Charleston
United States of America · South Carolina · 6 m
Description
Charleston is a historic port city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and a fascinating center of Southern culture and history. The city is known for its well-preserved historic district, the pastel-colored houses of Rainbow Row, elegant mansions, cobblestone streets, and picturesque setting between the Ashley and Cooper rivers near the Atlantic coast. Charleston combines its rich architectural heritage and complex history, closely tied to plantation agriculture and slavery, with Southern hospitality, a vibrant cultural scene, and distinctive Lowcountry cuisine. Historic sites, coastal landscapes, and nearby Atlantic beaches make this storied Southern city one of the most appealing destinations in the southeastern United States.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 4 days (optimal 3 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: March – April or October – November
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Charleston Historic District
- The Battery & White Point Garden
- Rainbow Row
- Charleston City Market
- Waterfront Park & Pineapple Fountain
- French Quarter
- Fort Sumter(Day trip)
- King Street
- International African American Museum
- Nathaniel Russell House
- South of Broad
- Lowcountry Cuisine
- Magnolia Plantation & Gardens(Day trip)
- Middleton Place(Day trip)
- Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens(Day trip)
- Angel Oak Tree(Day trip)
- St. Philip's Church
- Old Slave Mart Museum
- Broad Street & Four Corners of Law
- Charleston Harbor
- Folly Beach(Day trip)
- Drayton Hall(Day trip)
- McLeod Plantation Historic Site(Day trip)
- Joe Riley Waterfront Park Pier
- The Charleston Museum
- Gibbes Museum of Art
- Aiken-Rhett House Museum
- Edmondston-Alston House
- Heyward-Washington House
- Joseph Manigault House
- Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
- Dock Street Theatre
- St. Michael's Church
- Circular Congregational Church
- Unitarian Church & Cemetery
- Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist
- College of Charleston
- Cistern Yard
- Marion Square
- Hampton Park
- Colonial Lake
- The Citadel
- Charleston Farmers Market
- Upper King Street
- Cannonborough-Elliotborough
- Shem Creek
- Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum(Day trip)
- USS Yorktown(Day trip)
- Fort Moultrie(Day trip)
- Sullivan's Island(Day trip)
- Sullivan's Island Lighthouse(Day trip)
- Isle of Palms(Day trip)
- Pitt Street Bridge(Day trip)
- Mount Pleasant Old Village(Day trip)
- Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
- Charles Pinckney National Historic Site(Day trip)
- Cypress Gardens(Day trip)
- Caw Caw Interpretive Center(Day trip)
- Morris Island Lighthouse(Day trip)
- Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve(Day trip)
- Edisto Island(Day trip)
- Kiawah Island(Day trip)
Getting there
- Airports:
- CHS
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry