Charleston Waterfront Park Tours
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Waterfront porch swings, a giant pineapple fountain, and grassy areas perfect for lazing the day away make Waterfront Park feel like Charleston’s personal backyard. Watch the boats float by on the river, snap photos, and enjoy the park’s family-friendly amenities—they keep this park a favorite hangout spot for locals and visitors alike.
The Basics
For an afternoon picnic or fun with the kids, Waterfront Park is an excellent choice. The 12-acre (4.9-hectare) park is a favorite for its wide-open spaces, neat walking trails, and fantastic views of the Ashley River from Vendue Wharf. The park also has two fountains: one giant pineapple fountain that’s perfect for taking photos, and one smaller splash zone that’s a hit with kids who want to cool off.
Many Charleston walking and carriage tours pass by the park, but because of its central location, Waterfront Park is an easy add-on to your independent sightseeing itinerary too.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Charleston Waterfront Park is a lovely spot for all visitors to Charleston, especially families with children.
- There isn’t much shade at the park, so be sure to bring sun protection.
- Tote swimsuits and towels to make the most of the splash zone.
- Public restrooms are available within walking distance of the park.
- The park is accessible to wheelchair users and strollers.
How to Get There
Waterfront Park is located on the eastern edge of the Charleston peninsula, at the end of Concord Street. There is street and lot parking nearby, and the park is also a stop on the free downtown DASH shuttle’s green line.
When to Get There
The always-popular Waterfront Park is free and open to the public year-round. Check the weather before you visit to ensure that you can make the most of your time there. If you’re interested in taking photos, consider going at sunset and staying until the fountain lights turn on—it’s worth the wait.
Waterfront Park Tours
If you want to visit Waterfront Park without spending a valuable chunk of your vacation time, consider going on a guided tour. Get an overview of the park’s highlights, snap a photo, and then move on to the city’s bigger-name attractions nearby like the Battery, Rainbow Row, and the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon.
Address: Concord Street, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
20 Tours and Activities to Experience Charleston Waterfront Park
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Daytime Horse-Drawn Carriage Sightseeing Tour of Historic Charleston
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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.
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Undiscovered Charleston: 1/2 Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class
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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.
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Charleston in a Nutshell Private Tours
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This private sightseeing tour of Charleston offers a local perspective on the most charming city in the South. Beat the crowds of bus tours and go where carriage rides can’t as your licensed guide drives you around the peninsula in the comfort of a private vehicle. As you drive past top sights like Waterfront Park and the Battery, hear stories of Charleston history and culture in the Holy City.
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Charleston Harbor History Day-Time or Sunset Boat Cruise
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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 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.
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2-Hour Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour
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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.
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Evening Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour of Downtown Charleston
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Discover downtown Charleston on a Southern-style carriage ride that passes through the Commercial District and Waterfront Park. Learn about the history, architecture, and people of this old South Carolina city throughout the tour.
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Charleston's Alleys & Hidden Passages Guided Small-Group Walking Tour
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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.
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Schooner Sunset Sail on Charleston Harbor
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Watch the sunset from the water on a 2-hour evening cruise aboard an 84-foot (25-meter) classic tall ship. As the crew hoists the sails of the schooner, you'll glide through Charleston Harbor to enjoy the glow of twilight over one of the oldest cities in the U.S. Drinks are available for purchase on board.
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Lost Stories of Black Charleston Walking Tour
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Get an inside perspective on Charleston's lesser-known black history during this 2-hour walking tour. Listen as your guide tells forgotten folktales and facts about important figures in the city's history.
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Charleston See-It-All Sightseeing Bus Tour
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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.
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Face masks required for travelers in public areas
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Charleston Harbor Speed Boat Adventure Tour
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Get behind the wheel of an F13 speedboat for a guided tour of Charleston Harbor. Learn the basics of operating the speedboat from your guide, and then follow the guide boat past the Battery, under the Ravenel Bridge, to the USS Yorktown, and more, stopping for photo ops and to optionally change drivers. Small-group tour is limited to eight people or fewer.
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Face masks required for travelers in public areas
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Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More
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Experience the charm and beauty of Charleston on a morning or afternoon walking tour. With an entertaining guide, take a leisurely stroll through the city’s Historic District, passing antebellum mansions, hidden gardens, historic churches and graveyards, as well as famous sites like Fort Sumter, Rainbow Row, and the Waterfront Battery. Along the way, learn about Charleston’s rich history and contemporary culture.
