Super Romantic Things to Do in Beautiful Charleston

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Charleston, South Carolina is one of the most romantic city escapes in the United States. From the signature palmetto trees to the gas lit lanes and hidden alleyways, the atmosphere is overflowing with ambiance. With no shortage of romantic things to do in Charleston, SC, the “Holy City” is an ideal couples getaway destination.

Ever since my first visit almost eight years ago, I can’t seem to stay away. I fell completely in love with Charleston’s pastel-colored historical homes, cheerful local shops, and charming cobblestone paths that are perfect for wandering hand in hand. My husband and I have spent wonderful weekends whiling away time over fantastic meals, scenic walks, and simply soaking in the beautiful scenery.

There’s no denying that Charleston’s unique charm makes it the perfect destination for occasions like a wedding, anniversary or honeymoon. The city oozes with romance, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a house without charm or a street with no history or character. Without further delay, here are the most romantic things to do during your trip to Charleston.

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Romantic Things to Do in Charleston SC

1. Visit Charleston During a Romantic Time of Year

Any time of year can be romantic in Charleston, but certain seasons have especially more ambience than normal. These would be:

• Fall for that welcome chill in the air and the smell of fireplaces burning in the evening.
• Valentine’s Day for amazing restaurants and charming B&B’s in one of the most romantic cities in the USA.
• Spring to welcome the warm weather as the flowers begin to bloom.

I’ve visited in both May and October, when the temperatures were pleasant for walking all over town. Just remember to bring an umbrella for the occasional drizzle.

Winter would also be a great time to cozy up after chilly strolls through town, but skip the grueling heat and humidity of summer.

2. Take a Photo at the Rainbow Row

This colorful stretch of homes on E Bay Street is one of the most iconic sights in Charleston. It’s super easy to visit during a stroll to the Battery.

Take a quick pit stop here and capture the perfect photo in front of the Rainbow Row to remember your trip by. Chances are there’ll be plenty of others taking photos near this romantic spot who can take one of you and your significant other.

3. Stay at the Most Romantic Hotel in Charleston…

Are you looking to do a romantic getaway in style? Voted the #2 Hotel in Charleston by Travel + Leisure, the Wentworth Mansion provides the ultimate luxurious pampering experience in a historical setting.

Don’t forget to dine at Circa 1886 during your stay. It is one of the best restaurants in town!

4. …or Stay at an Adorable Bed and Breakfast

Nothing spells quality time and romance better than a stay at a historic B&B, and this is easily one of the most romantic things to do in Charleston, SC. There are plenty of these quaint little places to go around in Charleston, such as the highly regarded John Rutledge House Inn.

The characteristically calm setting of a B&B allows you to truly relax and focus on each other. Plus, breakfast is often included in the room cost, which is usually served in a cozy common area where you can chat with other travelers.

Related: Savannah vs Charleston – Which Coastal Southern City is Better?

5. Stroll Down Church Street

If you are looking for a leisurely stroll passed some of Charleston’s most beautiful homes, head straight to Church Street. While this is definitely not the only pretty street in Charleston, it’s a good starting point. From there, you can turn off onto quiet side streets and alleyways as you please.

As you walk past this street’s pastel-colored gorgeousness, don’t forget to pause and read some of the plaques denoting famous residents and house guests. You may also notice huge, sometimes decorative bolts in the sides of the houses, including in the above photo. These were put in after a major earthquake hit the city in 1886 to add extra support to the structures.

6. Take a Romantic Walk along the Charleston Waterfront

On a sunny day, walking along Charleston’s waterfront is a very romantic thing to do. The mild weather year-round means the waterfront is almost always an inviting place to be. Plus, as is the theme in Charleston, there are gorgeous old homes with stunning facades to admire.

While I mapped out the perfect route in my 3 days in Charleston itinerary, a great place to start would be strolling the Waterfront Park to E Bay Street. From there, continue walking down E Bay Street along the water towards the Battery. The walk offers great views of the Cooper River with Fort Sumter in the distance, as well as waterfront mansions that look like castles.

7. Visit the Charleston Pineapple Fountain

The Pineapple Fountain is a landmark in Charleston, and a beautiful place for a photo op. Just head toward the water down Victoria Street to Vendue Range, and make a right into the Waterfront Park. You’ll hear it before you see it so just keep going.

A short distance ahead, you will see the fountain surrounded by low hedges, with maybe a photographer or two near it. See if someone will take your picture, as this is the perfect backdrop for a photo you’ll definitely want to frame when you get home.

8. Do a Food Tour

What better way to bond than trying some new foods together? Sampling the locale cuisine is one of my favorite ways to experience a city, and Charleston does Southern comfort food right. You definitely will not leave hungry!

Book Your Charleston Food Tour Here!

9. Dine at a Romantic Restaurant in Charleston

Charleston SC has a top-notch food scene, and one of the most romantic things to do is making reservations for a couple unforgettable meals. Some amazing restaurant choices for a romantic dinner in Charleston include:

• Circa 1886: On the same property as the historic Wentworth Mansion. Has a very luxury feel with high quality ingredients and very attentive service. This restaurant made my husband and I fall in love with Charleston on our first visit.
• Husk: One of the most famous high-end restaurants in Charleston, Husk is located in the building of what looks like a historic Charleston home, complete with garden and double decker porch. Soak in the low-lit ambiance while filling up on sophisticated spins on Southern staples, including corn bread, pimento cheese, and catfish.
• FIG: One of the most esteemed restaurants in Charleston, FIG often competes with Husk as THE restaurant to visit during your trip. Still honoring flavors of the South, FIG leverages local ingredients for fresh, imaginative dishes. On a visit with my mom, the service was incredible and treated us like royalty.
• R Kitchen: For a very intimate setting shared with a handful of other people, I highly recommend visiting R Kitchen. While it won’t exactly be a romantic table for two, the preset cost of $60/person covers one of the most unique dining experiences in Charleston. R Kitchen’s five-course menu changes daily, and it’s a fun opportunity to mingle with other couples.

