Charleston · South Carolina, USA

Charleston Tours &
Things to Do

Discover the best Charleston tours and things to do in the elegant belle of the American South: clip-clop through the historic district on a horse-drawn carriage, cruise the harbor to Fort Sumter, stroll past the pastel mansions of Rainbow Row, tour the majestic oak-lined plantations of Boone Hall and Magnolia, uncover the city’s spooky past on a ghost tour, and savour Lowcountry cooking on a Southern food tour. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect trip.

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Plan your trip 4.8 · 600+ reviews

Rainbow Row, Charleston

4.8

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Historic District, Charleston

Charleston Harbor, Charleston

Carriage Tours Harbor & Fort Sumter Plantations & Gardens Ghost Tours Food Tours Historic Walking

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Top experiences in Charleston

Hand-picked, top-rated tours and tickets — compared across our trusted partners. Prices are per person.

See all 291 experiences

Charleston’s Old South Carriage Historic Horse & Carriage Tour

Charleston’s Old South Carriage Historic Horse & Carriage Tour

4.8(10,771)·1 hour

from$50/ person

Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour

Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour

4.9(6,801)·2 hours

from$30/ person

Haunted Evening Horse and Carriage Tour of Charleston

Haunted Evening Horse and Carriage Tour of Charleston

4.7(4,100)·40 min

from$45/ person

Fort Sumter Admission and Self-Guided Tour with Roundtrip Ferry

Fort Sumter Admission and Self-Guided Tour with Roundtrip Ferry

4.6(3,761)·2 hours

from$43/ person

Charleston Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour: Explore Historic Charleston

Charleston Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour: Explore Historic Charleston

4.8(3,739)·1 hour

from$50/ person

Charleston Harbor History Day-Time or Sunset Boat Cruise

Charleston Harbor History Day-Time or Sunset Boat Cruise

4.4(3,160)·2 hours

from$45/ person

Charleston Eco Boat Cruise with stop at Morris Island Lighthouse

Charleston Eco Boat Cruise with stop at Morris Island Lighthouse

4.9(2,287)·3 hours

from$56/ person

Charleston French Quarter or Brunch Food Tour with 7+ Tastings

Charleston French Quarter or Brunch Food Tour with 7+ Tastings

4.9(2,236)·3 hours

from$111/ person

Boone Hall Plantation All-Access Admission Ticket

Boone Hall Plantation All-Access Admission Ticket

4.6(1,934)·4 hours

from$37/ person

Downtown Charleston Food Tour

Downtown Charleston Food Tour

4.7(1,438)·3 hours

from$110/ person

Charleston's Pleasing Terrors Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour

Charleston's Pleasing Terrors Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour

4.8(1,398)·2 hours

from$29/ person

Charleston Ghost & Graveyard Night-Time Guided Walking Tour

Charleston Ghost & Graveyard Night-Time Guided Walking Tour

4.5(1,134)·2 hours

from$41/ person

Charleston Harbor Sunset Cruise

Charleston Harbor Sunset Cruise

4.8(1,070)·2 hours

from$65/ person

Real Hauntings of Charleston! (Small Group Ghost Tour)

Real Hauntings of Charleston! (Small Group Ghost Tour)

4.9(903)·2 hours

from$32/ person

Afternoon Schooner Sightseeing Dolphin Cruise on Charleston Harbor

Afternoon Schooner Sightseeing Dolphin Cruise on Charleston Harbor

4.5(765)·2 hours

from$56/ person

Charleston Haunted Jail Night-Time Walking Tour with Admission to Old City Jail

Charleston Haunted Jail Night-Time Walking Tour with Admission to Old City Jail

4.4(689)·45 min

from$46/ person

Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music

Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music

4.1(667)·3 hours

from$100/ person

City of the Dead: The Dark Hauntings of Charleston

City of the Dead: The Dark Hauntings of Charleston

4.9(439)·2 hours

from$35/ person

Old Town Trolley Charleston Sightseeing Tour

Old Town Trolley Charleston Sightseeing Tour

4.8(434)·2 hours

from$40/ person

Private Luxury Yacht Charters, BYOB & Dolphins

Private Luxury Yacht Charters, BYOB & Dolphins

5.0(421)·3 hours

from$525/ person

Pirates of Charleston: Pirate Adventures and River cruises

Pirates of Charleston: Pirate Adventures and River cruises

5.0(321)·2 hours

from$43/ person

Charleston Haunted Horse and Carriage Evening Tour

Charleston Haunted Horse and Carriage Evening Tour

4.7(294)·45 min

from$50/ person

USS Yorktown Ghost Tour with Exclusive Night-Time Access

USS Yorktown Ghost Tour with Exclusive Night-Time Access

4.8(253)·2 hours

from$46/ person

Folly Beach Dolphin Viewing Boat Excursion and Estuary Tour

Folly Beach Dolphin Viewing Boat Excursion and Estuary Tour

5.0(181)·2 hours

from$56/ person

Browse

Explore Charleston by interest

Whatever brings you to Charleston — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.

