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

According to Charleston locals, the top three things to do in Charleston are Magnolia Plantation Gardens, Daniel Island Ferry | Daniel Island (The Waterfront on DI), Charleston Kayak. 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
Charleston
Magnolia Plantation Gardens
Romantic-style gardens dating to 1680. Azaleas peak in March; camellias bloom all winter.
4.410k ratingsgardens · history · spring
Open
2

Map

Tour95 Water / boat88 Indoor30 Free19 Downtown147 Sullivan's Island20 Shem Creek13 Family-friendly106 Outdoor73 History81 Park66

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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-friendly

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.

4.9★·1.2k ratings

Open

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

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

340 Concord St, Charleston

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.

4.6★·174 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

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