50+ Fun Things to Do in Charleston at Night

What is there to do in Charleston at night? From sipping craft cocktails on a rooftop bar to taking a ghost tour of the dark cobblestone streets, here are the best Charleston nighttime activities!

When we visited Charleston, we were surprised to find that the city’s attractions all shut down promptly at 5 p.m. We found ourselves struggling to fill the time between our last activity and supper, or finding something to do after dinner that wasn’t just drinking.

If you’re looking to fill your evenings in the Holy City, here are the best things to do in Charleston, SC at night.

Best Things to Do in Charleston at Night

Charleston Tourist Attractions Open Late

Sure, most of Charleston’s museums close down right at 5 p.m., but some stay open later. You can continue to be a tourist well into the night!

These Charleston attractions are open later so you may be able to visit in the evening!

• Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum — open until 6:30 p.m. daily
• Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston — open until 7 p.m. on Thursdays
• The Gibbes Museum of Art — open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays
• Night Market at Charleston City Market — open until 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from March-December

Charleston Tourist Attractions Open 24 Hours

These Charleston attractions never close — mostly because they’re public spaces you wouldn’t normally think of as attractions. But that’s great because not only are they open late, they’re free as well!

• Rainbow Row
• The Battery and White Point Garden
• Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park
• King Street
• Sullivan’s Island Beaches
• Isle of Palms Beaches
• Folly Beach Beaches

Nighttime Tours in Charleston

Charleston has a ton of nighttime tours! Now, they do mostly tend to be ghost tours or pub crawls, or a combination of both. But don’t worry, I’ve found some Charleston tours that are non-spooky and non-alcoholic as well.

Ghost Tours

• Haunted Evening Horse & Carriage Tour — See the city after dark, hear spooky ghost stories, and ride along in a classic Charleston horse-drawn carriage. It’s a win all around!
• Charleston Old City Jail Haunted Tour — Get exclusive access to the Old City Jail, Charleston’s most haunted building.
• Haunted Ghost Cruise of Charleston Harbor — Climb aboard and sail the harbor listening to tales of pirate attacks, naval battles, and more.
• Ghosts of Charleston Night-Time Walking Tour with Unitarian Church Graveyard — Learn about Charleston’s dark history and get exclusive access to the Unitarian Church Graveyard after hours.
• Real Hauntings of Charleston Small Group Ghost Tour — This intimate ghost tour is a great way to learn about Charleston’s ghosts.
• Charleston Paranormal Investigation — Use a thermal imaging camera and more to investigate and record hauntings around Charleston.
• Haunted Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour — Sip on cocktails at some of the most haunted establishments in the city while your pirate guide regales you with spooky tales.
• Charleston Pirates and Ghosts Tour — Learn about Charleston’s most famous pirates and ghosts on this tour.
• Ghost & Dungeon Night-Time Walking Tour with Entry to Provost Dungeon — Explore the dark corners of the city, and then get exclusive nighttime access to the Provost Dungeon.
• Pleasing Terrors Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour — Join the host of the popular Pleasing Terrors Podcast for a walking tour of Charleston’s ghosts, history, and folklore.
• Bay Street Bastards Pub Crawl — This true crime-focused pub crawl combines history, storytelling, and drinks.
• Ghost & Graveyard Night-Time Guided Walking Tour — See the city’s most eerie sites, plus wander through Charleston’s oldest cemetery, the Circular Congregational Church graveyard, after hours

There are dozens of ghost tours in Charleston! Check out even more here.

Pub Crawls

• Speakeasy Sagas Prohibition Pub Crawl — Learn about prohibition and Charleston in the 1920s on this pub crawl of vintage restaurants and bars.
• Happy Hour Tour — Kick your night off in Charleston with this guided tour of breweries, with beer pours included.
• Charleston’s Crafts & Cocktails Tour — Enjoy cozy pubs, hidden speakeasies, and modern craft beer joints on this tour of the best local bars.

Non-Spooky, Non-Alcoholic Night Tours

• Private Luxury Sailing Charters, BYOB & Dolphins — Depart at sunset for a private cruise around the Charleston Harbor.
• 18th and 19th Century Historic Dining and After Hours Museum — Dine on an authentic 18th and 19th century 4-course meal while learning the history of Charleston, plus get after-hours access to the South Carolina Historical Society Museum.
• Charleston Harbor History Sunset Cruise — Depart at sunset for a harbor cruise and history tour.
• Walking Food Tour with Secret Food Tours — Take a 3-hour dinner tour of the best local restaurants in Charleston.
• Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music — Get sunset views of the harbor and a 3-course dinner
• Sunset Harbor Cruise — Depart at sunset for a cruise around the harbor and watch wildlife and the Charleston skyline.
• Pirates, Patriots, Prohibition Private Evening Walking Tour — Learn about the impact that pirates, patriots, and the prohibition had on Charleston in this non-spooky evening walking tour.
• Charleston Sunset Blues & BBQ Dinner Cruise — Enjoy a BBQ dinner with live blues music at sunset as you cruise the harbor.

