Things to do in Charleston
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Charleston Upper King Street: Food Tour & Lowcountry TastingsYou walk Upper King Street with a local guide, stopping at five or six restaurants to sample Lowcountry dishes that define the neighborhood. The 2.5-hour pace is leisurely, the group stays small, and everything — entry, tastings, and guidance — is included. You meet at the Charleston Museum and leave knowing which restaurants are worth a return visit.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand what Upper King Street is actually about without spending the whole day restaurant-hopping and deciding where to eat; the guide handles the route, the tastings are already arranged, and you leave knowing which places are worth coming back to.
Charleston historic district and Middleton Place plantation tourThis 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.Is it for me?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.
Charleston Farm-to-Table Food Tour: Cook with a ChefThis 2.5-hour farm-to-table tour in Charleston starts at a neighborhood market where you handpick seasonal local produce, then moves through the historic TwoBoroughs neighborhood and Upper King Street with a city-certified guide before ending at a local restaurant where a chef prepares a multi-course meal from your selections. Dietary restrictions must be reported 36 hours ahead; vegan, dairy and soy restrictions cannot be fully accommodated, and the tour is not recommended for children under 8.Is it for me?At 2.5 hours, this tour fits into a free afternoon or a morning you want to spend eating instead of sightseeing—you're not rushing between ten stops, and you're not sitting through a long class. The meal is the point, and the neighborhood walk is what frames it.
Charleston: Hands-On Cooking Class in Historic French QuarterYou’ll roll up your sleeves in a 19th-century Charleston kitchen, guided by a Lowcountry chef through three classic Southern recipes. Expect laughter over floury hands, stories behind every bite, and time to savor your own creations with local coffee or tea. If you’re craving connection — not just cooking tips — this is where you’ll find it.
Charleston History Tour: Small Groups & Alleyways with Local GuideYou walk through nine stops across Charleston's oldest neighborhoods — from the 1713 Powder Magazine to Rainbow Row and Waterfront Park — with a licensed history guide who leads every tour himself and keeps groups under 10 people. You enter one historic building, hear detailed stories instead of surface facts, and move at a pace that lets questions happen. Bring comfortable walking shoes and water; the tour runs mornings and takes about two to three hours.Is it for me?Book this if you want Charleston's real history — not the condensed version — and prefer walking with a small group where you can actually ask questions and hear the guide over the sound of your own footsteps.
Charleston: Custom Perfume Workshop & Tijon Fragrance ClassYou’ll blend your own signature scent at Tijon’s Charleston perfume lab with guidance from friendly locals. Mix oils from an array of vials, learn quirky stories behind each fragrance note, and take home your custom bottle along with small gifts. The experience lingers long after — every spritz brings back that creative spark.
Charleston Lowcountry: Angel Oak, Tea Garden & Vineyard Day TripYou’ll share tea under ancient branches at Angel Oak, taste fresh brews at Charleston Tea Garden with all-you-can-drink samples, then stroll Deep Water Vineyard for local wine tasting. Expect laughter with your guide, some quiet moments among live oaks, and maybe even new friends before heading back to Charleston.
Private Horse Carriage Tour in Charleston City MarketYou’ll get to see Charleston from a whole new angle—up close, at horse pace, with stories you won’t find in any guidebook. Perfect for couples or small groups wanting something personal and relaxed.
Magnolia Plantation: Day Tour with House & Nature Train from CharlestonYou’ll ride from Charleston to Magnolia Plantation with easy pickup, tour its historic house with a local guide, choose between a nature train or wildlife boat ride through lush gardens, and wander trails alive with birdsong and Southern scents. Expect quiet moments by ancient oaks and stories that linger after you leave.
Private Sailing Charter Charleston Harbor: 2.5-Hour Sunset SailA private sailing charter on "Esprit de Joy" for up to 6 guests takes 2.5 hours and sails past Fort Sumter, Castle Pinckney, the Ravenel Bridge and the Battery in Charleston Harbor. The captain navigates; you bring beverages and snacks, and the boat supplies water, ice, champagne flutes and souvenir cups. Afternoon and sunset departures both run, with the golden hour the most popular booking window.Is it for me?The 2.5-hour window means you sail past the major harbor landmarks and Fort Sumter without losing the rest of your day—it fits between lunch and dinner, or as a standalone evening outing, and the captain handles all the navigation so you stand on deck and watch the city and water instead.
Charleston Harbor: Private Morning Sail & Dolphin TourYou’ll sail Charleston Harbor on a private yacht with friendly local crew, passing iconic sites like Fort Sumter and the Battery while searching for dolphins. Soft drinks are included and there’s plenty of shade for relaxing moments as you glide past historic landmarks—expect laughter, quiet surprises, and new views of Charleston you’ll remember long after.
Magnolia Plantation Tour Charleston: 3 Guided ExperiencesA full-day guided tour of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens departing from the Charleston Visitor Center with round-trip transport in a climate-controlled van, capped at 12 guests. The day includes three separate guided experiences—the historic house tour, a nature train ride through the swamps and gardens, and the Slavery to Freedom tour—plus free time to walk the grounds and visit the gift shop. Groups depart at 9:30 AM and return around 4:00 PM.Is it for me?Book this if you want three separate guided experiences—the grounds, house, and slavery history—rather than a single walkthrough, and prefer a full day immersion starting and ending downtown.
