CHARLESTON SC THINGS TO DO

CHARLESTON

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Day #1 Example Itinerary

  • Choose a total of 2 Featured Tours + Visit as Many Standard Attractions as You Wish for 1-Day.
  • The selections below are an example. You can choose whatever you want from the available tours.

Price w/o Tour Pass

Totals

1-Day per Person Savings = $63.50

Save 40% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

Day #2 Example Itinerary

  • Choose a total of 3 Featured Tours + Visit as Many Standard Attractions as You Wish for 2-Days.
  • The selections below are an example. You can choose whatever you want from the available tours.

Price w/o Tour Pass

Totals

2-Day per Person Savings = $97.5

Save 38% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

Day #3 Example Itinerary

  • Choose a total of 4 Featured Tours + Visit as Many Standard Attractions as You Wish for 3-Days.
  • The selections below are an example. You can choose whatever you want from the available tours.

Price w/o Tour Pass

Totals

3-Day per Person Savings = $142.50

Save 43% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

Save up to 40% or More

Day #1 Example Itinerary

  • Choose a total of 2 Featured Tours + Visit as Many Standard Attractions as You Wish for 1-Day.
  • The selections below are an example. You can choose whatever you want from the available tours.

Price w/o Tour Pass

Totals

1-Day per Person Savings = $63.50

Save 40% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

Day #2 Example Itinerary

  • Choose a total of 3 Featured Tours + Visit as Many Standard Attractions as You Wish for 2-Days.
  • The selections below are an example. You can choose whatever you want from the available tours.

Price w/o Tour Pass

Totals

2-Day per Person Savings = $97.5

Save 38% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

Day #3 Example Itinerary

  • Choose a total of 4 Featured Tours + Visit as Many Standard Attractions as You Wish for 3-Days.
  • The selections below are an example. You can choose whatever you want from the available tours.

Price w/o Tour Pass

Totals

3-Day per Person Savings = $142.50

Save 43% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

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USE THE FREE TROLLEY

TourPass includes 100% admission for tours but does not include transportation. Use Charleston’s free trolley to get around the Historic District (where 80% of all attractions are located). Trolley map included on TourPass app!

End of Featured Attractions

Standard Tours

  • Visit as many Standard Tours as you wish 1x for the number of day pass purchased.
  • Standard Tours do NOT require reservations…just walk-in and show your pass for entry.
 
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Tour Pass Tour Selection Grid 5 days

  • Transportation is not provided. You can use the free trolley bus in the historic district.

Self-guided tours. Last tour begins at 4:15 p.m.

History of the House

Built in 1820 by merchant John Robinson, the Aiken-Rhett House is nationally significant as one of the best-preserved townhouse complexes in the nation. Vastly expanded by Governor and Mrs. William Aiken, Jr. in the 1830s and again in the 1850s, the house and its outbuildings include a kitchen, the original slave quarters, carriage block and back lot. The house and its surviving furnishings offer a compelling portrait of urban life in antebellum Charleston, as well as a Southern politician, slaveholder and industrialist. The house spent 142 years in the Aiken family’s hands before being sold to the Charleston Museum and opened as a museum house in 1975.

When the Foundation assumed ownership in 1995, we adopted a preserved-as-found preservation approach, meaning the structure and contents are left in an “as-found” state, including furniture, architecture and finishes that have not been altered since the mid 19th century. The only restored room in the house, the art gallery, showcases paintings and sculpture the Aiken family acquired on their European Grand Tour.

While many dependency buildings in Charleston have been demolished or adapted, the Aiken-Rhett slave quarters – with their original paint, floors and fixtures – survive virtually untouched since the 1850s, allowing visitors the unique chance to better comprehend the every-day realities of the enslaved Africans who lived on-site, maintained the household and catered to the needs of the Aiken family and their guests.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$7 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

All-day rental of lightweight aluminum cruisers that can fit riders from 4' 10" to 6' 4". The bikes are 7-speed comfort hybrids that are perfect for exploring the historic streets of Charleston or crossing the Ravenel Bridge to Mount Pleasant. Business Hours: 

  • Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.


What's Included: 

  • Same day all-day rental (up to 8 hours)
  • Return by 6 p.m. Monday – Friday or by 5 p.m. weekdays.
  • Custom maps with safe riding routes.
  • Baskets with every bike
  • Easy to use locks

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$28.75 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

Journey from the past to the present and heritage to habitat at the Caw Caw Interpretive Center. Rich in natural, cultural and historical resources, Caw Caw was once part of several rice plantations and home to enslaved Africans who applied their technology and skills in agriculture to carve the series of rice fields out of cypress swamps. Caw Caw Interpretive Center is managed as a low-impact wildlife preserve. Pets and bicycles are not permitted.

