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- English
Step back into the shadows of the 1920s, when Charleston was a city of contradictions—charming on the surface, rebellious underneath. On the Speakeasy Sagas Pub Crawl, you’ll walk the very streets where bootleggers dodged federal agents, secret bars buzzed behind locked doors.
During Prohibition, alcohol was outlawed—but in Charleston, the party never really stopped. This wasn’t just a city of Southern charm and steeples. It was a city of hidden rooms, rumrunners, and lawmen who conveniently looked the other way. From elegant society scandals to rowdy waterfront crime, this tour reveals the untold story of Charleston’s wild side. Along the way, stop at hand-picked pubs where you can enjoy your favorite modern cocktails in the Holy City with a refusal to stay dry.
If you have 10 or more guests in one group, please get in touch with the private & group sales coordinator with Ghost City Tours.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Your guide will be waiting for you on the steps of the U.S. Custom House, on the East Bay Street side. Please note that this is the back entrance of the Custom House.
Itinerary
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1
Step back into the roaring 1920s, when Charleston was a hotbed of bootleggers, speakeasies, and federal raids. On this spirited pub crawl, we’ll uncover the city’s wild Prohibition-era past—starting with the imposing U.S. Customs House, once a stronghold in the fight against illegal liquor. From whispered deals on the docks to hidden bottles behind bar counters, you’ll explore how Charleston danced around the law—and raised a glass anyway. Cheers to rebellion, rumrunners, and the city that never stayed dry.
24 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
Trace the secret history of speakeasies, smugglers, and the brave (or corrupt) souls who defied the dry laws. The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, once a colonial prison and later a hot spot for Prohibition-era crackdowns. From hidden booze to underground deals, and the law was just a suggestion.
24 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3
While best known for its soaring steeple and sacred history, St. Philip’s Church played a quieter role during Prohibition—as a rumored lookout point and meeting spot in the Holy City’s underground world of bootleggers and backroom deals. Just steps from where the law preached temperance, locals whispered about hidden stashes and secret sips. In a city where sacred met scandal, St. Philip’s stood at the crossroads of faith, folklore, and forbidden spirits.
24 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Dock Street Theater
The Dock Street Theatre has always been a place of performance and intrigue—and during Prohibition, the drama didn’t end with the curtain call. Behind the scenes, it’s said the theater hosted secret soirees and hush-hush cocktail hours, drawing Charleston’s elite to drink in defiance of the law.
24 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
Philadelphia Alley is one of Charleston’s most storied and shadowy paths. Known for its bloody duels and ghostly legends, it also played a quieter role during Prohibition—a favored route for bootleggers and bar-goers slipping between speakeasies. By day, it was a historic footpath; by night, a hidden artery for forbidden spirits.
24 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Only for ages 21+
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Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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