The 10 Best Charleston Walking Tours

With plenty of secret alleyways and hidden gems, Charleston, South Carolina, is best explored on foot. To take in the Holy City’s deep history, rich cuisine and vibrant scenery, slow down and see all the top attractions with a walking tour. U.S. News gathered 10 of the best walking tours in Charleston by consulting both traveler sentiment and expert opinion. Lace up your walking shoes and start exploring.

Price: From $25
Duration: 2 hours

Let longtime locals lead the way on a trip with Two Sisters Tours. On this two-hour history tour, sibling guides take you through the charming streets their family has called home for seven generations. You’ll hear tales of Charleston’s famous historical characters and the events that have shaped the city. Along the excursion – which explores about 18 city blocks – you’ll pass signature landmarks, including St. Michael’s Church and Rainbow Row. Reviewers love the informative guides and the “insider’s perspective” they share as Charlestonians, as well as the tour’s scenic route. Tourgoers also appreciate that guides don’t sugarcoat Charleston’s role in the American slave trade.

Tours run at 10:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday. There is an additional weekday tour at 2 p.m., weather permitting. Tickets start at $25 per person; reservations are required.

Price: From $90
Duration: 2.5 hours

From fried green tomatoes and collard greens to sweet tea and barbecue, Lowcountry cuisine is an integral element of the Charleston dining scene. On this 2 1/2-hour walking food tour, a local guide will take you and up to 11 other participants on a journey through the city to learn its history while making sure your inner foodie is fully satisfied. In total, you’ll visit three restaurants and two specialty shops. Reviewers rave about the informative experience and variety of samples, as well as the helpful tour guides. Many suggest booking this tour for one of your first days in Charleston so you can make use of the guide’s recommendations throughout the rest of your trip.

Tours leave at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily. Tickets cost approximately $90 per person and cover all tastings and water. Hungry for more? Bulldog Tours also hosts a walking tour dedicated to the restaurants and museums within the South of Broad neighborhood, such as the Edmondston-Alston House.

Price: From $30
Duration: 2 hours

Stroll through Charleston’s picturesque alleys with the help of Lowcountry Walking Tours. During this two-hour tour, your guide will lead you through the network of lush (and often hidden) passages. Throughout the tour, you’ll hear the historical anecdotes that tie the streets together. You’ll visit between four and six alleyways within the historic district, as well as some other points of interest. Reviewers love the architectural angle and the charismatic, insightful guides.

Tickets cost approximately $30 per person. Tours depart at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily. When you’re ready to see more, the company also hosts tours of historic downtown Charleston.

Price: Free
Duration: 2 hours

Did you know that Charleston’s buildings feature every style of architecture? On this two-hour tour, your guide will teach you the city’s vibrant history through its architecture. St. Philips Church, the Nathaniel Russell House and the Miles Brewton House are among the sights you’ll learn about along the approximately 1.5-mile walk. Reviewers applaud the enthusiastic and accommodating guides and recommend the tour even for those who may not consider themselves architecture buffs.

While the cost is on a pay-what-you-like basis, there is a $3 administration fee per ticket and reservations are required. Tours are generally offered Monday and Thursday; exact times vary by day. Free Tours by Foot also hosts walking tours focused on ghost stories and the Civil War.

Price: Adults from $30; kids from $15
Duration: 2 hours

See Charleston through the eyes of a local with Charleston Sole Walking Tours. Brian Simms, a 10th-generation Charlestonian, or a member of his team will take you on a two-hour tour of the city. You’ll stroll through hidden alleys and tree-lined streets to iconic landmarks and sites of famous Charleston historic events. Sights include St. Michael’s Church, Rainbow Row, the Dock Street Theatre and the Old Slave Mart Museum. Your guide will go beyond the usual textbook tour, which reviewers love, and give you a rich walking layout of the city.

Tickets start at $30 for adults and $20 for children 6 to 12. Tours run at 9:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Charleston Sole also offers private and group tours.

