The Top 5 Must-Do Activities in Charleston
Charleston is a major destination for travelers and as a result there are a lot of different tours and activities to be found. With so many different options it can be tough to choose where to go and what to do. Whether you’re interested in being out on the water, checking out the amazing culinary scene, or learning about the history - paranormal or not - of this beautiful we’ll help you narrow it down on the best of the best.
Before we begin, it’s important to note that this list is in no particular order. Everyone has different interests, so instead of giving you a listicle, we’re just going to share the top 5 tour-types that Charleston has to offer. Depending on how long you plan to spend in the Holy City you can do some, or maybe even all that this Southern gem has to offer. With that said, let’s dive in!
Carriage Tours
Easily one of the most popular tours offered in Charleston, we can’t recommend this one enough. You’ll travel by a horse drawn carriage through the historic streets of Charleston learning about the storied past of this beautiful Southern city.
First you’ll have the option of choosing a public or private carriage ride. Private rides are a great way to cut down on the number of people in your carriage, creating for a more personal feel. These tours take place in a vis-a-vis (face-to-face) carriage which fits a maximum of 4 guests. It’s a wonderful option, but it comes with an added cost (around $300 for the whole group). The tour types offered usually fall into 3 different categories - historic, architectural, or ghost/haunted tours. Depending on the interests of you and your group, you can pick whatever you find most appealing
Public carriage rides are the other option, and you’ll see these taking place all of the Holy City during your stay. They are substantially more affordable at $45 per adult, and $35 per child, and offer the same great themes that are available on the private tours. These carriages can hold up to 16 people, and feature bench seating where everyone on the tour faces the same direction.
One of the most important elements of these tours is the guide. A charismatic, knowledgeable guide can be the difference between a good tour and a great tour. To help make things even easier, we’ve curated a selection of carriage tours from one of the best companies in Charleston - Carolina Polo and Carriage Co.
Courtesy of Carolina Polo & Carriage Co.
Food Tours
Charleston is known for its culinary scene, and for good reason - its a rich tapestry that reflects the city’s cultural heritage and its evolution over 300+ years. The city has been featured on a variety of different programs, like Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown and Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives to name a few. Known for delicacies like She-crab (a creamy soup made from crab roe and crab meat) and its Lowcountry boil (a one-pot meal featuring shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes) there is almost always an emphasis placed on locally sourced food and fresh ingredients.
Trying to pick where to go and what to eat can be daunting - there are almost too many places to choose from! So why not lean on local knowledge instead? When you go on a food tour, you’ll be taken to a collection of different restaurants throughout the area where you’ll be able to not only sample the delicious options available, but you’ll learn about the history of Charleston and its food scene.
This allows you to indulge in a variety of different meals without having too spend too much time thinking about where to go. This will also help set you up for the rest of your trip as you’ll have a better idea of what is available throughout this beautiful city.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of some of the best food tours that the city has to offer - and best of all, they’re all bookable online!
Courtesy of Bulldog Tours
History Tours in the Holy City
Charleston is a story rich in history and lore, with its origins dating back to 1663 when King Charles II gifted the chartered Province of Carolinas to his friends and allies known as Lords Proprietors. This is also where the city gets its namesake - Charles Towne, in honor of King Charles II. In the years that followed the area saw many skirmishes and battles with local indigenous tribes - notably the Cusabo and Westo. Charleston was a major hub for the slave trade during the 1700s. The first shots of the American Civil War were aimed at Fort Sumter, just off the coast of the city.
There’s a lot of information to digest, and what better way to do it than going on a walking tour through the beautiful streets of Charleston? With local, knowledgeable guides you’ll be able to learn about the city’s storied past from an engaging narrator that will share the stories of intrigue, piracy, and colonial patriotism as well as the more challenging aspects of Charleston’s days of old.
You can browse a selection of curated Historical Walking Tours if you want to learn more about the fascinating past of this coastal city.
Ghost Tours and Haunted History
In any town with a history as rich as Charleston’s, there are sure to be suspicions and stories of the paranormal. If you’re interested in ghost stories, wandering cemeteries at night, and learning about some of the history behind these supernatural experiences then Charleston has a collection of walking tours that are right up your alley. Bulldog Tours, one of the most reputable tour providers in the Lowcountry, has a smattering of different options available for those looking to explore Charleston’s spooky side.
The Charleston Haunted Jail Tour will take you through the Old Charleston Jail. In operation from 1802 to 1939, this jail housed some of the most heinous criminals of its day. Pirates, highway robbers, murderers, and other fiendish types called the Old Charleston Jail home. Bulldog Tours offers The Charleston Haunted Jail Tour which allows you exclusive nighttime access to the this historical building.
If you want another spine-chilling experience, check out another Bulldog Tour - The Charleston Ghost and Graveyard Tour - which takes groups through one of Charleston’s oldest cemetery and shares stories of those who call it their final resting place. You may even have a few paranormal encounters along the way. If you want to see the other options available, take a look at the curated list of Ghost Tours available on our site.
One thing to note before moving on - these tours aren’t necessarily designed with children in mind. The subject matter can be mature, with stories and settings that may be a bit unsettling for the young ones in the group.
Dolphin Tours
Dolphin tours - last but certainly not least - are easily the most wholesome and family friendly activity we can think of. There are a variety of different tour options available for anyone interested in getting out on the water and seeing these majestic creatures swim and play.
In terms of time of the year, the best time to go on a dolphin tour is between November and December. They’re most active this time of year, and in numbers swelling to over 300 dolphins. That said, more than 100 bottlenose dolphins call Charleston's coast home all year round, and most tours offer a guarantee that you’ll see dolphins during your trip.
All of the tours are kid friendly, and aim to appeal to everyone in the group. If you’ve got kids in tow, and are looking for a way to spend a few hours, you can’t go wrong with one of the dolphin tours available to book on our site.
Final Thoughts
No matter what you’re interested in, Charleston almost certainly has something that’ll appeal to you and the people your traveling with. If you didn’t see something in this list that is up your alley, take a look at the other options available on our site. There are sailing charters, bar crawls, kayak tours and pirate cruises that are available in this beautiful coastal city.
