Charleston City Tour: Explore Historic Sights

Discover the rich history of Charleston on a 90-minute bus tour through its historic districts. Learn from knowledgeable guides and see all the city has to offer!

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Adventure Sightseeing - Departing from the Charleston Visitor Center in the late morning through mid-afternoon, this sightseeing tour includes a fully-guided, live-narrated trip throughout the city. Be entertained by knowledgeable guides and learn the history about some of the most historical sites Charleston has to offer, including the Citadel, the South’s most famous military academy, and the Old City Market. See amazing gardens, wrought iron art, many of the city’s 210 churches, and so much more.

This tour is non-stop, but there will be a quick stop at the Battery for a photo opportunity. This area of Charleston is a beautiful spot on the waterfront and will showcase incredible southern-style mansions, oak trees, palmettos, statues, cannons and cannon balls, and marvelous views of Fort Sumter, Castle Pinckney, and the Sullivan Island Lighthouse at a distance.

What's Included
  • 90-minute Narrated Historic Mini-Coach Tour of Charleston
  • Photo Opportunity at the Battery with views of Fort Sumter
  • Drive through The Citadel, the South’s most famous military academy
  • Sights of Old City Market, lovely gardens, and wrought iron art
  • Visit to 210 churches
  • Transportation aboard air-conditioned mini bus
  • Professional Guide/Driver
  • Bonus: Admission to Charleston Powder Museum included
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

Experience the splendor of Charleston on a city tour, it’s the best way to familiarize yourself with the ‘Holy City’. This peaceful yet enlightening 90-minute bus journey is perfect for those making their first visit, or returning ones. Trained and competent guides will guide you through 350 years of historical events of the city as you traverse through its history-rich district in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. The extensive coverage of the bus tours allows you to see and enjoy everything that defines Charleston! Partake in this unforgettable tour and discover the city as a group.

  • No pets. Service animals are allowed
Location
375 Meeting St
Meeting Street
Charleston Visitor Center
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.5
(908 Ratings)
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Anne_d
Sep 28, 2024
Bus tour Charleston - Shawn was a great tour guide!! He made it entertaining as well as informative!! Great combo!! His knowledge of the city and it's history was amazing!! Would highly recommend!!
Review provided by Viator
Jacquie_r
Sep 17, 2024
Great introduction to Charleston - Great tour and tour guide. Guide was engaging but could be a little hard to understand sometimes and I'm an English speaker. Another stop would have been nice, but realize there were unanticipated roadblocks, plus it was raining earlier in the tour. Would recommend for Charleston first-timers.
Review provided by Viator
Allison_s
Aug 9, 2024
Fantastic - The tour guide was amazing and very knowledgeable. I recommend this tour. Great way to see a little of everything
Review provided by Viator
Carole_b
Jul 29, 2024
90 minute BUS TOUR! Saw all of Charleston. Such a great adventure - Our tour bus driver was awesome! His knowledge and presentation was very interesting. He told the history of Charleston and left nothing out. Saw the whole city.
Review provided by Viator
Donaldmg5799ng
Jul 21, 2024
Great experience! - Probably the best tour we’ve ever taken! Our guide, Al, was knowledgeable, articulate and a veritable font of Charleston information and history. Can’t wait to visit this great city again and take another tour! Don& Donna McGinness
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Suzanne_s
Sep 8, 2024
Nice Tour But Needs Better Instructions - The address given was confusing but thankfully the tour guide called me and gave me directions. The buses line up behind the visitors center, so I would use that address. I didn't know there was a parking garage right at the visitors center, so paid twice as much somewhere else. Bus has AC but it wasn't working too well. It was a good tour for us to see where we wanted to go back to the next day with our car!!
Review provided by Viator
Lynda_d
Sep 25, 2024
A little disappointing. - A little disappointing. The driver was difficult to understand and the air conditioning drowned out his voice. Therefore we missed a lot of the presentation.
Review provided by Viator
440gymn
Aug 18, 2024
Too Warm AC Not Working - The AC was on as high as possible, said the driver. But everyone in our party said the bus was uncomfortably warm the complete 1.5 hr. City Tour. That's just unacceptable for a hot Charleston day. Tour guide was okay. Frankly it's hard to enjoy the tour when you hot & bothered and can't wait to get off the bus. Buyer beware! Somehow make sure the bus AC is "Cool"
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brian
Aug 13, 2024
Better options out there. - Took this tour instead of the carriage tour which is a great way to see and learn about Charleston, just not in August. I was expecting sort of the same experience, just in the comfort of an air-conditioned bus. It was strange to hear that the only thing that has existed in Charleston since pre-revolutionary times was slavery. That was the lesson. Everything was due to slavery or segregation. Nothing about the patriots, just slave owners. Kind of a single-themed tour of Charleston.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tina_c
Sep 19, 2024
Your guide was not easy to understand - The your guide was difficult to understand. We saw a big majority of churches which was not noted on itinerary. We were passsd a few sites before being told to see the experience of it. Sorry but I did not enjoy this tour as I’ve used Viator for many bookings.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
October 2024
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