Charleston City Market
4.5(28K)google
3.6(477)yelp
DowntownHistoryLocal Life
Overview
City Market is a historic market complex in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Established in the 1790s, the market stretches for four city blocks from the architecturally significant Market Hall, which faces Meeting Street, through a continuous series of one-story market sheds, the last of which terminates at East Bay Street. The market should not be confused with the Old Slave Mart (now a museum), where enslaved people were sold, as enslaved people were never sold in the City Market (this is a common misconception).
Practical Info
Mon9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tue9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri9:30 AM – 5:00 PM, 6:30 – 10:30 PM
Sat9:30 AM – 5:00 PM, 6:30 – 10:30 PM
Sun9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration1-2 hours
Best TimeAccessible year-round, but visiting between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM is prime to watch Gullah artisans hand-weave historic sweetgrass baskets under the open pavilions. Alternatively, Friday or Saturday evenings from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM feature the vibrant, neon-lit Night Market packed with local independent crafters and live street buskers.
Getting ThereSuperbly anchoring the geometric heart of the Historic District at 188 Meeting Street. Public transportation is effortless: ride the completely free municipal CARTA DASH shuttle trolley (Route 211) directly to the Meeting & Market stop. For drivers, park early inside the nearby multi-level Cumberland Street Parking Garage deck.
Travel Tips
- Street parking along Anson St and Church St is non-existent and aggressively ticketed; route directly to the multi-level garages at 181 Church St or 66 Market St. Avoid the area between 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM daily, as commercial vendor unloading paralyzes the surrounding lanes.
- The weekend Night Market (Friday/Saturday) reopens at 6:30 PM, introducing immediate maximum crowd density. Pets are strictly banned inside the market tunnels (except service animals); extremely tight aisles render strollers and large backpacks highly impractical.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- Sweetgrass baskets are legally recognized cultural heritages; close-up photography or filming of these crafts without the artisans' explicit permission is strictly prohibited. Many vendors enforce a strict no-photo policy unless a purchase is made; violations cause severe confrontation.
Reviews
Positive
- The centuries-old historic market buildings are highly unique, and the traditional hand-woven sweetgrass baskets are fascinating, full of cultural interest.
- The market interior now features a modern fully-enclosed A/C system with clear signs, making the shopping experience extremely comfortable in the hot summer.
- The location is superb in the heart of downtown Charleston, making it extremely convenient to reach by walking, driving, or taking a horse carriage.
- It is completely free to the public, serving as the best non-ticketed starting point to experience the authentic Lowcountry folk atmosphere from up close.
Heads up
- The tourist density is extremely high and corridors are very narrow; it gets completely packed on weekends, making it inaccessible for strollers or wheelchairs.
- The commercialization is too heavy; besides a few sweetgrass baskets, many stalls sell identical, poorly-made, cheap tourist souvenirs.
- Surrounding parking spaces are extremely limited and extortionately expensive; queuing for core parking lots wastes too much time.
- Snacks and dining inside and around the market show obvious price-gouging; prices are high but food tastes extremely mediocre.