Charleston History and Hops Tour: Bar Walk with Local Guide

Walk Charleston's oldest streets with a guide who trades lecture halls for local bars

A two-hour guided bar and history walk through Charleston with a licensed guide covering the city's colonial roots, Prohibition era, and cultural landmarks including the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, historic churches, theaters, and 300-year-old homes. One small snack is provided at the first bar. Drinks are available to purchase at two stops along the route. Minimum age 21.

Step-by-step itinerary

Charleston history and bar walk

• Meet guide at first bar
• Receive complimentary snack
• Learn city history while drinking
• Walk historic alleys and streets
• See historic theater
• Learn about Huguenot Church corner
• Explore historic alleyway history
• Pass Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
• Visit longest cobblestone street
• Pass structure honoring enslaved peoples
• End at Blind Tiger Pub for prohibition stories

The experience

Two hours, two bars, and the real history of Charleston, not the sanitized version. You meet your guide at the first bar establishment, grab a complimentary snack, and order a drink while the guide walks you through the city's colonial foundations. From there the route moves onto the cobblestone streets and alleyways where you'll see the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, the Huguenot Church, a historic theater, and some of the oldest structures still standing in the city, including 300-year-old homes. The guide points out what matters: the role of enslaved peoples in Charleston's economy, the drinking culture that shaped the waterfront, and the stories behind the architecture itself.

The second bar (Blind Tiger Pub, a saloon from the 1893 era) is where the Prohibition stories come alive. You'll learn what drinking in Charleston looked like when it was illegal, and why this particular bar matters to that history. The longest remaining cobblestone street in the city is part of the walk, and so is the corner where drunken pirates once stumbled out of a nearby tavern. The guide combines humor with actual history, so the day doesn't feel like a lecture. It feels like a local taking you through their city and the bars that built it.

This is a walking tour, so you're on your feet for the full two hours covering the historic district. The pace is set by the guide and the group, with time to drink and absorb at each stop. If Blind Tiger Pub is closed on your date, the operator substitutes an equivalent historic bar to keep the Prohibition narrative intact.

What’s included

• Licensed guide for two hours.
• one small snack at the first bar.
• access to two historic bar locations (Blind Tiger Pub or an equivalent venue if closed).
• walking route through historic alleyways, cobblestone streets, and past the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, churches, theaters, and 300-year-old homes.

Information

Lasts 2h, runs every day except Tuesday at 13:00, from US$ 31.50 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 10 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day except TuesdayDeparts at 13:00Last departure this season: 31 DecAnother day? ›

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (21 and older) · Under 21: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Charleston Historic Tours LLC

Is this one for you?Best for small groups or solo travelers who want to learn Charleston's real history (the colonial roots, the Prohibition era, the waterfront drinking culture) without sitting in a classroom or a tour bus. The two-bar structure and walking pace work well for people who enjoy a drink and a story over a rushed highlight reel.

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Top questions

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 exactly is included in the Charleston History and Hops Tour?

The tour includes a licensed guide for two hours, one small snack at the first bar, and access to two historic bar locations where you can purchase drinks. Entry to the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon and other outdoor sites along the route is part of the walk. Drinks themselves are not included but are available to buy at each stop.

How much walking is involved, and what are the streets like?

You'll walk the historic alleyways and cobblestone streets of Charleston for the full two hours, including the longest remaining cobblestone street in the city. The route covers uneven, historic pavement, so comfortable walking shoes are essential. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

What is the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, and will we go inside?

The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon is a 300-year-old structure and a major landmark in Charleston's colonial history. You'll see it as part of the walking route and learn its significance from the guide. The tour passes by this remarkable building rather than entering it.

Will the guide talk about Prohibition in Charleston?

Yes, Prohibition stories are a major focus of the second bar stop at Blind Tiger Pub, a saloon from the 1893 era. The guide shares what drinking in Charleston looked like when it was illegal and why certain bars and corners matter to that history.

What is the minimum age for this tour?

You must be at least 21 years old to attend the Charleston History and Hops Tour. This is a bar-focused experience, and the age requirement is firm.

Can I get to the tour using public transportation?

Yes, public transportation options are available near the starting bar location. The guide will meet you there at the initial establishment.