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

Mon 23 Sep

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $23.00

Make a reservation

Mon 23 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)

h0llanka

Jun 2017

Palmer was our tour guide, and she was both knowledgeable and entertaining. We got a great mix of history, architecture, geography, and information about modern life in Charleston. She offered plenty of recommendations for other activities and restaurants, as well. On a practical note: tour was just over two hours long but the route wasn't strenuous (two pregnant ladies and a baby stroller on the tour, all faired well), tour stopped in the shade whenever possible, but be sure to bring water and wear sunscreen.

west0909

Jun 2017

An absolutely incredible way to see and experience Charleston, I wholeheartedly recommend you fit this two-hour tour into your visit. We scheduled an 8am tour the day before (playing it fast and loose with availability, but we got lucky, I do recommend you book further out if possible). The earlier tours of course will be more comfortable because they're much cooler. You will be walking quite a bit on the walking tour, but the pace is very manageable and there are opportunities to sit a bit at various stops (my mother had knee surgery a month prior and was very able to keep up throughout). We also had a stroller with two kids in it on the tour, and with the determination of the parents & kindness of strangers the group was able to navigate the stone streets and lone set of stairs. Bill (the tour guide and proprietor) was very familiar with the city and eager to share what he knew. He approaches the tour from an economist-perspective, rooting all of his stories in trade, industry, and profit (a great way to help you remember it all and see how the city has changed). He's also quite candid about the entire history, including the prominent role of slavery in the success of Charleston (other guides may gloss over this in fear of awkwardness). The children on the tour seemed to enjoy walking around but the content of the tour is geared more towards a 15+ crowd IMO. Bill was a great guide, with answers to all of our questions and enough of his own to keep it interactive and engaging. Though his delivery slights toward pretentious at times, I came to realize it's really enthusiasm and commitment (he had to have been a professor in a prior life). Again, wether it's your first or fourteenth time in Charleston, I'm confident you'll learn something new and be so glad you did--please join Oyster Point Walking Tours for a portion of your trip!

hw86

Jun 2017

If you're interested in learning about the true history of Charleston (not just the feel good stuff), you must go on this tour! Our guide, Bill, was informative, funny, and thought provoking. He was more than happy to offer suggestions for restaurants and places to visit to make the rest of my trip great. I highly recommend this tour!