![Patio chairs and table next to the outdoor pool at Ryder Hotel.]()
Things to Do in Charleston, SC
GOOD THINGS ARE WAITING FOR YOU AT THE RYDER
The Best of Charleston, At Your Doorstep
A timeless city made for the modern explorer. The Ryder Hotel puts you at the heart of the best things to do in Charleston SC. Located at 237 Meeting Street in downtown Charleston, you can roam to your heart’s content and never feel too far from home. Whether you’re discovering Charleston for the first time or returning to your favorite Southern city, our central location makes every Charleston attraction accessible. From King Street shopping to Folly Beach, from rooftop bars to historic plantations, we believe it’s best to wander on your own terms. See below for ways to explore The Ryder Hotel and discover everything Charleston has to offer.
Ready to explore? View our Virtual Tour to see The Ryder’s thoughtfully designed spaces and experiences.
Things to Do in Charleston SC
Local Attractions - Historic Sites & Tours
Charleston is one of the most historic cities in America, and there’s so much to discover. Check out the iconic Charleston City Market, a 5-minute walk from The Ryder, take a scenic horse-drawn carriage ride through the Historic District, and explore Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began. From Rainbow Row’s pastel houses to Waterfront Park’s pineapple fountain, Charleston’s historic charm awaits. Prefer to explore on foot? Follow our self-guided walking tour.
Charleston Itineraries - Plan Your Perfect Trip
First time visiting? Coming back to your favorite city? Planning a getaway with your crew? Our Charleston itineraries blend trip inspiration with time to explore on your own terms, covering must-see sites, beach days, and nightlife recommendations with timing and insider tips built in. Traveling as a couple? See our romantic Charleston getaway guide.
Dining in Charleston - Lowcountry Cuisine
Southern cuisine is celebrated here in ways that delight every palate. Pack your appetite and dig into everything from elevated fine dining to home-style comfort food that brings the bounty of the Lowcountry to your plate: fresh seafood, shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, and farm-to-table creations. For dinner, see our guide to Charleston’s best restaurants, or start the day with our King Street brunch guide.
Charleston Nightlife - Bars, Clubs & Live Music
Rooftop drinks or a honky-tonk hangout? A few flights at a brewery or dancing until sunrise? Charleston delivers everything from low-key to epic nights out: rooftop bars with harbor views, dance clubs on Upper King Street, craft cocktail lounges, and live jazz, most within a 15-minute walk. Never leave the property with our Little Palm hidden menu.
King Street Shopping - Charleston's Premier Shopping District
From boutiques to brands you love, downtown Charleston is South Carolina’s top shopping destination. King Street’s shopping corridor features everything from Southern boutiques and local designers to national retailers, antique galleries, and art studios, with Upper King’s design finds, Middle King’s mainstream shops, and Lower King’s antiques. Fuel up first with a coffee to go from our Coffee Counter.
Charleston Beaches - Coastal Paradise Nearby
At The Ryder, you’re less than 30 minutes from South Carolina’s beautiful coastal beaches, each with its own personality. Folly Beach offers laid-back surf town vibes, Isle of Palms is full of family-friendly adventure with beachfront restaurants, and Sullivan’s Island is home to peaceful shores and Revolutionary War history. Need a ride? See our Getting Here & Around guide.
Ryder Culture Guide - Arts, Museums & Events
For years, Charleston has ranked among the top travel destinations in the U.S., thanks to its charming architecture, storied past, and vibrant attractions. The Holy City is home to a treasured cultural scene comprising world-class museums, contemporary art galleries, entertainment venues, historic monuments, and ongoing community events, from the Gibbes Museum of Art to Spoleto Festival performances. For more of what’s happening around town, browse our Good-Time Guide.
Charleston Sightseeing Tours & Experiences
Channel your free spirit and pair it with Charleston’s stylish charm for an escape you’ll never forget. Choose from historic walking tours, haunted ghost tours, sunset harbor cruises, Lowcountry food tours, and private carriage rides. Our concierge can arrange any Charleston experience. Explore by bike with our complimentary Gear Garage rentals.
