Top things to do in Charleston
Attractions, tours and activities in Charleston
Charleston: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in Charleston
About Charleston
Including tips for the best time to visit Charleston
South Carolina’s largest city, Charleston is a portal back in time with its antebellum architecture, horse-drawn carriages and storied Southern hospitality. It played a key role in American history, with the first shots of the Civil War fired at Fort Sumter. There are also several islands off the coast of this port city, which are home to some of the most picturesque beaches in the United States.
Home to over 2,800 historical buildings across eight distinctive architectural styles, Charleston is an open-air museum for architecture lovers. Take a stroll along the cobblestone streets of downtown’s French Quarter, where you can admire the pastel-painted houses of Rainbow Row and the Greek Revival facade of Charleston City Market. At the tip of the peninsula lies The Battery – a defensive seawall and promenade lined with ornate mansions.
From sprawling plantations to manicured parks, Charleston is dotted with several pockets of green where you can unwind on a lazy afternoon. Take in the Pineapple Fountain at Joe Riley Waterfront Park, where you can enjoy sunset views over the Charleston Harbor and the Cooper River. For a glimpse of old world charm amidst tranquil nature, you can head to plantations like Middleton Place – home to America’s oldest landscaped gardens – and Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, overflowing with gorgeous blooms. Elsewhere, the Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens is well worth a visit simply for its kilometre-long avenue of moss-draped oaks that served as the spectacular setting for iconic Hollywood movies and celebrity weddings.
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| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | US$10 = £8.04 |
| Language | |
| Average weekend price | £126 per night |
| Average weekday price | £132 per night |
| Typical stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Charleston
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Charleston
Charleston reviews
What other travellers say about Charleston
Charleston is an awesome walking city.
10 April 2024
Charleston is an awesome walking city. So much history. Definitely take a walking tour, as soon as you arrive. A great way to learn the lay of the land and what Charleston is all about. Restaurants are way above most cities. You can tell the chefs take great pride. We enjoyed "Southbound Restaurant!" Every bite was incredible with different taste that we could not pinpoint but enjoyed immensely! Make reservations well in advance, as the weekends are full. Great city for couples and girls weekend. Lots and lots of shopping! Fun City!
This was my third time in Charleston.
7 April 2024
This was my third time in Charleston. I really love this city! We went to the South Carolina aquarium again and had a fabulous time. We also went out to Fort Sumter, which was an amazing trip. However, it was very windy that day. We also went out to Boone Hall plantation, and that was very informative and very interesting as well. Shem Creek and Sullivans Island were also wonderful.
don’t book your stay through booking.
6 April 2024
don’t book your stay through booking.com. this is the second time my reservation through booking.com did not get through to the hotel. as a result i was not able to get the rooms i booked and it caused a long, aggravating check-in process.
I love Charleston.
5 April 2024
I love Charleston. We spend most of our time at the beach, typically either Isle of Palms or Folly. Parking is the biggest annoyance, especially at Folly because there are limited parking areas and most just park on the side of the road, and it is hard to find somewhere close to beach access entry points. Folly has more tourist type shops, whereas Isle of Palm only has a few. It is a beautiful area, there are plenty of things to do, and plenty of places to eat. We ate at Reds Ice House and it was AMAZING! There are a lot of historic things down town that are awesome to see. We went at night time and spent our time walking around reading the historical signs and seeing the buildings.
Beautiful city…easy to get around…friendly people…anxious to...
5 April 2024
Beautiful city…easy to get around…friendly people…anxious to return. Pedalbike tour was awesome…visited the market…great meal @ Oyster House & Callie’s hot biscuits…attended Charleston Open tennis & loved it til rained out last day w/no refund. Beautiful city/people.
Everything about Charleston was wonderful.
2 April 2024
Everything about Charleston was wonderful. The only issue I had was Booking.com’s misrepresentation of the amenities which weren’t available at the hotel. Since my husband is handicapped we were at a disadvantage with no other alternative since booking.com required payment in full and we couldn’t cancel our reservation and relocate to a facility with the required amenities for a handicapped person.
Popular places to stay in Charleston
Stay in some of the best accommodation Charleston has to offer
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☆Live on the Water! Lake Palmetto Palm w/ Patio - 10Min to Downtown & Beaches☆ North Charleston, Charleston
From £462 per night
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The Juliette - Luxury Historic Residence Downtown Charleston, Charleston
From £558 per night
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Lowcountry haven - game rm + king bds, mins 2 dwtn North Charleston, Charleston
From £288 per night
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Charming Secluded Courtyard - 1 BLOCK TO KING Downtown Charleston, Charleston
From £316 per night
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