cable-stayed bridge view during golden hour

Charleston

Charleston is a port city on South Carolina's Atlantic coast, known for pastel row houses, Civil War history at Fort Sumter and low-country cooking.

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Charleston is a port city on the Atlantic coast of South Carolina, in the southeastern United States. English settlers founded it in 1670 as Charles Town, and it moved to its current site on the peninsula between the Ashley and Cooper rivers in 1680. Brick houses, church steeples and tree-lined streets fill the historic center. Rainbow Row, a block of pastel houses on East Bay Street, is an easy first stop for walkers.

Low-country cooking shapes the menus, with shrimp and grits and she-crab soup among the dishes to try. The Civil War began in April 1861 with the shelling of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, and the fort is reached by boat. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons, while June through November is hurricane season and summer is hot and humid. Plan two or three days to walk the historic district and take a harbor trip.

Charleston in five

Stay on the peninsula for a first visitThe Historic District is walkable, with Rainbow Row, the Battery and King Street. Beaches such as Folly are 25–30 minutes away by car.
Book Fort Sumter by ferryFort Sumter National Monument is reached only by boat, from Liberty Square or Patriots Point. Reserve ahead for spring and fall.
Avoid August for heat and humidityHighs reach 90°F (32°C) with humid air and afternoon storms. Hurricane season runs June to November, so check forecasts and buy cancelable bookings.
Go in spring or fallMarch to May and October to November are warm and comfortable, with azaleas in spring. Spoleto Festival USA takes place in late May to June, so book early then.
Eat she-crab soup and shrimp and gritsLow-country classics fill the menus. Book dinner a week or more ahead for popular places in spring and fall.

Things to do in Charleston

See all attractions in Charleston

Museum · CharlestonOld Slave Mart MuseumAllow about an hour to read the text-heavy exhibits.

Church · CharlestonSt. Philip's ChurchVisit both the churchyard and the cemetery across Church Street.

a tall building with a green door and balcony

Museum · CharlestonOld Exchange and Provost DungeonArrive early on a weekday if you want to join a dungeon tour; tours run every 30 minutes, and tickets are sold in person.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to CharlestonPut the places you like in Charleston on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Charleston International (CHS), about 20 minutes from downtown
Getting around: Walk the peninsula; car or rideshare for beaches and plantations
Best base: Historic Downtown or Upper King
Time needed: 2–3 days; add a beach day
Hurricane season: June to November; check forecasts and flexible bookings

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Cool, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Mild, quiet
MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Azaleas, mild
AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Spring, festivals
MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Warm, Spoleto
JuneRain16 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low24°Hot, humid
JulyRain18 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low25°Hot, storms
AugustRain20 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Hot, hurricane risk
SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Warm, hurricane risk
OctoberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh25°Low18°Mild, clear
NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Cool, clear
DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Mild, lights

Average daily high and low in Charleston, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Charleston

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 15°
Humidity: 89%
Wind: 39 km/h
Chance of rain: 7%

Charleston

06:23 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today24°17°7%Monday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 7%.
Tue26°18°4%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 4%.
Wed24°20°2%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 2%.
Thu25°20°11%Thursday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 11%.
Fri26°18°14%Friday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 14%.
Sat21°14°8%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 21°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 8%.
Sun23°15°7%Sunday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 7%.

Updated 05:55 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Fort Sumterabout 30 minutes by ferryWhere the Civil War began; ferry only.
Folly Beach and Sullivan's Islandabout 25–30 minutes by carBeaches with a relaxed feel.
Savannahabout 2 hours by carAnother Southern city; best as a stop.Read the guide

Before you go to Charleston

Rental car at Charleston airportFor beaches and plantationsCompare cars

Hotels on the peninsulaWalk to Rainbow Row and the marketCheck availability

eSIM for the USAData on landing, no SIM swapRead the guide

Travel insurance for the USAMedical cover for US visitsRead the guide

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Rules for Charleston, checked

Travelers from visa waiver countries need an approved ESTA before flying to the US. Apply only on the official CBP site, and check whether you need a visa instead.Source
Carry your passport and your ESTA approval or visa. US border officers check them on arrival, and you will be fingerprinted and photographed at immigration.
Declare fresh fruit, plants, meat and other food on your arrival form, since many of these are not allowed into the US. Check the list at cbp.gov/travel.Source
Sales tax is added at the register on most purchases, so the price on a shelf or menu is not always the amount you pay.

Plan around Charleston

Charlotte travel guide

The other Carolina city, 3.5 hours north-west

Read the guide Asheville travel guide

Blue Ridge mountains, about 4.5 hours

Read the guide Atlanta travel guide

Georgia's hub, about 5 hours west

Read the guide Eastern USA overview

How the east coast fits together

Read the guide ESTA explained

Who needs it and how to apply

Read the guide All of the USA

Parks, cities and road trips

Read the guide

Charleston FAQ

How many days do you need in Charleston?

Two to three days covers the Historic District, a ferry to Fort Sumter and a meal or two. Add a day for the beaches or a plantation.

Is Charleston worth visiting?

Yes, for its historic architecture, food and walkable center. It is one of the best-preserved US cities, and it suits couples and history lovers best.

Where should I stay in Charleston?

Historic Downtown for first visits and sights on foot, Upper King for restaurants, Mount Pleasant for parking and beaches, Folly Beach for a casual surf town.

When is the best time to visit Charleston?

March to May and October to November. Summer is hot and humid with hurricane risk, and winter is mild but quieter.

Do you need a car in Charleston?

Not for the Historic District, which is walkable. For beaches, plantations and Fort Sumter's Patriots Point departures, a car or rideshare helps.