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12 Free or Low-Cost Ways to See the Sights of Charleston

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By Holly Fisher  

Whether you love history, nature or beautiful water views, it’s easy to find plenty to do in Charleston. The good news is there are some terrific attractions and activities that won’t bust your vacation budget. We’ve put together a list of 12 free or low-cost things to do around the Charleston area.  

Riverfront Park
  1. Riverfront Park sits on the bank of the Cooper River in North Charleston. Stop by and see the Greater Charleston Naval Base Memorial honoring the many military personnel and civilians who served our country and the Charleston region at the former Charleston Navy Base.
  2. Deep Water Vineyard on Wadmalaw Island turns muscadine grapes, a fruit native to the Southeastern United States, into wine. Visit Tuesday through Saturday for a self-guided tour of the 7 miles of vineyards. And for just $7, taste five different wines and take home a complimentary wine glass.
  3. The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge spanning the Cooper River has a more than 2-mile bike/pedestrian lane called Wonders’ Way. It is accessible from East Bay Street in downtown Charleston and on the Mount Pleasant side. Be sure to stop at the top for a bird’s eye view of Charleston. 
  4. Admire the majestic Angel Oak tree, part of a public city park. Its canopy of branches spans 17,000 square feet. The tree is located at 3688 Angel Oak Road on Johns Island. 
  5. See Charleston’s historic City Hall, 80 Broad St., constructed in the early 1800s. Also, the picturesque Washington Square Park is located by city hall and features beautiful architecture and ironwork. 

    Confederate Museum
    Confederate Museum
  6. Head to Market Street where you can browse the many shops and vendors in the Charleston City Market. Plus, visit The Confederate Museum at the intersection of Meeting and Market streets. Built in the 1840s, this building was originally constructed to be the front entrance to the roofed market space where fruits, meats, vegetables and fish were sold. The building is owned and operated by Charleston Chapter #4 United Daughters of the Confederacy. Visit 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday; admission is $5 for adults (cash only).  
  7. Stop by the Red Barn at Palmetto Carriage Works, 8 Guignard St., to visit the horses, mules and other animals. There’s a fee for tours, but no charge to visit the barn.  
  8. Charles Pinckney National Historic Site on Long Point Road in Mount Pleasant highlights the work of Charles Pinckney, a principal author and a signer of the U.S. Constitution. This remnant of his coastal plantation is preserved to tell of a life of public service and to highlight the lives of enslaved African Americans on Lowcountry plantations and their influences on Pinckney.
  9. Summerville’s town square is a picturesque downtown lined with boutiques, restaurants, art galleries and antique stories. Go window shopping before stopping in Guerin’s Pharmacy – the oldest pharmacy in South Carolina – for an old-fashioned ice cream float.

    Charleston, SC Events
    The Battery
  10. Visit the cemetery at the Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St., likely the oldest English burial ground still in existence in Charleston. The earliest unmarked grave dates from 1695.  
  11. Charleston is home to America’s only tea garden. Visit the Charleston Tea Plantation on Wadmalaw Island and take a complimentary factory tour and browse the gift shop.
  12. For iconic Charleston views, walk the Battery. Once a defensive seawall, the area is now known for its historic homes and nearby White Point Garden and Battery Park at the intersection of Murray Boulevard and East Battery Street. 

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Charleston FAQ's

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

There’s so many  things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info: 

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions: 

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well: 

Getting Around Charleston, SC

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion: 

  • Both cities are historic and beautiful. 
  • Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston. 
  • Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options. 
  • Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
  • Both cities have equally good tours.
  • Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
  • In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance. 
  • Savannah is more affordable.
  • TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com

There are always great and world-class events happening in Charleston. For a calendar of events and things to do in Charleston, checkout our online calendar of events: https://travelerofcharleston.com/events/

Of course there are free money-saving coupons that you can use. Visit the coupons page for a bunch of ways to save: https://travelerofcharleston.com/coupon/

Charleston has some fantastic can’t miss tours such as Fort Sumter, carriage, ghost, harbor, historic and culinary tours. For a full list with more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/attractions/

Checkout the Charleston Relocation Guide page which will guide you during your move: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-sc-relocation-guide/

Additional Places to Explore

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