Charleston Walking Tour with Local Author Liz ButlerA 90-minute walking tour of Charleston led by Liz Butler, a tenth-generation Charlestonian and licensed guide since 2003, takes you down cobblestone streets and alleyways to the harbor and Fort Sumter. The small group moves at a pace that lets you admire window boxes and ironwork while hearing the city's triumphs and tragedies woven through its architecture and streets.Is it for me?At 90 minutes, the tour leaves room for other stops in your day—a museum, a restaurant, a neighborhood you want to explore on your own—while giving you the full arc of Charleston's history with someone who actually grew up in it. If you want a quick orientation with real depth instead of a surface-level highlight reel, this fits.
Charleston Ghost Tour: 10 Stories & Ghost Equipment Night WalkYou’ll wander Charleston’s haunted streets after dark with a small group and a local guide who brings real ghost-hunting equipment for you to try out yourself. Hear ten original stories tied to places like St. Michael’s Church and the Old Exchange Dungeon—and maybe even catch something on camera if you’re lucky (or unlucky). It’s eerie, funny sometimes, and surprisingly moving.
Private Charleston Historic Tour: Beyond Rainbow Row to Mt. PleasantYou get a private guide who drives you through downtown Charleston's Battery, Rainbow Row, and historic homes, then across to Mt. Pleasant's Old Village with its oak trees and Shem Creek boardwalk. Transportation, water, and air conditioning are included. The half-day timing lets you cover the main sites without a full-day commitment, and having your own guide means the pace is yours.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Charleston's main historic neighborhoods without renting a car or joining a group tour — the private guide and transportation mean you're not navigating or parking, and the half-day length fits a morning or afternoon without eating your whole day.
Charleston Small Group City Tour: Rainbow Row & Historic SitesA 1.5-hour small-group city tour of Charleston with a live English-speaking guide, limited to 12 guests, traveling through Rainbow Row, The Battery, the French Quarter, historic churches and the College of Charleston campus in a climate-controlled Sprinter van. Routes vary daily based on traffic and events. Minimum age 12; professional guide, taxes and fees included.Is it for me?At 1.5 hours, this tour fits into a morning or afternoon without consuming your whole day, leaving time for lunch, shopping at the market, or exploring on your own afterward. The fixed route and included guide mean you're not spending energy deciding what to see or how to get between stops—you're just absorbing the city's layout and stories in one smooth run.
Charleston's Strong Women of the South History TourCharleston's Strong Women of the South History Tour is a two-hour guided walk through the city's founding from the perspective of the women—of every color—who controlled its wealth, shaped its culture and left their mark on its streets. The tour includes entry to the Philip Simmons House and the Halsey Gallery of Contemporary Art, and runs at noon or 3pm with a live English-speaking guide. Minimum age is 13.Is it for me?Book the noon departure if you want to explore the city's women's history before the afternoon crowds; the 3pm slot works better if you're arriving mid-day or prefer a later start. The tour is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all fitness levels, so mobility or stamina won't hold you back from the full two hours.
Charleston: Luxury Car Transport & Airport PickupYou arrive at the airport and step into a waiting luxury SUV instead of hunting for a rideshare. The driver knows the city, the vehicle has room for your group and bags, and the price is fixed—no surge pricing, no wait time, no parking headaches. Optional: take a free orientation tour before checking in, or book the same driver for your whole stay.Is it for me?Book this if you're landing in Charleston and want to skip the rideshare app, avoid surge pricing, and have a driver who knows the city—the fixed price and guaranteed pickup are what make the difference between a stressful arrival and walking straight into your vacation.
Magnolia Plantation & Charleston City Bus Tour: Full-day comboThis full-day combo pairs a 4.5-hour guided tour of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens—one of America's oldest continuously occupied plantations, founded in 1676—with a 90-minute guided bus tour of historic downtown Charleston. A professional guide leads both portions in air-conditioned coaches, covering the plantation's grounds and gardens, then the city's key landmarks and neighborhoods. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available for an additional fee.Is it for me?Choose this combo if you want to see the plantation's full grounds and gardens without driving yourself, then return to Charleston with a guided overview of the city's layout and history in one day. The fixed schedule and included transportation mean you're not managing multiple bookings or navigating between sites—the day holds together as one continuous experience.
Charleston plantation tour: Middleton Place & Drayton HallA guided tour of Middleton Place and Drayton Hall, two Charleston plantations along the Ashley River, with pickup from the city and an air-conditioned vehicle. The tour covers both sites in four hours, moving between America's oldest landscaped gardens and the finest surviving example of Palladian design in the United States, each telling a different story of the Low country's past.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you want to compare two contrasting estates in one morning—Middleton Place shows you the gardens and living history, while Drayton Hall focuses on colonial architecture, letting you see both the landscape design and building styles that defined the Low Country.
