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Tours/Charleston/Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks

Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks

5.0(45)Charleston1 hour
VIATOR5.0(8)TRIPADVISOR5.0(37)
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
+10 photos
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks

Description

Step into Charleston’s past on a small-group walking tour led by a local Charleston guide. Explore cobblestone streets and hidden alleyways while hearing stories spanning the city’s colonial era, the Civil War, and its ongoing preservation efforts. Discover Charleston’s iconic landmarks, elegant mansions, historic churches, colorful homes, and atmospheric graveyards. Depending on availability, your tour may include entry to 1–3 historic sites, including churches and theaters that remain active and in use by their congregations and communities. See landmarks such as Rainbow Row, The Battery, Washington Square, the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, and Dock Street Theatre while gaining a deeper understanding of the people, events, and architecture that shaped Charleston. What makes this experience special is the combination of local insight, engaging storytelling, historic architecture, and the opportunity to experience the interiors of select historic sites when available.

Tour Options

Historic Charleston Walking Tour: History & Landmarks

Itinerary

10 min

Explore Washington Square, a peaceful historic park shaded by beautiful live oaks in the heart of Charleston. Discover the statues, monuments, and stories that reflect the city’s rich and complex history.

5 min

See Fort Sumter from Charleston’s waterfront and learn about its pivotal role in American history as the site where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. The tour views the fort from afar; guests can visit independently.

5 min

Discover Charleston’s famous Four Corners of Law, where four historic buildings represent local, state, federal, and church authority. Learn how this unique intersection reflects Charleston’s history and the city’s distinctive character.

5 min

Admire Charleston’s iconic Rainbow Row, a collection of colorful historic homes and one of the city’s most photographed streets. Learn about the history and architecture behind these distinctive pastel-colored buildings.

5 min

Discover St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, one of Charleston’s most historic places of worship. Learn about its role in the city’s religious and cultural history and admire its distinctive architecture.

5 min

Discover the French Huguenot Church, a historic Charleston landmark and one of the oldest Huguenot congregations in the United States. Learn about the French Protestant community and its important place in Charleston’s history.

10 min

Discover the historic Dock Street Theatre, widely recognized as the site of America’s first purpose-built theater. Learn about Charleston’s rich theatrical traditions and the building’s role in the city’s cultural history.

5 min

Step into Charleston’s history at the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, one of the city’s most important historic landmarks. Learn about its role in the American Revolution, Charleston’s colonial past, and the stories connected to this remarkable building.

5 min

Enjoy beautiful views of Charleston Harbor at Waterfront Park, a peaceful green space in the heart of the historic district. Take in the waterfront scenery while learning about the area’s history and its connection to Charleston’s past.

5 min

Learn about Charleston’s history and the legacy of slavery at the Old Slave Mart Museum. Explore an important and difficult chapter of the city’s past and gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and resilience of enslaved people.

10 min

Walk along Charleston’s historic Battery, a scenic waterfront promenade offering views of Charleston Harbor, historic artillery, and grand mansions. Learn about the area’s strategic importance and its role in the city’s history.

5 min

Explore Charleston’s historic French Quarter, known for its charming cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, historic churches, and centuries of fascinating history. Learn how this vibrant district helped shape the story of Charleston.

Highlights

2-hour guided walking tour of Charleston’s Historic District
Small-group experience
Professional local historian and tour guide
Entry to 1–3 historic sites, subject to availability

What's included

Included
2-hour guided walking tour of Charleston’s Historic District
Small-group experience
Professional local historian and tour guide
Entry to 1–3 historic sites, subject to availability
Not included
Gratuities

Traveller Ratings

5.0
45 reviews
5
44
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0

Important Information

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Reviews(45)

W
winnie218
September 4, 2026
Wonderful experience, thanks Eric!

I really enjoyed my time on the walking tour with Eric. He is so knowledgeable about the history of Charleston and knowing I am from Maryland he was able to tie in pertinent details and make connections. I really enjoyed all of the interesting architectural facts as well as his emphasis on all of the important roles the European and Island settlers made in the conception of the city as well as his high lighting the importance of the African enslaved peoples in building and maintaining The city. I did not know that Charleston was a leading rice grower prior to the Industrial Revolution- so many interesting tid bits. Thanks so much, Eric! I can’t wait to take this with my husband the next time we visit.

