Charleston Walking Tour: History, Architecture & Harbor Views

Old Exchange building tour: historic site with Declaration reading, prison, and presidential visit highlights

A two-hour guided walking tour through Charleston's historic districts covers the French Quarter, South of Broad, and the Battery waterfront, with stops at the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, Rainbow Row, St. Michael's Church, the Nathaniel Russell House garden, and views of Fort Sumter across Charleston Harbor. The guide discusses architecture, religious history, and Charleston's role in the American Revolution and Civil War. Wheelchair accessible. Suitable for all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon15m
2. Rainbow Row5m
3. St. Michael's Church15m
4. Nathaniel Russell House10m
5. Edmondston-Alston House10m

Explore Charleston's historic highlights

• Start at Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
• See Rainbow Row's colorful houses
• Discuss Ryan's Slave Mart history
• View Gothic Revival Huguenot church
• Visit Dock Street Theatre exterior
• See City Hall at Four Corners of Law
• Tour St. Michael's Church interior
• Enter Nathaniel Russell House garden
• Walk High Battery waterfront wall

The experience

The walk starts at the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, a 1771 building where the Declaration of Independence was read in 1776 and which later served as a British prison during the Revolution. From there, you move through the French Quarter down cobblestone streets and past houses of worship and public buildings, each with stories tied to Charleston's past. The guide points out architectural details and explains how the city's layout and structures shaped the lives of its residents across centuries.

South of Broad brings you into a neighborhood filled with 18th and 19th century homes. You enter the garden of the Nathaniel Russell House, a Federal-style townhouse built in 1808 by a wealthy Rhode Island merchant involved in shipping. This stop gives a quieter view of Charleston away from the main streets. You'll also see Rainbow Row: the longest row of attached Georgian row houses in the country, originally 18th and 19th century mariner's stores, restored in the 1930s to their bright Caribbean colors during Charleston's preservation push.

The tour ends at the Battery waterfront, where you walk the High Battery wall and look out at the harbor mansions and Fort Sumter in the distance. The Edmondston-Alston House, owned by the same family since 1838, is where General Beauregard watched the bombardment of Fort Sumter at the start of the Civil War. This vantage point ties the physical landscape to the moment that changed the nation.

What’s included

• Live English-speaking guide.
• entrance to the Nathaniel Russell House garden.
• access to St. Michael's Church and City Hall depending on availability.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:45, 11:00 and 13:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for back problems

Operated by Charleston Sole Walking Tours

Is this one for you?You move through four distinct neighborhoods (French Quarter, South of Broad, the Nathaniel Russell House garden, and the Battery) with a guide who connects the architecture and stories across Charleston's history as one continuous narrative rather than isolated landmarks.

Traveler reviews

4.97★★★★★★★★★★

562 verified traveler reviews

5 ★549

4 ★10

3 ★2

2 ★0

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon and why does the tour start there?

The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, built in 1771, is where the Declaration of Independence was read in 1776. It was also used as a British prison during the American Revolution, the site where the US Constitution was ratified in South Carolina in 1788, and where George Washington was entertained during a week-long visit in May 1791. It's one of the most historically significant buildings in South Carolina.

Does the tour include entry to any buildings?

You enter the garden of the Nathaniel Russell House. St. Michael's Church and City Hall are available depending on availability. The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, Rainbow Row, and other sites are viewed from outside, though the guide discusses their history and architecture from the street.

What can you see from the Battery at the end of the tour?

From the Battery waterfront, you see Charleston Harbor, the waterfront mansions, and Fort Sumter a few miles in the distance. This is where the opening volley of the American Civil War took place, and the Edmondston-Alston House overlooks the spot where General Beauregard watched the bombardment.

Is this tour suitable for people with mobility concerns?

The tour is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all physical fitness levels. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries.

What does the guide discuss during the walk?

The guide discusses Charleston's architecture, religious history, the city's role in the slave trade, and events from the American Revolution and Civil War. Stories are tied to specific buildings and neighborhoods, connecting the physical structures to the people and moments that shaped Charleston.