Charleston Horse & Carriage Tour: 1-Hour Historic Sightseeing

Ride through downtown Charleston's streets and gardens while a guide tells the stories behind the mansions, churches and parks.

A one-hour narrated horse-drawn carriage tour of downtown Charleston's historic district, departing from Charleston City Market every 30 minutes beginning at 9:30am. You'll pass through the quaint streets seeing gardens, parks, stately mansions and historic churches: the exact route varies by day, determined by the City of Charleston, and may include stops at The Battery, Rainbow Row, the Nathaniel Russell House and St. Philip's Church. Tours are first-come, first-served. You're assigned a departure time when you check in on the day of travel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each5 stops

1. Charleston City Market5m
2. The Battery and White Point Garden10m
3. Rainbow Row5m
4. Nathaniel Russell House5m
5. St. Philip's Church5m

Charleston historic carriage tour

• Start at Historic City Market
• Ride through downtown Charleston
• See White Point Gardens and The Battery
• View Rainbow Row
• Visit Nathaniel Russell House
• Pass St. Philip's Church
• Return to Historic City Market

The experience

Tours depart approximately every 30 minutes starting at 9:30am, with the last carriage leaving at 4pm during standard time (November through March) and 5pm during daylight savings (March through November). You check in at Charleston City Market, where the tour begins and ends, and are assigned your specific departure time on arrival: no need to book a particular slot in advance. The route itself changes day to day. A City of Charleston Tourism official determines which streets the carriage takes, so the exact stops vary, but highlights typically include The Battery and White Point Garden, Rainbow Row, the Nathaniel Russell House and St. Philip's Church.

A live guide narrates the full hour, walking you through the people and events that shaped Charleston's history as the "Holy City": the Revolutionary period, the antebellum wealth, the architecture that survives it all. You'll see the gardens and parks, the stately mansions with their shutters and columns, the historic churches that anchor the blocks. The carriage itself is the pace. You're not rushing between stops or climbing stairs, just sitting under the awning and listening while the horses move through the narrow downtown streets.

Before or after the tour, you can spend time with the horses up close: a chance to photograph them or simply stand near them if that matters to you. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and infants can sit on an adult's lap. Service animals are allowed. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What’s included

• One-hour narrated horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown Charleston.
• professional live guide in English.
• opportunity to engage with the horses before or after the tour.
• views of gardens, parks, stately mansions and historic churches including The Battery, Rainbow Row, the Nathaniel Russell House and St. Philip's Church depending on the route assigned.

Information

Lasts 1h, runs every day at 09:30, from US$ 45 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

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

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Carolina Polo and Carriage Company

Is this one for you?Book this if you're exploring with others and prefer a guided carriage ride over walking: departures every 30 minutes let you join whenever you arrive.

Traveler reviews

4.65★★★★★★★★★★

529 verified traveler reviews

5 ★429

4 ★56

3 ★17

2 ★14

1 ★13

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What are the main historic sites I'll see on the Charleston horse carriage tour?

The exact stops vary depending on the route assigned on the day of travel, but highlights typically include The Battery and White Point Garden, Rainbow Row, the Nathaniel Russell House and St. Philip's Church, along with historic gardens, parks and churches throughout downtown Charleston's streets.

How often do the Charleston horse carriage tours depart?

Tours depart approximately every 30 minutes beginning at 9:30am. The last tour leaves at 4pm during standard time (November through March) and 5pm during daylight savings time (March through November). You're assigned your specific departure time when you check in on the day of travel on a first-come, first-served basis.

Where does the Charleston horse carriage tour start and end?

Both the start and finish are at Charleston City Market in the historic district, where you check in and are assigned your departure time.

Is the route the same every day on the Charleston horse carriage tour?

No. The route is determined by a City of Charleston Tourism official on the date of travel and varies day to day, so the specific stops and streets you travel may differ depending on when you go, though the highlights remain consistent across the possible routes.