Free Things to Do in Greenville

You don’t have to have a big budget to have a great time in Greenville, SC! Here are some free things to do—and some low-cost bonus ideas—to make the most of your trip to the area.

Falls Park on the Reedy & The Liberty Bridge

Visit the “crown jewel” of Downtown Greenville and gaze at the Reedy River Falls from atop the Liberty Bridge, the only single-suspension bridge of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Stroll within the park’s 32 acres of gardens, greenspaces, and historic ruins of mills that once made their home on the Reedy. At certain times of the year, you can catch a free showing of a movie or a performance of one of Shakespeare’s famous plays in this Downtown park.

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Grab an ice cream cone from Spill the Beans, adjacent to the Main Street entrance to the park, and enjoy sitting in the grass in one of the many open greenspaces throughout the park.

Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail Network

Frequently named one of the best urban trails in the country, the Swamp Rabbit Trail extends 28 miles and connects Downtown Greenville to the city of Travelers Rest and beyond. With many trail entrances across Greenville, you can hop on and off with ease. Favorite stops along the trail include Cleveland Park, Cancer Survivors Park, Falls Park on the Reedy, RiverPlace, Furman University’s Swan Lake, Travelers Rest, and more.

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Rent bikes from a number of local shops, like Reedy Rides or Pedego Electric Bikes, and cycle the trail. You could even run into former Tour De France cyclist George Hincapie!

Art in Public Places Self-Guided Tour

Art enthusiasts and casual art lovers alike will love strolling the streets of Greenville, taking in the pieces of art that have become a part of the city’s DNA since the inception of the program. The City of Greenville has an interactive online map of the public art locations. Some notable works you might see include “Rose Crystal Tower” by Dale Chihuly (shown here) and Yuri Tsuzuki’s “Transformation,” which includes hundreds of steel butterflies placed throughout Downtown Greenville.

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While exploring the city, you’ll notice tons of unique shops and boutiques along the way. Stop in at Mast General Store and have a nostalgic candy treat from their many barrels of vintage-style candies to enjoy on your stroll.

Trolley waiting at the Downtown Trolley Stop

Downtown Trolley & Heritage Green

Greenville’s delightful trolleys motor up and down Main Street to carry passengers to many Downtown destinations and Heritage Green. While at Heritage Green, head to the Greenville County Museum of Art (free admission) and check out the world’s largest collection of watercolors by Andrew Wyeth. Be sure to visit the South Carolina Room at the Greenville County Hughes Main Library. Staffed by experienced genealogists and historians, the SC Room features an extensive collection of genealogy and local history materials.

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For those traveling with children, The Children’s Museum of the Upstate is a must-see. This Smithsonian-affiliated museum is the 7^th largest of its kind in the nation and boasts all kinds of learning activities for young ones up to age 12.

Join the crowd downtown on Main Street on Saturday mornings and stock up on local vegetables, fruit, eggs, cheese, meats and other home-grown fare from area farmers.

Free City Events

There are numerous free events happening all over Greenville all the time. In spring through early fall, Main Street at NOMA Square shuts down on both Thursday and Friday evenings for live music at Downtown Alive and Main Street Fridays. On Saturday mornings May-October (and once in December), Main Street is shut down for the TD Saturday Market. Make sure to check out our Events page to see all the local events going on during your visit.

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Greenville’s food trucks can be found serving up delicious street food at free city events, so be sure to grab a bite to eat from one of these mobile eateries while you are there.

Mice on Main Scavenger Hunt

Also part of the Art in Public Places initiative, the Mice on Main are 9 tiny bronze mice hidden along a section of Main Street for kids and kids-at-heart to discover. Inspired by the children's book Goodnight Moon, the mice were originally ideated as a local high-schooler's class project. Stop by the VisitGreenvilleSC Visitor Center in City Hall for your free copy of the Mice on Main clues or you can get them online.

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Pop into O.P. Taylor’s toy store and grab a copy of the book, Mice on Main, written by Linda Kelly and illustrated by mice sculptor, Zan Wells, as an adorable reminder of your experience.

NOMA Square & ONE City Plaza

Two of the most prominent open gathering spaces downtown, both NOMA Square and ONE City Paza are hubs of activity and offer things to do like free yoga classes, live music, dog-friendly "yappy" hours, and more.

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If you're near NOMA Square, try a chocolate confection at Kilwins Chocolates, Fudge & Ice Cream, take home an interesting foodie souvenir from Oil & Vinegar, or grab a seat at Roost Restaurant. Feeling creative? Join a candle-making class at Greenville Soy Candle Company. Near ONE City Plaza, get an outdoor table at Sassafras Southern Bistro, Tupelo Honey, or Cantina 76.

Runway Park at GMU & Military History Center of the Carolinas

Take the kids for an exciting aviation-themed outing to the playground at Runway Park. The playground includes “runways” and “taxiways” for play, and one of the coolest parts of the experience are the park’s views of the planes at the Greenville Downtown Airport taking off and landing. Visit the Military History Center of the Carolinas next door to check out a fascinating collection of military memorabilia, including a rare Model-T ambulance from World War I.

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Visit the Runway Café and enjoy aeronautical menu items like the “$100 Hamburger.” It’s not actually $100, but the name refers to the anecdote that small-plane pilots would often fly somewhere to enjoy a hamburger and then go home, resulting in hundreds of dollars in fuel costs alone!