J
Jamie_N
September 4, 2026
Super interesting open ended walking tour

Eric was awesome. He knows so much about Charleston’s history and the History of the country in general which made for very interesting conversations. The tour was casual with room for lots of questions and tangents, which I really enjoyed. I would definitely do it again the next time I come back.

P
purplesneakers
January 3, 2026
A really good way to kick off our visit

We did the Charleston walking tour with Eric from Free Tours by Foot early in our visit, and it turned out to be a really great way to start our time in the city. Eric was knowledgeable and easy to listen to, and the tour felt well paced and thoughtfully put together. We came away with a much better understanding of Charleston and its history, plus useful local context that shaped the rest of our trip. I’d happily recommend this tour to family and friends.

Operator response

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We're delighted to hear that Eric helped make your Charleston visit off to such a great start. It's wonderful to know the tour gave you a deeper understanding of the city's history and provided helpful local insights for the rest of your trip. Your recommendation means a great deal to everyone at Free Tours by Foot, and we hope to welcome you on another tour in the future!

A
Allison S
November 18, 2025
Excellent walking tour

Erik provided an excellent tour of historic Charleston. He is very knowledgeable and was great with questions. It was a small group and we were able to see specific places of interest to us. Highly recommend!

Operator response

Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad you enjoyed exploring historic Charleston with Erik. His knowledge, engaging style, and willingness to tailor the experience to guests' interests help make every tour memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and thank you for choosing Free Tours by Foot. We hope to welcome you back for another tour in the future!

B
Brenda H
October 26, 2025
Eric Wright was a great walking tour guide!

Our guide, Eric Wright, asked our group where we were from and other questions. He tailored our tour to how we responded. We had an amazing tour with so much information. After the tour, Eric also gave us recommendations for restaurants and other places to see. We were greatly impressed!

Operator response

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had such an amazing tour with Eric. He loves getting to know his guests and tailoring each tour to make it as engaging and memorable as possible. We're also glad his local recommendations helped you make the most of your time in Charleston. Thank you for choosing Free Tours by Foot, and we hope to welcome you back on another tour in the future!

A
Aaron_P
October 12, 2025
Great experience

Great tour guide. Interesting information. Even in the rain it was worth it. Highly recommended. Bring good walking shoes.

Operator response

Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour and found it interesting, even with the rainy weather. It's great to hear it was still well worth the walk! Thank you for your recommendation and for the helpful tip about comfortable walking shoes. We appreciate you choosing Free Tours by Foot and hope to welcome you back on another tour in the future!

M
Michelle_Y
September 8, 2025
Great tour!!

Eric was very knowledgeable. We learned so much from him. He was very friendly, answered all our questions and tied historical events together.

Operator response

Thanks for sharing! Glad Eric made the tour informative and enjoyable for you.

M
MIKE_M
July 19, 2025
Wonderful tour of Charleston

Knowledgeable tour guide, in an historic city. His general depth of knowledge regarding the area’s history and architecture made the stories really interesting.

Operator response

Thank you! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour and appreciated your guide’s depth of knowledge—it really brings the city’s history and architecture to life!

R
Rod_M
June 12, 2025
It was a leisurely pace....

It was a leisurely pace. Erik was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and patient. Well worth the time and money.

Operator response

Thanks for the lovely feedback! So glad you enjoyed the relaxed pace and Erik’s insight—he’ll be happy to hear it was worth your time!

K
kimsS6159RX
June 6, 2025
Great intro to Charleston!

I love this tour in Charleston. Diana made everyone feel welcome and as if we were hanging out with local friends. She was able to bring us into a few churches and gave us great recommendations for where to eat after. It was a really enjoyable introduction to the city.

Operator response

Thanks so much for sharing! We're thrilled you had such a warm and welcoming experience with Diana—she’ll love hearing this. Sounds like a perfect start to exploring Charleston!

$39/ person
5.0(45)
Duration1 hour
LanguagesEN
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
Travellers1–15 pax
ConfirmationInstant
OperatorCharleston by Foot
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