Whether you love art, music, history, sports, or something else, the things to do in Charlotte are incredible. There’s a lot to do in the city for both first-time visitors and those who have visited the city many times before.
Because of the large variety of things you can do in the city, Charlotte is a very fun city to explore. From visiting one of the city’s great museums to seeing a football game to having fun at an amusement park, there’s something for everyone’s liking.
To help you decide what to do in Charlotte, I made this guide with the best activities, must-see sights, incredible museums, and much more.
Best Things To Do in Charlotte
Visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame
The NASCAR Hall of Fame is one of the best attractions in Charlotte for people who love car racing and cars in general.
At the NASCAR Hall of Fame, you can learn about the people and the history of NASCAR. There are various changing exhibits at this place related to this.
For example, there’s one exhibit that is all about Ford cars.
There are also 8 NASCAR stock car replicas that have been turned into a racing simulator. Here, you can race against friends and other people at the museum in real time.
The Hall of Honor can also be found at this museum. Here, you can learn about the contributions of many NASCAR legends.
Address: 400 E M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28202
Have Fun at Carowinds
Carowinds is a fun amusement park that is located in the south of Charlotte. This amusement park was opened in 1973 and is home to many rides and attractions.
Throughout the park, you can find different types of roller coasters, including the Carolina Goldrusher, which was the first roller coaster in the park.
A less thrilling attraction is the Carolina Skytower, which is a tower that will take you to a height of 262 feet. From there, you can enjoy a panoramic view of both Charlotte and the amusement park.
There also are various attractions for children, such as a flying balloon ride called “Flying Ace Balloon Race”.
The water park Carolina Harbor is also located at Carowinds. This water park is home to many different pools, about 30 water slides, and other fun attractions.
Check Out Mint Museum Uptown
Mint Museum Uptown is one of the best museums in Charlotte. It’s one of the two branches of the Mint Museum.
At Mint Museum Uptown, which is located at the Levine Center for the Arts at 500 South Tryon Street, you can find a craft and design collection, a collection of American art, and works of contemporary works. There are also very old works at the museum.
One of the collections of the museum is the “Art of the Ancient Americas” collection, which includes more than 2,500 works from the ancient Americas, including works that are almost 5,000 years old.
Lots of changing exhibitions also take place at Mint Museum Uptown. These are focused on the works of a specific artist or a certain type of art.
Address: 500 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
See a Football Game at the Bank of America Stadium
The Bank of America Stadium is a large football stadium with a capacity of close to 75,000 people in uptown Charlotte.
The stadium is the home of two professional sports teams. One of these teams is the Carolina Panthers, which competes in the National Football League, and the other one is Charlotte FC, which is a team that competes in Major League Soccer.
Attending a game of one of these teams is an exciting thing to do in Charlotte.
In addition to that, other types of events take place at the Bank of America Stadium. For example, concerts by famous artists often take place at the stadium.
Address: 800 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC 28202
See a Show at the Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
The Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center is one of the venues of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. The theater can be found at 130 North Tryon Street.
The Belk Theater is the largest of the six venues of the center. It has a capacity of more than 2,000 seats.
Lots of different events take place at the Belk Theater, including Broadway shows and concerts.
What’s unique about the design of the theater is that it has a contemporary European horseshoe arrangement. Because of this, every seat in the theater is very close to the stage, making for an intimate theater experience.
Address: 130 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Have Fun at the Museum of Illusions Charlotte
A great museum, that’s also amazing to check out if you’re looking for things to do in Charlotte with kids, is the Museum of Illusions Charlotte. You can find this museum on South Tryon Street.
At this museum, you can find various exhibits where you can see unique illusions.
For example, there’s one room where it looks like there’s no gravity when taking a photo and turning the photo upside down.
There’s also a room that you can stand in together with another person where, when you place your camera at a certain spot, it appears that one person is a giant.
There are many other rooms with illusions as well as optical illusions.
Address: 601 S Tryon St Suite 138, Charlotte, NC 28202
See Modern Art at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is a museum that you can find at the Levine Center for the Art in uptown Charlotte.
At the museum, you can see many works of art from the 20th century. The collection of the museum includes works from any important art movement from that period.
You can see interesting changing exhibits at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.
