9 Carriage Rides in Charleston That Still Read Well a Year On

1.Charleston’s Old South Carriage Historic Horse & Carriage Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10,023 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $50Our pick

Board at Old South Carriage Company on Anson Street for a one-hour narrated ride through Charleston’s historic district. A certified Palmetto Guild guide, such as Wendy, Ro, or Carol, shares stories of mansions, churches, gardens, and the city’s Civil War era. The route is assigned by the city, so sights vary. Carriages hold up to 16 people.

“You would truly enjoy the experience, and everyone was so nice and professional. The tour guides are very friendly and informative. Great overall experience 😊”

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2.Haunted Evening Horse and Carriage Tour of Charleston

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,678 reviews · 40 minutes (approx.) · from $50

Settle into a covered horse-drawn carriage for a 40-minute evening ride through Charleston’s old walled city. A certified Palmetto Guild guide, such as Holly, Miles, or MacKenzie, tells spooky tales while horses like Brian, Wayne, and Aiken pull you past graveyards, churches, the Mills House, and the Provost Dungeon. It is wheelchair accessible and returns to 14 Anson Street.

“Very fun. Our guide Holly and Liam the horse were delightful and knowledgable. Holly had a sense of humor and grace under pressure.”

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3.Charleston Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour: Explore Historic Charleston

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,561 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $49

Ride through historic Charleston for about an hour in a covered, open-sided carriage pulled by a gentle horse. Certified guides such as Jim, Luke, Jenny, and Jason Looney share stories about pirates, war, architecture, and local life. Routes vary by city lottery, so landmarks are not guaranteed.

“Brianna was excellent and the staff was friendly and professional. Brianna was knowledgeable on the history of Downtown and her delivery was great. Multiple tours are required to see it all. Highly recommended.”

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4.Historical Downtown Tour by Horse-drawn Carriage

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,009 reviews · 1 hour · from $50

Ride through downtown Charleston for one hour in a covered, custom-built carriage with a licensed English-speaking guide. Hear stories about 350 years of local history while passing Rainbow Row, King Street, White Point Gardens, Charleston Harbor, the Battery, and the 4 Corners of Law. Your exact route is assigned through Charleston’s carriage system.

“Michael H was a great guide and we were led by the greatest horse ever - Jesse. Lots of interesting info from Michael and two votes for Jesse for Equine of the Month.”

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5.Charleston’s Historic Residential Horse and Carriage Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 668 reviews · from $50

Meet the horses at 20 Anson Street, then ride two to three miles through Charleston’s residential Historic District in a custom carriage. A city-licensed guide shares stories of the city, while departures every 30 minutes make this one-hour tour easy to fit into your day. Groups are capped at 10 passengers.

“Our tour guide was amazing! Very entertaining and very knowledgeable. We’re all enjoyed the experience!”

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6.Charleston Horse & Carriage Historic Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 460 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $45Best value

Begin and end at Charleston’s Historic City Market on a one-hour carriage ride through Charleston’s old district. Your route is assigned by a City of Charleston official, so sights vary. Expect a guide-led history lesson, stately homes, churches, gardens, and a chance to meet and photograph the horse.

“Our guide was very knowledgeable and made the experience fun. Helped us find additional places to visit.”

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7.Downtown Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 459 reviews · from $50

Meet at the big red barn of Palmetto Carriage Works for a one-hour carriage ride through Downtown Charleston. Your English-speaking licensed guide points out mansions, gardens, churches, parks, and cultural landmarks while sharing history with humor. Guides such as Jeremy, Sims, Scott, Blake, and Van have earned praise for clear storytelling. The tour returns to the barn.

“We loved our guide and everything ran on time. We will definitely be back.”

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8.Haunted Carriage Evening Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 427 reviews · 40 min · from $50

Ride with Old South Carriage Co. through Charleston’s 15-block historic core for 40 minutes of ghost stories and city history. Your Palmetto Guild guide may be Holly, Noelle, Jeff, or another local storyteller, while a gentle draft horse leads the way past the Old Exchange, Provost Dungeon, churches, graveyards, and City Market.

“Loved being in the home drawn carriage and our horse was awesome! The tour was fun and the guide very funny and informative.”

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9.Private Daytime Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour of Charleston

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 340 reviews · 1 hour (approx.)

Start at the Big Red Barn near Charleston City Market for a private one-hour carriage ride for up to four people. A certified guide such as Bob, Kevin, Jason, or Josh narrates the trip through 25 to 30 historic blocks, passing churches, grand homes, gardens, Rainbow Row, and the City Market. The route is assigned by lottery, so exact sights are not guaranteed.

“The architecture of the cities beautiful historic buildings and gardens. We came a little early and they let us go early. It was an unforgettable experience. Thank You!”

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