45 Free Things to Do In Charleston SC
If you’ve ever been to Charleston, which was ranked #1 of the best cities in the United States by Travel + Leisure, you’ll know the restaurants, bars and hotels of the city can be pricy. Luckily there are tons of free things to do in Charleston SC, a lot of which are actually at the top of my list for the best attractions regardless of price.
Top 5 Free Things to Do In Charleston SC
From historic Charleston and the beaches, to parks and museums, these are my top picks for the best free things to do in Charleston SC for visiting travelers.
#1 – Visit the Charleston Waterfront Park
Charleston’s Waterfront Park should no doubt be your first stop in Holy City. It’s directly on the Charleston harbor with breathtaking views of the Cooper river. Take a stroll down the waterfront park and snap some photos. If you’re into photography like I am be sure to bring your nice camera here!
My personal favorite part of the Charleston Waterfront Park are the swings with a view. Looking out onto the water are porch-style swings where I could personally hangout for hours. Great for kids and adults!
There are two fountains at the waterfront park including the iconic pineapple fountain, but also a bigger fountain a little off the water, which are both a great activity for kids (or kids at heart) on a hot Charleston day., and there is also tons of green space for games like frisbee, football, etc.
Lastly, there’s of course tons of green space and great places to hangout here as well. Bring a frisbee or a blanket and stay for a while, with the sound of the fountains and the beautiful water views.
#2 – Discover Historic Downtown Charleston & the French Quarter
After you see Waterfront Park, head into downtown for more free things to do in Charleston SC. My second choices for the best free activities are to explore Historic Downtown Charleston and see sites like St. Philip’s Church, St. Michael’s Church, Dock Street Theater, the Old Exchange Building and last but not least, the iconic Rainbow Row.
Rainbow Row is a series of 13 historic homes, painted in rainbow colors along East Bay Street. Perfect for photographers, they really encompass the spirit of Charleston. Use my Charleston walking tour map for a self-guided walking tour through the streets of the French Quarter and historic Downtown Charleston, which also includes the Waterfront Park and The Battery (#1 and #3 on my best free things to do in Charleston SC list).
#3 – Visit the Battery and White Point Garden to See Fort Sumter
The Battery was once a defensive seawall, making it one of the best historic sites in the city and a must-see stop, especially for history lovers. Here you’ll find spectacular views of Fort Sumter, the Charleston Harbor and stunning Antebellum historic homes. White Point Garden is the park here, where you’ll find Civil War relics, memorials and plenty of natural beauty.
You can easily walk from the Waterfront Park to the Battery, or maybe head straight to White Point Garden for a picnic under the trees with the water in the background.
#4 – Best Free Things to Do In Charleston SC : Enjoy a Beach Day
You can’t go wrong with a beach day, whether you’re traveling as a solo traveler, a couple or as a family / with friends. Luckily there are three beautiful beaches within a 30-minute drive of Charleston.
Folly Beach is the artsy, hippie surfer beach near James Island, while Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island are quieter, great for nature lovers and golfers, and on the Mount Pleasant side of the island.
Make sure to check parking before you head to the beach. For example Folly Beach has free street parking throughout the island, while if you park in a parking lot you will have to pay. There’s also a free Beach Reach shuttle which goes from Mount Pleasant to Isle of Palms during the summer season. You can also bike on a sidewalk all the way from Mount Pleasant to Sullivans Island, which is a perfect low cost way to visit the beach for bikers and those into fitness.
#5 – Visit the Charleston Tea Plantation
The Charleston Tea Plantation is the ONLY tea garden in the U.S., making this a must-see stop for tea enthusiasts. See fields of tea, learn about the tea-making process inside the factory, enjoy free tea tastings and explore the grounds free of charge. This is a very low key tour, comfortable and welcoming.
The trolley tour is a great way to experience the Charleston Tea Garden, and this does require a small fee, but is of course not mandatory!
40 Other Free Things to Do In Charleston SC
It wasn’t easy to pick the top 5 best free things to do in Charleston. I’ve put together a list of more free activities and excursions to add to your Charleston bucket list below.
Walk the Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge
It was hard to not put this one in the top 5 best free things to do in Charleston SC. Walking the Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge is a fantastic experience, where you will get an aerial view of both the Charleston Harbor, the French Quarter waterfront and Mount Pleasant. This is a must-see spot for photographers.
The bridge is 2.5 miles long, or 5 miles round trip, so this isn’t necessarily a short walk. If you don’t want to walk the whole thing, park on one side and walk to the top and back!