In addition to that, lots of events take place at the museum which can be great if you’re wondering what to do in Charlotte. For example, you can often see film screenings and listen to live music at the museum. Moreover, during the “Wednesday Night Live” event, the museum has free admission and fun programming.
Address: 420 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Have Fun at Queen Park Social
Queen Park Social is a social club where you can have a fun time. This place is located at 4125 Yancey Road.
One of the activities that you can do at Queen Park Social is bowling. There’s a bowling alley here.
In addition to that, there’s a large arcade with all kinds of games. There are vintage arcade games, such as Space Invaders and Pac-Man.
You can also play air hockey, pinball, skeeball, and many other games at Queen Park Social.
In addition to that, Queen Park Social has a great food menu. Some of the food options include cauliflower bites, nachos, burgers, ice cream, and much more.
Lots of special events also take place at Queen Park Social.
Address: 4125 Yancey Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
Go to Discovery Place Science
Discovery Place Science is a science and technology museum that you can find in Uptown.
You can find all sorts of interactive science exhibits at Discovery Place Science, including permanent and temporary exhibitions. The exhibitions are interesting for all ages.
One of the exhibitions called “A New Moon Rises”, is about the moon and images taken of it by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera. You can see large-scale, detailed photos of the surface of the moon.
Besides that, there are live shows at the museum through which you can learn about science. For example, there is a live show where you can learn about fire.
There are also events at the museum, including adults-only events where adults can learn about science through interactive activities, exhibits, and demonstrations.
Address: 301 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Check Out the Levine Center for the Arts
The Levine Center for the Arts is a center where lots of other arts organizations are located.
For example, you can find the Knight Theater and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art at the center.
Each of these organizations is great to check out on its own, but their location makes it convenient to visit two or more at the same time.
In addition to that, there are events that take place at several of the locations of the center. An example of such an event is the Charlotte Jazz Festival.
Address: 550 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Go to an Event at the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens
The UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens are botanical gardens that belong to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The botanical gardens can be visited for free.
You can find various different collections of plants at the botanical gardens. For example, there is a greenhouse with orchids and other tropical plants.
There are many events at UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens and going to such an event is one of the best things to do in Charlotte.
For example, there are public classes through which you can learn about gardening. Some of these classes are also eligible for credit towards a certificate.
Address: 9090 Craver Rd, Charlotte, NC 28262
Visit the Sullenberger Aviation Museum
The Sullenberger Aviation Museum is an aviation museum that will re-open in the summer of 2024.
The museum was founded in the year 1992 and can be found next to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
At the museum, you can see historic aircraft and all sorts of artifacts through which you can learn about aviation history. In total, there are more than 50 aircraft at the museum.
One of the most special exhibitions at the museum is the “Miracle on the Hudson” exhibition. Here, you can see the passenger airplane that landed on the Hudson River.
You can also find lots of objects at the museum related to former airlines, such as America West.
See a Basketball Game at the Spectrum Center
The Spectrum Center is an indoor arena that you can find in Uptown Charlotte. The arena has a capacity of close to 20,000 people.
The arena is the home of the Charlotte Hornets, which is a team that competes in the NBA. A fun activity in Charlotte is seeing a game of this team at the arena.
In addition to that, the Spectrum Center is in use for other events, including concerts, comedy shows, and many other types of events. Some of the most famous musicians and comedians regularly perform at the Spectrum Center.
Address: 333 E Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Play an Escape Game at Escape Tactic Escape Room
Escape Tactic Charlotte is a place in Charlotte where you can play escape games in an escape room.
An escape game is an immersive adventure game in which players have to find and decipher clues and solve a variety of puzzles within a certain time limit.
At Escape Tactic Charlotte, there are many different escape rooms to choose from that all have a unique theme. You won’t find any scary room at this place.
Each escape game lasts 60 minutes and during that time you have to solve the puzzles to escape from the room. You can play the games with up to 10 players.
Some of the names of the rooms at this place are “Amazon Survival”, “Mine Trap”, and “Big Bang”.
Address: 130 Southside Dr, Charlotte, NC 28217
Go to a Show at Knight Theater
The Knight Theater is one of the best theaters in Charlotte. It is a venue that you can find at the Levine Center for the Arts at 430 South Tryon Street.
The theater has 1,192 seats and shares a lobby with the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. The theater also has a beautiful interior.
