Charleston travel guide

Plan your trip, step by step

• Where to stay
  Choose a Historic District base vs Mount Pleasant/the beaches, and a hotel vs a rental.
• Things to do
  Decide which tours, house museums and plantation visits to pre-book.
• Charleston in 3 days
  Follow a plan that balances the Historic District, history and the beaches.
• Estimate your trip cost
  See what a Charleston trip costs and set your spending tier.
• First-timer mistakes to avoid
  Sidestep the errors that trip up first-time Charleston visitors.
• Charleston on a budget
  See what a lean, comfortable or generous day really costs.

The neighborhoods at a glance

South of Broad

Known for the grandest antebellum mansions, quiet tree-lined streets, and The Battery promenade at the peninsula’s tip.

Rainbow Row & the French Quarter

Known for the candy-colored Georgian row houses on East Bay Street and the galleries of the French Quarter arts district.

King Street

Known for Lower King’s antiques, Middle King’s shopping, and Upper King’s restaurants, bars and nightlife.

Charleston City Market

Known for the 1804 market halls — Gullah sweetgrass basket weavers, local crafts and souvenirs.

Mount Pleasant & Shem Creek

Known for shrimp boats, waterfront seafood shacks, and the launch point for Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms.

Folly Beach

Known for a laid-back surf-town beach with the Folly Beach Pier and Morris Island Lighthouse views.

Deciding where to base yourself? The where-to-stay guide turns these areas into a lodging decision.

When to go — month by month

Average daytime high (bars) and rainy days per month, from 5-year climate normals. Greener months are the most comfortable to visit.

Best months to visit: Jan–May

Destinations with a similar climate

Like Charleston’s weather? These places have the closest year-round climate in our data — tap through for each one’s best time to visit.

• Savannah →
• New Orleans →
• Shanghai →
• Nashville →
• Mallorca →
• Palermo →

Know before you go

Currency

US dollar. Cards are accepted almost everywhere; carry some cash for smaller shops and market vendors.

Language

English. Gullah, a Creole language of the Lowcountry’s Gullah Geechee community, is heard in cultural programming and place names.

From the airport

Charleston International Airport (CHS) is about 12 miles / 20–30 minutes from downtown — rideshare, taxi or a rental car all work well.

Getting around

Downtown is walkable end to end, and the free DASH trolley covers the peninsula. For beaches, plantations and Mount Pleasant, plan on a car or rideshare — there is no rail transit.

Best time

March–May and September–November are ideal: mild, blooming (spring) or crisp (fall). Summer is hot, humid and busy; June–November is Atlantic hurricane season.

Tipping

Standard US tipping applies — 18–20% at restaurants, a few dollars for valets and tour guides.

For the best months to visit and a day-by-day plan, see Charleston in 3 days.