12 Cool Tourist Attractions to Visit and Fun Things to Do in Charleston, SC

May 29, 2022 Mustafa Natalwala 1833 Views

Charleston is a city in South Carolina (SC) State in the United States of America. Some of the best things to do in Charleston, SC include exploring civil war history, revolution war history, museums, plantations, national historical sites, landmark buildings, parks, river cruise and beach activities.

The city was established in 1670 as Charles Town in honor of the British King Charles II. The current name was adopted 1783. It was a major port and was extensively used for slave trading. You get to see this dark aspect of the city’s history at Charleston attractions like the city’s history museum and African American museum. The city also had a lot of plantations which had used slaves. Some of these plantation sites are now converted into museums. These are the best places to visit in Charleston, SC to learn about the life of different classes of people during that period.

The city also has deep rooted connection to the revolution war and the civil war. There are numerous things to see in Charleston, especially on the coastal side of the city. Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie, White Point Garden and several other historical sites in Charleston SC have been pivotal avenues in the American Civil War for the control over the region. Though not entirely dedicated to Civil War, the Patriots Point Maritime and Naval Museum is one of the most popular places to see in Charleston, SC for a variety of naval and air-force vessels housed in there.

Being a coastal city, there are a lot of fun activities in Charleston. You can take a boat tour to explore coastal historical site or nature trails in the marshlands. The carriage tours are also quite popular for Charleston sightseeing. The beaches are also quite nice for leisure and water sports. You will come across several dining and nightlife venues along the beaches and the waterfronts.

This Blog Post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything from that link then I may earn small part of commission and for that you do not need to pay any extra amount.

Table of Contents

The Top 12 Tourist Places to Visit in Charleston in 3 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Before you start your Charleston Trip, if you are planning to stay for more than 3 days then I suggest you should get Charleston Tour Pass and it covers 40+ Tourist Attractions and Tours in Charleston.

Day 1

1. The Battery and White Point Garden

The battery is a defensive seawall and also a promenade. White Point Garden has a long and storied history intertwined with the city. It was built as a garden, but in 1861 it was incorporated into the fortification of the city. It is one of the most historically significant places to visit in Charleston SC. You can still see cannons hailing from the revolutionary war and the civil war periods. You would need 20 to 30 minutes at White Point Garden when you visit Charleston SC.

2. Nathaniel Russel House

Nathaniel Russel was a wealthy merchant who lived during the 1800s and this house museum tells about life during that time. The house is well known among Charleston attractions for its Neo-Classical design and interior decor crafted by city’s artisans. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to tour this house museum.

3. Rainbow Row

This building contains a row of 13 historical houses painted in different colours. It is the building with longest cluster of Georgian row houses in the country. Rainbow Row is one of the most picturesque things to see in Charleston SC. You will need only a few minutes to admire them.

4. Joe Riley Waterfront Park

This park and promenade is situated on the banks of the Cooper river. The park has garden spaces, fountains, walking paths and great views. You can also spot several Charleston tourist attractions form the park such as the Harbour, Ravenel Bridge, Castle Pickney, USS Yorktown and more. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this park during Charleston travel.

5. Historic Charleston City Market

This open air market has been an integral part of the city’s history and culture. It is open year long and you can enjoy a shopping for local produce, handicraft items, furniture, jewelry, street food and a variety of cool things to do in Charleston SC at this place. You will need about 2 hours to explore this market.

Day 2

1. Middleton Place Plantation

This plantation was developed during the 18th century by Middleton Family. The plantation allows an insight into the life of slaves and owners of such plantations during that period. The plantation is also known for its architecture and design. It is one of the largest Charleston SC attractions to explore and will require at least 2 hours of time.

I suggest you should book a guided tour Middleton Place.

2. Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

This is one of the oldest plantations in South Carolina state and is now recognized as one of the most beautiful gardens in USA. The garden besides its design elements is also popular for Charleston activities like birdwatching. You will need an hour or so to explore this place.

I suggest you should book a tour of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens with Transportation from Charleston.

3. The Charleston Museum

This museum narrates the history of the city. Founded in 1773, this is one of the oldest museums in USA. You get an extensive understanding of the city’s history and it is hence places you must see in Charleston SC. It will help you get context regarding rest of the places you visit in the city. You will need about 2 hours to tour this museum.

4. Patriots Point & USS Yorktown

This is a naval and maritime museum which explores the sea-faring history of America. You can witness historical vessels displayed as part of this museum making it one of the most interesting places to see in Charleston. You will need 2 hours to tour this museum.

Day 3

1. Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon (Custom House)

Also known as the Custom House, this building is a relic of the colonial era. The building played various roles during its tenure and is among the most significant historical sites in Charleston SC. You will need an hour to explore the building and its museum.

2. Fort Sumter National Monument

This fort has great historical significance in the history of USA. It is the place where the Civil War began in 1861. You will need to take a boat ride to get to this island fort and explore its history. All in all the tour requires 3 to 4 hours of time.

I suggest you should book your entry ticket of Fort Sumter with Ferry Ride.

3. South Carolina Aquarium

This aquarium houses 10,000 aquatic flora and fauna. Some of the biggest attractions of this aquarium include otters, sharks, alligators, jellyfishes, eels, sea turtles, crabs, sea-lions and so on. It is among the best things to do in Charleston SC for family tourists and requires at least 2 hours of time to explore.

I suggest during your trip to Charleston, you must try following activities.

If you are looking for more activities to do in Charleston SC, check out the sections below. We have prepared an exhaustive list containing almost all the attractions and must do things in Charleston SC you can enjoy during your trip.

