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15 Best Things to Do in Downtown Charleston

When it comes to Downtown Charleston in South Carolina forget sky high tower blocks because they are few and far between. This downtown district has retained many of its historic features and is a veritable time capsule with elegant colonial-style buildings lining its cobbled streets.

The district was founded as a port in 1670 on a peninsula which juts out between the Cooper and Ashley Rivers into the North Atlantic Ocean. Now covering a total area of around five square miles, Downtown Charleston encompasses James, Johns and Daniel’s Islands as well as the Cainhoy Peninsula and the neighborhood of West Ashley.

Downtown Charleston is steeped in history, but it has a modern side too. Read on to discover fifteen of the best things to do in Downtown Charleston which will make any visit to the district both fascinating and fun.

1. Charleston Walking Tour

Exploring beautiful Downtown Charleston by foot is the best way to uncover all its hidden secrets. Join a walking tour and stroll around the district accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide to find one surprise after another.

See Fort Sumter where the American Civil War began, be impressed by the grandeur of antebellum mansions and discover concealed courtyards and gardens while listening to informative snippets of history and amusing anecdotes about past residents of the district.

Recommended tour : Charleston Historical Walking Tour

2. Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge

The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is Charleston’s modern landmark and a superb place from where to view the downtown district and Charleston harbor.

The two and a half mile long cable-stay bridge spans the Cooper River and carries eight lanes of traffic plus a pedestrian walkway and cycle path.

Walk out to the middle of the bridge or hire a bicycle and cycle across. The vistas from the bridge are sensational in the daytime but even more impressive at sunset.

Related tour : Charleston Harbor 1.5-Hour Narrated Cruise

3. McLeod Plantation Historic Site

The cotton industry played a big part in Downtown Charleston’s past. Visit the McLeod Plantation Historic Site on James Island’s Country Club Drive to see first hand what life was like in those bygone days for both wealthy owners and their enslaved workers.

The site, which covers a total area of thirty-seven acres, has a 19th-century mansion surrounded by centuries-old oak trees hung with Spanish moss, six clapboard constructed slave houses and many more restored buildings pertinent to the cotton industry era.

4. Saltwater Cycle

The Saltwater Cycle is a fun way to see Downtown Charleston, meet new friends and have fun all at the same time.

Board the sixteen-seater floating cycle at Ripley Light Marina at 8 Ashley Pointe Drive and be ready for one hour and forty minutes of pedal-powered maritime diversion along the shoreline.

The Saltwater Cycle is BYOB, bring your own booze, though coolers, ice and plenty of lively party music are provided.

Need something faster? Try the Charleston Harbor 2-Hour Speedboat Adventure

5. Gibbes Museum Of Art

The Gibbes Museum of Art, on Meeting Street, houses a variety of exhibitions including a world-renowned collection of over six hundred miniature portraits.

The museum has seven individual galleries each one dedicated to artworks from different periods. Three galleries are devoted to eighteenth and nineteenth-century paintings and sculptures and another to the Charleston Renaissance period.

The museum has extensive collections of modern and contemporary works plus hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

6. Poogan’s Porch

Indulge in some real Southern hospitality at Poogan’s Porch on Queen Street.

The restaurant, housed in a fully restored Victorian mansion with porches on the first and second floor, has been serving up Southern delicacies for four decades.

Don’t miss out on tasting the house specials of shrimp and grits or their crispy fried chicken with a side of biscuits and gravy. It’s wholesome, hearty food just like grandma might have made.

7. Historic Charleston City Market

The Historic Charleston City Market is the cultural hub of Downtown Charleston and has been in operation since 1807.

The market hall itself is a national landmark which houses over twenty retail outlets and eateries plus many artisan studios producing traditional sweetgrass basketry and artwork.

The Charleston City Market is open seven days a week and holds extra night markets on Fridays and Saturdays.

8. Charleston Harbor Cruise

Board the Carolina Belle at its mooring on Wharfside Street for a leisurely cruise around Charleston harbor.

The eighty-foot cruiser has a main salon and two observation decks, one in the stern of the boat and the other at the prow plus a bar serving drinks and snacks. During the ninety minute cruise, the captain narrates interesting historical facts about the landmarks being seen while navigating.

Take a camera and some binoculars. Dolphins and pelicans are often sighted during the sailing.

Book online : Historic Harbor Cruise

9. Pub and Brewery Tour

Combine sightseeing of historic locations with a few drinks on an a trip with a local.

Meet up with the guide and fellow pub enthusiasts before setting off to explore several of the district’s historic taverns.

The two hour tour include a chatty history lesson on Charleston’s pub culture plus snacks to soak up the beer.

Book online : History and Hops Tour: Bar and History Walk

10. The Calhoun Mansion

See the opulent luxury of the late 19th century in all its vintage glory at the Calhoun Mansion on Meeting Street.

The twenty-four thousand square foot mansion is the biggest single-family residence in Charleston and still used as a family home even though it’s open daily for public viewing.

Take a tour through its three magnificent floors with thirty-five rooms full of period furniture. The entrance hall alone measures sixty-five feet and has a fourteen-foot high ceiling. The house has twenty-three antique fireplaces plus an enormous music room and stunningly beautiful landscaped gardens. It is seriously grand.

11. Hydrofly Watersports Charleston

Head to Hydrofly on Lockwood Drive for a water-themed adrenaline thrill.

Whatever watersport rocks your boat, you’ll find it at Hydrofly. From wakeboarding and tubing to jet ski rentals, parasailing and paddleboarding plus the latest Flyboard. Never done any of those? Don’t worry; there are qualified instructors giving lessons before you take to the water.

If all that’s just too much, then chill out at Hydrofly’s two-story Tiki Hut, the floating base for the watersports, and enjoy the incredible views from the sun deck while catching some rays.

12. Haunted Jail Tour

Get spooked on a tour of Charleston’s most haunted building, The City Jail. The castle-like building on Magazine Street housed many of Charleston’s infamous criminals, from pirates to serial killers, over a period of one hundred and fifty years.

Head inside after dark to explore the warden’s quarters and cells listening for the eerie rattle of chains and the slamming of cell doors as the spirits make their presence known.

If after dark is just too scary, try the daytime history tour, but no-one is guaranteeing the ghosts won’t still be there.

Related tour : Haunted Evening Horse and Carriage Tour of Charleston

13. Charleston Crab House

Surrounded by water as it is, it’s hardly surprising seafood features on many restaurant menus, but it’s The Charleston Crab House who really know how to make a meal of it.

For a great seafood dinner, check out either of their two premises. One is centrally located on Market Street and the other is in a waterfront spot on Wappoo Creek Drive on Johns Island.

Indulge in the Crab House Crab Pot, a Lowcountry Shrimp Boil or She Crab Soup. They’re all traditional Charleston dishes which no-one should leave Downtown without tasting.

14. Waterfront Park

The Waterfront Park is a ten-acre green space on Concord Street with fantastic views of Charleston Harbor and the Cooper River.

The park has a seaside-style pier jutting into the river which is a great spot for viewing wildlife, passing sailing yachts, cruise boats and the Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge.

Don’t miss getting a photo of the Pineapple Fountain. It’s fun by day, even more spectacular at night when illuminated and definitely Instagrammable.

15. Henry’s on the Market Bar and Restaurant

Head up to Henry’s Rooftop Bar on North Market Street to watch the sun go down.

Henry’s restaurant-bar, open since 1932, has it all — great food, live music and a lounge for dancing plus a rooftop patio for chill out drinks.

Rock in a rocking chair or swing in a hammock while sipping on a Silver Rickey or a Sweet Tea Cosmo as a palette of vermilion streaks the skies. The bonus? The same as in the rest of Downtown Charleston, there are no skyscrapers to spoil the view.

15 Best Things to Do in Downtown Charleston:

• Charleston Walking Tour
• Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
• McLeod Plantation Historic Site
• Saltwater Cycle
• Gibbes Museum Of Art
• Poogan's Porch
• Historic Charleston City Market
• Charleston Harbor Cruise
• Pub and Brewery Tour
• The Calhoun Mansion
• Hydrofly Watersports Charleston
• Haunted Jail Tour
• Charleston Crab House
• Waterfront Park
• Henry's on the Market Bar and Restaurant

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28 Best Things to Do in Charleston, South Carolina

Planning a trip to the Holy City? Here are 28 of the best things to do in Charleston, South Carolina.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

Planning Your Perfect Charleston Itinerary

Can’t-miss attractions, top things to do in charleston for history lovers, for foodies, for families with kids, for couples.

• For Groups of Friends

Consistently ranked among the best cities in the United States by Travel + Leisure readers, Charleston is a vacation treasure trove, with an incredible food scene made up of old-school favorites and inventive newcomers, a prime location surrounded by water and near beautiful beaches, and plenty to see and do. As a South Carolinian who lived in Charleston for several years, I've seen and done it all in this Lowcountry destination, but in order to round up the best things to do in Charleston, I also tapped local experts from a few of my favorite hotels, including David Hood, head butler at The Spectator Hotel, and Jason Horbal and Mike Wilson from the HarbourView Inn.

"For history lovers, the historic downtown has much to see and do. Between the walking tours, historic homes, and museums, there is plenty to see that will keep you busy for days. For others, outside of downtown, there are beaches, yachting, fishing, golf, shopping and so much more. Charleston also offers some of the best cuisine in the South," says Wilson, front office manager at HarbourView Inn.

With something for every type of traveler, here are 28 of the best things to do in Charleston, South Carolina.

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

If you’re short on time with just a day or two to explore Charleston, there are a few must-see spots to check out. Thankfully, several of the city’s top attractions — including King Street, the Battery, Rainbow Row, and Charleston City Market — are all located within walking distance of each other and can easily be seen in one day. If you’re spending several days in the Holy City, I recommend visiting those can’t-miss sights before diving deeper into Charleston history and culture with a museum visit or tour (more on our top picks below). And if you have time, rent a car and explore the surrounding areas; you can lounge on the beach at Sullivan’s Island, go golfing on a renowned Kiawah Island course, or search for shark teeth on Morris Island. 

Stroll along Waterfront Park and the Battery.

Start in Joe Riley Waterfront Park, where you'll see the iconic Pineapple Fountain, and walk down along the water before strolling over to Rainbow Row, made up of several candy-colored Georgian-style row homes. Continue down East Bay until it becomes East Battery, another scenic street with views of the harbor and historic houses.

"Charleston has a very European city feel to it, balancing small-town intimacy with cosmopolitan amenities and offerings (probably part of the reason why Charleston, South Carolina and Spoleto, Italy have been "sister cities" for nearly 50 years). I enjoy strolling around the downtown peninsula, in the heart of the historic district, where travelers can experience a variety of dining, history, art, culture, and more, all on foot," says David Hood, head butler at The Spectator Hotel.

Related:   Charleston Travel Guide

Walk down King Street.

A visit to Charleston is incomplete without a stroll down the main drag, King Street. On Lower King, find antique shops packed with all sorts of vintage wares; Middle King features a mix of locally owned shops and high-end boutiques; and Upper King is home to some of the city's best nightlife and dining.

Take a ghost tour.

Get acquainted with the spooky side of the city and learn about some of its eternal residents on a ghost tour. Bulldog Tours has options ranging from a visit to the haunted (and historic) old jail to a paranormal investigation of the USS Yorktown .

Pick up a sweetgrass basket.

There are few souvenirs as iconic as a Charleston sweetgrass basket. Created by Gullah artisans with designs ranging from functional to intricate, you can find these baskets, woven from local marsh grass, throughout the city (with many sellers in the Charleston City Market ).

Visit the International African American Museum.

After more than two decades of planning, the International African American Museum (IAAM) opened its doors on June 27, 2023 at Gadsden's Wharf, one of the nation’s most prolific former slave trading ports. The landmark project aims to showcase the breadth of African American history through nine core exhibition galleries, a special exhibition gallery, and contemporary art throughout the space. In addition to more than 700 artifacts from the 17th century to the present day, the building also houses the Center for Family History, a genealogy and ancestry resource center. On the ground level, the African Ancestors Memorial Garden will spotlight the shoreline where hundreds of thousands of enslaved Africans first set foot in America, creating a new space for reflection, programming, and learning opportunities for all.

Learn about U.S. history on the USS Yorktown.

While the historic city is perhaps better known for its significance during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, you can learn about World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum , where you'll find the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier, a destroyer, and a submarine, along with other educational exhibits.

Explore Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter.

The two forts that make up the Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park tell the story of Charleston's role in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Fort Moultrie, located on Sullivan's Island, was in use from 1776 to 1947, while Fort Sumter, found on an island in Charleston Harbor that's only accessible by boat, was the site of the start of the Civil War.

Visit the Old Slave Mart Museum.

In a city known for its former plantations and antebellum homes, it's important to recognize the true human history. The Old Slave Mart Museum is located inside a building that was used as an auction gallery where enslaved people were sold. Here, you can learn more about the history of slavery in Charleston.

See the Angel Oak.

Considered the largest Southern live oak tree east of the Mississippi River, the Angel Oak on Johns Island is one of South Carolina’s treasures. The tree is estimated to be at least 400 years old, which is evident given its sprawling branches that shade an area of over 17,000 square feet. A new 44-acre preserve featuring boardwalk trails, a play area for children, and educational information about the tree is underway, so visitors will have even more to look forward to in the future.

Learn about Gullah history and culture.

The Gullah are African American people from the Lowcountry regions of South Carolina and neighboring states, and their history and culture (and language, also called Gullah) are important parts of the Charleston story. Join Gullah Tours to learn more about Black history in the city, stopping at significant places like Denmark Vesey's home, quarters where enslaved people once lived, and more.

Start your day with biscuits.

Start your day with a warm, indulgent biscuit. Choose from nationally acclaimed Callie's Hot Little Biscuit (which has two outposts downtown) or head across the river to Mount Pleasant for Vicious Biscuit , a personal favorite. At the latter, I order The Vicious, a cheddar and jalapeño biscuit stuffed with fried chicken, their signature maple sausage gravy, house cowboy candy, and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Shop local at the farmers market on Saturdays.

Saturday mornings are best spent in the heart of downtown Charleston at the farmers market on Marion Square. Find local produce, artisan crafts, and snacks to enjoy while you browse.

Eat your way around the city's best restaurants.

"Charleston’s robust culinary scene has inspired visitors to experience a few of the city’s most popular dining hot spots that have made best restaurant lists time and time again, and for good reason," says Jason Horbal, assistant general manager at HarbourView Inn . Charleston has long been known as a foodie destination, with a mix of newcomers and established favorites. My top recommendations include Wild Common for the incredible tasting menu, Fig for elevated Southern dishes, Hank's Seafood Restaurant for tasty seafood, and Halls Chophouse for steaks followed by bread pudding. That said, Horbal also encourages visitors to ask locals (including the knowledgeable staff at your hotel) for any under-the-radar favorites. "My favorite thing to do in Charleston is discover the lesser-known, hidden gems of restaurants that tend to fly under the radar," says Horbal.

And order these classic Charleston dishes.

On your culinary tour of the city, there are a few local dishes that visitors must try (and they're featured on the menus of many restaurants). Try fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, and hush puppies (delightful balls of deep-fried dough, often served as a starter or a side), all washed down with a glass of sweet tea.

Sip some local brews.

Local breweries abound in Charleston, so try one (or a few) of the beers from the likes of Edmund's Oast Brewing Co. , Holy City Brewing , and Westbrook Brewing , or head to the Firefly Distillery , known for their fan-favorite sweet tea vodka and fruit-flavored moonshine.

See the local marine life at the South Carolina Aquarium.

This waterfront aquarium is home to more than 5,000 animals and the Sea Turtle Care Center, which aids sick or injured turtles. The AZA-accredited aquarium highlights the marine life found throughout South Carolina, from the mountains to the coast.

Cheer on the Charleston RiverDogs.

Charleston is home to a Minor League Baseball team — the RiverDogs — so those looking for a sporty outing can snag tickets to cheer them on. (Fun fact: Actor Bill Murray is a part-owner of the team.)

Visit Charles Towne Landing.

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site , located in West Ashley, is home to the site of the first European settlement founded in South Carolina (in 1670). Here, you can explore the gardens, visit the original settlement area, and even see animals that lived in the area when it was settled. "It has a perfect mix of history and scenery, and you can really get a sense of what Charleston and the Lowcountry are all about with its self-guided history trail, bike rentals, strolling through the alley of live oaks, and visiting its 12-room exhibit hall," says Hood.

Watch eagles, falcons, and owls take flight.

The Center for Birds of Prey at the Avian Conservation Center offers visitors an opportunity to learn about birds of prey in a beautiful setting. Situated on a 152-acre campus just north of Charleston, the center includes a medical clinic for injured birds and a facility for research, conservation, and educational programs. The center offers tours and flight demonstrations every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, allowing visitors to observe the flight techniques and hunting styles of eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, and vultures.

Search for shark teeth on Morris Island.

Only accessible by boat, Morris Island is an 840-acre uninhabited island in Charleston Harbor. Used as a strategic location during the American Civil War, the island has a rich history, but few physical traces of its battleground past remain. Instead, you’ll find a secluded beach studded with shells, fossils, and shark teeth. Tour operators like Adventure Harbour Tours offer guided excursions that focus on searching for beach treasures and learning about the island’s ecology – and you may even spot some dolphins along the way.

Take a sunset cruise.

Getting out on the water — river, harbor, creek, or ocean — is a must when you visit Charleston. One way to take advantage of the waterfront location is a sunset cruise through the harbor aboard a catamaran or tall ship .

Admire art from near and far.

Head to the Gibbes Museum of Art to see works ranging from 18th-century paintings and decorative arts to contemporary pieces from local artists. After that, you can visit some of the many galleries throughout the city — perhaps you'll even find a piece to take home as a souvenir. I recommend art lovers time their visit to the yearly Spoleto Festival, which welcomes artists from around the globe for a 2+ week performing arts extravaganza.

Stroll the Shem Creek Boardwalk.

Shem Creek, located in Mount Pleasant, is home to several waterfront seafood restaurants, and you can walk along its boardwalk to take in views of the water, marsh, and boats (and breathe in that fresh, salty air).

Lounge on the beach.

Downtown Charleston is just a short drive from the area's three popular beaches: Folly Beach, Isle of Palms Beach, and Sullivan's Island Beach. Each has soft, white sand and a distinct feel: Folly has lively bars and restaurants just steps from the shores, Sullivan's Island — my personal favorite — is more residential, and Isle of Palms is somewhere in between, with easy public access via Isle of Palms County Park.

Related: The 13 Best Beaches in South Carolina

For Groups of Friends 

Hit the links at acclaimed golf courses..

Thanks to the South Carolina Lowcountry's comfortable weather and fantastic courses (many offer beautiful views of the marsh and water), you can golf year-round in and near Charleston. One of the area's most famous courses is the stunning Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort.

Paddle around on a kayak tour.

Take a kayak tour through the marshes and creeks around Charleston to get close to the area's incredible marine and wildlife. Charleston Outdoor Adventures is one of several tour operators in the area — just don't forget your sunscreen.

Walk the Ravenel Bridge.

Charleston's famous bridge connecting Mount Pleasant and downtown Charleston, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, has a path for pedestrians. You can walk across its entirety — or just a section — for sweeping views of the harbor (if you're not afraid of heights).

Hop around the rooftop bars.

Get a new perspective on the Holy City — and see the many church steeples that give it that nickname — with a visit to one (or a few) of the rooftop bars around Charleston. Options include Fiat Lux at the Hotel Bennett (my favorite), Citrus Club at The Dewberry, Pavilion Bar at the Market Pavilion Hotel, The Rooftop at The Vendue, and Élevé at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Charleston.

Related: 15 Best Hotels in Charleston

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Visitor Guide

Book your vacation, the official charleston visitor guide – spring 2023.

Welcome to the Official Charleston Visitor Guide for Spring 2023! This comprehensive guide showcases the best of Charleston and is designed to help you make the most of your trip. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, you'll find plenty of things to see and do in this charming city, which is steeped in history and Southern hospitality. From historic landmarks and breathtaking beaches to world-class restaurants and charming boutiques, Charleston has something for everyone. So get ready to explore and let this guide be your companion on your journey. We hope you have an unforgettable Charleston experience!

Charleston's nonstop flight list is growing.  Check if your airport is on the list.

