About Activity
Get a taste of the authentic antebellum American south with this self-guided walking tour of Charleston, SC. Explore historic districts packed with lovely shops and beautiful architecture as you learn about the city’s founding, its growth into a major metropolis, and how the Revolutionary War and Civil War changed it forever. This tour offers a comprehensive view of this fascinating city and its past.
After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.
New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Includes
- Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
- Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
- Just bring your phone and headphones; the app guides your walk.
- Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
- Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
- Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
- Private walking tour experience for your family or group.
- Access your tour in our separate audio tour app after booking.
- Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.
Excludes
- No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.
Departure Point
- Start on Market St near 152 Market St, Charleston, SC, just west of King St by The Riviera Theater. Suggested start; we’re not affiliated, so nearby staff won’t have tour info. Audio starts automatically—check email/text for setup, download ahead on strong internet.
Stop At: Circular Congregational Church The church was established in 1681, making it one of the oldest continuously worshiping congregations in the South. Originally known as the White Meeting House, it was built as a meeting place for Dissenters who did not conform to the Church of England. The current circular building was constructed in 1891 after the original building was destroyed by fire.
NOTE: The tour is over 2+ miles long, with more than 45+ audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete.
New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
Please note: This is a city tour, so construction, road closures, traffic, or local events may occasionally affect the route. We recommend checking current conditions and planning ahead before you begin.
Stop At: Hibernian Hall was constructed in 1840 and served as the meeting place for the Hibernian Society of Charleston. The Hibernian Society was established in 1801 by Irish immigrants and their descendants to provide aid, support, and cultural activities within the Irish community in Charleston.
Stop At: South Carolina Historical Society Museum The South Carolina Historical Society (SCHS) was founded in 1855 and is one of the oldest historical societies in the United States. Its mission is to collect, preserve, and promote the history of South Carolina and its people. The SCHS Museum serves as the primary public face of the organization, showcasing the society's extensive collection and offering educational programs to visitors.
Stop At: The Four Corners of Law is a term used to describe the intersection of Broad and Meeting Streets in downtown Charleston. It refers to four significant buildings, each representing a different aspect of law and government. The name highlights the diverse legal and governmental institutions that converge at this intersection.
Stop At: South Carolina Society Hall The South Carolina Society Hall, also known as the South Carolina Society for the Preservation of Spirituals, is an architectural gem that was constructed in 1803. The building was originally commissioned by the South Carolina Society, a social and charitable organization founded in 1737. The society played a significant role in Charleston's political, social, and cultural life.
Stop At: I know what you’re thinking! But no, Pringle has no connection to the popular snack. But his story is a great example of life for a European colonist in early Charleston.
Stop At: The ornate home two houses down from the Miles Brewton House is the Patrick O’Donnell House. Rumor has it that O’Donnell wanted this house to be perfect for his fiancee. So perfect, in fact, that it took 12 years to build this house.
Stop At: White Point Garden has a rich history dating back to the early days of Charleston. Originally known as Oyster Point, the park was a public gathering place as early as the 18th century. It has served as a defensive position during times of war and has witnessed significant events in Charleston's history.
Stop At: Charleston was a strategically significant city during the Civil War due to its deepwater port and its role as a major center for the production and export of cotton. Controlling Charleston was vital for both the Confederate and Union forces.
Stop At: The monument is dedicated to the memory of General William Moultrie, a prominent figure in the American Revolutionary War. Moultrie was the commander of the fort on Sullivan's Island, now known as Fort Moultrie, during the pivotal Battle of Sullivan's Island in 1776.
Stop At: The Palmer Home was built in 1825 for Thomas Bennett Jr., who served as the Governor of South Carolina from 1820 to 1822. The house is named after John Ravenel Palmer, who purchased it in 1861. The Palmer family owned the property for several decades.
Stop At: Edmondston-alston House The Edmondston-Alston House was built in 1825 and has a rich history tied to the Charleston area. The house has seen many notable residents and visitors throughout its existence.
Stop At: This alleyway is known as Longitude Lane, one of Charleston’s most picturesque attractions. Remember that fake cannon in White Point Garden? This is the lane where the real cannon was taken from!
