5 places in Charleston that first-time visitors shouldn't miss, plus must-join tours, and where you'll find the best beaches
- As a travel writer who often visits Charleston on assignment, I've covered things to do for years.
- Historic homes offer a preserved peek at the past, and the city is flanked by a beautiful coastline.
As a travel and guidebook writer who often visits Charleston on assignment, I've covered the best things to do here for years. But it still feels like I'm just scratching the surface, even in a small city that doesn't rank in the top 200 largest US cities by population.
If you're not sure where to start, simply walking around the compact historic district is always exciting, especially on walking or architectural tours to put the buildings into context. If you're in any way curious about how places evolve, then I recommend that you do so as well. Some homes are open to the public and are especially interesting for anyone who enjoys looking at antiques and period furniture.
One of the other best things you can do in Charleston is to leave it. The city is surrounded by some of the region's most beautiful coastline that's easy to reach and includes quiet, scenic beaches that make for a nice day trip.
Here are the places I recommend for first-time visitors, interesting tours to join, and where you'll find the best beaches, based on years of research.
The best places in Charleston for first-time visitors
Charleston City Market
A good place to immediately see a slice of Charleston life is at the Charleston City Market. The market is housed in a building that dates back to the 1840s, a Greek revival-style edifice that has been designated a National Historic Landmark.
The exterior is a striking mix of stucco, red sandstone, and green ironwork, while inside, a huge skylight bathes the stalls in natural daylight. I love to grab lunch here while I shop for gifts or souvenirs, perhaps some handcrafted soaps from Old Whaling Company or toys for my friends' kids from Wonder Works, before enjoying a warm pastry at Callie's Hot Little Biscuits.
South Carolina Aquarium
Breathe in the salty ocean air with a post-lunch walk around the harborside. While in the area, I recommend ducking into the South Carolina Aquarium. It's home to around 5,000 aquatic animals, including two touch tanks for a hands-on experience with stingrays, sharks, horseshoe crabs, sea stars, and urchins. I especially like the opportunity to come face-to-face with sick and injured sea turtles in rehabilitation at the Sea Turtle Care Center. It's a heartwarming, intimate experience to follow their journeys from rescue to rehab to release.
Children's Museum of the Lowcountry
I don't have children, but I always recommend a stop at this museum if you're traveling with youngsters, and especially if the weather isn't cooperating. The Children's Museum of the Lowcountry has a wealth of hands-on and interactive activities including a pirate ship, a medieval castle, and arts and crafts.
Mount Pleasant
The waterfront in Charleston is probably among my favorite spots to wander around for its close connection to nature. Mount Pleasant is essentially a suburb of Charleston but feels like an extension of the city with dozens of drinking and dining outlets, and the Shem Creek Boardwalk has views all the way from Fort Sumter to Castle Pinckney. You can also hop on the water-taxi loop here.
The Charleston Museum
There are historic walking tours aplenty, but if you're pressed for time and looking for a one-stop-shop that takes you through the city's history, I suggest The Charleston Museum. It was an ideal place for me to quickly get a handle on the Lowcountry timeline, with exhibits dating back to when the Native Americans were the only inhabitants, through the Civil War, and on to modern times. There's also a fascinating Natural History section.
Scratch beneath the surface of the city on a walking tour
The centuries-old buildings and historic homes all around the city are certainly aesthetically pleasing to look at and photograph, but unless you're a real history buff or architecture expert, you're not going to get the full story unless you join an organized tour.
I am certainly neither of those things and so it's always an easy choice to sign up for a few tours of various properties. There are several to choose from, though all have an entry fee. As a money-saving tip, you can buy a single ticket from the Charleston Museum, which gains entry to the museum itself, the Heyward-Washington House, and the Joseph Manigault House.
The tourism office also sells a Charleston Heritage Pass that provides entry to 10 historic properties, if that's your special interest.
Joseph Manigault House
The Joseph Manigault House was the first historic house in Charleston that I ever visited, which dates back to 1803. You enter through a gatehouse, which turns out to be a folly, and the interior has intricate woodworking. Knowledgeable docents lead tours every half hour, and as well as the antiques and artworks, it's a fascinating window into the past.