Free Live Music Charleston SC
Watching live music is one of my personal favorite things to do on vacation, and luckily there are tons of opportunities to see free live music in Charleston. Henry’s on the Market is my top choice for free live music, as they usually won’t have a cover and often have multiple acts going on each level of the bar on the weekends. So fun! See what’s on and plan your visit by visiting the Henry’s on the Market event page.
In addition to Henry’s, you can find live music everywhere you turn at Folly Beach. The Washout, Chico Feo and Loggerheads all have free live music often during both on and off peak season. What’s better than live music at the beach?!
There are also a lot of free live music events that happen in Charleston throughout the year. I mentioned some of these in the above Events section, including Party at the Point and more.
Best Free Things to Do In Charleston SC For Art Lovers : Self-Guided Charleston Art Walks
The First Friday Art Walks by the Charleston Gallery Association take place the first Friday of each month, where the art galleries in downtown Charleston open up their doors for visitors with specials, workshops and demonstrations. Perhaps get some art to bring home, or just enjoy connecting with local artists and business owners while getting to see some amazing art.
I’ve found that the CGA Instagram page is the best bet for finding up to date information on the First Friday Art Walks. If you’re visiting the city outside of the first Fridays of the month, you can use their map of the art galleries in Downtown Charleston to explore on your own.
Visit the College of Charleston and the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art
Named the ‘Most Beautiful Campus’ in South Carolina by MSN, the College of Charleston makes for a perfect afternoon stroll on your trip to Charleston. The southern style architecture is stunning, reflecting the beauty of downtown Charleston, and the campus is tree filled with natural beauty everywhere you turn.
The art museum at College of Charleston, named the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, is a small but excellent facility worth the stop with seasonally rotating exhibits by beginner and mid-level artists. They also have a fascinating art book room, and best of all – it’s free, and by visiting here you’ll be supporting future generations of artists to come.
Shop Local At the Historic Charleston City Market
The Charleston City Market is THE place to go in Charleston for souvenirs, gifts for family and friends, and to get a feel for what makes Charleston unique. Shop local and support the community at this historic market place center which calls itself “The Cultural Heart of Charleston Since 1807.”
This is one of my stops on the Self-Guided Walking Tour I put in my map which you can find at the bottom of the page, and it’s a must-see attraction when visiting the city, even if you just walk through!
Angel Oak Tree
The Angel Oak tree is one of the oldest trees in all of South Carolina. Located on Johns Island, the Angel Oak tree can be seen for free – although donations are accepted. The area around the tree isn’t HUGE, so don’t come here planning on hanging out all day or anything. Make sure to bring your camera and get some cool photos.
I personally could have skipped this – I wasn’t overly impressed, but that’s because I lived in New Orleans for a month where I got to hangout under some of the U.S.’s most beautiful trees, including the Tree of Life. So I am biased!
Explore Charles Towne Landing
Charles Towne Landing is a historical site and park with free admission offering a perfect spot for a family outing or long walk with plenty of things to see. Make sure to check out the recreated ship and bring your cameras for the beautiful oak trees.
Although it isn’t free, the animal forest / zoo at Charles Towne Landing is one of the best cheap things to do in Charleston SC and the only zoo in Charleston – so after you explore the park you can pop into the zoo to see otters and more. This stop is especially great for families with kids!
Visit the Charleston Riverfront Park
The Charleston Riverfront Park is stunning, right on the Cooper river, just a short drive from downtown in North Charleston. Home to the High Water Festival with a pavilion and stage area, events are often held here, but on the average day you’ll find a waterfront playground, splash pad, plenty of open green space for activities and trails for walking through nature to admire the wildlife and water views. Visit the Charleston Riverfront Park Facebook page to learn more.
Shop Local Produce at the Charleston Farmers Market
The Charleston Farmers Market’s main location is in Marion Square right in the middle of Downtown Charleston, making it a convenient stop for anyone visiting Holy City. Stop by on Saturdays during the warm weather season, or on Saturday or Sunday during the Holiday season to support local small businesses. You’ll walk away with delicious fresh fruits and vegetables, treats like sweets and wine and craft goods, and you can even grab a bite to eat or a drink to sip on here as well.
There’s also a weekly Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays at Ackerman Park in West Ashley, in case you’re closer to that area. You can find out more about both of these markets and confirm their schedule and what vendors you can find there at the Charleston Farmers Market website.
Play at James Island County Park : Best Free Things to Do In Charleston SC For Families
James Island County Park is easily one of the best parks in Charleston. It’s about 15 minutes outside the city, and outside of the obvious – natural beauty and space to hangout, this park offers tons of things to do. A few of the free activities you’ll find are picnic tables and grills, saltwater fishing and crabbing, a volleyball court, playground and splash pad, miles of paved trails, tons of open meadows and a dog park.
