Gaillard Center
Live Performances, Unforgettable Experiences
Tours & Attractions in Charleston/Downtown
Looking for things to do in Charleston? Why not stand on the site of the first shot in the Civil War? Come face to face with a giant sea turtle. Take a tour of an antebellum mansion. Climb aboard a WWII aircraft carrier. There are so many blossoming gardens, so many photo opportunities and so many reasons to come back to see us again. Please look for those tour companies that are members of the Palmetto Guild Association to ensure you are exploring with a certified tour guide.
Regional Featured Offers
Harbor Cruise Tour & Old South Carriage Tour Combo
A complete view of Charleston by land & sea! Explore historic downtown by horse-drawn carriage with guide (1hr) and harbor cruise & tour (90min). Book this combo and save!
Aiken-Rhett House
City’s most intact antebellum urban complex (c. 1820). Historic interiors, surviving virtually unaltered since 1858, have been conserved & stabilized. Many original objects.
Ft. Sumter Tours/Charleston Strolls Tour Combo
Bulldog Tours and Ft. Sumter Tours offer this exclusive tour combo. Experience a tour of the Fort and our historic walking tour. Two iconic Charleston tours, one great price.
Savor the Flavors of Charleston
Charleston’s original food tour. Walk and taste your way through downtown with our knowledgeable, licensed guide. A perennial favorite tour among first-time and repeat guests.
Gray Line of Charleston
Get the story behind the history by our licensed guides in our new climate controlled buses. Experience over 300 years of Charleston history. Save with our great combo tours!
Haunted Carriage Tour
Charleston’s only Haunted Carriage tour! Ride with Old South Carriage Co to see top landmarks while hearing tales of ghosts & pirates in one of America’s most haunted cities.
South of Broad Houses and Gardens
This 2.5 hour experience offers a history tour combined with curated tours of two South of Broad museum houses and gardens. Only Bulldog Tours offers this unique combination.
South Carolina Aquarium
Encounter thousands of animals, see the Great Ocean Tank and explore the Sea Turtle Care Center™ where endangered sea turtles are rehabilitated for release back to the wild.
Palmetto Carriage Works
The oldest carriage company in the city. Their licensed guides have been driving carriages longer than anyone else. Book in advance to avoid long waits!
Bulldog Tours - Charleston Food Tours
Voted Southern Living’s “Top 5 Tours to Take in Charleston”. You’ll walk, talk, and taste your way through Charleston’s renowned culinary history and culture.
RedFin Charters
Inshore fishing charter - Redfish , Flounder, Speckled Sea Trout, Lady Fish, & Black Drum! Licenses, rods, bait, tackle, ice & water all included. Let's catch some fish!
Charleston Harbor Tours - Private Events
The perfect venue for your next special event. Whether it's sailing on a tall ship, a private dinner cruise on a charter yacht or a social event, we have the perfect vessel!
Nathaniel Russell House
Grand Federal townhouse completed in 1808. Restored interior w/ elaborate ornamentation, period antiques & a magnificent free-flying staircase. Set amid spacious lush gardens.
Charleston Strolls
Featured in Southern Living, NY Times, and AAA, this two-hour tour is the best overview of Charleston’s rich history, culture, antebellum homes, architecture, and gardens.
SpiritLine Cruises - Charleston Harbor Tours
Charleston’s best & only harbor tour narrated in person by a licensed tour guide. Learn the real history aboard this relaxing 90 minute tour. Departs downtown & Mt. Pleasant.
Old South Carriage Company
Charleston’s oldest family-owned carriage company. Millions served, millions delighted since 1983! Certified guides. Beautiful draft horses. Advanced reservations recommended.
Toast the Town Cocktail Tour
Curated cocktails & the history behind them. Visit quaint bars of 3 of our favorite lounges. Learn how this Colonial port city became one of the best places to raise a toast.
Charleston’s African-American History and Heritage Walking Tour
Explore the influence & experience of African Americans in Charleston from the brutality of slavery, through the struggle & oppression after, to the fight for civil rights.
Adventure Sightseeing Tours
Adventure Sightseeing offers Charleston's top rated city bus tours and plantation tours. Let our 30+ years of experience enlighten and entertain in climate controlled comfort
Dark Side of Charleston Walking Tour
Take an uncensored look at Charleston’s true history; a history full of corruption, prostitution, crime, scandal and sordid affairs. This is a fascinating adults only tour.
Charleston Harbor Tours
Celebrating 20+ years on Charleston Harbor! Enjoy our top rated live narrated, harbor of history tour! Tours depart daily, see website for a full schedule & tickets.
