Known as the Holy City, Charleston, South Carolina, is definitely a divine experience.
This historic, seaside gem is a gorgeous destination and very popular with tour groups. From its colorful, centuries-old buildings to its cobblestone streets and Southern cuisine, this city has been charming visitors for centuries.
Here’s a definitive destination guide to Charleston for groups. And if you’re thinking about combining a visit to Charleston with a trip to another nearby destination, check out our suggestions for group travel itineraries in Myrtle Beach and Savannah as well.
Main Attractions
Fort Sumter National Monument
See where one of the bloodiest conflicts in American history began at Fort Sumter, the fort in the Charleston Harbor. The fort was built to defend the area from British attacks during the War of 1812, but in 1860, Confederate forces fired on the Union-occupied fort, prompting a surrender and officially beginning the American Civil War. Today, it’s a national park. Groups can ferry to the fort for a tour about the conflict there and its long-lasting implications; there are also snacks and a gift shop they can browse. Groups of 15 or more can receive a discounted rate.
Fort Sumter
Charleston City Market
The Charleston City Market is a shopper’s paradise and makes a great place to set your group loose for a few hours. The market, which spans several city blocks and contains hundreds of local vendors, is the best place to find local goods, from the city’s unique culinary offers to locally made wares such as sweetgrass baskets. Your group can grab clothing, jewelry, artwork and home goods, or grab a freshly made sweet treat, local seasoning mixes and candles, among other items. While the market is partially indoors, most of the vendors are in open air, so prepare your group for the heat. There’s also a night market with fewer vendors that might be a cooler alternative.
Charleston Museum
Called “America’s first museum,” the Charleston Museum was founded in 1773 and has been accumulating artifacts ever since. Exhibits like the Lowcountry History Hall teach visitors about the Native Americans who once occupied the land, as well as the first colonists who settled there. The museum’s artifacts include everything from the earliest agricultural tools used by settlers to guns used in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. The museum also lets visitors explore the area’s natural history with a collection of fossils of prehistoric animals. Collections aren’t limited to Charleston, however; there are also Greek and Roman artifacts.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
Widely considered the most beautiful plantation in Charleston, Magnolia Plantation and its gardens have been drawing visitors since 1870. It was considered one of the must-see attractions in America, alongside Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon. The plantation itself dates back to the late 17th century, but the formal gardens were planted by enslaved people at the direction of the Drayton family in the 1840s. Located on the banks of the Ashley River, the plantation mansion and gardens are available for group tours. Visitors can walk the beautiful gardens, learn about the property’s history and observe the preserved nature surrounding the plantation.
Waterfront Park and Rainbow Row
Groups can’t go to Charleston without seeing some of its most iconic and picturesque sights, which can be found within a few blocks of each other: Rainbow Row and Waterfront Park. Rainbow Row is a row of historic homes on East Bay Street that are painted pastel colors. These green, blue, pink, purple and yellow homes, adorned with palm trees, are a signature part of Charleston’s historic, colorful charm. Right on the bay, Waterfront Park has stunning water views and is home to the gorgeous fountain with multiple levels of water spouts and a palmetto tree, the city’s signature symbol. The park has piers, plenty of shade and several great photo-ops for groups.
Honorable Mentions:
- South Carolina Aquarium
- Drayton Hall
- McLeod Plantation Historic Site
- Aiken-Rhett House Museum
- Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
Hidden Gems
International African American Museum
While it’s certainly not hidden, the International African American Museum is brand new — it only opened in 2023 after more than 20 years of preparation and fundraising. It’s now a featured stop on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail and drew more than 180,000 visitors in its first year. The museum and its sprawling gardens (which are open to the public) were designed thoughtfully to showcase the museum’s 12 permanent exhibits, including nine galleries, which feature artwork and artifacts honoring the expansive and consequential history of African Americans. Discounted group rates and priority entry are available for groups larger than 25.
Bulls Island
There’s no shortage of little islands and waterways for groups to explore when in Charleston, but perhaps the best to tour is Bulls Island. Groups can take a ferry to the island, learning about the saltmarsh estuary along the way, and then get dropped on the pristine beach. They can scour the island to see its wildlife, from the hundreds of bird species to bottlenose dolphins to alligators. Beachcombing is allowed, with each guest allowed to take a few shells home with them as a souvenir. This four-hour tour is great for active groups that love experiencing and learning about nature.
Charleston Tea Garden
Once a 127-acre potato farm on Wadmalaw Island, the Charleston Tea Garden is one of the few tea farms on American soil that groups can tour. The farm’s roots can be traced back the 19th century, when the founder of the Pinehurst Tea Plantation in Summerville found a way to successfully cultivate tea in American soil. His ideas were passed down, and in 1987, the Charleston Tea Garden was created with tea leaves transplanted onto the farmland on Wadmalaw Island. Now this tea is a Southern staple. Group tours involve a trolley tour to see where the tea is grown, then a tour of the area where it’s processed.
Charleston Tea Garden
Popular Tours
African American Tours & Gullah Geechee Tours
With several stops on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail (USCRT), Charleston is a great place to learn about Black history. In addition to visiting the city’s USCRT stops, such as the International African American Museum and the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, groups can take walking tours of significant sites throughout the city. Another popular type of tour is meeting members the local Gullah Geechee population to explore their history and their legacy. It’s a way to hear local stories from a perspective that few travelers have heard.
