3 swoon-worthy days in Charleston

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Waterfront Park

   A long green park along the Cooper River, with swings, shade, a pier and the Pineapple Fountain, a traditional symbol of welcome. Go early and walk to the end of the pier for the harbor view.

   Go when Early morning, when the benches are empty and the harbor is calm, or in the evening when the light turns soft.

   Local tip Walk to the end of the pier for the view back at the city. The Pineapple Fountain is at its prettiest when the sun is low, and a few steps away there are swings for two.

   

   About 4 min walk0.2 mi
2. 2
   AfternoonWorth a short stop

   Rainbow Row

   Thirteen pastel houses side by side on East Bay Street, restored in the 1930s and 1940s and painted in sweet colors. It is one of the most photographed streets in Charleston, so stop for a few minutes and then walk on.

   Go when Early morning, before the cars and the crowds, when the colors are soft in the light.

   Local tip These are private homes, so enjoy the colors from the sidewalk and do not step onto the porches. The best view is a little way down the street, looking back along the row.

   

   About 5 min walk0.3 mi
3. 3
   AfternoonWorth the time, check ahead

   Nathaniel Russell House

   An elegant neoclassical house on Meeting Street, built in 1808 and known for its curving staircase. It was built by a merchant who also traded in enslaved people, and the tour tells that story.

   Go when Morning, when the tour groups are small.

   Local tip A fine neoclassical house with a curving staircase. It was built by a wealthy merchant who was also a slave trader, and the tour speaks about the enslaved people who worked here, so check ahead.

   

   About 6 min walk0.3 mi
4. 4
   EveningWorth the time

   White Point Garden

   A shady park at the tip of the peninsula, with old live oaks, cannons and benches, where the Battery seawall meets the harbor. Walk the promenade past the grand houses along the water just before sunset.

   Go when Sunset (about 7:49 PM), when the light turns gold on the water and the benches fill with couples.

   Local tip Walk out along the seawall promenade, called the Battery, and look back at the houses with their long porches. Sit under the oaks for a while as the evening cools.

   

   About 12 min walk0.6 mi
5. 5
   EveningThe special evening, check ahead

   Dock Street Theatre

   An old theater on Church Street, on the site of the first building made for theater in the colonies. The present building was a hotel before it became a theater in 1935. Check ahead to see what is on, and book your seats.

   Go when Evening, with a table at supper first and your seats booked for a show.

   Local tip Check ahead for a play or a concert, and book early, since the best seats can go fast. A narrow brick lane, Philadelphia Alley, is a few steps away, and makes a pretty short walk before or after.

   

   About 2 min walkunder 0.1 mi
6. 6
   EveningWorth a short stop

   Philadelphia Alley

   A narrow brick lane between old buildings in the French Quarter, close to Church Street. It is quick to walk and quiet in the evening, a pretty little detour on the way to dinner or the theater.

   Go when Evening, when the lane is calm and the day-trippers have gone.

   Local tip A narrow brick lane between old buildings in the French Quarter. It takes a minute to walk, so pair it with Dock Street Theatre and St. Philip’s Church just beside it.

   

7. Dinner

   A dinner before the theater

   For the special evening, book an early table so you can eat slowly and still reach your seats. Order the dish of the day, a glass of something local, and share a dessert.

   Local tip Book ahead, say that you have a show, and ask for the courses to be paced to suit.

   Places to try4 near Philadelphia Alley‹›

   • Steakhouse

     Oak Steakhouse

     A steakhouse on Broad Street in a converted building, a few minutes from the theater.

     0.2 mi from Philadelphia Alley
   • French, Mediterranean

     Chez Nous

     A small restaurant on a lane off Payne Court serving a short menu that changes often.

     1.2 mi from Philadelphia Alley
   • Steakhouse

     Halls Chophouse

     A steakhouse on King Street serving steaks and seafood, a short drive or walk from the theater.

