Discover Charleston: Historic District, Plantations & Beaches

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Begin at one of the oldest public markets in America, stretching four blocks between Meeting Street and East Bay Street. Established in the 1790s, the market is famous for Gullah sweetgrass basket weavers who carry on a centuries-old West African tradition. Browse local artisan goods and sample pralines.

   30 min

2. Walk to East Bay Street to see the most photographed spot in Charleston — a row of thirteen colorful Georgian townhouses dating to the 1740s. These pastel facades were originally merchants' shops with living quarters above. The vibrant colors are said to have helped sailors identify their homes from the harbor.

   1 h

3. Stroll through this beautifully landscaped park along the Cooper River waterfront. The iconic Pineapple Fountain, a symbol of Southern hospitality, anchors the park. Swinging benches, palmetto palms, and harbor views make this one of the most relaxing spots in the city.

   1 h

4. Walk the promenade along the seawall at the southern tip of the peninsula, where Civil War cannons and monuments dot a shaded park of massive live oaks. Grand antebellum mansions line the street, and views stretch across the harbor to Fort Sumter and Sullivan's Island.

   1 h

5. Tour this impeccably restored 1808 Federal-style mansion on Meeting Street, considered one of the finest neoclassical houses in America. Its famous free-flying staircase spirals three stories without any visible support. The house museum reveals the lives of both the wealthy Russell family and the enslaved people who maintained the household.

   Passes by

6. Stand before Charleston's oldest church, completed in 1761 at the corner of Meeting and Broad Streets, known as the Four Corners of Law. Its towering 186-foot steeple has served as a landmark for ships entering the harbor for over 260 years. George Washington worshipped here during his 1791 Southern tour.

   1 h

7. Visit the only known building still standing in the United States that was used as a slave auction gallery. Located on Chalmers Street, this small but powerful museum tells the story of Charleston's role as the largest slave trading port in North America, where nearly half of all enslaved Africans entered the country.

   Passes by

8. View Fort Sumter from the harbor waterfront, where Confederate batteries opened fire on the Union-held fort on April 12, 1861, beginning the American Civil War. Interpretive markers along the Battery explain the bombardment. Ferry tours to the island fort depart from nearby Liberty Square.

   1 h

9. Stroll along Charleston's premier shopping and dining corridor, stretching from the Visitor Center to The Battery. Upper King is known for restaurants and nightlife, Middle King for fashion boutiques, and Lower King for antiques. The street showcases beautiful 19th-century commercial architecture throughout.

   30 min

10. Cross the Cooper River to Mount Pleasant and visit the USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier turned floating museum. The ship saw action in the Pacific Theater and now houses exhibits on naval aviation, Medal of Honor recipients, and a Vietnam War experience exhibit with a full-scale support base.

    Passes by

11. End your tour at one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders in the Lowcountry. This Southern live oak on Johns Island is estimated to be 400 to 500 years old, with branches stretching 187 feet across and a canopy that shades nearly 17,000 square feet. Standing beneath it is a humbling experience.

    1 h

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 1 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Charleston

• Its from-price is 99% below the median of the 11 day trips we list in Charleston.
• It is longer than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 6 of 11.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Charleston

Charleston is a South Carolina port city of pastel row houses, cobbled lanes, church steeples, Gullah culture and Lowcountry cooking.

Charleston was settled in 1670 and grew on a peninsula between the Ashley and Cooper rivers, and it is one of the best-preserved colonial-era cities in the United States. Rainbow Row, thirteen pastel Georgian houses on East Bay Street, is the best-known sight. The Battery, a seafront promenade with old cannon and oak-shaded White Point Garden, looks out to Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired in 1861. The city is nicknamed the Holy City for its many church steeples.

Top-ranked sights in Charleston: Charleston City Market, Rainbow Row, Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon.

See all 319 experiences in Charleston