Charleston During 2026 Global Soccer Tournament
The Ryder invites travelers to slow down, sip something refreshing at Little Palm, and recharge between matches. With playful design, palm-lined energy, and a vibrant pool scene, this is the perfect reset before heading back to the stadiums. Between matches, explore Charleston’s dining, history, and beaches, all within easy reach of our downtown home base. See our Charleston beaches guide for a day in the sun.
America's 250th Anniversary in Charleston, SC
Charleston is one of only four cities designated by the U.S. Congress as an official America250 showcase city. The other three are Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. Charleston is the only one in the South, and given what happened here between 1776 and 1783, that designation makes a lot of sense. Walk through that history yourself with our self-guided walking tour.
In-Room Wellness
Fitness on the go made easy. All guest rooms at The Ryder are equipped with complimentary yoga mats for guests to use during their stay. Practice on your own time, when it’s convenient for you.
The Ryder gives you access to a virtual collection of curated yoga practices so you can pick and choose based on your mood and your schedule. Two 50-minute yoga classes are available for guests on demand through their in-room tv, courtesy of Charleston Community Yoga.
Getting Around Charleston from The Ryder
Getting Around Charleston from The Ryder
- Walkability: Downtown Charleston is highly walkable, with most attractions within a 15-minute walk (about 1 mile).
- Our Location: 237 Meeting Street, heart of downtown.
- Bike Rentals: Available through our Gear Garage.
- Rideshare: Uber and Lyft readily available.
- Concierge Services: Restaurant reservations, tour bookings, and personalized recommendations.
Start Your Charleston Adventure at The Ryder
Start Your Charleston Adventure at The Ryder
From historic tours to beach days, world-class dining to vibrant nightlife, Charleston offers endless ways to explore and discover. The Ryder Hotel puts you at the center of it all with our prime downtown location, detailed activity guides, and a team ready to help plan your perfect Charleston experience.
Book your Charleston escape and discover why the Holy City captures hearts.
Book NowFrequently Asked Questions
The Ryder sits at 237 Meeting Street in downtown Charleston, within walking distance of King Street shopping, the Charleston City Market, and Upper King nightlife. Six area beaches are 25 to 45 minutes away, and dozens of restaurants are within a 15-minute walk.
King Street starts about two blocks from The Ryder, an easy walk for shopping, dining, and nightlife.
Folly Beach is the closest, about 12 miles and a 25-minute drive from downtown Charleston.
Yes. Most downtown attractions, restaurants, and nightlife spots are within a 15-minute walk of the hotel’s Meeting Street location.
Yes. The Ryder has an outdoor pool deck with poolside service from Little Palm, one of the few pools in downtown Charleston.
Guests get a complimentary Wellness Passport with access to Charleston fitness studios including JaneDo, Bodyrok, F45, and Peach Lab.
A cozy American whiskey and beer bar offering an extensive American-driven spirits collection, plus a bocce court, shuffleboard, 80’s arcade games, and more.
Lose yourself among the shelves of this charming used book store. It houses a collection of military history books, and perhaps the world’s best collection of books written in or about Charleston.
Home to the Charleston Symphony.
Clerks Coffee Co. is a down-to-earth, inviting dining experience with a buzzing atmosphere. Pop in for a lite bite or a latte, or grab what you need before heading out onto the cobblestones.
Ornate playhouse with elegant woodwork & cobblestone courtyard presents dramas, comedies, & musicals.
Nestled amongst the cobblestone streets and brightly colored row houses in Charleston’s historic downtown district, Emeline is a clever and thoughtfully designed retreat crafted for the curious traveler in mind charting their own course.
A mix of circuit and HIIT style workouts geared towards everyday movement. See a front desk associate for your complimentary wellness passport during your stay.
An exciting beach in the midst of the beautiful Charleston area, with unique places to eat, play and stay.
Big city sound meets Southern hospitality at the city’s best jazz lounge. Groove to the sounds of local legends, recording artists, notable touring acts, and Grammy winners.
Frannie & The Fox offers indoor or outdoor dining experience featuring wood-fired regional dishes with Italian sensibilities.
