The best Raleigh NC tours offer unique ways to experience the city’s history, flavors, and local culture—from ghost walks to food tastings and craft beer adventures.
The Top Tours in Raleigh NC
Whether you want to uncover haunted legends, sample the city’s best bites, glide through downtown on a Segway, or hop aboard a trolley, Raleigh’s tour scene offers something for every type of traveler. This guide highlights the most popular and highest-rated experiences so you can discover the tours that best match your interests while visiting North Carolina’s capital.
Ghost & Haunted Tours in Raleigh
Raleigh’s haunted history comes alive on ghost tours that explore Civil War tragedies, paranormal activity, and centuries-old legends throughout downtown. From the State Capitol building where Confederate sharpshooters still linger to Moore Square’s public execution grounds that once drew crowds of 30,000 spectators, ghost tours in Raleigh NC reveal the dark secrets behind the City of Oaks’ most haunted locations. These spine-chilling walking and trolley experiences combine historical research with authentic ghost stories for an unforgettable evening exploring Raleigh’s supernatural side.
Raleigh Walking Tours Ghost Experiences
Raleigh Walking Tours offers two distinct ghost tours with no overlap between experiences. The Haunted History Tour leads visitors to some of Raleigh’s most haunted places including the Governor’s Mansion and State Capitol Building, sharing stories of paranormal encounters and unexplained phenomena. New in 2024, the Sip n’ Stroll Raleigh Ghost Tour combines spooky stories with downtown nightlife, allowing guests to enjoy a drink while hearing fascinating tales of local legends and visiting the most haunted building in Raleigh.
US Ghost Adventures Raleigh Ghost Tour
US Ghost Adventures explores why North Carolina’s capital became one of the most haunted cities in the US through authentic accounts of Civil War veterans, political unrest, and tragic deaths. The tour reveals underground tunnels used during the Civil War, the legendary “Cherry Bounce” cocktail story behind Raleigh’s selection as the state capital, and chilling tales of ghostly activity at historic landmarks. Visitors hear bone-chilling stories of a young girl’s fatal accident, a lonely woman whose cries still echo, and Confederate soldiers whose brass buttons still shimmer in windows.
Tobacco Road Tours Haunted Footsteps
Tobacco Road Tours has led ghost tours since 2009 with their family-friendly Raleigh Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour, a 1.5-mile research-driven walking experience designed for ages 8 and up. The 1 hour and 45-minute tour visits four different paranormal sites including the Yarborough House location where the famous hotel burned to the ground in 1928 but spirits still linger. Stories spanning from the late 1700s through the 20th century combine local folklore with historical facts about antebellum political unrest and North Carolina’s heated debate over secession.
Great Raleigh Trolley Haunted Tours
The Great Raleigh Trolley presents multiple haunted tour options each fall, from traditional ghost stories to paranormal expeditions that venture off the trolley at Raleigh’s most haunted locations. The 90-minute Haunted History tours feature paranormal experts and storytellers who share forgotten Raleigh landmarks, cursed history, and real paranormal sightings throughout downtown. Additional options include the Haunted History Oakwood Walking Ghost Tour through Raleigh’s most haunted historic neighborhood and the Hidden History tour exploring 1920s speakeasies, secret tunnels beneath Fayetteville Street, and lost graveyards.
Food Tours in Raleigh NC
Raleigh’s food tours offer diverse ways to experience the area’s cuisine, from guided walking tours and food halls to seasonal food truck gatherings. These culinary experiences showcase Raleigh’s farm-to-table movement, locally-owned restaurants, and the innovative chefs behind the city’s nationally recognized food scene.
Guided Walking Food Tours
Triangle Food & City Tours offers guided walking food tours through Historic Oakwood and Boylan Heights neighborhoods, pairing tasting stops at locally owned restaurants with stories about the city’s history and architecture. Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours takes guests on guided walks through downtown Raleigh, with Saturday afternoon tours featuring five food stops paired with craft cocktails and Friday tours exploring food shops and food halls.
Food Halls & Multi-Vendor Dining
Morgan Street Food Hall in the Warehouse District features 23 local vendors under one roof, including Iyla’s Southern Kitchen (fried chicken and barbecue), Cow Bar (gourmet burgers), Gym Taco, Curry in a Hurry, and Cousins Maine Lobster. The 22,000 square-foot repurposed warehouse includes indoor and outdoor seating with two full-service bars.
Transfer Co. Food Hall, housed in the historic Carolina Coach Garage five minutes from Fayetteville Street, offers 50,000 square feet of dining space with vendors serving Mexican, Indian, seafood, Argentine empanadas, bagels, and desserts from Captain Cookie and the Milkman.
Food Truck Scene in Raleigh
Nearly 100 food trucks regularly operate throughout Raleigh year-round at breweries, museums, art galleries, music venues, and parks. Popular destinations include Raleigh Brewing Company (food trucks Wednesday-Saturday) and Trophy Brewing locations, which maintain rotating food truck schedules posted weekly on their calendars. Food trucks can be tracked through websites like Street Food Finder and Truckster, where trucks post their weekly schedules, with many operating daily at different locations throughout the Triangle area.