Lots of different dance performances and concerts take place at the theater, including performances by the Charlotte Symphony. In addition to that, there are many special shows during the holiday season.
Address: 430 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Go to the Mustang Owner’s Museum
The Mustang Owner’s Museum, located a bit outside of the city of Charlotte, is a museum where you can see more than 25 Mustangs.
The cars that you can find at the museum include classics, racing cars, rare cars, and other types of Mustangs.
Throughout the year, the exhibits often change, meaning that you can often come back to the museum and see something new.
In addition to that, different types of events take place at the Mustang Owner’s Museum, including a car show.
Address: 4001 Dearborn Pl NW, Concord, NC 28027
Go to an Event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway
The Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex that consists of a 2.25-mile course, an oval, and other tracks.
Many races take place at the Speedway during the year. It hosts two NASCAR events every year. These are the Coca-Cola 600 and the Bank of America Roval 400. In addition to that, other car and motor events take place here, such as a car show.
When you are going to one of the racing events or other car-related events, there are also many concessions, such as pizza, to choose from.
Address: 5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord, NC 28027
Attend a Comedy Show at The Comedy Zone
The Comedy Zone Charlotte is a comedy club that makes for one of the most fun things to do in Charlotte. It is located in the North Carolina Music Factory.
The venue has a capacity of 400 people and lots of comedy acts take place at the comedy club throughout the year, including comedy shows by very famous comedians.
Comedy shows are taking place almost every day at the comedy club, so whenever you want to go here, there’s likely a show that you can attend.
In addition to that, you can get great food and drinks at The Comedy Zone. For example, you can get great cocktails, wines, and lots of other types of drinks and food options here.
Address: 900 North Carolina Music Factory Blvd B3, Charlotte, NC 28206
Attend an Event at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is a botanical garden that is located a bit outside of the city of Charlotte.
In the garden, lots of different types of plants and flowers can be found. For example, there is a conservatory where you can see orchids and tropical plants.
In addition to the garden’s nature, there’s much more to see at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.
For example, you can sometimes attend a guided walking tour of the garden here, sometimes there are events with live music, and there are great events during the holiday season. You can also sometimes attend special exhibitions of specific plants at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.
Address: 6500 S New Hope Rd, Belmont, NC 28012
Go to a Concert at the PNC Music Pavilion
The PNC Music Pavilion is an outdoor amphitheater that is located in Charlotte. The amphitheater has a capacity of close to 20,000 people.
Lots of concerts of all sorts of genres take place at the venue throughout the year. These are concerts by some of the most famous musicians in the world.
When you want to see a concert here, you should keep in mind that this is only possible during some months of the year. The season of the PNC Music Pavilion lasts from April 1 to October 1.
Address: 707 Pavilion Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28262
See a Baseball Game at Truist Field
Truist Field is a baseball stadium in Charlotte that is located in Uptown.
The stadium is the home of the Charlotte Knights, which is a team that competes in Minor League Baseball. So the stadium is great if you want to see a baseball game.
You can also often see fireworks after a baseball game at the stadium and the stadium has great food options.
The Light the Knights Festival also takes place at Truist Field and going to this event is also one of the best activities in Charlotte. This is an annual event that takes place during the holiday season. During this event, you can go ice skating, snow tubing, go Christmas shopping, and do much more. You can also see great Christmas lights during this event.
Address: 324 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Explore the Levine Museum of the New South
The Levine Museum of the New South is a history museum that is dedicated to telling the story of the people of the greater Charlotte metropolitan area.
At the museum, you can see rotating exhibitions through which you can learn about all kinds of issues in the past. There are both permanent and traveling exhibitions that each focus on a certain specific part of the region’s history.
In addition to exhibitions, lots of events also take place at the museum.
One of these events is the “Author Talks” series during which the local community can engage with influential authors.
The “Family Days” event, which takes place six times a year, is an event during which there are all kinds of family-oriented activities and exhibits at the museum.
Address: 401 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Do a Tour of Historic Rosedale
Rosedale is a historic plantation house that dates back to the year 1815 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can find the house at 3427 North Tryon Street in Charlotte.
The house is a Federal-style home and is open to the public.
Several times per month, you can do a guided house tour.
During such a tour, you can see all four floors of the house together with a guide. You can learn about the history of the house, its architecture, and much more during these tours.
