Guided & Self-Guided Tours

Historic Homes Tours

Explore the splendor of Wilmington's three historic house museums. Experience the architectural wonders of the historic Bellamy Mansion Museum of History and Design, the Colonial-era Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens and the Victorian-era Latimer House Museum. All three of these homes offer tours that provide a glimpse into the history of prominent families who once called Wilmington home.

Walking Tours

If history is your passion, let Tour Old Wilmington take you to the many landmarks which make our historic downtown notable.

Bibliophiles and history buffs alike will want to check out Old Books on Front Street, which offers weekly Literary History Walking Tours. Venture down the streets of famous novels and into the lives of authors who passed through and lived in Wilmington.

Learn all about carnivorous plants at Carolina Beach State Park with ranger-led hikes year-round on Saturdays.

Tours on Wheels

Experience downtown Wilmington and our 230-block National Register Historic District at the pace of days gone by on a horse-drawn tour. Let Springbrook Farms' rescued Percheron draft horses and a costumed carriage driver guide you on a narrated journey through our beautiful coastal city.

Haunted Tours

Wilmington has been called one of the most actively haunted cities in the world. Book one of our local haunted tours and get in touch with our paranormal side. Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington will take you on an eerie adventure through the past with stories and encounters of haunted homes and burial grounds. The Haunted Cotton Exchange Tour leads guests through the former cotton market—now a collection of boutique shops and restaurants—one of the most haunted locations in Wilmington. For the beer (and ghost) lovers, the Haunted Pub Crawl raises a glass to the most ghostly downtown pubs.

Behind-the-Scenes

Head "behind the hatch" at the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA and search through the hidden nooks and crannies from the inner bottom of the ship's hull all the way to the top of the fire control tower. This guided tour is available October through May, and reservations are required one month in advance. Cameron Art Museum offers weekly exhibition tours where visitors get an insider's look at current exhibitions tailored to meet their interests.

In Kure Beach, bring the family to North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher for a special behind the scenes tour. Explore the animal holding area and husbandry, get backstage access to exhibits and more. 

Artistic Tours

Make your way to one of America's most beautiful and historic theatres, Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts, for a one-hour guided tour of the theater that has been in operation since 1858. Tours may include the main lobby, historic 1858 lobby, historic 1858 Thalian Hall main stage, historic gallery level, Studio Theatre and backstage areas.

Get the inside scoop on Wilmington’s vibrant arts and culture scene with the Arts Council of Wilmington. Find info on the various arts venues, local artists and pedestrian art installations throughout the city. See temporary installations of sculptures throughout the city on a self-guided tour as part of the Arts Council's Ped Art program.

Take a walk with the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History on their self-guided "Loop Through History" for a glimpse into the history of this beautiful island beach community.

Food & Brew Tours

Beer lovers can create their own self-guided tour with the help of the Wilmington Ale Trail, a map to breweries and bottle shops in Wilmington.

Craft cocktail lovers will enjoy a visit to the award-winning End of Days Distillery, where a behind-the-scenes tour shows visitors the process of sourcing, fermentation, distillation and finishing. Tour group size is limited and reservations are encouraged.

Sample numerous local favorites, famous hotspots and coastal flavors on a gourmet food tour with Taste Carolina. Their Downtown Tasting Tour offers the opportunity to enjoy local food and drink, meet the chefs, and learn about historic downtown.

Capture the flavor of Carolina Beach on the Tasting History Tour. Walk through the streets of Carolina Beach on this guided tour and into several of its most popular restaurants to taste some of what the locals have to offer. 

eTours

Embark on a self-guided tour with the Wilmington History smartphone app. Guided by your device's GPS coordinates, choose from the African American History Tour, Pub Crawl, Civil War or Old Wilmington tours and explore at your own pace.