Port of Charleston Tours

Port of Charleston
Port of Charleston

Popular places to visit

Charleston City Market

Charleston City Market

Purchase food, jewelry and handicrafts in the market and learn about local tradition, the Civil War and slavery at its museum.

Charleston City Market
Charleston Waterfront Park featuring a coastal town, general coastal views and autumn leaves

Waterfront Park

Stroll the city’s waterfront esplanades at sunset, when the afternoon sun begins to dip and the harbor is lit with soft colors.

Waterfront Park
St. Philip\'s Church showing heritage architecture and a church or cathedral

St. Philip's Church

Attend a service with the oldest religious congregation in South Carolina, dating back to the 17th century. George Washington worshipped with this congregation.

St. Philip's Church
The Old Powder Magazine is the only public building remaining from the era of the Lords Proprietors, the eight English aristocrats who owned Carolina from 1670 to 1719. Charles Town, as the capital and southernmost English settlement on the continent, was strategically important. The town was repeatedly attacked by pirates, marauding Spanish naval vessels, and Indians. Along with the high walls and a moat that surrounded Charles Town, the Powder Magazine, as the principal storehouse of munitions and gunpowder, was crucial for the defense of the city.

The Powder Magazine

You can study the exhibits at The Powder Magazine, a museum with a story of its own, during your travels to Charleston. Wander the area's beautiful beaches or simply enjoy one of its lively bars.

The Powder Magazine
Walking tour around Charleston

Old Slave Mart Museum

You can browse the exhibits at Old Slave Mart Museum, a museum with a storied past, during your travels to Charleston. Discover the area's stunning cathedral, or seek out its local tours.

Old Slave Mart Museum
The Dock Street Theatre is Charleston's last surviving hotel from the antebellum period. The silhouette of its wrought iron balcony against the spire of St. Philip's church may be the single most photographed spot in the city. The main portion of the building was constructed around 1809 as Planter's Hotel. The hotel was built by Alexander Calder and his wife, who did so by renovating several pre-existing buildings at the site. The main entrance may not have been built until 1855 by J.W. Gamble. The hotel was used extensively by planters from the midlands of South Carolina, who traveled to Charleston during horse-racing season. It was noted for its wonderful food and drinks during this era, and the South's famous Planter's Punch may have originated here. Guests to the hotel passed through the recessed porch with brownstone columns, into the lobby, and up a grand staircase that ascended to a drawing room. While much of the interior has been altered, these elements of the antebellum hotel remain and were adapted in subsequent uses of the building. A series of additions to the hotel throughout the 19th and 20th centuries can be easily identified by differences in brick coloration. This theater is said to have been the first building built specifically for theatrical performances in America. Planter's Hotel occasionally housed one of the city's theatrical troupes, which performed at the nearby New Theatre during the mid-19th century. The most notable actor of this troupe was Junius Brutus Booth. Booth was the patriarch of an outstanding family of actors, which included John Wilkes Booth, President Lincoln's assassin. Junius Booth, who stayed at the Planter's Hotel, allegedly tried to kill his manager here in 1838. Today the Dock Street Theatre is home to the Charleston Stage Company, South Carolina's largest professional theater production company, and houses the city's Cultural Affairs office as well as The City Gallery, an exhibition space for local artists.

Dock Street Theater

Enjoy a show at Dock Street Theater, a storied theater in Charleston. Discover the area's shops, or seek out its local tours.

Dock Street Theater

Best Lodging Options Near Port of Charleston

The Francis Marion Hotel

The Francis Marion Hotel

4 out of 5
387 King St, Charleston, SC
The Francis Marion Hotel
Emeline

Emeline

4 out of 5
181 Church St, Charleston, SC
Emeline
Harborside at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina

Harborside at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina

4 out of 5
20 Patriots Point Rd, Mount Pleasant, SC
Harborside at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina
The Ryder Hotel

The Ryder Hotel

3.5 out of 5
237 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC
The Ryder Hotel
Planters Inn

Planters Inn

4.5 out of 5
112 N Market St, Charleston, SC
Planters Inn
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