Features

  • Over 6 miles of trails with trail-side exhibits
  • Elevated boardwalks through wetlands
  • Environmental and social studies education programs from preschool through college level
  • Interpretive exhibits, displays, and programs
  • Former 18th and 19th century rice fields and one of the important sites of the Stono Rebellion
  • Thousands of naturalized tea plants from a 20th century tea farm
  • Noted for its rich bird life, Caw Caw is a birding hotspot for coastal South Carolina.
  • Areas managed for wildlife including waterfowl, songbirds, otters, deer, and more
  • Favored habitats for rare wildlife: American Alligators, Swallow-tailed Kites, Bald Eagles, and others

Address:
5200 Savannah Hwy
Ravennel, SC

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$2 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

The birthplace of the Carolinas, Established in 1670!

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site sits on a marshy point, located off of the Ashley River, where a group of English settlers landed in 1670 and established what would become the birthplace of the Carolina colony. Charles Towne Landing introduces visitors to the earliest colonial history of Charleston. Interact with hands-on exhibits in the Visitor Center, talk to knowledgeable staff members, and take an audio tour on the self-guided history trail.

Highlights:

  • Guests can step aboard and tour the Adventure, Charleston’s only 17th-century replica sailing ship.
  • Natural habitat zoo (the only zoo in Charleston area): See otters, bears, big cats, bison and more at the Animal Forest natural habitat zoo.
  • Fireable cannons that are fired on the 1st Saturday of each month.
  • 80 acres of gardens, with an elegant live oak alley and the Legare-Waring House.
  • Miles of trails for walking, biking and exploring.
  • Bicycles welcome or you can rent them on-site.
  • Pets welcome if leashed.



Park is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Address:
1500 Old Towne Road
Charleston, SC 29407

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$6 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

Included with Tour Pass: Receive 2 Premium Attraction Tickets per Person, a $20 per Person Value.

Charleston Fun Park is the go-to place for family and date-night fun! Located just 10 minutes from downtown Charleston in Mount Pleasant.

Premium Attractions Include:

  • Go-Karts
  • Two miniture golf courses – 36 holes
  • Bumper cars
  • Virtual Reality Coaster

They also have over 40 arcade games that give out tickets and prizes along mini-bowling, air hockey, skee-ball

Please visit their website to confirm hours of operation, they have summer and winter hours. We have summer hours listed below

Address:
3255 N Hwy 17
Charleston, SC 29464

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$20 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

The South Carolina Lowcountry has always been home to a cast of eclectic, unconventional characters – scholars, scientists, scribes, and socialites, revolutionaries and world travelers, collectors, curators. They have been lovers of the established and experimental, the rare, beautiful, odd and unusual. Our history is a blend of beauty and pain, grace and war, great storms and calm seas.

We are a melting pot of cultures and customs, remade with each changing tide. We are writers of a never-ending story that asks life’s most essential question: Who are we?

The search for the answer is our reason for being. So, we dig into attics and archives. We pore over ancient artifacts, journals, and albums. We study, document, preserve, interpret, and share.

We do it for the electric joy of discovery. The stories and humanity revealed. But perhaps even more, we do it for what it inspires within us. The thoughts that ask us to rethink our past and our place in the world. The thoughts that spark a conversation not just about who we were, but who we are – and who we can be.

We are all a story. And our story starts here.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$5 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

The only tea production facility in North America where you can see hundreds of thousands of tea bushes stretching out acre after acre for almost as far as the eye can see.

The Bigelow family, William Barclay Hall and the staff of the tea garden stand ready to bring you the tea experience of your life. They are located on picturesque Wadmalaw Island in the heart of the lowcountry just a few miles south of the historic city of Charleston.

In addition to their many acres of tea plants, they offer a very educational tour of our tea factory. You get to walk the entire length of our tea production building where you can see all the equipment it takes to make tea. Large TV screens along the glassed in gallery describe the entire process.

Included with Tour Pass is a 45 minute trolley ride, which makes a stop at their state of the art greenhouse.

Last but not least is the gift shop, stocked with more tea related items than you can possibly imagine. Last year some sixty five thousand people from all over the world came to visit. There are many hundreds of tea production facilities in the world. With the exception of the Charleston Tea Garden, they’re all located in Asia, Africa and South America, many thousands of miles from our shores.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$8 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

Tastings offered Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10 am – 5 pm.

You’ll go on a “choose your own adventure” tour, weaving your way through their current wine list choosing 6 samples to try. And, since they value their employees being able to be spontaneous, you may receive some surprise tastes as well (especially if you come during the week when they’re not so busy). At the end you will receive a complimentary wine glass to remember your time at the vineyard. Guests are welcome to stroll through the 7 miles of vines on the vineyard as a self-guided tour.

