Private and Luxury
1 hour
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 94% of travelers
94% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$50
per adult
Palmetto Carriage Works
Palmetto Carriage Works
Palmetto Carriage Works
4.5
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Full view
About
Established in 1972, Palmetto Carriage Works is the oldest carriage company in historic Charleston, SC. Still family-owned and operated, the company offers guided horse and mule-drawn tours of Charleston's downtown and and residential historic district for the thousands of visitors hoping to take in the charm and history of the city in a more authentic way.
Charleston, South Carolina
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Improve this listingTours and Tickets by Palmetto Carriage Works
Private and Luxury
1 hour
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 96% of travelers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$47
per adult
Private and Luxury
45 minutes
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$51
per adult
Private and Luxury
1 hour
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 92% of travelers
92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$345
per group
Historical Tours
45 minutes
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$345
per group
Travelers talk about
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
9,563 reviews
Excellent
7,843
Very good
1,151
Average
352
Poor
138
Terrible
81
Donna D
Franklin, MA5 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Great tour! Knowledgeable guide. Our family of five (kids 8, 12, 13) had one day in Charleston and we took this one hour tour in the morning. Our guide shared history and left us with enough information that allowed us to walk around the rest of the day and feel more connected to the city.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review of Palmetto Carriage Works. We appreciate you touring with us and we would love to see y'all again.
Deb
PCW Guest Services
Written January 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sam M
Cleveland, OH67 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
My wife and I went to Charleston for 4 days which included Christmas. The day after (26) she wanted to take a horse and carriage ride through the town.
A private tour costed $200.00 for an hour. A shared tour was $28.00 which is a horse and carriage that carries around 12/15 people.
I elected to go with the private tour because it's a once in a lifetime event and I couldn't see sharing a ride with a bunch of people and screaming kids (don't get that wrong, my wife and I both love children we just felt like being alone)
Our tour guide was Emily who couldn't be nicer. She was very professional and knowledgeable and loves the old south's history.
The various carriage companies work on lots because there are 5 different zones (areas) that they are allowed to tour. They (and you) don't know what zone you'll be touring until the "tour officer" gives them the route. I'm sure the 5 zones all have interesting sites to see. Our zone was historic churches and houses and Emily explained all the history about them. We really enjoyed it.
Is $200.00 a lot for a 1 hour? It depends on your priorities. If you're a history buff, want to be alone with your significant other, avoid the crowds, and take a tour with just your guide. Yes. If you don't care about privacy and want to mingle with a crowd stick with shared tour. I see that Palmetto Carriage Works has increased their prices on their website to $30.00 per person for a private tour and $225.00 for a private tour. Either they are selling more tours and the demand is off the charts or they just decided to bump the prices up. It might be a seasonal pricing thing too.
All in all they did a good job.
A private tour costed $200.00 for an hour. A shared tour was $28.00 which is a horse and carriage that carries around 12/15 people.
I elected to go with the private tour because it's a once in a lifetime event and I couldn't see sharing a ride with a bunch of people and screaming kids (don't get that wrong, my wife and I both love children we just felt like being alone)
Our tour guide was Emily who couldn't be nicer. She was very professional and knowledgeable and loves the old south's history.
The various carriage companies work on lots because there are 5 different zones (areas) that they are allowed to tour. They (and you) don't know what zone you'll be touring until the "tour officer" gives them the route. I'm sure the 5 zones all have interesting sites to see. Our zone was historic churches and houses and Emily explained all the history about them. We really enjoyed it.
Is $200.00 a lot for a 1 hour? It depends on your priorities. If you're a history buff, want to be alone with your significant other, avoid the crowds, and take a tour with just your guide. Yes. If you don't care about privacy and want to mingle with a crowd stick with shared tour. I see that Palmetto Carriage Works has increased their prices on their website to $30.00 per person for a private tour and $225.00 for a private tour. Either they are selling more tours and the demand is off the charts or they just decided to bump the prices up. It might be a seasonal pricing thing too.
All in all they did a good job.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm so glad that you had a great time on your private carriage with Emily at the helm. Emily is a great guide and does a wonderful job of introducing our guests to Charleston. We appreciate you touring with Palmetto and we would love to see y'all again.
