Charleston Carriage Tours
Several tour companies in Charleston offer narrated horse- or mule-drawn carriage rides around the Historic District. It doesn’t matter too much which company you choose if you are taking the standard public tour: all offer very similar tours at the same price.
Be aware, however, that Charleston’s carriage tours are obliged to take one of several pre-determined routes. Which route your own carriage will take is decided by random lottery: you will not see all of Charleston’s main sights on any individual tour, and some routes see more of the best sights than others.
Most of the standard tours accept walk-up custom, but if you want a guaranteed ride at a particular time, you can book ahead. Specialty tours on specific topics, plus early tours, child-free tours and of course private carriage rides will usually require a reservation.
Pulling carriages in Charleston’s summer heat is hot, tiring work for the mules and horses. If you are concerned about the animals’ welfare, please consider taking a different kind of tour instead.
See also:
– Walking tours
– Minibus tours
– Other attractions and things to do in Charleston
– Charleston festivals
Public Tours
Standard Tours
– Group Carriage Tour, with Carolina Polo and Carriage Company
1hr. 16 people max. Every 30 minutes daily. Adults $26, children (4-11) $16.
Departs from City Market. Call 844-616-0399 or 843-577-6767 for reservations or book online. More details
– Charleston Carriage Tour, with Charleston Carriage Works
1hr. Every 20-30 minutes daily. Adults $26, military $21, children (3-11) $16, young children (0-2) free.
Pets welcome. Departs from 20 Anson Street. Call 843-779-1279 for reservations or book online. More details
– Charleston History Tour, with Classic Carriage Works
1hr. 16 people max. Every 30 minutes daily. Adults $26, children (4-11) $16, young children (0-3) free.
Departs from 10 Guignard Street. Call 843-853-3747 for reservations or book online. More details
– Historic Charleston Carriage Tour, with Old South Carriage Company
1hr. 16 people max. Every 30 minutes daily. Adults $26, children (4-11) $16.
Departs from 14 Anson Street. Also available in combination with a visit to Fort Sumter or a boat tour of the Charleston Harbor. Call 843-723-9712 for reservations or book online. More details
– Public Carriage Tour, with Palmetto Carriage Works
1hr. Every 15mins daily. Adults $26, children (4-11) $16.
Departs from 8 Guignard Street. Also available in combination with a boat tour of Charleston Harbor, or admission to the Powder Magazine, Middleton Place or the Edmondston-Alston House. Call 843-853-6125 for reservations or book online. More details
Early Morning & Child-Free Tours
– Early Bird Special, with Classic Carriage Works
1hr. 16 people max. Daily, 9:30am, March-December. Adults $21, children (4-11) $16, young children (0-3) free.
Departs from 10 Guignard Street. Discounted early morning tour. Advance reservations required, call 843-853-3747 or book online. More details
– Adult Passenger Only Tour, with Classic Carriage Works
1hr. 16 people max. Ages 18+ only. Daily, 10am. $26 per person.
Departs from 10 Guignard Street. Standard public carriage tour, children excluded. Advance reservations required, call 843-853-3747 or book online. More details
– Child-Free Historic Carriage Tour, with Old South Carriage Company
1hr. 16 people max. Ages 18+ only. Saturdays, 2pm. $30 per person.
Adults only version of the standard carriage tour. Call 843-723-9712 for reservations or book online. More details
– No Young Children Tour, with Classic Carriage Works
1hr. 16 people max. Ages 8+ only. Daily, 1pm. Adults $26, children (8-11) $16.
Departs from 10 Guignard Street. Standard public carriage tour, but without young children. Advance online reservations required. More details
Other Daytime Tours
– Civil War Tour, with Classic Carriage Works
1hr. 16 people max. Thursday-Sunday, 11am. Adults $26, (4-11) $16, young children (0-3) free.
Departs from 10 Guignard Street. Narrated carriage tour of Charleston’s Civil War history. Reservations recommended; also available as a private tour. Call 843-853-3747 for reservations or book online. More details
– Slavery to Freedom Tour, with Classic Carriage Works
1hr. 16 people max. Friday-Saturday, 1pm. Adults $26, (4-11) $16, young children (0-3) free.
