Charleston historic district and Middleton Place plantation tour

Walk through 300 years of Charleston history with guides who've lived here for decades

This 3-hour guided tour pairs a 20-minute drive through Charleston's Old and Historic District with a full visit to Middleton Place plantation, one of the area's most historic estates. Your guide is a licensed city guide with deep local knowledge; hotel pickup is included. Admission to the plantation and plantation home is available as an add-on at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Charleston historic tour and plantation visit

• Drive through Old and Historic District
• See historic homes and landmarks
• Visit Middleton Place Plantation
• Explore original plantation home and gardens
• View working farmyard
• Optional dining at plantation restaurant

The Experience

The tour opens with a 20-minute drive through Charleston's Old and Historic District, where your guide points out the Williams Mansion (25,000 square feet, Charleston's largest single-family residence), Rainbow Row, White Pointe Gardens, the high battery, the Exchange building, the Confederate Women's Home, and St. Michael's church. The guide shares the city's 300-year-old customs and stories that still shape life here today. You're riding in an air-conditioned vehicle, so the pace stays comfortable even in heat.

Then you head to Middleton Place plantation, home to some of America's most important early founders. The plantation home is one of only a few original plantation structures open to the public. You'll see the working farmyard and America's earliest formal gardens—landscapes that took generations to create. An on-site restaurant serves Southern fare if you want to stay longer after the tour ends.

Your guides are Mike and Nancy, both licensed city guides who have lived in the historic district for more than 30 years. Charleston's leading hotels recommend them to their guests. The combination of their local knowledge and the plantation's authentic setting means you're not just seeing buildings—you're learning why they matter and how they connect to the city that exists around you now.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• 20-minute guided drive through Charleston's Old and Historic District with commentary on historic landmarks and 300-year-old city traditions.
• access to Middleton Place plantation grounds, working farmyard, and America's earliest formal gardens.
• optional on-site restaurant at the plantation.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Historic Charleston Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a guide who lived in Charleston's historic district for 30+ years weaving local stories through both the city drive and plantation visit, and prefer a small group format over a larger tour.

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Top questions

What do I see during the drive through Charleston's Old and Historic District?

The 20-minute drive covers the Williams Mansion (Charleston's largest single-family home at 25,000 square feet), Rainbow Row, White Pointe Gardens, the high battery, the Exchange building, the Confederate Women's Home, and St. Michael's church. Your guide explains the 300-year-old customs and stories tied to each landmark.

What is Middleton Place and what can I do there?

Middleton Place is one of Charleston's most historic plantations and home to some of America's most important early founders. You'll tour one of the few original plantation homes open to the public, see the working farmyard, and walk America's earliest formal gardens. An on-site restaurant is available if you want to extend your visit.

Who are the guides on this tour?

Your guides are Mike and Nancy, both licensed city guides who have lived in Charleston's historic district for more than 30 years. Charleston's leading hotels recommend them to their guests.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, hotel pickup is included in the tour price. The tour lasts 3 hours total and you travel in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Do I need to pay extra for admission to Middleton Place?

Admission to the plantation and plantation home is available as an add-on option at checkout. You can choose to include it when you book.

What's the minimum age for children on this tour?

Children are welcome from age 9. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and infants are required to sit on an adult's lap.