Whether you’re a lifelong Raleighite longing to embrace your inner tourist, or you have a limited amount of time in the City of Oaks, here are 20+ tours of Raleigh guaranteed to show you the sights you want to see.
Note: Price estimates are based on individual adult rates available at the time of publishing. Check each company’s website to see current pricing.
🍽️ Eat and drink
Axes and Ales | $290 for up to 12 people | Party like a firefighter on this authentic fire engine touring downtown.
City Brew Tours | $99 per person | This tour features 16 beers, a fully paired meal, and VIP access to four Raleigh breweries.
Taste Raleigh | $79+ per person | Stop by five local restaurants for a bite and a small bev. If you’re looking to get acquainted with the food scene here, this tour is for you.
Trolley Pub Public Tour | $39+ per person | Pedal your way through downtown while stopping for drinks along the way.
🏛️ All in on history
City of Oaks Walking Tour | Pay what you can | Get oriented in Raleigh with this tour of major legislative buildings and important landmarks.
Historic Raleigh Trolley Tours | $10 for adults, $6 for kids | Enjoy Raleigh’s rich history from the comfort of a red trolley.
Moore Square History Tour | Free | Explore one of Raleigh’s original green spaces with 230 years of history in this quick tour.
African American History Tour | $18+ per person | Tour through the African American history of Raleigh by exploring places including Shaw University + Moore Square. Plus, this outing is led by a professional researcher and educator.
🎨 Art is all around
Sip n’ Stroll Raleigh Public Art Tour | Pay what you can | This art tour is in the heart of the downtown Sip n’ Stroll district. Grab a drink from a local biz and enjoy some of Raleigh’s best murals and art installations.
The Original Downtown Raleigh Murals and Public Art Tour | Pay what you can | Venture off the beaten path to see some of Raleigh’s largest and most vibrant public art displays. Plus, explore even more with the second part of this tour.
North Carolina Museum of Art Museum Tour | Free | A docent will lead you through specific exhibits, from the Judaic Art Gallery to a survey of Women Artists.
North Carolina Museum of Art Park Tour | Free | Enjoy art and nature on this two-mile trek through the outdoor section of the museum — don’t forget your walking shoes and water bottle.
Art and Architecture Tour | $20 | Tour Raleigh’s historic architecture with styles ranging from Queen Anne and Victorian to modern. Pro tip: This guided tour requires a minimum group of six to schedule.
👣 Self-guided tours
Downtown Raleigh Murals Tour | Free | Explore nine different Raleigh murals on this three-mile downtown walk starting at the Raleigh Convention Center. Plus, use the available audio to learn more about each attraction.
Historic Equity Walking Tour | Free | Explore important landmarks of Raleigh’s journey of building more equity and inclusion, including Shaw University buildings, Legends Nightclub, and other important public pillars.
Leaders of Raleigh Walking Tour | Free | This 3.6 mile self-guided tour is a bit of a hike, but you’ll learn about key figures and place that made Raleigh the city it is today.
Parks and Natural History Walking Tour | Free | Gallivant through Raleigh’s four original parks with detailed audio descriptions to enhance your learning.
👻 Get ghosted
True Crime & Curious Tales Walking Tour | Pay what you can | Learn about the spooky and true crime historical stories in the City of Oaks in this tour.
Haunted History Walking Tour | Pay what you can | This history-focused tour discusses real haunted occurrences from Raleigh’s colorful past.
Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour | $16-$20 | Take the whole family on this spooky, kid-friendly tour with historical elements.
Raleigh Pub Crawl & Haunted Adventure Tour | $23 | On this adults-only tour, stop for some bevs while learning about the spooky history of Raleigh.
🦄 Unique paths
Fun City Scavenger Hunt Tour | $10+ per person | Get to know the best of Oak City while solving a mystery in this city-wide tour.
Puzzling Adventure Tour | $35+ per group of 12 | Make a game of exploring the city by solving + decoding brain games that lead you to Raleigh’s must-see sites.
Pedicab Downtown Tour | $100 | Take in the sights of NC’s capitol city in a unique ride with views including the Historic Oakwood neighborhood + the State Capitol building.
Electric Tuk Tuk Tour | $45+ per adult | Tuk yourself into some fun with up to six and create a personalized route through Raleigh.
Weird Raleigh Walking Tour | Free | Guide yourself through some of Oak City’s most interesting features and eccentric art installations.