Address: 3427 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28206
Go to the Bojangles Coliseum
The Bojangles Coliseum is an arena with a capacity of about 9,000 people. The venue is part of the Bojangles Entertainment Complex.
The building has a domed roof with a span of 332 feet, and the building dates back to the year 1955.
In the past, many famous artists performed at the arena and many different types of events took place here.
Nowadays, the arena is used for a variety of sporting events. For example, some ice hockey games take place at the Bojangles Coliseum.
In addition to that, many concerts and other types of events take place at the arena, so this arena has many options if you’re looking for some fun things to do in Charlotte.
Address: 2700 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28205
Visit Discovery Place Nature
Discovery Place Nature is a nature museum that is located at 1658 Sterling Road in Charlotte.
This is an interesting museum, especially for kids, where you can learn about many aspects of nature.
The museum is home to many exhibitions.
One of the exhibitions is “Insect Alley”, which is an exhibition where you can see live insects and arthropods.
The Nature Pavilion is another exhibition. Here, you can walk among different species of plants and flowers.
In addition to that, lots of different live shows take place at Discovery Place Nature. For example, you can sometimes go to a stargazing event and there are live animal encounters.
Address: 1658 Sterling Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209
See a Movie at Ayrsley Grand Cinema
The Ayrsley Grand Cinema is a movie theater that is located in the city of Charlotte. You can see the latest blockbusters at this movie theater which is one of the most fun things to do at night in Charlotte.
It is a modern movie theater with comfortable, reclining seats and great sound and picture quality. In addition to that, the movie theater has great concessions, including tasty popcorn.
Address: 9110 Kings Parade Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273
Visit ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center With Children
ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center is a center with various venues for children that you can find at 300 East Seventh Street.
One of the venues at the center is the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. At this theater, you can see both classic and contemporary family-friendly performances.
Another one of the places that you can find at the center is the Spangler Library for Children at ImaginOn. This is a library with books, media, and all kinds of other objects that are suitable for children. There are also hands-on activities for children here.
In addition to that, you can find classrooms, a teen-only library, exhibition space, and more at ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center.
Address: 300 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Attend a Performance at the Dale F. Halton Theater
The Dale F. Halton Theater, one of Charlotte’s best theaters, is a performing arts theater with a capacity of 1,020 people that is part of the Central Piedmont Community College. You can find the theater at 1206 Elizabeth Avenue.
A great activity in Charlotte is to go to a performance at this theater. You can go to the theater for concerts, live theater shows, and other types of shows.
There are also great shows during the holiday season.
The theater has great acoustics and the theater has a beautiful entrance, which adds to your experience of going here.
Address: 1206 Elizabeth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204
See Metalmorphosis
Metalmorphosis is a unique sculpture that you can find at the Whitehall Corporate Center.
It is a beautiful sculpture that is made of stainless steel plates. It was made by David Cerny, a famous Czech Sculptor.
The plates of the sculpture all rotate 360 degrees, and when the plates are pointed in the same direction they together form a metal head.
Address: 3701 Arco Corporate Dr, Charlotte, NC 28273
Have Food at the Optimist Hall
Optimist Hall is a food hall that you can find at 1115 North Brevard Street.
This is a food hall, which should not be confused with a food court, where you can find many different eateries with lots of different dining options in one building.
Because you can enjoy many food options in one space, you can go to Optimist Hall together with other people, order the food each one of you likes best, and then enjoy your meal at a table in the shared space of the food hall.
One of the eateries of Optimist Hall is Ava, which is a place that serves delicious wood-fired Neapolitan pizza.
You can also enjoy the food from Bao and Broth. Here, you can get delicious Asian street fare, such as ramen bowls and steamed buns.
You can also get delicious Mexican food and craft cocktails at El Thrifty.
Besides these, there are many other eateries serving delicious food.
Address: 1115 N Brevard St, Charlotte, NC 28206
Visit the Carolina Raptor Center
The Carolina Raptor Center is an organization with a mission to “ignite a passion for passions and a responsibility for our shared natural world”.
The center permanently houses more than 30 birds of prey. Through these birds, the public can learn about wildlife.
You can do a lot of things at the Carolina Raptor Center. For example, it is possible to see a fly-by of the birds.
You can also go to the “Keeper Chat” and learn about the birds and the work of the center by talking with a member of the rehabilitation team of the Center.
