A history wonder but pricy to enjoy. Parking rip off! Entry tickets $23 for adults. $21 for kids 6-12. Boat ride $29. Tour allows 60 minutes on island but you only need 30. read more

Fort Sumter Tours - Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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The boat tour over to Fort Sumter was very informative, which made the time pass. I was disappointed we only got an hour on site, I would have liked about 15 more minutes. It was really cool to see the raising of the flag. There was part of the fort that was being worked on but most of it was open. Definitely worth seeing. read more

Fort Sumter Tours - Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Quick stop here before going to Fort Sumter. You can buy tickets here if you didn't buy them online. The ferry leaves from the back of the building. You can go through the building which has some historical items to see to get online. You can also stay outside and watch the video about Fort Sumter that is on a loop. read more

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Since Fort Sumter is on an island, it stands to reason that there is a ferry ride to get there. All part of the package! The ship has three passenger levels, two are enclosed and one is open air with a cover. (Pro tip: if it is not the dead of summer and you are cold natured, take a jacket or sit inside.) The trip is about 30 minutes each way, and the crew gives an intermittent narration of the historical events surrounding the Fort's creation and defense as well as sightseeing pointers. There is a limited snackbar with okay prices on board, as well as decent bathrooms. NOTE that there are no bathrooms on Fort Sumter itself. Also NOTE that most areas are not readily accessible if you have significant mobility issues. Once at the Fort, you have 60 minutes to complete your viewing. The ruins / reconstructed remains of the Fort are pretty breathtaking for a history buff. The stories of the hardships the defenders faced and the spectacles of the cannons and walls are a lot to take in. We were there for the last tour of the day, so there was a short ceremony to strike the colors from the flagpole, which was interesting. My only complaint is that one hour is just not sufficient to walk around the ruins AND spend time in the museum AND spend money in the gift shop. The p[rice for the tour is reasonable and includes gratuities. A good way to spend an afternoon. read more

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We had a great time in visiting Fort Sumter by taking the ferry from eastern Charleston in Liberty square. Please note that since the Fort is maintained by the National Park Service, Fort Sumter tours is the only authorized concessionaire to take you there. The overview and history provided by the two park rangers on board while we were steaming toward the artificial island was very interesting. There are no bathrooms on the fort or island, so the ferry boat is the only remaining option to use. You can also buy coffee and snacks on the boat. It was great to learn about the pivotal events that happened at the start of the Civil war. The NP rangers also gave an exposition of the different cannons present and damages suffered -- most of the original fort was destroyed. The visitor center in the island and on the mainland was nice and it was comfortable journey both ways. Be sure to bring a jacket to offset the freezing winds. Please learn and enjoy! read more

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Its TS2uesday (Two Star Tue) again! The tour (booked thru Viator) itself was actually okay. I learned some things about the Civil War I never knew (Ft Sumter is where the first shots (cannons) were fired to start the Civil War). However, this was more of a self-guided tour vs a guide providing specific stories about the fort. Another thing to note is that Viator sez our tix had skip the line priveleges. The foregoing is BS. We not only waited in a general population line, we were in an unshaded area, and it was fairly hot. I would rate the tour itself a 3. The reason for knocking off a star is due to the fukd up parking situation. The Patriots Point location started charging for parking in Sept, 2024. Its took us a long time to exit bc instead of having one exit lane, they allowed another lane to merge into the primary exit lane. There were not that many people on the tour. In addition, parking for 3 hours was $20 (per person cost for the tour was ~ $30). The parking cost was ridiculous! If you go on this tour, avoid the Patriots Point location. Save yourself $20 or more. read more

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I had been wanting to check out Fort Sumter for a while. On a 2015 trip to Charleston, I was only able to squeeze in a visit to Fort Moultrie, so it was a treat to schedule a trip to Fort Sumter this time around. We booked our tickets a few days in advance; they were not cheap but were reasonable considering the ferry, short ranger talk upon arrival, and time the trip took overall. My friend and I parked at Patriot's Point, which offered ample spots, for $5. We then got in line to board the ferry. It took some time to load everyone onto the boat, being that there were bucketloads of us. Fortunately, there were some shady spots to stay out of the sun in line. Once aboard, we were given a little tutorial on how to behave on the boat and set off for the monument. It didn't take too long and the sea was calm that day. I found the lower deck to be my preference for seating, as the upper deck got a little toasty. Bathrooms on the ferry are TINY. I had to awkwardly jut a leg out and climb to get in and one of the toilet. It was something else. The monument itself was a Civil War icon, with a mini gift shop and an interior museum area with lots of reading and artifacts. You could also climb to the top where the flag is and get a good view of the whole monument. I am glad I've visited such a rich and critical part of our country's history. read more