Stop At: Rainbow Row The houses on Rainbow Row have a rich history. They were originally built as mercantile stores and residences for merchants and traders. Over the years, the buildings have been restored and preserved, contributing to Charleston's architectural and cultural heritage.
Stop At: This memorial marks the land where many slave auctions occurred in the late 1700s and early 1800s. It’s a stark reminder of what was actually at stake during the Civil War.
Stop At: Pineapple Fountain See that fountain shaped like a pineapple? It was built in 1990, but references a neat bit of Charleston history.
Stop At: On your right is the Old Slave Mart Museum. It’s similar to the Old Exchange that we saw earlier, but with some notable differences.
Stop At: Dock Street Theater This building began as a theatre in 1736, and reopened once more as a theatre in 1937. But what about the years in between?
Stop At: St. Philip's Anglican Church You may notice that this church juts out onto Church Street. In fact, the whole street bends a little all along the church, then straightens out again. What went on there?
Stop At: It’s been here since 1804, and houses arts and crafts from locals, Gullah sweetgrass baskets, and tons of delicious food.
Public transportation options are available nearby Suitable for all physical fitness levels Please note: This is a city tour, so construction, road closures, traffic, or local events may occasionally affect the route. We recommend checking current conditions and planning ahead before you begin. Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience. Private tour: Follow the route on your phone without an in-person guide or crowded group. At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops. Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service. Multi-device access: Use the same password on one device for each traveler included in your booking. More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours. Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal. Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app. Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward. Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability. Savings tips: Walking tours: couples can share a tour by using separate earbuds. We recommend using headphones or earbuds for clearer audio and to avoid disturbing nearby guests. Operated by Adventures with Action For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
The GPS was right now and...Margaret_H
The GPS was right now and we learned a lot about Charleston. The only negative was it was very hard to download. We were sent to another app and were unable to download with the codes given to us by Viator. We finally called the partner app and after a few calls they were able to help us access the download. They said this happens a lot and people have to call to get it to work. But once we were able to download it was great. But very frustrating to begin with
This tour was great- easy to manage and follow on our phone- we were able to go at our own pace. Stopping to rest or explore-
Lots of information on Charleston’s history at a great price
I loved how I could tour...John_W
I loved how I could tour the city at my own pace. I was able to stop & resume whenever I wanted, & the history I learned was fantastic.
Not able to arrive at start of tour due to road closures. No parking near stops. Many street closed.
Tour is fine, process to get the necessary tech not disclosed before payment & cumbersomemlh000
The tour itself was fine, once we got it going. But the technology to get there & the disclosures in advance about that were a real pain. Users are not notified before payment that they will need to download an app - so we paid, and then some of our group had real trouble downloading the app (for common technical reasons). We lost a lot of time with that and it delayed our experience.
Do NOT register for this tour through Viator! It told us to start on Meeting Street ( 2+miles) from the actual start of the tour. Once we downloaded the tour, we had to walk well over 2 miles in what felt like a wild goose chase to get to the actual starting point using Google Maps, which kept changing as we walked. We wasted a whole hour trying to find the starting point. Halfway through the tour, our phone battery died, so we didn't get to finish. The actual tour was decent, but the overall experience was highly disappointing.
Excellent people doing...raemarlatt
Jan 19, 2026, 11:20:18 AM Excellent people doing customer care and an excellent way to learn about a city
Very easy to understand the system
Nice to be able to take...Lisa_S
Oct 10, 2025, 10:51:01 AM Nice to be able to take breaks and see museums along the way or stop for lunch. It’s also great to be able to stop for pictures.
really good - downloadable so you dont need wifi and interesting.
Very good history and cleverly constructed
Another Satisfied History Buff!Lisa_B
We saw an amazing amount of historical sites and it was wonderful! Being able to listen to all the incredible history was really awesome! Being able to stop at sites and just take our time was just what we needed! It was wonderful that the market was near our last stop so we could be able to look at all the wonderful craft stands available...Thank you for making our vacation even more special! I would definitely suggest this if you are visiting Charleston...You won't be disappointed! :)
Like that I could use this offline. However it frequently didn't advance by itself and I had to keep toggling back and forth between map and tour. So. Times I had to force it to tell me what I was seeing. It wa raining and I didn't like having to keep my phone out in the rain. Also felt the info could have been a little more in depth.
