Best Things To Do in Downtown Charleston

Electric tiki boats for rent on the Charleston Harbor, BYOB, captain included.

Skippered sailing charters departing Wharfside Street into Charleston Harbor and the surrounding Lowcountry waterways.

Narrated harbor and waterway boat tours departing from Ashley Marina on the Charleston peninsula.

Restored 19th-century ballroom on Meeting Street hosting weddings and private events inside a registered historic landmark.

Bareboat and crewed sailboat charters departing Lockwood Marina into Charleston Harbor and beyond.

US Ghost Adventures runs Charleston Terrors, its nightly ghost-tour lineup in the historic district: Curses, Corsets & Candlelight departing from Charleston City Hall, the Spirits and Spirits haunted pub crawl from The Blind Tiger, and Charleston Unchained: Pirates and Patriots from White Point Garden. Tours run about an hour, nightly from 6:30 PM, featuring the stories behind the Old City Jail, the Philadelphia Alley duels, Poogan's Porch, and the Mills House.

Lockwood Drive charter operation running fishing and sightseeing trips on Charleston Harbor and the surrounding tidal waterways.

Sailboat charters departing Patriots Point for harbor and sunset cruises on Charleston's waterways.

Five-vessel sailing operation out of Lockwood Drive marina offering private charters on the harbor and surrounding waters.

Small-boat harbor tours departing from Ripley Point, covering Charleston's waterfront history and working port up close.

Dolphin-spotting boat tours departing from the Charleston waterfront at Immigration Street, with free parking on-site.

Two-hour booze cruises departing Lockwood Drive marina, covering Charleston Harbor with drinks aboard.

Walking tours focused on the African American history of Charleston, led by guides who center Black narratives over Lost Cause mythology.

Private fishing and sightseeing charters out of Lockwood Drive, running the harbor and surrounding lowcountry waterways.

Guided walking tours of Charleston's historic peninsula, led by local Jonathan Bechtel out of Church Street.

Compact neighborhood green space on Anson Street with benches, dog access, and a quiet break from the French Quarter foot traffic.

Walking and boat tours of the peninsula, run out of a storefront on East Bay Street since 2005.

Private yacht charters out of Lockwood Drive marina for events, sightseeing, and harbor tours on Charleston's waterways.

Family-run pirate adventure cruise departing Ashley Point, blending local maritime lore with hands-on activities for kids on the Charleston Harbor.

Private charter fleet of five boats docked at Lockwood Drive, running harbor cruises and event charters on the Ashley and Cooper rivers.

Private yacht charters departing from Lockwood Drive on the Ashley River, handling corporate events, sunset cruises, and custom trips.

Guided walking tours of Charleston's historic streets, led by knowledgeable locals out of a small office on Pinckney Street.

Wheelchair-accessible catering operation on Lockwood Drive handling weddings and events out of a ground-floor suite near the marina.

Fishing and sightseeing charter operation running trips out of Charleston Harbor, booked through a Meeting Street office suite.

Guided walking tour of the peninsula's colonial streets, church yards, and antebellum architecture led by local historians.

Private charter boat operation running harbor tours and group outings off the Ashley River at James Island.

Walking and boat tours of the peninsula led by local guides, departing from Waterfront Park.

Small-boat sailing tours out of Patriots Point, running the harbor and nearby waterways with an emphasis on actual time on the water.

Private and group boat tours departing from Ripley Point on the Ashley River.

Private boat charters out of Ashley Point for harbor cruises, dolphin watches, and sunset runs on the Charleston waterways.

Private and public boat tours and party charters departing from Ripley Light Marina on the Ashley River.

Fishing and touring charter operation running inshore and offshore trips out of downtown Charleston.

Nighttime ghost tour aboard the decommissioned WWII carrier docked across the harbor in Mount Pleasant.

Adam leads walking tours covering Charleston history, haunts, and bars from the heart of the historic district.

Charter fishing and eco-tour outfit on the Ashley River, running inshore trips for families and serious anglers alike.

Guided walking tours of the peninsula led by local historians, departing from East Bay Street.

Rotating immersive art installations in a Beaufain Street gallery space, wheelchair accessible.

Hosted trivia and game show competitions for groups at a Market Street venue in the heart of the tourist district.

Hop-on, hop-off narrated trolley loop hitting 18 stops across the peninsula, departing from the Visitor Center on Meeting St.

Guided walking tours of the peninsula led by locals who know Charleston's history past the brochure version.

Antebellum plantation house on Barre Street, built in 1825, now booked for weddings and private events.

Guided walking tours of the peninsula led by local historians, departing from the heart of the historic district on Broad Street.

Private fishing and dolphin charters departing from Lockwood Marina on the Ashley River.

Pontoon boat party cruises on the Ashley River, available for private charters and group events.

Walking tour company based in Mount Pleasant running history-focused guided tours through Charleston's streets.

Sightseers ride behind horses in old-fashioned carriages while receiving a narrated history lesson.

Pedal-powered party boat cruising Charleston's waterways, BYOB and wheelchair accessible, departing from Ashley Point.

