Top city spots in Charleston, USA

Charleston is a beautiful waterside city imbued with Southern charm, captivating architecture, and rich history. Tourists head here for the scenery and stay for the welcoming hospitality and atmosphere.

Many of Charleston’s top attractions can be found outside by its coastal seawalls and amongst lush historic parks. Walking tours are highly recommended, and bike taxis and horse-drawn carriages are a fun way to explore this South Carolina city. A great place to start is Waterfront Park, an eight-acre green space filled with riverfront walkways, benches, trees, and shaded areas. Located along the banks of the Cooper River, the park has a pier, an ornate gazebo, picnic tables, and porch swings for visitors to enjoy. Lovely water features, including the amusing Pineapple Fountain, light up at night making the area particularly atmospheric after dusk. Close by you can access The Battery and White Point Gardens, a popular landmark that offers amazing views of Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor. These pretty public gardens, filled with oak trees and plants, also display statues and large cannons that date back to the Civil War. A highlight for most visitors to Charleston is a boat ride to visit Fort Sumter, the famous site where America’s state wars began in 1861. Excursions depart from Liberty Square and Patriots Point and provide fantastic views of the water. Once at the fort take a National Park Rangers tour and hear the full story of the national monument, and the important part it played in US history. Charleston is also home to some of the finest and well preserved historic buildings in America. If architecture is your passion don’t miss seeing Drayton Hall, the oldest antebellum mansion in the country. Magnolia Plantation is also a must-see venue due to its extensive and memorable Romantic-style gardens. Finally, The Old City Market is a focal point that combines the best of everything in Charleston. Constructed in circa 1790 the location is delightful, bustling, and offers tourists great shopping, dining, and an entertaining ambiance.