Request a mail-in Visitor Guide  via CharlestonCVB.com

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A Trip To Charleston Promises Good Times And Great Food

Good times and good eats abound in this beloved South Carolina city.

• Restaurants
• Get Outside

Given that Southern Living readers have named it The South’s Best City several times, Charleston, South Carolina, requires no introduction or persuasive arguments in its favor: The booming food scene, colorful historic homes, and waterfront views make the case for themselves. It’s easy to fill a long weekend itinerary here, and given that it’s nearly impossible to tackle everything on your “to eat” list in just a few days, the Holy City is a place you’ll want to plan a return trip or two . Here are our favorite restaurants, bars, shops , and experiences, from lauded, well-known picks to those that fly a bit further under the radar.

Check Some Restaurants Off Your Bucket List

Savor fresh shrimp at bowens island restaurant.

When it comes to dinner with a view, one place stands out as the finest (but still no-frills) place to eat local shrimp, and that's Bowens Island—a nearly 80-year-old family-owned restaurant perched in a few ramshackle structures on the river. Order a fried shrimp platter with hushpuppies and slaw, or go for the Frogmore Stew (for the uninitiated, that's a shrimp boil), a drool-worthy combination of boiled shrimp, potatoes, corn, and sausage.

bowensisland.com , 870 Bowens Island Rd, Charleston, SC 29412

Settle In for Soul Food at Bertha’s Kitchen

The bright purple awning and teal blue facade of this James Beard Award winner (2017 America’s Classic) may be the first things that catch your eye, but it’s the red rice, chicken necks, and okra soup that’ll make it worth your while to join the line of hungry patrons that snakes from the counter register around the restaurant’s perimeter. 

facebook.com , 2332 Meeting Street Rd, Charleston, SC 29405

Try FIG’s Famous Tomato Tarte Tatin

Tourists may be quick to complain about summertime’s soupy humidity and mosquitoes, but locals know that the season’s arrival brings at least one welcome visitor: Chef Mike Lata’s Tomato Tarte Tatin. The dish, crowned with garlic confit and served alongside whipped goat cheese, typically appears on the menu in June and lingers until September or October—in other words, only when the local tomatoes are at their best. But even if your trip doesn’t fall in line with this window, FIG is still worth the reservation: the staff is gracious and knowledgeable, and the food is singularly memorable even in a town swamped with dining options.

eatatfig.com , 232 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401 

Order a Plate of Fried Chicken at Leon’s

The worst kept secret in the city is a must-visit for first-timers. Few other places in town capture so well the relaxed ease that seems woven into Charleston’s very DNA. Housed in an old garage and outfitted with warm wooden tables and an art collection that feels like it was passed down from generation to generation until it landed here, Leon’s is the kind of place that feels like it’s always been part of the Charleston dining landscape—a triumph considering it’s a relative newcomer, opened in 2014. Fried chicken and oysters (raw and char-grilled) are the main draws on the menu, but don’t miss the scalloped potatoes either; it all pairs nicely with a bucket of Miller High Life ‘Ponies.’

leonsoystershop.com , 698 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Tuck into a Thali at Ma’am Saab

Helmed by Chef Maryam Ghaznavi, this Pakistani spot celebrates inventive twists on storied dishes. At lunchtime, order the Signature Thali, a plate that Southerners might recognize as being akin to a meal at a meat-and-three; choose from creamy butter chicken, saag paneer (a vegetarian dish with spinach and cheese), curried chickpeas, and smoked ground beef. 

maamsaabchs.com, 251 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401 

Sample Chez Nous’ Changing Menu 

Nestled in an historic house on a hidden away street, you likely wouldn’t just happen upon this neighborhood eatery that feels like a mini escape to Europe, and that’s half the charm. The cozy atmosphere is elevated but inviting, and the handwritten menu of seasonally driven dishes changes daily. It’s fortunate, too, that the options are so few (two appetizers, two mains, two desserts), as you’ve got a good excuse to order one of each.

cheznouschs.com , 6 Payne Court, Charleston, SC 29403

Save Room for a Slice of Cake

While Peninsula Grill could claim many of their dishes as “worth traveling for,” the fine dining establishment is best known for its Ultimate Coconut Cake, a 12-layer confection stuffed with cream cheese icing, coated in toasted coconut, and topped with strawberries. 

peninsulagrill.com; 112 N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401

Learn About The City’s History Firsthand

Spend an afternoon at the international african american museum (iaam).

Opened in June 2023 and positioned on what was once Gadsden’s Wharf (the arrival site around 40% of all enslaved people in North America), the IAAM houses 12 permanent exhibitions and a Special Exhibitions gallery, which explore a wide range of topics, from the Gullah Geechee peoples in South Carolina and Georgia to the African Diaspora’s impact on the U.S. at large. The museum is also home to the Center for Family History, where visitors can use on-site resources to discover their own families’ stories. Carve out time to explore the African Ancestors Memorial Garden below the building, as well; it’s free and open to the public.

iaamuseum.org , 14 Wharfside St, Charleston, SC 29401

Squeeze In Multiple Sites with a Walking Tour

There’s no better way to experience Charleston than by strolling its streets with someone who’s both well-versed in its history—including the “historic gossip” that makes learning about the past especially exciting—and has a pulse on what’s current. You’ll find just that with Walk and Talk Charleston. Helmed by hat-wearing founder, “Lid Lady” Tyler Page Wright Friedman, the company offers a variety of educational experiences, from their “Classic Charleston History and Historic Gossip Tour” to “The Real Rainbow Row Tour,” which chronicles the city’s LGBTQ+ history.

walkandtalkchs.com

Take the Ferry to Fort Sumter

For history buffs, a visit to Fort Sumter —the place where the Civil War began—is a must. On April 12, 1861, Confederate troops fired on this then-Union-held fort, launching the four-year war. Today, Fort Sumter is a national park and designated historic and commemorative site with a museum. Positioned in the middle of Charleston Harbor, the only way to reach it is via a tour boat, which can be booked through Fort Sumter Tours. Opt for the day’s first time slot for a chance to help the park rangers raise the U.S. flag over the fort. 

fortsumtertours.com

Visit the Aiken-Rhett House Museum

Built in 1820, the Aiken-Rhett House is today considered one of the best-preserved townhouse complexes in the country. Rather than restoring the home upon acquiring it in 1995, the Historic Charleston Foundation took a preserved-as-found approach, which means the furniture, finishes, and architecture on site haven’t been changed since the mid-19th century. Perhaps most unique to the site is that the quarters in which enslaved people lived were also left essentially untouched, offering a more comprehensive look into life in antebellum Charleston. You can move through the museum with a guide or opt for a self-guided tour with the Historic Charleston Foundation’s free app.

historiccharleston.org , 48 Elizabeth St, Charleston, SC 29403

Step Aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown

Visit WWII’s “Fighting Lady,” a decorated aircraft carrier that also served in the Vietnam War and recovered the astronauts and capsule from the Apollo 8’s spaceflight (the first with humans to reach the moon). For a truly immersive experience, book a one- or two-night stay aboard the ship through the Yorktown’s Operation Overnight program.

patriotspoint.org, 40 Patriots Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464 

Toast Your Travels With Delicious Drinks

Pair your cocktail with a view.

Formerly a federal building, circa-1964 The Dewberry is now one of the city’s most lauded boutique hotels. Even if a stay here isn’t in the cards, reserve a table at Citrus Club on the hotel’s 8th floor terrace for a light lunch and tasty drinks with a prime view of the city. Looking to make a scene? Order the Tropical Itch, a rum-and-bourbon concoction garnished with a back scratcher. 

thedewberrycharleston.com; 334 Meeting St, Charleston, SC, 29403

Discover New-to-You Wines 

Whether you’re committed to a grocery store Pinot Grigio or you’re always on the hunt for the next best thing, Femi Oyediran and Miles White, sommeliers and co-owners of Graft Wine Shop & Wine Bar, can school you in the latest and greatest glass. At this neighborhood spot, you’re sure to find good wine and good music and be welcomed like a local.

graftchs.com , 700b King Street, Charleston, SC 29403

Sip a Poolside Paloma at Little Palm

Revel in the delightfully retro atmosphere of The Ryder hotel’s poolside bar and café, which is awash in peach and pistachio hues. We’re suckers for Little Palm’s playful cocktail names, like the “Extra Leg Room,” made with gin and oolong tea soda, and the “Offshore Accounts,” which features three different spirits.

littlepalmbar.com ; 237 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401

Sample Edmunds Oast’s Local Brews

Check out the city’s craft beer scene with a stop at Edmund’s Oast, a local brewery that churns out dozens of ales, from classic blondes to fruity sours. Choose from two locations: the original “fine casual” restaurant and cocktail bar on Morrison, or the production brewery and taproom on King, where they’ve always got 20 house-brewed beers on tap. 

edmundsoast.com ; 1081 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403 and 1505 King St #115, Charleston, SC 29405

Have a Nightcap at Félix

If you’re hoping for an early A.M. drink without venturing to a dive, Félix Cocktails et Cuisine is the move. Sink into a leather-wrapped banquette at this Paris-inspired bistro and end your evening with a Félix Royale, a draft cocktail crafted with local gin, lime juice, and sparkling wine.

felixchs.com , 550 King St #100, Charleston, SC 29403

Revel In the City’s Arts Scene

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Catch a Show at America’s First Theater

The Dock Street Theater originally opened in Charleston’s French Quarter in 1736, the first building constructed exclusively for theater performances. After the city’s Great Fire, which wiped out the original building, the theater was rebuilt in 1809 as a hotel and didn’t serve as a performing arts center again until 1937, after an extensive renovation. Today, the Dock Street Theater is an inspired venue to see a musical or play; the theater’s resident professional company, Charleston Stage, offers more than 100 performances each year. 

charlestonstage.com ; 135 Church St, Charleston, SC 29401

Peruse the Collection at the Gibbes Museum of Art

Opened in 1905, the city’s historic art museum is home to more than 7,000 pieces in various mediums which date from the colonial era to present. Don’t miss the Mary Jackson Modern and Contemporary Gallery (part of the museum’s permanent collection), which is named for the famous Charleston sweetgrass basket artist and features pieces by artists native to the area or who have spent time here, as well as those who have created works that present a compelling and honest portrait of South. 

gibbesmuseum.org , 135 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401

Pop Into the Local Galleries

With more than 40 galleries in the area, the Holy City has no shortage of places to connect with local artists and peruse their works. Time your trip with the first weekend of the month and join the Charleston Gallery Association for its First Friday Artwalk, when local galleries keep their doors open after hours for a convivial celebration of Charleston’s arts community.

charlestongalleryassociation.com

Mark Your Calendar for Spoleto

While the local arts scene never sleeps, Spoleto Festival USA is an especially exhilarating time for local arts lovers and visitors. Each spring, for more than two weeks, the city plays host to one of the country’s most impressive arts festivals, in which renowned and up-and-coming musicians, singers, dancers, actors, and other artists descend upon Charleston for a series of memorable performances, exhibitions, and shows. 

spoletousa.org

Shop for A Memorable Souvenir

Find a sweetgrass basket at the charleston city market.

One of the oldest markets in the country, Charleston City Market runs the length of four blocks in the heart of downtown, anchored by the Great Hall on Meeting Street with a series of one-story sheds that continue until you reach East Bay. Here, you can shop for a wide variety of souvenirs (there are some 300 vendors), but the real treasures here are sweetgrass baskets, which are hand-woven by Gullah artists, many of whom learned to weave from the generations before them.

thecharlestoncitymarket.com , 188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401

Browse New and Antique Pieces at Croghan’s Jewel Box

A go-to destination for finding meaningful, heirloom-worthy gifts, this century-old shop on King Street is helmed by the third and fourth generations of the same family. Beyond curating an incredible assortment of new and estate jewelry and silver, they also carry the Goldbug Collection , a cheeky, more approachable line of pieces designed in-house and inspired by the city.

croghansjewelbox.com ; 308 King St, Charleston, SC 29401

Try the Latest Trend at The Tiny Tassel 

With “Live colorfully!” for her motto, it’s little wonder that founder Mimi Striplin’s shop in the Cannonborough-Elliotborough neighborhood is filled with jewelry, accessories, and clothing that give Rainbow Row a run for its money. Named for the brand’s signature tassel earrings, the brand (led by Striplin and her lead designer mom, Keiko) releases a new collection each season, so you’re sure to find something unique every time you shop. 

thetinytassel.com ; 46 Spring St Unit B, Charleston, SC 29403 

Explore Artisan-Made Luxury Goods at Ibu Movement’s Showroom

Founded by former minister Susan Hull Walker in 2014, this organization partners with women artisans in 40 countries, empowering them with living wages that enable them to move towards financial independence and provide for their families. Ibu’s cozy shop on King Street peddles an assortment of their beautifully crafted goods, from raffia handbags made in Colombia to silk-and-cotton dresses made in Uzbekistan.

ibumovement.com , 183 King St 2nd Floor, Charleston, SC 29401

Play Outside

Stroll the arthur ravenel jr. bridge.

The two-and-a-half mile cable-stayed crossing between downtown Charleston and the suburb of Mount Pleasant is a scenic place to break a sweat. Climb the hilly spans on the protected pedestrian path, and stop at the top to catch your breath and score a bird’s-eye view of the sparkling Cooper River and downtown Charleston, including the many steeples that earned the place its Holy City moniker.

Look for Sharks’ Teeth at Melton Peter Demetre Park

Only a few miles from downtown, James Island is largely residential without downtown’s draws for tourists. For a true locals-only experience, head to the city-owned waterfront spot , where you can hunt for sharks’ teeth with panoramic views of downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant or cast a line off the 190-foot fishing pier.

charleston-sc.gov ; 640 Wampler Drive, Charleston, SC 29412

Enjoy a Beach Day

Make the short drive to Sullivan’s Island , a small barrier island ten miles from downtown Charleston. There’s not a trace of touristy kitsch in this bitty beach town, where historic homes line oak-shaded streets and storybook cottages invite passersby to stop and smell rose-wrapped trellises. Up for dinner and a show? Pick up a pizza from The Obstinate Daughter and take it to the sand for a sunset picnic.

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22 essential things to do in Charleston, South Carolina

Sep 9, 2024 • 8 min read

Grab a plate of oysters at Bowen's Island Restaurant. Ethan Payne for Lonely Planet

Charleston has upped its game. Carriage tours still clip-clop through the historic district and ferries still shuttle crowds to Fort Sumter, but new attractions and revamped old favorites are keeping the Holy City relevant – and fun.

Rooftop bars, innovative breweries and small-batch distilleries keep opening their doors while plantations and historic homes are digging deep into Charleston’s diverse and complicated history. And foodies take note: Debates about the city’s best barbecue are just as passionate these days as debates about shrimp and grits. 

This list of Charleston’s best things to do offers a mix of the old and new.

1. Stroll the Historic District

Historic Charleston feels like one big living museum, and it's easily explored by foot. Antebellum homes, grand churches, weathered cemeteries and brilliant gardens – often tucked behind wrought-iron gates – hug the straight and narrow streets, which were laid out in the 1670s. Highlights include the Battery and White Point Gardens on the waterfront at the peninsula's southern tip. Pick up a map at the visitor center .

2. Culinary Adventures

With its seafood shacks, quirky mainstays and a dizzying array of “must-try” restaurants from wunderkind chefs, Charleston has enjoyed a culinary hot streak for a decade. Many menus are built around Lowcountry dishes and seafood, but creative interpretations of old favorites keep the dining scene fresh. Beyond shrimp and grits, top regional fare includes oysters, pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, she-crab soup and a Lowcountry boil (shrimp, corn, potatoes, sausage and seasoning).

Tried-and-true stalwarts include Mike Lata’s FIG , oysters at Bowen's Island Restaurant and the Ordinary and food that’s both fast & French at Gaulart & Maliclet . Barbecue is also hot, with Home Team BBQ and Lewis Barbecue getting consistent local kudos. Top-notch International options are plentiful too.

3. Immerse in Gullah Culture

Enslaved people brought from West Africa to the Lowcountry held onto many of their homeland traditions after slavery ended. The resulting Gullah culture (Geechee in Georgia) has its own language and traditions, including amazing storytelling, art and music. Learn their history at McLeod Plantation on James Island, where tours describe the daily lives of enslaved people on a cotton plantation and trace the emergence of the Gullah culture. Their culture is celebrated annually in late May at the Gullah Festival in nearby Beaufort. Gullah Tours visits historical sites in and around Charleston.

4. Sample locally sourced spirits

Sweet tea is a distinctly Southern beverage, and according to state lore the popular drink was created in South Carolina. The team at Firefly Distillery embraces this heritage with its sweet tea-flavored vodka, which is made with tea from the Charleston Tea Garden. High Wire Distilling uses ingredients and heirloom grains from across the Lowcountry and South Carolina for its popular spirits. Tastings are available at both distilleries. Tours are offered Thursday through Saturday at High Wire. 

5. Explore Historic Homes

The Historic Charleston Foundation protects historic buildings in the city and advocates for the preservation of gardens, parks and neighborhoods. The foundation manages two historic buildings: The Aiken-Rhett House and the Nathaniel Russell House. Tours of the former, a townhouse that has been preserved but not restored, share details about past owners as well as the enslaved people who worked there. A self-supporting spiral staircase anchors the Nathaniel Russell House, a meticulously restored 1808 Federal Style house.

6. First Sumter National Monument

The shelling of Union-held Fort Sumter by Confederate forces in 1861 triggered the Civil War. The fort, which occupies a small pentagon-shaped island in Charleston Harbor, sees a steady stream of visitors, especially in summer. But even with the crowds, it’s easy to immerse in the chaotic confusion of that historic day thanks to the remote setting—a ferry ride is required—and an engaging ranger talk that spotlights the historic clash.

7. Walk the Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge

Burn off last night’s shrimp and grits with a power walk over the graceful Arthur J Ravenel Bridge, which links the town of Mount Pleasant and the Charleston Historic District. The 2.5-mile pedestrian path over the cable-stayed bridge rises about 200ft above the Cooper River and provides gorgeous views of both communities. There's a parking lot with access to the pedestrian path in Mount Pleasant. The view from the span is especially nice at sunset.

8. Tour the only tea garden in the U.S.

Attempts to grow tea commercially in the US began in the 1820s in southeastern South Carolina, where the sandy soil, sub-tropical weather and frequent rainfall were well-suited for tea plants. In the 1960s wild tea plants from one of these early plantations were harvested and successfully re-planted on Wadmalaw Island 30 miles southwest of Charleston. Today Charleston Tea Garden offers tours of its tea factory (free) and trolley tours of its acres of hardy tea plants. 

9. Get out on the water

Flanked by creeks, marshes, rivers and the Atlantic Ocean, the Lowcountry is an ideal place for paddling trips and boat excursions. Wildlife and gorgeous coastal views abound. Keep it simple with a ride on the Charleston Water Taxi between Charleston and Mount Pleasant or scan for dolphins during the boat ride to Fort Sumter. Adventure Harbor Tours runs sunsets cruises and trips to uninhabited Morris Island. Numerous outfitters offer paddling trips through Shem Creek and Lowcountry creeks and marshes.

10. Wander the gardens at Middleton Place

Designed in 1741, the elegant gardens at Middleton Place are the oldest landscaped gardens in America. Today they are also home to more than 100,000 azaleas. One of three historic plantations along the Ashley River northwest of downtown, Middleton Place owes its early beauty to the work of the enslaved people who spent years developing and maintaining the land. Their stories are shared onsite. Lowcountry fare is on the menu at the popular restaurant here.

11. Ride the Charleston Beer Trolley

A free trolley swings through the Charleston Beer District in downtown Charleston on Saturdays, stopping at ten breweries between 1pm and 9pm. You can visit them by hopping on and off. Revelry Brewery has a fire pit on its rooftop while Edmund’s Oast has 20 house-brewer beers on tap. Check the Charleston Brewery District Facebook page for the current trolley schedule.

12. Explore Mount Pleasant

For a break from the historic district, board a water taxi at Waterfront Park and cross the Cooper River to Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant. At the Naval and Maritime Museum you can tour the USS Yorktown, an enormous decommissioned aircraft carrier used in WWII. You’ll need your car to visit Boone Hall Plantation and its striking Avenue of Oaks, planted in 1743. The most compelling buildings here are the original slave cabins. Explore charming Old Village then make your way to lovely Shem Creek for dinner by the water. Look for dolphins and party boats.