     0.8 mi from Philadelphia Alley
   • Seafood, oysters

     Pearlz Oyster Bar

     An oyster bar on East Bay Street serving raw oysters and seafood plates.

     0.1 mi from Philadelphia Alley

   Hours change, so check before you go.

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   MorningWorth a short stop

   Cistern Yard

   The wide lawn in front of Randolph Hall on the campus of the College of Charleston, shaded by old live oaks. It is a quiet place to stroll before the day starts, so keep your voices low while classes are in session.

   Go when Morning, when the campus is quiet and the oaks throw long shadows.

   Local tip The lawn is part of a working campus, so walk around the edges and keep your voice low. A short stroll to the side streets around the college has some of the prettiest garden walls in the city.

   About 8 min walk0.4 mi
2. 2
   MiddayWorth a short stop

   Charleston City Market

   A historic market that runs for four blocks from Meeting Street toward the water, in a row of long open sheds. Sweetgrass baskets woven in the Gullah tradition are a craft to look for. Go early, before it fills.

   Go when Early in the day, before the crowds, or after the tour groups have gone.

   Local tip The market is for browsing, so walk it end to end once. Look for sweetgrass baskets woven by hand, and ask the maker about the work. It was a place for food and goods, and enslaved people were never sold here.

   

3. Lunch

   She-crab soup

   Charleston’s signature soup is a velvety cream of crab, often finished with a splash of sherry. Pair a cup of it with a salad or a sandwich on a shaded porch.

   Local tip Sit outside if the day is mild, and share a cup if you want a lighter lunch.

   Places to try4 near Charleston City Market‹›

   • Lowcountry, Southern

     82 Queen

     A Lowcountry restaurant on Queen Street with courtyard seating, a short walk from the City Market.

     0.2 mi from Charleston City Market
   • Seafood

     Hank's Seafood Restaurant

     A seafood restaurant on Hayne Street, a few minutes from the City Market, serving she-crab soup.

     0.1 mi from Charleston City Market
   • Southern, seafood

     Henry's on the Market

     A restaurant on North Market Street, steps from the City Market, serving Lowcountry dishes.

     0.2 mi from Charleston City Market
   • French bistro

     Rue de Jean

     A bistro on John Street a few blocks from the City Market, serving soups and light plates.

     0.6 mi from Charleston City Market

   Hours change, so check before you go.

   About 12 min walk0.6 mi
4. 3
   MiddayWorth the time, check ahead

   Joseph Manigault House

   A graceful house museum built in 1803 on Meeting Street, known for its curved staircase and delicate woodwork, in a style called Adam. Check ahead for how tours run, and ask your guide about the people who lived and worked here.

   Go when Midday, when the heat and the crowds are at their peak, and a cool house is a welcome pause.

   Local tip Look at the curved staircase and the details in the woodwork. It is a tour, so check ahead for how it runs, and ask your guide about the people who kept the house and its garden.

   

   About 15 min walk0.7 mi
5. 4
   AfternoonWorth a short stop

   St. Philip’s Church

   The church on Church Street whose tower rises over the old city, with a churchyard of old gravestones and live oaks. The church is still in use, so check ahead for visiting times and walk the grounds quietly.

   Go when Late afternoon, when the light slants through the oaks and the churchyard is quiet.

   Local tip Walk the graves slowly and read the old stones. This is a working church and a burial ground, so keep your voice low, and check ahead for the hours when visitors are welcome.

   

   About 3 min walk0.2 mi
6. 5
   AfternoonPick your galleries

   Gibbes Museum of Art

   An art museum in a domed building on Meeting Street, with American art, many works with a link to Charleston and the South. A calm, cool place for a wet or very hot afternoon.

   Go when A rainy afternoon, or any time you need a cool, quiet pause.

   Local tip The collection is mostly American art with a link to Charleston and the South. Pick a few rooms, look for portraits of the city and the Lowcountry, and then sit under the glass dome.