If you’re willing to spend a little bit for more fun there’s a climbing wall, seasonal waterpark, bike and water sport rentals as well. You can easily make James Island County Park a day trip if you love the outdoors. Confirm hours and park status by visiting the James Island County Park website.
Bike the West Ashley Greenway and/or West Ashley Bikeway (And then get a free beer!)
Although Charleston doesn’t have much elevation and not really any good hiking, there are a lot of places to go for a nice long walk, two of them being the West Ashley Greenway / West Ashley Bikeway. These are technically two separate trails but they are very close to each other and you can easily connect from one to the other. Both take you on a ride down a flat, packed dirt trail to explore marshes, wooded areas and even some local art and outdoor fitness equipment.
If you don’t have bikes, you can rent bikes at Ride Bikes, which is small business right near the West Ashley Bikeway. Ride Bikes holds a weekly event called the Thursday Night Beer Ride and if you join you get a free beer after you’re finished! Visit their website here to confirm and to learn more.
Go Fishing at Higgins Pier
Speaking of the West Ashley Bikeway, if you ride all the way East on the trail you will eventually hit the Higgins Pier, which is an excellent spot for fishing. Fishing is one of the best free things to do in Charleston SC as long as you are fishing in a sustainable manner with respect to local wildlife. The kids can join for this one too! Come during sunset for a beautiful view.
Free Special Events in Charleston
There are lots of things going on in Charleston. While there aren’t quite as many events as there are in a bigger city, you can definitely still find free happenings made for travelers and locals alike – especially during the summer and during the holidays. These are the best free things to do in Charleston SC that are often overlooked, and help to support the local communities. Plus who doesn’t like a free festival?!
The Summerville YMCA Flowertown Festival is a massive free festival at Azalea park in the spring time, highlighting the beautiful spring blooms in the area and small local businesses. If it wasn’t a little over an hour from Charleston downtown it would be much higher up on my list.
Outside of the holidays, a great festival is the North Charleston Arts Fest, providing a line up of free events in all arts disciplines, at venues throughout North Charleston just outside of downtown. The Charleston Air Show happens one day each spring and offers free entry.
Folly Beach also has a rotating list of events outside of the holidays, one of which being a Drone Show (!!). You can find a list of events on the Visit Folly website’s event page.
Charleston SC Christmas Events
There’s both a Charleston Holiday Parade and Charleston Holiday Parade of Boats in December, free to see and fun for families. The Charleston Holiday Market at Marion Square is another favorite, which transforms the Charleston Farmers Market into a winter wonderland. Learn more about the Charleston Holiday Market at the Charleston Farmer’s Market Facebook page during the holiday season or at charlestonarts.org.
There’s also a fun Christmas parade at Folly Beach, perfect for the kids.
New Years Eve Charleston SC Events At Folly Beach
Folly Beach is a great place to be for New Years Eve Charleston SC, especially if you’re looking for something fun and free to celebrate the New Year as a traveler. One of the most fun events is the New Year’s Day Bill Murray Polar Plunge where you can take a cold plunge into the sea. There’s also a Fireworks show after sunset and then the super unique Annual Flip Flop Drop at midnight.
Summer Events
Party at the Point is the free music series happening in the Spring and Summer at the beach on the water at the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina.
Take A Sneak Peak at the Charleston Library Society
The Charleston Library Society is one of the only remaining private libraries in the U.S. making it super unique. The historic architecture is absolutely stunning. Although you can’t do much inside as a non-member, you can see the exhibit they currently have up in the main area for free, and it’s worth the pop-in!
Dolphin Spot at Shems Creek
Shems Creek is one of the many places in Charleston you can go to try to see some dolphins. As an added bonus, the whole boardwalk is beautiful and there are tons of great restaurants and bars you can stop at as well.
If you visit and can’t find them here, consider taking the Charleston Water Taxi. Although it’s about $20 per person, you get unlimited rides all day and it’s a great deal, especially when you catch a glimpse of some dolphins! This is one of the best kept secrets in Charleston.
Visit the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History
The Mace Brown Museum of Natural History is one of the city’s free museums and perfect for kids, or anyone interested in seeing some really cool fossils. It is pretty small, so maybe check out what they have ahead of time if you’re hesitant before you visit by checking them out online.
Take the Sullivan’s Island Nature Trail to The Beach
Sullivan’s Island is a haven for nature lovers. The Town of Sullivan’s Island received funding under the Greenbelt program to enhance the Sullivan’s Island Nature Trail, which is a protected area of 190 acres of land. Visitors can walk the protected land to see wildlife of all kinds, all the way to beach access at Station 16. Keep in mind in the summer the trail can be VERY buggy and generally unpleasant. Parking is also not free, but you can park at Fort Moultrie, which is right on the trail. Make sure to make it all the way to the beach, where you can see Fort Sumpter in the distance!