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Well, you have to take a ferry ride over to the fort (built on an island). Two good things about this- there are bathrooms on the boat (none at the fort) and the history narration we had on the 35 minute ride to the fort from park ranger Christopher Reid! He is a very good story teller and weaves a narrative that fits all walks of life and political beings. Very informative and entertaining. The fort was.... A fort. The first thing we could be a part of being the morning tour was the raising of the flag. A big flag (21 people). The presentation of the flag was fitting and accepting of all people. Park rangers were very knowledgeable and helpful. My favorite part- finding the finger prints in the bricks of the slaves who made the bricks. Wow read more

The national park service runs the tours on the actual island, so there's not a lot of nuance in the information presented. You really only get about 45 minutes, maybe an hour, on the island, and there's not a lot of guiding or discussion that happens. The fort is really cool - I would have appreciated another half hour to explore. During the boat ride to the island, there is not a lot of narrative or story telling that takes place, and what little does take place was barely audible to us over the speakers. Pricing for this is pretty expensive because they have a monopoly on ferries to the island. read more

We really enjoyed the boat ride and tour of Fort Sumter. The park rangers were very informative and we learned so much. I highly recommend this tour when visiting Charleston! read more

Great outing and totally worth the $37 cost per person for the 30 minute (each way) scenic boat ride across Charleston harbor and one hour visit inside Ft. Sumter. It's interesting and educational to visit Ft. Sumter, walking the grounds as you wish. The park rangers provide some history during the boat ride and at some points at the fort. Snacks and drinks are available for a small fee on the boat, and souvenirs can be purchased at the fort. read more

Fort Sumter Tours - Ft Sumter Ferry - Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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This is essential to any first time visitor to Charleston. Very important historical milestone, that helps you understand more about how the Civil War started, and the role this area played in the conflict. I was surprised to learn that the island that the Fort sits on is man-made, and was surprised about how small the fort is. Sort of like the first time that I visited the alamo in that regard. The Rangers and the docent volunteers were entertaining and full of great information. Be aware that if you take the last tour of the day, the bathrooms at the Visitor Center will be closed when your boat returns from the Fort, and plan to use the facilities on the boat on the way back! read more

Excellent tour all around! The boat ride there had a great speaker who told us all about the history of the bay surrounding the fort. There is food and drinks on the boat as well (hot dogs, snacks, and beverages, the boat ride back you can buy a beer or wine, if you fancy). The national park service at the Fort are the best! They were super helpful, told some great stories, and were funny to boot! Worth the money. Do this if you are in the London of the South! read more

The ferry ride and Fort Sumter itself was pretty neat, but the handicap lifts were all out of order. Would have been nice to know that before going all the way out there. read more

While I've lived here a while, this was my first time heading out on this tour. The tour itself is neat, I took my brother (who is a history teacher and LOVES history) and my parents. The downside is this tour is really short once you get onto Fort Sumter. To be fair, I don't know if this is really within Fort Sumter Tours control, but my brother who loves to read everything barely got through half of it (and he's a book nerd, so it's not like he's a slow reader) and my parents also didn't get through most of it. So, overall, great opportunity, but just need a bit more time on the tour to be able to take it all in... read more

We booked the tour for Saturday morning. Everything worked out great. You meet at the Fort Sumter visitor center to read through some of the exhibits and the gift ship, before boarding the ferry boat to travel 15 minutes to Fort Sumter. Along the way, you get a narrated history of the battle at Fort Sumter. It was very informative. The ferry also has a snack shop selling drinks and snacks. It is cash only. Once at the Fort, we had over an hour to walk around, take pictures, and walk through the indoor museum and gift shop. read more

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Something everyone should see at least once! Not as much to see as Fort Moltrie, but the ferry ride and explanation while going through the harbor is a nice touch. read more

Fort Sumter Tours - Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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This tour is excellent. We took the last tour of the day, at 2:45 pm. The one thing different from the rest if you take the last one is that they ask for volunteers to take down and fold the flag which is at the top of the fort. The ferry ride was very pleasant back and forth. The ranger on the boat was very knowledgeable and fun to listen to. He explains facts from places and items along the way. great tour for picture taking. read more

Recommend pre-purchasing just for convenience. The guides were friendly, very informative and even had a sense of humor. Great tour - well worth the time (and money) read more

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Great experience and well worth the money. The Rangers were all very nice, professional and informative. The volunteers on the fairy were all very nice read more

My family and I enjoyed this little tour. It's about a thirty minute boat ride where you get history information. You dock for an hour. There a lot of beautiful photo opportunities here! Then you return to the boat for a thirty minute ride back. I recommend checking it out. read more

