Essential Free Tour Charleston

See the beautiful temples of the “Holy City” including St. Michael’s Church, the oldest surviving worship building in Charleston.
Take a stroll past the colorfully painted 18th century houses of Rainbow Row.
Visit the Old Slave Mart and learn about the more sinister side of how this city came to its wealth.

Charleston is one of the USA's most historical and charming tourist destinations. With the wealth of landmarks to see, you could spend days exploring this glamorous city. That’s why the Essential Free Tour of Charleston is designed with all types of visitors in mind. So, join a group of likeminded travelers and have fun diving into Charleston’s history and secrets with a local guide. During the tour, you will visit must-see landmarks such as the superb 1750s St. Michael's Anglican Church. This strikingly white building is the oldest and one of the most beautiful parishes in the "Holy City" (Charleston is home to nearly 400 places of worship!). The beautiful French Huguenot Church and the Circular Congregation Church are just two of the many highlights that might also be covered.

During the tour, your guide will offer a brief introduction to the city, from its founding in 1670 to the role that it played during the Civil War. Following this fascinating introduction into Charleston’s past, guests on the Essential Free Tour Charleston will be taken on a journey through the heart of its historical center, stopping at some of the many gorgeous mansions along the way, including the jaw-dropping Williams Mansion (formerly called the Calhoun Mansion) and the exceptionally well-maintained Edmondston-Alston House. One of the highlights of the tour is a stroll along Rainbow Row, one of the most photographed streets in the South. As you pass by the colorful houses, your guide will tell you some of the curious theories that lie behind the different colors used for different houses.

The Essential Free Tour also delves into the darker side of Charleston’s history with a visit to the Old Slave Mart, nowadays transformed into an educational museum. Here, visitors will be able to gain an understanding of the extent to which Charleston relied on slavery for its wealth and its impact on the African American community. Other historical sites on this tour include the supposedly haunted Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon and the Historic City Market, which is registered as a National Historic Landmark. This bustling market is full of artisanal goods as well as great places to grab a cup of coffee. During the tour, please feel free to ask your guide as many questions as you wish. And, of course, you'll come away with lots of recommendations and tips for your stay.

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