Highlights:

  • Tour Pass: Receive a free wine tasting & souvenir wine glass which includes six wines.
  • They grow four types of muscadine grape – carlos, ison, noble and tara. From the grapes, they make five different wines – Low Tide, Magnolia, Deep Water Blend and High Tide. They also have chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon from California that they vint and bottle onsite and blend with their muscadines, for a total of six wines available.
  • Every Saturday from 12 – 4 pm they host a Weekend Wine Down event where food and music are present. Enjoy the tranquil surroundings, bring family, friends and have a great time. See calendar for upcoming events

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

Included with Tour Pass: Half off Tour & Tasting and Souvenir Shot Glass. Reservations are NOT required, go when they are open. Simply present your Mobile Pass to redeem.

During Prohibition, bootleggers made their own booze by burying grapes underground or catching moonbeams in a jar of water. Taste booze made professionally with Firefly Distilleries.

Proud of its southern roots and famous for its sweet tea vodka, Firefly Distillery delivers quality spirits, most of which are distilled four times and sweetened exclusively with Louisiana sugar cane. At the Distillery, Visitors can learn more about the hands-on distilling process and the scores of industrious tea-swilling worker elves behind it. All ages are welcome to the property, but only those 21 and over are eligible for the tasting.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

A bustling seaport in the 1700s, Charleston was a melting pot of cultures, religions, and traditions. Powered by the rice and indigo trade, and slavery, it was the 4th largest city in America in 1790 – and the wealthiest. Like Philadelphia, Boston and New York, what distinguished Charleston then – was art.

While we were home to some of Americas earliest art, collectors, artists, who made the City both muse and subject – and taken our turn as one of the nations richest cities – in money and culture – so were we also home to Americas original sin, slavery – and a war that divided our nation.

In 1888, when Charleston was financially and culturally on its knees, benefactor James Gibbes left a bequest to the City to build an art museum.When the Gibbes Museum opened in 1905, the nation celebrated what Charleston has always understood: the power of art – to inspire our imagination, heal our hurt, revel in our experience, rebuild what’s broken, nourish our souls, and release all that holds us back. Through our complicated history, through light and shadow, we have persevered – humanity intact. Art is the reason

Charleston will endure. In Charleston, we believe art is the difference between merely existing and being truly alive. That’s why we immerse ourselves in every part of it – from fine art to craft – from nurturing its creation and celebrating its multicultural presentation – to inviting its interpretation and ensuring its preservation. Because when we open ourselves to art, we open ourselves to the world – to people and ideas, to beauty, craft, process and detail, to different cultures, to pain and pleasure, to questions, expression and emotion, to truth and transcendence.

In the presence of art, we have the opportunity to see inside someone’s heart, mind, and soul and feel what they felt. That understanding and compassion make us more understanding, compassionate people, who, in turn, create a more compassionate, understanding world. That is art’s gift.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$6 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

INCLUDED WITH TOUR PASS: 1 Free Doughnut per Person up to $5 in value. To redeem, simply present your Tour Pass ID at the register. Featured by the Food Network, Cooking with Paula Dean, BuzzFeed (33 Doughnuts You Have to Try Before You Die), Traveler of Charleston Magazine, Zagat, Delish, USA Today and countless others….Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts is recognized as a leader in this tasty pastry worldwide

Their ingredients are natural, the glaze, filling and pastries are homemade. Their dough is made in house. They don’t use any frozen or premade dough. There are no preservatives or additives whatsoever. Espresso drinks are also offered.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$5 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

A quick-casual Southern lunch spot putting a twist on the average by introducing our Grit Bowls amongst other more traditional Southern lunch offerings.

2 Locations
You can visit either the Mount Pleasant (see address below) or North Charleston: 3438 W. Montague Ave

The Grit Counter, brought to you by Grace & Grit Restaurant, focuses on fresh local seafood while keeping the menu familiar and approachable. Guests enjoy an abundance of fresh local fish and shrimp, bacon smoked in house, and seasonal produce. With flavor packed into every dish, southern staples like cornbread, collards, butterbeans, fried chicken, and of course grits, take center stage as a reminder of the Lowcountry’s roots.

Charleston Tour Pass is accepted for lunch only. 

