Highlights of Charleston Guided Walking Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

2 hours

Mobile ticket

Our two hour Highlights of Charleston walking tour guides guests through the historic French Quarter and South of Broad neighborhoods of downtown Charleston. Along the way, your guide will describe the long history, unique culture, architecture, and geography of Charleston and the greater lowcountry area, painting a detailed picture of how Charleston's tumultuous past formed the city now beloved by travelers the world over. You'll view some of the city's oldest houses of worship, burial sites, theaters, the forts of Charleston harbor, and the antebellum mansions that look out across the waters of the Cooper and Ashley rivers, among many other historic and picturesque sites. Our guides also offer their expert advice on other activities, restaurants, and bars for guests to explore once they've finished their tour.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Guests are responsible for bringing their own sun protection (sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, parasols) and rain gear

We HIGHLY recommend guests bring bottled water. It is not always available for purchase on the route

We ask guests to check in at the meeting location 5-10 mins prior to tour time. We cannot hold for latecomers.

Cancellation Policy

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

What To Expect

St. Philip's Church

View the historic church of the longest-meeting congregation in Charleston.

10 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

French Huguenot Church

View the only church of its denomination in North America

10 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Tour Guide

Not included in your ticket price are any parking fees if you choose to drive to your tour. Gratuity is optional, but gratefully accepted.

Options

Highlights tour

Reviews

4.92

2,213 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

2122

Wonderful tour
zacharybB1418HH,,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Bill was a fantastic tour guide, incredibly knowledgeable and gave a great big picture overview and also could dig into the details. We appreciated his willingness to address any topic, and do it with honesty and skill.
Amazing tour guide
jacquelinedB1870QJ,,Feb 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Outstanding, enlightening experience! Bill had amazing, comprehensives knowledge and communicated extraordinarily well.
Amazing, informative and insightful historic tour!
Z5000GKkevinm,,Feb 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had the best tour ever! Bill's (our tour guide) depth of knowledge, passion for history and sense of humor provided great context and insight into "all things Charleston". This tour kept us thinking and talking long after the walk ended. We are grateful, and highly recommend this tour whether it's your 1st visit to Charleston or your 100th!
Charleston what you didn’t know.
X2094PZmattl,,Feb 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent guide. Very knowledgeable.
We made the right choice!
Fly366,,Feb 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We chose this tour because it had more stops than others, and the reviews had high praise for the guide(s). Our guide, Bill, was beyond excellent. We appreciated that at the start of the tour he asked the group members what we hoped to learn from our tour, and he incorporated that into his prepared information. His depth of knowledge and his passion for the history of Charleston was impressive.
Excellent historical review of Charleston with powerful perspective!
B1034KVsusanh,,Feb 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I love history and know a lot about Charleston so it was refreshing to bring my friend to this excellent tour. Bill’s knowledge and willingness to debunk myths was really eye opening. I feel like I learned a lot, which I always seem to do, on this tour. Thanks Bill!
Well informed and experienced guide makes all the difference!
Rachel J,,Feb 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Interesting tour! Guide was particularly knowledgeable of local history and we learned a lot about architecture, Southern lore and local preservation efforts.
Enriching
Helen L,,Feb 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
A fantastic fully engaged guide offering a grand historical perspective based on the groups understanding and goals. We fully felt like we left with a full understanding of the history, culture, and modern preservation of the city.
Bill is THE man
Meghan V,,Feb 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Let me tell you: Bill, the tour guide, IS the attraction. The dude is smart, hilarious, and down to earth. He felt like a cross between Vince Vaughn and Seinfeld’s David Puddy to me. We appreciated hearing his musings and the wealth of history he has stored in his noggin. He also seems to know everyone in town and was like Charleston’s own sim - I even ran into himself on the empty streets of the city the next morning. 10/10 would recommend. Thank you Bill!
Best walking tour ever
Bruce S,,Jan 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Bill is a charismatic, knowledgeable, opinionated, and friendly guide. This was the most entertaining walking tour we’ve ever been on, and we’ve been on a lot. You’ll learn a lot about Charleston and a lot about Bill, which we found equally fascinating. Highly recommended.