Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More
5
Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More
By Bulldog Tours
About
Without a guided tour of Charleston’s Historic District, you’re likely to miss the city’s seemingly endless array of beautiful historical sites that make it so popular. A Charleston walking tour is the perfect way to get acquainted with the Holy City, as you stroll down old alleyways (a maze for first-time visitors) and visit Charleston’s must-see attractions—all while learning about the city’s 200-year history from your guide.
from per adult
$66.37
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 20 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
Highlights
- Historic Charleston walking tour brings you to city highlights
- See Rainbow Row, White Point Gardens, the Battery, and more
- A guide informs and entertains throughout the walking tour
- Perfect way for first-time visitors to learn about Charleston
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Rainbow Row
- Historic Waterfront Battery
- Antebellum Mansions
- A visual tour of Fort Sumter
- Hidden Gardens & Courtyards
- Historic Churches & Graveyards
- The Revolutionary and Civil War
- Admission to the Powder Magazine Museum is included with tour purchase
- Entry/Admission - The Powder Magazine
What's not included- Gratuities
- Transportation
- Your Charleston walking tour meets at an easy-to-find spot in the French Quarter. Begin to follow your guide to some of the city’s top historical sites, as you listen to stories from Charleston’s eclectic past. As you walk, you pass popular Charleston sights, such as Rainbow Row and the Battery. Take in views of historic Fort Sumter, pastel Antebellum mansions, classic wrought-iron gates, and cobbled alleyways—the perfect photo is always just around the corner. Your guide tells you fun facts about Charleston’s colorful history as you go, and you’re free to ask any questions, too. Your walking tour of Charleston concludes at the starting location in the French Quarter.
- Start:
- 115 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, USAPlease arrive at 115 Meeting St, the Mills House Hotel. You will meet your guide outside near the courtyard gates. Please look for your Bulldog Tours guide.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 23272P5- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- The pace of our walking tour is leisurely
- Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the tour.
- Most travellers can participate
- Operates in all weather conditions, dress appropriately
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- Which attractions will I visit with Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More?
- During this experience, places you will visit include:
- The Powder Magazine
- Charleston City Market
- Fort Sumter National Monument
- Joe Riley Waterfront Park
- Rainbow Row
- How much is Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More?
- Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More price starts from $63.96. Discover and book Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More on Tripadvisor
- What is the Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More cancellation policy?
- Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More?
- Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More is hosted by Bulldog Tours. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Bulldog Tours on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More on Tripadvisor
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 23272P5
Reserve your spot
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- You'll start at115 Meeting St115 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, USAPlease arrive at 115 Meeting St, the Mills House Hotel. You will meet your guide outside near the courtyard gates. Please look for your Bulldog Tours guide.See address & details
- 1Rainbow RowStop: 10 minutesSee details
- 2Joe Riley Waterfront ParkSee detailsPass byCharleston City MarketFort Sumter National Monument
- 3The Powder MagazineAdmission includedSee details
- You'll return to the starting point
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- NoName06130 contributionsJail Ghost TourThe tour guide as animated and did a good job, sharing her personal experiences. The newly renovated jail is very nice and you can get a few nice pics at night outside. You're not allowed to take pics inside, which is a bummer considering you may catch something yourself. Didn't feel any presence, but apparently thousands of bodies lie underneath the property and you're shown pictures and videos of occirances prior. Would be nice if you can use actual electronics to try to capture something, akin to a ghost hunt, especally for the price of the tour. It would add to the fun and see if you can actually connect.Written 18 March 2024
- krisNY090 contributionsBoring Ghostly TourWe were looking forward to some exciting , spooky ghostly walk, but our guide even though was knowledgeable , was awfully boring. This tour was a lot of walking in silence and some monotonous stories without much enthusiasm. Sorry, but I wouldn’t recommend this . We left early as it was boring 🥱.Written 15 March 2024
- bbg1300 contributionshouse and gardens tourFaith was an excellent guide and had a wealth of information about the city’s history. The docents in the homes were equally as knowledgeable. Bulldog tours is my favorite company. I use them for all my tours with guests.Written 15 March 2024
