Best things to do in Charleston

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.

Escape in 60

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

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

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

The Charleston Museum

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

Nathaniel Russell House Museum

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

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.

Edmondston-Alston House

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

Heyward-Washington House

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

Joseph Manigault House

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

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.

South Carolina Historical Society

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

Waterfront Swings

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

Flipper Finders Party Boat Tours

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

Historic Charleston Foundation

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

McMahon Playground

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

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)