There’s no better way to soak up Charleston’s charm than by horse-drawn carriage, where the trotting of hooves on old cobblestone streets and incomparable Southern charm transport you to another time.

It’s one of the most iconic ways to see the city, with the intimate feeling of the breeze blowing through your hair while maximizing your time by avoiding more lengthy walking tours.

There are a surprising amount of different types of horse carriage tours, so whether you’re interested in architecture and aristocracy or the Revolutionary War or Gullah culture, there’s something for everyone.

I’ve gone ahead and reviewed the 5 top Charleston horse carriage rides out there, which are all worth your time and money. Let’s jump right in!

Be sure to see our reviews of Charleston Plantation Tours, Charleston Food Tours and Charleston Boat Tours.

Best Charleston Horse Carriage Ride Tours

	Charleston Downtown Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour	Charleston, SC: Private Daytime Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride	Charleston: Haunted Carriage Evening Tour
Location:	Palmetto Carriage Works, 8 Guignard St, Charleston	Old South Carriage Company, 8 Guignard St, Charleston	14 Anson St, Charleston
Start:	Between 9:00 AM & 5:00 PM	Between 9:00 AM & 5:00 PM	Between 5:30 PM & 10:00 PM
Duration:	1 hour	1 hour	40 minutes
Includes:	Horse carriage ride, guide	60-minute private carriage ride, licensed private tour guide	Carriage ride, walking tour, live guide
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Charleston Horse Carriage Rides For 2025

1. Charleston: Downtown Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour
2. Charleston, SC: Private Daytime Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride
3. Charleston: Haunted Carriage Evening Tour
4. Charleston: Historical Downtown Tour by Horse-Drawn Carriage
5. Charleston: Evening Haunted History Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour

Charleston Horse Carriage Tour Reviews

1. Charleston Downtown Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour

No matter how packed your itinerary is, I guarantee there is somewhere in your day where you have at least an hour available. Even if you’re super busy, the Charleston: Downtown Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour is a fine choice for appreciating history and the beautiful architecture all around you.

As the oldest operating carriage company in all of the city, you can count on their refined storytelling and vast knowledge to bring you a fascinating experience!

As the tour is only an hour long, there are a ton of different start times available, making it that much easier to fit into a busy schedule. Start out by meeting your guide by the big red barn belonging to Palmetto Carriage Works, which is pretty much impossible to miss.

The staff was super friendly and made the check-in and boarding process seamless and quick, already starting off on the right foot. Keep in mind that this isn’t a completely private tour, so unless you have a large group coming with you, you’ll likely be sharing a carriage with some other people.

However, for the ultra-affordable price and great quality all-around, it’s a fantastic option if you’re on a tighter budget. The guide we had was amazing, and he instantly felt like an old friend who just happened to be a local expert!

Set off through the historic downtown area, learning all about the history of the beautiful mansions, churches, and parks that line the streets along the way. It’s not just the guide doing the talking, however – it’s a fully interactive experience where you’ll get to ask all the questions you want!

If you’re looking for a relatively quick but comprehensive way to learn about Charleston, this is a nice choice!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

Other Charleston Experiences You May Enjoy:

2. Charleston, SC: Private Daytime Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride

While there are many cities I feel you can kind of skim through and still get a general idea of what it’s like, Charleston is a city that you really shouldn’t rush through.

Just like how the Southern vibe overall is a lot slower, this next tour focuses on telling a story through authentic anecdotes and historic accounts with a professional guide there to lead the way! If that sounds like fun to you, do yourself a favor and check out the Charleston, SC: Private Daytime Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride tour!

If the previous tour sounded interesting to you but you’re looking for something exclusively for you and your party, this should be at the top of your list. Just like the other, it lasts an hour, but as it’s completely private, you’ll be able to learn and see just a bit more.

Meet up at the carriage company, check in, and get ready to enjoy Charleston just a few feet above street level, rolling past vividly-colored mansions, gas-lit alleyways, and all kinds of fascinating historical markers!

If you’re a history buff or would simply like to learn a bit more about Charleston, this tour is a great way to do so. Our guide did a great job of taking us through the different centuries of history, bringing to life its colonial beginnings to its bustling and modern present.

Complete with antebellum mansions, beautiful gardens, and plenty of history, this carriage ride will take you right to the heart of what makes it so special.

