Downtown Charleston may look small on the map, but there’s SO much to see and do here! Here’s what to do in downtown Charleston and the surrounding area.
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Whether you’re visiting over a long weekend or staying for many days, Charleston is the perfect Southern getaway. It’s big enough that you can visit multiple times and keep finding new places to explore, but small enough that you don’t feel pressured to wake up early and hit the ground running.
Not to mention, Charleston boasts a little bit of everything! Great food, beautiful architecture, a unique history, close proximity to the beach – what more could you ask for?
If you’re planning your first trip to this gorgeous city or just want to know what to do in Charleston, these are a few of my favorite things to do and see in the area. Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or just want to relax, finding fun things to do in Charleston, SC is easy!
Table of Contents
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Overwhelmed at All Your Options? Use This Itinerary!
If you need some help planning your trip, check out my detailed 3-day Charleston Itinerary. It features all the attractions mentioned in this guide, but they’re arranged in the order that makes the most sense to see them all.
Take a Walking Tour
I’m not typically an organized tour type of gal. I shudder at the thought of double decker bus tours and pretty much anything else that involves me having to see a city with 10+ other people.
However, the walking tours provided by Free Tours by Foot are awesome. As the name suggests, these are pay what you want walking tours that are usually around two hours long.
The guides are fun locals who enjoy sharing their city with visitors. I’ve used this tour company in London, Brussels, and New Orleans as well, and every tour has been packed with information and super fun.
If it’s within your budget, Get Your Guide also offers a phenomenal 2-hour walking tour of Charleston.
Tip: Great alternatives to a walking tour include a tour by horse-drawn carriage and guided bus tour.
Explore Magnolia Plantation
Simply put, Magnolia Plantation is stunning. The Drayton family established this plantation in 1676 and opened it up to the public in 1870.
There’s so much to see and do here, including touring the plantation house, taking a train ride around the property, exploring the lush gardens, and more. Give yourself a half day to see and do everything there is on the property, and be sure to bring a water bottle with you. You’ll be on your feet a lot!
Tip: If you don’t have a rental car, you can book a combined ticket for Magnolia Plantation that includes transportation to and from downtown Charleston.
Tour the Nathaniel-Russell House
You get your pick of the litter in Charleston when it comes to house museums. I believe there are eight in total, and while I was in Charleston I managed to visit half of them. I love touring historic homes, so I enjoyed every house I visited. But I know not everyone has the budget, time, or interest for taking that many tours, so I’m sharing my two absolute faves on this list.
The Nathaniel-Russell House is more like what you’d expect from a historic house tour. Each of the rooms have been meticulously refurbished and the entire home looks to be in excellent condition. The tour itself lasts about 45 minutes, and during it you’ll learn everything there is to know about one of Charleston’s wealthiest merchants.
The style of the home is quite unique for Charleston (it’s a Federal-style home, and it’s missing the iconic double porches Charleston is known for), which is one of the many reasons I recommend visiting it.
Window Shop at the Historic Charleston City Market
The Historic Charleston City Market is a must on your first trip to the city. Here, you’ll find all the souvenirs you didn’t know you needed. You can get everything from local spice blends to watercolor prints of Charleston’s most famous landmarks to coasters with Rainbow Row plastered on them.
Tip: The market usually begins winding down around 4pm. Try to visit earlier in the morning to avoid the crowds while still getting the full experience!
Admire Rainbow Row
No trip to Charleston is complete without seeing iconic Rainbow Row! I’m sure you’ve seen many photos of the pastel-colored houses while planning your trip — it’s one of the top tourist attractions in the city!
The homes along Rainbow Row date back to the early 1700’s. They would have originally sat near the waterfront, but over the centuries the city’s limits have expanded and the waterfront has been pushed back.
Believe it or not, merchants once conducted business on the ground floor of these colorful homes. They lived on the top floors with their families as a means of saving money on rent.
Tip: No one knows why these houses were originally painted in such bright colors. Some say the vibrant colors were meant to help drunk sailors find their way home.
Have a Beach Day on Sullivan’s Island
My biggest regret from my trip to Charleston was not giving myself more time on Sullivan’s Island. The island is quite small (you can walk the length of it in less than an hour), but there’s a good amount of things to do here.
You can tour Fort Moultrie, which first saw action during the Revolutionary War, soak up some Vitamin D on the beach, or enjoy some great food at one of the island’s restaurants.
Tip: Sullivan’s Island is a 20ish minute drive from downtown Charleston, so you’ll need a car to get here.
Oogle the Mansions in the French Quarter
You want to know something kind of depressing about the French Quarter? Most of these multimillion-dollar homes are vacation houses for single families. I visited Charleston at the end of April, so most of the homes were still empty.
At night, the French Quarter is a (very safe) ghost town. The homes here are stunning; give yourself a few hours throughout your stay to wander around and take everything in. I particularly loved walking up Church Street from the waterfront, but the whole area is lovely.
Window Shop on King Street
King Street is Charleston’s main shopping street. Most of the stores are higher end chain stores (J Crew type of high end, not Gucci high end), but there are some local boutiques here and there that are the real gems of King Street.
