Things to do in Charleston
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Charleston: Small Group Ghost Walk & Haunted Graveyards TourYou’ll walk Charleston’s haunted mile after dark with just twelve people and a local guide who knows every alley’s story. Feel goosebumps by graveyards and dungeons as real tales of pirates, lost lovers, and duels unfold around you. It’s not just history — you’ll sense something in the air long after you leave.
Magnolia Plantation tour from Charleston: Tram ride & gardensThis 4.5-hour guided tour of Magnolia Plantation departs from Charleston with round-trip air-conditioned coach transport and includes admission, a narrated tram ride through the Audubon Swamp Gardens, and a guided walk through the plantation's Romantic Garden. The tour covers nearly 600 acres where you'll see alligators, egrets, herons and turtles, plus a 30-minute tour of the historic home. Arrive 15 minutes before departure; moderate walking is required and the tour is not recommended for children under 3.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see the plantation grounds and swamps without driving yourself—the coach transport and fixed schedule mean the day holds together without you building it. The tram ride is the core of the experience, so choose this one if you want to cover the 600 acres and spot wildlife without walking the entire property.
Charleston: Walking Food Tour with Grits, Pralines & BBQYou’ll walk Charleston’s historic streets with a local guide, tasting everything from creamy stone ground grits to sticky pralines and tangy Lowcountry barbeque. Expect laughter over fried green tomatoes, stories from locals in the French Quarter, and small surprises at every stop. If you love food tours that feel like wandering with friends, this one lingers long after you leave.
Rainbow Row Walking Tour Charleston: Hidden Courtyards & ChurchesYou walk through Charleston's historic district for two hours with a guide who knows the stories behind the cobblestones, iron gates, and colorful houses. You see Rainbow Row, the Waterfront Battery with views of Fort Sumter, hidden courtyards, and 18th-century architecture, plus entry to the Powder Magazine Museum. The pace is unhurried, and you finish with a real sense of how the city was actually laid out and lived in.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to understand Charleston's layout and history on foot without arranging their own route—the two-hour pace and included museum entry mean you see the main sites without rushing or paying separately as you go.
Charleston: Dark Hauntings Walking Tour & Customizable StopsYou walk through Charleston's oldest neighborhoods and choose which hauntings to explore—a graveyard, a hotel, a restaurant, or hidden alleyways—based on what interests you. A local storyteller leads the 90-minute tour, tailoring the stops and stories to your preferences. No two tours are the same, and you're never rushed through a location.Is it for me?Book this if you want to move through Charleston's ghost stories at your own pace and choose what you're curious about—the fixed route tours don't offer that choice, and this one does.
Charleston Sightseeing Tour: Battery, Rainbow Row & City MarketOld Town Trolley Tours runs a guided sightseeing tour through Charleston aboard a climate-controlled minibus, stopping at the Battery and White Point Garden, Rainbow Row, the Charleston City Market and the Citadel Military College campus. The tour lasts roughly 100 minutes and includes live narration from an expert guide; you can step off at any designed stop to explore on your own while the bus waits, then rejoin the route when you're done. Children from age 4 are welcome, and the minibus is fully wheelchair accessible.Is it for me?Small groups and families with children work well here because the hop-off design lets everyone move at their own pace—no one is stuck on the bus waiting for stragglers, and kids get to step out and burn energy at each stop instead of sitting still for 100 minutes straight.
Charleston Walking Tour: History, Architecture & Harbor ViewsA 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.Is it for me?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.
Charleston: Horse & Carriage Tour with Historic SightsYou’ll ride through Charleston’s historic streets by horse & carriage with a local guide who brings old stories to life. Expect close-up moments with gentle horses, views of Rainbow Row and The Battery, and a chance to see stately mansions from a new angle. It’s an hour where you’ll slow down and feel part of the city’s rhythm.
Boone Hall Plantation Tour: House, Gardens & Gullah CultureThis 4.5-hour guided tour from Charleston includes round-trip transport on an air-conditioned bus, entry to Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, a 30-minute house tour led by a guide in historical dress, a presentation on enslaved life in the historic cabins, and a seasonal live Gullah culture performance. The tour departs from the Charleston Visitors Center downtown and is limited to small groups of 25 or fewer. Hotel pickup is available as an add-on option at checkout.Is it for me?This tour suits travelers who want the structure of a guided house tour and the context of a historian's voice, but prefer to explore the gardens and grounds without a group moving in lockstep—the 30-minute house walk is led, and everything after that is yours to pace. Choose this if you're traveling from Charleston without a rental car and want transport, entry and interpretation all arranged in one booking.