Deb
PCW Guest Services
Written January 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
greenegypsy
Holden Beach, NC127 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We reserved a private carriage for a 1 hour tour of Charleston. Granted it had been over 20 years since we last had done this but really didn’t think it would be so drastically different. First off let me say that the carriage ride given by Dana and Mello(the carriage motor 🙂) were very lovely this the excellent review for the company! The carriage company was great but maybe stick to the cheaper public tours so as not to be disappointed should you get the zone we did by the city lottery which tells the carriage rides which zone to travel. Keep reading for zone info.
The only caveat to this great rating is one strictly for the city of Charleston itself. The carriage companies have to control which way the tour goes. Apparently the city has decided that instead of 3 zones, there should be 5 zones in which to take tours. No big deal right?!? WRONG, the zone in which we paid $225 plus tax literally took us to the opposite side of most historical points of interest for the last half of the ride. We crossed King street and it all went down hill. We were not taken down the majestic beauty of grand homes of Charleston. Instead we were greeted with a run down funeral home that while old, looked like it needed to be torn down and started over, and what seemed to be run down public housing, all this and more on the less desirable side of town. There were no walking tourist on the side walks because trust me no one would have ventured over here to see anything. We were greeted however by mouthy youth walking up to the carriage. This a terrible change that the city has incurred and should be abandoned immediately!
The only caveat to this great rating is one strictly for the city of Charleston itself. The carriage companies have to control which way the tour goes. Apparently the city has decided that instead of 3 zones, there should be 5 zones in which to take tours. No big deal right?!? WRONG, the zone in which we paid $225 plus tax literally took us to the opposite side of most historical points of interest for the last half of the ride. We crossed King street and it all went down hill. We were not taken down the majestic beauty of grand homes of Charleston. Instead we were greeted with a run down funeral home that while old, looked like it needed to be torn down and started over, and what seemed to be run down public housing, all this and more on the less desirable side of town. There were no walking tourist on the side walks because trust me no one would have ventured over here to see anything. We were greeted however by mouthy youth walking up to the carriage. This a terrible change that the city has incurred and should be abandoned immediately!
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review of your tour with Palmetto and Dana. There are historical points in all the zones; however, some zones are more desirable than others. You are more than welcome to contact the Tourism Department and make your opinion known. The carriage companies, as you know, have no control over zones or which zones are toured.
We appreciate you touring with us and we would love to see y'all again for a different zone.
Deb
PCW Guest Services
Written February 15, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rachel A
Jamestown, NY2 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
My husband and I came from New York on Monday June 28th for our first trip to Charleston with our four young children ages 7,5,3 and 1 for our sons 5th birthday. We had a 9:30 tour booked that we were looking forward to for months. Upon booking and receiving our confirmation email, the email plainly stated not to arrive any earlier than your booking time of 9:30 and you would be placed on a carriage in 10-15 minutes with a maximum wait time of 30 minutes so we tried to honor that policy and not show up too early. As we were parking I received a call from a woman at the carriage company at 9:28 completely berating us for not being there yet. I was shocked and explained to her what the email said, to which she told me I was mistaken and there’s no way the email could have said that. When I read her word for word when the confirmation email said to arrive she said and I quote “well it’s 9:30 now so where are you.” And then proceeded to tell me while on speaker phone that they might not be able to get us on a tour at all that day which had my kids on the verge of tears. We were beyond flustered and shocked by the treatment we received. Her husband was in charge of the parking and apologized to us for her bad behavior and was kind enough to not charge us for parking. To prove to her that this policy was stated in the confirmation email i read it to her in person upon arrival to which she stated “well that must have been an old policy during covid.” No apology for being wrong, no nothing. We tried to move on and enjoy our tour from that point forward because our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable but our experience was ruined by this woman. She should be ashamed and she is a stain on the company’s good reputation.