13. Find family fun downtown

If your kids dig spooky attractions, it’s hard to get much creepier than the dungeon at the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon in the Historic District. The British held American patriots in the cramped space here during the Revolutionary War. The 385,000-gallon ocean tank and the sea turtle rehabilitation hospital lure in kids for a closer look at the South Carolina Aquarium . The Kidstory area at the Charleston Museum explores the city’s history with hands-on exhibits. Enormous skeletons of prehistoric creatures keep things real in the natural history gallery. For skateboarding, head to SK8 Charleston , a 32,000-foot concrete skatepark in North Charleston.

14. Visit the Old Slave Mart Museum

In the heart of the Historic District, this small but hard-hitting museum occupies the site of a former open-air market that auctioned African Americans in the mid-1800s. Text-driven exhibits provide an unflinching look at the cruelties and horrors of the slave trade. Compelling oral histories from former enslaved people and a handful of chilling artifacts also make a powerful impression.

15. History Prep at the Charleston Museum

History hurtles at you from every direction in Charleston, which played a pivotal role in America’s past as a busy port city and center of trade. For a quick history primer, spend an hour or two in the Charleston Museum . Exhibits dedicated to the city’s early development and its role in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars provide helpful background and context. Artifacts highlight diverse experiences, including those of Native Americans, enslaved African Americans and influential politicians.

16. Sip cocktails on a rooftop bar

Swanky rooftop bars with sweeping views of downtown are plentiful. They are also easy to find – just ride the elevator to the top of the trendiest hotels. Twinkling views of city lights and Charleston Harbor bring crowds to the iconic Rooftop Bar at the art-themed Vendue. You’ll find an infinity pool, illuminated umbrellas and more stunning city views at the Pavilion Bar atop the Market Pavilion Hotel.

Planning tip: If you’re heading to a popular rooftop spot during the warmer months, check to see if you need reservations to avoid waiting in line.

17. Shopping on King Street

King Street is the historic district’s prime shopping corridor. With numerous stores selling home furnishings and housewares, Upper King is considered the design district while Middle King is the fashion district, home of well-known clothing stores as well as high-end boutiques. The southernmost stretch, Lower King, is dotted with antique stores. Pop into Blue Bicycle Books for new and used books, many focusing on the South.

18. Take a photo at Rainbow Row

There’s no shortage of Instagram-worthy spots in Charleston, but arguably, one of the most famous is Rainbow Row , a collection of 13 pastel houses built in the 18th century. It’s hard to walk past the beautiful facades without seeing an impromptu photo shoot, and it’s an easy stop just a block from Waterfront Park.

Local tip: Once your photo op is over, there are plenty of historic, beautiful, although less social media-famous, homes to look at in the surrounding French Quarter.

19. Book a guided walking tour

A walking tour is a great idea in most cities, but especially in Charleston, thanks to its walkability and wealth of history. You can find guided tours  covering many of the city's major landmarks, including architecture, ghosts, wartime history, and more.  Two Sisters Tours ,  Walks of Charleston,  and Tours By Foot all offer affordable options.

20. Shop at Charleston City Market

If you want to shop local, the Charleston City Market is the place to do just that. Skip the tourist souvenirs in favor of local artisans and vendors. Built in 1841, the market’s great hall is also one of Charleston’s must-see historical sites.

Planning tip: The Charleston City Market is open from mid-March through December on Friday and Saturday evenings.

21. Walk in the parks

In addition to beautiful buildings and streets, Charleston has some beautiful parks – 120 to be exact. If you’re looking for a free activity , visit Waterfront Park , featuring 10 acres of waterfront views of the Charleston Harbor and Cooper River, plus the iconic pineapple water fountain. One of Charleston’s most spacious parks is Hampton Park , where you can find beautiful flowers and a convenient public restroom.

Local tip: If you find yourself in Charleston on a Saturday morning, the farmers market at Marion Square is well worth the visit.

22. Spot dolphins

As if there wasn’t already enough to do, Charleston is also a hotspot for dolphin watching. Whether you could use a break from walking or just want to enjoy a free activity, there are lots of waterways that dolphins have been known to frequent around the city, including Shem Creek, Waterfront Park, Folly Beach and more.

Local tip: If you make it out to Fort Sumter, spend some time watching for dolphins amidst the waves.

Charleston planning tips

How many days is enough for charleston.

Despite its small-town feel, Charleston is the largest city in South Carolina, so you’ll need at least a three-day visit to scratch the surface of the Holy City.

Is Charleston, SC, a walkable city?

Charleston is very walkable and pedestrian-friendly. Depending on where you stay, you may need to catch a ride to and from the airport. However, heading to the beach, like Sullivan’s Island, will also require a car ride.

Are there any popular annual events or festivals in Charleston?

Charleston hosts an annual performing arts festival called Spoleto Festival, The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) and more.

Keep planning your trip to Charleston:

Deciding between Charleston and Savannah? Read this .  Explore walkable riverside towns, nature preserves and more on day trips from Charleston . Find out the best time to visit Charleston .

This article was first published Oct 28, 2021 and updated Sep 9, 2024.

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22 Best Things To Do In Charleston, South Carolina (2024 Guide)

• Last Updated: February 4, 2024

Trying to find great activities and attractions in Chucktown? Our guide to the best things to do in Charleston is all you need to plan the perfect trip!

Founded in 1670, Charleston, South Carolina, features cobblestone streets, historic houses, and horse-drawn carriages, making it a historically unique travel destination. 

Voted #1 for the most popular city to visit in the United States, Charleston is a prime location for stepping back in history or enjoying the eclectic Southern charm of the Carolinas. 

See the Fort Sumter National Monument and learn about the history of the War of 1812, or stroll through White Point Garden to absorb some peaceful greenery. Visit America’s oldest plantation at Drayton Hall, or take a boat tour around the harbor. 

Award-winning restaurants, pristine sandy beaches, and historical landmarks draw people worldwide to this enigmatic destination. 

Stop searching for what to do in Charleston. We’ve got you covered! 

Our list of the most fun things to do in Charleston will take a load off your back so you can start packing for a monumental trip to one of the most famous cities in the United States. 

Check out our 3 days in Charleston itinerary for more ideas on what to do in this amazing city.

Table of Contents

1) Explore Downtown Charleston

2) pet atlantic stingrays at the south carolina aquarium , 3) shop at the historic charleston city market, 4) peek into the history of the oldest city in south carolina at the charleston museum , 5) cruise down charleston harbor, 6) golf a few rounds at kiawah island golf resort, 7) walk down king street, 8) take a trolley tour of the magnolia plantation & gardens, 9) bask in the views at charleston waterfront park, 10) discover the history of fort sumter & fort moultrie, 11) learn about the ties of african-american history to charleston at the old slave mart museum , 12) stroll the white point gardens, 13) listen to the music at the charleston music hall , 14) observe distinguished local monuments at marion square, 15) visit the prestigious patriots point naval & maritime museum, 16) grab fresh produce at the charleston farmers market, 17) stop by for a factory tour of the charleston tea plantation, 18) tour an active archaeological site at the drayton hall plantation , 19) sink your toes in the sand at sullivan’s island , 20) step back in time at middleton place, 21) tour the aiken-rhett house museum , 22) take a day trip to folly beach, best hostel in charleston, best mid-range hotel in charleston, best luxury hotel in charleston, the best things to do in charleston, south carolina.

There are plenty of fun activities waiting to be explored in this historic city. 

From visiting the South Carolina Aquarium, to spending the day at Folly Beach, to admiring the historic homes and experiencing southern hospitality, we’ve created a list of the top things to do in Charleston during your stay. 

As the oldest and most populated city in South Carolina, Charleston hosts a wide range of activities in its downtown area. 

Exploring downtown is a must as this pristine part of Charleston preserves history through its charming historical and natural beauty. 

Walk down the impressive King Street, in the Charleston Historic District, which remains the second most historically and architecturally prominent street in Charleston. There are a plethora of boutiques, restaurants and art galleries here.

On this historical downtown  guided tour , experience the bustling cultural hub of downtown by horse-drawn carriage to witness highlighted areas like Rainbow Row, the Charleston Battery, White Point Gardens, Charleston Harbor, and 4 Corners of Law. 

Sitting on the historic Charleston Harbor, the South Carolina Aquarium boasts an award-winning education team and over 5,000 animals.

Dedicated to protecting local species through its conservation programs, the South Carolina Aquarium is committing to educating others to “sea the difference” in the impact marine life has on our daily lives. 

The waterfront location of the aquarium personifies every guest’s experience by presenting iconic views of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and the USS Yorktown. In addition, visitors can pick out wild dolphins playing in the water on the open-air decks.

Visit the Sea Turtle Care Center in the aquarium, where injured and sick sea turtles are rehabilitated before being released back into the wild. In addition, the “touch” interactive exhibit allows guests to touch wildlife like Atlantic stingrays and hermit crabs.

• Address:  100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401
• Hours:  9am – 5pm
• Cost:  $34.95

Exploring more of the Carolinas? Here is our list of the best things to do in Asheville, North Carolina .

Stretching four blocks, the Historic Charleston City Market begins at the Market Hall, an architecturally significant building established in the 1830s.

Established in the 1790s, the Historic Charleston City Market is an opportunity for locals and tourists alike to take a glimpse into the Old South. The shopping hub is one of the country’s oldest city markets, packed with stalls that feature items like souvenirs, art, clothes, produce, and baked goods. 

Join a  haunted pub crawl  of the market to explore the seedy underbelly of supernatural origins and learn about low-country superstitions and respectable origins of some of the popular tourist stops in Charleston. 

• Address : 188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
• Hours:  9:30am – 5pm

One of the top Charleston attractions, and one of the oldest museums in the United States, the Charleston Museum is the perfect Charleston activity for history buffs or those curious about history. 

The collection at this prestigious museum features two historic Charleston homes, the Joseph Manigault House and the Heyward-Washington House, historical artifacts, arts, natural history, and more. 

Founded in 1773, the museum is often regarded as “America’s First Museum” and has used many years of its establishment to develop a prominent collection that would eventually be featured among the finest in America. 

And to this day, the museum presents the most comprehensive collection of South Carolina materials in the nation. 

Take a peek at the historic textiles, the armory, and more with this  guided city tour  and museum combo to absorb the 300 years of Charleston’s living history by a climate-controlled coach.

• Address:  360 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403
• Hours:  9am – 5pm (Opens at 12pm on Sundays)
• Cost:  Prices range from $5 – $25 depending on your age and which attractions you’d like to visit.  See the website for more details!

Serving as the major port for the city center, the Charleston Harbor represents a vital part of the city’s economy. 

As one of the most productive ports in the United States, the harbor stands a deep-seated role in the success and continuation of Charleston’s workforce as one of the top shipping ports in the industry. 

Guests can come to explore the greatness of the productive harbor by joining a  tour . Then, climb aboard the historic “Carolina Belle” to coast down the harbor to relax and learn about the enigmatic history of Charleston and other historical landmarks. 

Every golfer’s dream spot,  Kiawah Island Golf Resort , is a luxurious resort settled on ten miles of immaculate oceanfront views of the beach. 

Boasting world-class accommodations, this resort is a unique stay and Charleston attraction that is highly recommended. 

Come for a romantic getaway to this pristine, luxurious resort for a romantic stroll along the beach or a sun-kissed day of bathing in the sun on the beach. 

Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a resort like no other. Golfers can take their pick of five championship golf courses with backdrops of unrivaled iconic views for an unforgettable experience in Charleston.

• Address : 1 Sanctuary Beach Dr, Kiawah Island, SC 29455
• Hours/Prices :  Check the website  for details about each course

The center of downtown Charleston’s vibrancy,  King Street , has been drawing in locals and tourists for hundreds of years!

This historical street homes more than 300 years of history. It is named after King Charles II of England and presents Southern charm to all who visit

The bustling street is split into three districts: Upper King Street Design and Dining District, Middle King Street Fashion District, and Lower King Street Antiques District. Each represents an essential aspect of Charleston’s history, catering to various tastes and passions. 

Present day, the street is full of fun activities and stores ranging from art galleries to fine dining restaurants. Plenty of shopping is to be had down the famous historical street thanks to the many unique boutiques, shops, bakeries, and more.

Heading south next? Check out our 3 days in Atlanta, Georgia itinerary

One of the oldest plantations in the South, the Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its role in history. 

The Magnolia Plantation & Gardens was established in 1676 by Thomas and Ann Drayton, who arrived from Barbados. Immense wealth came to the plantation through its cultivation of rice. 

The Magnolia Plantation & Gardens soon became the oldest public garden in America, thanks to John Grimké Drayton, a generational successor who loved gardening and desired to create an earthly paradise for his beloved wife. 

After emancipation, previously enslaved workers continued to work at the plantation and gardens as paid garden staff.

Guests can explore the historical background on a trolley tour of the Magnolia Plantation & Gardens while witnessing the famous gardens’ stunning flowers, trees, and other features. 

• Address:  3550 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414
• Cost:  $29 for general admission,  extra attractions may cost more

A top location to soak up the local vibes of the city, Charleston Waterfront Park features stunning views of Cooper River and the harbor. 

With more than ten acres of area to stroll and explore, the park offers exceptional waterfront views to be admired. The serenity and peace offered by this picturesque location can transform into a romantic spot pre- or post-lunch, dinner, or even a space to sit back and soak it all in. 

Near the northern end of Charleston Waterfront Park, guests can walk down the pier that juts into the harbor. Plenty of benches, porch swings, and picnic tables are available to rest or sit back to enjoy the view. 

• Address:  Vendue Range, Concord St, Charleston, SC 29401
• Hours:  7am – 9:30pm (7:30am – 10:30pm on Sundays)
• Cost:  Free

Another one of the best things to do in Charleston is visit Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie. 

Fort Sumter, a sea fort built on an artificial island, was established to protect Charleston from naval invasion. It dates back to the War of 1812, when the British invaded Washington by sea. 

Unfortunately, the fort was still incomplete when the Battle of Fort Sumter began, beginning the American Civil War. It is now known as Fort Sumter National Monument.

Fort Moultrie is scattered as a series of fortifications on Sullivan’s Island. Initially named Fort Sullivan, its establishment of palmetto logs inspired the origins of the South Carolina flag and the nickname of “The Palmetto State” for the state of South Carolina. 

The fort was renamed after General William Moultrie, the U.S. patriot commander in the Battle of Sullivan’s Island. 

Called the Guardians of Charleston Harbor, both forts play a huge role in history, and with a visit to both of the forts, visitors can discover interesting historical facts.

Visit the  National Parks Website  for details about visiting the forts. 

Book your entry ticket and ferry ride to Fort Sumter National Monument on  Get Your Guide !

Established in 1859, the Old Slave Mart Museum was once an antebellum slave auction gallery. Believed to be the last extant slave auction facility in South Carolina, the Old Slave Mart Museum is the first African-American slave museum. 

Frequently staffed by individuals that can trace their family history to the enslaved people of Charleston, history shows that as many as 40% of enslaved people came to the United States through Charleston. 

Since then, the museum has been added to the National Register of Historic Places due to its role in African-American history. 

Visitors can step inside the Old Slave Mart Museum to read interviews of formerly enslaved people, along with informative posters meant to educate others on the trying history of the United States. 

• Address:  6 Chalmers St, Charleston, SC 29401
• Hours:  9am – 5pm (Closed Sundays)
• Cost:  $8

Settled in the heart of Charleston’s historic district, the White Point Gardens is a significant Charleston landmark that offers stunning views of the harbor and Fort Sumter. 

Initially famous as a spot where dozens of pirates were hanged and left as deterrents for other pirates tempted to enter the harbor, White Point was a hot spot in history. 

After the outbreak of the Civil War, White Point Gardens, first used as a public garden in 1837, became a fortification for the city. 

Today, visitors can witness the enigmatic display of cannons and mortars used in the Civil War to protect the city of Charleston, as well as a stunning array of antebellum mansions and massive oak trees decorated with Spanish moss. 

• Address:  2 Murray Blvd, Charleston, SC 29401
• Hours:  7am – 9:30pm
• Cost:  Free

A venue for a range of entertainment, including comedy shows, concerts, and theater and dance performances, the Charleston Music Hall is situated inside an impressive 19th-century Gothic Revival building. 

Next door to two award-winning hotels and three nationally acclaimed restaurants, the Charleston Music Hall offers a prestigious location in downtown Charleston. 

Set inside a listening room, meant to create an intimate environment to impose a personal interaction between artist and audience, the music hall allows for a unique experience. 

Every seat offers excellent acoustics so that no matter where you sit, you get the best seat in the house! Catching a show here is definitely one of the best things to do in Charleston. 

• Address:  37 John St, Charleston, SC 29403
• Hours/Prices:   Check the website  for showtimes and ticket prices

Read next: 17 Best Things To Do In Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Initially established for various purposes,  Marion Square  is now a sought-after greenspace spanning almost seven acres in downtown Charleston. 

Situated between King Street and Meeting Street, the square is a verified national landmark filled with history and beauty. 

In the past, the square was designed as a defensive wall against the local Native Americans. By the late 1700s, this was no longer necessary, and the property was handed over to the Charleston city government. 

In the present day, Marion Square is surrounded by prestigious buildings and hosts seasonal farmer’s markets and a variety of local events. 

Strolling through the area, visitors can observe impressive monuments like the statue of South Carolina native John C. Calhoun, an American Vice President, U.S. Senator, and Secretary of War. 

Located in Mount Pleasant, the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is settled on the harbor across from Charleston. 

The museum was established to present the USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier, a World War II aircraft carrier, as the centerpiece. 

Since its establishment in 1976, the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum has gone on to host a fleet of National Historic Landmark ships along with the Cold War Memorial, the only Vietnam Experience Exhibit, the Patriots Point Museum, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, and the official Medal of Honor Museum of the agency. 

Featuring the most important education and overnight camping programs in the United States, the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is proud to educate others on the history of the United States and honor those that served. 

• Address:  40 Patriots Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
• Hours:  9am – 6:30pm
• Cost:  $27

Hosted in Marion Square since 1989, the Charleston Farmers Market welcomes locals and tourists weekly!

The local vendors feature fresh and local produce, crafts, and other fun products. Voted as the “Best Attraction” and “Best Outdoor Event” repeatedly, the Charleston Farmers Market is dedicated to supporting Lowcountry farmers and growers while presenting locals and tourists with fresh, inventive options for produce and food options. 

In addition, the live entertainment, various activities, and local crafts allow for an exceptional experience to sink into the unique Charleston environment. 

Meet with the locals or fellow tourists as you scour your options of fresh produce and souvenirs to take home! 

• Address:  329 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403
• Hours:  8am – 2pm Saturdays

Read next: The Perfect 3 Days in New Orleans Itinerary

Originally a 127-acre potato farm, the  Charleston Tea Plantation  is now an essential part of American history. 

After many unsuccessful attempts at propagating and producing tea from the Camellia Sinensis plant from China, tea was finally grown for the first in the United States in 1888 in Summerville, South Carolina. 

The tea plants were transported to the Charleston Tea Plantation to rehabilitate the plants before producing them successfully again. 

Nowadays, visitors can stop at the Charleston Tea Plantation for a factory tour and scenic trolley ride of the farm to explore the history of tea and its massive role in the United States. 

• Address:  6617 Maybank Hwy, Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487
• Hours:  10am – 4pm (Opens at 12pm on Sundays)
• Cost:  Free admission and $15 for a trolley tour

For more than 250 years, the  Drayton Hall Plantation  has been an active archeological site featuring an extensive collection of rare 18th and 19th-century artifacts. 

A visit to Drayton Hall personifies the Southern colonial lifestyle for a step back in time. Holding a critical educational responsibility, the plantation represents the evolution of life in the South though Drayton Hall was not a working plantation. 

Instead, Drayton Hall functioned as the commercial center for John Drayton’s plantation empire, totaling 76,000 acres. It is the oldest unrestored plantation house in America, and one of the top tourist attractions in this southern city. 

• Address:  3380 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414
• Hours:  9am – 3:30pm, Closed Tuesdays

An island town in Charleston County,  Sullivan’s Island  is famous for its award-winning restaurants and sandy beaches. 

The island was first settled in the late 1700s by Captain Florence O’Sullivan and has since played a significant role in history. The site of a major Revolutionary War battle, known as The Battle of Sullivan’s Island, the island was also where the first shots were fired in the American Civil War. 

