20 Free Things to Do in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is known for its hospitality. We know how to show visitors a good time, without sending them home with empty wallets. Many activities cost $20 and under — and there are even plenty of free things to do in Charleston, too.
We won’t tell you how you should use all the money you save, but we know how we’d spend it! (Piles of fried green tomatoes.)
20 Free Things to Do in Charleston, South Carolina
There are plenty of free things to do in Charleston that will entice both adults and kiddos alike. From parks and beaches to markets and famous landmarks, you don’t need to break the bank on your trip to South Carolina.
Here are some of our favorite Charleston free activities that cost absolutely nothing!
1. Sullivan’s Island
One of the best ways to see the best of Charleston is to head to Sullivan’s Island. Or, rather, head to any of Charleston’s beaches — they’re free.
Sullivan’s Island just happens to be easy to get to if you’re staying in Downtown Charleston. The best part? It’s a little quieter than most of the beaches in the area. You’ll get amazing views of the harbor here, and when you get hungry, there are plenty of brunch, lunch, and dinner options.
2. Charleston City Market
The city’s oldest market is also one of our favorite Charleston free activities. You can visit this market seven days a week, and it costs nothing to browse the stores, stop and listen to the street performers, and meet the makers and bakers.
Of course, it’ll cost you if you want to buy something (well, not everything is free). Luckily, you can easily get lunch or a snack here for under $10.
3. Rainbow Row
Charleston is known for its colorful Georgian homes, all lined up one right after another. They’re easy to find and cost nothing to visit.
If you want to know more about Rainbow Row, the Pink House, and Historic Downtown, take our essential Historic Charleston Tour. At only $25 per person, it’s just as easy on your wallet as the other activities on this list.
4. The Citadel
One of the most famous universities in the U.S. (and possibly the most famous military academy) is totally free to visit — and it’s worth the trip. The grounds are manicured with military precision; you’ll see the cadets marching every morning, and you can even take a free tour of the campus to understand more of its history than you’d see on your own.
5. Charles Pinckney Historical Site
If you’re headed across the Ravenel Bridge to Mount Pleasant, don’t leave without visiting the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site. Once a rice and indigo plantation, the site features a 19th-century lowcountry cottage, ornamental gardens, and stories of plantation life. The park is a free Charleston activity as it doesn’t charge an admission fee. It is open Wednesday through Sunday.
6. Angel Oak Tree
One of the most Instagramable spots in Charleston is also free to visit. The Angel Oak Tree is around 400 to 500 years old, and its longest branch stretches 187 feet long. Located on John’s Island, it’s only a 30-minute drive from Downtown. There’s no charge to visit.
7. Ravenel Bridge
The Ravenel Bridge is one of the most iconic attractions in South Carolina. You can’t spend 30 minutes in this town without overhearing mention of its name. It is totally free to visit, and you don’t even need a car to cross over it. The bridge has both pedestrian and bicycle lanes. It takes just about an hour to cross by foot (if you don’t stop for photos along the way).
8. Charleston Tea Plantation
If you’re planning on renting a car in Charleston, head out to the Charleston Tea Plantation off Route 700. It’s free to visit the grounds, and the plantation factory tour is free as well. If you want to see more, the plantation trolley tour starts at only $14 for adults.
9. King Street
King Street is one of the most iconic streets in Charleston — and it’s completely free to stroll down this picturesque street.
You may want to start from the north and meander down King Street, which ends at Battery Park.
On the way down, pop into shops, enjoy the architecture of the Riviera Theater, and watch Charlestonians pass by.
10. Charleston Beaches
Most of the beaches in Charleston are free to visit!
If you drive to the beach, you’ll need to pay for parking; however, setting up your chair or blanket on the sand is free.
Head to Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island Beach, or Isle of Palms Beach to enjoy a day of fun in the sun.
11. Charleston Churches
Another one of our favorite free activities in Charleston is visiting the Holy City’s many churches.
You can enjoy the architecture from the outside or check the hours of each church online before visiting.
You can also take our self-guided Charleston church tour.
12. Self-Guided Tour of Charleston
If you want to take a more comprehensive self-guided tour in the Holy City, take our free Charleston self-guided tour.
This tour will give you an overview of Charleston and take you past some of the most iconic sites in the city.
Or, you could always book our public Charleston History Tour, which costs only $25 for adults and $18 for children.
13. Charleston Cemeteries
One free thing to do in Charleston that you might not consider is visiting Charleston’s many cemeteries.
Not only are cemeteries beautifully landscaped in Charleston, but they are full of history! You can visit the grave sites of many of the city’s heroes free of charge.
