Fort Sumter National Monument 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 Fort Sumter National Monument, and it has 57 ranked ways to see it versus 33. With a full day in Charleston, pair them: plan Fort Sumter National Monument in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Fort Sumter National Monument in Charleston, United States

Fort Sumter National Monument

Rainbow Row in Charleston, United States

Rainbow Row

Side by side

Fort Sumter National Monument compared with Rainbow Row in Charleston
Fort Sumter National MonumentRainbow Row
Ranked experiences3357
Top Outty Ranking9392
Average ranking (top 10)7885
Cheapest experience$26$25
Average time needed2h2.2h
Free cancellation100% of options100% of options
Free to visitYesNo

Best ways to see Fort Sumter National Monument

  1. 1. Charleston historical walking tour with a Professor of History at The Citadel

    Outty Ranking 93 · from $40 · 3h

  2. 2. Fort Sumter Access and Self-Guided Tour with Roundtrip Ferry

    Outty Ranking 83 · from $26 · 2.3h

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

    Outty Ranking 82 · from $41 · 2h

  4. 4. Charleston Harbor Sunset Cruise

    Outty Ranking 80 · from $60 · 2h

  5. 5. Small-Group Tour: Charleston Old Walled City Historical Walking Tour

    Outty Ranking 77 · from $29 · 2h

All 33 Fort Sumter National Monument 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

Fort Sumter National Monument 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 Fort Sumter National Monument, and it has 57 ranked ways to see it versus 33. With a full day in Charleston, pair them: plan Fort Sumter National Monument in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Which is cheaper, Fort Sumter National Monument or Rainbow Row?

Ranked experiences at Fort Sumter National Monument start from $26 and at Rainbow Row from $25 per person. Fort Sumter National Monument can also be visited for free; paid options add guides, skip-the-line access or transport.

How long do you need at Fort Sumter National Monument and Rainbow Row?

Experiences at Fort Sumter National Monument run 2 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 Fort Sumter National Monument 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 Fort Sumter National Monument options and 100% of Rainbow Row options offer free cancellation, which makes it easy to adjust.

What is the best tour of each?

For Fort Sumter National Monument: Charleston historical walking tour with a Professor of History at The Citadel (Outty Ranking 93, from $40). 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