Private Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour Charleston: Historic Downtown

Glide through Charleston’s history in a private carriage, away from crowds and traffic.

A private horse-drawn carriage tour of Charleston's historic downtown district for 1–4 passengers, departing from the Big Red Barn near Market Street and returning there after roughly an hour. A certified guide narrates the route, which covers 25–30 blocks and passes St. Philip's Church (the oldest congregation south of Virginia), Charleston City Market, Rainbow Row, and the U.S. Custom House. The route is determined by the city's lottery system, so landmarks are not guaranteed on every tour, though the guide shares stories about Charleston's colonial past, architecture, and the people who built the "Holy City."

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Charleston City Market10m
2. St. Philip's Churchpassing by

Private horse-drawn carriage tour

• Begin tour at Big Red Barn
• Pass through Charleston City Market
• Pass by St. Philip's Church
• Pass by U.S. Custom House
• Return to Big Red Barn

The experience

You board the carriage at Palmetto Carriage Works' Big Red Barn, one block off Market Street in downtown Charleston. The ride lasts roughly an hour and covers 25–30 blocks of the historic district at the pace a horse sets: slow enough to actually look at the buildings, the gardens, the ironwork and the street corners instead of passing them in a blur. Your guide is certified and speaks English, and they know the stories: which churches have the oldest congregations, why the Custom House took 27 years to finish (South Carolina's secession halted construction in 1852), what the architecture tells you about who lived where and when.

The carriage passes through Charleston City Market, where you see the vendors and the crowds from the vantage of the street rather than being inside the crush of it. You'll pass St. Philip's Church on Church Street, the landmark your guide will explain. Rainbow Row appears on the route: the famous row of pastel townhouses that shows up in every Charleston postcard. The U.S. Custom House stands as another stop, its unfinished-then-finished story a window into the city's fractured history. Which landmarks you see depends on the route the city's lottery system assigns that day, so the experience changes with each departure. Your guide knows how to make the most of whatever route you draw.

The carriage holds 1–4 people, so it stays intimate. You're not packed in with strangers or waiting for a group to assemble. Pricing is per carriage, not per person, which means a couple pays the same as four friends splitting the cost. The tour operates in all weather, so bring a jacket if rain is forecast. When you finish, the carriage returns you to the Big Red Barn where you started.

What’s included

• Private narrated horse-drawn carriage ride through historic Charleston.
• certified guide in English sharing stories of colonial history, architecture, and the people of the "Holy City".
• passage through 25–30 blocks of downtown including Charleston City Market, St. Philip's Church, Rainbow Row, and the U.S. Custom House.
• return to the Big Red Barn at the end of the tour.

Options for this experience

2 options

Carriage for private use (seats 1-4)Guide in English · 6 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:40Private carriage tour: choose (1) at checkout to book one carriage for your group. Each carriage holds 1-4 people.

Carriage for private use (seats 5-8)Guide in English · 6 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:40Wagonette

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 1h, runs every day, 6 start times, from US$ 325 per group, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: 09:00, 10:20, 11:40, 13:00, 14:20 and 15:40Another time? ›

GroupPrivate5 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish

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

Book up toStart time

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

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Palmetto Carriage Works

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to move through Charleston's history at a pace that lets you actually see the buildings and hear the stories, without driving yourself or navigating a group schedule. The carriage holds up to four people, so it stays personal. The price is per carriage, not per head, which makes it economical for couples or small groups.

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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's the difference between the two carriage sizes listed?

The private carriage comes in two options at checkout: one that seats 1–4 people and one that seats 5–8. Both are horse-drawn tours of the same route and duration. The larger carriage is the choice if your group exceeds four.

Can I choose which landmarks I see on the tour?

The route is determined by Charleston's city lottery system, so landmarks are not guaranteed on every tour. Your guide will narrate whichever route you draw that day and share the history of the sites you pass, but you cannot request a specific itinerary in advance.

How long does the carriage tour actually take?

The tour runs roughly an hour and covers 25–30 blocks of Charleston's historic downtown at a leisurely pace. The exact duration depends on traffic and the route assigned, but plan for about 60 minutes from start to finish.

What will I learn about on this tour?

Your certified guide shares stories about Charleston's colonial history, the architecture and buildings you pass, the people who built the city, and the flora throughout the historic district. St. Philip's Church, the oldest congregation in the U.S. south of Virginia, is a frequent highlight, as is the history of the U.S. Custom House and the neighborhoods that make up the "Holy City."

Where do I meet the carriage, and what if I'm late?

You meet at Palmetto Carriage Works' Big Red Barn, located one block off Market Street in the heart of downtown Charleston. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need to reach the starting point.