Things to do in Charleston

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Charleston

Fort Sumter
Magnolia Plantation
Historic Charleston City Market
Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens
Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum
Middleton Plantation
Gibbes Museum of Art
The Charleston Museum
Drayton Hall
Fort Moultrie
Old Exchange and Provost
Charles Town Landing State Historic Site
Charles Pickney National Historical Site
Old Slave Mart Museum
Nathaniel Russel House
Aiken Rhett House Museum
Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry
McLeod Plantation Historic Site
Morris Island Lighthouse
USS Yorktown
Heyward Washington House
H.L. Hunley Submarine
The Williams Mansion
Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art
Powder Magazine Military Museum
Magnolia Cemetery Trust
Joseph Manigault House
St. Philip’s Church
Saint Michael’s Church
Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront
Old Charleston Jail
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
North Charleston Fire Museum
French Huguenot Church
International African American Museum
Circular Congressional Church
Sullivan Island Lighthouse
Southeastern Wildlife Exposition
Unitarian Church
Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
Lighthouse Inlet
Mother Emanuel AME Church
Museum at Market Hall
Redux Contemporary Art Center
City Gallery
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
South Carolina Historical Society
Pink House Gallery
Mary Martin Fine Art Gallery
Parris Island Museum
South Carolina State House
South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum
Battle of Rivers Bridge State Historical Site
Robert Lange Studios
Meyer Vogl Gallery
Atrium Art Gallery
Charleston Artist Guild
Revealed Art Gallery
Edward Dare Gallery
Lowcountry Artists Gallery
John Caroll Doyle Art Gallery

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Charleston

Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Francis Marion National Forest
Audubon Swamp Garden
The Avian Conservation Center
Barrier Islands

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Charleston

South Carolina Aquarium
Joe Riley Waterfront Park
White Point Garden
James Island County Park
Hampton Park
Folly Beach County Park
Palmetto Carriage Works
Palmetto Islands County Park
Shen Creek Park
Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
Firefly Distillery
Riverfront Park
Splash Zone Waterpark
Charleston County Park and Recreation
Brittlebank Park
Colonial Lake Park
Washington Park
Palmetto Brewing Co.
Laural Hill County Park
Wild Blue Ropes Adventure Park
Charleston Sailing Adventures

Shopping in Charleston

Charleston City Market
Quadrangle Shopping Center
Charleston Farmers Market
Mount Pleasant Old Village
Pitt Street
King Street
Ashley Landing
Tanger Outlets
Orange Grove Plaza Shopping Center
South Windermere Center
Citadel Mall
The Shops at Belmond Charleston Place

Beaches & Islands in Charleston

Folly Beach
Sullivan’s Island Beach
Morris Island
Daniel Island
Kiawah Beach
Isle of Palms
Seabrook Island

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure Activities to Do in Charleston

Boat Cruise
Walking Tour
Paddle Boarding
Nature Trails
Carriage Tour
Fishing
Bicycle Tour
Zipline
Jet Skiing
Surfing
Birdwatching
Watersports
Parasailing
Kayaking
Sailing

Sightseeing in Charleston

Rainbow Row
The Battery
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
Angel Oak Tree
King Street
Pineapple Fountain
Edmondston Alston House
Charleston Harbour
Marion Square
Broad Street
Mount Pleasant Pier
East Bay Street
Liberty Square
Old Village
Pitt Street Bridge

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Charleston

Pavilion Bar
Nigel’s Good Food
Obstinate Daughter
Jackrabbit Filly
Wild Olive
Bertha’s
Maison
Hannibal’s Kitchen
Lewis Barbecue
Chubby Fish
Xiao Bao Biscuit
Kwei Fei
Miller All Day
The Ordinary
167 Raw
Husk
Vicious Biscuit
Chez Nous
Peace Pie
Le Farfalle

Where to Stay in Charleston?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Charleston. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Charleston.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Charleston

How to Reach Charleston?

By Air

Charleston International Airport received direct flights from Seattle, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Charlotte, Dallas, Miami, Washington DC, Chicago, New Haven, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Long Island, New Orleans, San Francisco, Tampa, New York City, Boston, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Orlando, Austin, Baltimore, Houston, Nashville, Denver and many more.

You can get cabs and buses from the airport to visit Charleston SC.

By Road

You can use trains on Amtrak’s Palmetto route for Charleston travel. You will get direct trains from New York, Washington, Savannah, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami. There are also numerous cities from where you can get connecting trains to reach Charleston SC.

The bus network also connects you to several towns and cities in the country. The Greyhound and ACE Basin Express are the most popular options to travel by bus.

If you are planning for a Charleston trip by road, you can pick between routes 526 and 26.

By Water

The Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway connects Charleston SC to Norfolk, Elizabeth City, Beaufort, Wilmington, Savannah, Fernandina Beach, Key West, and Miami.

Image Reference

The Battery & White Point Garden – Warren LeMay / Flickr
Nathaniel Russell House – Wally Gobetz / Flickr
Rainbow Row – Warren LeMay / Flickr
Joe Riley Waterfront Park – Doug Kerr / Flickr
Historic Charleston City Market – Vincent Lammin / Flickr
Middleton Place Plantation – Davey Borden / Flickr
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens – denisbin / Flickr
The Charleston Museum – Wally Gobetz / Flickr
Patriots Point & USS Yorktown – Mr.TinMD / Flickr
Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon (Custom House) – crdt723 / Flickr
Fort Sumter National Monument – M Fletcher / Flickr
South Carolina Aquarium – ProfReader / Wikimedia Commons