The oldest cemetery in Charleston can be found at the Circular Congregation Church. Thousands of Confederate soldiers are buried at Magnolia Cemetery. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and John C. Calhoun are buried at St. Phillip’s Cemetery.
You can see a full list of Charleston cemeteries and what grave sites to visit.
14. Self-Guided Charleston Architecture Tour
If you want to visit some of the Holy City’s most important buildings, take our self-guided Charleston architecture tour.
You’ll swing by Rainbow Row, the Pink House, the French Huguenot Church, the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, and more.
If you’re a fan of Lowcountry architecture, you could always book a private tour with one of our guides!
15. Visit Charleston’s Prettiest Streets
Another free thing to do in Charleston is to take a self-guided walking tour of our prettiest streets.
Some of the most visually interesting streets include Rainbow Row, Broad Street, King Street, Stoll’s Alley, Church Street, and Legare Street.
All of these streets are also featured on our Alleys and Hidden Passages Tour.
16. Charleston Gardens
Charleston is home to many lush gardens. Although many of the gardens are private or charge a fee to visit, you can enjoy many of these gardens completely for free, including the Heart Garden and Gateway Walk.
17. Charleston’s French Quarter
Another free activity in Charleston is visiting the French Quarter.
This neighborhood is home to many of the city’s most famous sites, including the French Huguenot Church, the Dock Street Theatre, the Pink House, and Waterfront Park.
All of these sites are also free to visit (although some you can only enjoy from the street).
18. Island Hopping
If you’re planning to rent a car in Charleston, you might want to drive out to one of our many islands, including Sullivan’s Island, Folly Island, James Island, and Seabrook Island.
On these islands, you can spend a day at the beach, enjoy views of the water, and get your blood pumping with leisurly bike ride or hike.
19. Charleston Riverfront Park
Located in the French Quarter, the Charleston Riverfront Park offers stunning views of the city’s waterways.
You can take a stroll on the boardwalk, enjoy views of the Cooper River, cool off in the fountain, and admire the sculptures.
20. Charles Towne Landing
If you have a South Carolina state park pass, you can visit Charles Towne Landing for free! If you don’t have the park pass, the cost to enter is $12 for adults.
Enjoy 80 acres of gardens, hiking trails, picnic areas, and more. You can even enter the animal forest and visit the original settlement area with your park pass.
Charleston Low-Cost Activities
Although Charleston free activities are the most budget friendly option, you can see even more of our fair city if you’re willing to spend a little cash.
Here are some of our favorite low-cost activities in Charleston. With these activities, you’ll spend anywhere between $5 and $25.
Rent a Bike – $
Don’t want to walk the 2.7-mile span of the bridge? Biking is a faster and more cost-effective way to get to Mount Pleasant from Downtown Charleston. You can rent one of the many shared bicycles that can be found all over the city from Holy Spoke for a little over $10 for the entire 24-hour bike rental period. Once you get to Mount Pleasant, you can enjoy some of the best seafood in the city and even a little shopping. Patriots Point is also nearby, so keep reading to find out how to visit one of the city’s most famous historic sites.
The Commodore – $
You can’t visit Charleston without seeing some live music. Luckily, there’s no cover charge at the Commodore on some nights. When they do charge a cover, it’s usually only around $5 per person. They feature live jazz, funk, and blues bands. They even offer drink specials (like half-off Champagne) on some nights.
Eat Some Food – $
When it comes to getting authentic Southern cuisine, you don’t need to dip too far into your purse to fill your belly with comfort food. Luckily, one of the “comforts” of Southern comfort food is that you don’t need to feel anxiety at the thought of overspending your budget. Some of our favorite budget-friendly restaurants include:
- Early Bird Diner
- Tattooed Moose
- Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
- Melvin’s Barbecue
Hungry for more? There’s plenty more to eat in Charleston — and many of our restaurants here are budget-friendly.
Patriots Point – $$
While Patriots Point is by no means free to visit (adult tickets start at $24), you could easily spend an entire day at this history museum, so it’s still a pretty good bargain.
If you need a ride to Patriots Point, you can either bike across the Ravenel Bridge — or just take the Charleston Water Taxi. An all-day pass costs only $12, and kids aged 3 and under ride for free. The water taxi makes four stops, and you can hop on and off at each stop or stay on and enjoy a 40-minute boat ride (with possible whale sightings!).
Take a Tour – $
At Walks of Charleston, we pride ourselves on offering informative and entertaining tours that fit your budget. Our walking tours start at $20 per person. And if you book a tour with us and one with one of our sister companies or affiliates, you save even more!
Doing Charleston on the cheap doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on anything. It just means you’ll see the Holy City a little bit differently.