Visitor Information, Charleston Vistors Guide

Getting to Charleston

Unlike many of America's historic Colonial towns (ever been to Boston?) getting to and around Charleston is fairly straightforward.

Interstate 26 is the main highway serving Charleston. It terminates at Meeting Street, which is the main drive into town that leads you to the Historic Market area.

Charleston by Car, from:

• Raleigh/Durham NC: I-95 South to I-26 East.
  Approximately 4.25 hours

• Charlotte NC: I-77 South to I-26 East.
  Approximately 3.25 hours

• Knoxville TN: I-40 East to Asheville NC, then I 26 East.
  Approximately 6 hours

• Atlanta GA: I-20 East to Columbia, then I-26 East.
  Approximately 5 hours

• Savannah GA: I-95 North to US-17 (Exit 33) Toward Charleston/Beaufort.
  Approximately 2.25 hours

• Jacksonville FL: I-95 North to US-17 (Exit 33) Toward Charleston/Beaufort. Approximately 4 hours

Charleston by Air:

Charleston International Airport is small, but extremely easy to access and navigate. Many major carriers operate here, including:

• American,
• AirTran,
• Continental,
• Delta,
• Northwest,
• United, and
• USAir

Car Rental/Shuttle/Taxi:

Most major car rentals are on site. Or you can take a taxi or shuttle into town. For a shuttle, count on around $9.00 per person. For a taxi, two people can expect to pay around $30.00, plus tip. The airport has also published a handy fare chart for taxis and shuttles, which you can view here.  

Parking in Charleston

If your downtown Charleston hotel includes parking, use it! Otherwise, there are several reasonably priced parking lots and garages. However, many of them have been strategically tucked away on back streets, or are hiding behind attractive facades to preserve local beauty. Fortunately, we have posted a parking garage map of the area for your convenience, listing all of the convenient parking lots and garages.

You'll find that much of Charleston, and certainly the Historic Market, can be experienced on foot.  However, when you have “experienced” enough, you can quickly hail one of our many pedicabs. 

Dining

Along the streets surrounding the Historic Market you will find even more adventures in retail, but the emphasis here is on the food! From the noted chains to one-of-a-kind bistros, steaks to seafood, down-home cookin' to French haute cuisine, there's an experience for every palate. Just try save some room, because the Historic Market area is also home to some of the city's finest desserts and confections!    

Here is a peek at some of your dining options in the area, presented in no particular order. Ask your hotel concierge or a local on the street for a recommendation.

Peninsula Grill
Fine Dining
112 N Market St
(843) 723-0700
www.peninsulagrill.com

Mercato
Italian
102 N. Market St
(843) 722-6393
www.mercatocharleston.com

Hank's Seafood Restaurant
10 Hayne St.
843.723.FISH (3474)
www.hanksseafood.com

Grill 225
Fine dining, inside Market Pavilion Hotel
225 E Bay St
(843) 266-4222

High Cotton Maverick Bar-Grill  
199 E Bay St
(843) 724-3815

Tristan Restaurant 
Fine Dining
55 S Market St
(843) 534-215

Charleston Crab House
Seafood
41 S Market St
(843) 853-2900

AW Shucks Seafood Restaurant
Seafood
70 State St
(843) 723-1151

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Seafood
99 South Market St
(843) 723-5665

Fleet Landing
Waterfront Bistro
186 Concord St
(843) 722-8100

Kaminsky's Most Excellent Cafe 
Famous for coffee and dessert
78 N Market St
(843) 853-8270

Market Street Sweets
Candy and confections (take out and retail)
100 N Market St
(843) 722-1397

Mistral Restaurant
French
99 S Market St, (843) 722-5708

Tommy Condon Restaurant  
Irish Pub and Seafood
158 Church St, (843) 577-3818

Accommodations

Hotel accommodations in the downtown/Historic Market/French Quarter area definitely skew toward the pricey, but there are bargains to be had, depending on occupancy and time of year.

At one end of the rate spectrum you may find Holiday Inn, Best Western and Days Inn. At the middle, there may be Hampton Inn, Courtyard and others. At the far end of the scale you will find super-exclusive accommodations like the Planter's Inn and the Market Pavilion Hotel.

