Best Tours in Charleston

Among the things to see and do in Charleston, I recommend that you make sure to include a guided tour. It is much better to travel with an expert guide who knows the history of the places and the directions, than to travel alone. In addition, the guides make useful recommendations for places to eat or activities to do.

Depending on your tastes and what you want to do, you will find a tour for you. If you like history you should take a historical tour, either by bus or on a cruise. If you want to try different food then a gastronomic tour is best. In case you don't like crowds, a private tour is for you.

A horse-drawn carriage tour is one of the most popular winter activities in Charleston. You won't have to expose yourself to the cold and you can sit comfortably inside the carriage. You can even take a blanket with you as you ride past historic sites in the city.

This horse-drawn carriage is powered by horses that take you on a ride through Charleston's Historic District. On the tour you'll pass mansions, churches and old gardens. Other iconic sites to see include the Old Exchange Building and Provos Dungeons.

The tour lasts approximately one hour and costs approximately €250. Other sites you can see from the carriage are the Charleston City Market, The Powder Magazine, Battery & White Point Gardens and Rainbow Row, which are rows of Georgian houses that you will be fascinated to see.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately £250.
• Duration: about 1 hour.
• Advantages of this option: allows you to sit comfortably while you see the sights.
• Disadvantages of this option: can be expensive and does not cover all the important sites in the city.

If you like horror stories and ghost tales, I recommend you choose one of the best ghost tours in Charleston. These tours usually cost an average of €35 and can last about an hour and a half.

On the tour you'll hear all the dark legends of the city and visit the places that inspired those stories - how scary!

This is definitely a worthwhile activity to do in October in Charleston on the eve of Halloween. The tour usually starts in the afternoon with an expert guide who will take you to the historic Old Town.

There you can walk through buildings, squares and monuments. You will also pass by the harbour to admire the views from there and listen to stories about the spirits that roam the city.

An important part of the tour is the cemetery of the Unitarian Church. Here you will pass graves and crypts covered in hanging moss and foliage. Don't let fear freeze you as the guide tells you the tragic stories of the people buried there.

At nightfall don't be afraid: the figures hidden in the darkness can't scare you, it's all part of the tour.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 35 €.
• Duration: about 1.5 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: it allows you to get to know another side of the city, one full of myths, legends and ghosts.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you are easily frightened, this may not be the best option for you, as there are terrifying surprises for participants at the end of the tour.

Boat tours in Charleston are a great way to see the city from a different perspective. On these boats you can enjoy the sunset and the breathtaking views of the city's historic sites.

The tour lasts about an hour and a half and costs about €35. On this tour you will travel along the Cooper River all the way to Fort Sumter National Monument. As you approach the various sites, you'll listen to the narration of the guides.

If you book this tour, you'll pass over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. bridge, where you'll see huge boats. You may even see dolphins on this tour. You'll also see the USS Yorktown, a historic US aircraft carrier.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately €35.
• Duration: about 1.5 hours.
• Means of transport: by boat.
• Advantages of this option: you can get another perspective of the city and learn more about its history from the Cooper River.
• Disadvantages of this option: If you get seasick easily on boats or cruise ships, it's best to find a more comfortable way to tour Charleston.

If you' re travelling to Charleston during the autumn, a walking tour of the city might be a good idea. The weather is ideal, not too cold and not too hot.

In the afternoon, you can take your private guide who already knows the city by heart.

Private walking tours with a specialist guide are a good option, as you can ask him or her to show you specific sites. Perhaps you are interested in the artistic side of the city, its history or maybe you just want a general tour. Your guide will be able to adapt to your requirements and offer you a personalised service.

Keep in mind that in this case, you can be the one to suggest, but make sure that the guide is an expert on what you want to see. Charleston is a very varied city and there are many areas with different themes.

The most popular places for this type of tour are the Charleston City Market and the Historic Charleston Foundation. The latter is a well-known gift shop in the city, where you can buy some phenomenal souvenirs.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 70 €.
• Duration: about 3 hours
• Advantages of this option: you have much more time to explore the city and you can ask your guide to take you to the sites of your choice.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you don't like to walk much, this is not the option for you. To do this tour you have to endure the sun and walk for at least 3 hours.

If you're going to be in Charleston for two days or maybe less, you'll probably want to take as many souvenirs with you as you can. If this is your case, I recommend taking a tour with a local photographer.

This professional will guide you to the most emblematic places to take the best pictures. The tour lasts at least an hour and a half and costs about €50.

Tours usually start at Washington Square Park. Here you can take pictures of yourself taking advantage of the **park'**s natural beauty. In Charleston's Historic District there are also certain spots where you can pose comfortably.

This tour is one of the things you can do in the city with children. You'll have a nice souvenir of the experience.

Other stops are in the French Quarter, a place with beautiful buildings and admirable architecture. You'll also pass through the South of Broad neighbourhood and the High Battery. In addition to taking pictures, your guide will explain some historical and interesting facts about the sites you visit.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately £50.
• Duration: about 1.5 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you can get a nice permanent souvenir in professional photographs.
• Disadvantages of this option: for some people it is not easy work to pose, so this part of the tour may take longer, which can delay the whole tour.

