Charleston Hop-On Hop-Off Buses

Charleston is one of America's oldest and most iconic cities; with an impressive historical burden there is plenty to see and do in Charleston.

Charleston's tour buses are a great way to see the highlights on a short tour.

Want to know all about them, read on to the end!

Charleston is one of those American cities where it is very easy to walk, the main attractions and points of interest are close to each other, especially when it comes to the old part of the city.

However, those travelling friends who are visiting the city for the first time or whose stay in the city is very short, for example, 1 day to tour Charleston; can benefit greatly from the services of the city's tour bus.

Designed exclusively for tourists, this system tours the most important historical sites and tourist attractions in Old Charleston.

Tours are conducted in minibuses and in small groups, guaranteeing individualised treatment. However, the best part of the tour buses in Charleston is the certified tour guide, who introduces the group to 350 years of history in a tour of less than 2 hours.

It is important to note that the traditional Hop-on Hop-off tour bus service is not available in Charleston. Instead you will find numerous local companies offering a similar service at affordable prices.

In the following sections we'll take a closer look at what the best tour buses in Charleston have to offer on their routes.

You'll even find local companies that complement the city tours with plantation tour options from Charleston, a great way to get the best of what this charming southern destination has to offer.

The route of the various Charleston tour buses share a very similar objective: to tour the highlights of the old city. As a result, the routes and stops are similar.

Although your itinerary and route may vary depending on the company you hire for the experience, some of the highlights you might expect to see include the following:

The Battery

The Battery is the name of Charleston's waterfront promenade from which you can get wonderful views of the Cooper River, the ships that ply its waters and the impressive Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. Due to its strategic location it functioned as a defensive point during the Civil War, so you'll find several memorials in the vicinity.

Many Charleston tour buses include a stop at The Battery on their itinerary so you can walk around and take pictures of the highlights.

Historic Charleston Homes

The Battery boardwalk borders the South of Broad, a residential area filled with stately mansions built in true Southern style in the pre-Civil War years.

Strolling along its handsome facades while listening to revealing historical facts is one of the best things to do in the city.

Old Charleston Churches

Charleston is a city steeped in tradition and religious worship has always been part of the dynamic of its people. In the historic downtown area you'll find several temples that are worth a visit, whether you're a believer or not, for their aesthetic appeal and architecture.

One of them is St. John the Baptist Cathedral, an ancient stone church in the neo-Gothic style with beautiful stained glass windows and oak carved pews.

Charleston City Market

Charleston's Old City Market is a must-see on any tour of the city. It is one of the oldest markets in the United States where locals strive to keep their various traditions alive and present them to the many visitors who flock to this destination.

Rainbow Row

Rainbow Row is known as one of **Charleston'**s most beautiful streets. It is made up of a row of old houses painted in pretty and cheerful colours, which look out onto The Battery and, therefore, the surrounding seascape.

Using the tour bus in Charleston to get to know the city is one of the best decisions you can make.

The main advantage of this service is that you will be accompanied by an expert guide throughout the tour. The guide is in charge of presenting to the group the most important details about each of the places you are going to visit during the tour.

In addition, the excursions are conducted in small, air-conditioned buses. The size of the bus ensures the inclusion of a limited number of passengers and a more personalised service.

Air-conditioned buses are highly beneficial if you are going to the city in very hot months such as July in Charleston or August in Charleston, when high temperatures make walking tours uncomfortable.

When visiting Charleston it is important to know that tour guides in the city are state licensed and certified to offer these services by the various companies.

Sightseeing buses in Charleston mainly tour the Old Town area of the city and the main attractions in a journey of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from the time the bus sets off.

The company will ask travellers to arrive at the meeting point a few minutes before the departure time; in order to give a proper welcome and to accommodate all participants in the right place before departure.

These are almost always circular routes where the last stop corresponds to the starting point or initial meeting point.

The tour bus tours are designed to take in the main points of interest in Charleston's historic district; however, Charleston is a city with an abundance of historic sites, so some highlights may vary depending on the company or person designing the tour.