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Face masks required for travelers in public areas
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French Quarter Historic Charleston Walk
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This historical overview of Charleston's French Quarter highlights the Holy City's finest points of interest. Bring a camera to capture the beauty, and enjoy a breathtaking walk through colonial and early American architecture. Your native Charleston guide will show you unique landmarks with intriguing narratives of how these structures originated. The tour includes visits through cobblestone alleys and passages to admire the spectacular historic fabric of the district. The tour also includes an easy stroll along Charleston's majestic harbor with its castle and forts that shaped much of America's maritime and military history.
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Historic Colonial Charles Towne Evening Carriage Tour
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Discover Charleston's colonial roots on this evening carriage tour within the city of Charles Towne's original boundaries. Travel with a horse and buggy, just as the colonists did, on an evening tour that spares you from the midday heat as you learn about Charleston history between 1680-1770, including a visit to the oldest building in Charleston, the Four Corners of Law, Waterfront Park, and more.
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Charleston Land & Sea Combo: Historical Sightseeing Bus Tour with Harbor Cruise
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On this historical Charleston tour, journey back in time as your guide reveals the beauty and charm of one of America's most historic cities. Learn about the history of Charleston and discover its pivotal role in American history with visits to more than 100 points of interest including Rainbow Row, Colonial Lake, the Old Exchange Building and Whitepoint Gardens. This tour combines a 90 minute Historic City Tour with a 90 minute narrated, non-stop Harbor Tour. The harbor tour may be taken in conjunction with the city tour or you may choose to split them up and take them on separate days.
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Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
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Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
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Charleston Historical Walking Tour: Pirates, Patriots, and More
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Discover the "Holy City" with a professional Guide on this comprehensive Walking Tour through the popular sites of Charleston, South Carolina. Follow your guide on a leisurely stroll down cobbled alleyways and boulevards lined with grand antebellum homes as you listen to a highlight reel of Charleston history. Stop long enough to snap photos at top landmarks like the Battery, Rainbow Row, Waterfront Park, Old Customs Exchange, Nathaniel Russell House, Whitepoint Garden, and St. Michael's Church.
Walk with us and learn about bawdy taverns & pirates, heroic patriots, the grandeur of antebellum architecture, the devastation of the Civil War, and much more! History will come alive as we stroll through the historic streets and gardens of the “Holy City.”
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The Death and Depravity Ghost Tour in Charleston
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You will explore Charleston's seedier history. From the city's brothels to gritty true crime stories, We will open the door to the darker side of human nature. Combining aspects of the truly horrific, the scandalously salacious and the just-plan-weird, this ghost tour is a unique look at a city which largely ignores its dark past. Brothels, murders, suicides, demonic entities - just some of what you'll hear about on this tour. The Death and Depravity Ghost Tour contains mature themes and language.
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Face masks required for travelers in public areas
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Ghost Walking Tour and Pub Crawl in Haunted Charleston
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Combine the mystery of a haunted tour with fun of a pub crawl for a great night out. A guide will lead the group on a 2.5-hour walking tour through historic downtown Charleston. Stop at several bars along the way, each housed in historic buildings with their own unique ghosts and stories. Guests will have time to enjoy a delicious libation as the guide tells them all about the fascinating history of Charleston and some of its most famous and creepy haunted stories!
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Face masks required for travelers in public areas
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Lonely Planet Experiences: Private Walking Tour of Charming Charleston
One of America's oldest cities - and one of its wealthiest preceding the Civil War - a visit to Charleston is a walk through the pages of the country's history books.
With nearly four centuries of history, Charleston is jam-packed with stories waiting to be heard. Let yourself be transported into the romanticism of the painted houses and the beautiful waterfront. Enjoy the easy stroll the city - Charleston is a flat city, and perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a day at a leisurely pace.
On your private walking tour, your guide will discuss with you the first few centuries of the city - the way the slave-trade evolved over the years, and the way the system made Charleston the wealthiest city in the South; then hear how the Civil War dismantled and destroyed the city's infrastructure. To walk in Charleston is to grapple with the complexity of its past, while seeing the work it has done and continues to do to make its Southern hospitality inclusive and sincere to all.
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Price varies by group size
From
$220.00
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Charleston's Private Old South Carriage Evening Tour
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Put a romantic twist on Charleston sightseeing with this private horse and carriage tour of the historic district. Trot through a 15-block area of cobbled streets, passing lovely homes, historic monuments, and more, all while your licensed guide shares stories about Charleston’s fascinating history. Because this tour is just for you and your party of up to four people, you have plenty of opportunities to ask questions.
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From
$250.00
per group
From
$250.00
per group
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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