Written July 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David A
2 contributions
Apr 2021
I took the tour with 14 other people and I found the guide and the information to be very interesting. What I found to be somewhat lacking was the comfort of the carriage. The carriages are minimal when it comes to comfort, and sitting so close to the person next to you that one gets the feeling of what it would be like to be a Siamese twin. There is no evidence that there is competition among the various carriage ride providers. I suspect that they are in agreement with each other on rates and features and none of them attempt to set themselves apart by providing any additional creature comfort. No veterans or senior discounts, no coupons for local restaurants or vendors at the market. It's a bit of a disappointment in that respect but then there is no incentive on their part to do anything b/c most people who visit think "I'm on vacation....so I'll pay whatever they ask....I am only here once". That reduces it to a revenue stream for providers and removes the incentive to do anything that is more customer experience enhancing. In order to get a private carriage its $300, and personally I can think of a lot of things to do for that amount of money that will make a for a delightful long term memory. As a Service Quality Professional I found it lacking. I don't think it will be long before alternatives arise, like the bike cabs starting to provide similar tours with enhanced features.
Written April 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brenda K
Minneapolis, MN194 contributions
Dec 2020 • Couples
We found a Groupon for this tour and really enjoyed our time. Note to others - If you go on a carriage ride/tour, don’t sit in the front row! We sat up front because of all the plastic walls up between the rows and were worried we wouldn’t hear the guide. The guide stood the entire time so everyone can hear, I just caught the spit from him taking the entire time. I was glad to have my mask on.
During the hour on the tour we learned so much! Our horse just came off a six week “vacation” and was making sure we got to take our time so we could take everything in.
We highly recommend taking a tour when you are in Charleston! You will not be disappointed and know exactly what you want to walk back to see later.
During the hour on the tour we learned so much! Our horse just came off a six week “vacation” and was making sure we got to take our time so we could take everything in.
We highly recommend taking a tour when you are in Charleston! You will not be disappointed and know exactly what you want to walk back to see later.
Written January 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NBeachBabe
Newport Beach, CA11 contributions
May 2022 • Family
The carriage ride was good and had some tidbits of historical buildings, but I was sort of hoping/expecting more history of Charleston in between the buildings we passed of historical significance. The carriage itself was nice and clean and comfortable and the team that greeted us was totally on top of things and we didn’t have to wait a minute to get loaded up and moving. We hired a private carriage for 4 adults and 3 small kids (5 and under) and I think the horse we had should have maxed out on a smaller carriage…we moved so so slowly, we had to get out of the way of other carriages that were attempting to pass us. It felt a little like the slow pace made for a pretty limited tour area, but it could have been we just got a very small tour area in the lottery.
All in all I would recommend and would definitely go again, but I would request a driver that has some longevity and might have more stories and history to share…our driver was sweet, but has only been in the area for less than a year and driving for a few months and the lull between tidbits was long at times. With so much history in this city I was expecting a bit more in terms of local legend, folklore, all the fun stories passed down through generations about this historic town.
All in all I would recommend and would definitely go again, but I would request a driver that has some longevity and might have more stories and history to share…our driver was sweet, but has only been in the area for less than a year and driving for a few months and the lull between tidbits was long at times. With so much history in this city I was expecting a bit more in terms of local legend, folklore, all the fun stories passed down through generations about this historic town.
Written May 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MaryJaneND
Blackwood, NJ141 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
This was our first time visiting Charleston and this was a great way to begin. Our carriage held 12 passengers, although we saw some companies that accommodated 16. We were pulled by a team of mules, LILO and Boppy. Very entertaining. We learned there is a lottery as each carriage begins which determines the exact route. This avoids congestion and offers variety. Our driver was an exceptional narrator, very well versed of the city history, architecture, etc. The tour lasted 90 minutes and did not disappoint. I highly recommend for any age.
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review of your tour with Palmetto Carriage. We appreciate the high recommendation and would love to see y'all again.
Deb
PCW Guest Services
Written January 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Escape775040
1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Couples
This was our first visit to Charleston and the carriage ride was the perfect way to get an overview of part of the city and its history. Palmetto Carriage Works prides itself on the care they take of their animals, which was important to us. (We toured on a 60 degree day, so heat stroke was not an issue.) It was interesting to learn that ALL carriages in the city get a randomly draw tour route each time they go out. So what area you see, regardless of who you see it with, will be picked by the city of Charleston. Therefore the personality and fact delivery of your tour guide is critical to get the best tour information of your selected route. Our driver Glenn was fantastic! He was funny, informative and had a deep appreciation for the history and charm of the city.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review of your carriage tour with Palmetto and Glenn. Glenn is a great guide and truly loves showing off Charleston to our guests. We appreciate you touring with us and we would love to see y'all again.