Essential Charleston Passport
Discover Charleston’s essential historic and cultural sites while saving nearly 50% off regular admission - with the Essential Charleston Passport! Purchase on-line.
Historic Carriage Tour & Haunted Carriage Tour
Tour Charleston by day and night! Book Old South Carriage Co.’s iconic historic tour and popular haunted tour. Two top-rated horse-drawn carriage tours - one great price.
Historic Charleston Foundation Special Tours
Connoisseur Tours are custom-designed, exclusive tours of Charleston and the Lowcountry for small, private groups. For example: architecture, antiques, history, gardens.
International African American Museum
The International African American Museum explores the history, culture, and impact of the African American journey on Charleston, South Carolina, the nation, and the world.
Beau's Charleston Adventure by Bulldog Tours
Join Beau on an exciting adventure with a fun scavenger hunt for kids & families. Discover hidden treasures throughout the city as you solve clues & have fun along the way.
Schooner Pride
Enjoy a sail on the tall ship, Schooner Pride. One of the top rated things to do in Charleston and a top 10 sunset sail in the US. See the "Holy City" from the water with us.
Adventure Sightseeing Plantation Tours
Enjoy a plantation tour or combination city tour with Charleston's top rated bus tour company. Leave the driving to us! Private and group tours available.
Spiritline Cruises - Private Events
Charleston's most unique venue for private events for over 50 years. From team building to corporate entertainment, use our expertise for your next successful event.
Charleston Princess
Charleston Harbor Tours newest vessel, offering events such as our signature Blues & BBQ Cruise, Wine Down, Holiday Events & more! Available for private charters too!
USS Yorktown Ghost Tour
Get a behind the scenes tour of the aircraft carrier Yorktown, featuring exclusive access to areas of the ship not normally accessible to the public. Price includes admission.
Fort Sumter Tours
Charleston's "must do" - travel back in time by boat & visit Charleston's ONLY National Park with Fort Sumter Tours. Boats depart daily from downtown and Patriots Point.
Customized Charleston Walking Tours by Bulldog Tours
Excited about architecture? Passionate about gardens? Crave culinary history? Bulldog Tours loves customizing private walking tours around your particular passion or need.
Charleston Haunted Jail Tour
Explore the eerie history of the Old City Jail, exclusively offered by Bulldog Tours. Step inside this chilling landmark for spine-tingling tales!
Charleston Ghost & Graveyard Walking Tour
View famous tombstones and explore the streets and alleyways of our haunted Historic District at night while listening to stories of ghosts, haunted houses, and superstitions.
Captain's Tour Aboard the USS Yorktown
Don't miss out on a chance to dive into the depths of the USS Yorktown with an expert guide.
Friends of the Hunley
In 1864 the Hunley became the world’s first successful sub and then vanished. Found and recovered over a century later, you can see this amazing artifact during weekend tours.
Gibbes Museum of Art
With a premier collection of over 10,000 American works, the Gibbes Museum of Art promotes and protects Charleston's rich cultural heritage through a vibrant artistic lens.
Bulldog Tours
Voted "Best Tour Company" for the last decade, Bulldog Tours offers memorable history, food & ghost tours. Visit our headquarters located a block from the City Market.
Charleston Ghost and Dungeon Tour
Bulldog Tours offers exclusive nighttime access to this historically haunted site. Hear chilling stories about the Revolutionary War prisoners and others once jailed here.
Savor the Flavors of Upper King
Taste and see what makes Upper King so distinctive. Sample mouth-watering Lowcountry cuisine from the popular innovators in this ever-evolving restaurant district.
Coastal Expeditions
Charleston’s Best Kayak, Paddleboard and Boat Tours
Haunted History Carriage Tour
Explore Charleston's dark side on this 45 min tour of Charleston. The perfect combination of history and haunted tales, this family-friendly experience is fun for all.
Triple Combo Tour (Charleston Harbor Tours, Carriage & Boone Hall Plantation)
Charleston's most inclusive combination tour! Save time and money when booking the triple combo tour. 90 minute harbor tour, Carriage Tours and Boone Hall Plantation.
Discount Combo tours
Combine our top rated harbor tour with other tours and save! We offer the best discount combo tours in town with carriage, bus, plantation and ghost tours, SC Aquarium & more!
Charleston Harbor Tours & Boone Hall Plantation Combo Tour
Enjoy Charleston's top rated harbor tour and USA Today's top plantation in Charleston with this great combination package. Save time and money by booking the combo tour!
The Charleston Museum
The Museum’s outstanding collection tells the story of the Lowcountry, addressing everything from early southern culture and decorative arts to military and natural history.
