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Waterfront Park: Our most recommended tours and activities

Charleston: Historical Downtown Tour by Horse-drawn Carriage

1. Charleston: Historical Downtown Tour by Horse-drawn Carriage

Ride in a traditional horse-drawn carriage through historic downtown Charleston on a guided tour. Listen to live commentary about the city as you pass by the Charleston Harbor, Rainbow Row, King Street, White Point Gardens, and Charleston Battery. Begin the tour at the activity provider's stables. Board a beautiful custom-built carriage and depart from the barn. Ride toward the city gate, located in the Old City Market. Learn about the city's rich history from a professional guide while traveling aboard a unique vehicle. Gaze at vibrant neighborhoods and elegant buildings from your seat. Experience the highlights of the historic downtown area, such as Charleston Harbor, Rainbow Row, 4 Corners of Law, King Street, White Point Gardens, and the Charleston Battery. Take in informative and entertaining commentary from your guide, before arriving back at the stables.

Charleston: Historic City Highlights Guided Bus Tour

2. Charleston: Historic City Highlights Guided Bus Tour

The bus tour departs from Charleston Visitor’s Center where you’ll hop on board a deluxe, climate-controlled shuttle for a 90-minute tour of the city’s historical highlights. Accompanied by a knowledgeable, local guide, pass by 100 of Charleston’s most iconic sights of the past and present whilst listening to amazing tales and anecdotes about the city. On your tour, travel through some of the city’s most historic parts. Visit Charleston’s Historic Homes, The Battery Sea Wall, the Four Corners of Law, and Rainbow Row to name but a few. Other highlights of the tour include several historic churches, old markets, and picturesque neighborhoods.

Charleston: Historical Walking Tour

3. Charleston: Historical Walking Tour

An exciting walking tour of the only English walled city in North America - Charleston! Once the leading seaport of the thirteen colonies and later the United States, historical Charleston is waiting to be discovered. On this 2-hour walking tour, you will learn about the intriguing history of Charleston from veteran guide Al Ray. See pre-and-post colonial homes, storefronts, churches and public buildings while Ray recounts the rich tales and legends of Charleston's proud and turbulent past. Learn the meanings of the ancient symbols on the tombstones, the city's history of rapid growth and rampant piracy, and the rise of the rice planters. Listen to your charismatic guide describe the numerous disasters, such as seven major fires, numerous hurricanes, epidemics, sieges and bombardments, plus a major earthquake, that have struck the city over its long and colourful history.

Charleston: 90-Minute Ghost and Dungeon Walking Tour

4. Charleston: 90-Minute Ghost and Dungeon Walking Tour

Test your nerve and explore the dark edges of Charleston's haunted historic district, deeply steeped in South Carolina's low country superstition on a guided walking tour. Venture through Charleston's haunted historic district, one of the oldest places in America, and learn about its terrifying history. Continue along the eerie back alleys and churches to find out why Charleston is known as "The Holy City." Visit the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon to learn about its harrowing past, confining enslaved people, American revolutionaries, and British soldiers.

Charleston Harbor 2-Hour Speedboat Adventure

5. Charleston Harbor 2-Hour Speedboat Adventure

Take the wheel and become the captain of your very own speed boat with this one-of-a-kind adventure tour. Experience driving your own boat while taking in the views from the Charleston harbor. This fully narrated tour takes you 13 miles through the world-famous Charleston Harbor. See everything while listening to a highly trained and professional guide through a two-way communication system.   You will have a once-in-a-lifetime view of the Battery, USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier, Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge, the downtown Charleston skyline, Waterfront Park, South Carolina Aquarium, the cruise ship terminal and all the wildlife that call Charleston Harbor home.  This is a great adventure for all ages.

Charleston: Guided Pub Crawl and Haunted History Tour

6. Charleston: Guided Pub Crawl and Haunted History Tour

Embark on a guided pub crawl through the city of Charleston and hear the dark history lurking behind each turn. Learn about the colonists, pirates, and bootleggers that shaped the city over a few drinks. Visit Charleston's important sites, including Joe Riley Waterfront Park, The Pink House, the Old Exchange Provost Dungeon, and Powder Magazine. Follow in the footsteps of the pirates and bootleggers, and learn about the ghosts that linger in the dark corners of the city from your guide. Make stops along the route for a refreshing drink at The Griffon, Bar Vaute, Blind Tiger Pub, and Tommy Condon's Irish Pub. Trade stories over a few drinks and learn about local life and culture in Charleston.