People from all over the world come to sink back and relax on the pristine beaches of Sullivan’s Island, considered the most stunning in all of the Lowcountry. 

Come explore this historic and beautiful island where the famous author Edgar Allen Poe was stationed as a private in the U.S. Army. He used the island as the background for his story, “The Gold Bug.” 

Homing the oldest landscaped garden in America, Middleton Place is now a National Historical Landmark representing Charleston and America’s history. 

Once a plantation, Middleton Place has working stableyards, award-winning gardens, and historic homes to educate all who visit this rich piece of land. 

In addition, Middleton Place preserves a legacy of understanding the Middleton family and the enslaved people, the founder that led the Continental Congress, and his son that signed the Declaration of Independence. 

Here, stories are told to be shared with others and passed on from generation to generation, from the enslaved to the free. 

Spend the night at the Inn, stroll through the award-winning gardens, sit down for a bite to eat at the Restaurant, or explore the museum and stable yards at Middleton Place for an unforgettable step back in time. 

• Address:  4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414
• Hours:  9am – 5pm 
• Cost:  $29

The historic home of an influential family of the 1800s, the Aiken-Rhett House Museum is one of the best-preserved townhouse complexes in the nation.

Nationally significant, the home was built in 1820 by merchant John Robinson, then expanded by the Governor and wife in the 1830s, and then again in the 1850s. 

For 142 years, the historic house remained in the Aiken family until it was sold to the Charleston Museum. 

Offering guided tours, visitors can tour the Aiken-Rhett House Museum to learn exciting facts not found on the internet about this historic house. 

• Address:  48 Elizabeth St, Charleston, SC 29403
• Hours:  10am – 5pm
• Cost:  $15

For a fun day of sun, sand and surf, head over to Folly Beach. 

Located on Folly Island just 25 minutes away from the Charleston city center, Folly Beach is a gorgeous seaside area full of tourist attractions. 

Stroll down Folly Beach Pier, go shopping on Center Street, or have a picnic in the County Park. Or just splash around in the Atlantic Ocean and sunbathe on the soft white sand. 

Also, consider visiting Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve to watch the sunset over Morris Island Lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 1876 and is another one of South Carolina’s historic sites. 

Or you can  book a guided boat tour  and search for Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins. 

Spending the day at Folly Beach is one of the most fun things to do in Charleston, especially if you’re traveling with kids. 

Where to Stay in Charleston, South Carolina 

Now that you know the best things to do in Charleston, it’s time to find the best places to stay! 

Situated in the historic Elliotborough neighborhood in Charleston,  Notso Hostel  offers a range of rooms, including private or dorm rooms for its guests.

In addition, this accommodating hostel provides private parking, breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and an excellent location for all of Charleston’s top attractions. 

Less than two miles from USS Yorktown State Park and less than five miles from the Charleston Museum,  Staybridge Suites – Charleston – Mount Pleasant , an IHG Hotel, offers a range of desirable accommodations, including free Wi-Fi, private parking, a buffet or American breakfast, and a fitness center. 

In addition, guests can sit back and relax at the seasonal outdoor swimming pool or grab some sun on the sun terrace. 

A luxurious and aesthetically pleasing hotel,  The Pinch Charleston  is settled in a pristine and desirable location near the Charleston Museum and the city center. Guests receive accommodations such as free bikes and a 24-hour front desk. It’s one of the best luxury hotels in this city full of rich history. 

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

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50 Things to do in Downtown Charleston, SC!

Table of Contents

Are you in the downtown Charleston area, and looking for things to do? Charleston is an amazing city, with fun things to do with kids, historic things to do, romantic things to do, and free things to do! If this is not enough things for you to do, read my “ 100 things to do in Charleston, SC “!

Here is a list of the best things to do in Downtown Charleston, SC!

1. Charleston City Market

• Location:  188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
• Website:  http://www.thecharlestoncitymarket.com/
• Cost :  Free

The  Charleston City Market  is one of the  oldest public markets in the United States  (established in the 1790’s), and is open all year.  The market is free to tour, opens everyday at 9:30 am, and closes at 6 pm.  The market is located in Downtown Charleston, and stretches for  4 city blocks  on Market Street.  The City Market is a great place to visit to look for  souvenirs from Charleston , and there are many great places to eat surrounding the Market!  You will also find beautiful and historic handcrafted  sweetgrass baskets  for sale, which originated in Africa and has been passed down through generations.

2.  Horse Carriage Tour

• Multiple Locations
• Website: See Below
• Cost : Approximately  $32-$40 per Adult

If you have visited downtown Charleston before, you have seen horse carriages touring the historic district.   Take a horse carriage tour in Charleston to get to know the city a little better!  Try a Historic Charleston Carriage Tour, a Haunted Carriage Tour, or a Private Carriage Tour!  Carriage Tours are about an hour long.

• 14 Anson St, Charleston, SC 29401
• 8 Guignard St, Charleston, SC 29401
• 20 Anson St, Charleston, SC 29401

3.  St. Philips Church

• Location :  142 Church St, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://www.stphilipschurchsc.org/

St. Philips is a historic church built in 1836, located at 142 Church Street.  It is a stuccoed brick church, that features a very tall tower and has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.  St. Philips Church also has a  cemetery  with multiple notable burials, including:  John C. Calhoun, Charles Pinckney, Edward Rutledge, Judith DuBose, Christopher Gadsden, and Judith Smith Ladson.

4.  Watch for Dolphins

Charleston is a great location for dolphin watching.  There are many public locations that you can watch for dolphins on the Charleston Peninsula, on the Beaches, and in surrounding areas around Charleston.  Here are a few public locations to watch for dolphins:

• Charleston Harbor
• Waterfront Park Pier
• Kiawah Beachwalker Park
• Sullivan’s Island
• Mount Pleasant Pier

5. Fort Sumter

• Liberty Square Visitor Education Center  (Downtown Charleston)
• Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum  (Mount Pleasant)
• https://fortsumtertours.com/tours/fort-sumter-tour/
• Cost:   Adults $30, Children $18, Children under Free-  As of 5/2021

Fort Sumter is located in Charleston Harbor, and you can depart to fort Sumter from Downtown Charleston! Visit the location of the first battle of the Civil War, located in Charleston Harbor!  Fort Sumter took significant damage during the first Civil War battle;  take a Tour  at the National Park, and see what is left of the Fort.  You can take a tour from Patriot’s Point in Mount Pleasant, or from Liberty Square in Downtown Charleston.  There is a Gift shop at Fort Sumter, and there is also a museum.  You will be able to see the original flag that was taken down after the battle occurred and the Confederacy took control of the Fort.  

6. South Carolina Aquarium

• Location:  100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://scaquarium.org/
• Cost: Adult $29.95, Child $22.95, Toddler Free  (as of 5/2021)

The  South Carolina Aquarium  is a nonprofit organization, and is located on the east side of the Charleston Peninsula, at 100 Aquarium Wharf.  The aquarium as a touch tank, and a variety of animals, including alligators, a bald eagle, fish, sharks, turtles, and much more.  The South Carolina Aquarium is a great place to bring the family!

7.  Pineapple Fountain and Waterfront Park

• Location:  1 Vendue Range, Charleston, SC 29401
• Website:  https://www.charlestonparksconservancy.org/park-finder

Visit Waterfront Park at the East side of the Charleston peninsula, at Vendue Range and Concord Street.  The Park has a beautiful view of the Charleston Harbor, a Fountain for the kids to play in, and is the location of the famous Pineapple Fountain!  Take a walk down the Pier, and view Castle Pinckney, The U.S.S. Yorktown, and Fort Sumter!  You can also take a water taxi from this location to Mt. Pleasant.

8.  Charleston Battery

• Location:   Charleston Battery and White Point Garden

Take a walk along the Historic Charleston Battery and  defensive seawall , and get a  great view of Charleston Harbor  and all of the  amazing historic homes  in this area!  The Battery gets its name from a Civil War defensive battery formally at the site.  The Battery is located at the tip of the Charleston peninsula, and is free to visit!

9.  Rainbow Row

• Location:  83-107 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://rainbowrowcharlestonsc.com/

One of Charleston’s most famous sites is at Rainbow Row.  This location is named due to the 13 colorful historic homes, dating back to the 1700s,  located here that have been painted in pastel colors.  The homes are located on East Bay Street, north of Tradd Street, and South of Elliot Street.  This is one of the most photographed locations in Charleston, and is a must-see if you’re in the area!

10.  Water Taxi

• Downtown Charleston –  Aquarium Wharf/Maritime Center
• Downtown Charleston-  Waterfront Park
• Mount Pleasant – Patriots Point
• Mount Pleasant – Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina
• Website:  http://www.charlestonwatertaxi.com/
• Cost: $12 All Day Pass  (as of 5/2021)

Want to get out on a boat on Charleston Harbor, but don’t want to spend a lot of money?  Take a  Water Taxi !  The water taxis depart hourly from four locations: Maritime Center, Waterfront Park, Patriot’s Point, and Charleston Harbor Resort.  Pay around $12 for an all day pass, and take a water taxi from the Charleston Peninsula to Mt. Pleasant .  This is a great way enjoy a view of the Ravenel Bridge, and to search for dolphins, pelicans, and other wildlife!

11.  Old Slave Mart Museum

• Location:  6 Chalmers St, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://www.oldslavemartmuseum.com/
• Costs: Adult $8, Children $5, Children Under 6 Free  (as of 5/2021)

The  Old Slave Mart Museum  is a location of Charleston’s deplorable history, where slave auctions occurred.  Built in 1859, the old Slave Mart museum is located on one of Charleston’s few cobblestone streets that still remain, located on 6 Chalmers Street in downtown Charleston.  The Old Slave Mart Museum has many informative posters to read, helpful staff to answer questions, and has some artifacts from this time period. 

12.  Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

• Location:  122 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://oldexchange.org/
• Cost: Adult $12, Children $5, Chidren (0-6) Free  (as of 5/2021)

Visit the  Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon  at the intersection of East Bay and Broad Streets in downtown Charleston.  This is one of the most historically significant buildings in Charleston, and is a must-see if you are in the area!  The Exchange was finished in 1771, and has been used for a variety of functions, including a Custom House, Public Meeting Place, and a POW facility by the British during the Revolutionary War.   The building was also the location of the convention to  ratify the United States Constitution  by South Carolina in 1788.  

13.  The French Quarter

• Location :  Downtown Charleston

Take a walk around the “French Quarter” in Charleston!  The French Quarter is located in downtown Charleston, and is the location of the original walled in city of Charleston.  The French Quarter is home to many historic buildings, including: The  Dock Street Theater, St. Philips Church, The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon,  The French Huguenot Church, the  Old Slave Mart Museum , and the Charleston City Market.  

14. Charleston Museum

• Location:   360 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403
• https://www.charlestonmuseum.org/
• Cost: Adults $12, Youth Tickets (13-17) $10, Children (3-12) $5  (as of 5/2021)

Visit the  Charleston Museum  downtown at 360 Meeting Street for an amazing collection of history!  The Museum has a replica of the Hunley submarine in front (what they thought it looked like before it was actually found), and a cannon from the Revolutionary War era, and a giant whale skeleton to greet you at the front door.  The collection of military and local items in this museum is superb!  

15. Four Corners of Law

• Location:  Broad and Meeting Street

Visit the “Four Corners of Law” In Downtown Charleston, located at the intersection of Broad Street and Meeting Street. This location has  four buildings , and represents:  1. God’s Law  (St. Michael’s Church),  2. Federal Law  (Federal Courthouse and Post Office),  3. State Law  (Charleston County Courthouse),  and City Law  (Charleston City Hall).

City hall  in Charleston is located at 80 Broad Street, and was built in 1801, and is one of the oldest continuously used City Halls in the Country.  The Bank of the United States was originally located at this building, but it turned into Charleston’s City Hall in 1818.  There are historical paintings on display at the City Hall, including pictures of George Washington, and Andrew Jackson.  The City Hall is a Must-See for history buffs!

16.  Do a “Pub Crawl” in Charleston

• Location:   Downtown Charleston – Various Locations
• Cost: Approximately $25-$40

Would you like to do a pub crawl in Charleston?  Take a Bar crawl in downtown Charleston and have some fun!  Guided tours near Charleston, SC.  Here are a few links for pub crawls in the area!

• PubTourCharleston.com
• Charleston Mixology Tour
• Bar Crawl Events

17.  Old Charleston Jail

• Location:  21 Magazine St, Charleston, SC 29401
• Cost: Adults approximately $34, Children (4-12) $24  with  Bulldog Tours  (as of 5/2021)

The  Old Charleston City Jail   was operational from 1802-1939, and has been seen on Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, and the Travel Channel.  It has held many notorious criminals including pirates, Civil War POWs, and Lavinia Fisher.   Take a guided tour of the Old Charleston Jail !

18. Powder Magazine

• Location:  79 Cumberland St #3112, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://www.powdermag.org/
• Cost: Adults $6, Children $4  (as of 5/2021)

The  Powder Magazine  is a museum at 79 Cumberland Street in the French Quarter of Charleston.  The building was completed in 1713, and is South Carolina’s oldest public building.   It was used as a powder magazine during the American Revolutionary War, and was later used for a variety of purposes.  The Powder Magazine was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

19.  Ghost Tour

• 18 Anson St, Charleston, SC 29401
• Freetoursbyfoot.com
• CharlestonTerrors.com
• Cost: Free up to approximately $40, depending on the tour

Charleston has a vast history, and there are many old graveyards to visit around the city.  Charleston is considered by many to be one of the most haunted cities in the United States due to it’s Pre-Revolutionary history.  You can walk around the city and visit some of the graveyards (i.e. Unitarian Church Graveyard), or pay to take a  guided Ghost Tour .  

20. King Street

• Location:   Downtown Charleston

King Street is a popular location for tourist, college students, shopping, eating, night life, and more.  King Street is in the heart of downtown Charleston, you will see plenty of Charleston’s History if you take a long walk down this historic street!  At more than 200 years old, King Street is one of the most historically significant locations in Charleston. King Street was named after King Charles II of England, and is now one of the most famous shopping streets in the Country.

King Street has many restaurants, cocktail lounges, hotels, art galleries, and places to shop. King Street has 3 different districts along the street; Upper King Street Design District, Middle King Street Fashion District, and Lower King Street Antique District.

Upper King Street

Upper King Street is also known as the  “Design and Dining District” . This area of King Street located in between Calhoun Street (Marion Square) and Spring Street, and is also known for it’s lively nightlife, hotels, great restaurants, and apartment buildings. This is a great area to live, if you’re looking to be in the heart of King Street, and the Charleston Downtown Area.

Middle King Street

Middle King Street is also known as the  “fashion district” , and is located in between Calhoun Street and Market Street. This area of King street is named due to the fashion boutiques in this area, and is a popular shopping location for well known national brands.

Lower King Street

Lower King Street is also known as the  “Antique District” , and is located in between Market Street and Broad Street. In this area of King Street, you will find some of the best antique shopping in the Country, including the  George C. Birlant and Company  antique shop.

21.  Visit the Historic Cemeteries in Charleston

• John C. Calhoun
• Charles Pinckney
• Coming Street Cemetery
• Crew of the Hunley
• William Aiken
• Robert Barnwell Rhett
• Circular Congregational Church Graveyard
• Unitarian Church Cemetery

Visit some of the old cemeteries, and the final resting place of historical figures in Charleston, including  John C. Calhoun, Charles Pinckney, William Aiken, and the crew of the Hunley .

22. Castle Pinckney

• Location:  Charleston Harbor
• http://www.castlepinckney.com/

You can view  Castle Pinckney  in Charleston Harbor, but are no tours of Castle Pinckney.  If you get out on a boat in Charleston Harbor, you can get a good view of the old military fort. 

After the Revolutionary War, George Washington visited Charleston and ordered that a fort be built on Shutes Folly island due to it’s strategic location. A log fort called “Fort Pinckney” was completed in honor of Revolutionary War General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and was destroyed by a hurricane shortly after.  Castle Pinckney is a brick masonry fort built in 1810 (shortly after the log fort was destroyed), and was named due to it’s castle like design.  

Fort Sumter was built shortly after, and Castle Pinckney was a “second line of defense”.  In 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union, and a group of South Carolina militia captured Castle Pinckney from the Union, which was being guarded by a handful of Union Soldiers; no shots were fired. 

23.  Take a Food Tour

• Directions to Bulldog Tours
• Charleston Culinary Tours
• Cost: Approximately $60+

Want to try some of the famous food Charleston has to offer?  You can take a food tour in Charleston, and try a variety of different foods.  A guided food tour takes about 2-3 hours, and costs around $60+.  Here are a couple food tours that you can try:

• Bull Dog Tours Website
• Charleston Culinary Tours Website

24. Schooner Pride

• Location:  360 Concord St, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://www.charlestonharbortours.com/
• Cost: Approximately $49+ for Adults

The  Schooner Pride  is an 84′ tall ship that is modeled after an 18th century vessel, and you can buy tickets to the ship and sail Charleston Harbor.  You can sail Charleston Harbor on the Schooner pride during the day, or you can take a wine tasting, or sunset sail.  Each sail is 2 hours long, and the location to board the ship is next to the South Carolina Aquarium, at 360 Concord Street.  

25.  Nathaniel Russel House

• Location:  51 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
• https://www.historiccharleston.org/house-museums/nathaniel-russell-house/
• Cost: Adults $12, Children (6-16) $5, Children 6 and under Free  (as of 5/2021)

The  Nathaniel Russel House  is a Museum open for daily tours from 10am-5pm.  The home was completed in 1808, has a collection of fine art, decorative pieces, and is a beautiful home to visit.  Nathaniel Russel was a successful merchant from Rhode island, and his former home is one of Charleston’s best house museums.  

26. Gibbes Museum of Art

• Location:   135 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://www.gibbesmuseum.org/
• Cost: $12 Adults, $6 Children (4-17), Children (0-3) Free  (as of 5/2021)

Visit the  Gibbes Museum of Art  at 135 Meeting St. in downtown Charleston.  Formerly known as “The Gibbes Art Gallery”, this museum was established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858, and moved into this location in 1905.

27. White Point Garden

• Location:  2 Murray Blvd, Charleston, SC 29401
• https://www.charlestonparksconservancy.org/park/white-point-garden

White Point Garden  is a 5.7 public park along the southern tip of the Charleston Peninsula.  This is the location of “The Battery” in Charleston, a defensive seawall for the city.   The park provides a great view of the Charleston Harbor, including Fort Sumter.  There are several monuments, statues, and replica cannons at this location.  

28. Saint Michael’s Church

• Location:  71 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://www.stmichaelschurch.net/

Saint Michael’s church  is the oldest surviving church in Charleston.  It is located at 71 Broad Street, at the intersection of Meeting Street, and was built in the 1750s.  It is located at the “ Four Corners of Law ” in downtown Charleston and represents ecclesiastical law.  The Church is an impressive site, and the Steeple is 186′ tall.  

29. Colonial Lake

• Location:  46-54 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://www.charlestonparksconservancy.org/our_parks/view_park/colonial_lake_park/

Located on the corner of Broad Street and Rutledge Avenue,  Colonial Lake  is a small but beautiful lake in downtown Charleston.   The park has been a gathering area for more than 150 years, and has many amazing historic homes surrounding the lake.  It only takes about 10 minutes to walk around the small lake, but it is worth doing if you are in the neighborhood. 

30. Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

• Location:   25 Ann St, Charleston, SC 29403
• http://explorecml.org/
• Cost: Non- SC Residents $12, SC Residents $10  (as of 5/2021)

This  museum  includes hand-on exhibits for children under 10, and has weekly programming with different events.  The museum has 9 hands-on interactive exhibits for your children, and is a great place to visit if you’re looking for something to do in Charleston with the kids!

31.  Take a Historic Walking Tour

• Location: Multiple Locations
• Cost: Varies

Take a historic walking tour of Charleston, and learn some of the city’s amazing history!  Charleston is a “living museum”, and many of the buildings on the peninsula has some historical significance.  Here are some links to walking tours in Charleston:

• Free Tours by Foot
• Walks of Charleston
• 5 Self-Guided Walking Tours

32.  Marion Square

• Location:  329 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403
• http://www.charlestonparksconservancy.org/parkDetail/67qsumQypGWugaMSO88MSU/marion-square

Marion square is a 6.5 acre green-space in downtown Charleston.  Marion Square was named in honor of  Francis Marion , aka the “Swamp Fox”, who was a military officer during the Revolutionary War.  The square is located along Calhoun Street, and between King and Meeting streets.  The Square is the Location of the  Holocaust memorial.

