New to Charlotte? Uncover the city’s secrets with these must-try local tours
So you’re new to Charlotte and want to settle in by exploring the city’s landmarks and points of interest.
Or maybe you’ve lived here for a while now but just haven’t taken the time to get to know the city yet.
We can help with that. (You’ll also want to make sure you’ve subscribed to CharlotteFive’s free daily newsletter so you can learn something new every day.)
But back to the task at hand: One trick to schooling yourself while keeping things fun is taking a tour — or a few of them. They’re handy for learning about the city while riding around town on a bus or Segway, driving to notable destinations or stretching your legs on a guided walk.
We’ve rounded up some of the best tours in Charlotte to help you get to know more about the Queen City, whether you’d like to take on a little bit at a time or dive all in and learn as much as you can in a day or a weekend:
African American Heritage Driving Tour
Location: Latta Place, 5225 Sample Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078
When: Any time
The Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Heritage Committee and Historic Charlotte have put together the 55-mile African American Heritage Driving Tour, showcasing culturally rich and historical residential and commercial structures in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
Without making extended stops, the tour’s estimated time is three hours. It starts at Latta Place in Huntersville and ends at W.T. Alexander Slave Burial Ground in Charlotte.
Cost: Free.
ArtWalks CLT
Location: Multiple options
When: Any time
ArtWalks tours, created by Anne Wise Low, offer self-guided Google maps of public art sites in Mecklenburg County that allow users to explore murals and other public art sites throughout the city.
Audio descriptions for people with low-to-no vision are included with each tour. Its website also links to other arts trails you can explore.
Cost: Free.
Charlotte NC Tours
Location: 101 South Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202
When: Daily, with times varying
Charlotte NC Tours offers a variety of ways to sightsee around the city, including by bus, Segway or Rydables. The tour company can guide you on foot to explore Charlotte’s Center City, lead you on a Haunted Segway Tour or gather together your entire family to dive in on the Wild Things Art, Entertainment, and History Rydables Tour of Charlotte.
Cost: Varies, starting at $20+.
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Fourth Ward Historic District
Location: Fourth Ward Park, North Poplar and West 6th streets
When: Any time
Friends of Fourth Ward has compiled a list of must-see stops in the 30-block Fourth Ward Historic District with support from Charlotte City Partners. In this tour, accessible by walking or driving, you will see period homes, historic churches and other structures integral to the community.
Cost: Free.
Funny Bus
Location: 1st Ward Park, 301 E. 7th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
When: Thursday-Sunday, with times varying
Local comedians serve as your guide on Funny Bus Charlotte Tours, which highlight local spots while prompting you to laugh. (You can bring your own beer and wine on board if that’s your thing, too.)
There’s also a 90-minute Drag Queen Funny Bus Tour option that takes you through Charlotte neighborhoods for a “herstory” lesson, guided by one of the city’s most popular drag queens, Buff Faye.
Cost: $35 per person for Funny Bus Charlotte Tour or $50 per person for the Drag Queen Funny Bus Tour.
History South Walking Tours
Location: Multiple options
When: Any time
Tom Hanchett, a well-known community historian in Charlotte, has put together a series of self-guided walking tours that tell the story of the city’s neighborhoods. At your own pace, you can take on the series of tours and learn all about the city while you see it firsthand.
Cost: Free.
LaZoom Charlotte tours
Location: Free Range Bar, 301 Camp Rd Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28206
When: Multiple tours daily
LaZoom, which got its start in Asheville, has recently branched out to start tours in Charlotte, too.
Options include the spooky Charlotte Ghosted Tour — which spends an hour taking you to famous haunts around the city including Settler’s Cemetery and the Bootlegger House. Or if you’re looking for something with a little more life, the Fender Bender tour will drop you at breweries in South End, Lower South End and NoDa.
This summer, LaZoom is also launching Charlotte City Tours, packed with local history — and a few laughs.
Cost: $44 per person for Charlotte Ghosted or $59 per person for Fender Bender.
NoDa History Walk
Location: Smelly Cat Coffeehouse & Roastery parking lot, 514 E 36th St, Charlotte, NC 28205
When: Saturday April 26, 10-11 a.m.
The NoDa Neighborhood and Business Association is hosting a history walk through NoDa, known as Charlotte’s arts and entertainment district. The one-hour walking tour will explore the cultural and architectural history of the area from early 20th century mills to today.
Cost: Free, but an RSVP is requested.
Queen City Rides
Location: 201 East 5th St., Charlotte, NC 28202
When: Daily
Queen City Rides offers a selection of historical tours in which you can walk, ride on an eco-friendly cart or go by van. Points of interest include architectural history, pop culture, museums and sports facilities.
Cost: Varies, starting at $19 for a walking tour. Children 4 and younger are free.
Trolley Pub
Location: Trolley Pub Beer Shop, 2500 Dunavant St, Charlotte, NC 28203.
When: Varies
Trolley Pub’s two-hour public tours offer you a free 12 oz. beer or seltzer to sip while you pedal around points of interest in Charlotte and make stops at local bars. Another option in Trolley Pub’s lineup is the Sunday Brunch and Roll Tour, which gets you a Ruby Sunshine brunch menu item, a brunch beverage such as Mimosa or Bloody Mary and a tour lasting an hour and a half.
Cost: Varies, starting at $39+ or $59+ for the Brunch and Roll tour.
This story was originally published April 8, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
