Things to do & places to visit in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Dubbed the Queen City, Charlotte reigns over a 300-square-mile (482-square-kilometer) hodgepodge of neighborhoods that spin out from the banks of the Catawba River. From brewery-heavy art districts to historical corridors dripping in charm, consider Charlotte a crowd pleaser.

Charlotte city in North Carolina, United States. Timezone: America/New_York, current date and time: Sunday, May 05, 2024, 2:45.

Top things to do (21)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Billy Graham Library (2.462 reviews)
- Great way to learn about history of a very important man and his family
Sunday: Spent 2-3 hours Libraries

Journey through history with one of the most influential voices of the 20th century. Learn more about Billy Graham and his message of God’s love. Through multimedia exhibits, films, and memorabilia, you'll relive the historic moments of his life. Tour the restored Graham family home, shop in Ruth’s Attic, and enjoy lunch in the Dairy Bar. The Billy Graham Library will leave you inspired by this amazing man and his message of hope. See more..
4.5 NASCAR Hall of Fame (2.454 reviews)
- Vroom, Vroom…
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Speciality Museums

The NASCAR Hall of Fame is where legends live on. Where fun lives on. Where the race lives on. Enjoy amazing artifacts, interactive exhibits, simulator rides and special events at the High Octane Theater. Plus, you can grab a bite to eat in the NASCAR Hall of Fame Café or at the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant. You also can take home a souvenir at the gift shop to help you remember it all. See more..
4.5 Discovery Place Science (1.480 reviews)
- Don't skip this place!
Sunday: 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM Spent More than 3 hours Speciality Museums • Science Museums • Children's Museums

This hands-on science Museum in Uptown Charlotte features exciting interactive exhibitions, the Carolinas' largest IMAX screen and one-of-a-kind Accenture IMAX Dome Theatre and educational programs. And don't forget: We offer summer camps and birthday parties so take advantage of both options before these spaces fill up completely! See more..
4.5 The Bank of America Stadium (1.037 reviews)
- Jet game
Arenas & Stadiums

We came to Charlotte for a long weekend for the Jet game. I liked this stadium. Easy walk from most hotels and the streets are closed off for everyone walking. Very organized and quick easy entrance as long as you have the clear bag meeting NFL standards. We sat in the 300 section club level. While no food/drink is included the climate controlled inside was welcome. It was so hot you needed an escape for a little bit. The food choices though were not a huge variety. Basically Bojangles and burgers and other grab and go items. One thing I remarked on when I saw it was the bottomless soda cup for $8.99, it thought it was ridiculous BUT after sweating in 90 degree heat for a quarter I got it ( instead of paying 5 dollars for a bottle of water) and filled it up four times. (You just go and fill it yourself) Think I would have passed out without it. See more..
4.5 Freedom Park (795 reviews)
- Beautiful Park with the added bonus of a train
Parks

Second visit first one ten years ago in 104° heat this cost with our grandson who just loves trains so it was utopia for him. Three years old he could go on almost all the slides and he had a great time, a walk around the lake in the fall sunshine complete a wonderful visit. Highly recommended. See more..
4.5 BB&T Ballpark (755 reviews)
- Family Entertainment at a Reasonable Price
Arenas & Stadiums

The Charlotte Knights are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. The Knights play their home games in Uptown Charlotte, NC at BB&T Ballpark. See more..
4.5 Mint Museum Uptown (487 reviews)
- Two sites
Sunday: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

Designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte's burgeoning city center, Mint Museum Uptown is an integral part of the Levine Center for the Arts, a cultural campus that includes the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke Energy Center. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide range of visitor amenities, including the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop. See more..
4.5 Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center (462 reviews)
- The Little Black Dress
Spent 2-3 hours Theaters

Blumenthal Performing Arts presents the PNC Broadway Lights, featuring national touring Broadway productions and a wide range of special attractions. Additionally, the Education Department develops innovative partnerships with schools and community organizations to bring the performing arts to life for people throughout the region. See more..
4.5 Hendrick Motorsports Complex (450 reviews)
- Hendricks Motorsports
Speciality Museums

Hendricks Motorsports was pristine and the staff were very friendly and helpful. While at the complex we were able to see special occasion cars or ones that have one races/ championships. While purchasing merch. The staff informed us that we could watch pit practice outback. Number 5 and 24 were practicing while we were there. This was a neat experience because you could see the pit team up close practicing and reviewing their stops. In the upper buildings there were trophies, fire suits and championship rings. This is something to see if you are a NASCAR and Chevy fan! See more..
4.5 Old Mecklenburg Brewery (275 reviews)
- Old world charm yet modern feel!
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Breweries