- grahamab210 contributionsCharleston City Jail TourWe did the Charleston City Jail Ghost Tour, and had a great time! Sarah was a great guide, and a wonderful storyteller. We had a great experience overall, just wish the price was a little cheaper for the time frame of the tour (45 minutes), or we had a longer experience.Written 14 March 2024
- Y7485HWhowardw0 contributionsOutstanding walking tour of CharlestonOur guide, Dave Mcahron, was incredibly well-informed and provided an insightful, and very balanced, interpretation of Charleston's history. I recommend that visitors take this tour early in their visit to Charleston, as it provides an excellent grounding for further exploration of the city.Written 14 March 2024
- jacanavan50 contributionsCharleston ghost and dungeonsThis tour was excellent! Dustin was very knowledgeable, clearly enjoyed his work, was more than generous with his time which made for an engaging tour. We would highly recommend.Written 14 March 2024
- 946shellyh0 contributionsCreepy fun!Toured the old jail and it was fantastic. Very eerie and heard, saw and smelled unexplainable things! If you love history and the paranormal definitely do this tour! Sean is a great guide!Written 14 March 2024
- 946shellyh0 contributionsVery informativeSean was an amazing guide and made the night enjoyable given the circumstances. Hoping for an informative and spooky tour but there were 300 scouts on board the ship with us! Ruined the atmosphere, but Sean still gave a great tour. I would recommend this just make sure the scouts aren't there!Written 14 March 2024
- Beachlover73220 contributionsGreat way to learn about Charleston’s ne’er-do-well pastDave was an excellent storyteller! I learned a lot.I don’t know why people are so hung up on ghosts when the actual history is so fascinating.Written 13 March 2024
- joannev5570 contributionsGreat TourExcellent tour and another way to learn about the history of Charleston. It was fascinating and eerie, but not frightening. Dave, our tour guide, was knowledgeable and informative, with a great sense of humor. Great tour for adults, teens, and tweens!Written 13 March 2024
- Cmmchs20230 contributionsWalking tour was amazing!I went on the walking tour with Faith on locals’ day - she is so knowledgeable and shared fun inside stories. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole tour and can’t wait to bring out of town guests on one of these - the Cocktail Tour and Ghost Tour are next on my to-do list!Written 13 March 2024
- bimuo210 contributionsDave, our Tour guide was AMAZING.Dave, our Tour guide was AMAZING. He was so knowledgeable about Charleston and so passionate about his job; I loved that. I would rate Dave 5 stars hands down. The food tour…no. This was my first food tour ever. I thought we were going to go to “must-see” Charleston locations and have “must-have” Charleston/southern food. I was disappointed when we went to casual, missable places that you would never think twice about and had small bites of brisket, sliders, and banana pudding. I wanted to use the tour to learn about the best local eats and best restaurants to check out in town. I was disappointed to hear that Bulldog tour guides are not allowed to plug restaurants not affiliated with the tour company. So, there wasn’t a way to learn about the best places to eat in the city. I had to revert back to the Yelp, Google, etc, which defeated the entire purpose of me joining the tour. For $100, I was not ecstatic. I wish I would have done a walking/history tour with Dave to make sure I saw, at the very least, all the must-see landmarks. Charleston is a wonderful city to visit, especially when the weather is beautiful.Written 13 March 2024
- nmccall740 contributionsDisappointedWe loved our tour guide he was great but compared to coming 4 years ago we didn’t see nearly what we saw that time no upstairs rooms at all like before was not worth the cost and we were looking forward to taking friends that didn’t come before why would you not show the upstairs areas anymore that make no senseWritten 12 March 2024
- meg0324710 contributionsInformative, friendly, fun!We had a great tour with Dave. He was personable and knowledgeable, and took us to many of downtown’s notable spots.Written 12 March 2024
- rkseagull0 contributionsExcellent tour!We booked the historic walking tour of Charleston with the extra insurance. The weather showed tons of rain on Saturday and we were able to change to the next day without issue. Dave was our tour guide for the afternoon tour. He was friendly and outgoing. As we walked he told various stories and explained the history of the homes and neighborhoods as we passed. He made several stops to point out different historical places and events. Dave answered many questions with confidence.although the tour was only 2 hours long I could have stayed much longer. I highly recommend this tour!Written 12 March 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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5.0
465 reviews
Excellent
428
Very good
21
Average
9
Poor
1
Terrible
6
Joel B
Atlanta, GA37 contributions
Dec 2020
We took the holiday daytime walking tour in December a few days after Christmas. David R. was our tour guide and had a wealth of information about the city in his head. He was entertaining and very informative, telling us a lot of history about the city, the historic homes and buildings, as well as debunking some Charleston-myths as well. I was a little concerned about whether our kids (college age) would enjoy this, but they did. Everyone agreed it was entertaining and quite fun.
Later on in our trip, based on this experience, we did another tour with Bulldog Tours, for the nighttime ghost and dungeon walking tour. We enjoyed that one too.
