Charlotte is actually an old city—it was formed before the American Revolution, as a center of commerce—but it has the shininess of a new dime these days. Nothing has transformed the city more (or faster) than the addition of its light rail system in 2007, and while Charlotte has always been more focused on building new than preservation of the old, massive development has followed the rail’s spines and grown from there. With it, a new vibrancy is attracting 20-somethings in droves as the city continues to blossom. And so, Charlotte has stepped out of the shadows of bigger cities, forging its own new path and growing into a place that is full of possibility. There’s so much to do and see—from havens for the arts like the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and Levine Center for the Arts, to sports fan favorites like the NASCAR Hall of Fame or PGA Tournament, award-winning restaurants, and close to 75 breweries dotting neighborhoods all over the city to cheers it all. These are the best things to do in Charlotte, NC.
Read our complete Charlotte travel guide here, which includes:
How we choose the best things to do in Charlotte
Every review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that activity. When choosing things to do, our editors consider landmarks and experiences that offer an insider’s view of a destination, keeping authenticity, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind.