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$4 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

Charleston’s Revolutionary War House


Built in 1772, this Georgian-style double house was the town home of Thomas Heyward, Jr., one of four South Carolina signers of the Declaration of Independence. A patriot leader and artillery officer with the South Carolina militia during the American Revolution, Heyward was captured when the British took Charleston in 1780. He was exiled to St. Augustine, Florida, but was exchanged in 1781. The City rented this house for George Washington’s use during the President’s week-long Charleston stay, in May 1791, and it has traditionally been called the “Heyward-Washington House.” Heyward sold the house in 1794 to John F. Grimke, also a Revolutionary War officer and father of Sarah and Angeline Grimke, the famous abolitionists and suffragettes. It was acquired by the Museum in 1929, opened the following year as Charleston’s first historic house museum, and was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1978. Here you will see a superb collection of historic Charleston-made furniture including the priceless Holmes Bookcase, considered one of the finest examples of American-made colonial furniture. The property also features the only 1740s kitchen building open to the public in Charleston as well as formal gardens featuring plants commonly used in the South Carolina Lowcountry in the late 18th century.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$5 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)
One of Charleston’s most well-known and successful breweries, Holy City is a Charleston icon serving all styles of beer along with food (view their website for menu) on their expansive grounds and taproom space. Located only 10 minutes away from downtown Charleston in North Charleston. Across the street you’ll find Firefly Distillery (also on TourPass) Present your pass at the bar and receive a BOGO pint on house made brews only…cannot be used for well drinks or beers not made by Holy City. Please tip the Bartender and drink responsibly. Uber and Lyft ride services are available in the area if needed.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

On February 17th, 1864, the H. L. Hunley became the first successful combat submarine in world history with the sinking of the USS Housatonic. After completing her mission, she mysteriously vanished and remained lost at sea for over a century. For decades, adventurers searched for the legendary submarine. On February 17th, 1864, the H. L. Hunley became the first successful combat submarine in world history with the sinking of the USS Housatonic. After completing her mission, she mysteriously vanished and remained lost at sea for over a century. For decades, adventurers searched for the legendary submarine.


Over a century later, the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA), led by New York Times-bestselling author Clive Cussler, finally found the Hunley in 1995. News of the discovery traveled quickly around the world. A ground breaking effort began to retrieve the fragile submarine from the sea. The Hunley Commission and Friends of the Hunley, a non-profit group charged with raising funds in support of the vessel, led an effort with the United States Navy that culminated on August 8th, 2000 with the Hunley’s safe recovery.


She was then delivered to the Warren Lasch Conservation Center, a high-tech lab specifically designed to conserve the vessel and unlock the mystery of her disappearance. The Hunley has since been excavated and proved to be a time capsule, holding a wide array of artifacts that can teach us about life during the American Civil War. The submarine and the hundreds of artifacts found onboard are currently undergoing preservation work while archaeologists use the historical clues they have found to piece together the final moments of the Hunley and her crew.


The Hunley’s journey through time has been marked by innovation, courage and tragedy. Her against-all-odds tale has spanned the centuries and is one of the greatest maritime mysteries in recent history. This website follows the pioneering vessel from her inception during the American Civil War to the modern-day efforts surrounding her preservation and study.


Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$12.26 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

Charleston’s Huguenot House

A striking spiral staircase accents the impressive central hall, and many of the rooms are restored to their original color schemes. All feature historic pieces from the Museum’s collections including a selection of American, English and French furniture dating to the early 19th century. Outside, a classical Gate Temple overlooks a period garden, and the locations of adjacent historical outbuildings (e.g., kitchen and slave quarters, stable, and privy) are marked with interpretive signs. Descending from French Huguenots who fled religious persecution in Europe in the late 1600s, the Manigaults prospered as rice planters and merchants during the 18th century and became one of South Carolina’s leading families. Joseph Manigault inherited several rice plantations and over two hundred slaves from his grandfather in 1788, and also married well. Arthur Middleton, father of his first wife, Maria Henrietta Middleton, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Following Henrietta’s death, he married Charlotte Drayton, with whom he had eight children. The Charleston Museum purchased the house in 1933, and has preserved and interpreted it ever since.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$5 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

For groups of 10 or more advance notification is required. Please call McLeod to schedule your group visit.

INTERPRETIVE TOURS

Included in your admission are 45 minute guided tours offered at 9:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm.

An amazing place to experience history in Charleston. Established in 1851, McLeod Plantation has witnessed some of the most significant periods of Charlestons and our nations history. Tour this 37 acre Gullah, Geechee heritage site that has been careful preserved and is recognized for its cultural and historic significance. McLeod Plantation was built on the riches of sea island cotton and on the backs of enslaved people whose work and culture and told and preserved through this site.

Established in 1851, McLeod Plantation has borne witness to some of the most significant periods of Charlestons – and our nations – history. Today McLeod Plantation is an important 37-acre Gullah/Geechee heritage site that has been carefully preserved in recognition of its cultural and historical significance. The grounds include a riverside outdoor pavilion, a sweeping oak alley, and the McLeod Oak, which is thought to be more than 600 years old.