Charleston's 1st Ghost Walk Tour.
Portraits & landscapes dating back to the 1700s, housed in a century-old beaux arts-style building.
HIIT that combines kickboxing and strength training with your favorite DJs, the dynamic lights and visual effects, and the unified pulse of the studio unleashes your true potential. See a front desk associate for your complimentary wellness passport during your stay.
University arts center showcasing emerging & established modern artists, films, lectures & more.
A chic space selling top brands like Alexander Wang, Rag & Bone, Stella McCartney, Masscob, Carven, and Lacy Preen.
Our neighbor, Hank’s Seafood Restaurant recreates a classic Charleston fish house with an old fashioned saloon-style bar and an exhibition raw bar. Located in a turn-of-the-century warehouse, Hank’s overlooks the Charleston City Market.
Over 300 artisans and merchants make the City Market a must-see. Food, art, jewelry, and so much more from local Lowcountry makers.
An easy choice for authentic Italian that features local ingredients.
Across the inlet from Sullivan’s Island, “IOP” is full of adventure. Grab tacos from Papi’s Taqueria and ramble along the oceanfront, then pop in to the Windjammer for outdoor tunes at the Sunset Stage.
Five unique classes fuse aerobics, strength training, and flexibility to provide the variety women need to DO it all. All classes are 50-minute, total body workouts. See a front desk associate for your complimentary wellness passport during your stay.
Well-known park with water views plus a large lawn, walkways & 2 fountains.
A bit further outside of town, this peaceful beach park is actually on a river. Spend a bit of time here and you might just see bottlenose dolphins fishing along the water’s edge.
Founded in 1917 by Mendel Dumas, M. Dumas & Sons has evolved into an iconic men’s specialty retailer in historic downtown Charleston, S.C..
Mercantile and Mash is perfect for elevated bites for when you’re on the go, and for incredible drinks and cocktails to imbibe in the evening.
Authentic Asian cuisine with a southern approach with a menu that focuses on unique ingredients and sophisticated presentations.
Impeccable steak cuts sourced from the Lowcountry and an extensive wine list make Oak Steakhouse the place to go for a really special night out.
A tour with Palmetto Carriage Works takes you through the heart of the city’s historic district to uncover over 300 years of amazing architecture and interesting lore.
Peach Lab Charleston is a local woman-owned boutique fitness gym offering five unique class formats focused on lean muscle development. This studio features equipment such as smith machines, squat racks, hip thrusts, cable towers, stair climbers, free weights, and more- all located just steps away from The Ryder Hotel. See a front desk associate for your complimentary wellness passport during your stay.
Pure Barre features four group class formats that deliver an effective, total-body barre workout focused on low-impact, high-intensity movements that lift and tone muscles and improve strength, agility, and flexibility for everybody. See a front desk associate for your complimentary wellness passport during your stay.
The iconic pastel-colored homes which are incredibly Insta-worthy and have captivating stories.
Massive aquarium with interactive exhibits & hundreds of creatures, including many native species.
Tranquil tidepools and sandbars to spend some sunny downtime.
America's first museum, founded in 1773, exhibits relics from South Carolina & Confederate history.
This former cigar factory is now home to all kinds of high-end shops, unique restaurants, and event spaces.
The Cocktail Club is dedicated to the art of the craft cocktail with an extensive selection of house-made infusions, rare liquors, and farm-to-shaker beverages.
With sweeping scenes of the Charleston waterfront, this is the city’s original rooftop bar. Locals love it here, and we’re sure you will too.
Downtown Charleston's Newest Boutique Hotel. Modern look, laid-back vibes. Welcome to downtown Charleston!
The Wonderer’s health and wellness services are designed to keep you feeling balanced and renewed. Between physical fitness and nutrition, to mind/body workshops and various other education-based offerings, you’ll find a myriad of ways to maintain your own well-being at The Wonderer. Services include group fitness & personal training, lap swimming, spin classes, spa therapies, educational offerings, life & health coaching. See a front desk associate for your complimentary wellness passport during your stay.
This public garden beside the water offers paved paths, military statues, canons & picnic areas.