Just 90 miles up the coast lies one of America’s most beautiful cities, and we’ve got your whole day planned out.
Charleston Is Calling Your Name
If you’re spending time at Myrtle Beach and haven’t made the drive up to Charleston, you are seriously missing out. The Holy City is bursting with history, jaw-dropping architecture, incredible food, and enough Southern charm to last a lifetime. Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or just someone who loves a beautiful day out, Charleston has something that will absolutely knock your socks off. Here’s our curated list of the best things to do on your day trip. Pick one, pick a few, or go ahead and try to do them all (we dare you).
Magnolia Plantation & Garden Tour
Get ready to fall head over heels for the Lowcountry because Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is a total showstopper. Dating all the way back to 1676 and open to the public since 1870, this lush, 600-acre slice of history has been in the Drayton family for 12 generations (talk about a family legacy!). On this bestselling half-day guided tour, you’ll stroll through America’s oldest large-scale Romantic garden, glide through the gorgeous Audubon Swamp Garden on a 45-minute narrated nature train ride, spot alligators, herons, and egrets in their natural habitat, and tour the historic Magnolia Home. The best part? Round-trip transportation in a climate-controlled bus and all gate fees are included in the price. No hidden surprises, just pure Southern magic from start to finish. Don’t miss out on this one, it’s a bestseller for a reason! Book your spot here.
Charleston City Bus Tour
If this is your first time in Charleston (or even your tenth), this tour is the ultimate crash course in all things Holy City. In just 90 breezy, air-conditioned minutes, your professional guide will take you on a spin through 350 years of Charleston history, past the legendary Citadel, the iconic Old City Market, gorgeous wrought iron gates, hidden gardens, and over 210 churches. You’ll cruise through the historic district, swing around the Battery, and even snap a photo with Fort Sumter in the background. It’s Charleston’s top-rated city bus tour for a reason, it covers so much ground that you’ll finish with a great sense of the city and a long list of spots you’ll want to go back and explore on foot. Think of it as your perfect Charleston orientation! Lock in your seats and get the lay of the land, book your spot here.
Boone Hall Plantation Tour
If you’ve ever driven down a stunning oak-lined avenue and thought, “I could live here,” Boone Hall Plantation is about to ruin you for all other scenery. Named USA Today’s “Best Plantation in the Charleston Area,” Boone Hall is one of America’s oldest working, living plantations, and yes, it’s every bit as gorgeous in person as it looks on screen (it’s been featured in more TV shows and movies than you can count). On this half-day guided tour, you can explore the historic mansion with a guide in period dress, walk through the famous antique rose gardens (some roses are over 100 years old, no big deal), visit the enslaved workers’ cabins, and catch a live presentation on Gullah culture that you truly won’t find anywhere else in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Round-trip transportation and all gate fees are covered, so all you have to do is show up and soak it all in. Snag your tickets and get ready to be blown away, book your spot here.
Downtown Charleston Culinary Tour
Okay, foodies, this one is for you. Charleston Culinary Tours’ most popular offering combines a walk through the Historic French Quarter and City Market with stops at four locally owned restaurants, where you’ll taste some of the most iconic flavors of the Lowcountry. Think shrimp and grits, boiled peanuts, regional Southern specialties, the kind of food that makes you immediately start planning your next trip back to Charleston. Your city-certified guide doesn’t just point out restaurants; they weave together the culinary history of the city with every bite, so by the end of the 2.5 hours you’re not just full, you’re genuinely informed and inspired. Reviewers consistently call this the best food tour they’ve ever been on, raving about knowledgeable guides who serve up history with as much flair as the food itself. Pro tip from us: schedule this on your very first day in Charleston so you can go back to your favorites before you leave! Grab your fork (and your walking shoes) and reserve your tasting adventure here.
Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour
Voted Charleston’s best tour company by Charleston City Paper for 14 years running, Bulldog Tours knows how to show people a genuinely great time, and their Savor the Flavors tour is proof. Over a leisurely 2.5-hour stroll through the heart of the city, you’ll pop into local eateries, bakeries, and specialty shops to sample classic Lowcountry dishes like stone-ground grits, pralines, South Carolina barbecue, she-crab soup, collard greens, benne wafers, and even some gourmet chocolate. (Yep, it’s pretty much dinner.) The tastings are substantial enough that most guests leave satisfied, which means you can skip the lunch line and just enjoy the ride. Your guide brings it all to life with stories about how Charleston’s food scene has evolved over 300+ years, making this as much a history lesson as a feast. Come hungry and leave happy, that’s the Bulldog Tours promise. Ready to eat your way through the Holy City? Reserve your spot here.
Charleston Strolls: Walk with History
There are some places in Charleston that carriages and motorcoaches simply cannot go, narrow cobblestone alleys, secret garden gates, tucked-away courtyards that feel like the rest of the world doesn’t exist. That’s exactly where this tour takes you. Charleston’s original walking history tour, Charleston Strolls has been introducing visitors to the city’s most charming hidden gems for decades, and it remains an absolute must. Over two easy, relaxed hours, you’ll wander past iconic Rainbow Row, stand at the stunning Historic Waterfront Battery, peek at Fort Sumter from the shore, and discover antebellum mansions, hidden gardens, historic churches, and the Revolutionary and Civil War landmarks that shaped an entire nation. Your guide, always one of the company’s most seasoned veterans, makes history feel alive, personal, and genuinely fascinating, not like a textbook recitation. If you want to truly feel Charleston rather than just see it, lace up your walking shoes and join this one. Step back 300 years without leaving the sidewalk — book your walk here.
Charleston Harbor Boat Tour
Want to see Charleston from an angle most visitors never get? Climb aboard the Carolina Belle, Charleston Harbor Tours’ classic 80-foot vessel, and prepare to have your jaw drop. Over a scenic, relaxing 90-minute cruise, your USCG-licensed captain will narrate past more than 75 landmarks and points of interest that have shaped American history. You’ll get up-close views of Fort Sumter (yes, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired), spot Fort Moultrie, the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier, the gorgeous stately homes lining the Battery, and the sweeping Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. Keep your eyes peeled for bottlenose dolphins skimming the water alongside the boat — they have a habit of showing up to say hello. Choose between the breezy open Observation Deck or the climate-controlled Main Salon below; either way, the views are absolutely stunning. This is the kind of experience that makes people say, “I can’t believe we almost skipped that.” Don’t skip it! Grab your tickets and get out on the water here.
Ready to Make Some Holy City Memories?
Charleston is one of those rare places that lives up to every bit of the hype — and then some. Whether you’re into history, amazing food, beautiful scenery, or just a really good story, you’ll find it all in the Holy City. We hope this guide helps you make the absolute most of your day trip. Now get out there and explore!