It is a place like no other, not frozen in time but vibrant, dynamic, and constantly evolving, where the winds of change whisper through the oak trees and voices from the past speak to all who pause to listen. McLeod Plantation was built on the riches of sea island cotton and on the backs of enslaved people whose work and culture are embedded in the Lowcountrys very foundation. It is a living tribute to the men and women and their descendants that persevered in their efforts to achieve freedom, equality, and justice. McLeod Plantation Historic Site is a South Carolina National Heritage Corridor site

All of their stories, black and white, enslaved and free are given their due. After years of careful research and restoration, McLeod Plantation Historic Site invites visitors to embark upon an in-depth exploration of the lives of those people whose stories are essential to understanding Charlestons complex past and helped shape who we, as a nation, are today.

  • Tour the homes and compare the McLeod family home with those built for enslaved families.
  • Learn about daily life and the relationships among the men, women, and children who lived and worked here before and after slavery.
  • Study the cultivation and importance of sea island cotton.
  • Gain insight into the plantations strategic importance during the Civil War and the role of the free black Massachusetts 55th Volunteer Infantry in emancipating enslaved people.
  • Examine the influence of the Freedmens Bureau at McLeod Plantation and throughout the South.
  • Trace the emergence of Gullah Culture in the Lowcountry.
  • Explore worship and spirituality in the lives of McLeod Plantations residents.
  • Draw parallels between the changing relationships among McLeod Plantations residents and in American society during the 20th century.
  • See how people dramatically changed the natural history of the plantations landscape through time.

The struggle for freedom…personal, cultural, and political enacted over the centuries at McLeod Plantation provides new insights to anyone interested in American history.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$6 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

In the spring of 1861, thousands of young men were pouring into Charleston to become Confederate soldiers and defend the South. They were given supplies, weapons and their orders. It was here in this building where many of these young men had danced not long before they became soldiers.

In 1894 the Charleston Chapter, Daughters of the Confederacy was founded. They immediately began to collect relics and the collection grew quickly. By 1898 this group of ladies became Charleston Chapter #4, United Daughters of the Confederacy. In 1899 the reunion of the United Confederate Veterans was to be held in Charleston. The men decided to help these ladies form a permanent Confederate Museum in Charleston. A call was sent out asking former soldiers to bring their war-time possessions to the reunion for donation to the new museum. The enthusiastic response showed that a large building would be needed to house the collection. Since the Mayor and the city councilmen were all former Confederate soldiers, it was only natural that they selected Market Hall for this purpose. The same building where they had gone to become young soldiers became the place they brought their relics to be preserved for the future. The museum opened here is 1899

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$3 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

A National Historic Landmark, the Nathaniel Russell House Museum was built over a five-year period and completed in 1808 by Charleston merchant Nathaniel Russell. The house cost $80,000 to build, at a time when the average value of a home was $262. The homes graceful, free-flying, three-story staircase is an architectural marvel with each cantilevered step supporting the one above and below it.

The graceful interiors with elaborate plasterwork ornamentation, geometrically shaped rooms, formal gardens and collection of 18th-century decorative and fine art speak to the wealth of Charlestons elite in the early days of the American Republic. The homes graceful, free-flying, three-story staircase is an architectural marvel with each cantilevered step supporting the one above and below it.

Restored to its original splendor using forensic analysis and cutting-edge conservation technology by our curatorial staff, we ensure the highest standards of old-world expertise to replicate the finishes, fixtures and textiles appropriate for this 200-year old townhouse.

Because restoration is an ongoing process, visitors have the opportunity to see and learn about the meticulous care, craft and consideration that goes into every detail. The 18 enslaved Africans that lived on and maintained the property during the Russell occupancy are an integral part of the history of this one-of-kind house. An exhibit in the original kitchen house features archaeological artifacts, educational panels and stories of the people vital to the history of this property.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$7 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)
North Charleston Fire Museum is a remarkable and unforgettable destination for the firefighter in all of us!

Collection
The North Charleston Fire Museum and Educational Center is proud to house the largest collection of professionally restored American LaFrance fire apparatus in the country. With over 20 vehicles in our collection, dating as far back as 1780’s, the North Chareston Fire Museum has become renouned as destination for fire history and the preservation antique fire apparatus. All the pieces in our collection still run and can fight fire just like the day it was produced.

Exhibits
The Fire Museum offers its guests the opportunity to get as close to a fire as possible without getting burned. In addition to our collection of antique fire apparatus, the museum offers hands on and interactive exhibits and theater presentations that children and adults will love. From our “Home Fire Hazard Theater” complete with live smoke to our newest show “Are you an Esacape Artist”, guests to the museum will gain an enhanced knowledge and understanding of the history and science of fire and firefighting.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$0 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

Completed in 1771, the Old Exchange Building is a Charleston landmark and the site of some of the most important events in South Carolina history. Over the last two and a half centuries, the building has been a commercial exchange, custom house, post office, city hall, military headquarters, and museum. Previously the property of the British, United States, Confederate, and Charleston city governments, the Old Exchange Building is today owned by the South Carolina State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and operated by the City of Charleston.

