Highlights of Charleston: Historic Walking Tour

Immerse yourself in Charleston’s rich history and stunning architecture on our two-hour guided walking tour. Explore the French Quarter and South of Broad neighborhoods, visit historic sites, and discover hidden gems.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 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…
What's Included
  • Experienced local tour guide
  • Comprehensive city exploration
What's Not Included
  • Not included in your ticket price are any parking fees if you choose to drive to your tour. Gratuity is optional, but gratefully accepted.
Additional Information

The Highlights of Charleston walking tour, which lasts two hours, takes participants on an engaging journey through the historic French Quarter and South of Broad districts in downtown Charleston. As you explore, your guide will provide rich information about the profound history, distinctive culture, appealing architecture, and relevant geography of…

Location
200 E Bay St
East Bay Street
We'll meet on the East Bay Street staircase of the U.S. Customs House, at East Bay Street and South Market street, directly across East Bay Street from the City Market. We recommend guests park at 1 Cumberland Street or 89 Cumberland Street. Both are ~5 minute walk from our tour meeting point.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(2007 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Arrivewith5
Nov 23, 2019
Insightful beyond description - Many of the opinions expressed in other reviews truly expressed deep insights provided by Bill. The tour left you with a deeper knowledge of broader US history and important role of Charleston. If I was movie director researching a historic piece on Charleston, I would start with this tour as the places, culture, and history are interwoven to tell a lasting historically-accurate story that captures essence of the times across multiple generations. If you are type of person that wants to see ever last site and house in town, this tour is probably not for you. Also, I would anticipate that other participates of tour may significantly impact content as tour is customized based on interests/views of group. We got lucky- if booking in busy season may consider private tour to optimize experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Zboni
Nov 16, 2019
Very Interesting City - We took the Highlights of Charleston tour with Palmer and she was delightful! She knew so much about the history of the city and kept it very interesting. It was a great walking tour and after eating so much of Charleston's fantastic food, we certainly needed the 2 hour walk! I highly recommend this tour and especially recommend Palmer!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alisac312
Nov 9, 2019
A perfect introduction to Charleston that was very entertaining and educational. - Bill's delivery, knowledge, and humor make for a wonderful experience. Do not hesitate to book this tour; you won't regret it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Penny
Oct 19, 2019
GREAT! - Bill was our guide. His passion for Charleston and what he does made for a great tour. Entertaining and educational. I will suggest this tour to friend in the future.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Boomerev
Oct 10, 2019
Awesome Orientation to Charleston - Two years ago my husband and I did this walking tour and I repeated it with my sister this week. I’ve copied my review from 2017 as the tour is still the same. My husband and I were delighted to be part of a tour led by Bill. He is very knowledgable on many subjects, engaging, informative and passionate about the city and its history. He relates well to people and presents information in a way that everyone can understand and remember. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mamabasil
Oct 9, 2019
Bill Harris is a Charleston gem!! - Right from the start, Bill Harris captured our full attention and kept it for over 2 hours!! At first glance, he is this handsome, blue eyed tour guy, but he’s soooo much more!! He is a captivating + engaging speaker, who is passionate about Charleston!! He is a brilliant man and a true historian filled with a wealth of knowledge!! He is truly devoted to sharing correct information to all!! You will be entranced with his charm and down to earth Soulfulness!! He was even wonderful with our 11 year old daughter, patiently answering all her questions and encouraging her to continue her curiosity. Do not look any further ... Bill is truly the best tour guide ever!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vacationlover1508
Sep 21, 2019
Great tour - We lucked out and got a private tour with Palmer . She was very knowledgeable and gave us a wealth of information about Charleston as we walked the beautiful streets. We totally enjoyed the tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mary
Aug 26, 2019
A historic walk in Charleston - Our guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. We truly enjoyed the historic walk in Charleston. The walking tour lasted two hours and really captured the importance of Charleston. I would highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Endhome
Aug 16, 2019
Informative Tour - Coach, our tour guide and retired teacher, did an excellent job. It is the most comprehensive tour we have had of Charleston. This walking tour was much more detailed than the carriage rides and bus tours we have done in the past. We would have enjoyed another two hours just to see more of the Holy City and learn more from Coach. Allow 2.5 hours for this walking tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shdel
Aug 8, 2019
Historic, Informative and Enjoyable - My first trip to Charleston and needed to learn about this gorgeous city. With so many tour choices, I decided on this tour as the reviews were so good. And they were correct. Palmer was so knowledgable on so many areas and showed me some hidden gems and information. She was flexible and went above and beyond recommending restaurants and activities I could do around Charleston. additionally she was a fully certified guide which gave me confidence on what I was learning about. It was a wonderful informative introduction to Charleston which encouraged me to really learn about this special place. Highly recommend this tour and Palmer.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $23
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).