Price: Adults from $25; kids from $18
Duration: 2 hours

Satisfy your inner history buff with Walks of Charleston. On this roughly two-hour tour, you’ll visit sites that date back to before the Civil War and Charleston’s modern renaissance, including City Hall, the French Quarter and the Battery. Along the way, your guide will share stories of the city’s founding, as well as insights into several of its signature buildings. Reviewers love the energy of the guides and the insider knowledge. If you’re visiting Charleston in the summer, travelers recommend a morning tour to avoid the midday heat.

Tours are offered multiple times daily starting at 9:30 a.m. Tickets start at $25 per adult and $18 per child ages 6 to 12. Tickets for children 5 and younger are free. Walks of Charleston also hosts tours of the city’s alleys and private tours with custom experiences.

Price: Adults from $35; students from $25
Duration: 80 minutes

Charleston is full of haunted tales, and there’s no better way to acquaint yourself with the city’s ghosts than on a walking tour. On this 80-minute excursion, a guide will lead you around the historic district past dusk to regale you with legends and supernatural occurrences derived from “The Ghosts of Charleston” book. During the evening stroll, you’ll enter the Unitarian Church graveyard, a site that dates back to the late 1700s. Reviewers rave about the graveyard’s eerie atmosphere and the educational, engaging tour guides. They also say this experience is suitable for families with kid ages 10 and older.

Tours are offered at 7:30, 8:30, 9 and 9:30 p.m. nightly. Tickets cost approximately $35 per adult and $25 for students with an ID; discounts are also available for seniors and members of the military. For a less spooky tour of the Holy City, consider the company’s The Lost Stories of Black Charleston Tour.

Price: From $85
Duration: 2.5 hours

If you’re looking to experience Charleston through your taste buds, allow Charleston Culinary Tours to oblige. On this 2 1/2-hour walking tour of the French Quarter and City Market, you’ll experience the city’s food and beverage scene with the help of a knowledgeable foodie guide. Stop into four local restaurants and learn about culinary history while sampling classic Lowcountry flavors. Reviewers love the samples of local cuisine and the historical tidbits from the knowledgeable guides.

Tours are offered multiple times a day (as early as 10 a.m. and as late as 4 p.m., depending on the day). Tickets cost approximately $85 per person. The company runs a variety of other tours, including a culinary tour of upper King Street.

Price: Adults from $35; kids from $20
Duration: 2.5 hours

Let a history professor from The Citadel, a military college, show you around Charleston on this 2.5-hour tour. Led by Eric Lager, who has a doctorate in history, the tour covers everything from Charleston’s founding in 1670 to the creation of the historic district in 1931. During the approximately 1.5-mile walk along the city’s famous cobblestone streets, you’ll pass by sites like the Heyward-Washington House, Huguenot Church, Fort Sumter and more. Travelers highly recommend this tour, praising its pace, the size (groups are limited to 10 people) and the passionate guide.

Tours are generally offered Monday through Friday at 2 p.m., though an additional 9:30 a.m. may be offered depending on the day. Ticket costs start at $35 for adults and $20 for kids age 7 to 17.

Price: Adults from $30; kids from $20
Duration: 2 hours

Walk through the French Quarter and South of Broad neighborhoods on this approximately two-hour tour that offers plenty of sightseeing, in addition to a history lesson. As you stroll past sights like Rainbow Row, the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon and more, you’ll learn about Charleston’s history, architecture, economics and geography. Travelers applaud the tour guides for their personable, humorous and thought-provoking delivery, as well as their storytelling abilities. Reviewers say this tour is particularly well-suited for first-time visitors to Charleston.

The Highlights of Charleston Tour is available daily as early as 9 a.m. and as late as 3 p.m., depending on the day. Tickets start at $30 for adults and $10 for kids. Oyster Point Historic Walking Tours also runs a tour designed for visitors interested in the best photo spots around town; it’s available by reservation only.