Things to Do in Charleston
Charleston is a pleasure seeker’s paradise and a history buff’s playground. With stunning architecture, picturesque beaches, and perfect subtropical climate, Charleston is a favorite destination of travelers. Charleston stays true to its heritage and successfully melds its rich history, colonial architecture, and Lowcountry cuisine with all the refinements and accoutrement of a modern-day city.
Visitors come for Charleston’s historic charm, but stay for the warmth of Southern hospitality. Below is our list of ten of the best things to do in Charleston.
Featured Attraction
Escape in 60
Put your teamwork and problem-solving skills to the test by racing against the clock to escape from one of the themed escape rooms at Escape in 60. Choose from six unique rooms, each with its own set of challenging puzzles. Whether you’re a seasoned escape room veteran or a first-timer, you’ll find plenty of thrill and fun at Escape in 60. So gather your group of friends, family, or colleagues and see if you have what it takes to escape! Use promo code EXPERIENCEESCAPE to save 10% on your booking!
Charleston City Market
Image: Charleston City Market Facebook
A trip to Charleston is not complete without going to the Charleston City Market. Located in the heart of downtown, the market is abuzz with activity from the time it opens at 9:30 a.m. until it closes at 5:00 p.m. Visitors can check out all sorts of merchandise and food from over 300 merchants.
The market is a tourist trap—but in a good way! From clothes to jewelry to toys to fine art to souvenirs, you’ll be tempted to buy things you didn’t know you needed. But what stands out in the market are the hand-crafted products that provide a window to the colonial past. It’s here you’ll find the new generation of sweetgrass basket sowers and weavers who have preserved the craft of basket making using local materials.
The night market is open on Fridays and Saturdays and is where talented artists and craftspeople put their craft on display. Live entertainment energizes the night and gives a festive atmosphere. A trip to the Charleston City Market is a great way to end the day.
The Battery
Walking or driving through this glorious stretch of road along the southern-most tip of Charleston takes you back to a time when the city was teeming with maritime activities. The fortified seawall serves as a picturesque backdrop to stately antebellum mansions and historic landmarks.
Most walking tours of the city make a stop at the Battery so that visitors could take in the astonishing view of the harbor and the sea forts of Fort Sumter and Castle Pinckney.
Just a stone’s throw away from the scenic neighborhood is White Point Garden, where you’ll find Civil War relics and monuments that remind us of Charleston’s pivotal role in the war. Paths are paved with bleached oyster shells, so a walk in the park is a stark reminder that it was previously a prominent marker for colonists in the 1670s when they were just settling in.
You can start your tour of the Battery at the Waterfront Park where the iconic pineapple fountain stands. From there, you can follow the walking trail on East Battery Street and get lost in the splendor of early colonial to high Victorian architecture of buildings. Signing up for a walking tour will give you the historical background of the very road you’re standing on.
Folly Beach
A change in scenery is always refreshing, and there’s no better way to invigorate the mind and body than by spending the day under the glorious Southern sun at Folly Beach. The locals refer to the pristine beach as the “edge of America”, but to visitors, it is the perfect getaway destination.
Folly Beach is more than just a wide expanse of beach, it is a captivating island town where you can do a lot more than just swim and make sandcastles. Rent a kayak, a surfboard, or a paddleboard for some water adventure. You can do it by yourself or take a guided tour for a more immersive experience.
If you prefer a more relaxing and laidback activity, you can rent a sailboat and cruise through the island’s backwaters and explore the Lowcountry. You might even meet a dolphin or two along the way. The surrounding areas make for great fishing grounds which is simply irresistible to anglers and fishing aficionados.
Once you go on dry land, you can go on a picnic at the Folly Beach Country Park or go camping at the nearby James Island campground. Or you can stick to the shore and sample the food and drinks at the bars and eateries that line up near the shore.
Angel Oak Tree
Not many places can say they have a giant 400 year old oak tree. Johns Island is home to the Angel Oak Tree, which towers at 65 feet. The tree is massive with a circumference of 25.5 feet and huge branches extending in all directions.
A quick stop at the park is necessary to witness this magnificent creation of nature. If there’s one Instagram-worthy shot to make, it has to be the Angel Oak Tree.