Later on in our trip, based on this experience, we did another tour with Bulldog Tours, for the nighttime ghost and dungeon walking tour. We enjoyed that one too.
Written 30 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SK
1 contribution
Oct 2021
Keith Kirkland was excellent - engaging, knowledgeable, and a great storyteller. We even returned at night to explore more, as he suggested. We went on the first day of our trip and it was a wonderful way to get a sense of the city and its history; I highly recommend this tour.
Written 31 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patrick K
3 contributions
Oct 2022
A small group of family/friends recently started our long weekend trip to Charleston with a private Bulldog tour hosted by Gordon Perry. It was a great way to gain some familiarity with the historic downtown early on, learn about the history of Charleston, and be in the warm company of Gordon. I would definitely recommend for anyone wanting to learn about the complex history of Charleston, interested in a knowledgable tour of the eclectic architecture (past and present) throughout the city, or just eager to spend some time with a great storyteller like Gordon.
Written 30 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for your review! Bulldog Tours has a little something for
everyone to enjoy! We hope to see you again on our next trip to Charleston!
Written 1 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MLKC
2 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
The tour guide spent more time telling us about her education, life, husband, than historical facts. We bailed early, very disappointing. The tours seem to focus on theatrics instead of sharing historical information.
Written 15 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MLKCooney,
We are sorry to hear you were disappointed in the tour with us. We would like to offer you a full refund for your tour based on this experience. Please reach out to our Tour Guide Manager, Andrew Kuhn, at andrew@bulldogtours.com to discuss further. Thanks!
Written 17 May 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mary H
1 contribution
Oct 2021 • Family
Linda who led the tour was outstanding. She made sure that everyone could hear her, answered questions and pointed out all the little additional items on the tour. She showed us where to catch glimpses of gardens and explained the types and features of the style of each house.very informative and attentive. Outgoing and thorough.
Written 5 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rebeca C
London, UK4 contributions
May 2021
First time visitor to Charleston. The Charleston Vistor Center recommended this walking tour meeting at 2pm.
The guide, Linda Rigler, was impeccably turned out and extremely knowledgeable about Charleston and history in general. As a Brit, she got details about Charles I and Charles II right which is far better than the average Brit do.
The tour gave you highlights of Charleston and there is so much follow-up to do visiting the Town Hall to view George Washington paintings, the slave market, the Exchange buildings. Facts were given about local plants, architecture, buildings and history. I took three pages of notes during the tour.
Highly recommend the experience with a highly skilled guide.
The guide, Linda Rigler, was impeccably turned out and extremely knowledgeable about Charleston and history in general. As a Brit, she got details about Charles I and Charles II right which is far better than the average Brit do.
The tour gave you highlights of Charleston and there is so much follow-up to do visiting the Town Hall to view George Washington paintings, the slave market, the Exchange buildings. Facts were given about local plants, architecture, buildings and history. I took three pages of notes during the tour.
Highly recommend the experience with a highly skilled guide.
Written 9 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
George E
Dover, MA2 contributions
Apr 2021
Our guide Franny was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic that the tour was educational and enjoyable. She is a long-time Charleston resident and communicated her love of the city, it’s architecture and history.
The tour lasted 2.5 hours and I was not ready for it to end
The tour lasted 2.5 hours and I was not ready for it to end
Written 4 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WFHUNT
Heathsville, VA1 contribution
We toured with Franny on a typical beautiful day in early February. Franny provided us with a wealth of knowledge about historic Charleston. She made our walk pleasant and never ran out of interesting stories and facts about the city. We would highly recommend touring with Franny.
Written 4 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for your review! Franny is a very knowledgeable and personable guide. We appreciate you taking the time to acknowledge her and comment on your experience of the tour. Thanks again for visiting Charleston with us!
Written 8 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
J Kirschner
Detroit, MI1 contribution
Oct 2021 • Friends
Blake was our tour guide and he was amazing.
Me and 4 girlfriends came to Charleston to celebrate a milestone birthday for our friend. We loved the Historical walking tour of Charleston, seeing the waterfront, rainbow row and exploring the ins and outs of alleys and neighborhoods we probably wouldn’t have found otherwise. Blake’s added personal stories, sense of humor and quirkiness kept us all engaged and wanting to hear more. Two hours was the perfect amount of time to see the highlights of the great city of Charleston
Me and 4 girlfriends came to Charleston to celebrate a milestone birthday for our friend. We loved the Historical walking tour of Charleston, seeing the waterfront, rainbow row and exploring the ins and outs of alleys and neighborhoods we probably wouldn’t have found otherwise. Blake’s added personal stories, sense of humor and quirkiness kept us all engaged and wanting to hear more. Two hours was the perfect amount of time to see the highlights of the great city of Charleston
Written 23 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Augustus004
Sayville, NY326 contributions
Mar 2022
We spent a long-time researching walking tours and finally decided this would be the best one to take. We were staying an hour and a half away and needed to make it to the meeting area by 10:30.