Culinary Tours
Charleston is well-known for its culinary scene, which features an emphasis on fresh seafood and Lowcountry cuisine. Charleston Culinary Tours offers several foodie-friendly tours and recommends taking them early on during your visit to ensure adequate time to stop at the many eateries they recommend. The Downtown Charleston Culinary Tour, their most popular, takes guests through historic downtown to stop at several local establishments for samples. There’s also a kitchen experience that lets guests get hands-on; a tour focusing on pubs, taverns and taprooms; and a farm-to-table experience. Groups can even design their own custom food tours, narrated by local expert guides.
Group enjoying a Charleston culinary tour with Bulldog Tours
Ghost Tours
Like many other Southern cities, Charleston has a history of haunts. It’s no surprise that ghost tours are among its most popular, with walking tours of its cemeteries and other haunted hotspots offered by several tour companies. Groups can choose to tour a specific allegedly haunted site, such as the USS Yorktown or the Old City Jail; or they can opt for walking tours that cover a bunch of historic buildings and sites, from the Provost Dungeon to the city’s historic districts. Guides will tell your group about the city’s history and its ghost stories, making it a spooky and thrilling adventure for believers and skeptics alike.
Group Dining Favorites
Frannie & the Fox
Located in one of Charleston’s boutique hotels, Hotel Emeline, Frannie & the Fox serves wood-fired pizzas and Italian fare, as well as breakfast and brunch. The restaurant’s private dining room can accommodate up to 30 guests. The restaurant’s small plates include mozzarella, beef and pork meatballs, marinated olives and blue crab fritters, while some of its most popular entrees include the braised lamb rigatoni and the taleggio and margherita pizzas. Fresh salads, distinctly named cocktails and Italian desserts, including gelato, panna cotta and tiramisu also contribute to the vibrant menu. Smaller groups should check out the adorable patio.
Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co
With an emphasis on craft beer, Edmund’s Oast has both a restaurant and brewpub and a taproom that groups can choose from, depending on their needs. At the restaurant, their inside dining room opens for dinner service to serve an eclectic menu featuring everything from chargrilled steaks to fried chicken to cheeseburgers. The outdoor patio features elevated pub fare and is open for lunch and dinner service. As you may have guessed, the beer menu is extensive. One of the most popular brews include the peanut butter-and-jelly ale, but their exciting range of IPAs, ales and other spirits gives guests plenty of options.
39 Rue de Jean
For a fine-dining experience your group is unlikely to forget, head to 39 Rue De Jean. The upstairs event space has a private dining room overlooking Upper King Street that can accommodate groups as large as 200. The elegant restaurant features exposed brick and vaulted ceilings, but don’t let its beauty distract you from its menu. As its name would suggest, the restaurant features plenty of French cuisine. Diners recommend dishes like the garlic-and-sage duck leg, the beet salad, braised short rib, seared scallops and the grilled Blue Ridge Rabbit. No dish is complete without a glass of wine, and 39 Rue De Jean has plenty.
Church and Union
An amazing combination of ambience and gustatory delights is available at Church and Union, an upscale restaurant located in a repurposed church building, complete with stained-glass windows and a lofty ceiling. Located on Market Street, the trendy restaurant also has locations in Nashville and Charlotte. It’s a popular brunch spot on the weekends, serving a range of breakfasts and cocktails (carafe of mimosas for the table, anyone?). For dinner, diners recommend the lamb burger, the handmade braided ravioli and the roasted salmon. Steaks and seafood are also lauded menu choices.
Group Lodging
The Palmetto Hotel
With just 41 sleeping rooms, The Palmetto Hotel is definitely boutique. The unassuming, four-story brick building on East Bay Street promises gorgeous views of downtown Charleston and proximity to some of its most picturesque city scenes. Its tastefully decorated rooms offer a blend of quirky and chic, and many of the rooms have small balconies. It’s in the city’s French Quarter, close to many restaurants, shops and the peak of the city’s atmospheric charm. The lobby bar is a great place for your group to gather for refreshments featuring seasonal ingredients.
Hyatt Place Charleston
The Hyatt Place Charleston, on the north end of the city, is the place to be if you’re looking for a large hotel with plenty of rooms and amenities. It features 191 modern guest rooms, a fitness center, an indoor pool, a restaurant and a bar. And it’s still in the historic district, right on King Street, which is renowned for its shopping and great restaurants. The Hyatt is just blocks from several museums, including the Charleston Museum.
Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina
While technically located just across from Charleston in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina is an excellent place for visitors to the city to stay. It’s just across the bay (and just a quick drive over a bridge) from downtown Charleston. With 217 guest rooms, three pools, a marina, multiple restaurants, a spa and a fitness center, this resort has all the amenities a group could need and more. It’s an excellent choice for groups who want to treat themselves.
The Mills House Hotel
The large, pink building in Charleston’s French Quarter looks like it belongs in Rainbow Row. This quintessential Charleston hotel on the corner of Meeting and Queen Streets has 218 guest rooms. The Mills House Hotel is part of the Hilton Curio Collection, with eclectic and tasteful décor throughout complimenting the building’s nearly two centuries of history. The hotel also features a restaurant and bar, an all-day café and a poolside terrace for a delicious meal or vibrant cocktail. The hotel has excellent views of the city and the water, and it’s within walking distance of some of the city’s most popular attractions.
For more info:
Explore Charleston