Brewery Tours in Raleigh
Raleigh’s thriving craft beer scene offers guided behind-the-scenes tours, private brewery experiences, and self-guided trails covering 40+ local breweries. Whether you want a fully curated outing with transportation or prefer to explore independently, there’s no shortage of options.
Breweries in Raleigh NC with Tours
- City Brew Tours – All-inclusive 3–5 hour guided tours visiting 3–4 brewing facilities. Includes:
- Up to 16 craft beer samples
- A gourmet meal with beer pairings
- VIP behind-the-scenes access to the brewing process
- Transportation and expert beer guides
- Beltline Brew Tours: Private 3–4 hour tours that travel between popular Triangle breweries such as:
- LoneRider
- Raleigh Brewing Company
- Crank Arm Brewing
- Natty Greene’s
Other Raleigh Breweries Offering Tours
- Raleigh Brewing Company
- Aviator Brewing Company
- Trophy Brewing Co.
- Bond Brothers Beer Company
Raleigh Beer Trail (Self-Guided)
The Raleigh Beer Trail is a digital passport that lets visitors explore 40+ breweries across Wake County at their own pace while earning rewards. No app is required—simply sign up and receive your mobile passport via text.
Beyond Beer: Wine Tours in Raleigh NC
For visitors interested in wine and spirits, Raleigh offers wineries and tasting rooms throughout the region. Olde Raleigh Distillery in nearby Zebulon offers 60-minute guided tours Tuesday-Thursday evenings and weekend afternoons, including bourbon tastings and behind-the-scenes access to aging barrels and stills.
Boat Tours Raleigh NC
While Raleigh doesn’t have boat tours within the city limits, nearby Jordan Lake offers scenic guided pontoon boat tours just 20-30 minutes from downtown. These wildlife-focused experiences provide a relaxing way to explore over 13,900 acres of sparkling water and 180 miles of shoreline in one of North Carolina’s most stunning natural settings.
- Jordan Lake Tours, the original boat tour company on Jordan Lake, offers guided pontoon boat rides with comfortable seating for up to 12 guests and adequate shade. Captain Dave, a wildlife expert, navigates the waters where visitors can spot bald eagles, herons, finches, and other abundant wildlife, making cameras essential for capturing these moments.
- Jordan Lake Journeys provides unforgettable 2-hour pontoon boat tours on a 22-foot Bentley Tritoon that seats up to 13 guests. Tours depart from Poe’s Ridge Boat Ramp in Moncure, conveniently located 30 minutes from Holly Springs and about 35 minutes from downtown Raleigh. The eco-friendly and educational experience includes historic insights about the Cape Fear River Basin, crayfish habitats, dam structures, and forest shoreline wildlife.
Segway Tours in Raleigh
Triangle Glides (also known as Carolina Touring Company) offers Segway tours of downtown Raleigh that combine fun with historical education. The hour-long experience includes a guided tour through downtown with a microphone headset system allowing all participants to easily hear the guide’s stories about Raleigh history.
Christmas Tours in Raleigh
Raleigh transforms into a winter wonderland during the holiday season with festive trolley tours and light displays throughout the city. From family-friendly visits with Santa to adults-only bar crawls, Christmas tours in Raleigh NC offer magical experiences for all ages. If you’re looking for more holiday fun, check out our guide to the top Christmas events in Raleigh.
- Great Raleigh Trolley Holiday Tours: The Great Raleigh Trolley presents eight different holiday tour options running throughout December, with tickets typically selling out within 24 hours of release.
- Santa’s Trolley: The city-run Santa’s Trolley aboard the Historic Raleigh Trolley features Holly the Elf helping passengers find Santa in time for Christmas. Tours depart from Mordecai Historic Park in mid-December with three daily departure times (5 PM, 6 PM, 7 PM) over three days.
- Raleigh Christmas Light Displays: Raleigh offers multiple free Christmas light displays. The Illuminate Art Walk on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh (December 5-January 5) features large-scale, interactive, light-based art installations. The Holiday Tour of Lights in nearby Apex (December 6-31) provides a mapped driving route through neighborhoods with elaborate residential and business light displays.
Historic Tours in Raleigh
The best way to tour Raleigh is with an experienced and knowledgeable guide, especially when it comes to learning about the city’s rich history. These tours highlighting Raleigh’s fascinating past are well worth any history buff’s time, exploring everything from colonial-era homes to Greek Revival architecture.
Historic Walking Tours
Raleigh Walking Tours spotlights some of the area’s most iconic historic attractions, including Raleigh Iron Works, a selection of haunted spots, and the Oakwood neighborhood. Seasonal visitors can see the century-old neighborhood in a different light during the annual candlelight tour, held each December. The company also offers walks covering local topics of interest, such as true crime stories, public art, women’s history, and area murals. Most of Raleigh Walking Tours’ offerings feature a pay-what-you-choose pricing structure; view the full selection to find your favorite.
