Charleston, SC

Travel Guide
Charleston featuring a house as well as a couple
Steeped in history, this Southern town is an ideal spot for walking tours of antebellum mansions, beautiful gardens and fine restaurants.

Charleston is best explored on a walking tour or in a horse-drawn carriage with your driver telling stories about city landmarks. Learn about military history and the Southern way of life. Sample local foods of shrimp and grits, Lowcountry barbecue, collard greens and sweet pralines.

The American Civil War began here, when the seceding Confederacy fired upon and overtook federal Fort Sumter in the Charleston River. A later Union attack reduced the fort to rubble. Take a ferry to see the historic site, which also contains a complete timeline of U.S. naval activities along the Atlantic Ocean coastline.

Across the harbor, walk along The Battery and White Point Garden to gaze at the fort, now a national monument. Reflect on this pivotal moment in U.S. history. Turn around to view pretty antebellum houses surrounded by flowers in this neighborhood known as South of Broad. The writer Pat Conroy lived here. Many of his popular novels reveal not only Charleston’s geography, but also its cultural nuances.

To the west, the brilliant white Romanesque architecture of The Citadel gleams against a bright blue Charleston sky. Watch military cadets in dress uniforms during weekly parades or competing in weekend football games against other Southern colleges in the fall.

Nearby visit Middleton Place, a 1755 plantation with one of the nation’s earliest landscaped gardens. Something blooms here at any time of year. You might see an alligator sunning itself next to the Ashley River.

To the east, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is an impressive modern structure, especially with its triangular arches illuminated at night. Walk, bike or drive across for excellent views of the river and harbor or run across during the Cooper River Bridge 10K Run in early April.

Spring’s Spoleto Festival offers opera, theater, dance, music and artist talks. Throughout the year, visit the Charleston Historic Market to purchase locally made handicrafts. Famous hand-woven sweetgrass baskets, once used during rice harvesting, are still made by locals and treasured as artworks.

Where to stay in Charleston

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Charleston Riverview
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Charleston Riverview
2.5 out of 5
11 Ashley Point Drive, Charleston, SC
The price is $71 per night from Oct 31 to Nov 1
$71
per night
Oct 31 - Nov 1
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Charleston. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions Port of Charleston Cruise Terminal ...
6.4/10 (1,464 reviews)
Ms. Huguette S.
"Beautiful harbor, ample space for dog and parking. Quick check in, friendly & helpful staff"

Reviewed on Sep 30, 2023

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Charleston Riverview
Emeline
Emeline
4 out of 5
181 Church St, Charleston, SC
The price is $288 per night from Oct 29 to Oct 30
$288
per night
Oct 29 - Oct 30
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Charleston. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the property condition in our ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,199 reviews)
"Excellentl"

Reviewed on Sep 28, 2023

Emeline
Moxy Charleston Downtown
Moxy Charleston Downtown
2 out of 5
547 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC
The price is $195 per night from Oct 16 to Oct 17
$195
per night
Oct 16 - Oct 17
Stay at this hotel in Charleston. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and valet parking. Popular attractions Port of Charleston Cruise Terminal and Upper King Design ...
9/10 Wonderful! (115 reviews)
"Love Moxy properties. Very nice staff and love the vibe! It’s very cool place to stay"

Reviewed on Sep 30, 2023

Moxy Charleston Downtown
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Folly Beach Riverfront Apt w/ BRAND NEW dock, private boat ramp kayaks and bikes
Folly Beach Riverfront Apt w/ BRAND NEW dock, private boat ramp kayaks and bikes
Folly Beach
Stay at this family-friendly apartment in Charleston. Enjoy a water park, WiFi, and onsite parking. Popular attractions Fort Lamar Historic Preserve and Battery ...
9/10 Wonderful! (79 reviews)
James Island / Folly Beach
"We had a wonderful stay and hope to come back again! Todd, the owner was friendly and hospitable, taking the time to email not only instructions for the house but some wonderful activities and places to visit and dine! The house is conveniently located between Charleston and Folly Beach. The house ..."

Reviewed on Sep 13, 2023

Folly Beach Riverfront Apt w/ BRAND NEW dock, private boat ramp kayaks and bikes
The Iris Charleston
The Iris Charleston
3 out of 5
84 Line St, Charleston, SC
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Charleston. Enjoy free WiFi, onsite parking, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Port of Charleston Cruise Terminal ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (26 reviews)
"Well thought out space. Close to all the hidden gems around the neighborhood."

Reviewed on Sep 27, 2023

The Iris Charleston
The Cottage At Byrnes Downs
The Cottage At Byrnes Downs
Charleston
Stay at this family-friendly cottage in Charleston. Enjoy WiFi, onsite parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Port of Charleston Cruise Terminal and West ...
10/10 Exceptional! (78 reviews)
Get away
"Cute, comfortable, and convenient to everything."

Reviewed on Sep 24, 2023

The Cottage At Byrnes Downs
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Getting around Charleston

Much of Charleston is walkable, and this is by far the most enjoyable way to explore this historic city. When you do need to get somewhere fast, you have a few options. Make use of the trolley to get to popular attractions, or ride the bus to reach more residential areas. Taxis are another possibility. Note, though, that taxis aren’t easy to hail in the street, so should be booked in advance. Visit the Charleston Regional Transportation Authority website.Browse Charleston rental cars.

Best time to visit

The summer months in Charleston can get very hot, so most people will find a spring or fall visit more pleasant. Come between March and May or between September and November for sunny weather and temperatures that rarely climb above the low 80s F (20s C). One benefit of coming in spring is that you'll see the city’s pretty flowers in bloom. In fall, meanwhile, colorful foliage transforms the streets.

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