Charleston
United States
Overview
America's most charming city enchants with pastel antebellum mansions, Lowcountry cuisine, cobblestone streets, and a rich history along the South Carolina coast.
Cost of Travel
Daily budget guide for Charleston — what you can expect to spend per person including accommodation, meals, transport, and activities.
per person per day
per person per day
per person per day
Approximate costs in USD based on today's exchange rates.
Explore Charleston
Pineapple Fountain
Multi-layered, pineapple-shaped fountain facing the waterfront, popular for photos.
The Battery & Waterfront Park
Well-known park with Charleston Harbor views, plus a large lawn, walkways & fountains.
Fort Sumter National Monument
Accessed by boat, this fort with ruins, gun emplacements & a museum saw the Civil War’s first shots.
White Point Garden
This public garden beside the water offers paved paths, military statues, canons & picnic areas.
Middleton Place
Sprawling Ashley River rice plantation dating to the 1730s, with gardens and refined lodging.
Where to Stay
Belmond Charleston Place
Charleston's grandest hotel in the heart of the historic district, with a stunning open-air pool, spa, and the acclaimed Charleston Grill.
The Spectator Hotel
A boutique hotel on Meeting Street with a speakeasy bar, personal butler service, and refined 1920s-inspired design.
Where to Eat
FIG
Lowcountry
A celebrated farm-to-table restaurant by Mike Lata serving refined Lowcountry cuisine in an intimate setting that helped launch Charleston's dining revolution.
Rodney Scott's BBQ
Southern BBQ
Whole-hog BBQ legend Rodney Scott serves smoky, vinegar-sauced pulled pork that earned him a James Beard Award and national fame.
Travel Tips
- Walk south of Broad Street for the most beautiful residential architecture
- Lowcountry cuisine essentials: shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, Frogmore stew
- The City Market has local sweetgrass baskets — a Gullah tradition
- Book restaurant reservations weeks in advance — Charleston dining is competitive
- Fort Sumter boat tour offers Civil War history and harbor views
- Visit in spring for azalea and wisteria blooms throughout the historic district
Getting There & Around
Charleston's historic district is compact and walkable — everything is within 20 minutes on foot. CARTA buses serve the wider area. The free DASH trolley loops the historic district. Uber/Lyft are available. A car is needed for plantation visits and Folly Beach (20 min drive). Parking downtown is limited.
Book & Reserve
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