Brewmiceter Hops Hunt

Looking to sample some of Greenville’s finest beers but don’t know how to fit them all into your schedule? Put your mind (and beer-tasting palate) to the test with the Brewmiceter Hops Hunt! This self-guided scavenger hunt will take you all throughout Greenville and the surrounding areas, tracking down 8 hidden mice from 8 not-so-hidden local breweries. This will surely be a unique and fun-filled way to enjoy a refreshing treat while supporting our local community! Don’t worry, we’ll still help you out with some clues.

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Enjoy this tour over multiple days to savor the moment and taste some great local brews. You can register for the monthly drawing, free of charge, to win some Brewmiceter swag or, better yet…a growler.

Kilgore-Lewis House

Take a docent-led tour of a historic house built in 1838 with 5.4 acres of quaint gardens on a small beautiful lake that feels like a secret romantic hideaway.

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In the fall and winter, walk down the street to Bon Secours Wellness Arena for a Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey game. There are also year-round opportunities for concerts, sporting events, and other special events at “The Well” so check out the events that are happening during your visit.

Statue Bears at 3 Bears Linky Stone Park

City and County Parks and Gardens

Greenville County is home to numerous parks and greenspaces that are free to enjoy. Kids often love visiting the Children’s Garden at Linky Stone Park, a unique garden that features interactive displays for young ones.

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In the warmer months, make sure to pay a visit to one of three Greenville County Waterparks. For dog-lovers, each year in the early fall, Discovery Island and Otter Creek waterparks both host Waggin’ at the Waterpark⁠—events just for pups!

History Museum of Travelers Rest

This historic grocery store-turned-museum houses artifacts and exhibits related to Travelers Rest and surrounding areas, highlighting the history of the town being a “resting place” for people traveling through the mountains to the coast and beyond.

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While in TR (as the locals call it), visit the downtown area and peruse the shops and dining in this quaint local town, like Tandem Creperie and Coffeehouse or Upcountry Provisions Bakery and Bistro for freshly baked goods.

Mother and son standing on dock looking out at Lake Conestee

Conestee Nature Preserve

Designated an “Important Bird Area of Global Significance” by the National Audubon Society, this nature preserve’s 600 acres of beautiful natural habitat is a true treat for any nature lover. You can also find species of deer, raccoon, beaver, fox, river otter, and various small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

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The preserve hosts fun, learning-based Knee-High Naturalists events led by local educators where kids can do activities like building fairy houses. Keep an eye out for these special events on our Events page.

Father and his baby walking around at BMW Zentrum Exhibit

BMW Zentrum Museum

Visit the only official BMW museum in North America, where you’ll experience the past, present, and future of the famed automotive brand. You’ll see rare and important vehicles in the story of BMW, including one known as the “Bubblecar.”

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See how the Ultimate Driving Machine® is built by taking a guided factory tour of the BMW Manufacturing plant, the global producer of several BMW X models. And if you still didn’t get your fix of BMW history, visit the nearby BMW Car Club of America Museum. For the ultimate fan of the brand, check out the BMW Performance Center. While not low-cost, the experiences here are a must for anyone with a need for speed.

Constructed in 1820, the Poinsett Bridge is believed to be the oldest surviving bridge in the state. Named after Joel Poinsett, a prominent early resident of Greenville and a U.S. ambassador to Mexico, the bridge was part of the State Road that connected Charleston and Columbia with the North Carolina mountain communities into Tennessee.

Poinsett Bridge & Campbell’s Covered Bridge

Step back in time at these two historic bridges in northern Greenville County. The Poinsett Bridge is believed to be the oldest surviving bridge in the state. It is a 14-foot Gothic arch stone structure and stretches 130 feet over Little Gap Creek. Historians believe that it was designed by Robert Mills, the architect of the Washington Monument. Campbell’s Covered Bridge is the only remaining covered bridge in the state. The area around the bridge is available for guests to explore the foundations of the old grist mill and home site that were once there.

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Grab food for a picnic from one of many Downtown eateries like Sully’s Steamers or Rainer's Cafe to enjoy at either historic bridge.

Couple Driving Convertible up to Caesars Head

Cherokee Foothills Scenic Hwy 11 & The Blue Ridge Escarpment

Take a drive up scenic Hwy 11 and enjoy the beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Escarpment and the region’s mountains and other natural assets. Take a look at some of the historic sites along the highway here. On your drive, make a pit stop at Caesars Head State Park to check out the iconic view from the overlook. You can even listen to our Road Trip Playlist while in the car!

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Pack your walking shoes while visiting Caesars Head State Park to hike the trails. You can also browse the unique wares available at the gift shop.

South Carolina Botanical Garden

Located just a short drive away in Clemson, SC, the South Carolina Botanical Garden is a 295-acre set of gardens, trails, and a distinctive and nationally recognized nature-based sculpture collection. While there, you may also want to visit the Bob Campbell Geology Museum, where admission is free.

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Visit the Clemson University ’55 Exchange and indulge in a long-standing tradition of eating student-made Clemson Ice Cream from their original recipe.

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Free Things to Do in Greenville

You don’t have to have a big budget to have a great time in Greenville, SC! Here are some free things to do—and some low-cost bonus ideas—to make the most of your trip to the area.

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Downtown Trolley & Heritage Green

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NOMA Square & ONE City Plaza

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Runway Park at GMU & Military History Center of the Carolinas

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Brewmiceter Hops Hunt

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Kilgore-Lewis House

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History Museum of Travelers Rest

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Poinsett Bridge & Campbell’s Covered Bridge

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Cherokee Foothills Scenic Hwy 11 & The Blue Ridge Escarpment

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