Best things to do in Charleston

Palmetto Carriage Works

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

Old South Carriage Company

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

Lowcountry Walking Tours

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

Sandlapper Water Tours

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

Charleston Culinary Tours

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

Nightly Spirits

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

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

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

Sip History - Charleston

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

Bulldog Tours - Old Charleston Jail

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

Folly Beach County Park

Swimming beach with seasonal lifeguards & pelican rookery featured in preserve with limited parking.

Tour Charleston

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

James Island County Park

This serene park with tidal creeks & trails is a popular spot for biking, crabbing & camping.

Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve

Oceanside preserve featuring a lighthouse, a beach, surf fishing, birdwatching & more.

Hampton Park

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

Bulldog Tours

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

Shem Creek Park

Boardwalks, trails & fishing boats highlight this tranquil town park with creek & wetlands views.

Cypress Gardens

Swamp garden with giant cypress trees offering boat tours plus a butterfly house attraction.

Friends of the Hunley

Waterfront museum offering weekend tours of a 19th-century historic submarine, artifacts & exhibits.

Tour Charleston With Adam - History, Bar & Ghost Tours

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

Walk It! Charleston

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

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.

Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park

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

Charleston History Walk

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

Angel Oak Tree

400+ year old live oak on Johns Island. Free to visit. Branches that touch the ground.

Frankly Charleston Black History Tours

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

White Point Garden

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

Chucktown Tours

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

Colonial Lake Park

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

Isle of Palms County Park

Beachfront park offering a playground & umbrella rentals, plus grills & a sand volleyball court.

Middleton Place

Sprawling Ashley River rice plantation dating to the 1730s, with gardens and refined lodging.

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

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

Campground at James Island County Park

Campground with a store, bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, grills & activity center in a 643-acre natural park.

Adventure Sightseeing

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

Palmetto Islands County Park

A 943-acre nature setting with paved trails, picnic sites & access for fishing, crabbing & kayaking.

Charleston Walking Tours by Charleston Footprints

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

Waterfront Park

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

North Charleston Wannamaker County Park

Sprawling expanse of woodlands & wetlands with grills & picnic spots, plus a fee-based water park.

Folly Beach Pier

The 1,049-foot fishing pier at the heart of Folly Beach — rebuilt in 2023 with the original's sightline restored. Walk-on access is free; fishing requires a county permit. Open daily, lit at night, with a tackle shop and bathrooms at the pier head. The pier runs east into the Atlantic, which makes it one of Charleston's most photographed sunset spots — the light at golden hour is genuinely better behind you than ahead.

Shem Creek Boardwalk

Tidal boardwalk along a working shrimp boat dock in Mount Pleasant, where pelicans outnumber tourists on slow weekday mornings.

Melton Peter Demetre Park

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

Kiawah Beachwalker Park

The only public access to Kiawah Island's ten miles of hard-packed sand. Wide, flat, walkable.

Lowndes Grove

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

Gibbes Museum of Art

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

Ocean Walk at Pitt Street Bridge Park

Paved waterfront path along a converted rail bridge in Old Mt Pleasant, with marsh views, dog walkers, and open sky in every direction.

Charleston Pirate Tours

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

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

A pair of historic military sites with roots dating from 1776 & featuring Charleston Harbor views.

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.

Stono River County Park

Tidal park on Johns Island with boat access, walking trails, and marsh views along the Stono River.

Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site

Colonial-era settlement with many original buildings & ruins, archaeological digs & guided tours.

Fort Sumter Tours & Boat Cruises

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

Stories in the Cemetery

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

Washington Square

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

JWalk Tours

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

The Battery

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

Aiken-Rhett House Museum

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

Liberty Square

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

Powder Magazine Museum

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

Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens

1681 working plantation known for its moss-draped Avenue of Oaks & original slave cabins.

Fort Sumter National Monument

Accessed by boat, this fort with ruins, gun emplacements & a museum saw the Civil War’s first shots.

Gadsdenboro Park

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

Marion Square

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

The Charleston Museum

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

Hampton Plantation State Historic Site

Established in 1735, this historic plantation is an interpretive site about slavery & offers tours.

Carolina Polo and Carriage Co.

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

McLeod Plantation Historic Site

Preserved historical plantation with a Georgian-style mansion, slave cabins & interpretive tours.

Night Heron Park

Wooded park on Kiawah Island with beach access, a nature center, and dog-friendly trails along the marsh edge.