Is was a nice tour. Good pace. Could add even more info. I love history. No bathroom easily available for the first half. Just keep that in mind
Easy to use and informative. Great to take at your own pace. Easy to follow directions and easy to detour and return.
Mar 12, 2025, 11:18:04 AM Well planned out path. Nice voice on audio. Liked the extra deep dives of information. A little glitchy getting the gps portion working smoothly but it settled down. Definitely worth the price paid.
Not much depth to the...Grant_R
Not much depth to the commentary. Annoying follow ups asking for reviews. But in the absence of other audio tours this is an ok commentary.
Worked great will buy againParadise782709
Feb 23, 2025, 10:10:17 PM The app worked wonderfully as long as you were on the correct side of the street. If not, . the audio did not get triggered. If you did take a detour, the program would start back up as soon as you got back in position. Would certainly use this company y again.
GPS-Based Self Guide App - works great!Agnes_S
We used this App driving the Newport Mansions on Rhode Island. We loved it and ordered it again for walking tour (works for driving too) in Charleston, SC. GPS-based, and works better with your phone on the whole time (not sleep mode). Keep up the good work. Highly recommended.
Great self walking tour of Charleston!shellys922
Enjoyed the automated features and info at each site. Very enjoyable to do this at our pace! Took about 2 hours which was perfect!
Relaxed fun tour with family Auxi_A
Very convenient doing it with family. You can stop take a break or continue whenever you want to. I listened the comments again at home after the tour.
Clear narrator, interesting storiesLaVerne_D
Excellent narration. Action app worked very well on my newer Galaxy phone, not so well on my husband's much older phone. We would have liked to split the tour into 2 days, but only had one. Note- tour doesn't actually start until stop #3 AND bathrooms are very scarce on the 1st half of the walk. Good history and interesting stories.
Charleston was beautiful and we certainly enjoyed the day, however, there were several points of interest that had no audio. We came to the end of a path and there were no directions. We walked about 1/2 mile before it picked up again.
We did just as well when we gave up on the tour halfway through and did our own meandering.
The tour its self was great - unfortunately one of tours didn’t load. After wasting about 45 mins trying to download on WiFi off WiFi everything, I called customer service and they refused to refund the ticket. There was nobody local to call and the national number says you have to address it locally.
Buyer beware of this…. Why I’m giving only 3 stars
Wonderful and easy!Brittany_S
Easy and fun way to get a quick walk with a tour in when stopping in Charleston for a work trip! I loved it!
Best way to see and learn about CharlestonGallopingHelm
This walking tour was great. We loved it way more than a group tour. We took our time, learned and saw a lot. Took breaks for beers and food along the way. I would fully recommend this 100%.
Great way to learn about a new city!Michael N
This is an excellent way to learn about the city during your first few days. This excellent, inexpensive self-guided tour covers approximately 50 sites over a few hours, provides good walking instructions and useful history. Personally, I feel that there could have been more specifics.
Good application-worked well for us.alexb75024
Oct 26, 2023, 11:21:00 AM Works well. Good information and directions for Charleston. Liked that we can stop and pickup anytime. End up canceling guided in person tour in Savannah and buying tour on this app because of flexibility.
I liked being on my own time line. Easy to use. Lots of interesting facts. I owuld recommend for a solo or couple. May not work well with a large group.
There are a lot of sites passed along the way without commentary. The potential for the partnering of tech and solo tour is really cool - but there is so much more in between the listed sites that should be reviewed that we’re completely missing.
Charleston FunQ6416PIgeorgew
We enjoyed the tour. It was wonderful to go at our own pace and GPS locator was amazingly accurate. We broke the tour into two days, which worked great for us
May 14, 2023, 10:25:53 AM The background stories and plaques helped out puzzle pieces together. I stopped to read the signs. We took our time and the walk took several hours.
I suggest more content for the tour.
The tour was full of...mcallahan66
The tour was full of history and information on this charming city. I would recommend this walking tour. We stopped at a local place along the way for a drink and again for lunch. It took us about 4 hours. One section of the tour went through a housing project and probably should be removed from the route. Other than that, it was safe.
