7 Cheap Things to Do in Charleston
Charleston has a reputation as a fancy, expensive city, and parts of it are. Hotels on the peninsula can cost a fortune. But here’s the good news: the best thing about Charleston is just walking around it, and that’s free.
In this guide
- 1. Walk Rainbow Row and the Battery
- 2. Hang out in Waterfront Park
- 3. Browse the Charleston City Market
- 4. Visit the Angel Oak
- 5. See Fort Moultrie instead of Fort Sumter
- 6. Spend a day at Folly Beach
- 7. Step inside the old churches
- How to eat cheaply in Charleston
- How to save on parking and hotels
- A cheap day in Charleston
- Common questions
Here are seven cheap things to do in Charleston, most of them costing nothing at all, plus a few tips for keeping food and parking costs down.
1. Walk Rainbow Row and the Battery
Rainbow Row is a stretch of 13 pastel-colored houses on East Bay Street, and it’s the most famous view in Charleston. Seeing it costs nothing. Go in the morning, when the light is soft and the sidewalk is quiet.
Keep walking south to the Battery, the seawall at the tip of the peninsula. It’s lined with grand old mansions on one side and the harbor on the other. White Point Garden, right behind it, has shady oaks and old cannons. It’s the classic Charleston stroll.
2. Hang out in Waterfront Park
Waterfront Park runs along the Cooper River, and it’s one of the nicest free spots in town. The Pineapple Fountain is the star. On hot days, people wade in it, and nobody minds.
There are big wooden porch swings along the pier, which are perfect for watching boats go by. Bring a coffee and sit for a while. It’s the kind of place that makes you slow down, in a good way.
3. Browse the Charleston City Market
The City Market stretches for four blocks through the middle of downtown, with buildings that date back to the early 1800s. It’s free to wander, and you’ll find local crafts, souvenirs and snacks.
Look for the Gullah artists weaving sweetgrass baskets by hand. It’s a tradition that goes back centuries. The baskets themselves aren’t cheap, and for good reason, but watching them being made is free and fascinating.
4. Visit the Angel Oak
The Angel Oak on Johns Island, about 25 minutes from downtown, is a huge live oak tree estimated to be hundreds of years old. Its branches spread out so far that some of them rest on the ground.
Entry is free. It’s a short visit, maybe 20 to 30 minutes, but it’s genuinely impressive in person, and it makes a great stop on the way to Kiawah or Folly. Check the hours before you go, since the park closes on some days.
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5. See Fort Moultrie instead of Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began, is a big draw, but the ferry ticket adds up for a family. Fort Moultrie, on Sullivan’s Island, is run by the same National Park Service and costs a fraction of the price.
The fort has been rebuilt several times, so you can walk through more than 170 years of coastal defense history in one visit. And you can see Fort Sumter across the water from the walls. Afterward, Sullivan’s Island has a quiet, free beach.
6. Spend a day at Folly Beach
Folly Beach is Charleston’s laid-back, slightly funky beach town, about 20 minutes from downtown. The beach itself is free. You’ll just pay for parking.
Walk out on the Folly Beach Pier, one of the longest on the East Coast, and watch the surfers. Then grab a cheap lunch at one of the beach shacks on Center Street. It’s a great way to cool off after a hot morning in the city.
7. Step inside the old churches
Charleston is called the Holy City because of all its church steeples. Many of the historic churches downtown, like St. Michael’s and St. Philip’s, welcome visitors when services aren’t running.
Their churchyards are also worth a wander, with old gravestones and quiet gardens. It’s free, peaceful and a nice break from the heat. Just be respectful and check posted hours.
How to eat cheaply in Charleston
Charleston has amazing food, but dinner at a top restaurant can easily cost $100 a person. Eat your big meal at lunch, when many places offer cheaper menus. Rodney Scott’s BBQ, on King Street, serves whole-hog barbecue at fair prices.
Shrimp and grits, fried chicken and biscuits are all easy to find for less. Happy hour oysters are another good deal, so look for specials in the late afternoon.
How to save on parking and hotels
Parking downtown is expensive and hard to find. Use the free DASH trolley, which loops around the main sights. Better yet, just walk. The historic district is small.
For hotels, look in North Charleston or West Ashley, which are much cheaper than the peninsula, then drive in and park once. Visiting in winter, from December to February, also brings prices down a lot.
A cheap day in Charleston
Start with a coffee and an early walk past Rainbow Row, then follow the seawall down to the Battery and White Point Garden. Loop back through the quiet side streets of the South of Broad neighborhood, where some of the city’s oldest houses hide behind iron gates.
Wander the City Market late in the morning, then have a big, affordable lunch. In the afternoon, drive out to the Angel Oak and continue on to Folly Beach for a swim and a walk on the pier. Or, if you’d rather stay in town, spend the afternoon on the Waterfront Park swings and visit a church or two.
That’s a full Charleston day for little more than the cost of food and gas. Honestly, it’s also the way most locals would spend a day off.
Common questions
Is Charleston expensive to visit?
Hotels and dinners can be, but sightseeing is mostly free. A budget trip is very doable.
What’s the cheapest time to visit?
Winter, from December through February. It’s cooler and much less crowded.
Is the Angel Oak worth the drive?
If you’re heading to Folly or Kiawah, yes. It’s a quick, free and memorable stop.
Do I need a car in Charleston?
Not for downtown. You’ll want one for the Angel Oak, Folly Beach and Sullivan’s Island.
Can you visit Fort Sumter cheaply?
The ferry is the only way out, so it’s never cheap. Fort Moultrie is the budget alternative.