Audubon Swamp Garden

Serene wetlands home to alligators, turtles & peacocks, explored via a boardwalk & bridges.

William Aiken House

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

Governor Thomas Bennett House

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

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.

Nathaniel Russell House Museum

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

Charleston Historic Tours LLC

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

Edmondston-Alston House

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

Charleston, South Carolina

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

Pirate Park

Small neighborhood park on Pierce Street with a pirate-themed playground, free parking, and room for dogs.

Fort Sumter Ferry

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

Charleston City Market

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

Ghost City Tours

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

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.

Brittlebank Park

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

American Theater

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

Quarterman Park

Cozy public park known for its tended green spaces & central pond with a charming fountain.

Rainbow Row

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

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

Two Civil War forts bookending Charleston Harbor, reachable by ferry, where the first shots of the war were fired.

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site

Tours & interactive exhibits at the birthplace of the Carolina colony, first settled in 1670.

Old South Tours

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

West Ashley Park

Expansive landscaped park with soccer & softball fields, a disc golf course, fishing & playgrounds.

Smythe Park

Grassy waterfront park on Daniel Island with a playground, open lawn, and direct access to the Wando River.

United States Custom House

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

Tommy Dew's Walking Tour

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

Ackerman Park

Neighborhood park on Sycamore Ave with open lawns, dog access, and wheelchair-accessible paths in West Ashley.

Heyward-Washington House

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

Theodora Park

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

Childrens Museum of the Lowcountry

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

Station 25 - Public Beach Access

Free public beach access point on Sullivan's Island with parking, a reliable entry for families skipping the Isle of Palms crowds.

Governors Park

Shaded neighborhood park off Fairbanks Oak Alley with live oaks, open lawn, and room for dogs and kids.

The Museum at Market Hall

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

Drayton Hall

Storied, well-preserved antebellum plantation with tranquil grounds & an African-American cemetery.

Joseph Manigault House

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

High Tide Harbor Tours

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

Pickett Park

Park offering a jogging & biking trail with harbor & sunset views, plus fishing areas & boat launch.

Historic Rice Mill

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

Revolutionary Charleston Tours

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

Corrine Jones Park

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

Station 23 - Public Beach Access

Narrow public beach access point on Sullivan's Island where locals park along Middle Street and walk straight to the Atlantic.

Magnolia Plantation Gardens

Romantic-style gardens dating to 1680. Azaleas peak in March; camellias bloom all winter.

Charleston Carriage Works

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

Charles Pinckney National Historic Site

Remnants of a 1700s plantation, with indoor & outdoor exhibits on Charles Pinckney's life & times.

Waterfront Swings

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

South Carolina Society Hall

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

Riverfront Park

This popular green space along the Cooper River features a large meadow & performance pavilion.

Charleston Naval Base Admiral's House

Restored 1905 Colonial Revival officer's residence on the old North Charleston naval base, now bookable for weddings and private events.

South Carolina Historical Society

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

Old Slave Mart Museum

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

Thomson Park

Station 28 1/2 - - Public Beach Access

Childrens Park Daniel Island

Waterfront park on Daniel Island with climbing structures, open lawn, and river views for kids and dogs.

Chapel Street Fountain Park

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

Cannon Park

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

Hibernian Hall

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

Good Food Catering

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

McMahon Playground

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

Dock Street Park

Small neighborhood park on Sprague Street with grass, room for dogs, and a low-key place to let kids run.

The Camden Room

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

General William Moultrie Playground

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

Historic Charleston Foundation

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

Gullah Geechee Black History Tours

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

Ghosts of the South Candlelight

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

The Climbing Wall at James Island County Park

County park climbing wall off Riverland Drive, open to beginners and experienced climbers, with instruction available.

Pinckney Park

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

Station 30 - Public Beach Access

Station 22 1/2 - Public Beach Access

Station 18 - Public Beach Access

When I First Remember(Old Bethel United Methodist Church)

Station 24 - Public Beach Access

Old Village Historic District

Tree-lined antebellum neighborhood in Mount Pleasant where locals walk, jog, and let kids loose among 19th-century cottages along the waterfront.

Station 28 - - Public Beach Access

Gray Line of Charleston

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

Horse Lot Park

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

Station 32 - Public Beach Access

Hazel Parker Playground

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

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.

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.

Fort Sumter Ferry

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

Station 31 - Public Beach Access