Explore Charleston
Plan Your Charleston Holiday: Best of Charleston
Find flight deals to Charleston
Essential Charleston
Trip ideas from our community
A high-low eating tour of Charleston
- Jackrabbit Filly18I always recommend to go beyond the usual tourist map. One of my favourite spots is Jackrabbit Filly, a heritage driven Chinese-American restaurant in Park Circle. Get the O.G. chirashi rice bowl for lunch, or go for dinner with friends and order the entire menu—seriously. Karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and dumplings are always a good way to start off.
- FIG2,397This neighbourhood bistro is run by Jason Stanhope, a James Beard Award-winning chef who uses locally sourced ingredients to create his menu. Don't miss the classic chicken liver pate, followed by the ricotta gnocchi alla Bolognese. And for your main, make sure to order at least one fish dish (I love the steamed snapper).
- Rodney Scott's BBQ634The South is known for whole hog bbq, and this is a top stop for good reason. Pitmaster Rodney Scott’s team smokes entire pigs right behind the restaurant, serving pulled pork, ribs, and more to fans. My go-to order? The 2 Meat Combo with mac & cheese + collard greens. If you're coming with a group, go for the Pitmaster Combo (whole hog, pork shoulder, chicken, turkey, brisket and ribs, alongside four classic sides).
- Chubby Fish83Chubby Fish has been a local favourite since it opened in 2018. Chef James London's focus is all about locally caught seafood. I always recommend the whole fish (usually a b-liner snapper), yellowfin tuna crudo, and oysters. Come early to put your name down for a table since they don’t take bookings.
- Hannibal's Kitchen152Soul food is core to Charleston—and the south in general. The 40-year-old Hannibal’s may look small and unassuming, but this family-run kitchen turns out incredible dishes like pork chops and crab rice.
- Sorelle66Sorelle opened a few months ago and was an instant hit. The multi-concept experience includes the first floor Mercado, where you can stop for a morning coffee and pastry; a main bar with a wine room tucked behind it; and a dining room, with Southern-Italian dishes like ricotta tortellini (lovingly referred to as “Pillows of Gold”).
- Daps Breakfast And Imbibe37Daps is a laid-back breakfast spot in downtown. Some of your childhood (or current) cereal favourites make an appearance, but not in the way you might think. The berry French toast is griddled in Fruity Pebble batter. Cinnamon Toast Crunch is baked inside a Hawaiian roll. If you're looking for something a bit heartier, order the breakfast club sandwich with coffee-rubbed turkey and bacon whipped cheese.
Explore Charleston by interest
Get immersed in Gullah culture
Drinks with a view
For the children—and children at heart
Best-kept secrets and hidden gems
Feeling fancy-ish
The best of King Street shopping
History buffs, unite
Charleston on a dime
When in Charleston
Head to the water
More great cities to soak up Southern charm
Travelers' pro tips for experiencing Charleston
In the words of those who've been there before ...
What is the best way to get there?
Flying:
Charleston International Airport is around 12 miles northwest of downtown.
Car:
Drivers usually approach Charleston via the U.S. Highway 17.
Train:
Amtrak’s Palmetto and Silver Meteor lines between New York and Miami stop at The North Charleston Intermodal Transportation Center, 10 miles north of downtown.
Do I need a visa?
If you’re visiting Charleston from overseas, use the State Department’s Visa Wizard to see if you need a visa.
When is the best time to visit?
The most popular times to visit are spring or fall. Average highs are 61°F (16 °C) in September to 78°F (25 °C) from March through May and 82°F (27 °C) and 60°F (15 °C) from September through November. However, you should also consider a visit in the winter; it's less crowded and the temperatures (between 40 and 60 °F (4 and 15 °C)) are still very comfortable.
By Foot
Charleston’s historic downtown area is very walkable.
Car
If you are planning to venture farther than downtown, a car is a good idea. Parking, however, can be expensive.
Bus
CARTA is the city’s bus network but it is little-used by residents and not especially useful for visitors. It also runs the DASH Trolley network of free streetcars that make three loops around downtown from the visitor center.
For more information, see here.
Taxis
Taxis are generally inexpensive in Charleston but are often difficult to find outside of the downtown area. Call ahead of time.
Bicycles
Holy Spokes is Charleston’s bike-share scheme, with 27 locations downtown.
For more information, see here.
Ridesharing
Uber and Lyft are available in Charleston on your smartphone.