8 Fun and Free Things to do in Charlotte, NC

Charlotte is a booming metropolis with famous skyscrapers, beautiful parks, historic museums, and incredible art galleries. The city has plenty of sites for tourists to see and visit; however, if you have a large family, visiting multiple locations with admission fees for each person can get pricey. Luckily, Charlotte offers many free things to do while you’re in town.

Museums

Learn about how the gold rush affected Charlotte, climb aboard an old stagecoach, and play with an interactive telegraph at the admission-free Wells Fargo History Museum in Uptown Charlotte, open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum hosts a variety of events throughout the year and presents educational and fun programs.

The Mint Museum is the oldest art museum in North Carolina. Once a month, one of the two locations hosts an ArtFusion event, which fuses art with music, dance, poetry, food, or other means of expression. The Mint Museum has two locations, Uptown and Randolph, both of which are free on Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Levine Museum of the New South is a history museum that focuses on life in North Carolina after the American Civil War. It’s free on the first Sunday of every month, is open from noon to 5 p.m., and is located at 200 E. 7th St., Charlotte.

Parks and Gardens

The McGill Rose Garden houses over 1,000 plants. Located in the NoDa neighborhood of Charlotte, the McGill Rose Garden is one of only four gardens in North Carolina and 53 in the U.S. to be designated an All-American Rose Selections public garden. It’s also featured on theknot.com as a hidden gem and the best place to have a garden wedding.

Nearby in Myers Park, the nonprofit Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary is free to visit with an optional donation. It’s known for its bubbling fountains, winding paths, and peaceful atmosphere. Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary offers free seasonal programs such as the Great Backyard Bird Count in February, the Spring Plant Sale in April, and the Member Guest Lunch in April.

UNCC Botanical Gardens and the McMillan Greenhouse are free to explore. The outdoor gardens are open every day during daylight hours, and the McMillan Greenhouse is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Walking Tours

Take a free walking tour through Charlotte’s Historic Fourth Ward in Center City that begins at the Visitor Info Center each Friday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Learn about the grand Victorian estates, churches, and parks. See the dynamic growth taking place in Charlotte and the lovely community gathering place that the Fourth Ward has become.

The Arts & Science Council offers free public art walking tours or scavenger hunts around Uptown Charlotte. Visit the ASC office or Visitor Info Center to pick up a printed brochure, or download a 45-minute self-guided podcast to stroll through Uptown on your own time.

Charlotte has plenty of free tourist attractions, tours, galleries, and museums that people of all ages will enjoy. If you know the secrets to the city, it becomes much less expensive. Whether you’re a local or tourist, there’s no reason not to take advantage of all that Charlotte has to offer!

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