Take home a piece of oak tree history by buying some souvenirs from the on-site gift shop. Entrance to the park is free but they accept donations to help protect and preserve the Angel Oak Tree.
Drayton Hall
Image: Drayton Hall Website
One of the oldest surviving plantation houses in South Carolina, Drayton Hall has not been structurally renovated. It’s pretty much the same house that was built in 1738—no electricity, heating, or air-conditioning.
Located 12 miles from downtown Charleston, Drayton Hall is the earliest example of European style architecture that uses the Palladian style modeled after classic temple architecture used by the Ancient Greeks and Romans.
Untouched and unchanged, Drayton Hall shows its age and its history from the materials used to construct it and the design that stood the test of time. The entrance fee is worth every penny just to witness authentic 17th-century architecture and its rich history.
The 45-minute guided tour will make you appreciate Drayton Hall for what it was and what it has become.
Fort Sumter National Monument
South Carolina’s secession from the Union started at the grounds of Fort Sumter. Visitors can relive the cataclysmic events of the opening battle of the Civil War through the guided tour of the grounds and the well-preserved fort ruins. A highly knowledgeable National Park ranger serves as a tour guide who will lead you to the historical sites and landmarks as he imparts captivating stories of heroes and villains of the Civil War.
Fort Sumter is accessible only by boat which makes an interim stop at Liberty Square, which is a national park with a museum. The boat ride itself lets you enjoy the beautiful harbor as you make your way to the Fort Sumter grounds.
The tour can start either from Patriots Point or from Liberty Square. Either way, you get the same rich retelling of Civil War history.
South Carolina Aquarium
Image: South Carolina Aquarium Website
Water is a significant part of Charleston’s landscape so it’s no surprise that the city is home to South Carolina Aquarium where a wide variety of water animal species reside. Alligator, burrfish, brook trout, green moray eel, horseshoe crab, lined sea horse, Venus flytrap, sand tiger shark, and other intriguing wonders of the sea can all be found at the South Carolina Aquarium
The Aquarium is also home to many animals native to South Carolina. It is not only a place to connect people with marine life and deep-sea creatures, but it’s also a platform to educate people about conservation and fostering positive change. Part of their conservation effort is to save the sea turtles (all seven species).
Kids and adults alike can have a fantastic time interacting with the animals from the touch tank. Just make sure you plan your visit because you can spend two hours to half a day getting to know more than 5,000 animals.
Middleton Place
Image: Middleton Place Website
Middleton Place is a sprawling mansion with 65 acres of landscaped gardens as the historic centerpiece. It was originally owned by the Middleton family and the home of one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence, Arthur Middleton.
The 110-acre mansion houses an impressive collection of colonial furniture, historic portraits, and stable yards for heritage-bred animals. Visitors can watch the reenactment of life in the plantation during the 18th century. Special tours let you ride a carriage to explore the massive estate. A guided tour of the house museum is a step back in time to learn about the lives of the Middleton family and the enslaved men and women who worked for them.
Charleston Food Tours
One of the best ways to learn about a city’s history and culture is to experience its food. With the Charleston Food Tours you can taste over 300 years of rich history and culinary traditions. Sample Charleston’s Lowcountry culinary staples such as grits, BBQ, chicken and dumplings, fried green tomatoes, benne wagers, and collard greens.
The walking and eating tour runs for a solid two and half hours where you can sample delicious food and talk to the chefs who made them. They offer several food tours, and the location varies depending on the tour you choose. Price starts at $65 per adult.
The Nathaniel Russell House Museum
Image: Historic Charleston Website
The historic home of wealthy merchant, Nathaniel Russell, gives a glimpse into the lives of the Southern elite. Merchants used the spoils of their trade to build lavish houses adorned with intricate furniture handcrafted by artisans, craftsmen, and enslaved people.
The highlight of the tour is the three-story grand spiral staircase where each cantilevered step supports the one above and below it. But it’s not the only architectural marvel in the house—the elaborate plasterwork, the geometrically shaped rooms, the landscaped garden, and the patterned beds of flowers are all stunning. Tours of The Nathaniel Russell House Museum are docent-led so you’ll know the story and juicy bits behind the construction and design of the house.
