Top Charleston Half-day Tours

Skip the tourist traps and lose yourself in the flavors of true Charleston cuisine. Taste local delicacies like classic Carolina-style BBQ, historic She-Crab soup, and famous fried green tomatoes and, as with all of our tours, you'll also indulge in our decadent Secret Dish, which just might make you leave singing a happy song! Your local guide will steer you toward the very best spots to enjoy these classic Southern dishes.

Pickup and drop-off from downtown Charleston, South Carolina make it easy to tour Magnolia Plantation, one of the oldest plantations in the South. This 4-in-1 tour includes a narrated drive out to the plantation, a walking tour of the garden, tram tour through the property, and tour of the house itself, providing incredible value.

This walking tour and interactive lunch combo provides a two-in-one experience in Charleston. With a celebrated local chef, Forrest Parker, you'll start with a 1.5-hour historical walking tour about the influences of Lowcountry food in the city of Charleston. Then watch a cooking demonstration from Parker before enjoying lunch paired with wine.

Middleton Place is one of the most popular plantations in the Charleston area, but getting there can be tricky without a private car. This tour makes it easy by including transportation from downtown Charleston aboard a comfortable, air-conditioned van, plus a guided tour of the house upon arrival. A 3-course lunch is also included for a taste of Lowcountry cuisine.

See the Charleston Harbor by boat with a leisurely sightseeing tour along the Cooper River to Fort Sumter National Monument. This fully-narrated tour focuses on Charleston, South Carolina history from Civil War sites to antebellum houses and landmarks, passes under Cooper River bridges, and explores a waterfront that’s home to bottlenose dolphins and pelicans.

Charleston's colonial history, laid-back vibe, and beautiful sites continue to steal the hearts of visitors to the Holy City. See the highlights of the peninsula in comfort on this 90-minute guided tour on a climate-controlled minibus with a maximum of 15 passengers. This narrated tour keeps you cool as you ride past must-see Charleston sights such as the Battery, the Citadel, Old City Market, and Hampton Park as well as enjoy spectacular views of Fort Sumter, Castle Pinckney, and the Sullivan Island Lighthouse at a distance. Bonus: Admission to Charleston Powder Museum is also included with the price of your tour.

Ride a horse-drawn carriage through the heart of historic Charleston on a guided tour through the heart of the city. Soak up the old fashioned charm of cobblestone streets lined with antebellum houses, lush gardens, and landmark churches as you listen to stories about Charleston history, architecture, and culture.

Travel back in time to discover one of America’s most historic cities—Charleston, South Carolina—on this guided sightseeing tour. Visit a plethora landmarks including Rainbow Row, the longest cluster of Georgian row houses in the United States; the Old Exchange Building, South Carolina's most historic building; White Point Garden, in the heart of Charleston’s historic district, with a spectacular view of Fort Sumter and many more. Upgrade option available to include a tour of the famous Joseph Manigault House, one of Charleston's most exquisite antebellum structures or the Charleston Museum.

Cruise through Lowcountry tidal creeks and marshes en route to the uninhabited Morris Island on this boat cruise from the Charleston area. A private boat company launches from Bowens Island for the scenic ride through an estuary rich in biodiversity before a soft landing on Morris Island. Spend free time to taking photos of the historic Morris Island Lighthouse, combing for seashells, and looking out for birds, sea turtles, and dolphins before your return.

Travel back in time to discover one of America’s most historic cities—Charleston, South Carolina—on this guided small-group walking tour. Explore some of the city’s most enchanting alleys and hidden passages. Visit the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, a colonial building with a 300-year history; Rainbow Row, the longest cluster of Georgian row houses in the United States; plus historic Philadelphia Alley, and many more.

Travel back in time to discover one of America’s most historic cities—Charleston, South Carolina—on this guided walking tour. Visit points of interest including Charleston City Hall; the Dock Street Theatre, America’s first theatre; the Old Exchange Building, South Carolina's most historic building; White Point Garden, in the heart of Charleston’s historic district with a spectacular view of Fort Sumter, and many more.

Watch the sun set above Charleston, South Carolina with a 2-hour sunset harbor cruise aboard a 45-foot motorized catamaran. Find a comfortable seat on deck, spot the landmarks of downtown Charleston and the waterfront, and watch for the dolphins and sea birds that thrive along the South Carolina shoreline. Enjoy a relaxing break from the city while spending a romantic evening on the water.