If you don't like walking tours or the tour bus that runs through Charleston, then your best option is to travel by private vehicle.

These tours are very exclusive as they are limited to groups of three people, average €90 and generally last at least 2 hours.

The driver will travel to the hotel where you are staying to pick you up. From there he will take you to see Waterfront Park and The Battery.

Along the way your guide will tell interesting stories about the culture of the city. You can even ask him for anecdotes of your own. This is invaluable as you get to know Charleston from the point of view of one of the locals.

The French Quarter, the harbour and Rainbow Row are just some of the sites you'll see on this tour. At the end of the tour, the driver and guide will take you back to your hotel.

You can take advantage of the driver to take you home to try the local beer and cocktails in one of the restaurants recommended by the guide.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 90 €.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: by private vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: you can travel as comfortably as possible and make as many stops as you wish as it is a personalised trip.
• Disadvantages of this option: from the car you may not be able to see all the sites clearly. However, you can always get out of the car to take a closer look at the sites you find.

If you're travelling to Charleston in January you'll find a number of fun activities including Restaurant Week. However, if you can't travel during that month, a private dining tour is an ideal option for you who love food.

The tour usually lasts 3-4 hours and costs around €200. The guide you hire will take you to discover the best places to sample Charleston' s local food. On your tour you will discover the most traditional South Carolina foods such as fried green tomatoes, oysters and grits.

The place where you will taste the appetizers is Charleston's Historic District. There you can visit different restaurants that have food tastings ready for you.

While enjoying the food, you'll hear the history behind many of the ingredients and recipes. Some were introduced to American culture due to the African slave trade.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 200 €.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: includes coffee, tea and water. You will be able to sample all the local food so you will know which is the best option to come back for dinner or brunch.
• Disadvantages of this option: many of the food samples are not suitable for most diets. That is, you won't always find vegan, gluten-free or fat-free options.

If you like to explore the hidden places of the cities you visit, this is the tour for you. Embark on an adventure through Charleston's hidden alleys and passageways with a knowledgeable guide. This tour has an approximate value of 27 € and lasts approximately 2 hours.

These expeditions are conducted in small groups, so you will feel more at ease, as the experience is more intimate and enjoyable. The streets are located in Charleston's historic district, so you'll also get to see the most popular sites on the tour.

During the walking tour, you'll see at least six different cobblestone alleys full of history. It's worth noting that the guide will always narrate historical facts about the sites you visit.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately €27.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: it is led by a specialised local guide.
• Disadvantages of this option: does not include snacks or bottles of water to drink along the way.

If you like to tour the city in comfort, I recommend taking a tour bus. This vehicle is driven by a professional driver and will show you at least 100 points of interest in Charleston. The tour takes about 90 minutes and costs an average of €28.

As you walk the streets of this city, you'll feel like you' ve travelled back in time. As you learn about Charleston and its role in American history, you'll see sites such as Rainbow Row, Colonial Lake, the Old Exchange Building and Whitepoint Gardens Park.

Sometimes the tour includes admission to the Joseph Manigault House Museum. This was an early 19th century plantation house, so it is part of the region's economic and slave-owning history.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately €28.
• Duration: about 90 minutes
• Means of transport: tourist bus
• Advantages of this option: it is led by a specialised local guide.
• Disadvantages of this option: all the tourist sites must be seen from the bus as it does not make stops.

Tips for a tour in Charleston depend very much on the type of tour you take and the time of year you decide to travel.

For example, if you are travelling to Charleston in July you should be prepared for the heat in July. I would recommend walking tours, an umbrella, sunscreen and water.

If you are travelling to Charleston in December, it is best to take tours where you can protect yourself from the cold. Private vehicle or carriage tours are a good option for this. Always remember to bring your coat.

In case you decide to take a special photo tour, I recommend bringing a change of clothes so you can have different looks. This is not as difficult as it sounds. You can take two different jumpers, two hats or something similar. The idea is to play with your outfit and get different pictures.

Guided tours are a great way to explore Charleston in just 1 day. In just 1 or 2 hours you can learn a lot about the city and pass by historical sites that are important for both the city and the country.

If you have more time, I recommend taking a tour of the Charleston Plantations.

A guided tour is much better than travelling on your own. This is because an expert guide knows all the sights and knows how to get there as quickly as possible. On the other hand, if you were to travel around the city on your own, you would have to rely entirely on your internet connection.

On the other hand, these tours often have different focuses that help you make the most of your time. If, for example, you want to learn about the city's art, you can just take an architectural tour and visit museums.

If you want to try new food, the guide has already made arrangements with restaurants in Charleston for you to eat a little bit of everything. This is ideal if you're short on time, because if you're on your own you can get into a trial-and-error dynamic and end up not getting the most out of your time in the city.

In addition to the themes, the guided tours provide you with a means of transportation if you wish. Don't want to walk? You can choose a private vehicle. Does that sound too expensive? Then take a historic cruise or a sightseeing bus - you're spoilt for choice!