The Anti-Influencer’s List of Things to Do in Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston isn’t just a city—it’s a feeling. It’s the creak of a carriage wheel down a cobblestone street, the shimmer of Spanish moss in the golden hour, and the soft drawl of history wrapped in salt air. Whether you're here for the Lowcountry cuisine, the pastel mansions of South of Broad, or the waterfront views that never get old, there’s an undeniable magic to this place.

With its mix of antebellum architecture, modern art galleries, Gullah culture, and breezy barrier islands, Charleston offers more than just things to see—it gives you stories to carry home. One moment you’re sipping a sweet tea on King Street; the next, you’re standing at the edge of Fort Sumter where the first shots of the Civil War rang out.

So whether you’re a foodie, a history buff, or just someone who loves a good walk under live oaks, Charleston will charm you quietly and completely. Let’s dive into the best things to do in Charleston—and how to make every moment count.

1. Walk the Historic Charleston City Market

Location: 188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401

A visit to the Charleston City Market is like walking through a living piece of Southern history. First opened in the 1790s, this open-air market has evolved from a produce and meat exchange into a bustling four-block showcase of Lowcountry culture. Today, you’ll find everything from handwoven sweetgrass baskets and local art to benne wafers and hot sauce made just down the road.

The market is especially lively in the mornings, when local vendors set up shop and the scent of pralines wafts through the air. Walk slowly. Talk to the artisans. Ask questions. You’re not just shopping—you’re experiencing generations of Charleston tradition in real time.

Sweetgrass baskets, in particular, are a must-see. These coiled masterpieces have roots in West African craftsmanship passed down by the Gullah people. They’re more than souvenirs—they’re cultural heirlooms.

2. Take a Carriage Ride Through the Historic District

Departure Point: 8 Guignard St, Charleston, SC 29401 (varies by tour company)

Sure, it’s a little touristy—but there’s a reason carriage tours have endured in Charleston for decades. Climb into a horse-drawn carriage and you're not just getting a ride—you’re getting a story-driven journey through 300+ years of Charleston history, narrated by guides who are part historian, part comedian.

Routes are assigned randomly by the city to protect horse welfare and manage traffic, so no two tours are the same. You might pass Rainbow Row and the Battery one day, and stately churches and hidden alleys the next. Along the way, your guide will share stories of pirate raids, antebellum drama, and architectural quirks you’d otherwise walk right by.

It's a fun, low-effort way to absorb the charm and complexity of the Historic District, especially in the heat of summer or with kids in tow.

3. Visit Fort Sumter National Monument

Ferry Departure: Liberty Square – 340 Concord St, Charleston, SC 29401
Alternate: Patriots Point – 40 Patriots Point Rd, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

It was here, on April 12, 1861, that the first cannon fired and the Civil War began. Fort Sumter may be a ruin now, but standing on this island in Charleston Harbor, surrounded by 360° water views and echoes of the past, you’ll feel the weight of what happened here.

Accessible only by ferry, Fort Sumter National Monument offers more than just a history lesson. The boat ride itself provides sweeping views of downtown Charleston, the Ravenel Bridge, and even dolphins if you’re lucky. Once on the island, walk through the crumbled walls, explore museum exhibits, and talk to park rangers who bring these turbulent chapters of American history to life.

Whether you're a history buff or just craving a breezy harbor excursion with meaning, this experience roots you deeper in Charleston’s layered, complicated soul.

4. Stroll Along the Battery & White Point Garden

Location: East Battery & Murray Blvd, Charleston, SC 29401

Strolling the Battery is like flipping through a living picture book of Charleston’s past and present. Facing Charleston Harbor and lined with antebellum mansions and breezy oak trees, this stretch of waterfront promenade is iconic for a reason.

As you walk the seawall, you’ll pass historic cannons, war memorials, swaying palmettos, and picture-perfect mansions with piazzas so ornate they practically beg for a mint julep. The centerpiece is White Point Garden, a shaded park at the Battery’s southern tip filled with Civil War relics, curious squirrels, and locals enjoying a lazy afternoon.

This is where locals come to clear their heads. It's where visitors fall in love with Charleston. And it’s absolutely where you go if you want to catch the sun dipping behind church steeples and sailboats—sunset here is a full-sensory experience.

