Charleston, South Carolina is full of rich history, delicious food, and fun things to do! It is the perfect place for a weekend trip with your friends, family, or spouse. From top to bottom, Charleston is about two miles wide–making it super easy to get around via bike, car, or (in some areas) on foot. Ready to explore this southern gem in South Carolina? Here’s your guide for things to see and do in Charleston!
Things To Do
Rainbow Row: Probably one of the ~most~ notable things to do in Charleston is Rainbow Road. Located from 79 to 107 East Bay Street, Rainbow Row boasts gorgeous, pastel, Georgian houses. If you’re a fan of architecture + color, this is a must see. Visit in the morning for less crowds as this is a popular tourist attraction.
Ghost Tour: Due to this history of Charleston, it is known to be one of the most haunted cities in America. So naturally, a ghost tour is a must do while visiting! I recommend booking through Bulldog Tours and going at night for those extra spooky vibes.
Cypress Gardens: Located about 25 minutes north of Charleston, Cypress Gardens provides 170 acres of green space for you to explore. Spend the day hiking through trails or enjoy a self guided boat ride through the 80 acre swamp. You make even get lucky like we did and see a cute, lil alligator. Fun fact, this is where they shot the famous pond scene in The Notebook!
Waterfront Park: Take a stroll along Charlestons waterfront and enjoy beautiful views, see some four legged fur friends, and visit the iconic pineapple fountain.
Angels Oak Tree: Estimated to be 400-500 years old, the Angel Oak Tree noted to be one of the oldest living things this side of the Mississippi. Standing 65 feet high, the only words to describe this tree are gigantic and beautiful. Take the trip to Johns Island and see for yourself. Please be respectful of the rules in place, as this tree is very old and fragile in some parts.
Fort Sumter: Take a boat out to Fort Sumter and see the spot where the American Civil War started.
Historic Home Tours: There are tons of historic homes you can visit in Charleston. Some of the more popular ones are The Aiken-Rhett House and The Nathaniel-Russell House. You can buy tickets to both of these houses as a package to save some money if you plan to visit them in the same day!
Street Fair: On the second Sunday of each month, Charleston closes King Street to cars and allows pedestrians + their fur babies to walk around and shop, eat, and enjoy music. I thought it would be more like a market full of vendors + booths, but it was just the stores along the street that were open. It was still a fun, free, dog friendly thing to do!
Charleston City Market: Located in Downtown Charleston, the City Market is a historic site built in the 1790s that you can buy souvenirs from. I will say, there were only a few vendors there that provided unique, handmade items. Most of the things for sale there were mass produced trinkets, so I was pretty unimpressed by the market. It is still cool to check out a little piece of history while walking around there, though!
Tour a Plantation: Though slavery is an incredibly sad part of US history, I am the kind of person who values the importance of education. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time during our trip, I’ve heard amazing things about the tour at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. I definitely plan to take a tour there the next time I’m in Charleston. Plus they have beautiful gardens you can explore to ease your mind after learning about the horrific events that happened there.
This guide just scratches the surface of things to do in Charleston! With so much history, there’s tons of museums, homes, and gardens to explore. My other favorite thing to do in Charleston is EAT! I mean you can’t visit the South and not enjoy all the southern cooking. For all things foodie in Charleston, head over to my guide on Best Places to Eat at in Charleston! What are some of your Charleston must dos? Drop them in the comments so I know where to go on my next visit!
til the next trip,
bre <3
21 responses to “The Best Things to do in Charleston, South Carolina”
That Rainbow Row looks so cute! I love the Angel Oak Tree too! Thank you for sharing these!
The Angel Oak tree was one of my favorite parts! It’s amazes me when I think about all that it has lived through. If only trees could talk…
The place at night looks so cool. Especially, with the moon and clouds and trees. Interesting place!
It was so cool! We went during a tropical storm too, so it was really windy. It gave it an eerie feel to it!
We had a quick stopover in Charleston on our way home from Savannah; I have to say, it indeed was not enough time. You make it sound so amazing! I cannot wait for our return trip!
It was so much fun and there’s still so much I want to go back and do! It’s such a charming little city!
Charleston is one of our favorite places to visit!
We loved it! From the food to the activities, there was never a dull moment!
I have been to Charleston and you hit everything I would want to do if I was a first time visitor.
Thank you! It was such a great place to visit!
The more I read about Charleston, they more I want to visit!
It’s definitely worth a visit! So charming with so much history, there’s a never ending list of things to see and do!
Charleston is one of my favorite cities in the US! I love this post, thanks for sharing!!
Thank you! I loved Charleston and hope to make it back there one day!
We visited Angel Oak on our visit to Charleston, and it was just mind-glowingly big – I couldn’t quite fathom the scale. I also recommend the Old Slave Mart Museum – it is very well laid out and educational.
I was blown away by Angel Oak! I did not expect it to be as big as it was. Thank you! I’ll have to add that to my list for my next visit!
I was in Charleston for a day a few years ago but I’d love to go back. Thank you for these suggestions!
It is such a charming little city with so much to do! Looking forward to going back one day!
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Charleston looks amazing! I will definitely consider visit x
It was my first time visiting and I loved it! There’s still so much I want to do!