We moved to Greenville in the fall of 2020—one of those years when everyone was rethinking where they wanted to live, what mattered most, and how to spend more time outside. For us, Greenville checked all the right boxes: close enough to both Atlanta and Charlotte for easy business trips, a super convenient airport (GSP is 100% worth the connection over dealing with parking and everything else at CLT or ATL), and plenty of outdoor adventures nearby—from hiking and mountain biking in the Blue Ridge foothills to lazy flatwater kayaking on Lake Jocassee.

Between the walkable downtown, thriving food scene, and scenic trails that wind right through downtown, Greenville is one of those places that effortlessly blends charm and adventure and checked all of our boxes when we were ready to relocate.

If you’re planning a trip and searching for the best things to do in Greenville SC, this guide covers it all. Consider this your go-to Greenville travel guide for exploring one of the South’s most lovable cities.

What To Do in Greenville SC

Falls Park on the Reedy

A trip to Greenville isn’t complete without a visit to Falls Park. Located in the heart of downtown Greenville, the Falls Park celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2024. What was once covered by a highway over pass is now an oasis in the city. The stunning Liberty Bridge, a pedestrian bridge, gracefully spans the Reedy River as the waterfall cascades below - surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Stroll Down Main Street

Greenville’s Main Street feels like a Hallmark movie. Flanked by trees on each side, giving it a cozy vibe, Main Street is home to a variety of locally owned and national retailers, coffee shops and restaurants with al fresco dining. Some of my favorite places to pop in include:

M Judson Booksellers - This cozy bookstore and coffee shop is one of my favorite spots in all of Greenville. They offer a wide variety of books, including those by local authors, greeting cards, home goods and more. Pair that with a delicious coffee and pastries and I could spend hours here.
Mast General Store - Mast General Store is to best spot in Downtown Greenville for outdoor gear needs. They also have a selection of Greenville souvenirs, like t-shirts, if you’re looking for something to take home as a memento.
Woof Gang Bakery - This is our go-to place for dog grooming, but Woof Gang also offer high quality treats, toys and dog food.

Outdoor Adventures in Greenville, SC

Lake Placid at Paris Mountain State Park

Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail: The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 28-mile multi-use greenway connecting Travelers Rest, SC and Greenville. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely walk through Greenville’s “Emerald Necklace” of Unity Park, Falls Park & Cleveland Park or if biking is more your thing, you can rent (or bring your own) bike and explore a bit further.
My recommendation would be to start in Greenville and make your way north to Travelers Rest with a stop for lunch or a snack before heading back. The trail may look flat, but there is a sneaky uphill climb that I would personally rather tackle first.
Paris Mountain: Located about 10 minutes north of downtown is Paris Mountain State Park. There are tons of hiking and mountain biking trails to explore here. My favorites are the Sulphur Springs Loop (3.8 Miles) and Lake Placid Loop (.75 mi)
Click Here for current hours and admission information.
Conestee Nature Preserve: Head 15 minutes south of Greenville for Conestee Nature Preserve - a 400-acre nature preserve home to 13 miles of trails, including more than 6 miles of paved trails and 1 mile of board walk.

Greenville, SC Activities For Families & Kids

If you are traveling with kids, there are plenty of family-friendly activities to enjoy:

Greenville Drive: Greenvilles single-A baseball team, the Greenville Drive is an affiliate team for the Boston Red Sox. Games are played at Fluor Field, complete with a miniature Green Monster, and located in the heart of downtown Greenville.
Greenville Zoo: Located just outside of Downtown Greenville, the Greenville Zoo is home to over 90 animal species including giraffes, orangutans, red pandas and more. Additionally, they host special giraffe feeding experiences daily.
Children’s Museum of the Upstate: The Children’s Museum of the Upstate (TCMU) was the first children’s museum to be recognized as a Smithsonian Affiliate. At more than 80,000 square feet dedicated to play-based learning for children ages 0-12, TCMU is home to 30 unique exhibits.
Unity Park: Conveniently located along the Swamp Rabbit Trail is Greenville’s newest park - Unity Park. At over 60 acres, the park offers walking trails, playgrounds and a complimentary Splash Pad. A new observation tower will open in November, 2025. Additionally, there is a wide variety of restaurants and breweries just steps away.
Mice on Main: As you walk along Greenville’s iconic Main Street, keep your eyes peeled for Mice on Main - nine sculpted mice that have taken up residence. This makes the stroll along Main Street a little more engaging for kids of all ages.

