Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Rainbow Row & Shrimp and Grits: Where to Eat, Stay & Explore in Charleston, SC
26
items Things to do in Charleston, South Carolina, from a gal who lives just up the road. Cobblestone streets, pastel houses, shrimp and grits, and history on every corner. Here's where to explore, where to eat, and where to lay your head. Y'all come see us...
Map
Sections
5
Things to Do in Charleston
Charleston History and Historic Sites
Where to Eat in Charleston
Where to Stay in Charleston
Charleston Tours Worth Booking
Things to Do in Charleston
Pastel houses, cobblestone streets, harbor views, and a beach day if you want one. The fun stuff, no history test required.
The pastel houses you've seen on every Charleston postcard and half of Instagram. Thirteen candy-colored homes on East Bay Street. Go early, before the selfie-stick crowd rolls in.
Rainbow Row
Grand old mansions, harbor breezes, and live oaks at White Point Garden. Grab a Dr. Pepper, find a bench, and act like you own one of these houses.
The Battery
Home of the famous Pineapple Fountain. Porch swings on the pier, harbor views, and yes, people really do splash in that fountain. No judgment.
Waterfront Park
Four blocks of vendors under one long roof. Sweetgrass baskets, local art, and snacks. Bring cash, wear comfy shoes, and pace yourself.
Charleston City Market
Folly is Charleston's laid-back, flip-flops-required beach town. Walk the pier at sunset and watch the pelicans show off. Leave the fancy shoes in the car.
Folly Beach Pier
A live oak that's been around for centuries, with branches stretching out like it's giving the whole island a hug. Pictures don't do it justice. Go see it.
Angel Oak Tree
Charleston History and Historic Sites
Charleston's story is beautiful, complicated, and on every corner. These are the places that tell it best, the pretty parts and the hard parts.
Where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. You take a ferry across the harbor to get there, which is half the fun. History buffs, this one's a must.
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
Housed in a building where enslaved people were sold. It's sobering, and it should be. Charleston's full story matters, and this small museum tells it straight.
Old Slave Mart Museum
That spiral staircase. Three stories, free-flying, and it'll make you gasp a little. If you only tour one historic house downtown, make it this one.
Nathaniel Russell House Museum
Dating back to the 1670s, with some of America's oldest gardens. Spring azaleas will knock your socks off, and the swamp garden is pure Lowcountry magic.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
Billed as America's first museum, founded way back in 1773. Lowcountry history from start to finish. A perfect plan B when the afternoon rain shows up.
The Charleston Museum
Where to Eat in Charleston
Biscuits, barbecue, fried chicken, oysters, and a brunch spot named after a dog. Wear your stretchy pants. You'll thank me.
Southern food in a gorgeous old Victorian house on Queen Street. Upscale but not stuffy. Make a reservation, and save room for the cornbread.
Husk
Whole hog barbecue from a James Beard Award-winning pitmaster who grew up right here in South Carolina. Casual, smoky, and worth every napkin you'll need.
Rodney Scott's BBQ
Tiny spot, big biscuits. Warm, buttery, made from scratch, and stuffed with ham or cheese. Grab a bag to go and eat one in the car. I won't tell.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit
Fried chicken and oysters in a converted old garage on upper King Street. Sounds like a weird combo. Tastes like pure genius. Come hungry.
Leon's Oyster Shop
Named after a neighborhood dog named Poogan who claimed the porch as his own. So you know I'm a fan. Classic Southern brunch in a charming old house.
Poogan's Porch
Where to Stay in Charleston
Historic hotels downtown, one big splurge, and a couple of rentals for when you're bringing the whole crew (or the dog).
A grand old 1920s hotel right on Marion Square, steps from King Street shopping. Historic charm without the stuffy attitude. Walk everywhere, park the car.
Francis Marion Hotel
The big pink hotel on Meeting Street, smack in the middle of downtown. A pool, a pretty courtyard, and you can walk to dinner. Pink AND convenient? Yes ma'am.
Mills House Charleston, Curio Collection by Hilton
The splurge. A sleek mid-century hotel in a former federal building, with a rooftop bar and some of the best views of the steeples. Anniversary trip, anyone?
The Dewberry Charleston
Traveling with the whole crew? A cozy rental home in North Charleston with a firepit and room to spread out. Way more breathing room than a hotel.
Cozy, Well-Appointed Home Near Top Charleston Destinations w/Firepit
A pet-friendly condo on Folly Beach, about 500 steps to the ocean. Because the dog deserves a beach vacation, too. Pack the towels and the tennis balls.
Pet Friendly Beachfront Condo 500 Steps to Ocean
Charleston Tours Worth Booking
You can see a lot of Charleston on your own, but a good guide tells you the stories behind the doors. These are the highest-rated, most-reviewed tours I could find. I may earn a commission if you book through these links.
The classic Charleston tour, with thousands of glowing reviews. Sit back, listen to the clip-clop, and let somebody else point out the history while you look at the pretty houses.
Charleston’s Old South Carriage Historic Horse & Carriage Tour
A guided walk through the historic district, pastel houses and church steeples included. Charleston is best on foot, and this is one of the highest-rated walking tours in town.
Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour
Admission plus the round-trip ferry out to the fort where the Civil War began. The boat ride across the harbor is half the fun. Book ahead in busy season.
Fort Sumter Access and Self-Guided Tour with Roundtrip Ferry
Same clip-clop charm, but after dark and with ghost stories. Spooky enough to be fun, not so scary you'll sleep with the light on.
Haunted Evening Horse and Carriage Tour of Charleston
Seven-plus tastings in one walk, so you get a bite of Charleston without committing to one restaurant. Pick the French Quarter or brunch version when you book, and come hungry.
Charleston French Quarter or Brunch Food Tour with 7+ Tastings