Admission to the Old Exchange includes a self-guided exhibition on the top two floors of the building and a 25 minute guided tour of the bottom floor cellar, otherwise known as the Provost Dungeon. Docents and other staff members are available throughout the building to share more of the site’s history with visitors of all ages and answer guest questions.

Most visitors spend between 45 minutes and 1 hour on site, though guests are welcome to take as much or as little time as they like exploring the self-guided exhibition.

The Old Exchange is handicap accessible, with an elevator providing access to all three floors of the building. If someone in your party needs to use the elevator to enter the building, please feel free to call us at 843-727-2165 or speak to a cashier, and one of our docents will be glad to assist you.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$5 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

The Old Slave Mart Museum, located at 6 Chalmers St., recounts the story of Charleston’s role in this inter-state slave trade by focusing on the history of this particular building and site and the slave sales that occurred here.

History of The Old Slave Mart

The 1808 ban on the United States’ participation in the international slave trade led to a renewed demand for slave labor, which was satisfied, in part, by the creation of a domestic slave-trading system in which Charleston functioned as a major slave collecting and reselling center. The Old Slave Mart Museum, located at 6 Chalmers St., recounts the story of Charleston’s role in this inter-state slave trade by focusing on the history of this particular building and site and the slave sales that occurred here. In the seven decades between the drafting of the U.S. Constitution and the Civil War, more than one million American-born slaves were sold away from plantations in the upper South to work the rapidly expanding cotton and sugar plantations in the lower South.

In Charleston, enslaved African Americans were customarily sold on the north side of the Old Exchange Building. An 1856 city ordinance prohibited this practice of public sales, resulting in the opening of the Old Slave Mart and a number of other sales rooms, yards, or marts along Chalmers, State and Queen Streets. Other Uses Possibly the only known building used as a slave auction gallery in South Carolina still in existence, the Old Slave Mart was once part of a complex of buildings known as Ryan’s Mart that occupied the land between Chalmers and Queen Streets. The complex consisted of a yard enclosed by a brick wall and contained three additional buildings: a four-story brick building partially containing a “barracoon,” or slave jail, a kitchen, and a “dead house,” or morgue. More Recently

Slave auctions at the Old Slave Mart ended in November 1863. The property changed hands many times after the Civil War, and between 1878 and 1937 the building was used as a Negro tenement and as an auto repair shop. In 1938 Miriam B. Wilson purchased the building, which by then, had come to be known locally as the Old Slave Mart, and established a museum featuring African and African-American arts and crafts.

Judith Wragg Chase and Louise Wragg Graves took over the Old Slave Mart in 1964, placed it on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and operated it until its closure in 1987. Recognizing the significant importance the institution of slavery has had in Charleston’s history, the City of Charleston acquired the property in 1988.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$5 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

Completed in 1713, The Powder Magazine is South Carolina’s oldest government building. The building was used as an arsenal from 1713-1748 and during the American Revolution in order to defend the city. After 1780, it was retired, and by the early 19th century, it was privately owned. During this period, The Powder Magazine served as a print shop, livery stable, wine cellar, and carriage house.

In 1902, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of South Carolina purchased the building, saving it from demolition. Within a year, it was opened to the public. Today, it is a museum where you can explore colonial military history in the last standing component of Charleston’s original fortifications.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$3 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

Immerse yourself in the history of South Carolina!


Although founded in 1855 as an archive and private manuscript repository, the South Carolina Historical Society opened its first museum open to the public in September 2018. The new space pairs personal manuscripts, maps, and artifacts with innovative technology as visitors experience illuminating moments in our past.


The newly remodeled, repurposed Fireproof Building is the home of the Historical Society headquarters. The National Historic Landmark houses a new, state-of-the art museum with interactive exhibits that showcase South Carolina history, culture, and arts. Designed by Robert Mills and constructed between 1822 and 1827, the Fireproof Building is believed to be the first of its kind constructed in the United States.


Highlights:

  • Informational exhibits.
  • Self guided tours.
  • Wheelchair accessible.

The museum is closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$5 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

The Charleston Water Taxi provides ferry service from downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant and back. Please check schedule to see if they are running. They can cancel or postpone their service due to inclement weather or during the winter season.