Charleston Harbor Tours
Experience top-rated tours and activities
Charleston Pirate Tours - Special Interest
Explore Charleston Pirate and Colonial history with award-winning guides. Evening & daytime Ghost and History tours also offered. Seen on Travel Channel, A&E, Syfy, PBS, NPR.
Charleston Kids Tour
Charleston’s only kids' tour! Treasure hunt with hands-on activities that make history fun! Free souvenirs: inflatable sword, pirate bandana, treasure, balloon parrot, flag!
Fort Sumter National Monument
Situated on an island at the entrance to Charleston Harbor, Fort Sumter is where the American Civil War started on April 12, 1861. The fort is accessible only by boat.
Crafted Travel
Make it epic in Charleston with a drinking tour like no other! Create lasting memories in a one-of-a-kind luxury limo party bus with door-to-door transportation throughout.
South Carolina Historical Society
Located in the historic Fireproof Building, the SCHS Museum showcases more than 350 years of the state's history through the artifacts and records of those who experienced it.
Charleston Pirate Tours
From walking tours to all-day, motorized excursions. Award-winning customized tours cover your interests. Seen on Travel Channel, Lifetime, A&E, Syfy, PBS, Fox Network, & NPR.
Charleston Eccentricities Tour
Charleston has bizarre history that would fit in a Believe It or Not museum! Did an alligator really rain down on the city? Did a priest baptize a bear? And more weird stuff!
Charleston Pirate Tours - Walking Tour
Explore Charleston Pirate and Colonial history with award-winning guides. Evening & daytime Ghost and History tours also offered. Seen on Travel Channel, A&E, Syfy, PBS, NPR.
Edmondston-Alston House
Built in 1825 on Charleston’s High Battery, the house today stewards both the history of two Charleston families, and the enslaved workers who made their lifestyle possible.
Old South Carriage Co.
Historic and Haunted Carriage Tours
Tiki Tours of Charleston
We offer a variety of private and public tours on our 32 passenger party boat, the Friki Tiki. Romantic sunset cruises, groups & corporate parties and more! Welcome aboard.
108 Elemental Tours
Join Charleston’s Best Storytellers for the history & hauntings of one of America’s oldest cities. Night tours include City of the Dead, Myths & Legends, & Spirits Pub Crawl.
34 West Theater Company
Original theater in the heart of Charleston! Enjoy comedies and musicals as you laugh with friends. Fun drinks and bites available. “Completely enchanting” - NYtheatre.com
Avery Research Center for African-American History and Culture
Reading room, archives & scheduled tours. 1990 Carolopolis Award. Beautifully restored facility, site of former Avery School built in 1865. Includes art, historical exhibits.
Carolina Belle
Climb aboard the Carolina Belle to enjoy the beauty of the Charleston Harbor & learn the rich history of the Holy City. On this 90-minute tour, you will see over 75 landmarks!
Carolina Polo & Carriage Company
Owned & operated by native Charlestonians whose families arrived here in the 1600’s. Sights that will leave you breathless and tours that will leave you speechless.
Cathedral of St. John The Baptist
Built between 1890 and 1907. Sat. 5:30pm Vigil Mass | Sun. 9am-Family Mass 11:15am-Solemn Mass with Choir 6pm-Mass | Daily Mass (Mon-Fri) 12:05pm
Charleston Brews Cruise
Experience a taste of Charleston’s flourishing craft beer scene with a Professionally Guided tour of breweries. Hop on the rollicking Brews Cruiser and enjoy the ride!
Charleston Carriage Works
Get ready for an awesome experience! Licensed guides that entertain as well as they educate with beautiful horses and outstanding customer service. Dogs are welcome here!
Charleston City Market
Open M-Su. Built in 1841 to sell produce and meats, it features small shops, restaurants and flea market with everything from produce to antiques.
Charleston Convention & Group Services, Inc.
Licensed & most experienced professional guides in Charleston. Step-on guide service, walking tours, educational programs or customized packages. Bilingual guides available.
Charleston Culinary Tours
Take your taste buds for a stroll to discover the food, history, & culture behind Charleston's storied cuisine. Innovative tours led by passionate locals for lasting memories.
Charleston Private Garden Tour
Historian takes guests to her friends’ private gardens downtown; ends with High Tea served on Cantonware at Charlestonian's home overlooking the Ashley River. 843.708.2228
Charleston Tea Party Private Tour
Historian takes guests by van to her friends’ private gardens; ends with High Tea served on Cantonware at Charlestonian's home overlooking the Ashley River. 843.708.2228
Charleston TourPass
One pass, one price, where admission is included for 30+ top attractions. Includes helpful mobile pass and guide. Choose either a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5-day pass.
