Best Things To Do in Charleston, South Carolina

Are you looking for what to do in Charleston?

  • Magnolia Plantation and Gardens: This is a historic estate that is now turned into a lovely museum. There is also a lawn here where you will find artificial lakes, waterfalls and swamps.
  • Charleston Waterfront Park: This is the most beautiful park in the city on the banks of the Cooper River. You get the best view of the crystal waters from here. The peaceful ambience is the most attractive feature a must on your list of Charleston things to do.
  • Arthur Ravene Jr. Bridge: This is a cable stayed bridge that also serves as a watch tower. From here you can get a mind blowing view of the city and most importantly the Cooper River
  • Drayton Hall: This is the best plantation house all over US. The private property of John Drayton is now a public museum where you can explore the life style of the rich people. The furniture and decor are the most notable features of the place.
  • South Carolina Museum: This is a large aquarium house to conserve the wonders of the Amazon. Here you find a plenty of fishes and small water creatures such as turtles, alligators, great blue herons, hawks, owls, lined seahorses, jellyfish, pufferfish, green moray, eels, horseshoe crabs, sea stars, pythons, sharks, etc. Add it to your travel planner.

Below we have a list of things to do in Charleston and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Charleston getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Charleston with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Charleston

Here is the list of things to do in Charleston and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Magnolia Plantation And Gardens

    Wildlife Sanctuary , Garden, Zoo, River

    Registered in the list of National Historic Landmarks, this garden and plantation was built and modified by the Drayton family in the early 18th century. There is an old house and extensive portions of gardens and fields. The Drayton family still looks over the whole garden property even after 15 generations have passed by. Initially they took up the land and built there a small house with a fo...Read more
  2. Charleston Waterfront Park

    4.7 (1737 Votes)
    Charleston Waterfront Park

    Outdoors, Waterfront, Entertainment, Picnic Spot

    This is rated as the most beautiful park in the equally beautiful city. The place where the park is situated was once the centre of maritime trade in the city. The whole square got devastated in a painful fire tragedy and everything went grey. After this the state authorities took up serious initiatives to restore the former glamour of such an important landmark. The people hired the best archi...Read more
  3. Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge

    View Point, River, Bridge, Architecture

    This is a cable- stayed bridge that has been constructed over the beautiful Cooper River. The bridge was formerly known as John.P.Grace Memorial Bridge, after the name of the former Mayor of the city. Later on at the time of renovation, the bridge was renamed after the very famous retired US Congressman Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. This bridge is now not only an important roadway but also a very ...Read more
  4. South Carolina Aquarium

    4.5 (1216 Votes)
    South Carolina Aquarium

    Aquarium

    North American River otters, loggerhead sea turtles, alligators, great blue herons, hawks, owls, lined seahorses, jellyfish, pufferfish, green moray, eels, horseshoe crabs, sea stars, pythons, sharks and many more- Yes! You get to see all of these under the same roof. This aquarium has hundreds of sea animals and plants put on display for us to enjoy. The largest exhibit of all time here is the...Read more
  5. Calhoun Mansion

    4.3 (880 Votes)
    Calhoun Mansion

    Landmark, Architecture , Mansion

    This Victorian manor house that is now open for the public was once upon a time built for a very rich businessman named George W. Williams. It was later inherited by his son-in-law, Patrick Calhoun and this is how the beautiful house got its present name. The house was again bought by another rich family in the year 1976 and they started using it as a hotel before it was again put up for sale. ...Read more
  6. Charleston Cooks - Maverick Kitchen Store

    Food And Drinks

    This is a culinary school with a difference and this is what best defines this amazing place. This is a place where you can learn cooking, buy stuffs to make your food taste heavenly and also get advices about cuisines from experts. Yes, they have it all under one roof. It is the best place not only for a person who loves to cook but even for those who love to eat. They have branches in three p...Read more
  7. Old City Market

