11 Charleston Horse Riding Tours Worth the Saddle Time

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

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

Board at 14 Anson Street for a one-hour carriage ride through 30 blocks of historic Charleston. A certified Palmetto Guild guide narrates the route, while a Belgian or Percheron draft horse carries you past mansions, gardens, iron gates, churches, and historic homes. The exact route is assigned by lottery.

“The guide was wonderful !! Very knowledgeable and great personality ! Love the horse she was 12 years old and beautiful !!”

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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 carriage at Old South Carriage Company for a 40-minute evening ride through Charleston’s old walled city. A certified guide such as Holly or Miles shares ghost stories near the Provost Dungeon, graveyards, churches, and former pirate waters. The route is wheelchair accessible and returns to 14 Anson Street.

“Miles and Jameson were awesome. Freezing cold outside. But we thoroughly enjoyed them !! And the tour. We are basically locals. Born in Charleston just always wanted to do the tour. A must do if visiting !! Loved it all !! Merry Christmas !!!!!”

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

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

Meet your certified guide at the Big Red Barn near City Market for a one-hour carriage ride through roughly 30 blocks of historic Charleston. Guides such as Jim, Jenny, Luke, and Jason mix local stories with humor, while the city assigns your route. Carriages seat up to 16 and return to the barn.

“Jenny and her horse Howard were terrific! The hours was filled with history about Charleston. She was funny and gave us so many great facts.. we were only in Charleston for the day and I think it was my favorite part of the day. So glad we did this.. we use via tour anytime we can whether it be the Brooklyn Bridge in New York or the Vatican in Italy. You guys get it right every time. Thank you!”

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4.Historical Downtown Tour by Horse-drawn Carriage

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

Spend one hour with a licensed English-speaking guide from Old South Carriage Co, riding through Charleston’s historic downtown in a custom carriage. Guides such as Carol, Mike, Christina, and Donald mix city history with local stories while your route may include Rainbow Row, King Street, White Point Gardens, and the Battery.

“The guide was very informative and explained a lot about the city and the horse.”

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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 Historic District in a custom carriage. A city-licensed guide handles the history and humor. Tours last about an hour, leave every 30 minutes, and take up to 10 people.

“Our experience was seamless. Everyone was super friendly. The location was easy to find, and our guide was very fun and knowledgeable about the area.”

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6.Charleston Horse & Carriage Historic Sightseeing Tour

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

Ride for about an hour from Charleston City Market with a professional guide and a horse such as Amigo, Chico, or Grayman. Hear stories of Charleston’s past, pass Battery gardens, Rainbow Row, churches, and grand homes, then finish where you began. Routes vary by day.

“A worthwhile hour tour and history lesson. My husband and I were impressed with our tour guide and her experience with horses. A real live”horse whisperer” ! She also has a through knowledge of Charleston’s history and current life. Our only regret was not having any cash on us for a well deserved tip.”

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7.Downtown Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour

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

Ride through historic downtown Charleston in a horse-drawn carriage with an English-speaking licensed guide. You’ll see mansions, gardens, churches, parks, and residential streets while hearing stories about Charleston’s past and culture. The one-hour tour begins and ends at Palmetto Carriage Works.

“I had a fantastic time on the tour. We booked a total of 7 friends, so we were more than excited to take the ride together. The stables, horses, and staff all looked very professional and well-maintained. It was a hot day, and we all really appreciated the thoughtful gesture of being offered a bottle of cold water while we waited in the staging area. In hindsight, we should have taken a bottle with us on the tour as well. The guide was very knowledgeable and shared interesting historical facts. However, I would have liked to learn more about the African American contributions to the culture, building, and establishment of…”

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8.Private Daytime Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour of Charleston

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

Settle into a private carriage for up to four people and tour 25 to 30 blocks of Charleston with a certified guide. You may pass Rainbow Row, the City Market, St. Philip’s Church, the Custom House, and the Battery, though the city assigns the route by lottery.

“Tours are a nice way to spend additional time with family and are very informative. We will definitely be back sometime in the near future.”

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9.Charleston Haunted Horse and Carriage Evening Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 253 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $50

Meet at Palmetto Carriage Works for a 45-minute evening ride through Charleston’s old city. Your guide, possibly Fox, Kevin, Big Mike, or another local storyteller, covers haunted tales, architecture, churches, and places such as the Circular Church graveyard, Old Exchange, and Four Corners of Law.

“We live in the area and we were really missing out on a wonderful special experience!! Elliott and Donnie made it extra special!!”

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10.Private Historic Horse & Carriage Tour of Charleston

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 103 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.)

Set out from Charleston City Market on a 50-minute private carriage ride for up to four people. Guides such as Daniel, Ricky, Kiki, and Dr. Tim bring local history and humor, while the city assigns the route before departure.

“The private carriage ride was perfect for my wife and me. We loved learning more about the history and architecture of Charleston. Carriage cart was comfortable and the driver was great!”

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11.Private Evening Carriage Tour Charleston – Palmetto Carriage

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · 30 minutes (approx.)

Ride through historic Charleston in a private horse-drawn carriage for up to four people. Your professional guide covers the City Market, old churches, public buildings, George Washington connections, and local hauntings during a cooler evening outing.

“Evan was amazing! We learned and laughed the entire time. Absolute best tour guide ever. Highly recommend.”

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