s website to see current pricing.
Top tours
Coastal Expeditions | Prices vary
Find your adventure by doing a tour via boat, kayak, or stand-up paddle on Shem’s Creek, Isle of Palms, Kiawah Island, and Bulls Island.
Charleston Harbor Tour | ~$40/person
Step aboard this boat tour of the Charleston Harbor and see over 75 historic landmarks.
All aboard,
Photo by chasharbortours
All in on history
Charleston Strolls | $37/person
Walk through 300 years of Charleston history — and hear surprising facts about the Holy City.
Gullah Tours | $25/person
Explore the history and stories of the rich culture made by Black Charlestonians.
Charleston History Tour | $25/person
Some of the sights you learn about on this walking tour are Rainbow Row, the French Quarter, the Old Exchange Building, St. Philip’s Church, and the Battery.
Charleston’s Alleys and Hidden Passages | $30/group
On this small group tour, you’ll find often overlooked hidden passages throughout downtown Charleston.
Fort Sumter Tours | $37/person
See this historic site where the Civil War began.
Learn the history of Charleston’s pubs.
Photo by @explorecharleston.
Eat and drink
Downtown Charleston Culinary Tour | $95/person
Try a range of tastings from four local restaurants with a city-certified guide who will bring expert narratives.
Sip n’ Shop Charleston | $50/person
Enjoy wine, margaritas, chips and salsa, a champagne toast, and a shopping adventure visiting local boutiques.
Savor the Flavors of Shem Creek | $125/person
Learn the history of Mount Pleasant’s Shem Creek while visiting three creekside restaurants to enjoy cocktails and Lowcountry cuisine.
Brunch and Broad Tour | $79/person
Spend a morning strolling, shopping, and eating down one of Charleston’s oldest and most charming neighborhoods, Broad Street.
Art is all around
Bricks and Brushes Walking Tours | $40/person
This tour offers two experiences — Bricks focuses on the architecture and explores the Battery + the Old Walled City — Brushes focuses on art, strolling through the galleries in the French Quarter.
First Friday Artworks | Free | * Does not occur in January and July
Every first Friday, from 5 to 8 p.m., this immersive experience lets you visit over forty Charleston galleries.
Get ghosted
Charleston Haunted Jail Tour | $37/ person
Explore the Old City Jail where some of Charleston’s most infamous criminals, 19th-century pirates, and Civil War prisoners stayed.
The Ghosts of Charleston | $22-$35/person
Do you dare? Enter into the Unitarian Church Graveyard built in 1772.
Charleston Pirate Ghost Tour | $25/person
Experience the history that dates back more than 300 years — this tour includes admission to the Powder Museum.
USS York Ghost Tour | #37/person
Hear the stories of American heroes aboard this historic battleship.
What did we miss? If you know a tour that’s not on the list, guide us in the right direction by dropping us an email.