Plan your trip around these events and festivals

TD Saturday Market: Every Saturday, May-October, located on Main Street
Artisphere: Hosted each May, Artisphere is a three-day premier fine arts festival
Euphoria: Hosted each September, Euphoria is a four-day food, wine, and music festival
Fall for Greenville: Hosted each October, Fall for Greenville is a three-day food and music festival
Ice on Main: Hosted mid-November-mid-January, Ice on Main is a seasonal outdoor ice rink, made with real ice

Where To Stay in Greenville SC

💸 💸 💸 Grand Bohemian - Overlooking Falls Park, this hotel is a DREAM. With stunning rooms and on-site restaurant and whiskey bar - you may not want to leave. But, its central location in Downtown Greenville means it’s walkable to many of the city’s top attractions.

💸💸💸 Hotel Hartness - Named the No. 5 Hotel in the South by Conde Nast in October of 2025, Hotel Hartness is a boutique hotel featuring 73 guest rooms, a luxury spa and two on-site dining options. It is located about 20 minutes from Downtown Greenville on a 180-acre nature preserve.

Where to Eat in Greenville SC

Greenville, SC has an absolutely incredible food scene that seems to only get better with every new opening. My favorite casual bites are below - this is where you can find me on any given weekend.

Bar Margaret: Located in Greenville’s West Village, Bar Margaret gives quirky vibes. My go-to is a Single Damn Good Burger paired with a bowl of fries (accompanied by Pimp Sauce and 1k Sauce). They have a great craft cocktail program including awesome mocktails.
Comal 864: Helmed by award-winning Chef Danya Lee, this is the spot for authentic Mexican food. Seriously, their tacos are the closest I’ve had stateside that remind me of my favorite street-taco spots in Mexico. I love the tacos al pastor, my husband almost always goes for the torta.
Mountain Goat: A great spot for coffee and Liege waffles. Profits from this coffee shop support GOAT Adventures which provides outdoor adventures for disadvantage youth. I usually go for one of their seasonal coffee drinks paired with a chai-cinnamon waffle.
Sunflower Bakery: Sunflower Bakery serves up incredible breakfast sandwiches and bowls.
Swamp Rabbit Cafe: Located directly on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, the Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery offers seasonal sandwiches, smoothies, salads and pastries. The Gouda Gobber is my favorite fall sandwich offering.

About Greenville, SC

How to get to Greenville, SC

Greenville is conveniently located off of I-85 making it a quick trip from other Southeast cities including:

Atlanta, GA: 2 hours, 15 minutes (145 miles)
Charlotte, NC: 1 hour, 45 minutes (100 miles)
Asheville, NC: 1 hour (65 miles)

If you are considering flying, the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) is just 15 minutes from downtown and has direct flights from nearly 30 US cities including New York, DC, Chicago, Dallas and more.

Do You Need A Rental Car?

For those that staying in and spending most of their time in Downtown Greenville, a rental car is not necessary. The city is quite walkable and the Swamp Rabbit Trail easily connects visitors to other near by areas like Unity Park.

For those staying outside of downtown OR interested in outdoor activities such as Paris Mountain, a rental car would make getting around quite a bit easier. While there is public transportation, it is limited.

What about Parking in Downtown Greenville?

There is TONS of on-street, free, 2-hour parking in Downtown Greenville. Keep in mind that this 2-hour limit does not reset by moving your vehicle so if you plan to stay for longer, a parking deck may be a better option. A map of all city-owned parking decks can be found here (these are generally going to offer better rates than privately owned decks).

What Is the Best Time To Visit Greenville, SC?

There’s really no “bad” time to visit Greenville, SC. With four distinct seasons, each offers visitors unique opportunities and expereiences.

Spring and fall are temperate and pleasant - these are my favorite seasons in the upstate. Summers in Greenville, SC are hot and humid - and while this may be a turn off to some, it’s when I find the most joy in exploring the nearby mountains and rivers to find the perfect swimming hole to cool off in. Winters in Greenville, SC are mild. Snow is rare, we’ve only seen one snowfall that lasted more than 12 hours in the 5-years we’ve lived here BUT rain certainly isn’t out of the question in the winter months.

A Local’s Guide to Greenville, SC