From the bus it is possible to see houses with the characteristic architecture of the southern United States; also some beautiful landscaped areas of Charleston such as the White Point Garden and the Waterfront Park, with its famous pineapple-shaped fountain.

Some tours stop at The Battery Pier, a key point from which you can see Fort Sumter Island in the distance, which you can get a closer look at by taking a boat tour of Charleston.

In Charleston you will find several companies that offer bus tours in the city and the prices are around the following rates.

• An adult ticket costs around 30€ or 35€; depending on the company this may include all participants over the age of 12.
• A child ticket costs around €20 or €25; depending on the company this usually includes children between the ages of 4 and 11. If you are going to Charleston with children this activity may be of interest to them.
• The senior ticket costs around €28 to €30; this includes people over the age of 62, this type of ticket is not offered by all companies.
• Free for children under 3 years old who must be accompanied by an adult and sit on the legs, not in a separate seat.

Keep in mind that the prices shared here are merely indicative and depending on the company you hire, the length of the journey and whether or not other facilities are included, the price may vary slightly.

For example, some companies offer the Charleston sightseeing bus tour in conjunction with a visit to the Charleston Museum, increasing the time and price variables.

This is an aspect that can vary greatly from company to company, however most companies in Charleston run this type of experience in the same time slot.

• Daytime tour: All companies in the city offer a morning historic tour starting between 10am and 12 noon, every day of the week. The larger companies have several minibuses at their disposal, which is why the tours depart every 30 minutes.
• Afternoon tour: Not all companies in the city offer historical evening tours. The smaller companies offer one or two routes while the larger companies have a bus every 30 minutes on average. The afternoon tours start at 13:00, with the last tours departing around 15:30.

The tour bus in Charleston, unlike other major North American cities, works a little differently. Rather than a hop-on, hop-off style service, you'll find companies that organise tours of strategic points in an effort to give the traveller a short guided tour of the city.

How to buy tickets for the tourist bus:

For this type of adventure, the best alternative is always to purchase tickets in advance using a search service like Hello Tickets, where you'll find some of the best local providers.

This experience is among the best guided tours in Charleston, which is why rush hour tickets can sell out quickly during peak tourist months.

Duration and validity of tickets:

With this type of experience, tickets purchased are valid for a single trip on the time and day reserved at the time of purchase. I recommend structuring your itinerary in advance and purchasing tickets once you have your initial plan organised.

Cancellation policy:

You should carefully read the cancellation policy of each company as some companies state that, after a certain period of time, purchased tickets cannot be refunded or rescheduled because the company reserves your space for the agreed day and time.

If you need to cancel or reschedule, my recommendation is to communicate the inconvenience to the company immediately to mediate a solution.

Language of the tours:

These excursions are narrated tours and are offered mostly in English; if you need a guide in any other language, I recommend contacting the organising company to confirm the availability of expert guides in the language you require.

Private tour alternatives:

Almost all companies in Charleston offer the possibility of hiring a private tour bus tour. If you are going to the city with friends or family and you want a more exclusive experience, just contact the company in charge and ask for a quote.

It's no secret that when you travel to a new city, the tour bus is the perfect way to see most of the tourist area in a tour specially designed with the average traveller in mind.

However, not all experiences are equally enjoyable so I suggest taking into account the following tips in order to get the most out of your stay in Charleston.

Choose the right company

Almost every city has several alternatives and companies that offer a similar service while the internet is a wonderful resource that allows you to read user reviews and easily compare different alternatives.

Plan your tour in advance.

For all travellers visiting Charleston for the first time, I recommend arriving in the city with a structured plan of which attractions or places to visit on which days. You can check out the guides on what to see in Charleston in 3 days or what to see in Charleston in 4 days for inspiration.

Once you've planned your itinerary, determine which day and times are best to tour.

Make your reservation in advance

Once you have completed your itinerary planning, the smartest thing to do is to proceed with your reservations using online booking. This tip is especially important if you are travelling to Charleston during the peak tourist season which are usually the summer holiday months in the United States; such as July or August in Charleston.