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Founded by English colonists in 1670 and moved to its present peninsula about a decade later, Charleston sits where the Ashley and Cooper rivers meet a broad Atlantic harbor. Its early wealth came from rice and indigo grown by enslaved Africans, a history written into its architecture and told more fully at its museums today. Steeples, iron gates and pastel single houses with long side porches define its historic district.
Most visitors begin on foot south of Broad Street, admiring the colorful facades of Rainbow Row before strolling the seawall at the Battery and the shaded lawns of White Point Garden. Waterfront Park leads toward the long sheds of the Charleston City Market. The International African American Museum, built at the site of Gadsden's Wharf, addresses the city's role in the slave trade. Ferries cross the harbor to Fort Sumter, where the Civil War's first shots were fired. In Mount Pleasant, Patriots Point and the seafood restaurants along Shem Creek are popular stops, while the Ashley River plantations and the sprawling Angel Oak on Johns Island make rewarding half-day outings.
Charleston appeals to travelers who enjoy history, architecture and Lowcountry cooking. Spring is the most pleasant season; summer is hot and humid, and hurricane season stretches into fall. Nearby, Folly Beach and Sullivan's Island offer easy beach escapes.
WiserMap travel guideCharleston South Carolina Rainbow Row and Fort SumterPlan a Charleston trip with this guide to Rainbow Row, the Battery, Fort Sumter, historic house museums, Lowcountry plantations, beaches and Lowcountry food.Read the guide
A row of 13 pastel-painted Georgian houses on East Bay Street, among the most photographed streets in the South. The houses are private homes, so you view them from the sidewalk. Go in the morning for soft light and fewer people, then walk south toward the Battery.
A long market running four blocks from Meeting Street, with the 1841 Market Hall at its head. Stalls sell sweetgrass baskets made by Gullah artisans, crafts, food and souvenirs. A night market runs on some weekend evenings, and the basket makers are happy to explain their craft.
The seawall promenade at the tip of the peninsula, lined with grand antebellum mansions and facing the harbor. White Point Garden behind it has live oaks, cannons and monuments. It is a pleasant place for a walk at sunset, and you can see Fort Sumter in the distance.
A harborside park on Concord Street with the famous Pineapple Fountain, shaded benches, porch swings on the pier and wide views of the Cooper River. Children often play in the fountain on hot days. It is free, open daily and an easy stop between the City Market and Rainbow Row.
An 1808 townhouse on Meeting Street, known for its free-flying spiral staircase and restored rooms. Guided tours cover the merchant family and the enslaved people who lived and worked there. A combined ticket with the Aiken-Rhett House is good value if you enjoy historic homes.
A museum opened in 2023 at Gadsden's Wharf, where many enslaved Africans arrived in America. Galleries trace African American history, culture and the Gullah Geechee heritage, and a family history center helps visitors research ancestors. Book timed tickets online in advance.
The island fort where the first shots of the Civil War were fired in April 1861. Reach it only by ferry from Liberty Square downtown or Patriots Point. The visit includes a harbor cruise, about an hour at the fort with rangers and a small museum. Book ferry tickets early in peak season.
An 1820 urban mansion on Elizabeth Street preserved rather than restored, so faded wallpaper and original furnishings remain. The intact work yard, kitchen and quarters of the enslaved people make it one of the most complete townhouse sites in America. An audio tour lets you go at your own pace.
A 1771 customs house at the foot of Broad Street where George Washington was entertained and where the British held prisoners in the cellar during the Revolution. Costumed guides lead you into the brick dungeon below. It is a compact stop that takes about an hour and suits children well.
A huge southern live oak on Johns Island, estimated at several hundred years old, with limbs spreading over a wide area. It sits in a small free park with a gift shop. Do not climb the tree, check opening hours before you go, and combine it with a drive to the nearby beaches.
A former rice plantation on the Ashley River, about 30 minutes from downtown, with America's oldest landscaped gardens, laid out in the 1740s with terraces, reflecting pools and the Butterfly Lakes. A house museum and stableyards tell the story of the family and the enslaved people who worked there. Allow half a day.
A plantation on the Ashley River whose romantic gardens, among the oldest public gardens in America, are famous for azaleas and camellias. Visitors can add a house tour, a nature train through the wetlands, a swamp garden walk and an exhibit on the lives of the enslaved people. Visit in early spring for the best blooms.
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South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
South Carolina, United States
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