5. Explore Rainbow Row

Location: 83–107 East Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401

It’s Charleston’s most photographed stretch—and once you see it, you’ll understand why. But Rainbow Row isn’t just a collection of pastel facades made for Instagram. These 13 iconic Georgian-style townhouses, painted in soft pinks, blues, yellows, and greens, are deeply rooted in Charleston’s post-Revolutionary history.

Originally built in the mid-1700s as merchant homes with storefronts below, the buildings fell into disrepair after the Civil War. It wasn’t until the 1930s that preservation efforts (led by homeowner Dorothy Porcher Legge) began reviving them—starting with that now-famous shade of Caribbean pink. Others followed suit, and Rainbow Row was reborn as a symbol of Charleston’s resilience and commitment to preservation.

Today, visitors stroll East Bay Street for photos, architectural admiration, or just a quiet moment beneath the crepe myrtles. It’s a short walk from Waterfront Park and worth pausing to appreciate how Charleston wears its history in full color.

6. Eat Your Way Through the City on a Food Tour

Departure Points Vary: Popular companies include Charleston Culinary Tours and Bulldog Tours

Charleston’s food scene isn’t just good—it’s a flavor-filled time capsule of the South, woven with Gullah influences, French techniques, and a deep reverence for the coast. Sure, you could try to eat your way through it solo—but a guided food tour connects the bites with the stories behind them.

Expect to sample Lowcountry icons like she-crab soup, fried green tomatoes, shrimp & grits, benne wafers, and artisan biscuits—all while strolling historic streets with a guide who shares how these dishes came to be. You’ll also visit beloved local spots, from family-run eateries to trendsetting kitchens tucked into 18th-century buildings.

Best of all, you won’t just leave full—you’ll leave fed in both body and context.

7. Visit Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens

Location: 1235 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

Boone Hall is more than a postcard-perfect avenue of oak trees draped in Spanish moss—it’s one of America’s oldest working plantations, founded in 1681, and one of the few that confronts the full weight of its past.

Your visit begins beneath the iconic Avenue of Oaks, planted in 1743, creating a stunning—and sobering—gateway to the main house. Inside, costumed interpreters offer guided tours of the Georgian-style mansion. But the real heart of Boone Hall lies beyond the big house: nine preserved slave cabins now host deeply moving exhibits on Gullah culture, African American history, and the legacy of slavery in the Lowcountry.

Live performances, known as the “Exploring the Gullah Culture” presentation, offer powerful, personal insight into traditions, foodways, language, and music that have shaped the South for centuries.

Boone Hall balances beauty with brutal honesty, and that’s what makes it essential.

8. Relax at Folly Beach

Location: Folly Island, ~20 minutes south of downtown Charleston

If Charleston is a grand Southern lady, Folly Beach is her barefoot younger sister—laid-back, sun-kissed, and happily salty. A quick drive from downtown lands you in this easygoing surf town where the rules are looser, the tacos are hotter, and the tides set the pace.

The beach itself is wide and relaxed, popular for swimming, shelling, and people-watching. Head to Folly Beach Pier for fishing or sunset views, or take a short stroll to the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve for quieter vibes and a peek at the Morris Island Lighthouse offshore.

After beach time, clean up just enough to grab a table at Taco Boy, The Washout, or Lost Dog Café, where the dress code leans heavy on sandy flip-flops.

Folly doesn’t care if you have an itinerary. It just wants you to exhale.

9. Explore the Charleston Museum

Location: 360 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403

Tucked just north of Marion Square, the Charleston Museum holds a title no other American institution can claim: it’s the first museum in the United States, founded in 1773—three years before the Declaration of Independence.

But this museum is no dusty relic. Inside, you’ll find a rich cross-section of Charleston’s story, from colonial life and Revolutionary War relics to Civil War-era clothing and Gullah heritage artifacts. The museum does a particularly good job of contextualizing the city's past—not romanticizing it—while also rotating in modern exhibits that tackle evolving topics like climate resilience and cultural preservation.

There’s also a Kidstory exhibit that helps younger visitors connect to history through interactive play. For adults, it’s a chance to better understand Charleston’s identity—not just as a beautiful place, but as a city that has weathered war, wealth, slavery, and reinvention.

🏠 10. Visit the Aiken-Rhett House

Location: 48 Elizabeth St, Charleston, SC 29403

This isn’t your typical “restored to perfection” Southern mansion. In fact, the power of the Aiken-Rhett House lies in how much has been left untouched.

