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Major city · United States

Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston

Give Charleston 2–3 nights and stay on the peninsula: walk the historic district, ferry to Fort Sumter, one plantation day. Skip a car unless you add the beaches.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
avoid Jun–Aug (heat and humidity), peak hurricane season Sep–Oct
Airport
CHS
Nights
2–3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Charleston is a low-rise port city on a peninsula between the Ashley and Cooper rivers, and the historic district is small enough to cover on foot. Two nights gets the core; three adds a plantation or a beach day. Summer heat and humidity are the main planning constraint, so spring and autumn are the better windows. A car helps for plantations and islands but is a liability downtown, where parking is tight and paid.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Charleston, South Carolina, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeUS$3–6
  • BeerBeer at a bar / can from a shopUS$6–9US$2–4
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km ride-hailing tripUS$12–20
  • Metro or bus rideCARTA bus ride / DASH shuttleUS$2free
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum or historic-house entryUS$10–32
  • Budget bedHostel or budget bed, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$220
  • High-end bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$420

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$110 · Mid US$200 · High US$380

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Historic district and antebellum architectureFort Sumter, where the Civil War beganThe Battery and Waterfront ParkLowcountry food: shrimp and grits, she-crab soupAshley River plantations
Airports
CHS Charleston International (About 12 mi (19 km) northwest of downtown; taxi about US$25, shared shuttle about US$14 per person, CARTA bus 11 about 1 h for US$2, express XP4 about 20 min for US$3.50)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Charleston, South Carolina: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

16°C

4°C

9 rd

Feb

18°C

5°C

8 rd

Mar

21°C

9°C

8 rd

Apr

25°C

13°C

7 rd

May

29°C

17°C

8 rd

Jun

31°C

21°C

11 rd

Jul

33°C

23°C

12 rd

Aug

32°C

23°C

12 rd

Sep

30°C

20°C

10 rd

Oct

26°C

14°C

7 rd

Nov

21°C

8°C

6 rd

Dec

17°C

5°C

8 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The peninsula is a walking city: the historic district runs roughly from the Market south to The Battery, and most sights sit within a 30-minute walk. CARTA runs the free DASH shuttle loops (routes 210, 211, 213) around downtown; regular CARTA buses cost about US$2 a ride. Taxis and ride-hailing work downtown but taxis are thin outside it and an airport run is best booked ahead. A rental car is useful only for plantations, the beaches and outlying islands.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Fort Sumter

go

Door to door: About 3–4 h

Ferry from Liberty Square downtown or Patriot's Point in Mount Pleasant, about 30 min each way

National monument; ferry ticket required, book a departure time ahead.

Middleton Place

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way

Car via Ashley River Rd, about 30–40 min from downtown

Plantation and gardens; adults about US$32 at the gate, less online.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way

Car via Ashley River Rd, about 30 min from downtown

Gardens and house tours; open daily, hours vary by season.

Folly Beach

go

Door to door: About 30–45 min

Car or ride-hailing, about 20–30 min from downtown

Closest surf beach; parking fills early on summer weekends.

Sullivan's Island and Isle of Palms

go

Door to door: About 30–45 min

Car over the Ravenel Bridge, about 20–30 min

Beach and Fort Moultrie; combine both in one afternoon.

Savannah, Georgia

overnight

Door to door: About 2–2.5 h

Car on I-95, about 2 h; Amtrak Palmetto/Silver also stops in both cities

Too far for a relaxed return day; sleep one night.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

French Quarter / Market area

Walk to Waterfront Park, the Market and most sights; the priciest and most convenient.

South of Broad

Quiet residential streets, mansions and The Battery; inns and B&Bs, few budget beds.

Upper King Street

Restaurants, bars and newer hotels; 15–20 min walk to the historic core.

Mount Pleasant

Across the Ravenel Bridge; cheaper rooms, Patriot's Point ferry to Fort Sumter, but you need a car.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
US$90–150 excl. bed
Mid
US$150–280 excl. bed
High
US$280+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$220US$440
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$200US$800
CHS airport taxi to downtown, one way1 × US$25US$25
Fort Sumter ferry ticket2 × US$40US$80
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$138
Trip total≈ US$378 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,513

2026 estimate in US dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeUS$3–6
Shrimp and grits or a Lowcountry plateUS$18–32
Beer at a bar / can from a shopUS$6–9 / US$2–4
5 km ride-hailing tripUS$12–20
CARTA bus ride / DASH shuttleUS$2 / free
Museum or historic-house entryUS$10–32

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Charleston is generally safe for visitors in the historic district and on the islands; the usual cautions apply after dark around Upper King and outlying areas, and the bigger risks are summer heat, rip currents at the beaches and hurricane-season storms.
  • Summer heat index often reaches about 38°C by day with nights near 25°C; plan indoor stops midday and carry water.
  • Hurricane season runs Jun–Nov, peaking Sep–Oct; check forecasts and know your hotel's evacuation policy.
  • Parking downtown is metered on the street and paid in garages (Visitor Center garage about US$2/h); read signs for time limits.
  • Carriage and tour-sales touts cluster around the Market; agree the price and duration before you board.
  • Some historic houses and museums keep limited hours or close on certain weekdays: check the official site before you go.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies in Charleston; most countries keep embassies in Washington, D.C., with consulates in Atlanta or Miami. Check your country's list before you travel.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • CHS airport → downtown, taxi: about US$25
  • CHS airport → downtown, shared shuttle: about US$14 per person
  • CARTA bus 11 / express XP4 to downtown: US$2 / US$3.50

Say or show

  • Where is the ferry to Fort Sumter? — Where is the ferry to Fort Sumter?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?
  • The check, please — The check, please

Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, US$1–2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, US$3–5 a night for housekeeping.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Charleston, South Carolina. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jun–Aug (heat and humidity), peak hurricane season Sep–Oct · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for CHS: taxi, shuttle and CARTA bus 11/XP4 options with last-run checks and a ride-hailing fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: the Market and French Quarter, South of Broad and The Battery, Waterfront Park and Liberty Square, Upper King.
  3. Place pages with verified hours and ticket rules (Fort Sumter ferry, Middleton Place, Magnolia, Charleston Museum, Old Slave Mart) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Heat and storm fixtures so summer and hurricane-season days can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources