French Quarter Historic Charleston Walk

Overview

This historical overview of Charleston's French Quarter highlights the Holy City's finest points of interest. Bring a camera to capture the beauty, and enjoy a breathtaking walk through colonial and early American architecture. Your native Charleston guide will show you unique landmarks with intriguing narratives of how these structures originated. The tour includes visits through cobblestone alleys and passages to admire the spectacular historic fabric of the district. The tour also includes an easy stroll along Charleston's majestic harbor with its castle and forts that shaped much of America's maritime and military history

City: Charleston

Mon 24 Feb

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $30.00

Make a reservation

Mon 24 Feb

Starting at $30.00

Make a reservation

New York City Tours

Unique Activities (21) Transfers & Transportation (103) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (113) Entry Tickets (47) Sporting Events (1) Good for Small Groups (6) Seasonal & Holiday Tours (41) Walking Tours (697) Outdoor Activities (20) Limitied Availability Tours (6) LGBT Friendly Tours (4) Family-friendly Activities (7) Solo Travelers' Tours (147) Food & Drinks (27) Travelers recommend (73) Good for Groups (8) Top Activities (18) Guided Audio Tours (3) Art, Culture & History (135) Attractions to explore (38)

What's Included

Historic look at the French Quarter

Professional Guide

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
If you would like your own private tour for your family and group for any reason, contact us directly at 803/669/3003 or through our website to block off the tour time for you. We also can accommodate special time requests with enough advanced notice.

What To Expect

Joe Riley Waterfront Park

Walk through the historic Vendue Range of markets on low water land owned by the Prioleau family who arrived in Charles Town in 1687 as an escape from Catholic religious persecution in Pons, France. See the majestic harbor's Castle Pinckney, Fort Sumter, and beautiful marshy islands that create the passage to the Atlantic Ocean.

Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon

One of the top three most historic buildings in the U.S., according to the National Historic Registry. Guide explains in detail all of the unique attributes that make this building one of America's true historic gems.

Rainbow Row

Colorful waterfront bay buildings constructed along wharves with Dutch influence (Amsterdam) during the Age of Lord Proprietors and original walled city.

Pink House Gallery

Known to be the oldest private building remaining in the French Quarter (1694-1712). The handmade, asymmetrical house set on the longest cobblestone street is built of Bermuda stone and resembles a charming man-sized dollhouse.

Charleston City Hall

Gabrielle Manigault (French Huguenot architect) designed one of the finest examples of Adamesque architecture in 1800 as a development of the Civic Square of the original Grand Modell plan of the walled city.

Old Slave Mart Museum

One of the last vestiges of a barracoon (slave jail) which is a converted German fire station made into a gallery for the sales of the enslaved. 80 percent of what census term as African-Americans living in North America have ancestral roots in Charleston, South Carolina as a result of the 12 million people imported through the Atlantic slave trade.

St. Michael's Church

The oldest remaining in-tact church building left in the Holy City was built in 1752.

South Carolina Historical Society Museum

First Fireproof Building in America built by Robert Mills who also designed the Washington Monument in D.C. (probably wishes the monument has been built as earthquake proof).

The Powder Magazine

Oldest public building (1713) in the original walled city was used as a northern fortification during the age of Lords Proprietors.

French Huguenot Church

Gothic Revival French protestant church is the centerpiece of the French Quarter. This active church is the oldest and most famous in the U.S. Twenty-three of forty-five U.S. Presidents have French Huguenot ancestry!

Dock Street Theater

National historic landmark is known as the first building to hold theatrical performances in the U.S. First show was in 1735, a black comedy depicting the social and sexual exploits of two recruiting officers in Ireland.

Circular Congregational Church

First official "Meeting House" built on the corner of the original walled city in a Romaneque Revival Style. Three significant churches were created from the original congregation (Unitarian, First Scots, and United Church). Churchyard is home to the oldest tombstones on the peninsula.

Philadelphia Alley

Iconic alley way holds many historic attributes and lore.

Show 10 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (91)

zzh7xt

May 2020

My family and I recently visited Charleston and signed up for a French Quarter Walking tour with Geordie. Geordie was great and very professional. He was there on time and asked us about our knowledge of Charleston before we start the tour so that he can adjusted the tour based on our knowledge level. Since Geordie is a native, he really knows his Charleston history which he went into very detail history of the quarter. Geordie really went above and beyond. I will definitely sign up with him again and I urge others to do so. Such a great host!

Response from Host

Jun 2020

Cam o'n for your post and for joining the French Quarter Walk! It was a delight to have Vietnamese and American combined perspectives in the Holy City. Yours was the first tour out of the lockdown-- a very peaceful walk with a bright, kind family-- and Charleston went right back to curfew after you left because of the current social unrest. I hope that your family returns when we get our next halcyon opening for another beautiful stroll through the Holy City!

zoemI8558MC

Mar 2020

Geordie, the tour leader, shares a wealth of historical tidbits that helped us understand Charleston's history. In addition, his delivery is engaging and often humorous, which enhances the historical info. We learned a lot, saw a lot of the historical places in the French Quarter, and had a wonderful time.

Response from Host

Apr 2020

Thank you for joining one of the last French Quarter Walks of Charleston before the lockdown. We hope you are safe and comfortable in whatever fortress or bunker you're existing in. Hope to see y'all again when we are free and safe to rediscover the Holy City!

Q4794GRjpie

Jan 2020

We had the most fantastic tour today with Geordi. Very engaging, extremely knowledgeable and thorough. Blended a wide range of subjects from history, religion, and geopolitical facets of Charleston’s past. We had a good time learning and covering a-lot of ground. Highly recommend.

Response from Host

Jan 2020

Dear Georgia friends, thank you for enjoying the French Quarter Walk on such a windy, fast-moving cloudy day. The harbor was whitecapping and the palmettos were blowing for a memorable time guiding a very endearing, solid couple of guests for the first French Quarter Walk of the New Year.. Come back soon, and often in 2020!