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Charleston Historic Walking Tour

TourTruth score 7.4 out of 10

AverageTop 48% in Charleston

7 reviews · Rated on 2 providers · How we score

  • Charleston
  • 2 hrs
  • Updated November 2, 2026

Walk Charleston’s historic streets with a local guide, hear stories of the Lowcountry, and see landmarks including Rainbow Row and the Old Exchange.

About this tour

Walk through Charleston’s old walled city with a local guide and encounter centuries of history in its cobblestone lanes, colorful facades, and harbor-side streets. This 2-hour Charleston Historic Walking Tour connects the city’s founding in 1670 with the culture and growth of the Lowcountry today.

Along the route, hear stories of colonial Charleston, religious diversity, wars, fires, hurricanes, and economic change. Admire Rainbow Row, visit the Old Exchange, and learn about the city’s complex history around the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Your guide also shares insights into Gullah/Geechee culture and Charleston’s distinctive architecture, from church steeples to stately homes near the High Battery. The walk ends in the courtyard of a historic home built in 1783.

A local perspective brings the streets and landmarks into focus, while the relaxed walking format leaves time to take in the details. The tour runs rain or shine, so wear comfortable shoes and come prepared for the weather. Join a Charleston Historic Walking Tour to see the city’s past woven into its present.

Highlights

  • Trace Charleston’s story through cobblestone streets and historic alleys
  • Admire Rainbow Row’s colorful homes and distinctive church steeples
  • Hear local perspectives on Charleston’s history, architecture, and culture
  • Explore the Old Exchange and learn about the city’s complex past
  • Finish in the courtyard of a historic home built in 1783

What's included

Included

  • Local guide
  • Guided walking tour

Not included

  • Food and drinks
  • Admission to the Old Slave Mart Museum
  • Admission to Charleston attractions
  • Water bottle

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

What reviewers mention

Themes that come up most in this tour's reviews.

Important information

  • The tour runs rain or shine
  • Wear comfortable shoes and consider bringing a sun hat, umbrella, sunscreen, water, and a camera
  • Meet at 200 East Bay Street, on the corner of Market Street and East Bay Street, or on the steps of the US Custom House
  • Parking garages are near Concord and Cumberland streets, and Meeting and Cumberland streets
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  • Wheelchair accessible; transportation options and all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a stroller; service animals are allowed
  • Suitable for all fitness levels

Frequently asked questions

How long is the walking tour?

The tour lasts 2 hours.

What language is the tour in?

A live guide leads the tour in English.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at 200 East Bay Street, at the corner of Market Street and East Bay Street, or on the steps of the US Custom House.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The tour and its surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

Yes. The tour takes place rain or shine.

How this score is calculated

This tour scores 5.00 on Viator and 4.00 on GetYourGuide. Ratings on these sites cluster near the top of the 5-star scale, so we compare each one with all other ratings on the same site before combining them.

How the score works and rating distribution in Charleston
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 7.4. Top 48% in Charleston means it ranks in the top 48% of tours in Charleston by this score.

Provider rating distribution in Charleston

How many tours in Charleston have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

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