Charleston City Market vs Rainbow Row: which should you do first?

If you only have time for one, do Rainbow Row first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 85 against 78 for Charleston City Market, and it has 57 ranked ways to see it versus 44. With a full day in Charleston, pair them: plan Charleston City Market in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Charleston City Market

Charleston City Market

Rainbow Row in Charleston, United States

Rainbow Row

Side by side

Charleston City Market compared with Rainbow Row in Charleston
Charleston City MarketRainbow Row
Ranked experiences4457
Top Outty Ranking9092
Average ranking (top 10)7885
Cheapest experience$33$25
Average time needed1.8h2.2h
Free cancellation100% of options100% of options
Free to visitNoNo

Best ways to see Charleston City Market

  1. 1. Charleston Haunted Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour

    Outty Ranking 90 · from $39 · 2.5h

  2. 2. Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More

    Outty Ranking 82 · from $41 · 2h

  3. 3. Charleston Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour: Explore Historic Charleston

    Outty Ranking 82 · from $50 · 1h

  4. 4. Charleston’s Old South Carriage Historic Horse & Carriage Tour

    Outty Ranking 81 · from $50 · 1h

  5. 5. Lost Stories of Black Charleston Walking Tour

    Outty Ranking 80 · from $40 · 2h

All 44 Charleston City Market experiences

Best ways to see Rainbow Row

  1. 1. Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour

    Outty Ranking 92 · from $30 · 2h

  2. 2. Highlights of Charleston Guided Walking Tour

    Outty Ranking 91 · from $26 · 2h

  3. 3. Hidden Alleyways and Historic Sites Small-Group Walking Tour

    Outty Ranking 91 · from $34 · 2h

  4. 4. Charleston’s Best Highlights: History, Culture & Architecture

    Outty Ranking 88 · from $25 · 2h

  5. 5. Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More

    Outty Ranking 82 · from $41 · 2h

All 57 Rainbow Row experiences

Frequently asked questions

Charleston City Market or Rainbow Row: which is better?

If you only have time for one, do Rainbow Row first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 85 against 78 for Charleston City Market, and it has 57 ranked ways to see it versus 44. With a full day in Charleston, pair them: plan Charleston City Market in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Which is cheaper, Charleston City Market or Rainbow Row?

Ranked experiences at Charleston City Market start from $33 and at Rainbow Row from $25 per person.

How long do you need at Charleston City Market and Rainbow Row?

Experiences at Charleston City Market run 1.8 hours on average and at Rainbow Row 2.2 hours, so both fit in one day in Charleston with a break in between.

Can you do Charleston City Market and Rainbow Row on the same day?

Yes. Book the longer visit for the morning when crowds are lighter, and keep the afternoon for the other. 100% of Charleston City Market options and 100% of Rainbow Row options offer free cancellation, which makes it easy to adjust.

What is the best tour of each?

For Charleston City Market: Charleston Haunted Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour (Outty Ranking 90, from $39). For Rainbow Row: Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour (Outty Ranking 92, from $30).

More Charleston matchups

Best things to do in CharlestonCharleston city guideCharleston tours comparedHow the Outty Ranking works