Charleston Travel Guide

Sweetgrass baskets and market browsing

Arrive before 10am for cooler air and easier browsing between the open-air sheds.

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  Charleston City Market

  Four blocks of covered stalls downtown, known for sweetgrass basket weavers.

Rainbow Row and the Battery

Walk south down East Bay Street, then follow the seawall promenade for harbor views.

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  Rainbow Row

  Thirteen pastel Georgian houses on East Bay Street, a short stroll from the Battery.

Sunset by the pineapple fountain

The pier swings and covered benches are the best spots as the light fades.

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  Waterfront Park

  Eight riverside acres with the pineapple fountain, wide lawns, and Cooper River views.

Market stalls and sweetgrass baskets

Arrive before 10am for cooler air and easier browsing along the four market sheds.

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  Charleston City Market

  Downtown market where Gullah artisans weave and sell sweetgrass baskets.

Pineapple Fountain and harbor views

Shade is limited on the pier, so bring water and a hat in summer.

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  Waterfront Park

  Harborside park with swinging benches, wide lawns, and the Pineapple Fountain.

Golden hour on Rainbow Row

Late light warms the facades; stay on the sidewalk since these are private homes.

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  Rainbow Row

  Thirteen pastel Georgian houses on East Bay Street, a short walk from the park.

Inside an 1808 townhouse

Guided tours run on the hour and last about 30 minutes, so check the first slot.

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  Nathaniel Russell House

  Meeting Street mansion known for its free-flying spiral staircase.

Shrimp and grits for lunch

Lines peak at 1pm; put your name in early and wait nearby.

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  Poogan's Porch

  Queen Street Victorian serving Lowcountry classics a few blocks from Meeting Street.

Seawall stroll at the Battery

Walk the raised promenade first, then loop into the oak-shaded park below.

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  White Point Garden

  Live oak park at the peninsula's tip where two rivers meet the harbor.

Gardens along the Ashley River

Allow two hours and wear closed shoes; paths are gravel and sometimes damp.

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  Middleton Place

  Landscaped 18th-century gardens and stableyards about 30 minutes northwest of downtown.

Beach time on Sullivan's Island

Street parking only, and posted signs are enforced, so read them before you settle in.

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  Sullivan's Island Beach

  Wide, quiet Atlantic beach with dune paths and views toward the harbor entrance.

Sunset over Shem Creek

Boardwalks reach past the shrimp boats; dolphins often surface near the docks.

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  Shem Creek Park

  Mount Pleasant marsh boardwalk on the way back from the island.

Waterfront start

Arrive before 10am for shade under the pier swings and easy photos.

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  Waterfront Park

  Harbor-side park with the Pineapple Fountain, a calm orientation to the city.

Rainbow Row and the Battery

Walk East Bay Street south, then loop along the seawall promenade.

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  Rainbow Row

  Thirteen pastel Georgian houses on East Bay, Charleston's most photographed block.

Lowcountry dinner

Reservations open a month ahead, so book early or try the upstairs bar seating.

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  Husk

  Queen Street restaurant in a Victorian house, known for Southern ingredient-driven plates.

Ferry to the fort

Boats leave from Liberty Square; arrive 30 minutes before departure.

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  Fort Sumter National Monument

  Island fort in the harbor where the Civil War began, reached by ranger-narrated ferry.

Market browsing

Look for sweetgrass basket weavers, a Gullah Geechee tradition, near the Meeting Street end.

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  Charleston City Market

  Four covered blocks of local crafts and food stalls, open daily since 1804.

Church Street stroll

Golden hour light hits the steeple best from Broad Street looking north.

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  St Philip's Church

  Steepled 1830s church on Church Street, the anchor of the French Quarter.

Terraced gardens

Roughly a 30-minute drive from downtown; wear shoes that handle gravel paths.

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  Middleton Place

  America's oldest landscaped gardens, with butterfly lakes and a working stableyard.

Oak avenue and marsh views

The Ashley River trail and the nature train both give different angles on the site.

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  Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

  Neighboring estate with a romantic-style garden, swamp boardwalk, and cabin exhibits.

Upper King dinner

Walk-in seats at the bar are your best bet on weekends.

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  Leon's

  Converted King Street garage serving fried chicken and chargrilled oysters.

Under the Angel Oak

Free to visit and open from 9am; mornings are quietest for photos.

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  Angel Oak Tree

  A live oak on Johns Island estimated at several centuries old, with sprawling limbs.

Beach and pier

Metered parking fills by noon in summer, so plan an early arrival.

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  Folly Beach Pier

  Long fishing pier over the Atlantic, with wide sand and surf breaks nearby.

Sunset at the lighthouse

Check tide charts; the beach walk to the view point is easier at low tide.

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  Folly Beach County Park

  West-end park with restrooms, boardwalks, and views toward Morris Island Lighthouse.

A Federal-era house

Guided tours run hourly; the free-flying staircase is the highlight.

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  Nathaniel Russell House

  1808 merchant's home on Meeting Street, restored to its original color palette.

Campus and cistern

The oak-shaded Cistern Yard is open to walk through most weekdays.

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  College of Charleston

  Historic downtown campus with Randolph Hall and Spanish moss over the quad.

Across the harbor

Drive or ride over the Ravenel Bridge for skyline views back toward the peninsula.

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  Shem Creek Park

  Mount Pleasant boardwalk over a shrimp-boat creek, good for dolphin spotting at dusk.