Charleston: What to Know Before You Go

Short answer: Charleston's Historic Downtown Peninsula is best explored on foot from north to south (Market Street down to The Battery takes just 20 minutes), do not walk out of bars with an alcoholic drink (unlike Savannah, open containers on streets are strictly illegal in Charleston), and set a calendar reminder 30 days before your trip to book dinner reservations on Resy and OpenTable.

1. How Greater Charleston Is Laid Out: The Peninsula & 4 Surrounding Zones

Charleston's sights are organised around a central water harbour:

• 1. The Downtown Historic Peninsula (South of Line Street to The Battery): holds Rainbow Row, The Battery, Waterfront Park, the French Quarter, 1804 City Market, King Street and the International African American Museum.
• 2. Mount Pleasant & The Eastern Islands (Across the Ravenel Bridge): holds Patriots Point (USS Yorktown), Shem Creek, Boone Hall, and the beaches of Sullivan's Island and Isle of Palms.
• 3. West Ashley & The Ashley River Road (25 Mins West): historic Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation and Drayton Hall.
• 4. James Island, Johns Island & Folly Beach (20 to 30 Mins South): home to the Angel Oak Tree and Folly Beach.

2. Three Essential Local Rules Before You Arrive

1. No Open Alcohol Containers on Streets: visitors arriving from Savannah or New Orleans often make this mistake. In Charleston, walking on public pavements with an open beer, wine or cocktail carries a steep police fine.
2. What Is a 'Charleston Single House'? Notice how narrow historic houses sit perpendicular to the street: residents originally entered through a decorative iron gate onto a long two-storey side porch (called a piazza, facing south or west to catch the harbour breeze) rather than directly into the living room.
3. Book Dinner & IAAM Timed Tickets 30 Days Ahead: see our Charleston dining guide and top things to do in Charleston.