Find a Variety of Tours | Durham, NC

Craving Southern food? Curious about Durham's history? Ready to dig into what makes this city different? Durham's tours are as diverse as the Bull City itself, covering everything from top attractions and world-class universities to historic landmarks, green spaces and bold public art. Choose a guided tour if you want the full story, or explore at your own pace with a self-guided experience. Either way, lace up those comfy shoes and get moving.

Durham's Sightseeing Tours

Find your perfect adventure and experience Durham with this list of tours in the Bull City.

Sure, it’s fun to explore Durham on your own, but an informative tour led by an expert guide with all kinds of insider knowledge that you can’t get anywhere else ... priceless. Looking to learn more about Durham's African American history? Reserve a spot on a Whistle Stop tour. Want to simultaneously exercise and get a glimpse of some of Durham's incredible murals? Check out Preservation Durham's Murals by Bike tour. Whether you’re visiting for...

Learn More

Best On-and Off-Campus Hotspots: North Carolina Central University

We tracked down an NCCU grad for the scoop on where to go and what to do on and off campus.

Whether you’re a new North Carolina Central University student, an Eagle returning to the nest, or a prospective student considering your options, there’s plenty to do, see, and experience on and off campus. Discover Durham connected with Erim Akpam, NCCU alumna and proclaimed Eagle for life, to bring you a quick-start guide to some of the hidden gems around the sloping hills and verdant green.

Learn More

Best On-and Off-Campus Hotspots: Duke University

We tracked down a recent Duke grad for the scoop on where to go and what to do on and off campus.

Everyone knows that location plays a major role in the college experience. While you spend a lot of time in classes, you also get to participate in all sorts of activities on-and-off campus. Thankfully, Duke University is in Durham, a city with small-town charm chockfull of unique things to do. From rock-climbing walls to the best places with Wi-Fi, there are plenty of places to explore in Durham. First-year students have the advantage of beginning...

Learn More

Self-Guided Downtown Durham Walking Tour

Enjoy this self-guided walking tour of downtown Durham starting at the Visitor Info Center at 212 West Main Street. In it, you'll explore CCB Plaza, American Tobacco Campus, Five Points, and more.

Learn More

Downtown Durham Walking Tour

Got a couple of hours? How about an afternoon? There's much to discover in and around downtown Durham.

Downtown Durham, North Carolina’s first commercial district on the National Register of Historic Places, is a compact, vibrant, relatively well-preserved area where buildings date from the first four decades of the twentieth century, when the city boomed. The buildings’ original facades recall the time when Durham became the bustling and ambitious city of today, and a walk through the district reveals a place that honors its history while hosting a renowned food and drink scene...

Learn More

Tour Durham's Tobacco History

At one time, it could have been said that all buildings in Durham were tobacco buildings. Learn the history and significance of Durham's brick warehouses that have transformed into places to live, work, dine, relax and more.

This content is adapted from the Tobacco Heritage Tour booklet, produced by Preservation Durham for their 18th Annual Old Durham Tour. For more information, download the full booklet (PDF). Tobacco was the lifeblood of Durham's economy from the time of the town's founding in the 1800s until the gradual demise of the cigarette industry in the late 1900s. In fact, Durham's first nickname, the Bull City, came from the logo of Genuine Durham smoking tobacco...

Learn More

Self-Guided Tours

These self-guided tours highlight a range of major Durham attractions.

Little River Driving Tour — explore historic sites in the Little River Basin
Downtown Walking Tour — walking tour of Downtown's historic and retail attractions
Duke Campus — check out Duke University's points of interest
North Carolina Central University Campus — tour NCCU's beautiful campus at your own pace
NC Scenic Byways Tour — hop in the car and enjoy beautiful NC views

Guided Tours

Explore some of Durham's popular and unique sites by foot, from a vehicle, or while enjoying a beverage aboard a traveling bar.

Trolley Pub Durham — enjoy a foot-powered, Durham "booze cruise"
Tobacco Road Tours — themed walking tours of Durham
Whistle Stop Tours — performance-based walking tours centered on Durham's Black history
Old North State Tours — discover Durham's businesses, attractions, and history on foot
Triangle Walking Tours — history, true crime and custom tours of Durham