I’m a sucker for anything food-related, so I loved sampling local honey at the Savannah Bee Company.
Tour the Williams Mansion (Formerly the Calhoun Mansion)
Formerly called the “Calhoun Mansion,” the Williams Mansion is a private residence that’s set to reopen for guided tours beginning the spring of 2024.
The 24,000-square foot, Gilded Age mansion was built by George Walton Williams in the 1870s. He modeled the Italianate Revival home off of the buildings he saw during his Grand Tours of Europe.
Tickets for the Williams Mansion must be booked well in advance, and there are two tours to choose from: a 45-minute “Gilded Age Tour” of the first and second floors of the home, and a 90-minute “Grand Tour” that includes the third floor and tower with a view of the city.
If you have the time and budget, I suggest going on the longer tour — trust me, you’ve never seen a house like this before! The Williams Mansion is stuffed with priceless antiques. The walls are covered with paintings, mirrors, antique taxidermy, and more.
In one room you’ll see one of a kind Tiffany chandeliers, in another a monster light fixture that was commissioned from the Tsar of Russia. The entire house is a child’s worst nightmare, because you literally can’t touch anything. Sadly, no photos are allowed inside, so you’ll have to use your imagination to visualize this treasure trove of a home.
Walk Along the Battery
The battery is a beautiful waterfront walk that gives you the best view of the Charleston Harbor. It’s named for the Civil War-era artillery that are located on the site.
On one side of the battery is the ocean, and on the other are stately homes that I can only dream of owning some day. Near the end of the battery is the gorgeous White Point Garden, which is a wonderful place to relax and take pictures along the water.
Visit Fort Sumter National Monument
Fort Sumter was the site of the first battle of the Civil War. It can only be accessed by boat, so you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to get there and back and see what you want at the fort itself.
The best way to access Fort Sumter is to book a combined ticket that includes entry to the fort plus a round-trip ferry ride.
Tip: If forts aren’t really your thing, but you want to get a taste of Charleston’s war history, tour Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island instead. It’s only $5 to enter, and there’s lots more to do in the area.
Even More Things to Do in Charleston, SC!
There are SO many more things to do in Charleston besides what I’ve mentioned here. Additional suggestions include:
- Visit another of Charleston’s plantations (I enjoyed both Boone Hall and Middleton Place)
- Enjoy a beach day at Isle of Palms
- Window shop along Meeting Street
- Take a tour of the Charleston Tea Garden
- Pay a visit to the Aiken-Rhett House Museum
- Take a tour of the Drayton Hall Home
- Enjoy a 1-hour carriage tour of the historic district
- Go on a “Boos and Booze” walking tour (ha!)
- Take a 2.5-hour food tour of downtown Charleston
- Attend half-day history tour with a cooking class
If you plan on packing your stay with lots of activities, you can likely save a good chunk of money by buying a Charleston Tour Pass.
FAQs About Visiting Charleston
I’ve done my best to answer the most commonly asked questions about visiting Charleston. If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to leave me a comment at the end of this blog post.
When is the best time to visit Charleston?
I’ve only visited Charleston in the spring and loved it! Charleston is extremely hot and muggy in the summer, which might be problematic for some people since you’ll likely spend most days on your feet.
What should I pack for a trip to Charleston?
Definitely bring comfy walking shoes, a refillable water bottle, sunscreen (no matter the weather!), and a portable charger for your phone. You’ll likely be on Google Maps a lot when navigating the city.
Where are the best places to eat in Charleston?
I’ve written an entire blog post about the best places to eat in Charleston.
How many days are needed in Charleston?
If possible, I’d recommend at least four full days in the city. There’s plenty to do in and around the area that anything less than four days would be rushing it!
Do I need a car when visiting Charleston?
No, but if you plan on visiting nearby beaches or any of the plantations I mentioned it’d be helpful if you did have a car. I took Ubers everywhere, which was fairly pricey. So it might be best to rent a car for just a day or two, but otherwise you can easily traverse the downtown area on foot.
How can I save money on admission fees?
If you plan on visiting more than one of the Charleston attractions I’ve shared in this post, it likely makes sense for you to invest in a Charleston Tour Pass. You can buy a pass for 1 to 5 days, and save up to 46% on retail admission. The Charleston Tour Pass gets you into over 40 attractions in the area, so definitely check it out and crunch the numbers to see if it’s a good fit for your trip!
Excited to Visit Historic Charleston?
Now that you know the best things to do in Charleston, SC, you’re ready for your first trip! If you discover any other fun activities while you’re there, please leave me a comment below so I can add them to my bucket list.
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Comments & Reviews
Hi! My name is Barbara, I’m a native of Charleston & shop owner in the city market. I wouldn’t suggest people visit from 4-5pm because most vendors have packed or are in the process, most people feel like they have really missed it. Probably when you visited we were staying later. Thxu?WildArt
Thanks so much for the inside tip, Barbara! I’ll update this post to reflect that information. 🙂
We are here now – thanks for this tip! ☺️