This was not a culinary tour nor a Cemetery tour, this was a building and history tour. When I learned where the tour would start, I called up Bing Maps on my home Computer and typed in the address. I was then able to zoom to street level and see what the building where we were to meet looked like. I was also able to virtually drive the streets to see where I could park. I found a Multi-level garage just down the street, which, when we actually arrived, was almost ¾ full.
A quick walk down the block and we met the rest of our group and our Tour Guide, Blake Mims. This Man lives to know his History! We had concerns that if there weren’t enough people on the tour, they would have cancelled. But Blake said he’s had as little as a single couple on the tour, and he mentioned how much fun this is for him. Once he got going on describing not only the places we ventured to, he also gave us a quick rundown of the history of Charleston itself. Very knowledgeable and it really made the tour more interesting than I thought it would be. He had a good humor about himself, he didn’t set too fast of a walk and he made sure the group stuck together.
For the most part, it was a 2 block walk, stop and talk, and then another 2 blocks or so, with a resting point with a view of Fort Sumpter and an Aircraft Carrier.
He took us down back alleys and main roads, and even showed us a few places he claimed, “Most people don’t get a chance to see”.
At the end of our tour, he mentioned he normally runs the Culinary Tours, so we asked him for a recommendation for a place to go to lunch. He didn’t disappoint there either! (82 Queen)
This was not a culinary tour nor a Cemetery tour, this was a building and history tour. When I learned where the tour would start, I called up Bing Maps on my home Computer and typed in the address. I was then able to zoom to street level and see what the building where we were to meet looked like. I was also able to virtually drive the streets to see where I could park. I found a Multi-level garage just down the street, which, when we actually arrived, was almost ¾ full.
A quick walk down the block and we met the rest of our group and our Tour Guide, Blake Mims. This Man lives to know his History! We had concerns that if there weren’t enough people on the tour, they would have cancelled. But Blake said he’s had as little as a single couple on the tour, and he mentioned how much fun this is for him. Once he got going on describing not only the places we ventured to, he also gave us a quick rundown of the history of Charleston itself. Very knowledgeable and it really made the tour more interesting than I thought it would be. He had a good humor about himself, he didn’t set too fast of a walk and he made sure the group stuck together.
For the most part, it was a 2 block walk, stop and talk, and then another 2 blocks or so, with a resting point with a view of Fort Sumpter and an Aircraft Carrier.
He took us down back alleys and main roads, and even showed us a few places he claimed, “Most people don’t get a chance to see”.
At the end of our tour, he mentioned he normally runs the Culinary Tours, so we asked him for a recommendation for a place to go to lunch. He didn’t disappoint there either! (82 Queen)
Written 4 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
monamel
Cascais, Portugal1 contribution
Where does the tour start on Feb 19 in the morning? I bought a ticket but didn’t see the starting point.
I can’t remember the exact address that we started from but it was not the tour company’s office. I believe they will send you the exact location in a email after you book. You could always call the office if you don’t receive it. Hope you enjoy it! Our guide Gordon was wonderful.
Alex M
New York City, NY2 contributions
Hi - does your walking tour stop by KKBE?
Thank you
didi831
Peoria, AZ35 contributions
Sorry for the delay in response... Our tour ended at Chalmers & Meeting Streets, right next to Washington Square. The entire tour was south of the area of KKBE, as it began at The Mills House Wyndham.
I am wondering where the tour ends. Deciding on a lunch location and it would be helpful to know the restaurants that are near the end of the tour. Thank you.
bethhA8023PK
Stow19 contributions
It circles back to the beginning
stephaniemorris225
Granger, IN
So many have asked this and I see no responses - how long is the tour?
GeeBeeUsa
Indianapolis, IN62 contributions
About 2 hours
paha2657
Lexington, KY1 contribution
How long does the tour last, and what is the approximate walking distance?
VerbBatonRouge
Baton Rouge177 contributions
About 2 hours.
Where can you park around meeting place?
Cara E
Cirencester198 contributions
Hi.
Sorry, we don't know as we stayed in Charleston