Step back into the shadows of the 1920s, when Charleston was a city of contradictions—charming on the surface, rebellious underneath. On the Speakeasy Sagas Pub Crawl, you’ll walk the very streets where bootleggers dodged federal agents, secret bars buzzed behind locked doors. During Prohibition, alcohol was outlawed—but in Charleston, the party never really stopped. This wasn’t just a city of Southern charm and steeples. It was a city of hidden rooms, rumrunners, and lawmen who conveniently looked the other way. From elegant society scandals to rowdy waterfront crime, this tour reveals the untold story of Charleston’s wild side. Along the way, stop at hand-picked pubs where you can enjoy your favorite modern cocktails (not included in tour price) in the Holy City with a refusal to stay dry.
In demand: 30 of the next 60 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Step back into the roaring 1920s, when Charleston was a hotbed of bootleggers, speakeasies, and federal raids. On this spirited pub crawl, we’ll uncover the city’s wild Prohibition-era past—starting with the imposing U.S. Customs House, once a stronghold in the fight against illegal liquor. From whispered deals on the docks to hidden bottles behind bar counters, you’ll explore how Charleston danced around the law—and raised a glass anyway. Cheers to rebellion, rumrunners, and the city that never stayed dry.
While best known for its soaring steeple and sacred history, St. Philip’s Church played a quieter role during Prohibition—as a rumored lookout point and meeting spot in the Holy City’s underground world of bootleggers and backroom deals. Just steps from where the law preached temperance, locals whispered about hidden stashes and secret sips. In a city where sacred met scandal, St. Philip’s stood at the crossroads of faith, folklore, and forbidden spirits.
High Cotton, a beautifully restored former bank building in Charleston’s Historic District, is where elegance, wealth, and rebellion once collided. Named after the Southern phrase “living on high cotton,” this landmark reflects the prosperity of Charleston’s cotton-trade era and the lavish lifestyle of the city’s elite. But beneath the refined atmosphere lies a more controversial story. Local legend connects the building to the fiery temperance activist Carry A. Nation, famous for storming saloons with a hatchet during her crusade against alcohol in the early 1900s.
Rudy Royale reflects a spirited history but behind its modern Southern charm lies a connection to one of the most controversial periods in American history - Prohibition. During the era of the 18th Amendment, when the sale and production of alcohol became illegal across the United States from 1920 to 1933, Charleston’s bars and backrooms transformed into hidden speakeasies where liquor continued to flow despite federal law. Charleston remains a city that resisted quietly, celebrates loudly, and keeps its spirits full behind closed doors.
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For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Speakeasy Sagas - Charleston Prohibition Pub Crawl lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 4 stops.
Prices start at $35 per person for this Charleston experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 4:00 PM and 4:30 PM.
It can: 30 of the next 60 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Your guide will be waiting for you on the steps of the U.S. Custom House, on the East Bay Street side. Please note that this is the back entrance of the Custom House. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Wheelchair accessible
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.5 out of 5 across 207 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Revelry Tours of Charleston.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Our tour guide Vannah was amazing!!! So knowledgeable and passionate about Charleston history. She went above and beyond to provide a thorough, authentic, enjoyable tour. It flew by, we could have been out drinking and learning all day! I recommend to anyone visiting Charleston, even if you have just a short 2-hour window.
Meet some great people on this tour and guide was very knowledgeable, only negative was we only went to two pubs/taverns and as tour is sold as a pub crawl I would have expected to have at least visited several more.
Marco was great and very knowledgeable. The tour was really enjoyable and the other participants were so much fun.
The worst experience I have ever had with tour company. We walked to the first bar. It was closed. The guide takes us to a liquor store and talks for 20 minutes in 86 degree weather. We walked to the next bar and it was also closed. So he decides to take us to the rooftop bar next, but before that he wanted to sit under a tree to give us his speech. None of this was part of the tour. It took 4 stops before we got to the rooftop bar and were able to get water. We were all drenched in sweat and thirsty. At the rooftop bar the guide said we would spend one hour while he continued his speech and then go to the next bar to check if it was open. There was no information about landmarks or speakeasy bars. The information on this tour is misleading and I do NOT recommend. I left after 45 minutes because it was excruciatingly hot at the rooftop bar and I was ready to pass out. This provider has refused to refund my money. I have tried multiple times to reach out and I even contacted Viator. I feel like I can’t trust either company again if this is how customers are treated.
Great tour! Marco is a wealth of fun and knowledge. His command of the history of Charleston mixed in with the ambiance and vibe of all the local taverns, bars, and speakeasys we visited was exceptional! Highly recommend :-)
So fun seeing the bars and hearing the stories behind them. My advice to others is don’t be late. Each location is limited and when part of the group is late it can mess with the experience of the others.
We really liked Kendel. She was very knowledgeable and fun! She tooks us to some fun bars and recommend some good drinks!
Great tour, Vanna was great, very informative and entertaining. The history of this time period is very interesting
Loved Vanna's presentation, she had great stories to tell and was very animated in telling them. Highly recommend this tour.
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed Vanna’s presentation and her animated storytelling. She’ll be so happy to know her stories made the tour memorable and earned your recommendation. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again for another great night in Charleston!
Our tour was very fun and interesting. Our guide was very entertaining! Learned the many secrets of Prohibition.
Thank you for the great review! We’re so glad you had such a fun time and enjoyed learning more about Prohibition along the way. It’s wonderful to hear your guide kept the tour entertaining and interesting. Thanks for joining us!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speakeasy Sagas - Charleston Prohibition Pub Crawl | 2 hours | 4.5 (207) | $35 | |
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