There are also many unique Inns and Bed& Breakfast establishments in Charleston, such as Wentworth Mansion and Meeting Street Inn. These are true Charleston experiences, but you can expect to pay for elegance and lush period charm.

Some consider their hotel to be simply the place they crash at the end of a busy day.  Others see it as an integral part of their Charleston experience. Whatever your attitude, you are sure to find Charleston lodgings to suit your taste and budget.

Here is a sampling of accommodations in the area, presented in alphabetical order.

Andrew Pinckney Inn
40 Pinckney St
(843) 937-8800

Ansonborough Inn
21 Hasell St
(843) 723-1655

Best Western King Charles Inn
237 Meeting St
(843) 723-7451

Charleston Place Hotel  
205 Meeting St
(843) 722-4900

Church Street Inn  
177 Church St
(843) 722-3420

Days Inn Hotels
155 Meeting St., (843) 722-8411
     
Doubletree Guest Suites
181 Church St
(843) 577-2644

Embassy Suites Hotel
337 Meeting St
(843) 723-6900

French Quarter Inn
166 Church St
(843) 722-1900

Harbourview Inn
2 Vendue Range
(843) 853-8439

Holiday Inn Charleston
125 Calhoun St
(877) 863-4780

Lodge Alley Inn
195 E Bay St
(843) 722-1611
 
Market Pavilion Hotel 
225 E Bay St
(843) 723-0500

Market Street Inn
48 N Market St
(843) 723-2177

Planters Inn
112 North Market St
(843) 722-2345
 
Vendue Inn
19 Vendue Range
(843) 577-7970
 
Victoria House Inn
208 King St
(843) 720-2944

Charleston Attractions

A unique aspect of any Charleston visit or vacation is the way that so many areas of interest converge here. Whether your taste is Fine Art or Folk Art, Colonial, Civil War, Old South, Maritime, African-American, Natural History or Military History, there is an attraction to suit your fancy in Charleston.

Charleston Visitors Center

The Charleston Visitors Center is always a good place to start. Here you can view a video presentation, “Forever Charleston,” that will serve as your introduction to the city. Also, you will find tons of information on activities of all kinds.

Hours: (Mar.-Oct.) 8:30-5:30; (Nov.-Feb.) 8:30-5:00
Address: 375 Meeting St.
Phone: (843) 853-8000 or toll-free (800) 868-8118

Your hotel concierge is another great resource for local information, recommendations and assistance with tickets and reservations.

Charleston Walking Tours

Take a guided walking tour of Charleston points of interest, including local architecture, gardens, mansions, cemeteries, cobblestone streets and back alleys. Day and evening tours, and special nighttime “ghost” tours are available. Here's a sampling:

Charleston Ghost & Dungeon Tour
(843) 722-8687

Charleston Strolls
(843) 766-2080

Ghost Walk
(843) 720-8687

Lowcountry Ghost Walk
(800) 729-3420

Magnolia Cemetery Trust
(843) 722-8638

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
(843) 571-1266

Nathaniel Russell House
(843) 724-8481

Nightime Walking Tour
(800) 550-8939

Original Charleston Walks
(843) 577-3800

Charleston Carriage Tours

Take a leisurely carriage ride down Charleston's main drags and back streets. Learn about Charleston's history and culture as you soak in the historic architecture and tranquil gardens. Here's a sampling:

Carolina Polo & Carriage Co
(843) 577-6767

Classic Carriage Tours
(843) 853-3747

Olde Towne Carriage Co
(843) 722-1315

Old South Carriage Tours
(843) 723-9712

Palmetto Carriage Works
(843) 723-8145

Charleston Museums

Celebrate Charleston's contributions to art, history and culture, from the 17th century to the modern day.

Charleston Museum
(843) 722-2996

Children's Museum of the Low Country
(843) 853-8962

Confederate Museum
(843) 723-1541

Gibbes Museum of Art
(843) 722-2706

Hunley Civil War Submarine
(843) 743-4865

Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
(843) 727-2165

Old Slave Mart Museum
(843) 958-6467

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
(866) 831-1720

Powder Magazine
(843) 722-9350

South Carolina Aquarium
(843) 720-1990