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Tour was so informative! The boat ride over, time at fort and boat ride back all ran smoothly. Well worth the time to learn about this important piece of history. read more

Terrific experience. Hot dog could've been a little bit nicer, but otherwise the boat trip was wonderful and the tour guide was excellent. read more

Fort Sumter Tours - Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Cheaper snacks and friendlier service on the ferry than fort Sumter gift store at the fort read more

Fort Sumter Tours - Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

If you're into history, or big cannons, it's a worthwhile ferry ride to the fort. The rangers do a great job of explaining Fort Sumter's role in the Civil War, as well as explaning the other surrounding fotresses. I suggest leaving from Patriot's Point and then touring the USS Yorktown and other sites when you return from the fort. Charleston has so much maritime history, so perfect if that's your thing! read more

bad driver ten minutes to park windy af couldn't even see not enough seats on the ferry slow crusty grandmas that can walk any slower

A pleasant ferry ride to and from Fort Sumter. If you're in Charleston you should visit this important historical site.

Tour trip was very well organized...they run a tight ship! And...you couldn't ask for better entertainment from your tour guides - the volunteers and National Park Service staff! They are very knowledgeable and offer a great overview of Fort Sumter's history - making it fun and exciting for all! Enjoy!! read more

Well you must use the ferry service to get out 5.8 miles to the fort! It was different than 2005 with moveable chairs and a snack & bar onboard. The price included commentary along the 30 minute route; 1 hour at the fort & back. Alcoholic beverages only on the return trip. Very nice bathrooms onboard and smooth ride outside or inside seating. read more

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Awesome time. Great information from ranger at the Fort and lovely boat ride to the island. Do wish there were a few more seats on the outside deck but it was short enough of a trip to stand at the railing. read more

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We went on one of the hottest days of the year and the tour guide and park staff were super nice. Reminded us about drinking water, where some AC could be found and they were very patient. The boat ride is very enjoyable and seeing Charleston harbor, dolphins, and other boats was beautiful. The Fort itself doesnt take too long to see, though the museum has a lot of great information to learn about. A great 2 1/2 hour trip if you are around the Charleston area. Price was well worth it and is part of the reason I gave it 5 stars as the fort itself is probably only 4 stars. read more

Fort Sumter Tours - Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

The fort itself is very cool with lots of signs explaining areas about the artillery And the foundation of the fort. There is a museum indoors that is extensive, which we did not have enough time for, i would check that out for 30 min instead of the 5 we had. The museum shop is very small but has some cute l Little things you could pick up. The compliment I have for the ship is that there is a narrator tour guide telling us interesting facts , which was appreciated as well as t v's scrolling photos and an educational history about the fort both to the fort and back again . The lady's bathroom was nice and clean too. However, there is nowhere to sit on this ferry! Half of the people are sitting on the floor or on top of tables, leaning against the walls or sitting in the stair wells. It is very unfortunate that there is no ample seating for people. I feel like a child sitting on the floor, in the way of others crawling over me, the floor is absolutely filthy too. Covered in snacks and trash and debris, and the staff just casually walk over everybody. The snack bar is also filthy. Where the cups and the lids go It looks like it hasn't been dusted or wiped clean in years. I am not crazy about cleanliness however, something that is so hihj trafficked It's not cleaned well. And to stress again, There is only half the amount of chairs for the people to sit on. We all paid about forty five dollars for a ticket and don't get a chair! That is why they are getting a bad review from me. read more

Fort Sumter Tours - Hardly any seats on the ferry. Have to resort to sitting in the filty floor. - Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

We came here to learn about the history of this fort and to become more educated. When we got here, parking had to be done across the street in a parking garage. We walked across to stand in line and wait for our boat. When we got on the boat, the first level had a bar and the second level had bathrooms. When we landed at the Fort, it was surprising as it was tiny. The quick tour guide gave his teachings to us regarding how the fort was created and lived in. I found it educational. We then walked around like tourists reading all the stuff we could and taking pictures like tourists. We then got hustled back into the boat 50 min later from the time we landed. I thought it was educational. read more

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The boat ride was great and the tour guide was so amazing!! Great experience, worth it!