I love that this place has old fashioned beer hall charm that is mixed with a little bit more modern of a feel. Our server was very friendly. The food was soooo good. My friend hand a rueben. She also said the pickle was probably the best pickle she has ever tasted. I had the “American Style” off of the German Fare menu. It was delish. The mecktoberfest was good too. The outdoor area is so beautiful especially at night all lit up. There was live music playing and fire pits going and so much more. Wish we could have stayed longer than we did. It we are only in town for the weekend. See more..
4.5 Romare Bearden Park (267 reviews)
- Great place to hang out in downtown Charlotte
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Parks

This park is where the ACC Fan Fest was held and it was the perfect spot for it. The park is close to the baseball and football stadiums and there are plenty of bars and restaurants nearby. Would love to come here on a regular day and hang out. See more..
4.5 SouthPark (238 reviews)
- Definitely the Place to Shop in Charlotte
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Shopping Malls

Upscale shopping district. See more..
4.5 ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center (193 reviews)
- A Fun library
Sunday: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Children's Museums

Didn't know what to Expect. We were originally going to Discovery Place but they were closed. With a young child i wanted to do something different so we found this place. Staff was nice and helpful and the facility was clean and easily accessable. First off, it's not a childrens museum or anything like they. It is a childrens library. My daughter had fun exploring the different areas and they do offer lots of special activities from Camps, Crafts, Classes, Theater Performances and other childrens activities. We spent a little while exploring every floor and it was something different and educational to do with young children. See more..
4.5 Little Sugar Creek Greenway (192 reviews)
- Long greenway for a run
Hiking Trails

Little Sugar Creek Greenway is officially a 4.5 mile path, but it extends two more miles into the city of Pineville unbroken. I was able to complete a half marathon (and then some) this morning. Plenty of shade before the sun got high. Nice creek views along the way. Lots of people out, even on a weekday. Runners and bikers alike. Wide enough for all. See more..
4.5 Mint Museum Randolph (155 reviews)
- Sweet jewel of a musuem
Sunday: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Art Museums

Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood as the state’s first art museum. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions. See more..
4.5 McDowell Nature Center and Preserve (154 reviews)
- Nice trails for running
Nature & Wildlife Areas

McDowell Nature Preserve has some excellent trails for running. Nice changes of scenery with some good hills. Beautiful lake views and free to enter. Nature Center focused on the kiddos. See more..
4.5 Wing Haven (130 reviews)
- Excellent gardens
Sunday: Spent 1-2 hours Gardens

Located in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina, Wing Haven provides a natural oasis for reflection and study of its three public gardens. Wing Haven Garden & Bird Sanctuary is rich in Southern horticulture and a habitat for birds and wildlife. The Elizabeth Lawrence House & Garden is the site of a world-renowned garden writer's living laboratory. The SEED Wildlife & Children's Gardens provide hands-on exploratory learning and a natural habitat for local wildlife. Together, these three gardens welcome visitors of all ages to discover and learn. Wing Haven also offers more than 40 programs and special events each year. See more..
4.5 The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture (114 reviews)
- Overwhelmed with Phenomenal Art
Sunday: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Art Museums

Curator Hannah from Culture Vultures explained visual depictions of this Vision & Spirit Art collection! We visited this center on a whim & was not disappointed! The Vision & Spirit Art collection fearured here was amazingly breath taking! The curator was Hanna with group culture vultures & this curators passion to give the history on the art; inspired my 12 year old daughter! My 12 year old never heard of these non main stream African American artist like Willie Little, Faith Ringgold & Chelle Barbour; we didn't know they exsisted till today. The art portion of the museum was outstanding! We saw an art piece that was bought for 21 million! This Art was just Amazing Art! The curator name was Hanna! Her passion & description of each art piece was life changing. To hear the naritive of the artist intention for creation on each piece really enhanced the experience See more..
4.5 Fourth Ward (105 reviews)
- Historic downtown neighborhood
Neighborhoods

Forth Ward is a historic downtown neighborhood inside the I-277 loop in Charlotte, NC. While many older homes downtown were demolished and replaced with skyscrapers and apartment buildings, much of Forth Ward retains its charm. The tourism board offers maps with self guided walking tours, and much of Fourth Ward can be seen in a few hours. Other historic neighborhood in Charlotte include the Noda arts district, and Southend, which is served by trolley and light rail. See more..
4.5 Wooden Robot Brewery (95 reviews)
- Good beer hall layout
Breweries