Deb
PCW Guest Services
Written January 4, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Leslie R
Atlanta, GA4 contributions
May 2021
Booked tour online from our hotel the day before. No issues whatsoever when we arrived the next day. Venue was easy to find, nearby parking (for a fee) was readily available, and waiting area inside the “Red Barn” was spacious, had ample restrooms and plenty of reasonably priced snacks and drinks. Carriage, driven by Jenny and pulled by Wendy, left right on time, and was extremely informative and entertaining. We chose this tour because the company had numerous good reviews, a long history (our driver had 34 years experience), and they take very good care of their animals, both horses and mules. Would highly recommend this tour!
Written May 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have a 9 am carriage ride. Where is the best place to park and how much?
Written June 27, 2022
There is a parking lot across the street. We didn't use it so I don't know how much it is. We also were on the 9am ride and when we got there the lot was pretty much empty. If you happen to be there on a Sunday all of the parking meters are free in Charleston so you could park on the street.
Written June 28, 2022
Is there free parking at the red barn where you start the tour? I am reading mixed information. Thank you!
Written July 30, 2019
There is no free parking. There is a parking lot, but it is a paid lot. No free parking.
Written July 31, 2019
I had posted an unfavorable review and Deb, the Guest Relations Manager had offered me a refund. I emailed her, but have not heard back. I'm not sure if the offer was insincere, or if she just hasn't taken care of it yet, but I don't think it's right to offer publicly and not follow through privately. My main complaint is the that our tour took us to see the low income housing projects and a dilapidated jail, rather than the beautiful mansions the city is known for. They should clearly post up front that your tour is not guaranteed and will be randomly selected by the city. Completely dissatisfied.
Written June 6, 2019
My refund offer is sincere and I want to refund you as soon as possible, but I have not received information from you. You may send your information through this thread if you like. I need your name, the date your toured and how many people you paid for.
Thank you,
Deb
Written June 7, 2019
I want to book a carriage tour through my cruise...how far of a walk is it to get to the tour from the port
Written January 5, 2019
We are two blocks from the cruise ship terminal.
Written January 14, 2019
Hi, is it a long walk from the cruise terminal (Royal Caribbean) to the Big Red Barn and is it a nice walk (meaning past stores, parks, safe areas versus walking through an industrial area, marine terminal, or something more sketchy)?
Written December 29, 2018
We are a very short distance for the cruise terminal--two blocks.
Written January 4, 2019
Plan on staying in Charleston's historic district, and will not have a car. I know the carriage rides go through the historic district, but is it easy to book and catch a carriage ride in the historic district area? In other words, I don't want to have to take a cab to take a carriage ride. Where are pick up and drop off locations? TIA!
Written June 13, 2018
If you are staying in the historic district, you can easily walk to get a carriage ride… Even if you are not an historic district,a carriage ride is a must if you are staying in Charleston
You will not get the same experience on a bus
Carriage ride at the red barn is the best!… We have tried them all
Written December 21, 2018
May we bring anything to drink on board...or is anything offered....do you possibly stop for such?
Written June 12, 2018
You may bring anything non-alcoholic. We do have a barn shop and soft drinks and water are available.
Written June 29, 2018
Would a stroller be able to fit in the carriage while we took the tour? I am most likely going to reserve a private tour. Thank you!
Written May 5, 2018
Strollers will not fit on the carriage, but we have a safe place in the barn to keep strollers, wheelchairs, walkers...
Deb
Written May 30, 2018
I have a question about parking fees. After reading many reviews, some people are saying that an all day parking pass is $14. While others are saying it is $7. So, how much is an all day parking pass if you purchase tickets at Palmetto Carriage Works? Also, according to the website, parking is free if you book a tour before 10:00. Does this mean that parking is free all day if you book a tour before 10:00 or is it only free while you are on the tour? Thanks for the help!
Written December 27, 2017
Parking in the 22 Anson St. lot which is across the street from our barn is $7 for two hours and $15 for all day parking. And if you book a tour before 10 am, you get two hours of free parking. One hour for the tour and then one hour for whatever.
Deb
PCW Guest Services
Written January 9, 2018
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