   

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. Travel from Gibbes Museum of ArtAbout 16 min by car or transit3.8 mi

   Where Day 2 ended.
2. 1
   MorningWorth the time, check ahead

   Fort Sumter

   The island fort at the mouth of Charleston Harbor where the first battle of the Civil War was fought in 1861, run today by the National Park Service. You reach it only by ferry, so check ahead and book.

   Go when Morning, on one of the first boats of the day.

   Local tip You reach the fort only by boat, so check ahead for the ferry and book your places. Plan about half a day and bring a light jacket for the wind on the water.

   

   About 34 min by car or transit12.2 mi
3. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Angel Oak

   A huge southern live oak on Johns Island, estimated to be 400 to 500 years old, with branches that reach out and rest along the ground. Come early or late, when there are fewer people, and check ahead for the park’s visiting times.

   Go when Morning or late afternoon, when the park is quiet and the light comes through the leaves.

   Local tip Walk slowly around the whole tree. The branches rest on the ground in places, so look, but follow the signs and do not climb. Stay a while on the benches.

   

4. Lunch

   Fried seafood by the marsh

   On Johns Island and the roads to the beach, small family places serve fried shrimp, fish and oysters, with coleslaw and hushpuppies. Casual and filling, and a good break from the car.

   Local tip Choose a place with an outdoor table or a view of the marsh, and go a little before the midday rush.

   About 31 min by car or transit9.3 mi
5. 3
   EveningWorth the time

   Folly Beach Pier

   A long fishing pier at the heart of Folly Beach, the barrier island locals call the Edge of America. Walk the sand first, then go out on the pier as the light turns gold. Check ahead for the pier’s hours.

   Go when Early evening, when the heat has gone, the beach is quieter and the light turns golden.

   Local tip Walk the sand first, then go out on the pier. The sun sets behind the town, not over the sea, so look back for the pink light on the sky and the shore.

6. Dinner

   A Lowcountry boil

   A Lowcountry boil is shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes cooked together in one pot and served with plenty of napkins. It is a relaxed, shared meal for the end of a beach day.

   Local tip Ask for it by the pound for two, and eat it slowly with a cold drink while the sky changes color.

   Places to try3 near Folly Beach Pier‹›

   • Seafood, Lowcountry boil

     Folly Beach Crab Shack

     A seafood restaurant on Folly Beach serving crab and shrimp boils.

     0.1 mi from Folly Beach Pier
   • Seafood, American

     Blu Restaurant & Bar

     A beachfront restaurant at the edge of Folly Beach serving seafood and cocktails.

     under 0.1 mi from Folly Beach Pier
   • Tacos, Mexican

     Taco Boy

     A taco restaurant on Center Street in Folly Beach, a short walk from the pier.

     under 0.1 mi from Folly Beach Pier

   Hours change, so check before you go.

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. Drive from Folly Beach PierAbout 40 min by car17.5 mi

   Where Day 3 ended.
2. 1
   MorningWorth the time, check ahead

   Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

   A historic plantation on the Ashley River, known for its gardens of azaleas, camellias and old oaks. It began as a rice plantation worked by enslaved people, and their cabins still stand. Check ahead for the tour that tells their stories.

   Go when Morning, soon after it opens, when the gardens are quiet and the light is soft.

   Local tip The gardens are lovely, and so is the history: the plantation was worked by enslaved people, and the cabins and tour tell that part honestly. Check ahead for the tours and what is in bloom.

   

   About 15 min by car or transit3.5 mi
3. 2
   MorningWorth the time, check ahead

   Middleton Place

   A plantation on the Ashley River with terraced lawns, butterfly ponds and gardens that are among the oldest landscaped gardens in the country. Enslaved people did the work here, and the site tells that history.

   Go when Morning, when the terraced lawns and ponds are quiet.

   Local tip The gardens are among the oldest landscaped gardens in the country. The plantation was worked by enslaved people, and the site tells their story too, so check ahead for the tours.