CharlestonTours.com
CharlestonTours.com is your one stop web portal for the best tours & events. Harbor tours, sailing excursions, plantation tours and Charleston's best value combination tours.
Charms of Charleston Tours
A locally owned tour service with guides who are Charlestonians that have a great love of this city. Let us show you this beautiful flower that we are so proud of.
Chicora Tours
Charleston’s most upscale plantation tour experience for the history connoisseur. Two beautiful plantation venues are offered. Private tours are available. Book Soon!
Children's Museum of the Lowcountry
Nine hands-on exhibits, including a two-story medieval castle, a pirate ship, and art room. Allow your children to explore the arts, sciences, and humanities through play!
Circular Congregation Church
Open to visitors when tour guides available. Organized in 1681. The Circular Church established the first Sunday School in South Carolina. Sunday services: 8:30am, 11am
Edmund's Oast Brewing Co.
Edmund's Oast Brewing Co. is a 20,000 square foot brewery, restaurant, and taproom produces a variety of beers packaged in cans, bottles, and kegs for wide-reaching wholesale.
First (Scots) Presbyterian Church
Organized in 1731 by Caledonian immigrants. Present church built in 1841, displaying the seal of the Church of Scotland in window over main entrance. Sunday 8:45am and 11:15am
First Baptist Church
Sunday services: 8:45am worship 9:45am Bible school 11am worship 6:30pm vesper service. First Baptist Church is the oldest Baptist Church in the South, founded in 1682.
Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square
This National Park Service site is the primary departure point for visitors to Fort Sumter. Exhibits provide an overview of events leading up to the Civil War. Free admission.
Friends of Charleston National Parks
As the official philanthropic partner, the Friends group works to provide support for the National Parks in Charleston through education, advocacy, and preservation.
Grace Church Cathedral (Episcopal)
Built in 1846, Grace Church Cathedral has one of the four English Changing Ringing (bell ringing) towers in the city. Tours may be arranged in advance.
Gullah Geechee Africa
Native Gullah historian teaching Unspoken Black African American Slave History "da Root" of Charleston’s politics, religion & Slavery.
Gullah Tours
Explore the sites relevant to the culture & traditions of the African-Americans history in Charleston. Given by a Gullah speaking Charlestonian whose ancestors were slaves.
Hampton Park
A historic park with camellias and azaleas in bloom in spring, roses bloom in the summer; 1-mile nature trail.
Heyward-Washington House
Charleston's Revolutionary War house was the townhome of Thomas Heyward, Jr., signer of the Declaration of Independence, and now features remarkable Charleston-made furniture.
High Wire Distilling
We make premium, handcrafted, small batch spirits including gins, rums, whiskeys and vodkas using premium, specialized ingredients. Tours and tastings Wednesday-Saturday.
Historic Charleston Battery/Whitepoint Gardens
This peaceful park offers unprecedented views of Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter. A look back across the street promises fantastic images of beautiful Charleston mansions.
Historic Charleston Supper Club
Eat like our Founding Fathers and even Pirates did at the Colonial Tavern Table, all at a National Historic Landmark with a museum visit. Pair with your favorite walking tour.
In the Kitchen With Chef Bob Waggoner
Charleston's only hands - on cooking classes with a celebrity chef! Learn, dine & laugh while cooking with the best products Charleston has to offer (wines included)!
Joseph Manigault House
Built in 1803, the Joseph Manigault House is an exceptional example of Federal period architecture with a remarkable collection of early 19th century furnishings.
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue
Offering tours, Judaic gift shop and museum. The fourth oldest synagogue in the US and the oldest in continuous use. The birthplace of American Reform Judaism in 1824.
Lowcountry History Strolls
Walk back through time where history lives and every step tells a story. Take an insider’s tour of what makes Charleston unique! Call Karen 843-327-3319 to curate your visit.
Lowcountry Oyster Co.
Lowcountry Oyster Company is South Carolina's number one source for sustainable shellfish and the best shuckin' oysters on the Atlantic Coast!
Magnolia Cemetery
Oldest cemetery in Charleston, founded in 1849 on the banks of the Cooper River, inhabited by generations of southern leaders. On the National Register of Historic Places.
Morris Brown AME Church
Morris Brown was a pastor who escaped hanging from the Denmark Vessey slave rebellion. Continues a tradition of community involvement & social action. Sunday 8am service
Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church
In 1791, the Free African Society was formed as the Bethel Circuit. Reorganized in 1865 and present building erected in 1891. Oldest AME church in the south. Sunday 9:30am
Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church
First brick church building owned by Blacks in Charleston. The 54th & 55th Massachusetts regiments worshiped here while stationed in Charleston. Service: Sun-10am 843.722.8118
Museum Mile
Mile long corridor stretches along Meeting Street from Visitor Center to the Nathaniel Russell House. Comprehensive array of historical and cultural attractions in Charleston.
Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
Built in 1771, American Patriots were held prisoner here during the War of Americas' Independence. One of the 3 most historically significant buildings of colonial America.
Old Slave Mart Museum
Learn the story of Charleston's role in this inter-state slave trade by focusing on the history of this particular building & site and the slave sales that occurred here.
Old Town Trolley Tours
Don’t Just Visit Charleston…Relive It! 90 min. narrated tour with history, lore, & legends. Departs daily at Visitor Center. Propane green fleet. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
Philip Simmons Foundation, Inc.
Established in 1991 by the Vestry of St. John’s Reformed Episcopal Church to develop and maintain a commemorative garden and preserve the legacy of the master craftsman.
Pineapple Tour Group
Expert Guides; Luxury Bus with AC: In Charleston, hospitality is our custom & history is our culture. Our tours create moments that become the memories that will last forever.
Postal Museum
Charleston’s postal history. The Post Office Building circa 1896 at Meeting & Broad is the oldest continuously operated post office in the Carolinas.
Saint John's Lutheran Church
Mother church of Lutherans in SC. Founded by German immigrants in 1734. Originally built in 1759 and replaced in 1817. Handicapped accessible on Sunday, weekdays by request.
Saint Mark's Episcopal Church
Founded Easter Day, 1865 WEEKLY SERVICE: Sunday Holy Eucharist 10:00 a.m.
Saint Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church
Oldest Catholic Parish in the southeastern United States. Established in 1789. Sunday Mass - 9am | Weekday Masses are 8am Mon-Th.
Saltwater Cycle Party Boats
Experience the most fun way to get out and enjoy the water’s of the Lowcountry on Charleston’s best Cycle boat and Tiki boat.
Sandlapper Water Tours
Come and explore Morris Island and go shelling with our naturalist. Learn while exploring Charleston’s Harbor marine life. 45 ft. Catamaran, USCG-certified for 49 people.
Sites & Insights Tours
Explore Charleston's Black history and Gullah/Geechee culture from a Black perspective in our 1, 2 & 2 1/2 hour motorized Black History, Porgy & Bess and Sea Islands Tours.
Southern Accent Tours
All tours conducted by the owner.We offer the best prices in town. Free pickup at Mt. Pleasant & Isle of Palms and for parties of 10 or more from anywhere downtown.
St. Johannes Lutheran Church
Open to visitors M-Th 10-4. “An architectural gem in the heart of historic Ansonborough”, built in 1842. Current congregation was founded in 1878 and conducted worship in German until 1910. In 1913 the Art Memorial Stained Glass Windows were dedicated.
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
Founded in 1840. Open for tours from 11am - 3pm every weekday with a trained docent. Services - Sunday 8:30am and 11am.
St. Michael's Church
Oldest church built in the city. Built in 1761. George Washington worshipped here during his tour of the South in 1791. Different services all week.
St. Philip’s Church
Estab. in 1670. Mother Church of the Province and known as the lighthouse. Famous historical figures buried here. Services Su 8:15am and 10:30am | Morning Prayer: Wed. 8am
The Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul
One of oldest two Episcopal / Anglican Cathedrals in US. Su 7:45am-Holy Eucharist 9:15am-Contemporary Eucharist 11am-Choral Eucharist | M-F 8:30am-Morning Prayer
The Charleston Library Society
Paved the way for the founding of the College of Charleston in 1770. Providing core collection of artifacts for the founding of the Charleston Museum.
The Citadel Museum
Museum portrays the history of the school from 1842 to present with photographs, uniforms and archival documents. Dress Parade at 3:45pm every Friday during the academic year.
The College of Charleston
Founded in 1770, the first municipal college in America was built in 1724. Present main building designed by eminent Philadelphia architect William Strickland, built 1828.
The Confederate Museum
Market Hall was built in 1841. Since 1898, the Daughters of the Confederacy has operated the Confederate Museum, which contains flags, uniforms, swords and other memorabilia.
The French Protestant (Huguenot) Church
Current church built in 1844-45. French Huguenots, starting in 1687, fleeing France to avoid religious persecution, were worshipping in a church on this site. Sunday- 10:30am
The Historic Dock Street Theatre
“America’s First Theatre,” home to Spoleto Festival USA, Moja Arts Festival and Charleston Stage, the theatre company in residence presenting a full season of plays each year.