Triangle Walking Tours is devoted to helping locals and visitors experience the area’s most interesting sights on foot. Highlights among its Raleigh history-focused tours include a historian-led walk through downtown Raleigh, a tour spotlighting the architecture of historic Oakwood, and another celebrating the city’s African-American history.
The Sunday afternoon Downtown Raleigh Historian-Guided Walking Tour explores the evolution from rural hamlet to one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, visiting buildings ranging from modern skyscrapers to gilded-age mansions to colonial plantation homes.
Tobacco Road Tours offers the Raleigh City of Oaks Walking Tour, a 1.5-mile guided orientation tour covering all six downtown districts including Fayetteville Street, Government, Oakwood, Moore Square, Warehouse, and Glenwood. The tour visits the State Capitol and grounds, NC Museum of History, NC Museum of Natural Science, NC Nature Research Center, and NC Legislature Building.
On-Site Historic Tours
Mordecai Historic Park offers guided tours of Raleigh’s oldest home on its original foundation, dating back to 1785. The 50-minute, docent-led tours explore the Mordecai House and historic outbuildings, including the birthplace of President Andrew Johnson and St. Mark’s Chapel. Tours run Tuesday through Sunday.
The North Carolina State Capitol, completed in 1840, is a National Historic Landmark and one of the best-preserved examples of Greek Revival architecture in the nation. Visitors can explore the building through free self-guided tours Monday through Saturday, or join free public guided tours on Saturdays at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m.. Highlights include the domed rotunda, restored legislative chambers, and exhibits on the state’s political history.
Joel Lane Museum House allows visitors to explore the Revolutionary world of early North Carolina through the colonial era, Revolutionary War, and into the first years of a new nation. Costumed docents personalize each guided tour with compelling human stories told with accuracy and compassion.
Trolley Tours Raleigh NC
Not all of the city’s best tours are taken on foot—there are also several trolley tours in Raleigh, N.C., offering comfortable rides through historic districts and downtown landmarks.
- The Great Raleigh Trolley offers an array of laid-back tours, including ones covering the haunted history of Raleigh and the city’s must-see sights, as well as Read & Ride tours geared toward children and their parents. Tours depart from Tap Yard Raleigh at 1610 Automotive Way and cover various themes from paranormal investigations to holiday celebrations.
- The Historic Raleigh Trolley is a city-provided offering that treats tour participants to narrated rides showcasing downtown’s most historic landmarks. Departing from Mordecai Historic Park on Saturdays from March through December, the hour-long trolley tour highlights sites including City Market, Fayetteville Street, and the State Capitol. Private charters are available for weddings, parties, corporate events, or other special occasions accommodating up to 26 passengers.
Plan Your Raleigh Tour Adventure
After taking in their favorite Raleigh tours, guests at the StateView Hotel can head back to our conveniently located property to rest up in their comfortable rooms and enjoy our thoughtful amenities while gearing up for their next area adventure. Located near NC State University and just minutes from downtown Raleigh, StateView Hotel provides an ideal home base for exploring the city’s diverse tour offerings.
Plan your stay at StateView today, and get ready to discover what makes Raleigh such a fun destination for visitors of all ages and interests.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tours in Raleigh NC
What are the best tours in Raleigh for first-time visitors?
First-time visitors should consider the Historic Raleigh Trolley Tours for an overview of downtown landmarks, Triangle Walking Tours for historian-led exploration of the city’s past, or City Brew Tours for an all-inclusive brewery experience with transportation. Food tours from Taste Carolina or Triangle Food & City Tours also provide excellent introductions to Raleigh’s culinary scene while exploring historic neighborhoods.
Are Raleigh tours family-friendly?
Many Raleigh tours welcome families, including the Historic Raleigh Trolley (children under 6 free), North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences self-guided tours, and The Great Raleigh Trolley’s Read & Ride tours designed for children. Jordan Lake boat tours accommodate families, and the Santa Express trolley tour during December offers kid-friendly visits with Santa. Ghost tours typically have age recommendations of 8+ years.
How far in advance should I book tours in Raleigh?
Booking timelines vary by tour type and season. The Great Raleigh Trolley’s holiday tours often sell out within 24 hours of ticket release, while the Historic Raleigh Trolley accepts bookings one month in advance. Food tours and brewery tours typically require 1–2 weeks advance booking, especially for weekend dates. Walking tours with pay-what-you-choose pricing like Raleigh Walking Tours offer more flexibility.
What tours can I take near the StateView Hotel?
StateView Hotel’s location near NC State University and downtown Raleigh provides easy access to most tour departure points. Downtown walking tours, trolley tours departing from Mordecai Historic Park, and Fayetteville Street food tours are all within a short drive. Brewery tours include transportation, making them convenient options from any hotel location.
Are there indoor tour options in Raleigh for bad weather days?
Yes, several Raleigh tours operate indoors or provide shelter from weather. The North Carolina Museum of Art and Museum of Natural Sciences offer self-guided indoor tours, while Mordecai Historic Park and the State Capitol provide docent-led tours inside historic buildings. Morgan Street Food Hall and Transfer Co. Food Hall allow self-guided food experiences entirely indoors. Trolley tours provide covered seating for rainy days.