The Heyward-Washington House
The Heyward-Washinton House is another city highlight, being one of the oldest houses, dating back to 1772. I'd list this as a highlight mainly because it has the only early-18th-century kitchen that is open to the public in Charleston.
The Nathaniel Russell House
The equally impressive Nathaniel Russell House offers a glimpse into the lifestyle of the city's merchants and dates back to 1808. It is most famous for its elliptical spiral staircase, and I was happy to see a beautiful homage to the country of my birth, England, with a lovely garden.
Two Sisters Tour
For a comprehensive historical walking tour, I recommend the Two Sisters Tour, run by a pair of retired lawyers who know the ins and outs of the city's past and could probably teach locals a thing or two about their own hometown. I certainly learned a lot about how South Carolina came to be, how it evolved, and the stories behind some of the city's most historic private homes.
Dive into art, culture, and pick up some souvenirs
King Street
Charleston has a huge selection of small boutiques and independent businesses, many of them centered around King Street.
One of my favorite places is the Preservation Society of Charleston, which, as the name suggests, is a historical organization run by one of Charleston's active preservation groups. To support its endeavors, it runs an on-site gift store with a curated collection of keepsakes. I've bought some as gifts, and especially like the feather bow ties it stocks, which are designed by a company called Brackish.
I try and shop responsibly, and if you're interested in ethical fashion, Ibu Movement is a women's clothing store that sources from developing nations and elevates designers and artisans from poverty-stricken communities overseas.
Charleston Art Walk
If I happen to be in town on the first Friday of the month, I like to participate in this year-round tradition. The Charleston Art Walk is a self-guided tour of the city's art district and independent galleries. You can pick up a map from any of the 40 participating businesses, and on these Fridays in particular, there are often a number of talks or demonstrations given by local and visiting artists.
Dock Street Theatre
The theater has a long and proud tradition in Charleston. The Dock Street Theatre stands on the site of America's oldest playhouse; the first production here took place on February 12, 1736.
This reincarnation of the original theater is still one of the city's best performing-arts venues, hosting over 100 performances of all kinds every year. I've seen adaptations of classics such as "To Kill a Mockingbird," as well as touring productions of huge musicals like "Beauty and The Beast."
Forte Jazz Lounge
If I'm feeling homesick for the musical sounds of my adopted hometown of New Orleans, I know I can drop into this welcoming spot. The Forte Jazz Lounge is an intimate venue with a classic, lounge-style set-up, and you'll enjoy a good view no matter where you're seated. The owners, Joe and Rosie Clarke, are music obsessives who host talented locals and world-famous jazz, blues, and R&B musicians regularly.
This is also one of the places that I have tried (so far unsuccessfully) to learn how to swing dance. Every Sunday it has small group lessons, and if you have more coordination and rhythm than I do, then you'll fit right in, but it's a fun and social evening in any case.
Feel the sand between your toes at the region's beaches
Charleston's harbor is lovely for a city-based waterfront experience, but I think that a relaxing day trip to one of the nearby beaches is not to be missed.
Sullivan's Island
The beach community by Sullivan's Island operates at an even slower pace than Charleston, and it's only a 20-minute drive away. I like to pack a picnic to enjoy on the wide sandy beaches, and there are also watersport rentals such as kiteboarding and paddleboarding if you're feeling energetic.
Kiawah Island
Further south and around a 50-minute drive from downtown, Kiawah Island boasts some 10 miles of beaches, and its carefully preserved environs are home to charming residents like bobcats and sea turtles. I love exploring this barrier island and its two main areas, East Beach and West Beach. East Beach is slightly more developed and family-oriented, whereas West Beach is more sparse. I like to rent a bicycle and find a quiet spot; the whole area has nicely paved cycling paths.
Folly Beach
Folly Beach is the liveliest coastal stretch in the area in my opinion and is about a 25-minute drive from downtown Charleston. Surfers and fishing fans flock here, and there are plenty of oceanside dining options. My preferred way to get onto the water is by kayak, and I've loved tours led by Coastal Expeditions. They can also help you explore the Isle of Palms or Shem Creek, where, if you're lucky, you'll run into pods of friendly dolphins.