Capable of holding up to 4 seated passengers, it’s perfect for a unique date activity, smaller friend groups, or the entire family – children under 2 can sit on adults’ laps!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

3. Charleston: Haunted Carriage Evening Tour

Charleston is one of the most history-rich cities in the US, where it feels like some of the most scandalous stories are sitting right beneath its surface. If you’re looking to learn about the ghost stories, scandals, and tragedies that have taken place here in a tasteful, educational manner, this tour is just for you.

The Charleston: Haunted Carriage Evening Tour is far from a gimmick – instead focusing on the eerie remnants of Charleston’s past. I’ve taken many a ghost tour, and every single one has been different, yet none are even remotely similar to this creepy yet fascinating haunted carriage tour!

With every single guide on these tours being a member of the Palmetto Guild, they’re required to be incredibly knowledgeable and that’s evident here. After all, covering a whopping 300 years of history in Charleston is no easy feat – especially when speaking about some of the most creepy scenes this city has seen.

Start off at the Old South Carriage Company’s stables and set off through Historic Charleston, complete with comfy blankets to keep you warm as it does get quite chilly at night. The sound of our horse and carriage trotting and rolling over the cobblestone streets definitely set the scene for a trip back in time – albeit with a bit of an unsettling feel ideal for a proper haunted adventure.

We passed historic places like the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon as well as certain homes known for their paranormal activity and intense stories – visiting the graveyard was also equal parts terrifying and fascinating!

Despite covering some serious and at times somber material, we had plenty of smiles and jokes shared with our guide. Ultimately, I’d recommend this tour to anyone interested in the “darker” or perhaps more raw side of Charleston’s history, even if you’re bringing kids along.

Oh, and if you happen to be going around October, it simply can’t be beat with its spooky yet educational vibes!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. Charleston: Historical Downtown Tour by Horse-Drawn Carriage

It’s not often that you find a city with a walkable, small-town feel with a thriving culinary scene, a beautiful waterfront, countless different important national landmarks, and breathtaking architecture.

However, you’ll find all that and more in Charleston – currently one of the most popular American cities comprised of a wide array of different cultures and nationalities. The Charleston: Historical Downtown Tour by Horse-Drawn Carriage is the perfect way to explore it in just one hour, gaining insight into what makes it so special.

With its subtropical climate, Charleston boasts good weather all year round, with an impressive 230 days of sunshine each year. This makes for the perfect climate for exploring the city in the open air, making a carriage tour that much more pleasant, no matter the season.

Not to mention, this is one of the most affordable tours of its kind, which is great if you’re looking to save some cash without compromising on quality.

After meeting up with your guide, you and the rest of your small group will hop onboard the carriage and set off through historic downtown as your driver regales you with live commentary about the city.

Pass iconic sites like the harbor, Rainbow Row, King Street, White Point Gardens, the Battery, and much more, learning about the significance and history behind each one. It was a nice way to see all the varied, beautiful neighborhoods and incredible architecture that you’ll only find right here in the Holy City.

Aside from that, the carriage itself was beautiful, with comfortable seating, completely unobstructed views, and a horse that seemed to know the route just as well as the driver! If you’ve just arrived to the city and want to get the lay of the land along with plenty of places to visit later, look no further than this tour!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. Charleston Evening Haunted History Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour

Charleston is one of those cities where it feels like the past never completely leaves – it’s always hanging around the corner or down a gas-lit alleyway. If you’re looking to learn about a completely different side of the Holy City’s history, check out the Charleston: Evening Haunted History Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour!

Unlike the other haunted carriage tour, I’d say this one is a bit scarier and thus, more appropriate for adults and teenagers. This tour does a great job of tapping into the scary factor, peeling back the city’s polished facade a bit and diving into the darker aspect of its history.

Doing so in a horse-drawn carriage evokes a kind of nostalgia from an era you never lived in, along with the clipping of hooves echoing off of centuries-old buildings. Start out by meeting your guide and the rest of your small group at the Big Red Barn, and set off to learn about the restless spirits and tragedies that took place here.

The horse we had was so adorable and sweet and seemed to know the route quite well, with our tour guide chatting about the different haunted sites, offering insight into the different centuries.

While we learned about the more well-known sites like the Provost Dungeon and Old Exchange, our guide also shared stories about where duels were fought and more locally-known hauntings occur – things you won’t learn from a simple Google search.

If you’re looking for a lively and fun way to get acquainted with Charleston, I highly recommend this excursion! If you’re going to be around for at least a couple of days, definitely take it earlier on in your visit!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience