Where to Ride: the 11 Best Historic Rides

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.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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3.New Orleans Small-Group Haunted History Carriage Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,289 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $65

Join Royal Carriages at 700 Decatur Street for a one-hour evening ride with up to eight people. Guides such as Matt, Trish, Leman, and Charles share French Quarter history, ghost tales, disasters, and the true story behind LaLaurie Mansion from a covered mule-drawn carriage.

“Fun. Driver did his research. Knew his stuff. He really put himself into the story telling. Made me wanna go investigate the stories a little more”

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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.#1 Historical Horse Drawn Carriage Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 454 reviews · 55 minutes (approx.)

Spend 55 minutes touring Beaufort in a blue horse-drawn carriage with a guide such as Charlotte, Annie, or Tyler. Hear stories from 1712 to today, pass live oaks, churches, gardens, Antebellum homes, and Victorian cottages, and meet a gentle carriage horse such as Link, Wyatt, or Bandit.

“Very informative, interesting, scenic. Our guide was outstanding and our horse was well trained and behaved.”

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8.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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9.Horse Drawn Daytime Group Narrated Historic Overview Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 101 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.)

Ride through Savannah’s historic center in a covered carriage for 45 to 50 minutes, hearing stories from an English-speaking guide while passing squares, Forsyth Park, Chippewa Square, Jones Street, and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Public carriages hold up to 12 people.

“Take the trolly tour, much better. You will see a lot more. Person giving the tour seemed to be not that knowledgeable compared to the trolley people.”

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10.Heritage Horse-Drawn Carriage Experience in Victoria

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 30 minutes (approx.)

Take a private 30-minute horse-drawn carriage ride from Belleville Street through James Bay, Old Town, and past Carr House. Your uniformed guide shares Victoria’s colonial past, while horses such as Clay, Remy, or Ace set an easy pace. Blankets and a convertible roof help in cool or damp weather.

“This was a great tour, and a great price! Our tour guides Chantelle and Ace (the horse) were great! It was a beautiful experience for my family to see a bit of downtown Victoria!”

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11.1-Hour Carriage Tour – Historic Center and Renaissance Walls

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · 1 hour (approx.)

See Lucca from a horse-drawn carriage with guide Marika, exploring the historic center and Renaissance walls in about an hour. You’ll pass Piazza Napoleone, San Michele, the Roman amphitheater, Torre Guinigi, and quiet lanes. The private ride costs $192.44 for up to five people.

“Excellent experience and very nice host. Roamed around the city and toured it in one hour. Highly recommended if you need save a bit time especially.”

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