33. Cannon Park

• Location:   131 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://www.charlestonparksconservancy.org/our_parks/view_park/cannon_park/

Cannon Park  is is a 2.7 acre park in downtown Charleston, located at 131 Rutledge Ave.  The park is located near the Medical University of South Carolna, and is a popular spot for dog owners.  The columns at the park are all that remain of the old Charleston Museum following a fire in 1981.  

34. Charleston Music Hall

• Location:  37 John St, Charleston, SC 29403
• http://www.charlestonmusichall.com/

The  Charleston Music Hall  is a 19th century Gothic Revival Building located at 37 John Street in Charleston.  The music hall hosts theater, comedy shows, dance, concerts, and more.  Visit the website to find an event to attend!

35.  Aiken-Rhett House Museum

• Location :  48 Elizabeth St, Charleston, SC 29403
• https://www.historiccharleston.org/house-museums/aiken-rhett-house/
• Cost: Adults $12, Children (6-16) $5, Children (0-6) Free  (as of 5/2021)

Another Historic Home in downtown Charleston, the  Aiken-Rhett House  is located at 48 Elizabeth St.. The House Museum was built in 1820, and became the property of William Aiken Sr. in 1827.  The home was renovated in 1833 by the young William Aiken, and turned it was turned into an amazing residence!  Visit this great place in downtown Charleston!

36.  Take a walking Pirate Tour

• Location:   Downtown Charleston
• https://charlestonpiratetour.com/
• Cost:   Approximately  $15-25

Take a Pirate tour and discover stories of Blackbeard and his blockade of the Charleston Harbor, and much more!  Here are a few links to some pirate tours near Charleston, SC:

• Charleston Pirate Tours
• DiscoverSouthCarolina.com
• USA Today- Pirate Tours

37.  Visit Movie Scene Locations near Charleston

• Calhoun Mansion
• Boone Hall Plantation
• Cypress Gardens
• The American Theater
• College of Charleston

Some very popular movies have been filmed near Charleston, including “ The Notebook ” and “ The Patriot “.

The Notebook  had many scenes filmed near Charleston, including scenes at:   Boone Hall Plantation  (The Hamilton Family Summer House),  Cypress Gardens  (The Boat Scene with the Swans),  College of Charleston ,  High Cotton  in downtown Charleston,  The American Theater  (446 King Street),  Matins Point Plantation  on Wadmalaw Island (The home that Noah renovated; private residence, please do not attempt to view),  and the  Calhoun Mansion  (16 Meeting St., scenes shot for the interior of the Hamilton Summer home).  

Many scenes of “ The Patriot ”  were also shot in Charleston.  When Mel Gibson’s character drops his kids off at their Aunt’s house, this home was shot at 69 Meeting Street, aka the Poyas-Mordecai House.  There were also  scenes filmed  at the Mansfield Plantation, Randolph Hall at the College of Charleston, Middleton Place, and Cypress Gardens.  

38.  Lavinia Fisher’s Boarding House/ Escape Room

• Location:  579-B King St, Charleston, SC 29403
• https://timetravelerescapegames.com/
• Cost:  Approximately $28

Do an escape room at  Traveler Escape Games  at 579-B King Street, in Downtown Charleston.  Lavinia Fisher may have been the first female serial killer in the United States, and was a prisoner in the old Charleston Jail until her execution.   I have not personally done one of these escape rooms yet, but a friend of mine said he had a great time while he was there!

39.  Dock Street Theater

• Location:   135 Church St, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://www.charlestonstage.com/

The  Dock Street Theater  is located in the historic French Quarter of downtown Charleston.  This is the location of the 1st theater in America built in 1736.  A hotel would be built in this location in 1809.  The “New Dock Street Theater” was built in the 1930’s, and was made to look like the original theater built in the 18th century.  

40. The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art

• Location:  161 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29424
• https://halsey.cofc.edu/

Visit the  Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art  (HICA) at the College of Charleston located at 161 Calhoun Street.  Attend an  Art Exhibition  at this art institute!  The institute is a non-collecting temporary art institute for the Charleston of College.    

41. Washington Square

• Location:  80 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://www.charlestonparksconservancy.org/our_parks/view_park/washington_square/

Washington Square  is a Park in downtown Charleston, located at 80 Broad Street.  The Park has several monuments, including a statue of George Washington and a monument for General Pierre Beauregard.  This small park is worth visiting if you’re in the area!

42.  Joseph Manigault House

• Location:  350 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403
• http://www.charlestonmuseum.org/historic-houses/joseph-manigault-house/
• Cost: $12 Adults, $5 Children (3-12)  as of 5/2021

The  Joseph Manigault House   was built in 1803 is a House museum located at 350 Meeting Street, and is operated by the Charleston Museum.  The Manigaults prospered as rice planters in this area, and their former home is amazing!  The Charleston Museum purchased the home in 1933.

43. Heyward-Washington House

• Location:  87 Church St, Charleston, SC 29403
• http://www.charlestonmuseum.org/heyward-washington-house
• Cost: Adults $12, Children $5  (as of 5/2021)

The  Heyward-Washington House  was built in 1772, and was the town home of Thomas Heyward Jr. (signer of the Declaration of Independents).  The Georgian-style double house is located at 87 Church St. in downtown Charleston.  George Washington used this house during his 1 week stay in Charleston in 1791, and they house has been traditionally called the Heward-Washington House.  This is a great piece of history to visit!

44. Williams Mansion, Formerly known as the “Calhoun Mansion”

• Location:   16 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
• https://www.williamsmansion.com/
• Cost: $17, Children 11 and under Free  (as of 5/2021)

Built in 1876 for it’s owner, George Walton Williams, the former  Calhoun Mansion  is located on Meeting Street in downtown Charleston.  This 24,000 square foot structure has 35 rooms, a 75 foot domed ceiling, amazing antique pieces throughout the home.  Also, few scenes from the movie “The Notebook” were shot in this home.  The home is a private residence, but is open to the public for daily viewing tours.  

45. City Gallery (Art) at Waterfront Park

• Location:   34 Prioleau St, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://charleston-sc.gov/citygallery

Visit the  City Gallery  at Waterfront Park.  The gallery is owned by the CIty of Charleston, and exhibits a variety of art.  It is free to enter this Art Gallery, so stop by and take a look!

46.  Hampton Park

• Location:   30 Mary Murray Dr, Charleston, SC 29403
• http://www.charleston-sc.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/81

Hampton park  is the largest park on the Charleston Peninsula (60 acres), located at 30 Muray Murray Dr. in Charleston.  This is a gorgeous park with a variety of flowers, plants, and trees, trails, and it is a popular place to go for students from the Citadel, which borders the park.  

47. Edmondston-Alston House

• Location:   21 E Battery, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://www.edmondstonalston.org/
• Cost: Adults $15, Children (6-13) $10  (as of 5/2021)

The  Edmondston-Alston  House is located on the Charleston Battery, and is now a museum.  It was built in 1825, and this was the home that General P.G.T. Beauregard watched from while the attack on Fort Sumter began.  General Robert E. Lee also took refuge at this house in 1861.  Take a Guided Tour of this home, and view a piece of history!

48. South Carolina National Bank of Charleston

• Location:   16 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401

The  South Carolina National Bank of Charleston  is located at 16 Broad Street in Downtown Charleston, and opened in 1817 as the Office of Discount and Deposit of the Second Bank of the United States.  

49. French Huguenot Church

• Location:   136 Church Street
• http://www.huguenot-church.org/

The  French Huguenot Church  is a Gothic Revival Church, and is located in downtown Charleston at 136 Church Street.  Many French Huguenots fled religious persecution in the later half of the 17th Century, and some of them settled in Charleston. The Church was built in 1884, and is the oldest Gothic Revival Church in South Carolina.  

50. South Carolina Historical Society Museum

• Location:  100 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
• http://www.schistory.org/
• Cost: Adults $12, Children (5-12) $5  (as of 5/2021)

The South C arolina Historical Society Museum  is located on 100 Meeting Street in Downtown Charleston.  The Museum is located in a building that is a Historic Landmark, and features interactive exhibits about the history of South Carolina and the Nation.  

Thank you for reading my post about things to do in Downtown Charleston! Please contact me with any questions!

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The 12 Best Things to Do and See in Downtown Charleston, South Carolina

With a rich coast and varied landscape, Charleston , South Carolina , is no ordinary beach town. From the marshes on Shem Creek to the shores of Folly Beach, there’s plenty to explore. Travel inwards to King Street or George Street to find some of the best food the southeast US has to offer. And there’s plenty to learn from its antebellum architecture and significant historical monuments. We round up the best.

Fort sumter.

Charleston City Market

Joe Riley Waterfront Park

Historical Landmark

South Carolina Aquarium

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The Battery

Folly beach.

Natural Feature

The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

For an illuminating tour to learn about those imprisoned by the British during the American Revolution, book a guide in period costume within the Provost Dungeon walls at South Carolina’s most historic building. However, explore the rest of this landmark, too, as the rooms tell the stories of the ratification of the Constitution and the atrocities of the public slave trade. It’s an excellent place for history buffs. Recommended by Frank Lopez .

Nathaniel Russell House Museum

Museum, Historical Landmark

This impeccably restored home from the early 19th century, with manicured gardens and architectural splendor, demonstrates the wealth of those who benefitted the most from America becoming a republic. The attention to reproducing the details of this era is breathtaking. However, visitors will find out that while the owners lived in opulence, Africans were enslaved on this property. Charleston , as a city and in places like this museum , is coming to terms with how it recounts its past to understand its future. Recommended by Frank Lopez.

Pineapple Fountain

Architectural Landmark

Overlooking the Charleston Harbor, the famous Pineapple Fountain at the Charleston Waterfront Park is picture-perfect. This modern landmark, unveiled in 1990, is the perfect spot to watch the sunset after a day of wandering around the historic center. On a sweltering evening, surrounded by palm trees and the peaceful sound of cascading water, you are encouraged to splash around – you will see whole families doing so together. Recommended by Frank Lopez.

Sites and Insights Tours, Inc

Covering African-American history and the local Gullah Geechee culture, Al Miller leads what may be one of the most hilarious yet poignant tours around historic downtown Charleston . He impresses a passionately black perspective on this city and the African-American contribution that built it, recalling the sacrifices made to create the wealth in the region. His storytelling is as illuminating as it is informative. The tour departs daily from outside the Charleston Visitor Center. Recommended by Frank Lopez.

Old Slave Mart Museum

Constructed in 1859, the Old Slave Mart was the last slave auction facility standing in South Carolina, and its remnants house this museum today. There is a lot of information to digest, but it’s the small things – a statistic or an artefact – that will make this place hit home. When it does, it’s impossible to think of Charleston or South Carolina without the horrors of the global slave trade echoing on every street. It’s a powerful experience that you don’t want to miss. Recommended by Frank Lopez.

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30 Best & Fun Things To Do In Charleston (South Carolina)

By: Author Jerric Chong

Posted on Last updated: October 16, 2023

South Carolina’s most beautiful, as well as its biggest and more historic city, Charleston is one of the top vacation spots in the entire American south.

Although Charleston isn’t officially the capital of South Carolina, locals and millions of tourists who visit every year agree that this picturesque city holds the top spot as a keeper of the state’s history, entertainment, culture, and art.

You can go back in time when you enter Charleston as its past is home to American settlement, the dark ages of slavery, and the Civil War.

While ancient plantations and beautiful museums are often peppered with humbled history lovers, adrenaline junkies, foodies, and party lovers find their peace rejoicing numerous thrill-filled water sports, delicious foods, and exciting nightlife!

Rightly termed as a vibrant cultural hub by residents and tourists, Charleston boasts exciting activities suitable for all kinds of tourists.

This city is a combination of the fast-pace of a big city and the southern hospitality associated with the surrounding area.

Table of Contents

1. The Battery

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

Checking out The Battery is one of the best things to do in Charleston, South Carolina.

It has nothing to do with electronic devices, as this peninsula goes back to the Civil War days.

This is one of the most beautiful Charleston attractions and is great for a family outing.

The history of The Battery makes it one of the best things to see in Charleston, South Carolina.

Originally for the artillery battery that was once posted here, it’s since become a wonderful promenade.

Visitors love going for strolls along this land and seeing the beautiful homes.

White Point Garden is an amazing part of The Battery, with lots of reverence paid towards military heroes.

If you’re looking to recharge, you need to come to The Battery.

It’s amazing how it’s evolved from defense means to a phenomenal place for socializing and relaxation.

A visit to the Battery is something you must do when in Charleston.

Address: East Battery & Murray Blvd., Charleston, SC 29401, USA

2. Zero George

Zero George

There are numerous reasons to check out Zero George , which is one of the best boutique hotels in the south.

At this Charleston, South Carolina attraction, you can experience lots of fun activities and be amazed by the striking beauty of your environment.

This isn’t just a place for sleeping in between sightseeing.

There’s lots of fun stuff to do at Zero George, such as cooking classes and attending art shows.

The Zero Restaurant + Bar is the optimal place for having a romantic meal.

If you need things to be modified in any way, the staff will be happy to cater to your whims.

Should you be staying in downtown Charleston and really want to live it up, you should book a room at Zero George.

This is definitely one of the top 10 hotels in Charleston, South Carolina.

You’ll quickly see why it’s among the best places to go for people who are serious about having excellent lodging experiences.

Address:  0 George St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States

3. Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Jack Nevitt / Shutterstock

One of the top things to do in Charleston, South Carolina is to go to the Magnolia Plantation & Gardens .

A Charleston institution that goes back to 1676, Magnolia Plantations & Gardens offers lovely scenery and plant life and much more.

Coming here might be the best history lesson you have during your entire trip.

The gardens are definitely key in this being one of the best tourist attractions in Charleston, South Carolina.

For over 300 years, one family has been operating these gardens.

The opulent colors of flowers like daffodils stand out even more when you consider how storied the history of these gardens is.

At Magnolia Plantations & Gardens, you can see one of the most important points of interest in South Carolina.

Hours for this Charleston attraction can vary based on what time of year it is.

For general garden admission, it’s $20 for adults and $10 for children, ages six to 12.

Address:  3550 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414, United States

4. King Street

meunierd / Shutterstock

There’s a lot of things to do in downtown Charleston, but your best bet for where to roam around is King Street.

This has become a beloved part of Charleston, South Carolina for denizens and visitors to experience all kinds of entertainment.

When you’re looking to have fun in Charleston, King Street is a great choice.

With over three centuries of history, King Street is one of the most important places to visit in this city.

It’s lots of fun to go to specific attractions or just brace yourself for whatever might come your way.

It’s also worth reading up on King Street’s history, as it experienced serious trouble as a result of the Civil War.

However, the mid-20th century and on has been very good to King Street.

The great sights of King Street are numerous and there are many unique things to do.

It’s been through some rough times, but it’s come out stronger than ever.

When you’re looking for fun things to do in Charleston, South Carolina, King Street needs to be a priority.

5. Charleston Farmers Market

Jeramey Lende / Shutterstock

One of the best shopping activities in any worthwhile city is going to its farmers market.

The Charleston Farmers Market is one of the top ones in the south.

You can come to Marion Square at downtown Charleston and pick up some of the most scrumptious produce you’ve ever come across.

Goin to the Charleston Farmers Market is what to do if you want to see how wonderful this city is.

Beyond buying great produce, you can also find fantastic flowers and see some lovely live performances.

On Saturdays, Marion Square becomes something of a city-within-a-city.

You haven’t fully experienced Charleston, South Carolina until you’ve been to the farmers market.

It’s so much fun to explore the market grounds and accumulate more shopping bags.

The Charleston Farmers Market is open on Saturdays from April to November from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Address:  329 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States

Going on a road trip around South Carolina? Don’t miss our lists of things to do in Greenville, SC  & things to do in Columbia, SC !

6. John Pope Antiques

John Pope Antiques

Antiquing isn’t just something your grandmother does.

One of the best things to do in Charleston, South Carolina is to go to John Pope Antiques.

This is an excellent antique shop full of cool items.

Operated by the eponymous John Pope, this shop is located on King Street.

His collection includes many great decorative items, such as chandeliers.

They might be older pieces, but they can feel new and wonderful when you bring them home.

Coming to John Pope Antiques is one of the most unexpectedly enjoyable activities in Charleston, South Carolina.

If you’re looking for a great entryway to the past, coming to John Pope Antiques is one of the best activities available.

The curation and Pope’s expertise alone should draw you in.

Address:  180 King St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States

7. Waterfront Park

Possessing a very apt name, Waterfront Park is a great South Carolina attraction for experiencing wonder on land and sea.

You can come to Waterfront Park full of energy or feeling fairly mellow and end up satisfied either way.

This park makes a great case for Charleston as one of the most beautiful places in USA .

Providing great visual access to the Charleston Harbor, Waterfront Park is one of the top places in Charleston for just sitting back and seeing boats go by.

One of the most exciting attractions is the pineapple fountain, which might have you salivating for a tropical treat.

You can also spot pelicans hanging by the piers or flying.

Waterfront Park is something you must see if you want proof of how impressive a park can be.

One of the most amazing places to visit in South Carolina , Waterfront Park continues to engage and delight visitors.

It’s open every day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Address:  Vendue Range, Concord St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States

8. Sullivan’s Island

Henryk Sadura / Shutterstock

One of the most beautiful natural tourist attractions in Charleston, South Carolina is Sullivan’s Island .

If you’re looking for things to do in Charleston this weekend, you should come here with your family.

Sullivan’s Island is an area outside of the city that offers plenty of amazing sights.

Fairly small, at a little over three square miles in area, Sullivan’s Island is nonetheless one of the most engrossing places to visit in the whole south.

One of the greatest lighthouses in the country is the Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse.

You also need to spend some quality time on the beach, doing things like building sandcastles or fishing.

Going to Sullivan’s Island is one of the most fun things to do in Charleston.

If you’re curious about how to plan a vacation to Charleston, South Carolina, Sullivan’s Island is a great thing to put on your list.

Coming here is what to do if you want to be beside the water and beside your loved ones.

TIm J. Nichols / Shutterstock

Charleston, South Carolina is one of the top food cities in the entire south, and Husk is one of the best restaurants in the city.

This beloved eatery takes the beauty of southern cooking and mixes it with some serious sophistication.

You’ll be having a meal that’s both hearty and complex.

Chef Sean Brock has put together one of the most intriguing menus of any restaurant in Charleston.

While the options can change, you can be assured that there’s always going to be great things available.

Some items that have been served at Husk include cornmeal-dusted catfish and southern-fried chicken skins.

Going to Husk is what to do in Charleston if you want to see how unique southern cooking can be.

It’s one of the best things to do in Charleston when you’re looking for a place o eat with your partner.

Address:  76 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States

10. South Carolina Aquarium

Daniel M. Silva / Shutterstock

One of the most fun things to do in Charleston is to go to the South Carolina Aquarium .

The marine life of the city can be appreciated even more here, one of the best Charleston attractions.

If you’re looking for places in South Carolina that teach you a lot about fish and other species, you should come here.

Lots of amazing species can be observed at the South Carolina Aquarium, and the staff does an excellent job of making sure they’re as comfortable as possible.

If you’re traveling with your kids, they’ll love being able to see animals like otters and sharks.

Exhibits like “The Shallows” and “Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery” give even more awareness of the importance of marine life preservation.

For family entertainment activities in Charleston, you should come to the South Carolina Aquarium.

It’s open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is $29.95 for adults and $22.95 for children, ages three to 12.

Address:  100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401, United States

Visiting other areas of South Carolina? Why not check out some of the things to do in Myrtle Beach  & some of the things to do in Hilton Head ?

11. Charleston Tea Plantation

Thomas Trompeter / Shutterstock

Wadmalaw Island’s sole tea plantation, Charleston Tea Plantation is one of the best places to visit in Charleston for seeing how an amazing plant is cultivated.

Even if you prefer coffee as your hot beverage of choice, the Charleston Tea Plantation is still among the top points of interest in the city.