Carriage tours

Historic district.

Harbor & Fort Sumter

Cruises & dolphins.

Plantations

Oak avenues.

Ghost tours

Haunted history.

Food tours

Lowcountry cuisine.

Historic walking

Rainbow Row.

Beaches & nature

Dolphins & oaks.

The Holy City

History & charm.

What to see

Top attractions in Charleston

The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.

Rainbow Row

Pastel houses.

30 toursView tours

Historic District

Historic District

Antebellum charm.

30 toursView tours

Fort Sumter

Civil War fort.

40 toursView tours

Boone Hall

Oak avenue.

30 toursView tours

Magnolia Gardens

Magnolia Gardens

Plantation gardens.

20 toursView tours

Haunted Charleston

Haunted Charleston

Ghost tours.

30 toursView tours

Lowcountry Food

Lowcountry Food

Southern cuisine.

20 toursView tours

Folly Beach

Dolphins & coast.

20 toursView tours

Plan your days

Charleston itinerary ideas

Ready-made routes you can book against — from a single perfect day to a long weekend.

1 day

Charleston in 1 day

1Carriage tour
2Rainbow Row
3The Battery
4Harbor cruise

3 days

Charleston in 3 days

1Historic city
2Plantations
3Fort Sumter
4Food & ghosts

History & plantations

Charleston history & plantations

1Boone Hall
2Magnolia
3Fort Sumter
4Historic district

With kids

Charleston with kids

1Carriage ride
2Harbor cruise
3Boone Hall
4Folly Beach

Outside the city

Day trips from Charleston

Palaces, gardens and abbeys within easy reach — most are an easy half- or full-day from the centre.

Boone Hall

Boone Hall

Oak avenue.

from €55View trips

Magnolia Plantation

Magnolia Plantation

Gardens.

from €55View trips

Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter

Civil War fort.

from €40View trips

Folly Beach

Folly Beach

Dolphins & coast.

from €45View trips

Marsh Kayaking

Lowcountry away

Marsh Kayaking

Eco tours.

from €50View trips

Rainbow Row

Rainbow Row

Pastel houses.

from €25View trips

Practical guide

Know before you go

Short, straight answers to the questions every Charleston visitor asks before booking.

Spring (Mar–May)

Warm, blooming gardens and comfortable — the best time.

Summer (Jun–Aug)

Hot and humid, busy with beachgoers.

Autumn (Sep–Nov)

Warm days and thinner crowds — lovely.

Winter (Dec–Feb)

Mild and quiet, great for the historic city.

For gardens

Spring is best for the plantation gardens in bloom.

Best overall

Spring and autumn are ideal.

When to visit

Charleston through the seasons

What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.

Spring (Mar–May)

Mar–May

Best for: Gardens in bloom.
Crowds
Booking tip: Best.

Summer (Jun–Aug)

Jun–Aug

Best for: Beaches.
Crowds
Booking tip: Humid.

Autumn (Sep–Nov)

Sep–Nov

Best for: Warm & calm.
Crowds
Booking tip: Lovely.

Winter (Dec–Feb)

Dec–Feb

Best for: Quiet history.
Crowds
Booking tip: Mild.

People also ask

Charleston travel FAQ

What are the best tours in Charleston?

The highest-rated experiences are a horse-drawn carriage tour, a harbor cruise to Fort Sumter, a plantation tour, and a Southern food tour.

What should I book in advance in Charleston?

Reserve plantation tours, harbor cruises and food tours ahead, especially in the spring high season.

How many days do I need in Charleston?

One day covers the historic city, two add a plantation tour, and three let you also enjoy food, ghosts and the beach.

Is Charleston worth visiting?

Yes — Charleston is one of America’s most beautiful and historic cities, famed for its antebellum architecture, plantations, harbor and Southern cuisine.

When is the best time to visit Charleston?

Spring is loveliest, with blooming gardens and warm weather, while autumn is also excellent.

Can you visit plantations from Charleston?

Yes — Boone Hall and Magnolia are close by and among the top tours.

Is Charleston good for families?

Yes — carriage rides, dolphin harbor cruises and Folly Beach make it a great family destination.

110+ Charleston experiencesfrom $30 · free cancellation