What are the best things to do in Charleston, SC?

According to Charleston locals, the top three things to do in Charleston are Daniel Island Ferry | Daniel Island (The Waterfront on DI), Charleston Kayak, Nathaniel Russell House Museum. The full ranked list is at https://www.charlestonranked.com/charleston/things-to-do, updated daily as votes come in.

How does Charleston Ranked rank things to do?

Each activity carries a community rating from Charleston locals, blended with Google, Yelp, and Resy diner scores into one Bayesian display rating. The list re-sorts daily as new votes land — no pay-to-play.

How many things to do are ranked in Charleston?

Charleston Ranked currently lists 9 things to do in the Charleston, SC metro — every entry has at least one local-voter rating or an editorial review.

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Real local rankings.·Community votes.·Updated daily.

Best Things To Do in Charleston (2026) — Ranked by Locals · Updated Daily · CharlestonRanked

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Charleston · Things To Do

Best things to do in Charleston

Read the ranked list →

Tours, parks, gardens, plantations, water — what to do with a free afternoon.

Showing 9 of 240 · June 18, 2026

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1
101 River Landing Dr Dock, CharlestonTrending
Daniel Island Ferry | Daniel Island (The Waterfront on DI)
Passenger ferry connecting Daniel Island's Waterfront to downtown Charleston, running daily with free parking at the River Landing dock.
4.91.2k ratings
Open
2

Map

Tour95 Water / boat88 Museum26 Free19 Downtown147 Sullivan's Island20 Shem Creek13 Family-friendly106 Outdoor73 History81 Indoor30

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AreaDowntown147 Sullivan's Island20 Shem Creek13 Folly Beach10 Mount Pleasant7 James Island7 Daniel Island6 West Ashley5 Hanahan5 North Charleston4 Isle of Palms2 Goose Creek2 Seabrook Island2 Summerville2 Kiawah Island1 Johns Island1 Old Village1

TypeTour95 Museum26 Garden5 Park66 Plantation9 History81 Water / boat88 Shopping district7 Clear

VibeFamily-friendly106

4279 Ashley River Rd, Charleston

Charleston Kayak

Guided kayak tours through the tidal creeks and marshes off the Ashley River, with free parking on site.

4.7★·208 ratings

Open

51 Meeting St, Charleston

Nathaniel Russell House Museum

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

4.6★·1.5k ratings

Open

202 Calhoun St, Charleston

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.

4.6★·353 ratings

Open

746 County Rd S-18-30, Ridgeville

Edisto River Adventures

Canoe and kayak outfitter on the Edisto River, running guided tours and rentals through one of the longest free-flowing blackwater rivers in the country.

4.6★·325 ratings

Open

887 Johnnie Dodds Blvd Suite 216, Mt Pleasant

Tour Pass | Tour Stress-Free & Save

Ticket-bundling tour agency in a Mount Pleasant strip mall handling logistics for Charleston-area attractions.

4.5★·90 ratings

Open

176 Concord St, Charleston

Waterfront Swings

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

4.5★·77 ratings

Open

50 Immigration St, Charleston

Flipper Finders Party Boat Tours

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

4.5★·38 ratings

Open

Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park, 99 Harry M Hallman Jr Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

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.

4.0★·Building·sunset · walking · bridge