Best Things to Do in Charleston: A Local's Short List

At a glance

• Where: Charleston, South Carolina; most picks are on the downtown peninsula, a few are in West Ashley and on Johns Island
• Best anchors: Fort Sumter, Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, Joe Riley Waterfront Park, Drayton Hall
• Hours: Typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for museums and sites; check each official site before you go
• Cost: Angel Oak is free; museums and historic sites charge admission
• Plan on: Two to three days to cover the list without rushing

The best things to do in Charleston, South Carolina, are a ferry out to Fort Sumter, a tour of the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon on East Bay Street, a stroll through Joe Riley Waterfront Park, and a morning at Drayton Hall on the Ashley River. Add a historic house or two, then spend your free hours walking South of Broad, Harleston Village and Cannonborough. That is the answer we give a friend who has a weekend and wants to see the real city.

This list is built for first-timers and repeat visitors alike. Each pick says what to do, how long it takes, and one local tip. Two picks sit outside the Charleston city limits, and we say so plainly.

How we chose

We picked places that are known for Charleston itself, then checked each one against its own official website for current hours, location and admission. Hours and prices change, so we give them as "typically" and you should confirm before you go. We kept the list to 13 picks and left out anything we could not confirm. Ticket prices are mostly left to the official pages for the same reason.

Which Charleston sights should you do first?

Start with the harbor and the downtown waterfront, because that is where Charleston's story begins and the easiest morning to plan.

1. Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor

The spot where the Civil War started is one you cannot drive to. Fort Sumter is where the war began, on April 12, 1861, and you can only reach it by boat. The National Park Service runs the site as part of Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, and the ferry leaves from the Fort Sumter Visitor Center at 340 Concord Street in downtown Charleston, run by the concessioner Fort Sumter Tours.

Plan about 2 and a quarter hours for the whole tour, with roughly an hour on the island itself. The park is typically open daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the NPS charges no entrance fee for Fort Sumter, but the ferry ticket is required and sold separately. Fort Sumter Tours lists downtown departures as typically 9:30 a.m., noon and 2:45 p.m. from late February through November, with two departures a day in most of December, January and February.

Local tip: book the ferry ahead and take the first boat. The fort is quieter, and you finish in time for lunch downtown.

2. Fort Moultrie, Sullivan's Island (outside Charleston)

Fort Moultrie is the other half of the same National Historical Park, but it sits at 1214 Middle Street in the Town of Sullivan's Island, not in the city of Charleston. It is typically open daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the NPS charges an entrance fee for adults 16 and older, while younger visitors are free.

It is a short drive from downtown, so pair it with a walk on the beach and lunch on Middle Street. Read more in our Sullivan's Island guide.

3. Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, East Bay Street

The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon at 122 East Bay Street is a colonial customs house you walk through on a tour, including the dungeon level underneath. It is typically open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and tickets are sold on site.

Local tip: the Old Exchange is a short walk south along the waterfront from the Fort Sumter ferry dock, so go right after the boat gets back.

4. Joe Riley Waterfront Park, downtown Charleston

Joe Riley Waterfront Park sits on the harbor along Concord Street in downtown Charleston, with two large fountains where children play and cool off. The Charleston Parks Conservancy lists hours as sunrise to sunset.

A slow loop takes 30 to 45 minutes. Local tip: come back after dark. The fountains light up, and the park is far quieter than at midday.

Which historic houses and museums are worth the time?

Charleston's house museums and history sites are the best way to understand how the city grew, and three of them cluster within walking distance of each other.

5. Nathaniel Russell House Museum, Meeting Street

The Nathaniel Russell House Museum at 51 Meeting Street is run by Historic Charleston Foundation and is typically open daily, Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday 1 to 5 p.m., with last admission at 4 p.m. A self-paced audio tour takes about 45 minutes, and staff-led tours start on the hour.

Local tip: Historic Charleston Foundation sells a discounted combination ticket with the Aiken-Rhett House Museum, so see both on one day.

6. Aiken-Rhett House Museum, Elizabeth Street

The Aiken-Rhett House Museum at 48 Elizabeth Street is preserved as it was found rather than restored, so you see the house and its contents largely as they survived. Historic Charleston Foundation lists the same typical hours as the Russell House, but its pages are not fully consistent, so confirm before you go, and the self-guided audio tour takes about 45 minutes.

7. Old Slave Mart Museum, Chalmers Street

The Old Slave Mart Museum, at 6 Chalmers Street downtown, tells the story of Charleston's role in the domestic slave trade, inside part of the city's last major slave market. The museum says it opened in 1938 as the first museum in the United States on the history of slavery. It is typically open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Sundays, and general admission is typically $8, with tickets sold on site.

Allow an hour. It is a serious stop, so do not wedge it between two tours.

