Going on a guided tour with an expert is the finest way to experience everything that the Queen City has to offer.
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Highlights of the City
These tours provide intimate, friendly, and high-level highlights of Charlotte’s character and charm, whether you’re a longtime resident or simply visiting for a few days. They’ll make you feel right at home.
If you’re here for a short while or simply want a brief overview of this vibrant Southern city, pick up a walking guide at the Welcome CLT Visitor Info Center Uptown. You’ll discover a city in motion as you travel through Charlotte’s streets, with contemporary buildings rising up alongside beloved landmarks. Some of the most popular Charlotte attractions, such as The Green, Romare Bearden Park, and the Queen Charlotte Statue, are included in your expertly planned tour of Uptown.
Or, when you hire an electric bike from Charlotte Joy Rides, you can ride your way around Queen City on a self-guided tour. The business has installed more than 20 bike docks across the city, where you can pick up an e-bike by only swiping your credit card. Return the bike to any of the handy docking stations after your ride.
For a satirical take on the sights and sounds of the Queen City, hop aboard the Funny Bus Comedy City Tour. A PG-13 and R-rated version of the 90-minute tour takes you around some of Charlotte’s most fascinating neighborhoods, showcasing the city’s history and architecture while making jokes along the way. You may even bring your own wine and beer to enjoy while on the trip with the Funny Bus.
Every day driving tours of the Queen City and the surrounding suburbs are the specialty of C-Charlotte Tours, whose tour guides are all native Charlotte residents. During this two-hour trip, learn about Charlotte’s fascinating history and discover popular restaurants, entertainment venues, galleries, museums, and much more, all while taking in the city’s striking architecture.
With Queen City Rides, explore the biggest city in North Carolina in style in a golf cart or passenger van. Take a swing on an outdoor golf court while exploring Uptown. You will discover Charlotte’s history along the trip, from the past to the present. The Guided Van Tour spends two hours seeing Uptown’s historic sites as well as those in the surrounding neighborhoods of Plaza Midwood, NoDa, and South End to see even more.
Culture & History
Take a tour that highlights Charlotte’s distinctive art and culture to learn about the city’s colorful past and how it has influenced Charlotte today, or become a bit artistic.
Experience the sights, sounds, and history of Uptown while gliding around on a Segway with Charlotte NC Tours’ 90-minute Historic Uptown Neighborhood Tour. Alternatively take the two-hour Markets, Museums & Parks Segway Tour to explore Charlotte’s notable museums and picturesque parks.
Take the Beyond the Grave Tour with Carolina History and Haunts to add a little spooky to your stride. This scary walking tour, available all year round, takes you to well-known Uptown haunts that are said to have haunting histories. You’re guided around by lantern.
Follow the self-guided, half-mile Charlotte Liberty Walk, which includes notable historical monuments that help chronicle Mecklenburg County’s participation in the American Revolution, for a closer look into the Queen historical’s captivating role in the Revolutionary War.
Take a golf cart ride with Southern Charm Rides and explore Uptown to discover the history of the area. With plenty of time for pictures, the 90-minute tour takes you from the quaint Fourth Ward to Romare Bearden Park and beyond. A peek into Charlotte’s darker past is provided via haunted twilight excursions.
Uptown Funk: The Story of Charlotte, a tour by Queen City Culture Vultures, teaches you about Charlotte culture. This one-mile, one-hour tour is family-friendly and highlights Charlotte’s history, arts and culture, and sports while taking you through Uptown’s Center City.
Take a guided tour of the NASCAR Hall of Fame to get a behind-the-scenes look at the history of racing car driving. Storytellers from Hall will take you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility as you explore the history and legacy of NASCAR. They will discuss the particular vehicles and artifacts selected on exhibit, as well as provide personal tales and interesting information about the inductees.
Food and Beverage
Take a local culinary tour and sip and enjoy your way across the Queen City.
Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours is one of the best walking tours in North Carolina. On a weekend brunch or dinner and drinks tour, eat their delectable cuisine after having a behind-the-scenes conversation with local chefs and culinary craftsmen.
Want delicious city food and the feel of the wind in your hair? The Taste and Glide Segway Tour from Charlotte NC Tours allows you to see Charlotte on a Segway while enjoying delicious delicacies along the route. On this two-hour tour, sample renowned Charlotte cuisine from three well-liked local restaurants. Tastings at Mert’s Heart & Soul, Alexander Michael’s, and The Market at 7th Street are included in the tour fee.
If you haven’t noticed, Charlotte is becoming quite the brewery town. Depart your car at home and embark on a self-guided tour along the NoDa Craft Beer Trail to sample some of the greatest craft beers the city has to offer. Take a stroll or a bike ride from NoDa to the Belmont district, stopping along the way to enjoy some of Charlotte’s artisan beer selections. Even stopping by Optimist Hall for a snack is an option.