Located a short distance south from the city proper, Charleston Tea Plantation is a sight to behold.

You’ll also want to keep your ears open, as there are lots of cool details to take in about how the tea is produced.

What was once a potato farm has become one of the premier tea producers in the world.

You can have one of your best experiences in Charleston at the Charleston Tea Plantation.

Its operating hours are from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m to 4 p.m.

The factory tours are free while the trolley tours are paid experiences.

During the week, you can go with a group on the more expensive and more informative Bill Hall Exclusive Tour.

Address:  6617 Maybank Hwy, Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487, United States

12. French Quarter Inn

French Quarter Inn

If you’ve been in serious need of a vacation and want to be pampered to your heart’s content, then staying at the French Quarter Inn in Charleston is what to do.

Charleston is one of the best vacation spots in the south for its amazing hotels alone.

You can have a lot of fun here and gain a great deal of appreciation towards how much the staff puts into giving guests a wonderful time.

At this downtown Charleston hotel, you can feel like you’re in a modern-day fairytale.

This is a hotel to stay at if you seek a more personal experience.

It’s not a very big hotel, so you should secure your room as early as you can.

Among the great amenities are bicycles that you’re allowed to take out and multiple varieties of pillows for your relaxation needs.

The French Quarter Inn has become one of the top places to lodge in Charleston.

It’s so great, you might have trouble pulling yourself away from your room or the hotel grounds.

Hospitality is at its best when you’re boarding at the French Quarter Inn.

Address:  166 Church St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States

13. Charleston Music Hall

Edith Howle / flickr

One of the most impressive Charleston attractions for cultural engagement is Charleston Music Hall .

This is what to see in Charleston if you want to see some of the top musical acts today.

A beautiful and historic space, Charleston Music Hall is one of the best concert venues around Charleston.

Charleston Music Hall has been through a lot.

First established as part of the state railroad under the name “Tower Depot,” it evolved to be retail and office space before closing down upon the arrival of the Great Depression.

Revived as a music venue, it has hosted legendary acts like David Crosby, Ray Charles, and David Byrne.

Hearing the amazing story of Charleston Music Hall makes it even more heartwarming to know that it all turned out for the best.

Look at the venue’s schedule for this weekend.

Hopefully, you’ll be able to experience a great show at one of Charleston’s best venues.

Address:  37 John St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States

14. Charleston Museum

Wally Gobetz / flickr

The historic importance of Charleston is monumental, and the Charleston Museum does a wonderful job of illustrating this.

If you’re looking to come to Charleston this weekend, going to the Charleston Museum is among the best activities.

Here, you can see great exhibits that different points of Charleston’s history.

The Charleston Museum is like a historian’s waking dream.

Permanent exhibits take you through Charleston’s history as well as places like Ancient Rome and Egypt.

Younger guests will be overjoyed by checking out the interactive delights of “Kidstory,” such as seeing what it’s like to operate a lighthouse.

One of the top museums in the south, the Charleston Museum is more than deserving of your patronage.

It’s open from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for youths, ages 13 to 17, and $5 for children, ages 3 to 12.

Address:  360 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States

15. Hampden Clothing

Hampden Clothing

Top among Charleston attractions for the fashion-conscious is Hampden Clothing .

Going to this clothing outlet is lots of fun, both for people who love to shop and those who think it’s not their cup of tea.

At Hampden Clothing, you’ll be around so many great items to add to your wardrobe.

Hampden Clothing was founded by Stacy Smallwood, with a focus on giving women greater confidence through clothing.

There are remarkable pieces made by great designers, such as Ulla Johnson and Borgo de Nor.

You can find great clothes for all occasions here.

Few things can make you feel as cool as picking up a sharp new outfit.

Hampden Clothing is what to see if you desire to look and feel your best.

It’s open from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Address:  314 King St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States

16. Charleston Culinary Tours

Charleston Culinary Tours

If you’re coming to Charleston this weekend, you should be coming with a sizable appetite, as one of the most fun options for making your way around Charleston is by going on a Charleston Culinary Tours .

These dining trips let you see how great the food options are in Charleston.

With five to choose from, you can explore this city’s culinary diversity.

Tours tend to last a few hours, but you’ll likely be having so much fun, it can feel like the time is going by much faster.

You can take tours of downtown, King Street, or perhaps go on a “Sustainable Seafood” tour.

If you want to try some great drinks, there are brewery tours as well as a mixology tour.

Charleston Culinary Tours are of the most cool things to experience in this city.

As you go around the city, you’ll remember that eating is as much about pleasure as it is about necessity.

Be sure to book your spot on any of these tours right away.

17. Middleton Place

Adam Skonn / Shutterstock

Many great plantations are available for visiting in Charleston.

Middleton Place should be near the top of your list if you want to see multiple ones.

This is a gorgeous complex that showcases the unquestionable southern beauty of the city.

The original Middleton Place was largely torched near the Civil War’s conclusion, and the Great Earthquake caused further destruction.

What exists now is the Southern Flanker’s House Museum, which serves to educate on how people at Middleton Place lived, including slaves, astounding gardens, a great restaurant and shops, and more.

You’ll step out of the present and into the wonders of the past when you’re here.

Middleton Place is one of the most important places to see in Charleston for gaining historical awareness.

It operates daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is $29 for adults, $15 for students, and $10 for children, ages six to 13.

Address:  4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414, United States

18. The Darling Oyster Bar

NaturalBox / Shutterstock

There’s nothing fishy about wanting to go the Darling Oyster Bar .

This is one of the top things to see for seafood lovers.

Situated on Kings Street, the Darling Oyster Bar provides your tastebuds with so many great flavors from so many great species.

The Darling Oyster Bar has become one of the top seafood restaurants today because of how dynamic the menu is.

When you eating at the Darling Oyster Bar, you’re refueling your body and treating your mind by giving it access to so much goodness.

If you’re ever near Kings Street and get a seafood craving going, make sure to make your way to the Darling Oyster Bar as soon as possible.

It’s open from Monday to Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Saturday from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address:  513 King St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States

19. McCrady’s Restaurant

McCrady’s Restaurant

It can be pretty impressive when you go to a restaurant that’s 50-100 years old, but McCrady’s Restaurant is more than 200 years old.

It’s definitely earned its place in the American culinary pantheon, with a fantastic menu and terrific service.

One of the best things to see and do in Charleston is to take in a meal at McCrady’s Restaurant.

Situated on Unity Alley in downtown Charleston, McCrady’s Restaurant doesn’t just skate by on a historic reputation.

It also has a very impressive menu, with some of the most delicious duck, mahi mahi, and scallops you’ve tried.

Lots of great wines and other drinks can be paired with your meal.

There are so many great historic things to see in this city, and McCrady’s Restaurant makes things even better by being a top-notch place to eat as well.

Your sightseeing downtown can culminate in getting a meal here.

McGrady’s Restaurant is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Address:  155 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States

20. Magnolia Cemetery

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A visit to Magnolia Cemetery is a very important experience if you want a window to the past.

This Charleston burial place pays homage to those have gone before us, many who lived more than a century ago.

It’s also a gorgeously-designed space, which helps to illustrate the mysterious beauty of death.

Magnolia Cemetery was first constructed in 1850 and lies close to the Cooper River.

Although it’s a very solemn space, the artistic decor brightens it up.

If you’re a Civil War buff, you should see the area where many Confederate soldiers were laid to rest.

Going to Magnolia Cemetery can be both a sightseeing experience as well as a poignant lesson on the preciousness of life.

It’s what to see for anyone who cares about uncovering knowledge about the past.

Magnolia Cemetery is open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: 70 Cunnington Ave, Charleston, SC 29405, USA

Exploring other parts of South Carolina? Why not check out some of the fun things to do in Beaufort, SC ?

21. The Dewberry

The Dewberry

Constructed in the 1960s, The Dewberry is a more recent but no less impressive example of a historic building in Charleston.

Another prestigious hotel, The Dewberry offers guest amenities that can make them feel so very cared for.

For fun and luxury, come to The Dewberry.

The rooms at The Dewberry are set up with comfort in mind.

Every room is furnished with your own bathrobe and slippers and beds fitted with lush Irish linens.

Rooms you can choose include Charleston Flats, One-Bedroom Suites, and Grand Kings.

Going to sleep at night and waking up in the morning are both great when you’re staying at The Dewberry.

If you want your Charleston experience to be one you always hold dear, you should book a room here.

Should you be looking to honeymoon in Charleston and want to find the right hotel, The Dewberry should definitely be in consideration.

Address:  334 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States

22. Calhoun Mansion

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Seeing historic residences like the Calhoun Mansion is one of the coolest parts of touring any city.

This is the biggest personal residence in all of Charleston.

With 35-rooms, Calhoun Mansion is a seriously impressive piece of Charleston history.

This mansion was first constructed in 1876 by the influential George Walton Williams.

Although it was once of the most cherished buildings in the south, it underwent serious decay.

However, a multi-million dollar restoration process was able to give it the dignity it deserved.

Exploring the halls and rooms of Calhoun Mansion is one of the greatest sources of entertainment in all of Charleston.

It’s open every day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is $17 for scheduled tours, except for children age 11 and younger, who get in for free.

Address:  16 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States

23. Upper King Design District

Kristi Blokhin / Shutterstock

The Upper King Design District is one of the most fun neighborhoods in Charleston.

The attractions here are quite lovely, with many great shops and places to eat.

At night and in the daytime, the Upper King Design District offers visitors lots of plusses.

Businesses in this district are seriously posh.

A date night through the Upper King District lets you act like a celebrity for an evening.

You can witness thoughtful artwork at The Southern Gallery, get some food at The Macintosh, and end your evening with a drink at Palmetto Brewing Co.

If you’re ever in or near Charleston and want to find a place that rewards a cultured mindset, you should come to the Upper King Design District.

You can scoop up items that would be absolutely perfect for your home or for a loved one.

All the while, you can have lots of fun just exploring the grounds.

Address:  387 King St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States

24. Croghan’s Jewel Box

Croghan’s Jewel Box

A fine piece of jewelry can take an outfit from great to stunning, and Croghan’s Jewel Box is the place to be for finding this finishing touch.

Located on King Street, this jewelry shop has been around for more than 100 years.

As you browse the various items, you’ll understand why it’s become such a hallowed part of Charleston.

Since being founded by William Joseph Croghan, Croghan’s Jewel Box has gotten bigger in both store size and legacy.

The items here are the real deal, both in terms of composition and how pleasing the aesthetics are.

You can collect things made of gold, diamond, and ruby.

Jewels are a go-to analogy for when something is beautiful and unique, and Croghan’s Jewel Box shows you why.

This is a marvelous store for marvelous people to find marvelous things.

Croghan’s Jewel Box is open from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address:  308 King St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States

25. The Ordinary

The Ordinary

If there was ever a restaurant that could be accused of false modesty, it’s The Ordinary .

This is one of the best places to enjoy seafood in Charleston today.

Catch a table at The Ordinary and get ready to have a sublime meal.

When you come into The Ordinary, you should be impressed by the impossibly-high ceilings and its gorgeous oyster bar.

The menu is also broken down into cold dishes, such as pickled roe shrimp, and hot ones, such as Caribbean fish stew.

If you’re feeling extra fancy, you can order caviar service.

The Ordinary is one of the best places to visit at night in Charleston for a great meal.

You can have a lot of fun sampling all of the different items and perhaps trying seafood you’ve never had before.

This restaurant is open from Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Address:  544 King St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States

26. Poe’s Tavern

Wilmington and Beaches CVB / flickr

You might not think of Edgar Allan Poe when you consider famous Charleston residents.

However, the legendary poet was once a poet living on Sullivan’s Island.

Today, the island honors his legacy with Poe’s Tavern , a great place to have a drink and a hearty bite to eat.

Poe’s Tavern has the kind of menu that might cause you to forget your diet momentarily.

Perhaps the biggest attraction are the Angus Chuck burgers, which tip the scales at half-a-pound.

Some items have playful Poe-inspired names such as “Annabel Lee” and “Pit & Pendulum.”

Other treats include fish tacos and quesadillas.

If you’re a fan of “The Raven” who’s craving some excellent food and drink, you should come to Poe’s Tavern.

Poe himself would hopefully feel touched that his name had been attributed to such a good restaurant.

Poe’s Tavern is open from Monday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Address:  2210 Middle St, Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482, United States

27. Drayton Hall

Karel Tatransky / Shutterstock

Another remarkable plantation to tour is Drayton Hall .

Situated in Charleston’s “Low Country,” Drayton Hall endured through wars to become one of the most monumental pieces of Charleston history.

There’s also the Palladian design of the house, a style that still holds up as a piece of architectural beauty.

Constructed in the first half of the 18th century, Drayton Hall counts itself as the lone survivor of plantation homes that made it through the American Revolution as well as the American Civil War.

The home has been kept in very good condition, and the surrounding landscape has retained its lushness.

Tours cover all sorts of important parts of history, from wartime to the African American experience.

Drayton Hall has unquestionably earned its status as a National Historic Landmark.

It’s open from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Admission is $32 for adults and $15 for youths, ages eight to 14.

Address:  3380 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414, United States

28. John’s Island

Serge Skiba / Shutterstock

John’s Island is a more rustic island, but it’s still a very beautiful part of the Charleston area.

The state’s biggest island, as well as one of the five biggest ones on the entire east coast, going to John’s Island can be like having a vacation getaway inside your vacation getaway.

If there’s one particular thing that you have to see at John’s Island, it’s Angel Oak.

This tree is centuries old and has withstood all sorts of natural disasters.

Although one hurricane in the 1980s caused some harm, Angel Oak has been able to persist.

John’s Island can be seen as an all-important finishing touch that makes Charleston complete.

You might come for Angel Oak but you may also stay far longer based on how splendorous it all is.

This is a slice of paradise that keeps on giving.

29. The Spectator Hotel

The Spectator Hotel

The hotel industry in this city can feel like its primary focus is to show just how many great accommodations one city can have.

The Spectator Hotel could be very well called “The Spectacular Hotel,” as that’s exactly how it makes guests feel.

If you want to feel total bliss at a temporary residence, stay at The Spectator Hotel.

Have you ever fantasized about having a butler?

The Spectator Hotel provides you with one.

The old-timey feel is felt further when you step into the bar, which might be better called a “speakeasy,” given how well it recalls Prohibition-era drinking establishments.

The Spectator Hotel provides you with fun and pleasure in maximum dosages.

It shows how classiness is a trait that never goes out of style.

The only drawback to staying at The Spectator is having to get back to your comparatively-less glamorous everyday life.

Address:  67 State St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States

30. The Schooner Pride

Schooner Pride

There’s too much water around you to not go out on at least one boat outing.

The Schooner Pride is a magnificent sailing vessel that can fit many people.

You’ll see just how important Charleston’s sailing legacy is when you embark on a voyage on The Schooner Pride.

A maximum of 49 people at a time can board The Schooner Pride, which starts proudly at 84-feet tall.

With its many masts, it looks like a sailboat you might’ve seen in dreams or storybooks.

For two hours, you can put other concerns aside and just embrace the ebb and flow of the water.

Any moment can be made even more special by being in the right setting.

The Schooner Pride brings out the magic in your South Carolina vacation all the more.

Prices for sails on the Schooner Pride vary based on experience.

Address:  360 Concord St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States

Start Planning Your Trip To Charleston

Charleston’s not just a fun southern city.

It’s one of the most historically important cities in the entire country.

It is full of beautiful natural attractions, high-society living arrangements, and tons of awesome food.

If you want to see just how excellent South Carolina is, spend some time in its capital.

19 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Charleston, SC

Written by Becca Blond and Barbara Radcliffe Rogers Updated Dec 28, 2023

There is something about Charleston's charm that never gets old and keeps travelers returning year after year. With its walkable downtown, a legacy dating back to the 1700s, and easy-on-the-eyes architecture, this Southern port city is like no other place in America.

The Holy City is the kind of place where old and new intersect. You can spend a morning learning about the city's complicated history on a horse-drawn carriage ride and an evening staying very much in the present with a meal at one of its buzzy, innovative restaurants showcasing the best of Lowcountry cuisine. You'll find endless things to do here.

Make sure to pack some good walking shoes to see the attractions, because you'll want to explore as much of Charleston as possible on foot. Take a walk down centuries-old cobblestone streets in the historic district with its church towers and veranda-fronted homes. Stop to peek into Spanish moss-covered gardens in the alleys behind the graceful old mansions lining its waterfront around The Battery.

Or head to one of the many barrier islands just offshore to walk in the sand and play in the sea.

The city is also home to the oldest landscaped gardens in the U.S. and a few excellent museums. Check out our guide to learn more about Charleston's top attractions.

Middleton Place

Waterfront park, international african american museum, magnolia plantation & gardens, watch basket weavers at the old city market, take a boat to fort sumter national monument, uss yorktown and patriots point, stroll through the battery and white point gardens, see angel oak and johns island, south carolina aquarium, bike across the ravenel bridge, boone hall plantation, the charleston museum, drayton hall, old slave mart museum, nathaniel russell house and aiken-rhett house, cathedral of st. john the baptist and historic churches, calhoun mansion, tour historic homes at the festival of houses and gardens, map of attractions & things to do in charleston, sc, charleston - climate chart.

Home to America's oldest landscaped gardens, Middleton Place is a National Historic Landmark that began in 1675 as a rice plantation. Once the home of the Middleton family, whose lineage included two of the country's Founding Fathers, today it is a living history museum.

It tells its complicated, often dark story, which included the generations of enslaved labor, in a truthful manner. The Beyond the Fields: Enslavement at Middleton Place documentary is shown three times daily and recognizes the stories of "brutality, survival, contribution, and perseverance" of the people enslaved here.

Visitors can also tour the 1755 Middleton family home , where you'll see large garden rooms, rare books, porcelain, and family portraits. As well as paying a visit to the Stableyards, where you'll meet the heritage breed livestock.

The gardens are the real treat, however. Covering some 65 acres, they feature a magnificent series of descending terraces, hedged galleries, and pools, the grounds show off their symmetrical 17th-century European design. The gardens bloom year-round with rare camellias in the winter and azaleas in the spring. Walking tours of the gardens are included with admission and offered daily at the top of the hour between 10am and 3pm.

Look for Middleton Place on the Ashley River, about 15 miles north of downtown Charleston.

Official site: https://www.middletonplace.org

A place where tourists and locals gather to relax and enjoy the views of Charleston Harbor, the 12-acre Waterfront Park stretches along more than 1,000 feet of waterfront. Old-fashioned park benches and double swings face the water, where sailboats and larger ships are common sights.

Fountains, including the unusual Pineapple Fountain , are lighted at night, and seasonal flower gardens add splashes of color. The park's central location near the City Market and historic sights, along with its free Wi-Fi, make it even more popular.

Address: 1 Vendue, Charleston, South Carolina

After 20-years of planning and $100 million in costs, the International African American Museum (IAAM) opened in Gadsen's Wharf and brings Charleston's role in the slave trade to the forefront.

The museum's location is significant because Gadsen's Wharf was the U.S. entry point for more than 40 percent of captive Africans sold into slavery at auctions here beginning in 1783. In fact, it is believed that more than 80 percent of African Americans, including Michelle Obama, can trace one or more ancestors back to Charleston.

The museum's mission is to document the journey captive Africans were forced to take from the 1700s onward. The exhibitions in the nine galleries tell the unvarnished story of the brutality these enslaved people, and their descendants, endured from a local, national, and international perspective. It also has a Center for Family History that will serve as a first-of-its-kind resource for the study and advancement of African American genealogy.

The International African American Museum's site choice and building financial investment is one of several ways Charleston is owning up to the role it played in enslaving humans after years of downplaying it. The first came in 2015 when the Confederate flag was finally removed from the South Carolina State House. The city council also formally apologized for Charleston's role in slavery in 2018.

Official site: https://iaamuseum.org/

It's not just garden lovers who will be enchanted by the year-round beauty of Magnolia Plantation's extensive gardens. These are America's oldest publicly accessed gardens, first opened to visitors in 1870, although portions of them date to two centuries earlier. They are also the nation's last large-scale Romantic-style garden, in contrast to most show gardens where nature is controlled and shaped by formal beds, paths, and landscaping.

Nurtured by generation after generation of the same family, the gardens have grown as each subsequent owner added new features. You can take a guided tour of the house, visit an Antebellum cabin, take a boat tour, see exhibits, and take younger visitors to a nature center and petting zoo.

