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The historic city of Charleston is a gem on South Carolina’s coastline. It’s packed with fascinating cultural and historic sites and boasts beautiful heritage properties. There are so many must-see attractions and points of interest that it can be tricky to know which ones to prioritize when visiting for the first time.
This travel guide highlights the Holy City’s 25 top attractions to help you plan your trip.
1. Middleton Place
- Address: 4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC
- Website: middletonplace.org
- Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily
Middleton Place is a National Historic Landmark, having been established in 1675 as a rice plantation. The property now serves as a museum that truthfully outlines the history of the plantation, including the brutal enslavement of people that took place here.
2. Riley Waterfront Park
- Address: Vendue Range, Concord St, Charleston, SC
- Website: charleston-sc.gov
- Opening Hours: 7 am – 9.30 pm daily
Riley Waterfront Park overlooks Charleston Harbor and Cooper River and is a popular spot to unwind and take in the view. Look out for the quirky Pineapple Fountain, which is illuminated at night.
3. Rainbow Row
- Address: 83-107 E Bay St, Charleston, SC
- Website: rainbowrowcharlestonsc.com
Rainbow Row is a series of 13 pastel-hued houses that date back to the 18th century. This is one of Charleston’s best-known landmarks and is a fantastic photo opportunity so be sure to swing by as you explore the city center. Even better, take a horse-drawn carriage tour of historic Downtown to see its landmarks in style.
Although Rainbow Row is far from secret, The Tavern at Rainbow Row is one of Charleston’s hidden gems.
4. International African American Museum
- Address: 14 Wharfside St, Charleston, SC
- Website: iaamuseum.org
- Opening Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday to Sunday
The IAAM documents the journey that captive Africans were forced to take when they were transported to America. The museum is situated in Gadsden’s Wharf, which is where more than 40% of enslaved people entered America and were sold at auction. This is one of Charleston’s most important and powerful museums.
5. Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
This impressive cable-stayed suspension bridge stretches 2.5 miles long over Cooper River to connect Downtown Charleston with Mount Pleasant. Designed to withstand hurricanes, earthquakes, and shipping accidents, it’s a true feat of engineering and the perfect place for a scenic bike ride.
6. Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
- Address: 3550 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC
- Website: magnoliaplantation.com
- Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily
The stunning public gardens of the Magnolia Plantation are some of the oldest in America, having opened in 1870. Look out for native wildlife that thrives in this Lowcountry haven.
7. Historic Charleston City Market
- Address: 188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC
- Website: thecharlestoncitymarket.com
- Opening Hours: 9.30 am – 5 pm daily
Since 1807, vendors have sold produce at Charleston City Market, and today it’s considered the best place to find artisanal goods from talented local crafters, artists, bakers, and makers. Be sure to watch Gullah artisans weave intricate sweetgrass baskets.
8. Fort Sumter National Monument
- Address: Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, 340 Concord St, Charleston, SC
- Website: nps.gov/fosu/index.htm
Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor is where the American Civil War began when it was battered by the Confederacy. The fort’s ruins have been well-preserved, but they’re only accessible via ferry from either Fort Sumter Visitor Center at Liberty Square or Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum.
9. USS Yorktown and Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
- Address: 40 Patriots Point Rd, Mount Pleasant, Charleston, SC
- Website: patriotspoint.org/explore/uss-yorktown/
- Opening Hours: 8 am – 4.30 pm daily
The USS Yorktown is a huge aircraft carrier that served in World War II and the Vietnam War. It also recovered the Apollo 8 spacecraft which was the first manned spacecraft to successfully orbit the moon. You can also explore military aircraft and submarines when you visit the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point.
10. The Battery
The Battery is a fortified seawall and promenade constructed in the 1820s. It’s bordered by some impressive antebellum mansions and provides fabulous views of Charleston Harbor, Fort Sumter, and Sullivan’s Island lighthouse, making it the perfect place for a stroll.
11. White Point Garden
- Address: 2 Murray Blvd, Charleston, SC
- Website: charlestonparksconservancy.org/park-finder/white-point-garden
- Opening Hours: 7 am – 9.30 pm daily
With Ashley River and Cooper River on each side, the waterfront park of White Point Garden offers excellent views. Look out for cannons from the Civil and Revolutionary Wars.
12. Isle of Palms
Isle of Palms is a beautiful barrier island that is just seven miles long and one mile wide. It has pristine white sand beaches, scenic golf courses, and a peaceful atmosphere.
Isle of Palms is also regarded as one of the best areas to stay in Charleston for those looking for a low-key beach vacation.
13. King Street
King Street is considered the heart of Charleston’s historic district and it’s not to be missed when you explore Downtown. It is divided into three distinct areas that represent Charleston’s history:
- Upper King Street Design and Dining District
- Middle King Street Fashion District
- Lower King Street Antiques District
You’ll find a huge range of boutiques, eateries, and watering holes to keep you entertained on King Street throughout the day and long into the night.
14. Angel Oak and Johns Island
- Address: 3688 Angel Oak Rd, Johns Island, SC
- Website: charleston-sc.gov/153/Angel-Oak
- Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Monday to Saturday / 9 am – 1 pm Sunday
Johns Island is the largest in South Carolina and is dotted with pretty live oak trees — one of which is the iconic Angel Oak. The grand tree is 65 feet tall and 25 feet in circumference and is believed to be somewhere between 300 and 400 years old.