If you come to Charleston you have to come visit Fort Sumter, right? I mean isn't it like going to New Orleans and visiting Jackson Square or San Antonio and The Alamo? After all, Fort Sumter is where the Civil War started. Of course, I did my good tourist duty and visited it earlier this week while in Charleston. At this time of year, tourism is slower so advance reservations weren't required and I bought my ticket just one day earlier. The first tour at 9:30 a.m. worked best for me leaving from Liberty Square (downtown). You can also depart from Patriots Point (across the river at the Yorktown) if you wish. I parked in the Aquarium garage across the street from the Fort Sumter Visitors Center and Museum. It's inexpensive to park there and is only about a 200 yard walk to the visitor center where the boat also leaves from. Upstairs is the ticket booth (if you already didn't buy yours online) along with a small but nice free museum and a small gift shop with restrooms. Budget about 15 minutes to see the museum before or after your voyage. The ship leaves on time and there are 3 decks. The lower two are enclosed and air conditioned. The upper deck is open air and has the most seating. If the weather is reasonable that's where you want to sit. The ride to the fort takes 32-35 minutes and is scenic with ship traffic passing by along with views of downtown Charleston and on the other side of the river the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point. When you arrive at the island fort they give you 1 hour to visit before your ship leaves for the return voyage. You don't want to miss your ride back! Since we were the first group of the day we had to raise the forts' flag and that ceremony took about 15 minutes with one of the park rangers giving a history of the fort before the flag raising ceremony. It took me about another 20 minutes to walk around the fort and read the various placards. Be sure to allow at least 15 minutes for the nice indoor and heated and cooled museum along with a few minutes for the small separate gift shop. If you are short on time skip this gift shop as the one back at the Visitor Center has the same stuff. Why 3 stars? The ride out to the fort and back is nice especially in good weather and the fort is truly historic. However, there really isn't a lot to see in the fort except for a few old cannons and some crumbling brick walls. My biggest turnoff is that the side of the fort that houses the museum and gift shop was rebuilt several years ago using concrete that turned black when settled (ranger told us that it was due to cost cutting) and the black concrete gives an unattractive look to the way fort should look. Doesn't look authentic. I think it's still worth the visit but only in good weather. read more

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We loved the ferry and self-guided tour of Fort Sumter! The guide on the ferry was very good, with a good mix of history and humor. The only drawback is the lack of seats on the ferry. We were able to get a seat at a table on the inside in the ride out. On a one hour visit, I headed back to the boat 15 minutes early in order to grab some chairs for one of our elderly guest but the boat was already packed and no seating was available. Other than that, I would recommend this tour to anyone that has an interest in the history of our country. read more

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Wonderful and informative tour. A must do iwhile visiting Charleston. We enjoyed it very much.

Ferry was spacious. Snacks bar was operational but since ours was the last tour, they had run out of snacks. I would have liked a captain/commentator giving us info on the way to the Fort. There was not enough time when we arrived to read all the museum info, enjoy the efforts of preserving the Fort, and time to get to the gift shop. A cruise around Savannah harbor was much better read more

The views were nice, and the historic fort is interesting, but our volunteer NPS guide's lecture on the way there and back left something to be desired--specifically, the broader historical context for the Civil War. He seemed strangely reluctant to say the "S" word, and when he did bring up slavery, he fixated on minor details like the question of whether enslaved people built the fort. Although he acknowledged that they made all the bricks for it, he left out that they also laid the foundation and repeatedly repaired it (often under fire) during the Confederate occupation, which are facts noted in the fort's museum exhibit. When we asked him about that after the tour, he continued to split hairs and insist on a narrow definition of "construction" that left out enslaved labor. Why? Is it embarrassing that slavery literally laid the foundation for a federal military installation that started a bloody civil war to end the institution? Does it draw attention to the root cause of the conflict and raise questions about the South's decision to secede? Yes, but that's just history, and history can be uncomfortable when it forces us to confront the truth. What does this guide want people to take away from the tour? If his final words were any indication, he wants us to think that the Confederacy was reasonable in its demands and that the Civil War was avoidable. "All they wanted was for those damn Yankees to leave," he said as our boat neared the dock in Charleston, emphasizing the secessionist perspective over the Union's point of view. "What self-respecting nation would allow another nation to occupy its territory?" Hmm, I don't know. What self-respecting nation would start a war that killed more than 620,000 Americans for the sake of defending racial slavery? I think that's the more important question to ask and for people to think about when they visit Fort Sumter. read more

Fort Sumter Tours - Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Very informative and objective tour (especially in comparison to a horse carriage tour I'd done the day before and wouldn't recommend for many reasons including oppressive heat and horse cruelty). Ranger Andy was an excellent guide on our 9:30am departure from the downtown location (340 Concord Street - there's a second departure point across the water in mount pleasant). I highly recommend the 9:30 (earliest) ride because you get the live guide, not the recording, and also see the flag raising ceremony, both of which make the 9:30 twice as worthwhile as the trip at any other time (though the last sailing must also include a flag-lowering and guide back to the mainland). Perfect way to spend the morning in Charleston, and finish around lunchtime near an area with many good seafood options (Fleet Landing, Hyman's, etc) before they get busy. read more

Fort Sumter Tours - The guide Ranger Andy was the best! - Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina