The Top Things to Do & See in Charleston, SC

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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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.

Claire’s 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!

Claire’s 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.

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.

Claire’s Tip: 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 just two absolute faves on this list.

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.

Claire’s 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.

Claire’s 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.

Claire’s 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.

Claire’s Tip: 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

The Williams Mansion (formerly the “Calhoun 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.

Claire’s Tip: The Williams Mansion has been closed for many months, but according to its website it is set to reopen for tours in 2025.

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.

Claire’s 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.

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.

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram to keep up with my daily adventures in Berlin and beyond!

More Places to Visit Along the East Coast: 

• Your Guide to Charleston’s Middleton Place Plantation
• 15+ Fun Things to Do in Wilmington, NC
• The Ultimate Guide to Georgetown in Washington DC
• What to Do & See in Alexandria, VA
• Your Guide to the Freedom Trail in Boston, MA
• The Best Things to Do in Fredericksburg, VA