Charleston: Walking History and Bar Tour

7. Charleston: Walking History and Bar Tour

Sip your way through 300 years of local history on this guided tour of Downtown Charleston. Meet your guide at the first bar, where you will sample an appetizer and get the chance to purchase some of the area's finest local beers. As you savor your drink, listen to your guide's commentary of the historical roots of the city. From there, stroll through the charming alleyways and cobblestone streets of Charleston to several cultural sights including a dungeon, original city theater, and 300-year-old homes. Stop at a second bar and hear stories of the Prohibition era and its effects on the city's residents. Finish your tour at a local park near the waterfront for one last story.

Charleston: City Tour and Museum Combo

8. Charleston: City Tour and Museum Combo

Feel the past come alive on this combination tour in Charleston. Ride in comfort on a climate-controlled coach and discover Charleston's 300 years of living history with passionate licensed tour guides. Follow your bus tour with a visit to the Charleston Museum, one of the oldest museums in the United States. On your bus tour, experience the Old Market area and admire the historic homes and churches where generations of Charlestonians worked, lived, and worshipped. See and hear about Fort Sumter, the Harbor of History, and the Aircraft Carrier Yorktown at Patriots Point. Make sure to take your camera as you will have the opportunity to stop at the famous Battery Seawall and enjoy the spectacular views. Keep your camera handy when you pass by the colorful houses on Rainbow Row, too. Finally, dive into the history of the Holy City at the Charleston Museum, which was opened to the public nearly 200 years ago. Explore the exhibitions that cover the American Civil War, the natural history in the area, and much, much more.

Charleston: Self-Guided Highlights Walking Audio Tour

9. Charleston: Self-Guided Highlights Walking Audio Tour

Experience the beauty of the city of Charleston on a self-guided walking tour. See the famous places like Aiken-Rhett House Museum, Marion Square, Old Charleston Jail, and more with the magic of an audio guide. Start your tour at the Charleston Visitor Center and proceed towards the Aiken-Rhett House Museum, a beautifully-preserved antebellum home. Visit the Charleston Museum, Marion Square, and the famous Liberty Square where you will hear about how the American Revolution rocked Charleston. Up next is the Grimke Sisters’ Home, where two women risked their life and limb to fight for the cause of abolition. Make your way to the Historic Charleston City Market and learn more about the underdog abolitionist movement in the south. See the marvelous frim structure of the Old Charleston Jail.  Visit the Miles Brewton House which was used as a military headquarters during both the Revolutionary and Civil wars. Continue to see the White Point Garden, Edmondston-Alston House, and the Nathaniel Russell House. Admire the enormous Saint Michael’s Church, Washington Square Park, the Heyward-Washington House, Rainbow Row, and the Old Exchange. Finally, you’ll arrive at Joe Riley Waterfront Park, the perfect place to relax and unwind at the end of your trip.

Charleston: Self-Guided Audio History Walking Tour

10. Charleston: Self-Guided Audio History Walking Tour

Enjoy a journey of over 300 years of history in Charleston on a self-guided walking tour. Explore the French Quarter’s iconic sights, Old Customs House, and more at your own pace with the magic of an audio guide. You will receive the download instructions after booking. Download the app and start the tour with your mobile phone as your guide. Start your tour at the famous City Market and have a chance to grab a cup of coffee or a quick bite before stepping into a time machine to explore Charleston’s rich and fascinating past. Visit the scenic Pineapple Foundation in Waterfront Park, Old Exchange, and the Provost Building. Take a stroll down memory lane to visit some of the city’s oldest and best-preserved homes. Hear about the revolutionary Civil War and Charleston’s connection to the slave trade. Discover the facts about why George Washington stayed in the city for three days straight during his tour of the South. You will know the significance of the pineapple in the area. Walk through the beautiful lanes and hear the stories behind the famous buildings of Charleston. 

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What people are saying about Waterfront Park

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 1,252 reviews

It was a beautiful day for a walk. Eric, our guide, was very personable and very knowledgeable. We learned so many new things about Charleston that we didn't know. Very enlightening, very surprising.

Bus driver/Tour guide was very knowledgeable. Provided a very through rendering of Charleston history.

Recommending a great time! Last row don’t hear the guide that well if you’re into details.

It was interesting learning about Charleston r history and ghost activity.

Great trip! Take a light jacket as the bus is cold.