If you’ll be heading out to Johns Island, consider visiting nearby Folly Beach or Kiawah Island during the same trip to enjoy a relaxing few hours on the beach.
15. Savannah
Savannah, Georgia, is considered Charleston’s sister city, and you can reach it by car in just a couple of hours. It has some incredible antebellum mansions, fantastic museums and art galleries, and no shortage of excellent places to eat delicious Southern cuisine.
16. Ghosts of Charleston
Charleston is an old city steeped in tragedy, having sustained earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and two wars since its founding in 1670. There’s little wonder it’s considered one of America’s most haunted cities. Be sure to take a ghost tour to check out some of these notoriously haunted locations.
Old City Jail, 21 Magazine Street
More than 13,000 prisoners were executed here during the 18th and early 19th centuries, and it’s said that many of them still haunt the jail.
Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, East Bay Street
This was a British prison during the Revolutionary War, and many prisoners who met gruesome ends while locked up in abominable conditions are said to remain tethered to the building.
Poogan’s Porch, 72 Queen Street
A schoolteacher who passed away in 1954 is said to haunt Poogan’s Porch. Witnesses report seeing her sneak up behind them in the ladies’ bathroom.
Circular Graveyard, 150 Meeting Street
Many Revolutionary War soldiers were laid to rest in this graveyard, and it’s said you can see their ghosts wandering the grounds.
Unitarian Graveyard, 8 Archdale Street
Annabel Lee, the protagonist of Edgar Allen Poe’s poem of the same name, is said to haunt this creepy graveyard that dates back to 1772.
17. South Carolina Aquarium
- Address: 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC
- Website: scaquarium.org
- Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Wednesday to Sunday
You’ll find birds, reptiles, and land-dwelling mammals in the South Carolina Aquarium in addition to a huge array of marine animals. This is a great attraction for families. Look out for the Sea Turtle Hospital, where sick and injured turtles are nursed back to health.
18. Boone Hall Plantation
- Address: 1235 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC
- Website: boonehallplantation.com
- Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Monday to Saturday / 12 pm – 5 pm Sunday
Boone Hall is one of the oldest working plantations in America having been established in 1681. It has gorgeous gardens, but its star attraction is the Spanish moss-draped Avenue of Oaks which frames the approach to the historic home.
19. The Charleston Museum
- Address: 360 Meeting St, Charleston, SC
- Website: charlestonmuseum.org
- Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Monday to Saturday / 12 pm – 5 pm Sunday
The Charleston Museum was established in 1773 and is widely considered America’s first museum. It has a vast collection of artifacts that tell the story of American history. This is a great place to learn not only about Charleston’s heritage but the evolution of the entire USA.
20. Drayton Hall
- Address: 3380 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC
- Website: draytonhall.org
- Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Wednesday to Sunday
Drayton Hall is America’s oldest unrestored and intact plantation house and it gives a glimpse into the past like no other. A visit here is a true step back in time and a sobering reminder of the role the American South played in the enslavement of African Americans’ ancestors.
21. Old Slave Mart Museum
- Address: 6 Chalmers St, Charleston, SC
- Website: oldslavemartmuseum.com
- Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Monday to Saturday
The Old Slave Mart Museum in the French Quarter is where enslaved people were auctioned before the Civil War. Take a self-guided walking tour of the museum to learn about this dark yet important part of Charleston’s history. Exhibits include the personal accounts of enslaved individuals.
22. Nathaniel Russell House
- Address: 51 Meeting St, Charleston, SC
- Website: historiccharleston.org/house-museums/nathaniel-russell-house
- Opening Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily
Charleston is filled with beautiful historic mansions and some, like Nathaniel Russel House, are now open to the public as house museums. This is one of the best examples of neoclassical properties in America, and it has a vast collection of fine art.
23. Aiken-Rhett House Museum
- Address: 48 Elizabeth St, Charleston, SC
- Website: historiccharleston.org/house-museums/aiken-rhett-house
- Opening Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily
This historic home was built in 1820 and remained within the Aiken family for 142 years. Explore with one of the museum’s tour guides to learn about the house and about Governor Aiken, who lived here during the 1800s.
24. Gibbes Museum of Art
- Address: 135 Meeting St, Charleston, SC
- Website: gibbesmuseum.org
- Opening Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Monday to Saturday / 1 pm – 5 pm Sunday
Gibbes Museum of Art is a small but jam-packed building with a wide variety of exhibitions. Look out for the gallery devoted to the Charleston Renaissance period and for the collection of 600 miniature portraits.
25. Shem Creek
- Address: Shrimp Boat Ln, Mt Pleasant, SC
- Website: experiencemountpleasant.com/waterfront-at-shem-creek
- Opening Hours: 5 am – 12 am daily
Shem Creek is a waterfront destination that combines urban amenities with gorgeous natural scenery. It offers fantastic views of marshland and Charleston Harbor. Drink and dine at the restaurants and bars here, or explore the waterways via boat, kayak, or paddleboard.
Plan Your Charleston Sightseeing Itinerary
Now you’re clued up on Charleston’s top tourist attractions, you can get started planning your sightseeing itinerary. How many on this list will you tick off when you next visit Charleston?