Departs from 10 Guignard Street. Narrated carriage tour exploring the history of slavery in Charleston, and African-American life after freedom. Tour content is not suitable for younger children. Reservations recommended; also available as a private tour. Call 843-853-3747 for reservations or book online. More details
– Meet the Horses, with Old South Carriage Company
15mins. 20 people max. Limited availability. Free.
Short tour of the Old South Carriage Company’s barn, seeing some of the horses and learning about their care. Call 843-723-9712 for reservations or book online. More details
Evening Tours
– Evening Tour of the Commercial District, with Palmetto Carriage Works
35mins. Early evenings daily, several tours. Adults $16, children (4-11) $12.
Evening history tour of Charleston’s Cooper River waterfront and old walled city. Call 843-853-6125 for reservations or book online. More details
– Historic Colonial Charles Towne Tour, with Old South Carriage Company
40mins. 16 people max. Evenings daily. Adults $26, children (4-11) $15.
Evening history tour focused on Charleston’s colonial history in the 17th and 18th centuries. Call 843-723-9712 for reservations or book online. More details
– Haunted Carriage Tour, with Old South Carriage Company
40mins. 16 people max. Seasonal tour. Adults $26, children (4-11) $20.
Twilight evening ghost tour of Charleston. Call 843-723-9712 for reservations or book online. More details
– Santa Sleigh Ride, with Old South Carriage Company
20mins. 16 people max. Selected December evenings. $20 per person, young children (0-2) free.
Festive carriage ride, driven by Santa. Call 843-723-9712 for reservations or book online. More details
Private Tours
Daytime
– Vis-a-Vis Private Tour, with Carolina Polo and Carriage Company
1hr. 4 people max. Daily, every hour. $200 per carriage.
Private tour of Charleston in a small carriage. Call 844-616-0399 or 843-577-6767 for reservations or book online. More details
– Private Vis-a-Vis Carriage Tour, with Classic Carriage Works
4 people max. Several tours daily. $200 per carriage.
History tours of Charleston in a small carriage. Available by reservation only, call 843-853-3747 or book online. More details
– Cupid’s Carriage Tour, with Old South Carriage Company
4 people max. Limited availability. $150 per carriage.
Private tour with custom drop-off at French Quarter destination of your choice. Call 843-723-9712 for reservations or book online. More details
– Intimate Charleston Carriage Tour, with Old South Carriage Company
1hr. 4 people max. Daily. From $200 per carriage.
Small-carriage tour of Charleston. Call 843-723-9712 for reservations or book online. More details
– Daytime Private Carriage Tour, with Palmetto Carriage Works
1hr. 4/8 people max. Daily. From $225 per carriage.
Private tour of Charleston in a small or medium carriage. Call 843-853-6125 for reservations or book online. More details
– Wagonette Tour, with Old South Carriage Company
1hr. 8 people max. Daily. From $250 per carriage.
Private tour in a medium-size carriage. Call 843-723-9712 for reservations or book online. More details
– Large Private Tour, with Carolina Polo and Carriage Company
1hr. 16 people max. Daily, every hour. $400 per carriage.
Private group carriage tour of Charleston. Call 844-616-0399 or 843-577-6767 for reservations or book online. More details
– Group Tour, with Charleston Carriage Works
16 people max.
Call 843-779-1279 or contact online for details and reservations. More details
– Private Tour, with Classic Carriage Works
Daily.
Private tours available by reservation, call 843-853-3747 or contact online. More details
Evening
– Romantic “Sleigh” Ride, with Old South Carriage Company
20mins. 4 people max. Selected December evenings. $120 per carriage.
Private holiday season carriage tour through the downtown shopping district. Call 843-723-9712 for reservations or book online. More details
– Evening Private Carriage Ride, with Palmetto Carriage Works
35mins. 4 people max. Evenings daily. $175 per carriage.
Call 843-853-6125 for reservations or book online. More details
– Carriage Ride to Dinner, with Palmetto Carriage Works
35mins. 4 people max. Evenings daily. $175 per carriage.
Carriage ride through Charleston in a small carriage, ending at the restaurant of your choice. Call 843-853-6125 for reservations or book online. More details