Address: 3550 Ashley River Road, Charleston, South Carolina

Official site: www.magnoliaplantation.com

One of the most popular things to do in Charleston is to browse through the old market building, a prominent landmark in the historic district. Lively and colorful, it is a good place for souvenir shopping and just absorbing the local atmosphere.

Vendors sell locally made handcrafts and traditional food products like stone-ground grits, but the prime souvenirs of Charleston are the beautiful sweetgrass baskets. As tourists watch fascinated, Gullah artisans in the open-air "sheds" alongside the market hall weave these intricate works of art from native Lowcountry rushes, creating treasures that are among the country's oldest and most highly prized traditional crafts. The techniques and patterns originated in West Africa, and these baskets are the quintessential souvenir of Charleston.

Built in 1841 in the Greek Revival style, the red sandstone building with green ironwork trim, along with its sheds, are among the more than 100 sites in the city listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Location: Between North and South Market streets

Official site: https://www.thecharlestoncitymarket.com

The American Civil War began on April 12, 1861, at Fort Sumter, when the Confederacy pummeled the federal fort in Charleston Harbor. At the end of the war, the American flag was once again raised over the remains of Fort Sumpter, exactly four years after the attack.

The ruins of the battered fort are well preserved, and National Park Rangers tell the story of Fort Sumter and how it helped shape history.

Visitors must ride to the island by boat, from the Visitor Education Center downtown at Liberty Square or from Patriots Point, a good chance to view the city from the water.

Official site: www.nps.gov/fosu/index.htm

Just across Charleston Harbor from the Historic District is Patriots Point, where you can board the USS Yorktown . This immense vessel was the tenth aircraft carrier to serve in the United States Navy, receiving the Presidential Unit Citation and earning 11 battle stars for service in World War II, as well as five battle stars for service in Vietnam.

The USS Yorktown was also the vessel selected to recover the Apollo 8 astronauts, and even made a film debut in the 1944 documentary The Fighting Lady. The USS Yorktown was retired to Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in 1975. While at Patriots Point, you can also tour aircraft, submarines, and other maritime exhibits.

Address: 40 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Official site: www.patriotspoint.org

The promenade along the seawall washed by the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, as they meet and form Charleston Harbor, became a public garden in 1837 but was fortified as Battery Ramsey when the Civil War began.

Historic mortars and cannons from that war, as well as a Confederate monument, are displayed here, but the main reason the park is a favorite place for tourists to stroll is that it is bordered by some of Charleston's grandest stately homes and mansions, and offers a spectacular view of Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor.

Address: Murray Blvd, Charleston, South Carolina

Paying a visit to Angel Oak on Johns Island is well worth the pretty 20-minute drive from downtown. This magical tree is thought to be one of the oldest living oak trees east of the Mississippi. It is 65 feet tall, 25.5 feet wide, and provides shade to more than 17,2000 square feet.

The tree is thought to be between 300 and 400 years old . It is preserved by the city as a historical site and sees about 400,000 visitors each year.

There is more than just Angel Oak to see on Johns Island. The largest island in South Carolina , it has an undeveloped, still wild vibe throughout. The island is home to numerous live oak trees and draped in Spanish moss that will have you stopping to take pictures at every turn.

If the season is right, rent a kayak, SUP, or charter a small fishing boat to explore the salt marshes and rivers here. It's a wonderfully relaxing way to spend a morning or afternoon and birdwatchers will rejoice at the number of species that can be spotted.

Johns Island is also a jumping-off point on the way to two of the region's most popular barrier island beaches on Kiawah and Folly Islands.

Folly Beach can get very crowded on hot summer days, and parking can be difficult, but the beach is one of the best around. Drive away from the central part of the beach on E. Arctic Ave., however, and you'll find fewer people and better parking.

Kiawah Island also has beautiful beaches and excellent golf.

One of the most popular things to do for families in Charleston is the South Carolina Aquarium. Despite its name, it isn't just home to underwater creatures. Birds, land-dwelling mammals, plants, and reptiles join the sea inhabitants in every kid's favorite Charleston attraction.

The emphasis is on participation, so in addition to the two-story, 385,000-gallon aquarium tank, where there are daily interactive shows, you'll find Shark Shallows, where you can touch sharks and rays, and a touch tank with starfish and other creatures.

To get a feel for the behind-the-scenes animal care, visitors can tour the aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital - South Carolina's only hospital for sick and injured sea turtles. The aquarium's best-loved resident is Caretta, a 220-pound loggerhead sea turtle that lives in the Great Ocean Tank.

Official site: http://scaquarium.org

The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge across the Cooper River, joining downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant, became a well-loved landmark immediately upon its completion in 2005. Its sleek cable-stay design is more than just a pretty bridge: it is built to withstand winds in excess of 300 miles per hour and a 7.4-scale earthquake, and even to prevent collisions with ships.

Along with its multiple traffic lanes, the bridge includes a shared bicycle-pedestrian path named Wonders' Way, and walking or biking across it is a favorite activity for its sweeping views of Charleston.

One of America's oldest working plantations, the 1681 Boone Hall is best known for its moss-draped, three-quarter-mile Avenue of Oaks and for preserving original cabins of enslaved people. The highly photogenic trees that frame the approach to Boone Hall were planted in 1743 by the son of Major John Boone, the original owner.

Crops have been continuously grown here for more than three centuries, and you can buy fruits, berries, and vegetables at their Boone Hall Farms Market, close to the plantation on Hwy. 17.

Address: 1235 Long Point Road, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Official site: www.boonehallplantation.com/

Known as "America's First Museum," The Charleston Museum was founded in 1773 under the Charleston Library Society. Its collections are vast, arranged in a number of permanent exhibits that begin with Native Americans and early settlers in the Lowcountry History Hall , where you can see rare slave badges and early tools used in rice growing.

Exhibit areas illustrate early weaponry, life during the Revolution, and Charleston's role in the Civil War. The Early Days gallery displays the often-quirky collections of 19th-century world travelers, including an Egyptian mummy and case and Greek and Roman antiquities.

The Loeblein Gallery of Charleston Silver shows southern-made silver through the Victorian era (including George Washington's christening cup), and the Historic Textiles Gallery shows changing examples from the museum's outstanding collection of historic needlework, costumes, and textiles. Kidstory brings the history of Charleston and the Lowcountry to life in hands-on exhibits.

Address: 360 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina

Official site: www.charlestonmuseum.org

The elegant Drayton Hall is the oldest unrestored plantation house in America still open to the public. Similar to other local plantations, Drayton Hall offers guided house tours, but where it differs is that the house itself (its walls, floors, and fireplaces) remains virtually undisturbed, giving a rare glimpse into the past.

Dating from 1738, Drayton Hall Plantation was one of the few to survive the Civil War intact. Its interiors still feature ornamental details and original 18th-century craftsmanship. Other personal touches also remain, including as a children's growth chart dating back more than 300 years.

Drayton Hall also acknowledges the role it played in the larger history of the American South, including its abuse of enslaved people. The plantation's African-American cemetery, dating from about 1790, is among the oldest African-American cemeteries in the nation still in use.

Many travelers chose to combine a visit to Drayton Hall and Middleton Place . And you can purchase a joint entry ticket on Drayton Hall's website.

Official site: http://www.draytonhall.org

In the heart of the French Quarter, near the French Huguenot Church, the Old Slave Mart Museum is set inside the building where enslaved people were auctioned prior to the Civil War and is a somber, but important part of a Charleston trip focusing on history.

The tour is self-guided, with signage explaining the history. There are also personal accounts from enslaved individuals, artifacts, and audio and visual exhibits. It is a small but deeply affecting museum that gives a sobering view of history.

A block away is the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon , where costumed guides relate a history of pirates and patriots who were once imprisoned here.

Address: 6 Chalmers Street, Charleston, South Carolina

Official site: http://www.oldslavemartmuseum.com

After walking past so many aristocratic mansions with their verandahs and imposing facades, you'll certainly be curious to look inside. A number are open as house museums, some furnished and decorated as they were in their heyday, and all giving a glimpse of upper-crust life in old Charleston.

Two of these are maintained by the Historic Charleston Foundation. The 1808 Nathaniel Russell House , at 51 Meeting Street, is among America's most important Neoclassical homes, known for its free-standing, three-story staircase and its ornate plasterwork. It is furnished with part of the organization's valuable collection of fine and decorative art, and is also especially known for its beautiful gardens.

Another notable Foundation property is the Aiken-Rhett House , at 48 Elizabeth Street. The 1820 home is unique in having remained in the same family for 142 years until it became a museum.

Official site: https://www.historiccharleston.org

Remarkable historic churches are scattered throughout Charleston, and each has a story to tell. Among the city's most interesting is the brownstone Cathedral of St. John the Baptist , a neo-Gothic structure built to replace the previous cathedral, which was lost in the devastating 1861 fire that destroyed much of the city. The pews are carved from Flemish oak, and the three original altars are made of white marble. It has some notable stained glass windows as well.

Among Charleston's other interesting churches are the Romanesque-style Circular Congregational Church , with colonial burial grounds dating from 1695, and the French Huguenot Church , home to the oldest continuously active Huguenot congregation in the United States.

St. Michael's Episcopal Church , a National Historic Landmark, dates to 1751 and is known for its four stained glass windows by Tiffany Company of New York and for the cedar pew where George Washington sat in 1791.

Address: 120 Broad Street, Charleston, South Carolina

Official site: https://charlestoncathedral.com

Representing a different era from the Historic Charleston Foundation's antebellum homes, the 1876 Italianate Calhoun Mansion is a prime example of Gilded Age décor and taste. Some of its 30 main rooms have Tiffany decorations, and they are filled (some might say overfilled, but that was the taste of the times) with outstanding collections of decorative arts of the late 19th-century era.

The ballroom has a 45-foot-high ceiling, and behind the mansion, you can stroll through the formal English gardens.

Address: 16 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina

Official site: www.calhounmansion.net/

Organized by the Historic Charleston Foundation, the Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens features tours and educational programs specifically geared toward architectural and gardening enthusiasts.

Held during the peak of the blooming season, the Festival offers guests the rare chance to see inside the city's private homes and gardens. Approximately 150 of America's most distinctive historic houses, spread throughout 12 colonial and antebellum neighborhoods, are open to tour.

Official site: www.historiccharleston.org/Events/Annual-Festival-of-Houses-and-Gardens.aspx

More on South Carolina

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The 15 best charleston tours of 2024.

See everything this historic South Carolina city has to offer on one of these guided excursions.

The Best Charleston Tours

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History and culture lovers will relish a trip to Charleston, South Carolina, for its variety of historic churches, forts and mansions that rank as Charleston's most popular attractions . Or, perhaps you're most interested in its cuisine or the sea creatures that populate its waterways. Either way, these tours – identified by U.S. News using both expert opinion and traveler sentiment – offer just what you need for a fulfilling visit to the Holy City.

Editor’s Pick: Old South Carriage Company – Historic Charleston Carriage Tour

Price: Adults from $50; kids from $40 Duration: 1 hour

U.S. News independently paid to send Lauren Mowery , a Charleston resident and travel expert, on this tour to provide readers with an unbiased, first-hand perspective of what to expect. Old South Carriage Company – Historic Charleston Carriage Tour was selected by our team as an Editor’s Pick thanks to its popularity and favorable user reviews.

This horse-drawn carriage ride through Charleston’s historic neighborhoods takes you out of the French Quarter and into the city’s singular world of cobblestone streets, stately homes and lush gardens. Our characterful guide, full of interesting nuggets about the city’s history, delivered facts with a levity and enthusiasm that made learning fun. For example, he pointed out a common feature on building facades: earthquake bolts. Installed after the disastrous quake of 1886, the bolts now serve both form and function. To limit traffic on narrow streets, the city of Charleston dictates routes by lottery as the carriages exit the gate. While you can’t choose the tour route, you could book four times for potentially four different experiences. On our ride, we clip-clopped past churches, along streets perfumed with blooming jasmine and finished with "Southern Charm" star Ms. Patricia’s Greek Revival mansion.

Tours run daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., departing every 15 to 30 minutes. Extreme heat and rain, however, can affect operation times, so call to confirm. The company has a generous cancellation policy, while also making it easy to switch times and dates without penalty. In fact, many guests walk up and book the next available ride, then stroll the neighborhood while they wait. Carriages fit 16 passengers with four per row. Private rows or a private tour can be booked.

Tip: If driving to your tour, avoid parking in the immediate vicinity of the stables. A known tourist spot, parking rates are inflated two to three times above areas a few short blocks away. Look for meters instead of garages and lots.

Lauren Mowery

Why we love it:

• Beyond history and architectural details, the guide pointed out a sandwich shop called Circe’s Grotto . We visited after the tour and now it’s our new favorite spot. 
• The guide stayed patient and engaged with a tired toddler on our tour. He made jokes so the mom felt welcome, and when the child’s doll dropped in the street, he found a local "hero" to retrieve it.
• Old South Carriage Company understands guest concerns over animal welfare. The guide assured us the horses lead safe, healthy lives, proffering details on their home, a 65-acre pasture, and the extra precautions taken in the hot summer months. 

– Lauren Mowery

Check prices & availability on:

Palmetto Carriage Works – Daytime Group Carriage Ride – Charleston Residential District

This tour with Palmetto Carriage Works focuses on the residential district of downtown Charleston. During the ride, the horse-drawn carriage winds through 25 to 30 city blocks, passing houses, mansions, parks and gardens, while the driver shares information regarding architecture, the landscape and regional history. Patrons consistently laud the guides for their knowledge, friendliness and good humor. They also appreciate how well the company cares for its horses. Palmetto Carriage offers a variety of "add-ons," such as a plantation tour at Middleton Place or a harbor boat tour.

Daytime tours leave every 30 minutes between 9 a.m. and 4 or 5 p.m., depending on the month. Carriages hold up to 16 people; children younger than 4 may ride as a lap child for free. The company also offers evening carriage tours.

Two Sisters Tours

Price: From $25 Duration: 2 hours

Take the name of the Two Sisters Tours literally: sisters, who are seventh-generation Charleston natives, lead every tour. Along the 2.5-mile walking tour, you'll traverse 18 city blocks and visit St. Michael's Church, the Battery and various centuries-old houses, among other attractions. The sibling guides earn effusive praise for the historical information and colorful anecdotes they share with travelers.

Groups are limited to 20 participants. Tours are available Monday through Saturday at 10:30 a.m. An additional 2 p.m. tour may be offered, depending on the month.

Adventure Harbor Tours – Morris Island Boat Tour

Price: Adults from $59; kids from $36 Duration: 3 hours

To reach the uninhabited Morris Island, hop on this boat tour offered by Adventure Harbor Tours. After setting sail from the Charleston Harbor, you'll head to Morris Island where you'll have 90 minutes to explore. You can roam the island on your own for a self-guided visit, or heed the advice of previous tourgoers and follow your guide to learn more about the island's ecology, animals and tidal mechanics. Your guide will also help you spot interesting shells and shark teeth that you can take home with you – a particular highlight for reviewers.

Due to unpredictable tidal conditions, tour times and daily availability may vary. You can see the various departure times when booking. Adventure Harbor Tours also offers private charters, as well as sunset cruises.

Courtesy of Lowcountry Walking Tours

Lowcountry Walking Tours – Charleston's Alleys and Hidden Passages

Price: From $30 Duration: 2 hours

Go behind the scenes, as it were, with Charleston's Hidden Alleys and Passages tour. You'll explore unique cobblestone and brick pathways that are largely inaccessible by car and often overlooked. Tour guides consistently receive fulsome praise for their insight and enthusiasm. Even Charleston residents report they learned something new about their hometown and its history. Plus, since the tour takes place mostly in the shade, reviewers say the stroll offers a nice reprieve from the city's sweltering heat.

Outings depart from the Old Exchange Building daily at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Lowcountry Walking Tours also leads a Historic Downtown Tour, among others.

Charleston Outdoor Adventures – Dolphin Eco Tour

Price: Adults from $50; kids from $32 Duration: 1.5 hours

If you hope to see dolphins in their natural habitat, then Charleston Outdoor Adventures has a tour for you. Its Dolphin Eco Tour takes visitors over the creeks, inlets and marshes near Folly Beach , where approximately 300 wild Atlantic bottlenose dolphins reside. During the boat rides, the captain imparts information regarding the local environment, wildlife and history. Reviewers frequently report learning quite a bit about dolphins and Charleston's ecosystem.

Tours depart several times daily (including around sunset on select days). Charleston Outdoor Adventures also offers a Morris Island Lighthouse boat tour and several kayak tours.

Charleston Harbor Tours – Historic Charleston Harbor Tour

Price: Adults from $45; kids from $27 Duration: 1.5 hours

This boat tour offers views of many of the city's popular landmarks, including forts Sumter , Moultrie and Johnson, St. Michael's Church and the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. During the sightseeing ride aboard the Carolina Belle, the captain provides commentary on the various sights and Charleston's history, which reviewers find informative and entertaining. Plus, many report seeing dolphins during the ride.

Charleston Harbor Tours depart several times daily; exact times vary by season. Food and beverages are available for purchase on board. Charleston Harbor Tours also offers sunset cruises.

Charleston Culinary Tours – Downtown Charleston Culinary Tour

Price: From $95 Duration: 2.5 hours

The Downtown Charleston Culinary Tour focuses on the city's historic French Quarter and City Market, and includes visits to a handful of local restaurants. Samples during the walking tour may include classic Southern fare like pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, or shrimp and grits. Guides share their knowledge of regional food and Charleston history along the way. Reviewers enthusiastically describe guides as equally entertaining and informative. Travelers also praise the food, calling it delicious.

Tours are offered daily at a variety of times. Specific restaurants visited and meeting points vary by tour time. Tickets include all food and nonalcoholic beverage tastings. Charleston Culinary Tours also offers a pub tour, as well as a food tour of Upper King Street, among other options.

Courtesy of Coastal Expeditions

Coastal Expeditions – Shem Creek Kayak Tour

Price: Adults from $58; kids from $48 Duration: 3 hours

Coastal Expeditions' Shem Creek Kayak Tour, which travels its namesake waterway into Charleston Harbor, affords views of Castle Pinckney, the Charleston Peninsula, Fort Sumter and the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. Along the trip, you may also spot creek residents like pelicans, dolphins, manatees and sea turtles. The company's guides and staff regularly receive high marks for their friendliness, helpfulness and professionalism.

Tickets include use of all necessary gear (including a kayak and paddle). Tours typically depart Tuesday through Sunday at 9 a.m. from Shem Creek, just across the Cooper River in Mount Pleasant. (Offerings may vary by month.) Coastal Expeditions also offers kayak tours to Isle of Palms , along with boat and paddleboard excursions.

Walks of Charleston – Charleston History Tour

Price: Adults from $25; kids from $18 Duration: 2 hours

The Charleston History Tour promises to take visitors to some of Charleston's most significant structures. While the walking routes may vary, sites typically include St. Michael's Church, St. Philip's Church and the Battery. Patrons say guides have wonderful historical insight, humor and storytelling abilities. Reviewers also say this tour is especially suited to first-time visitors to Charleston, as it passes by top sights and features a broad overview of the city's history.

Tours run from city hall multiple times daily, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Children 6 and younger can tour for free. Walks of Charleston also conducts tours of the city's alleyways and also offers private excursions.

Carolina Polo & Carriage Co. – Group Carriage Tours

Price: Adults from $45; kids from $35 Duration: 1 hour

Carolina Polo & Carriage Co.'s group tours show visitors the historic streets and structures of downtown Charleston. Guides offer information regarding the various gardens, homes, parks and churches on display. Routes vary, but specific attractions may include the Battery, the Edmondston-Alston House , the Old Exchange building and the Nathaniel Russell House Museum . Patrons say guides are informative and entertaining.

Horse-drawn carriages, which carry a maximum of 16 riders, depart from the Charleston City Market every 30 minutes or so between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Planning a special outing? The company also offers private tours.

Courtesy of Tour Charleston at Buxton Books

Buxton Books – The Ghosts of Charleston Tour

Price: From $35 Duration: 1.5 hours

The Ghosts of Charleston Tour walks through the Unitarian Church graveyard. On the outing, guides recount tales from "The Ghosts of Charleston" book, written by the company's founder, Julian T. Buxton III. No two tours are alike, as guides change up the stories shared during each experience. The storytellers receive accolades for being both entertaining and informative.