Charleston: Ghosts of Liberty Walking Tour & Dungeon StoriesYou’ll walk Charleston’s oldest streets with a local guide after dark, hear ghost stories at the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, and wander past graveyards where legends linger. Expect laughter, goosebumps, and a few moments that might stick with you long after you leave these cobblestones behind.
Charleston: Haunted Ghost Cruise & Harbor Night StoriesYou’ll glide through Charleston Harbor after dark as your guide shares eerie ghost stories tied to forts and ships you pass by. Feel cool breezes on deck, listen for strange sounds in the night air, and maybe laugh nervously with fellow travelers over drinks—all while soaking up local legends from a city famous for its haunted history.
Charleston: Black History Walking Tour & Lost StoriesYou’ll walk Charleston’s historic streets hearing lost Black voices come alive through Damon Fordham’s storytelling. Visit places like City Market, Heyward-Washington House, and Waterfront Park while learning what history books left out. Expect honest moments—some heavy, some quietly moving—and leave seeing Charleston differently than when you arrived.
Charleston: Private Yacht Charter, BYOB & Dolphin SightingYou’ll sail past Charleston’s historic skyline on your private yacht charter, with BYOB drinks in hand and dolphins sometimes swimming alongside. See Fort Sumter from the water and catch sunset under Ravenel Bridge. With a local crew taking care of details, you’ll have space to relax or celebrate — just bring your favorite people.
Charleston Private Driving Tour: Local Guide, Unique AccessA private two-hour driving tour of Charleston in a full-size SUV with local guide Jeff Zimmerman, tailored to your interests. You visit the landmark stops—Rainbow Row, The Battery, St. Michael's Church, Charleston Waterfront Park—but also reach the side streets and quieter corners that carriage and bus tours skip. The guide is a licensed tour operator since 1997 and shapes the route around what you want to see, whether that's architecture, history, culture or the natural world.Is it for me?Choose the morning departure if you want to see the city before the crowds gather at the main stops, or pick the afternoon tour if you prefer a later start. Either way, the private SUV and tailored route mean you move at your own pace instead of following a carriage or bus schedule, and you reach the quieter corners of Charleston that walking tours and group tours skip entirely.
Charleston: Pirate Adventure Cruise for Kids & FamiliesYou’ll step aboard a real wooden pirate ship in Charleston harbor, where kids get their own pirate names and join a lively crew for a treasure hunt. Battle Sneaky Pete with water cannons, belt out sea shanties, and explore creeks along the Ashley River—all guided by locals who know how to make families laugh. It’s messy fun you’ll remember long after your shoes dry.
Private Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour Charleston: Historic DowntownA 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."Is it for me?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.
Charleston History and Hops Tour: Bar Walk with Local GuideA 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.Is it for me?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.
Charleston Brunch Food Tour: Upper King Street tastingsA three-hour brunch food tour through Charleston's Upper King Street, Marion Square and Mazyck-Boragard neighborhood with a live English-speaking guide, tasting eight Lowcountry dishes including Hot Little Biscuit, Fried Green Tomatoes, Croffle with Fried Chicken, Shrimp & Grits, Pimento Cheese and a secret local specialty. Choose between a small group or private tour; comfortable walking shoes are essential as the route covers fair ground.Is it for me?Book the small group tour if you want to meet other food travelers and split the guide's attention across the neighborhoods; choose private if you prefer the guide's full focus on your party and the freedom to linger at any stop without pacing the group.
Charleston: Dark History & Ghost Tour with Adam MooreYou’ll walk Charleston’s oldest streets with Adam Moore as your guide, hearing chilling ghost stories outside places like Poogan’s Porch and St. Philip’s Church cemetery. Expect laughs mixed with goosebumps in a small group setting where every detail feels personal — from ghost photos to tales of buried secrets. It’s more than just scary stories; it stays with you.
Charleston Mixology Tour: Learn cocktails downtownYou arrive at Frontier Lounge, make three cocktails from scratch under Tommy 'Alchemy's guidance, learn the Prohibition stories behind each drink, and eat snacks between rounds. The class includes all spirits, bar tools, and water. You leave knowing how to build a real cocktail and why people once risked everything for one.Is it for me?Book this if you want to learn a practical skill—how to actually build a cocktail—without the pretension, and you're curious about the history that made these drinks iconic. The outdoor setting and small-group pace mean you're not rushed, and the three-drink format keeps the afternoon sharp instead of blurry.
