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
This could be you cheersing on the Trolley Pub.
Photo courtesy of Trolley Pub Raleigh
Axes and Ales | $290 for up to 12 people | Party like a firefighter on this real 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 | From $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 | From $39 per person | Pedal your way through downtown while stopping for drinks along the way.
All in on history
Trolley through Raleigh and learn about the city’s history.
Photo via the City of Raleigh
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 greenspaces with 230 years of history in this quick 30-minute tour.
Art is all around
This could be you on one of many Raleigh Walking Tours.
Photo by Raleigh Walking Tours
Sip n’ Stroll Raleigh Public Art Tour | Pay what you can | This art tour is situated in the downtown Sip n’ Stroll district, so 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 | Head 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 in the museum.
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.
Self-guided tours
This Canes mural towers over downtown.
Photo by RALtoday
Downtown Raleigh Murals Tour | Free | See nine different Raleigh murals on this three-mile downtown walk.
Historic Equity Walking Tour | Free | Explore important landmarks of Raleigh’s journey to more equity and inclusion, including Shaw University buildings and important public art.
Leaders of Raleigh Walking Tour | Free | This 3.6 mile self-guided tour is a bit of a hike, but you’ll learn about all the important people who made Raleigh the city it is.
Parks and Natural History Walking Tour | Free | Visit Raleigh’s four original parks with detailed audio descriptions.
Weird Raleigh Walking Tour | Free | Guide yourself through interesting Raleigh features and eccentric art installations.
Get ghosted
The Briggs Building is one of many Raleigh spots rumored to be haunted.
Photo by Briggs Hardware
True Crime & Curious Tales Walking Tour | Pay what you can | Learn about spooky happenings and true crime stories in the City of Oaks in this tour.
Haunted History Walking Tour | Pay what you can | This history-focused tour discusses real-life hauntings from Raleigh’s storied 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.
What did we miss? If you know a tour that’s not on the list, guide us in the right direction using this survey .