Private boat charters out of Ashley Marina for harbor tours, sunset cruises, and dolphin watches on the Charleston waterway.

BYOB pontoon boat tours departing from Lockwood Drive along the Charleston Harbor and Ashley River.

Horse-drawn carriage tour company running licensed routes through the historic district since 1983.

Small-boat dolphin and nature tours launching from Mt. Pleasant's Ashley Point into the Lowcountry waterways.

Walking tours of the walled city's colonial streets, gardens, and architecture, departing from the corner of Meeting and Chalmers.

Inshore fishing charter running redfish and trout trips through Charleston's tidal creeks and salt marshes.

Waterfront playground beneath the Ravenel Bridge with harbor views, climbing structures, and wheelchair-accessible paths along the Mount Pleasant shoreline.

Narrated sightseeing trips on historic carriages pulled by horse, plus city-center walking tours.

Visitors can explore a retired Naval aircraft carrier, destroyer & submarine docked here year-round.

Nightly ghost tours through the 1802 jail where pirates, prisoners, and a few thousand yellow fever victims reportedly never left.

Small neighborhood park on Marlow Drive with open lawn, a playground, and a walking path suited for kids and leashed dogs.

Walking tours of Charleston's colonial and Revolutionary War history, departing from Washington Square Park on Broad Street.

Narrated boat tours of Charleston Harbor departing from Wharfside Street, covering the waterfront, Fort Sumter, and the historic Cooper River.

Restored 1942 movie house on King Street, now a wedding and event venue with original art deco bones intact.

Walking and carriage tour operator out of King Street covering Charleston history, architecture, and neighborhoods.

Sailboat charters out of Patriots Point for half-day, sunset, and private cruises on Charleston Harbor.

Guided walking tours through downtown Charleston that pair neighborhood history with stops at local restaurants and food producers.

Guided ghost and history walking tours departing nightly from the Market Street area.

Guided walking tours of the peninsula led by local historians out of a Broad Street office.

Featuring extensive floral displays, this park also offers a baseball diamond, playground & trail.

Multi-layered, pineapple-shaped fountain facing the waterfront, popular for photos.

Edgy nonprofit artist workspace & gallery hosting classes, performances & events.

Speedboat tours of Charleston Harbor and surrounding waterways, departing from Ashley Point on the James Island side of the Ashley River.

Lantern-lit walking tours through the historic district covering Charleston's documented hauntings, graveyards, and colonial-era tragedies since 1999.

Narrated boat tours departing Wharfside Street, covering the harbor, Fort Sumter, and the Charleston peninsula from the water.

Guided walking tours of the historic district led by local guides out of the Meeting and Chalmers Street corner.

Ornate 1879 federal building on East Bay Street, still an active port authority office with a marble trading room open to visitors.

Free public swings overlooking the Cooper River at Waterfront Park, a reliable stop for kids and anyone who wants a harbor view.

Small urban park on the edge of the upper peninsula, with a playground, open lawn, and direct views of the Cooper River.

Downtown escape room operation on Market Street with multiple themed puzzles for groups.

Colonial military history museum & gift shop in a 1713 gunpowder storage building.

Ghost, history, and pub crawl tours departing nightly from Anson Street since 1998.

Self-guided tours offered in a historic building, formerly a Revolutionary prison & City Hall.

Passenger ferry running between the Charleston peninsula and Patriots Point across the harbor, with open-air deck seating.

This public garden beside the water offers paved paths, military statues, canons & picnic areas.

Weddings & other events are held at this elegant, riverside plantation built in the late 1700s.

Waterfront city park on James Island with marsh views, a fishing pier, and open green space for dogs and families.

Local guide Tommy Dew leads walking tours through the historic district on foot, departing from Meeting Street.

Lantern-lit walking tours through the French Quarter covering Charleston's actual pirate history, including Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet.

Federal ferry service running daily trips from Liberty Square to the Civil War fort in Charleston Harbor.

Waterfront museum on Gadsden's Wharf, the precise site where enslaved Africans first arrived in America, documenting that history through galleries and genealogy resources.

Historic tidal pond & dog-friendly park with paved pathways, benches, fishing & open green space.

Portraits & landscapes dating back to the 1700s, housed in a century-old beaux arts-style building.

Family-friendly bus and boat tour operator running sightseeing routes through the historic peninsula since 1967.

Seawall promenade at the tip of the peninsula where antebellum mansions face the harbor and cannons point toward Fort Sumter.

Well-known park with Charleston Harbor views, plus a large lawn, walkways & fountains.

Tours of this historic home of an influential 1800s family include a back lot where slaves lived.

Tall ship sailing schooner departing from Aquarium Wharf for harbor tours on Charleston's working waterfront.

Antebellum mansion on King Street hosting weddings across its courtyard, carriage house, and formal gardens since the 1830s.

A nautical-themed playground, 1,250-ft pier with bench swings, cafe/gift shop & scenic harbor views.

Guided cocktail history tours through Charleston's past, poured glass by glass at a dedicated tasting space on Calhoun Street.

