Charleston walking tour & city guide
Pastel houses, cobblestones and Lowcountry cooking.
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Charleston, South Carolina, is a graceful port city known for its pastel houses, cobblestone streets, church steeples and one of the best food scenes in the South. Founded in 1670, it is one of the oldest and best-preserved cities in the United States.
The historic peninsula
Rainbow Row is a row of brightly painted Georgian houses along East Bay Street. The Battery, a seawall promenade, leads past grand mansions to White Point Garden. Charleston is called the 'Holy City' for its many church steeples.
The Charleston City Market, one of the oldest in the country, sells crafts including the famous sweetgrass baskets made by the Gullah community.
History and plantations
Boats leave the harbor for Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. Historic plantations nearby, such as Magnolia and Middleton Place, have gardens and exhibits about the enslaved people who lived there.
Visiting tips
King Street is the main shopping street. Spring is the best season, with azaleas in bloom. The beaches of Folly Beach and Sullivan's Island are close by.
Top sights in Charleston
- 1
Rainbow Row
Pastel Georgian houses.
- 2
The Battery
A seawall promenade with mansions.
- 3
Charleston City Market
A historic market of crafts.
- 4
Fort Sumter
Where the Civil War began.
- 5
King Street
The main shopping street.
- 6
Waterfront Park
The Pineapple Fountain by the harbor.
Food markets & where to eat in Charleston
King Street
Restaurants and cafés.
Charleston City Market
Snacks and local sweets.
Shem Creek
Waterfront seafood restaurants.
Upper King
A lively dining district.
Food to try in Charleston
Shrimp and grits
A Lowcountry classic.
She-crab soup
A creamy crab soup.
Frogmore stew
A seafood boil with corn and sausage.
Benne wafers
Sesame cookies.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Charleston
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in CharlestonCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Charleston.
- eSIM for United StatesStay online from the moment you land.
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