Highlights of Charleston Guided Walking Tour

Overview

Our two hour Highlights of Charleston walking tour guides guests through the historic French Quarter and South of Broad neighborhoods of downtown Charleston. Along the way, your guide will describe the long history, unique culture, architecture, and geography of Charleston and the greater lowcountry area, painting a detailed picture of how Charleston's tumultuous past formed the city now beloved by travelers the world over. You'll view some of the city's oldest houses of worship, burial sites, theaters, the forts of Charleston harbor, and the antebellum mansions that look out across the waters of the Cooper and Ashley rivers, among many other historic and picturesque sites. Our guides also offer their expert advice on other activities, restaurants, and bars for guests to explore once they've finished their tour.

City: Charleston

Sat 28 Sep

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $23.00

Make a reservation

Sat 28 Sep

Starting at $23.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Tour Guide

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Guests are responsible for bringing their own sun protection (sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, parasols) and rain gear
We HIGHLY recommend guests bring bottled water. It is not always available for purchase on the route
We ask guests to check in at the meeting location 5-10 mins prior to tour time. We cannot hold for latecomers.

What To Expect

St. Philip's Church

View the historic church of the longest-meeting congregation in Charleston.

French Huguenot Church

View the only church of its denomination in North America

Pink House Gallery

View the oldest private residence in Charleston

Old Slave Mart Museum

View the only museum dedicated to the history of the enslaved in Charleston

Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon

View the pre-Revolutionary heart of economic Charleston

Rainbow Row

View the most photographed sight in Charleston

Show 3 more stops

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (1000)

AgingFoodie

Apr 2018

William Harris kept us totally engaged every minute of our Friday morning in April. Four of us lucky to have had him conduct a private tour. So worth it, every moment, every penny of it. Encyclopedic knowledge, delivered in a well-paced and riveting manner. As the son of an old American History professor, it felt like I was channeling my father at his best. I learned far, far more than I have ever learned (or might have expected to learn) on any comparable tour, be it in Charleston or anywhere else. Far, far above other tour guides in similar settings. We gave him a few ideas of our preferences, and he really took it to town, both figuratively and literally. He also set the stage for the rest of our visit to Charleston, giving us a way to see and understand the city that would not have been otherwise possible. Using Trip Advisor as a reference point really paid off for us this time. I’d recommend him/his company and take another tour with him in a heartbeat.

Nathaniel E

Apr 2018

My girlfriend and I took a trip from California to visit Savannah and Charleston. Towards the end of our week vacation, we had a tour with Bill, who was funny, smart, passionate, and enthusiastic about the history of Charleston. His attention to historical context, the time period things take place in, the social and economic implications of things all were factors of his tour. He's very clearly a brilliant minded man, and his passion and enthusiasm for historical accuracy and truth were contagious. Now let me tell you, we did our share of touring that week. The tour we had with Bill was leagues ahead of them all. Don't wait until the end of your trip to take this tour. Make it your first stop. The knowledge you'll gain will shape the rest of your stay. All the opulence of Charleston will only make sense with the history shared on this tour. Bill was not afraid to talk about the true history of Charleston--slavery. A topic that many other tours are more than happy to gloss over or mention as minimally as possible. And this is very important to talk about, as uncomfortable as it may be, because without slavery, there's no way Charleston (and our country) would have turned out the way it did. But he did so in a very tactful way. One that leaves you feeling inspired, wowed, and all the better for the history lesson.

Angela H

Apr 2018

There is so much history to this beautiful city and no better way to learn it than walking around with a local who is both well-studied and articulate. William had an energetic wit complimented with a solid command of the facts and piercing blue eyes!! He engaged the group in a thought provoking recount of the history of Charleston. He was diligent in covering sometimes overlooked and diluted topics such as slavery and the true motivations behind the civil war. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with William and have a better appreciation for the history of Charleston. Highly recommended for people with an open mind and an interest in learning an important piece of American history.