Things to Do in Charleston SC

Charleston sits where the Ashley and Cooper rivers meet, forming one of the most naturally beautiful harbors on the Atlantic coast. The city earned its nickname "The Holy City" from the church steeples that once dominated its skyline—back when no building could rise higher than St. Michael's spire. Today, those steeples share the view with Rainbow Row's pastel facades, horse-drawn carriages on cobblestone streets, and oak trees heavy with Spanish moss.

Travel + Leisure readers have voted Charleston the best small city in America for over a decade running, and the recognition comes honestly. The city packs 350 years of American history into a walkable peninsula, from the first shots of the Civil War at Fort Sumter to the restored slave quarters at McLeod Plantation. The culinary scene has produced more James Beard Award winners than cities twice its size. And after dark, the historic district reveals another layer—one of ghost stories, haunted jails, and spirits that locals swear never left.

But Charleston's popularity creates a problem for visitors: too many tour companies, too many options, and no shortage of tourist traps waiting to take your money. We've lived here long enough to know which operators deliver genuine experiences and which ones phone it in. Our recommendations come from actual participation, not press releases or paid partnerships.