Departure Points and Times

  1. Aquarium Wharf/MaritimeCenter – 10 Wharfside St., Charleston SC 29401. Water Taxi’s depart every hour, half passed the hour (:30) starting at 9:30am….then 10:30….11:30 and so on. Departures are from the Maritime Center, a small marina conveniently located one block south of the South Carolina Aquarium and Liberty Square. Free parking available. Click here for departure times
  2. Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum – 40 Patriots Pt Rd. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. Water Taxi’s depart every hour at :45 min passed the hour starting at 9:45am…then 10:45…11:45 and so on. from behind the USS Yorktown (aircraft carrier). Click here for departure times
  3. Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina – 24 Patriots Pt. Rd., Mt Pleasant, SC 29464. Resort parking fees apply. Water Taxi’s depart every hour, on the hour (:00) starting at 9:00am….and then 10:00….1:00 and so on. Taxis depart from A dock. Click here for departure times
  4. Waterfront Park/Market St/Historic District – 1 Vendue Range Charleston, SC 29401. Water Taxis depart every hour, 15 min passed (:15) starting at 9:15 am and then 10:15….11:15 and so on.Click here for departure times *Schedule and times may change during special events such as 4th of July, concerts, charters, etc.*

water taxi map

Featured Tours:

  • Number of Featured allowed is determined by the # of day pass you  purchase more info
  • Reservations are typically required for Featured.
  • You can make reservations  in advance of arriving which are easily made from within the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchase.
  • View tour availability before purchasing TourPass


Standard Tours:

  • Reservations are NOT  required, just show up and present your Mobile Pass for entry.
  • Visit as many Standard as you wish 1x.

Transportation to tours/attractions is not provided. In the Historic District you can use the Trolley.

$10 per Child without Tour Pass. (Pay $0 at the gate! Tour Pass includes full admission)

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Looking to spend less? If so, select only what you want to do with our Select Pass and instantly save a guaranteed 10% off ticket prices

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Making Reservations for Tours
  • Within seconds after purchase you’ll receive the Mobile Pass via a welcome text and email. The mobile pass helps you organize, plan and make reservations before you arrive.
  • It’s best to make reservations as early as possible to secure the most desirable tour times which can fill up fast. Instantly after purchase you can make tour reservations for when you’re visiting.
  • View tour availabilities before purchasing a pass. Visit this page and search the dates you’ll be visiting: Featured Tour Availability Search
  • Only certain Featured Tours require reservations. Standard attractions do not require reservations. Just show your pass for entry!
What Can I Save?

Save up to 40% or more off retail ticket prices

  • You can save up to 40% or more off of retail ticket prices by visiting a reasonable number of tours.
  • View saving example

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Break-even by visiting just 2 attractions per day.

  • The more you do the more you save.
  •  It’s easy to visit more since attractions are close to each other.

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Stress-Free Touring

  • Everything is paid for with Tour Pass. Don’t worry about what an attraction costs to visit..just go and have fun.
  • No research needed. Only the top tours are allowed on Tour Pass.
  • Stay organized with the Mobile Pass you’ll receive where you can make reservations, includes maps and detailed info.
Additional FAQ's

Do I need to choose my tours before purchasing? No you do not. After purchase you make the selections on your mobile pass.

How and when do I receive my pass? Within seconds after purchase you’ll receive both an email and text message with your pass.

When can I use my pass? You’re in control. You can use your pass immediately after purchases or select your activation date 6 months in the future.  If set for a future date, you can make advance reservations today for the future dates selected. 

How many days can I use my pass? For however many day pass you purchased (1-5 day pass).

Can I skip days? Yes if you purchase a multi-day pass (2 or more day pass). You have a 10 day window after activation to use all of your days. For example if you have a 3-day pass and activate it today.

  • Monday: You make a reservation for Monday (active day #1).
  • Tuesday: You don’t make reservations or check-in on Tuesday (doesn’t count as an active day).
  • Wednesday: you check-in tours (active day #2).
  • Thursday: you go to the beach (doesn’t count as an active day).
  • Friday: you resume touring (active day #3) – pass expires at midnight.

Can I visit more than 1 tour per day? Absolutely! We encourage you to visit as many tours as you wish.

  • 1 Day Pass: Choose a total of 2 Feature Tour reservations per person + you can visit as many Standard Tours as you wish for 1-day.
  • 2 Day Pass: Choose a total of 3 Feature Tour reservations per person + you can visit as many Standard Tours as you wish for 2-days.
  • 3 Day Pass: Choose a total of 4 Feature Tour reservations per person + you can visit as many Standard Tours as you wish for 3-days.
  • 4 Day Pass: Choose a total of 4 Feature Tour reservations per person + you can visit as many Standard Tours as you wish for 4-days.
  • 5 Day Pass: Choose a total of 5 Feature Tour reservations per person + you can visit as many Standard Tours as you wish for 5-days.

Can I visit a tour more than once? You can only visit each standard tour 1x per person. If you’d like to visit a featured tour more than 1x then you will use another feature tour reservation to do so.