Enjoy Second Sunday Charleston SC on King Street
Second Sunday Charleston SC on King Street is a monthly event where the town shuts down a half-mile part of the street to move back in time where traffic isn’t a thing. Connect with the small businesses of the town and stroll while live musicians perform. In addition to of course being a free event you can attend, you can get free parking validated at the City of Charleston parking garage by using these instructions.
Attend a Free Fitness Class
There are a few ways to find free fitness classes in Charleston SC and nearby. Low Country Power Yoga in West Ashley has free weekly community classes where yoga teachers in training get to shof off their skills. Even better, Modern Movement Yoga offers a free class pass for new students.
If you’re someone who likes to practice alone, don’t hesitate to head over to the beach and do some beach yoga and/or beach meditations alone, especially during sunrise which rises right over the ocean. This is my absolute favorite way to wake up whether on vacation or not.
Catch the Sunset
This is another one of my favorite free things to do in Charleston SC, especially considering there is so much natural beauty here. There are tons of great sunset spots in and around Charleston and I won’t give them all away 😉 but a few of my favorites are Shems Creek in Mt Pleasant, the Battery, and either the edge of Folly Beach State Park or the Folly River Bridge at the beach.
Play Pickleball, Tennis, Disc Golf or Basketball : Best Free Things to Do In Charleston SC For Active Travelers
Pickleball is taking the U.S. by storm and it’s a great activity for couples and groups where you can have fun being active. Perfect for a nice morning before you hit the town during your travels. There are a few free public courts at Moultrie Playground in downtown – perfect for anyone staying downtown. You can use this map to see all of the best pickleball spots near Downtown Charleston, and at most if not all of these spots there are also tennis courts.
Disc golf is always something I like to put on the free activities list for each city. The best spots in Charleston are mainly outside of Downtown understandably. Fire Swamp in West Ashley is a free wooded course. Make sure to bring bug spray! There’s another free disc golf course at Park Circle in North Charleston, located in the middle of a neighborhood near lots of great restaurants and breweries.
See the Morris Island Lighthouse by Visiting the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve
If you’re interested in lighthouses, you’ll want to go see the Morris Island Lighthouse. Unfortunately you can’t drive right up to it or anything, but you CAN see it from a distance. To find it, put “Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve” into Google or take Ashely Drive as far North as you can go in Folly Beach. You can also read about the Morris Island Lighthouse here.
There’s also the Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse, but I would skip this as it’s generally underwhelming and under disrepair.
Have A Spooky Outing : Explore the City’s Cemeteries & Haunted Places
One free thing to do in certain cities that I think is often overlooked is to do a little ghost hunting and exploring the haunted places there. After all, you’re much more likely to see a ghost when you’re on your own versus with a big tour group!
Some of the haunted places to see are the Old City Jail, Poogan’s Porch, the Dock Street Theatre and the Battery Carriage House. You can see these spots marked with a little symbol like this on my map. 
Play Basketball or Visit the Conservancy At Corinne Jones Park
Corinne Jones Park is another great park in Charleston, and its unique feature is its community garden which is funded by the Charleston Parks Conservancy. The garden has a shaded area which catches rain drop off in order to water the plants. If you’re a gardener and are interested in contributing, you can apply for a plot or to volunteer at the Charleston Parks Conservancy website.
Once you’ve seen the garden there’s a full basketball court to play ball on, a few tennis courts, a dog park and a small playground making it the perfect place for families to burn off some steam.
Watch A Beach Sunrise
My absolute favorite free thing to do in Charleston SC as a photographer and someone who loves the beach is to catch the sunrise over the ocean at Folly Beach or Sullivan’s island. Although getting up early can be tough, plan a nap afterwards and it will 100% be worth it on a clear day!
Map of the Best Cheap & Free Things to Do In Charleston SC
I put together a map, complete with photos, a walking tour of Downtown Charleston and also cheap things to do in Charleston SC below. Save it to your phone so you have it when you need it!
More Charleston SC Travel Info
If you’re traveling to the Holy City, make sure to check out my guide to where to stay in Charleston SC based on budget. I’ve also created a map of hotels in Charleston SC in case you’re more of a visual person like I am. Enjoy!
Lauren Kessel
Lauren Kessel is the author of this blog post and the creator of the Inspired Backpacker travel blog. She is a passionate digital nomad, with the mission to make slow travel a more accessible way of life for everyone. Lauren believes travel is an important means of education and more importantly, a way for people of different cultures to come together and understand each other better. She has a BS in Tourism and has planned countless domestic and international trips for herself, her family and friends, having visited over 12 countries and 30 states so far.
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