Getting Oriented

Getting Oriented

The heart of the city is on a peninsula, sometimes just called "downtown" by the nearly 60,000 residents who populate the area. Walking Charleston's peninsula is the best way to get to know the city.

North of Broad. The main part of the historic district, where you'll find the lion's share of the historic district's homes, B&Bs, and restaurants, is the most densely packed area of the city and will be of the greatest interest to tourists. King Street, Charleston's main shopping street, is here as well.

The Battery & South of Broad. The southern part of the historic district is heavily residential, but it still has a few important sights and even some B&Bs, though many fewer restaurants and shops.

Mount Pleasant & Vicinity. East of Charleston, across the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, Mount Pleasant, a pleasant city just across the river from Charleston, will be of some interest to tourists. Further afield, the outlying islands have the region's best beaches and resorts. There are a few good places to stay in Mount Pleasant itself.

West of the Ashley River. Beyond downtown, the area of Charleston west of the Ashley River will be of some interest to tourists, though the sights here are spread out over a much greater area than in the historic downtown.