Address: 6000 Sample Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078
Learn about History at the Charlotte Museum of History
The Charlotte Museum of History is a museum where you can learn about the history of the city of Charlotte.
You can find seven different galleries at the museum where you can see both permanent and rotating exhibits that relate to the history of the city. Each of the exhibits focuses on a specific part of the city’s history.
It is also possible to see the 1774 Rock House & Homesite at the museum. This is a building that dates back to the year 1774 and is the last standing structure from Charlotte’s Revolutionary history.
You can do a guided tour of the 1774 Rock House during which a docent from the museum shows you the structure and gives you information about Charlotte during Revolutionary times.
Address: 3500 Shamrock Dr, Charlotte, NC 28215
Go to SEA LIFE Charlotte
SEA LIFE Charlotte is an aquarium that makes for a very fun thing to do in Charlotte. At the aquarium, you can find all kinds of exhibits through which you can learn about marine animals. This is a fun experience, and it is also a great experience for all ages.
One of the exhibits that you can find here is the “Jellies Exhibit”. This is an exhibit where you can see jellyfish.
Another one of the exhibits at SEA LIFE Charlotte is the “Tropical Ocean” exhibit. This is an ocean tunnel where you can see more than 800 different animals while you are underwater.
Some of the animals that you can find at the “Tropical Ocean” exhibit are sea turtles, sharks, and other species of animals.
It is also possible to do various experiences, such as a behind-the-scenes tour at SEA LIFE Charlotte.
Address: 8111 Concord Mills Boulevard, Concord, NC 28027
Go to a Concert at the Ovens Auditorium
The Ovens Auditorium is a historic venue that you can find at 2700 East Independence Boulevard.
This is the largest performing arts theater in the city and it has a capacity of close to 2,500.
The venue was used for touring Broadway musicals and concerts by famous artists, and since its opening in the year 1955, the Ovens Auditorium has hosted more than 7500 events.
Address: 2900 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28205
Go to the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture is a cultural center that is named for Harvey Gantt, who was the first African-American mayor of Charlotte.
The center’s mission is to present, preserve, and celebrate the art, history, and culture of African-American people and people of African descent.
There’s a lot to do and see at the center, from events during which you can enjoy delicious food to seeing an art exhibition to going to a film screening. The art exhibitions that you can find at the center feature both works by emerging and established artists.
Address: 551 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Check Out Mint Museum Randolph
Mint Museum Randolph is one of the branches of The Mint Museum. This branch is the original branch of the museum, which opened in the year 1936. You can find the branch in the Eastover neighborhood of the city.
At Mint Museum Randolph, there’s a very diverse collection of works of art.
For example, the collection includes art from the ancient Americas, works of European and African art, and many other types of objects.
In addition to that, you can sometimes attend an event at the museum. For example, there are art classes, there are yoga classes, and sometimes you can do a guided tour of the collection by a museum docent.
Address: 2730 Randolph Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207
Do a Tour of the Billy Graham Library
The Billy Graham Library is a museum and library that is dedicated to the life of Billy Graham, who was an American evangelist and civil rights advocate.
At the Billy Gram Library, you can find interactive exhibits, multimedia presentations, memorabilia, and much more. One of the best activities in Charlotte is to do a tour of the museum and library which takes about 1.5 hours.
In addition to that, Ruth’s Attic Bookstore, which is located inside the library, is a bookstore where you can find gifts, Bibles, books written by the Graham family, and much more.
Address: 4330 Westmont Dr, Charlotte, NC 28217
See a Performance at Theatre Charlotte
Theatre Charlotte is a theater company that is dedicated to making theatre relevant for the people of Charlotte.
Throughout the year, lots of different great productions take place at Theatre Charlotte. These include both contemporary and classic productions.
For example, every year, you can see a beautiful show of the famous novel “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.
It is also possible to buy a season package, which makes it possible to see many shows of Theatre Charlotte for a lower price and with more options.
Address: 501 Queens Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207
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Charlotte is a large city with many great restaurants. For a better time in the city, I recommend choosing a restaurant where you can have breakfast, lunch, or dinner, before or after you’re doing any of the activities of this Charlotte things to do guide.
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I hope you found some great activities! Thanks for reading my guide to the best things to do in Charlotte, NC.