Best things to do in Charleston

Gibbes Museum of Art

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

Lowcountry Walking Tours

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

Tiki Tours of Charleston - Party Boat and Booze Cruises

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

Pirates of Charleston

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

Pineapple Fountain

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

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

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

Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park

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

Hampton Park

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

Epic Game Show Experience

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

International African American Museum

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

Colonial Lake Park

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

Carolina Marine Group

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

Escape in 60

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

Adventure Sightseeing

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

Waterfront Park

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

White Point Garden

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

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

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

Washington Square

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

Melton Peter Demetre Park

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

Carolina Polo and Carriage Co.

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

The Battery

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

Marion Square

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

Mt Pleasant Waterfront Park Playground

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

Rainbow Row

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

The Charleston Museum

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

Liberty Square

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

Aiken-Rhett House Museum

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

Powder Magazine Museum

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

Mace Brown Museum of Natural History - College of Charleston

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

Gadsdenboro Park

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

South Carolina Aquarium

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

Brittlebank Park

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

Charleston, South Carolina

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

Fountain at north entrance of Waterfront Park

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

Joseph Manigault House

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

The Original Ghostwalk of Charleston

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

Old Slave Mart Museum

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

Childrens Museum of the Lowcountry

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

The Museum at Market Hall

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

Theodora Park

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

South Carolina Historical Society

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

Corrine Jones Park

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

Waterfront Swings

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

Pinckney Park

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

Cannon Park

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

Chapel Street Fountain Park

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

McMahon Playground

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

Hazel Parker Playground

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

General William Moultrie Playground

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

Horse Lot Park

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

Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge

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.

When I First Remember(Old Bethel United Methodist Church)

Patriots Point Nature Trail

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