If you’re interested in having a professional Chattanoogan show you around there are some exciting tours you can sign up for to explore the city with people who know it best (bonus they are also the most passionate about us).
We’ve got ghost tours, history excursions, farm adventures, bat caves… I think you get the point, there’s a lot of interesting options and I’m here to talk you through some local favorites.
Is there a tour I overlooked? Reach out with the details.
Chattanooga Trolley Tours.
Are you up for a city tour in a nostalgic vintage tour bus? The picturesque red and green colors and wood lined interior provide an inviting environment to take in the city sights and sounds while you listen to the notes on the history of as well as modern day Chattanooga.
Trolley tours are anywhere between 75 minutes on the shorter end, but can be up to 4 hours long depending on the option you choose. These tours are often recommended as a fun way to spend an afternoon your kids.
You can also do your own private tour with advanced planning.
Boasting a 4.9 Google Review, this guided adventure is a fan favorite for people of all ages.
Chattanooga Ghost Tours.
With our storied history comes some fun folklore and history themed ghost tours, one of the more popular businesses running this is Chattanooga Ghost Tours.
Not only can you do a walking ghost tour, but they also offer ghost hunting options for some added excitement for the braver amongst us.
At the time of writing they have Murder and Mayhem Haunted History walking tour, UTC + Cemetery Ghost Hunt, and a Walking + Hunt Combo tour for those who want the best of both worlds.
The tours are designed for all ages. The walking ghost tours are rain or shine so be prepared with an appropriate jacket for any inclement weather conditions.
Tour available can be found on the Chattanooga Ghost Tours website.
Trolley Pub Chattanooga.
How does some fresh air, your favorite beverage, and some light pedaling (or not so light if you’re carrying the team) sound to you?
Bring your own beverage of choice on the Trolley Pub Chattanooga and get out to explore the city in a stand out motor vehicle.
While out finding your beverages for the event, make sure you also load up your favorite music, they operate on the Bring Your Own Playlist model too. You can connect to their bluetooth speakers and play your groups favorite songs.
Your tour guide will point out interesting historic and modern day relevant landmarks as you sip your favorite alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink.
If you’re worried about pedaling for two hours straight, I can offer some peace of mind. Along the way you’ll take a couple of breaks stopping at some of Chattanooga’s best bars and restaurants.
The pub is a popular group activity can fit up to fourteen people if you opt for a private tour, make sure you check out their website for scheduling.
Group tour pricing ranges between $300-375 at the time of our last update.
Another option is to get individual tickets for their Mixer Tour, where you and a group of like minded party bikers will explore the city my pedaling together. At the time of last update these tickets cost in the range of ~$25-30.
Trolley Pub events are rain or shine so be sure to check the forecast and bring appropriate garments.
The Trolley Pub offers a few different packages so you can choose the best option for you and your crew. Hopefully they have something that piques your interest otherwise give them a call at (423) 380-8359 to see if they can accommodate what you’re looking for.
The Mixer Tours are for adults 21+ and for private tours the minimum age for passengers is 15. You may need to call a babysitter for a couple of hours for this one.
Southern Belle.
One of Chattanooga’s most popular avenues for a date-night or a place to bring mom and dad for dinner when they’re in town is the Southern Belle.
Forget waterfront restaurant, take the water on the road with you as this historic paddlewheel riverboat leaves port traveling the Tennessee River for a scenic evening you won’t soon forget.
The Southern Belle company offers too many touring options to list them all here, but one of the more popular is the Sunset Cruise which is a 1.5 hour river ride that includes live music, a moon pie, optional food and drink updates. This event is recommended for ages 3+.
Some of their other cruising options include a Whiskey Tasting Tour, Wine Tasting Tour, a romantic Sip and Sail event, and many other options for your group.
Check their website for more listings and availability.
Bat Cave Sunset Kayak Tour.
Looking for more outdoor activities in Chattanooga? How about Kayaking? How about Kayaking to watch up to 100,000 gray bats exit their cave for a nightly insect hunt?
