Things to Do in Charleston: Tours, Tickets & Day Trips
Wondering what to do in Charleston? Start with the classic: a one-hour horse-drawn carriage tour of the Historic District (about $50) is the most-reviewed experience in the city, and a guided walking tour ($30–40) fills in the alleyways, churches and Rainbow Row the carriage rolls past. Give yourself two to three days — day one for the peninsula on foot and by carriage, day two for the harbour (Fort Sumter or a dolphin cruise, $17–60) and a plantation such as Boone Hall or Magnolia ($37–96), day three for Folly Beach or Sullivan’s Island and a ghost tour after dark. Plenty is free: the Battery and White Point Garden, Waterfront Park’s Pineapple Fountain, Rainbow Row and the City Market cost nothing. Below you can compare every Charleston tour and ticket by rating and price, with free cancellation on most.
316 tours · prices per person, book with partner
All experiences in Charleston — FAQ
What are the top things to do in Charleston?
By traveller reviews: a horse-drawn carriage tour, a guided walking tour of the Historic District, a haunted carriage or Old City Jail ghost tour, a harbour history or sunset cruise, Boone Hall or Magnolia Plantation, the Fort Sumter ferry, the water taxi with dolphins, a Lowcountry food tour, Rainbow Row and the Battery, and a day at Folly Beach. Compare all of them below.
How many days do you need in Charleston?
Two to three days. One day covers the Historic District by carriage and on foot, a second the harbour and a plantation, a third the beaches or a food tour and ghost walk. With four or more days add Middleton Place, Patriots Point’s USS Yorktown, the Angel Oak or a day trip to Beaufort or Savannah.
What can you do in Charleston for free?
Walk the Battery and White Point Garden, Rainbow Row, Waterfront Park and the Pineapple Fountain, the City Market (free to browse), King Street and the historic churches; cross the Ravenel Bridge on foot for skyline views; watch dolphins at Shem Creek; see the 400-year-old Angel Oak on Johns Island; and spend the day on Folly Beach or Sullivan’s Island.
Do Charleston tours offer free cancellation?
Most experiences listed here can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the start time. The policy is shown on each tour before you book.