Walking and private tour company operating out of the South of Broad neighborhood, led by longtime Charlestonians.

Small neighborhood splash pad and green space on Chapel Street, open to dogs and strollers year-round.

Federal-era ballroom on Meeting Street, built in 1804, renting its plaster ceilings and heart-pine floors to wedding parties.

Nonprofit watchdog on King Street that has spent decades fighting to keep Charleston's architectural fabric intact.

Grassy national park on Cooper River featuring a small museum, aquarium & ferry to Fort Sumter.

Urban park with oak trees & flower displays centered on a 42-ft. model of the Washington Monument.

Free natural history museum inside College of Charleston's science building, with fossil collections, minerals, and regional specimens.

Historic walking city where centuries of architecture, cobblestone streets, and harbor views reward those who slow down enough to look up.

National Park Service ferry from Patriots Point to the Civil War battery where the first shots of the war were fired.

Historic Federal-style home, open for tours showcasing architecture, furnishings & family artifacts.

Lantern-lit guided tours of historic Charleston churchyards, blending documented history with local ghost lore.

Neighborhood park on Cleveland Street with standard playground equipment, open lawn, and free parking in the upper peninsula.

America's first museum, founded in 1773, exhibits relics from South Carolina & Confederate history.

Urban green space with historic significance, hosting regular events including a farmer's market.

Greek Revival landmark built in 1841 offering Civil War history & tours by women's-group docents.

Private library housing historical state photos & documents, with a Colonial & antebellum focus.

Horse-drawn carriage tours through the historic district, departing from Pinckney Street since the 1980s.

Wheelchair-accessible neighborhood playground on Ashley Avenue, named for the Revolutionary War general who defended Sullivan's Island in 1776.

A popular wedding venue, this landmark hall was built in 1840 & features Greek Revival architecture.

Restored 1861 rice mill on the Ashley River, now a waterfront event and wedding venue with industrial bones intact.

Scenic riverfront recreational area featuring a playground, walking paths & a fishing pier.

Ornate, circa-1808 home known for its "free-flying" 3-story spiral staircase, with guided tours.

Hands-on exhibits for under-10 kids plus parties, programs, camps & classes such as yoga & dance.

Four-block open-air market downtown. Sweetgrass baskets, local artists, tourist staples.

Built in 1803, this antebellum structure is furnished with period American, French & British pieces.

Horse-drawn carriage tours departing from Anson Street, covering the French Quarter and historic district with licensed guides.

Massive aquarium with interactive exhibits & hundreds of creatures, including many native species.

Candlelit walking tour threading through the French Quarter's churchyards and antebellum streets after dark.

Private boat charters launching from Lockwood Marina, offering harbor and waterway excursions on Charleston's tidal rivers.

18th-century Georgian-style home once belonging to a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Carnival's downtown embarkation terminal on the Charleston waterfront, sending ships out from the base of the peninsula since 2016.

Shaded neighborhood green across from the Gibbes Museum, popular with dog walkers and families on Rutledge Avenue.

Historic District cluster of 13 pastel-painted Georgian-style rowhouses dating from 1748 to 1845.

Half-day and full-day offshore and inshore fishing charters departing from Ashley Point on the west side of the peninsula.

Compact public green on the Charleston Peninsula where Chisolm meets the waterfront, popular with dogs and strollers.

Displays in this former slave auction building tell the story of the slave trade in Charleston.

Nightly walking tours through Charleston's darker history, covering cemeteries, haunted buildings, and the city's long catalog of documented tragedies.

Preservation nonprofit on East Bay running house museums, educational programs, and advocacy for Charleston's built environment since 1947.

Narrated harbor cruises departing Patriots Point, with views of Fort Sumter, the Ravenel Bridge, and the Charleston peninsula.

Narrated bus tours of the peninsula, departing from Meeting Street, with routes covering historic districts and landmarks.

Two-mile loop through maritime forest and marsh at the base of Patriots Point, with views of the Ravenel Bridge and Cooper River.

Quiet James Island neighborhood park with a playground, open lawn, and marsh views off Fort Johnson Road.

Narrated sightseeing and dinner cruises departing from the downtown waterfront on the Cooper River.

Guided walking tours hitting Charleston's bars and breweries, departing from the Market Street area.

Walking tours rooted in Gullah Geechee culture and Black history, led by guides with direct ties to the Lowcountry community.

Accessible waterfront playground on East Bay, set between the harbor and the French Quarter.

Pineapple-shaped fountain at the Cooper River end of Waterfront Park, open for wading.

The iconic 2.5-mile cable-stayed bridge over the Cooper River with a dedicated pedestrian + bike lane on the north side, connecting downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant.

“The Ravenel is Charleston's most democratic landmark — a $632 million cable-stay span where solo joggers, families on rented bikes, and sunrise photographers share Wonders' Way, t…”

Boat tour to the harbor fort where the Civil War started. National Park Service runs it.

“Fort Sumter Ferry is regarded almost universally as a must-do bucket-list experience for anyone in Charleston, with the 30-minute harbor ride itself — offering views of the USS Yo…”