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Charleston

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025

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Charleston South Carolina Skyline

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Overview

Full of old-world charm, Charleston is a window into the nation's tumultuous past but also nourishes your mind, heart and stomach in roughly equal measure.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Historic Aiken-Rhett House in Charleston, South Carolina.

    Aiken-Rhett House

    Charleston

    The only surviving urban town-house complex, this 1820 abode gives a fascinating glimpse into antebellum life on a 45-minute self-guided audio tour. The…

  • Two 15 inch 50,000-pound Rodman canons (on the sides), the largest guns used in the Civil War, are on display at the Fort Sumter site in Charleston, South Carolina.

    Guardians of Charleston Harbor

    Charleston

    The first shots of the Civil War rang out at Fort Sumter, on a pentagon-shaped island in the harbor. A Confederate stronghold, this fort was shelled to…

  • Charleston, SC - February 2 2020: The Plantation home at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens; Shutterstock ID 1661611987; your: Bridget Brown; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI Image Update

    Magnolia Plantation

    Charleston

    This 500-acre plantation, which has been owned by the Drayton family since 1676, is a veritable theme park. Enjoy a tram tour, a petting zoo and a guided…

  • Old Slave Mart Museum

    Old Slave Mart Museum

    Charleston

    Formerly called Ryan's Mart, this building once housed an open-air market that auctioned African American men, women and children in the mid-1800s, the…

  • Heyward-Washington House

    Heyward-Washington House

    Charleston

    As the name hints, this 1772 Georgian-style town house is kind of a big deal because George Washington rented it for a week, and visitors can stand in…

  • Drayton Hall in South Carolina.

    Drayton Hall

    Charleston

    This 1738 Palladian brick mansion is the country's oldest preserved plantation house open to the public. Yep, it's older than the nation. Drayton Hall was…

  • Sheep grazing at Middleton Place.

    Middleton Place

    Charleston

    Designed in 1741, this plantation's vast gardens are the oldest in the US. Countless slaves spent years terracing the land and digging the precise…

  • rainbow row in Charleston

    Rainbow Row

    Charleston

    With its 13 candy-colored houses, this stretch of Georgian row houses on lower E Bay St is one of the most photographed areas in Charleston. The…

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

The city's historic district is always a delight, but new attractions are keeping the Holy City relevant. These are the top things to do in Charleston.

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Best Time to Visit

You’ve made the right choice in deciding to visit one of America’s most historic and preserved-meets-evolving cities – here’s how to nail the timing.

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Transportation

You can get around this South Carolina city relatively well on foot, but if you're venturing farther out, look at these other options.

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Free Things to Do

Charleston is a southern delight with lots to offer – and plenty of it is free! Here are the 14 best free things to do there on your next trip.

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Day Trips

Within two hours of Charleston, SC, you can be on a seaside boardwalk, at a town steeped in Gullah traditions or in the galleries of a top-notch museum.

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