    4.5 (1756 Votes)
    Old City Market

    Historical Site, Market

    This is the one of the city’s most colorful and vibrant places. The market is also known as the Historic City market or the Center Market and is declared a National Historic Landmark. If you want to know how the people talk and how they are originally, you should come to this place and you will get an idea of everything! This market is the oldest complex in the city and covers the longest...Read more
  8. The Old Exchange And Provost Dungeon

    Landmark, Historical Site

    This is one of the oldest buildings of the city that has now been declared as a National Historic Landmark. This building has been renovated several times being hit and damaged by natural calamities a number of times. The importance of this building is not one. It has served as a customhouse, mercantile exchange, military prison and barracks. The old Exchange mostly served as the prison and the...Read more
  9. College Of Charleston

    4.4 (767 Votes)
    College Of Charleston

    Educational Site, University

    This college is the oldest higher educational institute in the state and the oldest Municipal College or university in the whole country. According to statistics it is the 12th oldest college in the whole of US. Initially established as a small purely Arts college it has now many branches of it. This heritage building is not just an important landmark but also plays a great role in the emergenc...Read more
  10. Old Slave Mart Museum

    4.4 (801 Votes)
    Old Slave Mart Museum

    Art Museum, Art Gallery, Historical Site

    As you must have seen in movies or read in old stories, slavery was a common phenomenon in the countries ruled and lived in by the Whites’. This place is one such where the slaves were set for display. Yes, the name comes from the fact that this was a slave display gallery in earlier times. The name of this stretch of street where the museum still remains was Ryan Street. This was where s...Read more
  11. Charleston Water Taxi

    4.4 (384 Votes)
    Charleston Water Taxi

    Outdoors, Waterfront, Entertainment, Boating

    This is one awesome opportunity to explore the beautiful city by means of water transport. If you want to enjoy the sight of cute dolphins playing in the water, there cannot be a better way to do so. The ride in a water taxi not only lets you enjoy the beauty of the harbor and water but this long tour also ensures that you get through all important attractions in and around the city. There are ...Read more
  12. Sound Of Charleston

    Entertainment, Performance, Concert

    These are amazing musical concerts and shows that bring out the best of the traditional musical culture of the city. They perform music in sets to put light on the history of the city. You will get to know how jazz, Gershwin, light classics and other war music sound in the native Charleston tone and styles. The shows are performed by professional musicians of the city itself and they perform mu...Read more
  13. The Citadel

    4.5 (314 Votes)
    The Citadel

    Educational Site, Military Area

    This is the military College of the state that is run and administered by the State Government of South Carolina. The college provides under graduate and graduate courses to all cadets who are would -be heroes of the country. The admission was restricted to male students till the year 1996 which then changed to all genders- boys and girls. It has a complete residential portion for students as i...Read more
  14. Cathedral Of Saint John The Baptist

    Religious Site, Architecture , Cathedral

    This is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston. The church was built on the foundation ruins of the 19th century original church named Cathedral of St. Johns and Saint Finbar. This church got devastated in a major fire tragedy and in that place came up the present building. This building according to historical sources has withstood many a natural calamities. The domes an...Read more
  15. Charles Towne Landing

    4.6 (244 Votes)
    Charles Towne Landing

    Art And Culture, Garden, Town, Archaeological Site

    This is an initiative to preserve the first site of Colonial settlement in the city. The place was opened to mark the 300 years of colonial settlement here. The place that covers a large area has everything that the people in earlier times used. It is a perfect place to get an insight onto the lifestyle and culture of the natives and early foreign settlements over here. They have a crop garden ...Read more

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  • when is it low tide today ? thanks

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  • from Francis Marion hotel to do for 2-3 hours walking over 1 block handicapped

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    • Hey, Ralph. I think it would be better to call the Francis Marion Hotel on 843-722-0600 as they will be the best ones to know this locality well. 

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  • Is there a Children's Museum in Charleston South Carolina that will be open March 30, 2019?

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    • You may visit the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry in Charleston, South Carolina. It is located at the following address: 25 Ann Street, Charleston, SC 29403. The visiting hours for 30th March are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For more information, you may call 843.853.8962. 

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