Tours depart nightly at 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Participants interested in Charleston's Black history will also want to check out the company's The Lost Stories of Black Charleston Tour.

Bulldog Tours – Savor the Flavors of Charleston Tour

The Savor the Flavors of Charleston Tour takes up to 12 foodies to various bakeries, markets and eateries to sample local Lowcountry fare like collard greens, fried green tomatoes, grits and sweet tea. In total, you'll visit three restaurants and two specialty shops. Tourgoers appreciate the quality and quantity of food. They advise future participants to eat light (if at all) before the excursion to take full advantage of the food on the tour.

Tours are offered at multiple times between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily. Tickets cover all tastings and must be reserved in advance. Alcoholic drinks can be purchased separately at some stops. Bulldog Tours also offers food tours through Upper King Street, as well as ghost tours.

SpiritLine Cruises – Charleston Harbor Tour

Price: Adults from $39; kids from $25 Duration: 1.5 hours

The Charleston Harbor Tour directs tour-takers' attention to some of the city's significant historical landmarks, including the Battery, Castle Pinckney, the USS Yorktown and more. As you glide through the harbor, your onboard guide will share details of Charleston's history and former residents. Patrons generally praise the guides for their knowledge and humor. Many also reported spotting dolphins during the cruise. What's more, snacks and beer are available for purchase on board.

Cruises depart from two sites multiple times daily (except in the winter). Children 3 and younger ride for free. SpiritLine also offers dinner cruises.

Charleston Footprints Walking Tours

Price: From $28.50 Duration: 2 hours

Charleston Footprints Walking Tours spotlight many of the city's unique characteristics, including its old churches, graveyards, parks and gardens, wrought iron gates, distinctive architecture, cobblestone streets and alleys. Among the specific destinations on these 18-block walks are the French Quarter, the Charleston harbor and the Battery. Tours are led by licensed guides, who receive praise from recent travelers for their extensive knowledge of Charleston's art, history, architecture, nature and more.

Tours are available daily in the morning and afternoon. Exact times vary by month, but in general, morning tours take place at 9:30 or 10 a.m. and afternoon tours take place at 2:30 p.m. Reservations are required.

You may also be interested in:

• The Best Charleston Ghost Tours
• The Best Charleston Walking Tours
• The Best Hotels in Charleston
• The Best Weekend Getaways in the South
• The Best Cheap Weekend Getaways in the U.S.

Tags: Tours , Travel , Vacations , Charleston, South Carolina , South Carolina Vacations , Southeast Vacations , US Vacations

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Charleston SC Walking Tours

Explore Charleston's most comprehensive historic tours.

Choose your Charleston History Tour here!

Michael Trouche

Our founder

WALKING TOURS OF HISTORIC CHARLESTON, SC

Continuing the legacy of our founder, michael trouche, our staff of 4 professional and certified charleston tour guides have 90 years combined experience in the industry..

Discover the charm and character of Charleston, America's most historic city, with acclaimed tour guides whose knowledge of Charleston Traditions, heralded events, architecture and cultural heritage is unsurpassed.

Historic Fort Sumter Tours & Boat Cruises

Explore a National Historical Park!

Book Your Tour

Explore. Discover. Learn.

Fort Sumter is where the bloodiest war in the history of the United States began. It’s a must-see attraction for anyone visiting Charleston, South Carolina. Fort Sumter Tours is the authorized concessioner offering the only boat service to and from Fort Sumter that actually docks at the Fort.

Walk Where the Civil War Started

Your $37  Adventure Includes

Tour Fort Sumter

Stand where America’s deadliest war began. The first shots of the Civil War were fired upon Fort Sumter.

Learn How the War Began

Explore the exhibits at the Fort Sumter Visitor Center to understand how the Civil War started.

Package your Fort Sumter tour with other historic sites and tours for a greater understanding of our nations's history.

Explore All

The Fort Sumter Experience Then and Now

Board your tour boat from either downtown Charleston or Mount Pleasant and get ready for a scenic ride through the historic harbor. Soak up the Southern sights. Marvel at the landmarks.

Then, arrive at Fort Sumter for a self-guided tour covering one of the most pivotal times in American history. After exploring this national park, you’ll go home changed. You walked the grounds and read the accounts of those who played a role in the Civil War, the most divisive conflict in American history.

See Even More On Your Charleston Vacation

Maximize your time in Charleston and learn even more about our city’s rich history. Join with our trusted partners for additional tours and attractions.

Save money when you combine tours and book these exclusive offers online!

USS Yorktown & Fort Sumter Tour

Tour Fort Sumter and walk in the footsteps of heroes.

Charleston Strolls & Fort Sumter Tour

Tour Fort Sumter and book a two-hour walking tour of downtown Charleston.

Gray Line City Tour & Fort Sumter Tour

Tour Fort Sumter and then get a citywide tour from the comfort of a climate-controlled bus.

Boone Hall Plantation & Fort Sumter Tour

Tour Fort Sumter and experience 300 years of plantation history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Departure Time?

Cancellation Policy?

How Long Does The Tour Last?

Where Are The Departure Points?

Where Can I Buy a Ticket?

Accessibility

Liberty square – downtown charleston.

• Jan 2 – Feb 29 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
• Mar 1 – Mar 22 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
• Mar 23 – April 7 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:30 & 4:15 p.m.
• April 8 – May 23 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. & 2:30.
• May 24 – May 26 9:00 a.m.,12:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m. & 4:15 p.m.
• May 27 – July 3 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
• July 4 – July 7 9:00 a.m.,12:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m. & 4:15 p.m.
• July 8 – Aug 29 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
• Aug 30 – Sept 1 9:00 a.m.,12:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m. & 4:15 p.m.
• Sept 2 – Nov 30 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
• Dec 1 – Dec 24 11:00 am & 2:00 p.m.
• Dec 26 – Dec 31 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
• Thanksgiving, Dec 25 & Jan 1 No Tours Available

Patriots Point – Mt. Pleasant

• Jan 2 – Feb 29 12:30 p.m.
• Mar 1 – Mar 22 10:30 a.m. & 1:15 p.m.
• Mar 23 – April 7  10:30 am, 1:15 p.m. & 3:45 p.m.
• April 8 – May 23 10:30 a.m. & 1:15 p.m.
• May 24 – May 26 10:30 am, 1:15 p.m. & 3:45 p.m.
• May 27 – July 3 10:30 a.m. & 1:15 p.m.
• July 4 – July 7 10:30 am, 1:15 p.m. & 3:45 p.m.
• July 8 – Aug 29 10:30 a.m. & 1:15 p.m.
• Aug 30 – Sept 1 10:30 am, 1:15 p.m. & 3:45 p.m.
• Sept 2 – Nov 30 10:30 a.m. & 1:15 p.m.
• Dec 1  – Dec 24 12:30 p.m.
• Dec 26 – Dec 31 10:30 a.m. & 1:15 p.m.

Daytime Tours:

Fort Sumter Tours tickets are 100% refundable if cancelled 2 hours in advance of the departure time. If tickets are cancelled less than 2 hours from
departure time they are non-refundable. Fort Sumter Tours will cruise in most weather conditions all-year round. Time on the Fort may be impacted by weather at the discretion of the National Park Service.

Sunset At Fort Sumter Cruises:

Cancellations with refunds accepted up to 24-hours in-advance.

The total tour time is 2 1/4 hours with about 1 hour spent on the fort.  Please note the 9:00 am trip to Fort Sumter offers 75 minutes at the fort and the remaining trips of the day allow for 60 minutes.

Downtown Charleston

Fort Sumter Visitor Center, 340 Concord St. Charleston, SC 29401

Mt. Pleasant

Patriots Point 40 Patriots Point Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Book online or visit either departure point (based on availability).

Privacy Policy

Ramps used to access the ferry can vary based on tides and adverse conditions. Therefore, the ferry departing from downtown Charleston or Patriots Point is not always fully accessible. To ensure your visit will be fully accessible, we recommend contacting Fort Sumter Tours on the day of your visit at 843-722-2628.

Please note that copies of the vessel’s narration are available to visitors with hearing impairments. Braille copies of the park’s brochure are available to individuals with sight impairments.

There is no elevator service at Fort Sumter.

The museum, museum bookstore and top level of Fort Sumter are only accessible by climbing stairs.  Visit the National Park Service’s page on accessibility  to learn more or call  843-883-3123 .

Still Have Questions?

This is a charleston tour to talk about.

Very informative tour of one of our country's most important landmarks. The guide was so knowledgeable and made the Fort come alive. Highly recommend!

Jim Famulare

Fantastic tour and very informative presentation at the flag pole during the lowering of the flag. We saw dolphins and pelicans and the Jr. Ranger program for kids is great.

Katie Whitestone

Wonderful experience! They really treat you well and can learn a lot of history too.

Craig Cocoz

We’d Love to Hear From You! Share Your story

Write a Review

• Patterson Flynn

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Architect Heather Wilson Bridges Past and Present in Her Charleston Home

This thoughtful restoration is an ode to simplicity.

Styled by Eleanor Roper

Written by Fiona McCarthy

Photographed by Brie Williams

Architect Heather Wilson was drawn to the purity and simplicity of her 150-year-old Charleston home, and her renovation focused more on paring back than embellishing. An Apparatus fixture illuminates the dining area, with tables and chairs from Sawkille Co. Art by Chris Groves; rug, Merida.

While the windows were original to the house when Wilson bought it, the front door was not, so she replaced it with a more fitting Dutch version. (That’s her friend Brad Neece, creative director at local boutique Worthwhile, on his bike.)

Plaster walls (painted in Benjamin Moore’s Vanilla Milkshake) and original waxed floors add subtle sheen to the front hall. The concrete sculpture is from Pidgin, a favorite shop in upstate New York.

Texture reigns in the living room, furnished with a Verellen sofa slipcovered in a slubby linen blend, a wavy-glass mirror made by local artisan Bob Hines, and a sleek coffee table from Black Creek Mercantile & Trading Co. Walls are coated in luminous Mineral Paint by Domingue.

Limited by the kitchen-slash-dining room’s small footprint (just over 300 square feet), Wilson decided to tuck the necessary functional appliances (read: anything stainless steel) and open storage into an adjoining pantry. “It’s a hardworking little room,” she says. The painting is by David Ryden.

Charleston-based Hostetler Custom Cabinetry created the sleek kitchen cabinets, which feature an integrated Wolf range that blends in seamlessly. “I wanted it to look as furniture-like as possible,” explains Wilson. Minimalist suspension lights by Juniper; painting by Paula Rubino; stool, Sawkille Co.

A rust-colored velvet chair from BDDW injects warmth into the primary bedroom. The bed is by Sawkille Co.; the woven-straw water buffalo trophy is by Javier Sanchez Medina.

Original timber framing was discovered beneath the walls of Wilson’s daughter’s attic bedroom during the renovation.

The third floor’s former attic layout required Wilson to get creative: Each bedroom has its own half-bath, with a shared shower off the hall in between.

A photograph by Brie Williams rests on a stair landing.

Wilson worked with landscape designer Sheila Wertimer to plan the backyard’s transformation, which included the addition of a new pool.

F rom the outside, Heather and Thaddeus Wilson’s 1850 home strikes a rather serious pose among the otherwise pretty clapboard houses surrounding it on the streets of downtown Charleston . With its neat, flat chocolate-brown brick and white pointed façade, with chimney pots and sash windows aligned in perfect symmetry, its external austerity belies the charm that awaits inside.

“When my daughter first saw it, she cried because she said it was the ugliest house she’d ever seen,” laughs Heather Wilson . “Because it has no real front and it has no porch—and porches are a big deal around here—you have to go through the side. But then, all of a sudden, you see the porches and the magic of the place. It’s like a secret.”

Bought in late 2018, the property consisted of a main house as well as carriage house, connected by a large internal courtyard and garden, much of it paved to provide parking for tenants who were renting each house separately. “We quickly renovated the carriage house and lived in that while we took time to fix up the primary house,” recalls Wilson of her family of five—including three children, Pierce, Street, and Willy, as well as two dogs—camping out for six months in the open-plan space, now used as a place for the kids to congregate or friends to stay.

Wilson was immediately drawn to the main house’s intimate scale and its downtown locale. “My husband grew up in Charleston, so when the kids were little, we moved to a neighborhood called the Old Village that’s a little bit more suburban,” she says. “But we both missed downtown, and when I saw the property, I immediately saw its potential. I love how small and straightforward it is. There’s no wasted space, there are no hallways,” she enthuses. Best of all, “nothing structural had been done to the property, so it was still basically in its pure original form.”

“I like a very strict palette where less is better and a room feels interesting via texture, not contrast.”

Wilson has left old beams visible and painted the exposed brick walls soothing shades of white; the old beaten-up floors have been stained dark brown “to hide a hundred years of wear and tear,” and the showers were finished in waterproof plaster in lieu of tiles. In the garden, a pool has replaced the asphalt, overlooked by an old shed transformed into an office and gym. The laundry room, now in the carriage house (which also has one bedroom and bathroom), is reached via the garden. “People think that’s odd, but I think it’s great,” Wilson beams.

For every project, Wilson likes to set “house rules,” she says. “My last house had a more contrasting light and black palette, so I was militant about there being no black anywhere in this house,” explains the architect, whose residential design practice focuses largely on clean-lined modernity while staying in step with the local vernacular. So here, a mix of cloudy and oyster whites, dark browns, a touch of mocha, and a pop of peach imbues every room. “I like a very strict palette where less is better and a room feels interesting via texture, not contrast,” says Wilson, who is as influenced by her New England roots (she was born in Boston) as she is by her love for Southern architecture, gleaned from studying at Tulane University in New Orleans.

Beautifully crafted pieces bring the touch of the human hand, from the watery-effect mirror in the living room by Charleston artist Bob Hines and the dining table by Hudson Valley makers Sawkille Co. (where the family spends much of its time eating, entertaining, and working) to lighting by Apparatus and Workstead. “I want to see the imperfections in things made by people, not machines,” says Wilson.

As a result, when you “tumble” through the front door, Wilson says, you feel instantly relaxed. “That’s the goal, anyway,” she adds. “I am constantly making sure we don’t have extra things we don’t need. It’s true that you are able to think and exist in a much more peaceful way when there’s less chaos and clutter, visually and otherwise. I wanted the house to feel like a vacation.”

THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN VOLUME 13 OF FREDERIC MAGAZINE.  CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE!

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Black Residents Say No To Climate Gentrification in Charleston

Black people in Charleston, South Carolina are no strangers to gentrification . Over the past several decades, due to “ overtly racist policies and practices ” to turn Charleston into a tourism hotspot , they’ve been forced out. They begrudgingly abandoned their historically Black communities because they could no longer afford high property taxes or elevated insurance costs which resulted when developers built luxury homes there for wealthy whites.

The most recent type of gentrification in Charleston— called climate gentrification —may be the worst yet. But this time, Black residents are organizing, standing up for their communities, and staying in their homes, often on ancestral lands. Environmental conservation of the South Carolina coastline and adjacent wetlands is a welcome side effect of Black residents’ efforts to say no to climate gentrification in Charleston.

Gentrification in Charleston

In 2017, Charleston was rated the fastest gentrifying city in the United States, according to a survey by Realtor.com . Its modern-day gentrification spiral began in 2001, when low-income Shoreview Apartments, located downtown, was razed and replaced with single-family homes of greater value. Soon after, other Black neighborhoods shifted toward white, middle-class families who could afford to live there.

As a result, within 15 years, between 2000 and 2015, median home prices increased by 78%, effectively preventing working class Black people from living there. So, the city’s racial demographic flipped from roughly two-thirds black to two-thirds white, with a 55% drop in the Black population.

This gentrification was not caused by climate change. But now, climate impacts are accelerating gentrification in Charleston.

Climate change in Charleston

By itself, “climate change really is a Black issue,” said Bernard Powers , formerly the interim CEO of the International African American Museum in Charleston. “People who live close to the coast as we do, we’re the ones who are going to be affected by potential damage from increasingly devastating hurricanes.”

The area of South Carolina most vulnerable to climate change is aptly named the Lowcountry because it’s situated only a few feet above sea level. Parts of Charleston make up the Lowcountry, an area that has been habitually flooded by hurricanes and high tides. In recent years, though, flooding is more regular, even occurring on sunny days.

Charleston is also experiencing accelerated sea level rise, which has already increased by seven inches in 14 years. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates it will continue to rise more than 12 inches by 2050. At that point, two out of every three days will encounter tidal flooding .

Ironically, the luxury condos and structures built on stilts located so close to the coast further destabilize it, hurrying their eventual demise, swept up not only by rising sea levels caused by human-caused climate change but also prone to sinking land according to a 2016 report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Climate gentrification in Charleston

Climate gentrification refers to the ways that anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change contributes to shifts in community demographics and the potential displacement of marginalized residents through changes in property values and insurance costs. In this manner, climate gentrification exacerbates housing inequalities.

Situated so close to the sea, Charleston’s Lowcountry ports historically received enslaved Africans. Hundreds of thousands of slaves and their descendants worked the plantations along the Carolinian coast for decades.

After Emancipation, many freed slaves bought inexpensive marshland in the Lowcountry that rich white landowners didn’t want. That property was generally used for farming and passed down for generations within families.

Now, despite rising sea levels, sinking land, and intensified storms, coastal property values are at an all-time high with developers scrambling to buy and build ocean-front condos and luxury resorts for wealthy white people. Many are able to purchase the land for next to nothing at auctions because it has unknowingly slipped into heirs’ ownership.

Heirs’ ownership and climate gentrification in Charleston

Lowcountry land that has been passed down and farmed for generations within Black families is being snatched up by developers who purchase a share in the property. They are able to do so because the original Black landowners did not leave a will, legally designating ownership to family descendants. It’s estimated that 81% of freed black landowners didn’t make wills because of an inability to hire lawyers, a privilege afforded at the time mainly to white people.

Since the land was not legally inherited, it was designated as heirs’ property. The Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation in Charleston County, South Carolina, estimates that there are 105,000 acres of heirs’ property in the 15 counties it oversees.

Heirs’ property may be jointly owned by hundreds of descendants, even those far removed from the property. Legally, each one has a claim to the land. Any one heir can sell their share at any time independently of the others. When this happens, a judge may order that the entire property be auctioned off. In this way, a massive transfer of real estate from Black people to white people has occurred and is still occurring in South Carolina’s Lowcountry.

Thomas W. Mitchell, an expert in heirs’ property at the Texas A&M University School of Law, stated in The Nation : “If the Kennedys, the Bushes, or the Clintons had their property sold under these circumstances, the law would have been reformed” by now.

Fortunately, in 2016, Nikki Haley, then governor of South Carolina, signed the Clementa C. Pinckney Uniform Partition of Heirs’ Property Act . Named for the state senator and pastor murdered in the 2015 massacre at Charleston’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, this law mandates several protections for people involved in heirs’ property disputes, making it less likely that Lowcountry farms will be land-grabbed by developers.

Conservation initiatives and climate gentrification in Charleston

One way Black neighborhoods are slowing down the sale of their ancestral land in the Lowcountry is by petitioning the local government to become historic districts. That designation requires any new construction must first be approved by a county commission.

Mavis Gragg, director of the Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program, is further spearheading efforts to empower Lowcountry Black residents subject to heirs’ property laws to embark on conservation efforts as a strategy to stay on their ancestral lands. “We found that doing conservation, stewardship, and sustainable forestry actually motivates people to take action on the legal part that makes their ownership so precarious,” Gragg stated to Inside Climate News . That particular program puts Black landowners in contact with foresters who can help them grow trees that mitigate flood risk, and with businesses in the sustainable lumber market.

Additionally, some Lowcountry neighborhoods are using the county’s greenbelt program to prevent development. Begun in 2007, the program has so far preserved 45,000 acres in its natural state. By purchasing this land, Black residents allow it to serve as a natural buffer against encroaching high tides and salt water intrusion as well as aid in flood resilience even as Charleston sinks.

“African Americans were environmentalists before the word was even created because of the way in which we live. [They] might not have known about sea level rise, but they understood certain things: If you move from one spot to another, the water is going to adjust. They knew that and they were mindful of their surroundings,” Jennie L. Stephens, CEO of the Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation, stated in Inside Climate News .

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