8. Charleston City Market, Meeting Street

The Charleston City Market stretches across four city blocks of downtown Charleston, with its office at 188 Meeting Street, and lists more than 300 vendors. The Day Market is typically open daily, and the Night Market runs on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Give it 45 minutes. Local tip: buy sweetgrass baskets and local art from the makers and ask who made them.

What should you see just outside the peninsula?

Four strong stops sit off the peninsula, in West Ashley, on Johns Island and in Mount Pleasant, so plan to drive to them.

9. Drayton Hall, Ashley River Road

Drayton Hall at 3380 Ashley River Road has a Charleston address and sits about 13 miles from downtown. It is typically open Wednesday to Monday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed Tuesdays, with the front gate closing at 3 p.m. Guided house tours last an hour and start on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A self-paced landscape audio tour takes about 45 minutes.

Local tip: the gate does not take cash, so bring a card, and book the 10 a.m. house tour so you see the grounds before the day warms up.

10. Charles Towne Landing, Old Towne Road

Charles Towne Landing at 1500 Old Towne Road is a South Carolina State Park on the site of the colony's 1670 settlement. The grounds are typically open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the visitor center closing at 4 p.m. The park lists some seasonal closures, including its ship and part of its animal exhibit, so check the official page first. Plan two to three hours.

11. Angel Oak, Johns Island

The Angel Oak is a live oak at 3688 Angel Oak Road on Johns Island, run by the City of Charleston as a city park. The city says it is 65 feet high, 25.5 feet around, and an estimated 300 to 400 years old, and admission is free. Plan 30 minutes.

Local tip: the city does not allow blankets, food, drinks, props or tripods around the tree, so travel light.

12. Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, Mount Pleasant (outside Charleston)

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum at 40 Patriots Point Road is across the Cooper River in Mount Pleasant, not in the city of Charleston. It is typically open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the ticket window closing at 4 p.m. Admission covers the USS Yorktown, the USS Laffey, the Vietnam Experience and the Medal of Honor Museum. The museum says visitors spend a few hours to a full day.

Parking costs extra, so check the official site. It pairs well with the Old Village in Mount Pleasant.

Where should you walk in your free hours?

Once you have done the headline sights, the best thing to do in Charleston is walk three downtown neighborhoods on foot.

13. Hampton Park, near The Citadel

Hampton Park at 30 Mary Murray Drive is a City of Charleston park beside The Citadel, known for floral displays and an old rose collection. The city typically closes the park drive to cars on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings for walkers and runners, so check the city page. Give it an hour.

Then wander these three neighborhoods

• [South of Broad](/areas/south-of-broad): the Preservation Society of Charleston describes streets lined with 18th and 19th century homes, churches and public buildings. Walk it early, before the tour groups.
• [Harleston Village](/areas/harleston-village): developed in 1770, home of the College of Charleston and, per the Preservation Society, the first golf club in America.
• [Cannonborough](/areas/cannonborough): between the medical district and upper King Street, with breakfast cafes, oyster spots, Blue Bicycle Books and PURE Theatre.

For where to eat along the way, see our food and dining listings.

What is a good two-day Charleston route?

This two-day route strings the picks together with the least backtracking.

1. Day one morning: first ferry to Fort Sumter, then the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon.
2. Day one afternoon: Joe Riley Waterfront Park, a walk through South of Broad, and the Nathaniel Russell House Museum.
3. Day one evening: the Night Market at Charleston City Market on a Friday or Saturday.
4. Day two morning: the 10 a.m. tour at Drayton Hall.
5. Day two afternoon: Angel Oak, then Charles Towne Landing.
6. Day two evening: Harleston Village and Cannonborough on foot, with oysters for dinner.

Low-lying downtown streets can flood at high tide, so check the weather page before long walks. Ferries and outdoor sites also depend on conditions.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

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

The best things to do in Charleston are the ferry to Fort Sumter, the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, Joe Riley Waterfront Park and Drayton Hall. Add a historic house museum and a walk through South of Broad, Harleston Village and Cannonborough.

How do you get to Fort Sumter?

You reach Fort Sumter only by boat. Ferries run from the Fort Sumter Visitor Center at 340 Concord Street in downtown Charleston, operated by Fort Sumter Tours. The National Park Service does not charge an entrance fee, but the ferry ticket is required.

Is Angel Oak free to visit?

Yes. The City of Charleston says admission to the Angel Oak on Johns Island is free, though donations are welcome. The tree is estimated at 300 to 400 years old.

How many days do you need in Charleston?

Two to three days covers the list in this guide without rushing. Two days handle the harbor, downtown and the Ashley River sights, and a third adds Patriots Point and Fort Moultrie.

Are Fort Moultrie and Patriots Point in Charleston?

No. Fort Moultrie is in the Town of Sullivan's Island and Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is in Mount Pleasant. Both are a short drive from downtown Charleston.