Can we split up and visit different tours? Yes you can. Simply share your pass login information with others in your group and they will access to the same mobile pass. Group A can check-into tours while Group B is checking into other tours simultaneously. Be aware that each tour/attraction only allows entry 1x per person for the pass duration. 

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Day #1 Example Itinerary

  • Choose a total of 2 Featured Tours + Visit as Many Standard Attractions as You Wish for 1-Day.
  • The selections below are an example. You can choose whatever you want from the available tours.

Price w/o Tour Pass

Totals

1-Day per Person Savings = $63.50

Save 40% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

Day #2 Example Itinerary

  • Choose a total of 3 Featured Tours + Visit as Many Standard Attractions as You Wish for 2-Days.
  • The selections below are an example. You can choose whatever you want from the available tours.

Price w/o Tour Pass

Totals

2-Day per Person Savings = $97.5

Save 38% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

Day #3 Example Itinerary

  • Choose a total of 4 Featured Tours + Visit as Many Standard Attractions as You Wish for 3-Days.
  • The selections below are an example. You can choose whatever you want from the available tours.

Price w/o Tour Pass

Totals

3-Day per Person Savings = $142.50

Save 43% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

Charleston Tour Map

(Click on map below to open)

Charleston FAQ’s

There is never a bad time to visit Charleston, however it is much more hot and humid in the summer season of course.

Most consider spring (March – May) and fall seasons (September – November) to be the best because of the more temperate climate.

Charleston, SC is known for many things such as: 

  • History: from Colonial times to Revolutionary War, the Civil War and Fort Sumter along with it’s unfortunate connection to the Slave trade.
  • Food, culinary experiences.
  • Amazing tours
  • Beaches (Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, Folly Beach and Kiawah)
  • Kiawah Island and the championship golf course.
  • Amazing weather and climate
  • Charleston Harbor and water activities
  • Manners: Charleston has won awards for the most mannerly city in the U.S. 
  • The Ports: Charleston has one of the busiest ports on the east coast. 

You can certainly visit a handful of Charleston’s famous sites in 1-day, however the general consensus is that a minimum 3-days is the optimal time to really experience the city.

Yes Charleston is walkable. We recommend parking near the historic district in Charleston or at this parking garage (25 Prioleau St, Charleston, SC 29401). Start walking east, towards the Battery. There you’ll find antebellum mansions, rainbow row and a network of very walkable historic streets.

TV Shows & Movies filmed in the Charleston, SC area:

  • The Notebook
  • North & South
  • The Patriots (featuring Mel Gibson)
  • Ace Ventura
  • Cold Mountain
  • Halloween
  • Outer Banks
  • Army Wives
  • Southern Charm
  •  Vice Principals
  • The Righteous Gemstones
  • Die Hard with a Vengance
  • The Legend of Bagger Vance
  • The Inspectors

That all depends on what your budget allows. If budget or cost is not an issue then we recommend the following in order: 

  1. Downtown Historic District: This area allows for easy walking to all the top attractions, restaurants and nightlife. (20 minute drive from airport).
  2. The Beaches: There’s nothing better than staying on or near the beaches. There are 4 beaches to choose from: Isle of Palms, Folly, Sullivans and Kiawah, with Kiawah being the furthest away from downtown. 
  3. Mount Pleasant: safe area just minutes away by driving across the picutresque harbor to downtown…and close to the Isle of Palms and Sullivans Island beaches.
  4. West Ashley: safe area as well that’s closer to Folly Beach.
  5. North Charleston: fairly safe and located within minutes of the airport. We recommend staying near Tanger Outlets in this area. 
  6. Summerville: safe and newer properties, however almost 30 minutes away from downtown and the beaches.

Yes, Charleston is known as a safe city. The historic district is extremely safe along with Mount Pleasant and the beach area. As in every metropolitan area there are areas that are not recommended for Visitors, however you would have no reason to visit since attractions and hotels are not located in those area. 

It’s always best to be “street-smart” and be aware of your surroundings no matter where you are in an unfamiliar city. Don’t get overly intoxicated or walk alone at night and ask hotel staff of areas to avoid if concerns persist.

Yes, Charleston has the following beaches nearby: 

  • Isle of Palms: 15 minutes from downtown.
  • Sullivans Island: 10 minutes from downtown.
  • Folly Beach: 25 minutes from downtown.
  • Kiawah Island: 40 minutes from downtown.

Not necessarily since downtown Charleston has a free trolley that transports visitors around the Historic District. If you would like to visit the beaches or plantations then transportation will be needed. Charleston does have Uber and Lyft service.

For more information read this article which includes printable maps

Charleston, SC isn’t more or less expensive than most other popular tourist destinations such as Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head or Savannah. To save money on the top tours and attractions, buy a Charleston TourPass which includes the best Charleston SC things to do