Best Donuts in Charleston + Charleston Donut Tour FAQ

The Underground Donut Tour in Charleston is a guided walking food tour that explores some of the city’s best donut shops, bakeries, and sweet treat destinations while sharing local history, culture, and neighborhood stories.

Our Charleston Historic City Market & Sweet Treats Tour is a sweet treats tour, celebrating the many cultures that shaped the city's desserts. You'll taste French-style beignets, Turkish sweets, Southern pralines, benne wafers with West African roots, buttery biscuits and Dutch pancakes, all on one stroll through historic downtown.

The Underground Donut Tour has been rated one of the top food tours in Charleston and the world for over 8 years by TripAdvisor. We have more than 28,000 reviews on TripAdvisor, Viator, Airbnb, Google, and many other places. We think that's a pretty good endorsement.

The Underground Donut Tour has more than 28,000 reviews that say we are the best donut tour and, in many cases, the best food tour in Charleston.

The Underground Donut Tour in Charleston combines delicious donuts, local history, neighborhood exploration, and fun photo opportunities into one memorable experience.

Our tour visits some of Charleston's most-loved sweet spots: Toast! All Day, Ephesus Mediterranean Delights, River Street Sweets, Callie's Hot Little Biscuit and Tinto y Crema. Along the way you'll explore the Historic City Market, the French Quarter and Philadelphia Alley, and finish at Waterfront Park with views of Charleston Harbor.

Every stop has its fans, and every tour brings out new favorites. Guests love the warm beignets at Toast! All Day, the baklava and Turkish treats at Ephesus, the pralines and chocolate pecan clusters at River Street Sweets, the sweet biscuits at Callie's Hot Little Biscuit, and the Dutch pancakes at Tinto y Crema.

The Underground Donut Tour prides itself on having some of the best donuts, pastries, and sweet treats on all of our tours.

Your guide hand-picks a lineup that shows off the best of each stop, so you get to try treats you might not have ordered on your own. Many guests discover a brand-new favorite this way.

Plenty! You'll enjoy tastings at around half a dozen stops, with portions designed to leave you happy and satisfied without feeling too full. If you'd like to save something for later, just ask your guide.

Some tours in Charleston may include coffee or beverage pairings depending on the city and specific tour experience.

Guests meet their guide at the starting location and walk together through several neighborhoods in Charleston, stopping at curated donut shops and bakeries for tastings along the way.

The tour starts at Toast! All Day on Meeting Street and ends at the iconic Pineapple Fountain in Waterfront Park, right by the water. It's the perfect spot for a group photo and a great place to keep exploring after your tour.

Neighborhoods vary by tour route in Charleston, but many tours visit historic districts, downtown areas, and popular local food neighborhoods.

About two hours of walking, tasting and Charleston history.

Each tour is about 2 hours long. Some tours can run as short as 90 minutes, while others may run slightly over 2 hours.

The tour in Charleston is a walking tour with light to moderate walking between donut stops and neighborhood landmarks.

It is recommended to arrive approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled tour start time in Charleston.

Our guides know how to beat the Lowcountry heat, with air-conditioned stops and water breaks along the way. We recommend bringing water, sunscreen and comfortable shoes.

Yes, we run all year. On cool or drizzly days, bring a jacket or umbrella, and our guides will make the most of the cozy indoor stops along the route. If the weather ever becomes unsafe, we'll reach out to help you find a new date.

Yes, donut tours in Charleston run year round, weather permitting.

The Underground Donut Tour in Charleston does its best to accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences whenever possible.

This route has limited gluten-free availability, so please let us know when you book. With advance notice, our guides can arrange gluten-free swaps, like fresh fruit and a gluten-free biscuit with cinnamon butter and jam.

Several of our partners in Charleston have gluten-free donuts. Please include any dietary restrictions at the time of booking so our guides can ensure you have a great tour.

Several of our partners in Charleston have vegan donuts. Please include any dietary restrictions at the time of booking so our guides can ensure you have a great tour.

Yes. Vegetarian friendly options are often available on the donut tour in Charleston.

Please tell us about any allergies when you book, and we'll work with our partners to find the best options for you. For guests with nut allergies, for example, our guides can swap in a different treat. Since our partners prepare their treats in shared kitchens, we can't guarantee against cross-contact.

Absolutely. Kids love this tour, and families join us all the time. Our guides are happy to help little ones find a treat they'll enjoy at every stop.

Yes. The Underground Donut Tour in Charleston is designed to be family friendly and enjoyable for guests of all ages.

There are tons of things to do with your kids in Charleston. We'd recommend the Underground Donut Tour. It was intentionally designed to be fun for kids of all ages. In 2015, Jeff Woelker created the tour because his family was always looking for things to do in the morning, as a family, that were fun and delicious. That's how the Underground Donut Tour got created.

Yes! Download our free Charleston City Guide, a handy collection of our team's handpicked recommendations for Charleston, including places to stay, restaurants and bars we love, more sweet spots, kid-friendly ideas and other things to do. Traveling with little ones? Our free Kids' Activity Book is full of donut-themed coloring pages and activities to enjoy before, during or after your tour. You'll find both download buttons on this page.

Strollers are generally welcome on the tour in Charleston, though some routes may include busy sidewalks or uneven surfaces.

The route is a relaxed stroll through historic downtown, with some narrow sidewalks. We've welcomed guests using walkers and knee scooters, and our guides are happy to adjust the pace for your group. Contact us with any questions before you book.

Yes. The donut tour in Charleston is a great activity for solo travelers looking to explore the city and meet other guests.

Definitely! Local guests tell us they discover spots they've never tried and learn new stories about their city. It's also a great way to show visiting friends and family around downtown.

Sweet treat lovers from all over join us in Charleston, from cruise passengers and weekend visitors to new residents and longtime locals. Many guests have taken our tours in other cities, like Chicago and New York, and add Charleston to their list.

Yes! Birthdays, anniversaries, bachelorette parties and mother-daughter trips are some of our favorite tours to lead. Let us know you're celebrating when you book, and your guide will help make it extra special.

Yes. Private group tours are available in Charleston for birthdays, corporate outings, student groups, and celebrations.

Yes. Corporate and team-building donut tours are available in Charleston.

Yes. The Underground Donut Tour in Charleston can accommodate both small and large groups.

Prices for the Underground Donut Tour in Charleston start as low as $65. For the most current pricing and availability, check our website.

For the best pricing and the most up-to-date availability, you can purchase tickets for the donut tour in Charleston directly on our website.

Booking in advance is recommended for the donut tour in Charleston, especially during weekends and holidays.