Built in 1820 and expanded by Governor William Aiken Jr. in the 1830s, the house has been preserved—not renovated—to show the contrasts of antebellum life with brutal honesty. Inside, cracked plaster and faded wallpaper frame rooms filled with original furnishings, echoing the lifestyle of Charleston’s elite. But the self-guided audio tour takes you deeper, leading you through the preserved slave quarters, kitchens, and workspaces that supported this grandeur.

Rather than romanticizing the past, the Aiken-Rhett House confronts it head-on, giving voice to the enslaved people who lived and labored here. It’s haunting, moving, and essential.

11. Take a Ghost Tour or Dark History Walking Tour

Departure Points Vary: Bulldog Tours, Ghost City Tours, and others around the Historic District

In a city where wars were fought, duels were settled, and yellow fever once swept the streets, it’s no wonder Charleston has stories that won’t stay buried. But this isn’t cheap jump-scare tourism. A well-run ghost or dark history tour blends theatrical storytelling with real historical events, walking you through churchyards, alleyways, and centuries-old jail cells under flickering gas lamps.

You might hear tales of Lavinia Fisher—the woman some call America’s first female serial killer—or visit the Old City Jail, where pirates and Civil War prisoners were once held. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, you’ll gain a deeper sense of Charleston’s haunted past and the ways memory lingers in the bricks.

Some tours lean heavily on theatrics, while others stick to facts with chilling accuracy. Either way, Charleston after dark offers a different kind of charm—one lit by history, not just streetlights.

12. Roam King Street for Shopping & Style

Location: King Street, from Broad St. to Calhoun St. and beyond

King Street is Charleston’s style statement in sidewalk form—a vibrant blend of indie fashion boutiques, Southern-chic décor shops, antique galleries, and national brands, all set beneath historic facades.

Split into three sections—Lower King (antiques), Middle King (fashion and retail), and Upper King (restaurants and nightlife)—the street offers something for every kind of shopper and stroller. Duck into Blue Bicycle Books for rare finds, grab a coffee at The Rise, or splurge at Hampden Clothing for high-end pieces worn by celebs and Charleston socialites alike.

Come weekend evenings, Upper King pulses with energy. Locals pour into rooftop bars, oyster joints, and speakeasy-style lounges. Whether you’re sipping cocktails or treasure hunting, King Street is where Charleston shows off its modern edge—with just enough Southern drawl to keep it grounded.

13. Kayak or Paddleboard in Shem Creek

Launch Points: Shem Creek Park – 1407 Shrimp Boat Ln, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
Rental Companies: Coastal Expeditions, Nature Adventures, Shem Creek Kayak Rentals

Sometimes, the best way to understand a place is from the water. Just across the Ravenel Bridge in Mount Pleasant, Shem Creek offers one of Charleston’s most peaceful, photogenic paddling experiences. This tidal creek winds through marshes, past shrimp boats and waterfront restaurants, and is often visited by pods of curious dolphins—especially in the mornings or early evenings.

Whether you're kayaking solo or joining a guided eco-tour, the views are stellar: herons in flight, pluff mud at low tide, and boats bringing in the day’s catch. Paddling Shem Creek is less about adrenaline and more about rhythm—the rhythm of the tides, the paddles, and life on the water.

Afterward, reward yourself with a meal at Tavern & Table or Red’s Ice House, where you can sip a cold drink and watch the sunset over the water you just explored.

14. Discover Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Location: 3550 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414

Magnolia Plantation is where Charleston’s natural beauty meets its complicated past. Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, it’s the oldest public garden in America—and one of the most emotionally resonant experiences in the region.

The gardens are the showstopper: winding paths through romantic, unmanicured landscapes, where camellias, azaleas, and live oaks frame bridges and ponds that feel plucked from a dream. But there’s also a historic house, a nature tram tour, boardwalks over cypress swamps, and even a petting zoo for families.

Just as important are the "From Slavery to Freedom" tours, which guide visitors through original slave cabins and share the stories of the enslaved Africans and African Americans who lived and worked here. Magnolia balances its visual charm with a commitment to truth—and that’s what makes it unforgettable.

15. Climb the Lighthouse at Sullivan’s Island

Location: Station 18 1/2 St, Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
Official Name: Charleston Light

Just 20 minutes from downtown Charleston, Sullivan’s Island offers a more local, laid-back beach vibe—with a twist of architectural oddity. The Charleston Light, also known as Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse, doesn’t look like your classic candy-striped tower. Instead, it’s a striking modernist triangle with sharp lines and black-and-white paint, built in 1962 to replace older, storm-damaged lighthouses.

It’s not always open to the public, but during special events or National Lighthouse Day, visitors can climb the 163-foot tower for sweeping views of the Atlantic, Fort Sumter, and the Charleston skyline. Even if you can’t go inside, it’s worth visiting for the quiet beach walks, dolphin sightings, and the sense that time moves a little slower here.

Sullivan’s is the kind of place where locals bring a book, a beach chair, and no plans—just a sunset to watch.

🧭 16. Visit the International African American Museum (IAAM)

Location: 14 Wharfside St, Charleston, SC 29401
Opened: June 2023

This is more than a museum—it’s a reckoning, a reclamation, and a national treasure. The International African American Museum (IAAM) opened in 2023 on the exact site of Gadsden’s Wharf, where an estimated 40% of all enslaved Africans entered North America.

Rather than shying away from pain, the museum leans into it—with compassion, clarity, and immersive exhibits that honor the lives, cultures, and contributions of African Americans from the Middle Passage to the present day. Walk through powerful visual storytelling spaces, genealogical archives, and the outdoor African Ancestors Memorial Garden, which invites quiet reflection in the shadow of the harbor.

IAAM doesn’t offer easy answers. What it offers is truth, and a deeper understanding of Charleston—and America.

17. Grab Drinks on a Rooftop Bar

Location: Various rooftops in the Historic District

When the sun starts to sink and the church steeples catch the last golden light, Charleston’s rooftops come alive. There's no better way to end a day of sightseeing—or start a night out—than with a cocktail and a panoramic view of the city.

Each rooftop has its own vibe. The Vendue offers artsy energy, with rotating gallery spaces below and cocktails above. The Watch at The Restoration gives you classic Lowcountry views with a refined, relaxed mood—think skyline dining with shrimp & grits and a craft bourbon in hand. Want a splash of glamour? Head to Élevé at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, where velvet booths, floral walls, and well-dressed locals give off sleek, European lounge energy.

Charleston’s skyline isn’t full of high-rises, and that’s exactly why these rooftop views feel personal. It’s not about towering over the city—it’s about sitting eye-level with its soul.

Conclusion

Charleston is the kind of place that doesn’t ask for your attention—it earns it. One moment you’re tracing cobblestones beside gas lamps and pastel row houses, the next you're standing in a museum on sacred ground or watching the sun melt into marshland from a rooftop bar.

It’s a city where the past is not just preserved but spoken aloud, where beauty and complexity coexist in almost every experience—from the hush of Magnolia’s cypress swamps to the laughter echoing through King Street after dark. The charm here isn’t just in the architecture or the oysters—it’s in the way Charleston invites you to slow down, pay attention, and feel something real.

Whether you're here for a weekend or wandering for longer, you'll leave with more than photos—you’ll carry stories, flavors, and reflections that linger far beyond your stay.

And that’s the magic of Charleston. It’s not just a destination. It’s a conversation you’ll want to keep having.

FAQ

1. What is Charleston, SC best known for?

Charleston is best known for its well-preserved historic district, rich antebellum architecture, cobblestone streets, and deep-rooted Southern charm. It’s also famous for its culinary scene—think she-crab soup and shrimp and grits—and its complex, layered history, including its role in the Civil War and African American heritage.

2. Is Charleston worth visiting for a weekend?

Absolutely. A weekend in Charleston can feel surprisingly full—start with a walking tour or carriage ride downtown, enjoy fresh seafood by the waterfront, then explore a plantation or take a ghost tour at night. Whether you're into food, history, or the beach, Charleston packs a lot of heart into a short stay.

3. What’s the best time of year to visit Charleston?

Spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) offer ideal weather—warm days, breezy nights, and fewer crowds than peak summer. Azaleas bloom in spring, and festivals are plentiful in both seasons. Summers are beautiful but hot and humid; winters are mild and quieter.

4. How far is Charleston from Folly Beach?

Folly Beach is just about 12 miles from downtown Charleston, or roughly 20–25 minutes by car, depending on traffic. It’s an easy day trip or half-day escape for sunbathing, surfing, or simply relaxing by the water.

5. Is Charleston walkable for tourists?

Yes—Charleston’s historic district is very walkable, with most major attractions, restaurants, and shops located within a few square miles. You’ll want comfortable shoes for the cobblestone streets, and many visitors enjoy combining walking with occasional rides on bike taxis or the free DASH trolley.