Fort Sumter Boat Tour & Charleston Historic Walking Tour
Cruise to Fort Sumter and walk Charleston’s historic district with one combo ticket
Duration
2 Hours
Includes
Fort Sumter tour, walking tour
Highlights
Book a discounted combo of two separate experiences: a Fort Sumter boat tour and the Charleston Strolls Walk with History. Choose different dates for each tour and explore Charleston by water and on foot.
- Cruise 30 minutes by boat to Fort Sumter National Monument
- Learn how events led to the outbreak of the American Civil War
- Meet National Park Service Rangers upon arrival at Fort Sumter
- Spend roughly one hour exploring Fort Sumter before cruising back
- Walk for two hours through Charleston’s historic district with a guide
- See possible stops like Rainbow Row, the Battery, and hidden gardens
What's Included
- Fort Sumter boat tour
- Charleston Strolls Walk with History walking tour
Things to know
This is a discounted price for two separate tours, not a combined tour, and they do not have to be on the same day. After purchase, use your confirmation email to complete booking for both tours.
Cancellation Policy
Should the Charleston Stroll or the Fort Sumter Tour need to cancel for inclement weather, you will be contacted ASAP.
Product ID: PXS5TS
FAQs
Book a discounted combo of two separate tours (the Fort Sumter boat tour and the Charleston Strolls walking tour). You can schedule them on different days.
Yes. After you purchase, complete your booking for both tours using your confirmation email.
The walking tour runs rain or shine. Once the tour begins, refunds are not given for inclement weather. If weather becomes so severe that the guide cannot provide a quality experience, a full or partial refund may be issued depending on the circumstances.
Meeting details
115 Meeting Street Charleston, SC 29401
More about Fort Sumter National Monument
Fort Sumter National Monument rises from a small man-made island at the mouth of Charleston Harbor, marking the exact spot where the first shots of the Civil War were fired in April 1861. Reached only by boat, this sea fort feels worlds apart from the cobblestone streets of downtown Charleston, and that journey across the harbor is part of what makes a visit to Fort Sumter National Monument so memorable. The combined cruise and walking tour pairs the salt-air approach to the fort with a guided exploration of historic Charleston, giving you both halves of the story in a single day.
The cruise out to Fort Sumter National Monument glides past Patriots Point, the Battery, and the wide expanse of the harbor, with views of Charleston's church steeples receding behind you. Once you step onto the island, park rangers share the layered history of the fort, from its construction as part of America's coastal defense system to the bombardment that opened the Civil War. You can walk the brick parapets, see original cannons, and trace the outlines of casemates damaged by years of shelling. Back on the mainland, the walking portion of the tour weaves through Charleston's historic district, connecting the events at Fort Sumter National Monument to the antebellum mansions, market squares, and waterfront streets that shaped the city's role in that era.
This experience is ideal for history enthusiasts, families with curious kids, and first-time visitors who want context rather than a checklist. Travelers who appreciate guided storytelling will get the most out of Fort Sumter National Monument, since the fort's significance comes alive through the details a knowledgeable guide can share. Couples looking for a meaningful half-day together and solo travelers piecing together Charleston's past will find this combination especially rewarding. If you want to understand how a small island fort changed the course of American history while also seeing the city that surrounded it, a visit to Fort Sumter National Monument paired with a Charleston walking tour is hard to beat.
Related locations
Fort Sumter National Monument
Admission includedStanding on the worn masonry of Fort Sumter National Monument, you feel the weight of April 1861 beneath your feet. This man-made island in Charleston Harbor is where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, and the silence of the open water around it makes that history feel immediate. Fort Sumter National Monument rewards those who arrive by ferry with panoramic views of the Charleston skyline and a landscape shaped by conflict.