Charleston Date Night Activities

I consider all of Charleston’s tourist sights to be great for date nights too, so I won’t re-list those here. Charleston is such a romantic destination!

There’s plenty of other late-night fun you can have in Charleston beyond just going out for dinner and drinks. Check out these activities that are open late.

• Candlelight Concerts — Enjoy a romantic night of music by candlelight in unique locations around Charleston.
• Dessert with Death — A 5-course dessert tasting in a 19th century dining room with tales of historical hauntings.
• The Dinner Detective — An interactive true crime murder mystery dinner show where you get to solve a crime before the night is through.
• Charleston Water Taxi — Take a romantic ride around the harbor on a water taxi to the Mount Pleasant area and back.
• Cocktail Class at Élevé Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge — Learn how to make cocktails at this elegant rooftop bar.
• James Island Dry Bar at Charleston Hemp Collective — A cannabis dry bar with TC-infused mocktails.
• Time Traveler Escape Games — This unique outdoor escape game is perfect for learning about Charleston’s history as you play.
• Escape in 60 — See if you can escape one of their 6 escape rooms in 1 hour or less.
• Break Out Charleston — Can you break out of any of their 3 escape rooms in an hour?
• Elite Escape Games — Puzzle your way through these 5 escape rooms in Mount Pleasant.

Charleston Rooftop Bars

I love a good rooftop bar, and Charleston has some amazing options for city and water views, plus incredible sunsets! Check out a few of the best rooftop bars in Charleston:

• Élevé Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge at the Grand Bohemian Hotel
• The Rooftop at The Vendue at The Vendue Hotel
• The Citrus Club at The Dewberry Hotel
• Satellite Bar above King Street
• Fiat Lux at the Hotel Bennett

Charleston Parks

Have you considered a park for a late-night activity? Many of Charleston’s gorgeous parks are open until late at night so you can go for a stroll and take in the city in a different light.

• Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park — open until 11 p.m.
• White Point Garden — open 24 hours
• Waterfront Park — open 24 hours
• Marion Square — open 24 hours
• Colonial Lake Park — open 24 hours
• Cannon Park — open 24 hours

For Concerts and Shows in Charleston

Charleston is full of venues to see a show — whether a play, a musical, improve, or a concert. Head over to these iconic theatres and venues for some late night fun.

• Charleston Music Hall
• Music Farm
• Theatre99
• Holy City Magic
• Charleston Symphony
• Holy City Arts and Lyric Opera
• Queen Street Playhouse

Free Things to Do in Charleston at Night

Looking for a fun night out in Charleston that won’t break the bank? Charleston has tons of free things to do at night. Here are just a few suggestions:

• Visit any of Charleston’s parks
• Visit the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston
• See what’s on display during the First Friday Artwalks
• Have a sunset photoshoot at Rainbow Row or the Pineapple Fountain
• Take a stroll along the beach

Whether you’re in town for a long weekend or just looking for a way to spice up your nightlife, there is a wide variety of free things to do in Charleston at night to choose from.

Note: All times given are correct as of writing, but sometimes attractions change their hours; please make sure to double-check the hours of operation on the day of your visit so you aren’t caught by surprise!

Charleston at Night FAQ

Charleston Nighttime Activities Map

Want to easily plan your evening in Charleston, South Carolina? Check out the map below for all the Charleston locations open late listed in this post.

So, grab your friends and get ready to explore these things to do in Charleston, SC at night!

More Charleston Tips

Check out the posts below to continue planning your Charleston vacation:

• 13 Best Charleston Ghost Tours For a Scary-Good Time
• 14 Romantic Things to Do in Charleston for Couples
• 10 Amazing Hotels in Charleston, SC
• 10 Best Tours in Charleston, SC
• 16 Best Restaurants in Charleston, SC
• 11 Best Bars in Charleston, SC
• Your Perfect Charleston Bachelorette Party Itinerary
• 9 Free Things to Do in Charleston, SC
• 37 Best Things to Do in Charleston, SC
• 7 Days in Charleston: Perfect 1 Week Charleston Itinerary
• 14 Tips for Your First Trip to Charleston, SC
• 14 Best Summer Vacation Spots in the South
• The Best Winter Vacations in the South

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Ready to visit Charleston, South Carolina? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Book your flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
• Find accommodation: You can find top hotels in Charleston using Booking.com or vacation rentals near Charleston using VRBO.
• Get packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.

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Cheers!

Paige

Exploring Charleston after 5 p.m.? Let me know which of these things to do in Charleston at night you’re most excited about!