If don’t have a deep root phobia of this type of animal from 90’s cinema (looking at you Batman), and are the adventurous type, this activity is probably going to knock your socks off.
The reviews speak loudly about what a fun experience this is, currently boasting a 5.0 star average on Google Reviews, it literally can’t get better.
If you don’t have extensive kayaking experience, don’t fret, the 3 mile route is considered easy and if you’re having any trouble ask someone in your group for a tow.
Still worried about your lack of Kayaking experience? Maybe this review from Mimi Maxwell can offer some relief ”… Katie was our guide and she was wonderful. Our group had 2 who had never been in a kayak before and she was very patient and helpful.”
Bring up to 30 people on your tour to share the adventure with your loved ones (or loved ones in the making, for the newly dating).
Some additional details:
Learn more about these tours and book yours on the Chattanooga Guided Adventures website.
Bonus Idea: If you end up loving the bat cav tour, this same company runs a Sandhill Crane viewing tour from November through Februrary where you can view thousands of seasonal cranes on Hiwassee Island on the Tennessee River.
Chickamauga Battlefield Tour Options.
Learn about the second most deadly battle in the Civil War through a guided or self guided tour while exploring a US National Park.
Tour times are subject to change depending on tour guide availability but typically group tours run Saturdays and Sundays at 10AM and 2PM and last about 90 minutes.
The National Park Service has put together a guided tour that includes eight different points of interest.
To access the tour download the National Park Service app on your mobile device search for the Chickamauga Battlefield.
Frankly, it’s not the most user friendly app in the app store so if you have trouble, the people at the visitors center can be very helpful, and they’ll also provide you with a park map.
Private Tour Option: Robert Carter, an author and historian offers private tours of the park, learn more on his website.
Hiking Tours by Experience Chattanooga.
Have you heard Chattanooga has an outdoor scene? Oh you have, how about that.
Well if you’re not exactly sure which trails and parks you want to check out on your visit (or days off for our locals), looking into guided hikes provided by Experience Chattanooga.
With ~170 5 star reviews, chances are it will be time well spent, and they aren’t short on unique options for getting outdoors, but a few cherry picked ones include:
They have more offerings on their website, check it out to book and get more information.
All tours are private and run by two lifelong Chattanoogans. A bonus included in your tour booking is professional photography throughout the trip, and you might like to know they donate a portion of their proceeds to the parks and communities their tours are conducted in.
Food Tour.
Finding the right places to eat in any city can be a daunting task, why not leave it to a professional through Chatt Taste.
They provide private tours, events, and at the time of writing three distinct group tours for varied Chattanooga culinary experiences:
More offerings and detailed information on the restaurants and individual tour details are available on their website linked below as they are subject to periodic change.
This is another tour company with a 5 star Google review with previous patrons raving about experiences with the various hosts and their knowledge and friendliness.
If you’re thinking about signing up for one, and you can do so here
Guided Tours Summary.
| 🚐 Tour | 📍 Description |
|---|---|
| 🚌 Chattanooga Trolley Tours | Vintage bus tours covering Chattanooga history, folklore, or trains—great for families and history buffs. |
| 👻 Chattanooga Ghost Tours | Spooky walking tours, ghost hunts with equipment, and even haunted bar crawls on Wednesdays. |
| 🚲 Trolley Pub Chattanooga | Pedal-powered BYOB group tours with music and stops at local bars—great for adult outings. |
| 🚢 Southern Belle Riverboat | Dinner and scenic cruises on a historic riverboat with options like sunset, wine, and whiskey tours. |
| 🦇 Bat Cave Sunset Kayak | Guided kayak trip to watch 100,000 bats emerge at sunset. Beginner-friendly and highly rated. |
| 🪖 Chickamauga Battlefield Tours | Ranger-led or self-guided tours via the NPS app or with local historians through preserved battlefields. |
| 🥾 Experience Chattanooga Hikes | Private hiking tours with photography and local guides. Includes alpaca visits, waterfalls, and swimming holes. |
| 🍴 Chatt Taste Food Tours | Curated food tours of downtown and the Southside. Also offers brunch tours with art and mimosas. |