Charleston is a very charming city with a very rich history and I really enjoyed spending 5 days wandering downtown. While the Charleston area as a whole has some amazing photo locations (as detailed in this really thorough post from Jasmine Alley), you may be visiting and only staying in the downtown area like we were. If that’s the case, I’ve compiled my favorite photo locations for your next insta-worthy snap below. Happy exploring!
1. Hotel Bennett
While we didn’t go inside the lobby or the restaurant (which are super cute btw), the outside of this hotel is picture perfect in and of itself!
2. The Dewberry Charleston Citrus Club Rooftop
The furniture is super cute and overall, it looks like a little oasis tucked above the city with almost 360* views of the city. The food is also delicious so that’s a bonus!
Citrus Club at the Dewberry Charleston Citrus Club at the Dewberry Charleston
3. Corner of Meeting and Water
I was so obsessed with this house for a couple reasons: quintessential Charleston and you can capture a lot of angles!
Meeting Street, Charleston Meeting Street, Charleston
4. Rainbow Row
One of the most photographed places in Charleston, it’s comprised of 13 colorful houses. They weren’t always colorful like this and at one point after the Civil War, they were super run down. In 1931, Dorothy Porcher Legge and her husband purchased one of the homes and painted it pastel pink. Others slowly followed and now there is are city ordinances in place to keep the pastel colors.
5. Wragg Mall Park
Looking for some Spanish moss but don’t want to trek all the way up to the Magnolia Plantation & Gardens? This park is a nice compromise. Another one we didn’t make it to closer to downtown Charleston is Hampton Park.
6. Intersection of Meeting & Broad
Take your pick of stately buildings on this corner! You have St. Michael’s Church, Charleston City Hall (let’s take a moment for those stairs shall we?), Historic Courthouse Probate and the Postal Museum. While they’re not super “traditional” Charleston buildings I think we can all appreciate the history and stonework paired with the palm trees (especially if you love a neutral background like me!)
7. Dock Street Theatre
Built in the Federal style architecture with the wrought iron balcony added in 1740, the Dock Street Theatre brings a touch of New Orleans that’s super picturesque.
8. French Huguenot Church
This lovely pale pink church makes the perfect backdrop for an insta-worthy snap! Like many buildings in Charleston, it has had to be rebuilt many times to what it is today.
9. 142 Church Street
I just loved the color of the building and I’m pretty sure these trees are crepe myrtle which blooms in the summer.
10. Pink House Gallery
What do you get when you pair a cute pink and blue building with one of the few cobblestone streets in Charleston? Photo perfection.
Pink House Gallery, Charleston Cobblestone Street, Charleston
11. Thomas Rose’s House
I could not get over the colors of the gate and this house and if you take a stroll along Church Street you’re bound to find other photogenic homes!
12. The Pineapple Fountain
A Charleston staple, I think this is on most Charleston photo guide lists! Go on the earlier side because it can get pretty crowded and tough to take photos. Also the best angle (IMO) is standing on the north side shooting south because you get the palm trees in the background (like Jasmine’s pic) – there were too many people around the fountain when we went so we were limited on which angle didn’t have people in it.
13. John Rutledge House Inn
Another building with New Orlean’s vibes, I was so obsessed with the flowers, the stairs and the checkered floor outside. Hot tip, shoot from East to West to get the steeple from Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist and make sure you aren’t taking photos there at 10 AM on a Sunday or you’ll have to wait for all the churchgoers to walk by…
14. United States Custom House
I loved the grey and white stone outside this stately building. I suggest photos early in the morning or in the late afternoon/before sunset as it was a little bright when we were there.
Have you been to Charleston? Are there any locations I’m missing? Feel free to drop them in the comments below! And click here for a Google Map of each of these spots.
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