10. Size Up the Angel Oak

If there were the 7 Wonders of the United States, I think the Angel Oak would be one of them. I mean, how many trees do you know of that live to 400 years old? As in, witnessed Native American tribes first interacting with English settlers, followed by wars, the birth of a nation, earthquakes, hurricanes, more wars, etc.? Oh, if trees could talk!

That is why I suggest renting a car and driving 20 minutes to Johns Island to see the iconic Angel Oak. It’s so worth it.

The beautiful Angel Oak is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, with crazy thick long limbs stretching out in all directions. It looks like something from a fairy tale or story book, and will probably take your breath away. Don’t forget to get a picture together while you’re there with as much of the tree in the background as will fit!

11. Relax on the Beach

Lounging on the beach and listening to the waves roll in will never not be a romantic way to spend a day in Charleston, SC. While downtown Charleston is located on the Cooper and Ashley Rivers and isn’t exactly beach front, some excellent beaches are not very far away.

What’s more is that Charleston’s warm climate allows for pleasant beach weather during much of the year. Here are some great beach options within 20-30 minutes of downtown to check out:

• Folly Beach – 30 minutes southeast of downtown Charleston
• Isle of Palms – Lined with giant houses and manicured lawns, the vibe is straight out of HGTV. It only takes 35 minutes by car to reach this beach northeast of Charleston.
• Sullivan’s Island – 20 minutes from downtown Charleston (just a bit south of the Isle of Palms). When you get hungry, stop at The Obstinate Daughter or The Longboard for lunch or dinner.

12. Visit Charming Shops and Galleries

Find some fun new outfits or home décor at Charleston’s many shops and galleries. King Street, or Charleston’s main shopping district, is filled with boutique after boutique. You’ll see a lot of chains you could find anywhere, but there are plenty of unique local shops sprinkled in as well.

In a small square between Market St. and Broad St., you can find a diverse range of galleries to check out. I highly recommend exploring this beautiful area. This is where we stumbled upon a wonderful antique map gallery, and of course I couldn’t come out of there empty handed!

One more store you should visit for a unique momento of Charleston is Indigo on Vendue Range. This store was full of so many pretty things, like metal art, stone coasters, and clothing. I really had to control myself in there, so as to not walk out with more than our one carry-on could handle!

13. Have Drinks with a View of the Skyline

Visit The Rooftop right above the Vendue Boutique Hotel. It’s a chic rooftop bar with a great selection of cocktails and appetizers. The best part is that it offers views over Charleston, where you can pick out all the steeples towering above the other buildings.

14. Take a Romantic Carriage Ride through Charleston, SC

Carriage rides are a very popular way to see Charleston, and you can find them all over the main historic district. The beautiful old homes and buildings are definitely a romantic sight to see, and doing so in a horse-drawn carriage really amps up the ambiance. A morning or evening carriage ride next to your significant other would definitely be something to remember.

Book Your Carriage Tour Here!

15. Explore a Gorgeous Historic Charleston Home

After being teased by all the lovely Charleston homes, why not take a peak inside one of them? There are many options for homes that are also museums, with one of the most popular being the Nathaniel Russell House and Aiken-Rhett House combo ticket. Pay one price, and you have access to both houses for a period of six months. That means you can visit one home one day, and the second home the next day. You’ll want to split them up, as they are not close to each other at all.

Another great option for a home you can visit is the Heyward-Washington House, where George Washington stayed during his visit to Charleston in 1791. Or if you are visiting in October, you can take advantage of the Preservation Society of Charleston’s exclusive House and Garden Tours. This annual event allows you to tour certain private homes that would otherwise be closed off to the public.

16. See a Play at the Dock Street Theatre

This is your chance to have an entertaining date night while simultaneously partaking in a historic Charleston institution. Considered America’s first theatre, the original Dock Street Theatre was built in 1736, with its first show being The Recruiting Officer.

Today’s Dock Street Theatre is not the original, as the latter sadly burned down in 1740. Yet, the façade still looks historic because the theatre is in a 19th century building that formerly housed the Planter’s Hotel. Click here to see what’s currently playing at the Dock Street Theatre.

17. Do a Spooky Tour

Charleston is a very old city, so obviously they’ve got a ghost or two. Even on our historic Charleston walking tour, which was not ghost themed, our guide still felt the need to point out which houses were haunted.

While a haunted tour might not seem romantic on the surface, a spooky atmosphere will have you huddling close together. Then again, if you and your significant other share a love of creepy stuff, maybe it will be romantic? Everybody’s different!

Book Your Charleston Ghost Tour Here!

18. Get on the Water

With the Cooper and Ashley Rivers flanking either side of Charleston’s peninsula, it’s a great opportunity to sign up for a boat cruise. Whether you want to take the ferry to Fort Sumter (grab your tickets here) or simply do a sightseeing cruise, there are plenty of options.

19. Leave Room for Silliness and Spontaneity

Don’t forget to be a little adventurous together, and get off the beaten path. Try things you’ve never tried, and take a few risks. The act of traveling together in itself is an amazing thing to do as a couple. Some of the laughs along the way are the things you remember the most!

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Are you feeling the romance in the air yet? If you are headed to the Holy City soon for a honeymoon, anniversary, etc., you now have plenty of options for romantic things to do in Charleston, SC. In fact, these will overflow your itinerary, so pick a couple and save the rest of your time for whimsical explorations with your favorite person.