Historic Charleston Walking & Storytelling Tour
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 26 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Historic Charleston Walking & Storytelling Tour worth booking?
Historic Charleston Walking & Storytelling Tour is a 2-hour experience in Charleston, United States, from $36 per person. It scores 69 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 26 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 69 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (26)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $36 per person
This tour is an exploration of Charleston that highlights the women and men who helped found Charleston and the United States. Did you know, without the pirates and patriots of Charleston, the United States may not exis
What you get
About this experience
This tour is an exploration of Charleston that highlights the women and men who helped found Charleston and the United States. Did you know, without the pirates and patriots of Charleston, the United States may not exist today? We start our experience in front of the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, one of Charleston’s oldest and most historical buildings. Learn about George Washington’s visit in 1791, and the dungeon’s prisoners who met their fate. Next, we venture down East Bay Street, passing Rainbow Row. Behold gorgeous mansions, and witness breathtaking views of the Charleston Harbor and White Point Garden. Walk in the footsteps of pirates and their captors. Next, we turn inward and walk through Charleston’s South of Broad neighborhood. Learn about the man George Washington and Thomas Jefferson said was the true father of America. Last, we venture back to our starting point, passing by the Four Corners of the Law and the shops and residences on Broad Street.
What's included
Included
- Museum entry fee for the Philip Simmons House at 30-1/2 Blake Street.
- Entry fee for the Halsey Gallery of Contemporary Art at 161 Calhoun Street.
What you'll see and do
Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
Built in 1771 as a commercial exchange and custom house, the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon has been a Charleston landmark for nearly 250 years. Today, it is a non-profit historic site that focuses on the American Revolution and colonial Charleston.
Pass by without stopping
Rainbow Row
Rainbow Row is the name for a series of thirteen colorful historic houses in Charleston, South Carolina. It represents the longest cluster of Georgian row houses in the United States. The houses are located north of Tradd St. and south of Elliott St. on East Bay Street, that is, 79 to 107 East Bay Street. The name Rainbow Row was coined after the pastel colors they were painted as they were restored in the 1930s and 1940s.
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Edmondston-Alston House
The house is built on the foundation ruins of Fort Mechanic that was at this location in the later part of the eighteenth century. Shipping merchant Charles Edmondston, a Scottish immigrant from the Shetland Islands, had purchased the low sandy lot in 1817. The unstable soggy land was unfit for residential construction until a sea wall was built. Charleston city officials built one in 1820 and Edmondston then started the construction of the house. The antebellum modified Charleston single house (side-hall) was constructed between 1820 and 1828. Edmondston had built the house originally in the English Regency style architecture.
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Battery & White Point Gardens
White Point Garden is a 5.7 acre public park located in peninsular Charleston, South Carolina, at the tip of the peninsula. It is the southern terminus for the Battery, a defensive seawall and promenade. It is bounded by East Battery (to the east), Murray Blvd. (to the south), King St. (to the west), and South Battery (to the north).
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The Williams Mansion
The 24,000-square-foot house has thirty main rooms and many more smaller rooms. The main hall is 50 feet long and 14 feet wide. The house has a ballroom with a 45-foot-high ceiling.
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Nathaniel Russell House
The Nathaniel Russell House is a historic house at 51 Meeting Street in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Built by slave trader and wealthy merchant Nathaniel Russell in 1808, it is recognized as one of America's most important Neoclassical houses. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973.
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The Four Corners of Law is a term commonly used to refer to the intersection of Meeting and Broad Streets. It was coined in the 1930s by Robert Ripley, creator of Ripley's Believe it or Not! and refers to the buildings occupying the four corners of the intersection: St. Michael's Anglican Church (Charleston, South Carolina), constructed between 1752 and 1761, stands on the southeast corner of the intersection. On the northeast corner of the Four Corners is Charleston City Hall, constructed in the Adamesque style between 1800 and 1804. Across the street, on the northwest corner, stands the Charleston County Courthouse. Originally constructed in 1753 as South Carolina's provincial capital, the building was rebuilt in 1792 for use as a courthouse. On the southwest corner is the United States Post Office and Federal Courthouse, built in 1896.
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Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Charleston
We will meet next to the Old Exchange Building at 122 East Bay Street.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
We will meet next to the Old Exchange Building at 122 East Bay Street.
Options you can book
12:00PM
3:00PM
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Holy City History Tours
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 25 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
9 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Traveler reviews
25 verified traveler reviews for Historic Charleston Walking & Storytelling Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Unique Charleston Charms
We were lucky enough to have had Larry as our tour guide. He gave us a deep history of the area and covered a lot of figurative ground, from the people and architecture to arts and entertainment. He clearly loves his city and is proud to share the history and vibrancy of Charleston with visitors. We sincerely enjoyed the time we spent with him and feel like we have a knowledge of many interesting little-known facts. We highly recommend this tour!
via Viator
Complete fraud!!!
This tour was absolutely terrible DO NOT book it. It is billed as a walking tour of historic Charleston; we stood in the same spot for the first 15 minutes as the guide rattled off a list of so-called “facts” about American history. They were ALL false! This tour guide should lose his job. He claimed Thomas Jefferson was the 2nd president, (he was the 3rd), and that he took the presidential oath of office on a Koran NOT a bible, that Washington read the Declaration of Independence from the steps of the Exchange Building in 1792, (he was elected president in 1789 and we had declared independence in 1776), NYS had a slave market in 1861 (NYS abolished slavery in 1827), and that the first Islamic Temple in the US was built in 1810 (it was 1934). He kept saying he had gotten his facts from Wikipedia, which is the most unreliable source out there. This was a pathetic attempt at a cash grab from a shady company headquartered in a foreign country. Getting through to them on the phone to get my money back took FOREVER! DO NOT book this tour
via Viator
Will book again on next visit
Super interesting, informative, and entertaining walk through Charleston. Would book again next time. Larry tailors the tour to your existing knowledge of the city and its history.
via Viator
Family fun!!
Larry is the Man!! He was a treasure trove of Charleston history, architecture, and commerce. Lots of stories that were educational and entertaining. Would highly recommend Larry for future tours in the heart of Charleston SC. Bravo
via Viator
Larry the tour guide was...
Larry the tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. Learned so much! Would like to have covered a larger route. Would definitely recommend it!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 9
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 69
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Historic Charleston Walking & Storytelling Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Charleston.
How much does Historic Charleston Walking & Storytelling Tour cost?
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Prices start at $36 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Charleston usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Historic Charleston Walking & Storytelling Tour take?
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Plan for about 2 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Charleston is not rushed.
Is Historic Charleston Walking & Storytelling Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 69 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 26 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Charleston, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Historic Charleston Walking & Storytelling Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Historic Charleston Walking & Storytelling Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Historic Charleston Walking & Storytelling Tour?
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Around 9 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Charleston can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Charleston and add a light layer if any part of the 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Historic Charleston Walking & Storytelling Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Charleston within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Charleston?
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Charleston's best experiences are small: house museum tours with an architectural historian, Gullah heritage walks, harbour sails at sunset and Lowcountry food crawls through the market district. Plantation day trips vary enormously in how honestly they handle the history, and our ranking factors that in directly. On Outty we rank every Charleston experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour, Charleston historical walking tour with a Professor of History at The Citadel, Charleston Eco Boat Cruise with stop at Morris Island Lighthouse. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Charleston?
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March to May and September to November, the two mild shoulder windows. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Charleston?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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