I liked the great “beer hall” layout of this place. It was definitely popular, as it was very crowded on a Tuesday evening. The beer was very good. The place was dog-friendly, which is a plus in my book. I also thought the food in the “attached” food place (Twisted Eats), was very good...the chicken friend rice was a large portion, and very tasty. Definitely a good brewery option. See more..
4.5 Historic Rosedale (90 reviews)
- Charming - A peak into history
Sunday: Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • History Museums

Built in 1815, Historic Rosedale is a Federal style home surrounded by 9 acres of spectacular gardens and lush green space located just 3 miles north of Charlotte City Centre. Guided tours of the historic house are available every Friday 11:30am, and 1:00pm, and the last Saturday of the month at 11:30am and 1:00pm. Self-guided grounds only tours are available Wednesday - Friday from 10:00am to 2:30pm, (garden tours only does not include admission to historic house). See more..
4.5 Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve (86 reviews)
- Nice Park
Sunday: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails

We were invited to a baby shower at one of the covered outdoor picnic shelters and we very surprised to see how nice and large the park was. We noticed one large playground area for the kids. Lots of walking trails. Great place for a quiet getaway. See more..
4.0 Carowinds (3.448 reviews)
- Day at the Park
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM Amusement & Theme Parks

A mecca of family fun, this 105-acre theme/water park features rides that thrill and live entertainment. See more..
4.0 Spectrum Center (656 reviews)
- Enjoy the Spectrum!
Arenas & Stadiums

We attended the Kendrick Lamar concert at the Spectrum Center, and it was amazing; and the venue was a great environment for this show. We walked there from our hotel and had no trouble getting inside, locating our seats, etc. The security handled the crowd very well, inside and outside. The downtown location is very convenient and easy to get to. The facility is well maintained, we felt safe being there. We're looking forward to our next concert there. See more..
4.0 Charlotte Douglas Airport Overlook (518 reviews)
- Awesome
Observation Decks & Towers

If you enjoy watching air traffic take off and land and feel the power of the engines...go go go. We went at night and honestly it was pretty awesome for me. I wish I would.have taken a great cup of coffee with me, I could have sat there for a long while. I was really impressed they have a place like this. See more..
4.0 Bechtler Museum of Modern Art (291 reviews)
- Small museum with great content!
Sunday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Art Museums

This is a brand-new art museum in center city Charlotte, N.C. I found the museum to be interesting, but with significant limitations for serious lovers of modern art. See more..
4.0 Charlotte Premium Outlets (243 reviews)
- Good place to shop!
Factory Outlets

The Charlotte Premium Outlets is a great place to shop if you are looking for something specific. For example, it’s a great place to go and buy shoes because they have a variety of shoe stores there. I highly suggest going during the weekday if you can. It gets very crowded on the weekend. There is a likely chance you have to wait in line to get in some of the major stores they have out there due to stores at 50% capacity right now because of the virus. See more..
4.0 Charlotte Convention Center (197 reviews)
- Rediscovery: O&C 2022
Sunday: Convention Centers

The Charlotte, NC oddities & curiosities expo 2022 was bigger that Dallas, TX 2021… But you know what ? I saw and did everything in like half the time as last year, (4-hours versus 8-hours). Except, eat. However, I sipped an orange soda as I strolled around for a constant energy boost. It was a great event. Spacious convention center. Nice staff. Nice vendors. Where to visit in 2023… Hmmpt. See more..
4.0 UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens (122 reviews)
- An oasis of calm
Sunday: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Gardens

We walk around these gardens many times a year. No matter what season it is there are always lovely plants and trees to see, flowering, leafing or bare. The paths lead you through and around the garden. We use it to get ideas for our own garden, to watch progress and we particularly love both the camellias in bloom and the north Caroline native plant garden. Across the way is the azalea and rhododendron garden which is absolutely gorgeous when those bushes are in flower. This garden is an absolute delight. See more..
3.5 Metalmorphosis (183 reviews)
- Hidden gem!
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Monuments & Statues

A truly impressive sculpture by artist David Cerny. We are familiar with his many sculptures in Prague so it is a treat to see his work in Charlotte. Reminiscent of Cerny’s Kafka’s head sculpture in Prague which was installed after this one. The sculpture was operational when we visited on March 11, 2018. If you go to the website, there is a Live View camera where you can see if it is working before you visit. The location is a little out of the way, but only one exit away on I-485 from Charlotte Premium Outlet Mall and under 15 minutes away from CLT airport. See more..