If you’re looking for a unique night out that doesn’t involve a messy-drunk pub crawl, this Charleston Historic Pubs, Taverns, and Taprooms Tour is for you. This Charleston pub tour mixes drinks with historical stories of the city. Follow a guide to three local pubs as they tell you tales of pirates, politics, and more. Plus, enjoy an included drink and shared appetizer at each stop, with other drinks available for purchase.

This 3-hour tour showcases the seasonal bounty of the Lowcountry and the creative prowess of a local chef. - Handpick local seasonal produce at a neighborhood market alongside a Charleston chef. - Explore the historic Cannonborough-Elliotborough neighborhood with a city-certified guide. - Enjoy a one-of-a-kind farm-to-table experience at a local restaurant with a 5+ course feast, created from your seasonal Market selections. This is a great way to explore a beloved local produce shop and historic neighborhood, meet a Charleston chef (or two!), and see their creativity in action. Come enjoy a true Charleston farm-to-table experience, that's unique, local, and not-to-be-missed.

Charleston is such a relaxed city that it’s hard to believe that it’s much busier than the towns along the coast. Take an opportunity to leave the city streets for the shoreline during this private guided tour. You’ll visit the islands of the Charleston peninsula, first stopping at Folly Beach then visiting Sullivan’s Island. Throughout the tour, you’ll stop for photos at two lighthouses, a popular tourist beach, and a historic fort.

Go behind the scenes of the Netflix series Outer Banks with a film locations tour in Charleston. Meet your guide, who was an extra during season one, for a private half-day tour. Hear stories about the cast and crew of Outer Banks as you visit locations seen in the series. Learn about the history, culture, and architecture of Charleston during the tour as well.

Sip your way through the Lowcountry as we travel to Wadmalaw Island in limo party buses while being escorted by your personal chauffeur and guide.  Explore a unique scenic drinking experience with the combination of a visit to the Angel Oak Tree (believed to be over 500 years old), Deepwater Vineyard for a wine tasting, time for sightseeing, and a local brewery stop where the first round is on us!

Spend the day outside of Charleston and discover the trees, tea, and wines of Wadmalaw Island. Travel by luxury minivan and admire the island’s majestic trees at Angel Oak Park before enjoying a trolley tour and unlimited tea at Charleston Tea Garden. Finally, explore the vineyards and enjoy wine tasting at Deep Water Vineyard.

Experience Charleston like a local with your own Private Guide Come explore one of the oldest cities in America with its historic homes, French Quarter, and beautiful waterfront. Then let us take you out to discover another historic site, the charming Old Village in Mt. Pleasant. Let us do the driving and show you the best Charleston has to offer - both inside and outside downtown!

The Middleton Place tour is an all-inclusive tour experience of one of Charleston's most beloved historic sites. Chicora Tours prides itself on being the only tour operator in Charleston to offer this tour. Our Middleton Place tour has smaller groups sizes, transportation in a luxurious Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van with licensed tour guides to answer your questions. The tour begins with a guided tour of the Middleton Place gardens. It is proceeded by a historic house tour and then a delicious and authentic Lowcountry styled lunch. Guests will also have time to see the wildlife on site, learn about the enslaved people of Middleton Place and shop at the Museum shop and Garden Market. Guests will be picked up from the Charleston Visitors Center. Let Chicora Tours show you this beautiful plantation in the most upscale and enjoyable way!

Chicora Tours is the only tour company in Charleston that provides this experience of Drayton Hall Plantation. We take pride in being able to show our guests the oldest and most authentic plantation house in Charleston. Drayton Hall is one of the most beautiful, historic and aesthetically pleasing places in the entire Charleston area. Whether you are a history buff, a photographer or an architectural enthusiast, Drayton Hall has something to offer anybody who can appreciate one of the most astounding sites in Charleston.

Discover four different plantations and a historic church during a small-group highlights tour in Charleston. Travel around in a comfortable, deluxe van with a guide who knows the Pre-Civil War Era of US history well. Stops during this Charleston plantation tour include the McLeod Plantation Historic Site, Drayton Hall, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Middleton Place, and Old St. Andrew’s Parish Church.

Educational, entertaining, and enlightening! Have so much fun, lots of samples, and become a Beer Expert all in a few hours!