Charleston City Market
Charleston City Market
4
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Established in the 1790s, this historic landmark is one of the oldest public markets in the U.S. There’s everything from handmade crafts, trinkets, and jewelry to the nation’s most prized souvenir—the woven sweetgrass basket. Certain weekend nights even have a special night market that runs until late. Enjoy live entertainment, embrace Charleston’s Southern charm, and soak in the lively atmosphere. It’s a fantastic way to support the local artisans and their work, too.
Visit the market as a stop along a Charleston city tour and remember to have cash handy for payments.
– Tripadvisor
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view










Top ways to experience Charleston City Market
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
515 within 5 kms
Attractions
236 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- Ken ZBel Air, Maryland41 contributionsNice place to stroll throughSome nice vendors but need to know your prices. Sweet grass baskets are beautiful but very pricey. Lots of jewelry and items you find in many open air markets. Not a lot of what I would call Local items from the area other than the baskets.Visited December 2022Written December 14, 2022
- Lainey GBrandon, Florida726 contributionsEnjoyable Shopping ExperienceWe enjoyed perusing all the many different types of goods available for purchase. I have as looking for Carolina Gold rice and was delighted to find some at the Charleston Historical Society booth and, bonus, it was tax free because they are a non-profit. We spent an enjoyable afternoon checking out the varied offerings.Visited December 2022Travelled as a coupleWritten December 29, 2022
- Mick HCanada406 contributionsInteresting and love the historyDefinitely a place to take in the sites and check out all the neat stuff but it is very expensive! The history behind it is what brings me to it everytime but it is definitely a huge tourist trap especially with the cruise ships coming through there. Oh and not dog friendly although we did take our dog through the outside part but its a big no in the inside part... I get that.Visited February 2023Written March 7, 2023
- maggie74044Richmond, Virginia18 contributionsHad a restful trip.We stayed on Sullivan's Island and spent day one driving around S I and Isle of Palms. We ate dinner at Sullivan's Fish Camp. I had roasted oysters and was not impressed. Day two we drove out 17 to find an Indian mound walked two miles and found my navigator had wrong directions. We stopped at Seewee Restaurant on Hwy 17 near Awendaw. Yummy She Crab Soup. Our amazing waitress told us about Avian Center and bird show. Day 3 we went to the bird show at avian center on 17 near Awendaw. Great learning experience. Owls, Hawks, Vulture. We ate dinner at Page's Okra Grill. We ate here 3 times during our stay. It was fabulous. Went into Charleston once. Had a horsedrawn wagon tour. It was near the market so we went there. We drove around the battery and left. Too many people.Visited March 2023Travelled with friendsWritten March 29, 2023
- Regina WHendersonville, North Carolina3 contributionsTypical open air marketIt is a typical open air market but you can literally buy everything that you need from this market. Would suggest to walk through the whole market and then go back to where you want to purchase. There are so many things to choose from! So May choices from food items to candles, pictures,jewelry, sweet grass basket,etc. It is all located there. They are open every day which is super convenient! I would definitely recommended going to the Charleston Market when visiting Charleston. We went early and there was no crowd, it does tend to get crowed, so go early!Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten April 2, 2023
- TiffanyjimMarion, Iowa1,122 contributionsWe really liked it!I enjoyed the history of the market, I thought that was pretty cool! Would I purchase everything the vendors have to offer? No, but it was fun to see. Yes, there were a lot of repeats throughout the booths, but there was plenty of everything to choose from. We were there around 11 am on Sunday morning, so it was quite busy. We only had the day to explore Charleston, so we chose the market and the waterfront. I would definitely return here if just to grab a snack and people watch!Visited March 2023Travelled with familyWritten April 3, 2023
- shellstravel66Olmsted Falls, Ohio24 contributionsFun way to spend a couple hoursSuch a great way to start my trip to Charleston! Enjoyed strolling through the market, found lots of hand made items, paintings,jewelry, odds and ends of all kinds. So glad we went there. Weekend is the best time to as there were more vendors there, however still nice during the week.Visited January 2023Written April 8, 2023
- viscountesslilyCalifornia279 contributionsCheck out if you are in CharlestonThis place is something you’d want to consider checking out just because it is a part of the city. I found it very crowded when I went but I pushed through to see what is in the market. Lots of goodies, food, trinkets, Knick knacks, souvenirs. Outside the market on either side are more of the same.Visited April 2023Travelled soloWritten April 12, 2023
- A&R35 contributionsVery coolWOW, this place is bigger than we thought, almost four blocks long and filled with many cool shops. We picked up a few "must haves" along the way and enjoyed watching the different crafters weaving baskets and other items. Fun time lots to see.Visited May 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten May 27, 2023
- Beachcomb_33Eaton, Ohio714 contributionsHuge MarketCity Market is huge! I was shocked to find this out. Tons and tons of vendors, nice products, and open air to enjoy. Building after building full of stuff. Be sure to check it out.Visited April 2023Travelled soloWritten June 5, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
8,198 reviews
Excellent
3,324
Very good
2,839
Average
1,665
Poor
272
Terrible
98
Kathy K
Orange Park, FL170 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Couples
It was nice but no great deals to be found there. Lots of arts and crafts. How many booths with baskets do we need?
Written November 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JMCSTL
Saint Louis, MO5,979 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Couples
A string of 3 pleasant and attractive single story market buildings to stroll through & engage with the vendors & pick up a few gift items for your return to normal life. The Market is on the route of one of the free DASH buses making it easy to access, and there are some food vendors inside with several more options along the streets flanking it. Visiting on an early-in-the-week day like my wife & I did would probably yield smaller crowds, as the central aisle of the Market space is narrow and may get difficult to navigate especially for visitors with mobility challenges.
Written November 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marsha c
4 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Friends
The market was a typical city street market, in this case filled with hundreds of indigenous woven baskets. There was also a lot of low to mid -range priced jewelry, souvenirs, pottery and various artwork. Depends on what you are looking for. I found the market very touristy and contained nothing of interest to me.
Written November 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laurel H
Freeland, MD36 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Friends
Market has everything. Fun place to visit. Vendors were great. Lots of unique stuff to buy. Highly recommended
Written November 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
outandabout704
Hudson Falls, NY97 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Couples
We really enjoyed spending time with the local artists and their goodies. Lots of choices and art to see here. Jewelry, baskets, clothes and other beautiful items. Clean restrooms and well lauded out.
Written November 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lou V
18 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Friends
If you’re looking for gifts and/or Nick-nacks this is the place. An covered yet open air market with gift ideas, art, and more. This a good place to fill in your sight-seeing schedule. Many restaurants adjacent and nearby. I would definitely make time to stop.
Written October 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Voyage319904
4 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Friends
Lived the hustle and bustle of the market. There were so many vendors. There were some quality stalls with true artist products (especially sweet grass basket weavers)with some mix of craft goods and your usual tourist items.
Written October 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laurie S
Denver, NC1,559 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
We love to support local shopping and love that the market is there. I wish there was more variety of vendors, a lot of straw basket vendors and t-shirts. The nice thing is that it is always changing so we make a point of walking through each time we are in Charleston.
Written October 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nav1go
Virginia1,107 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
Basically a craft market to see what the locals are selling - jewelry, leather and miscellaneous crafts. Wish the sawgrass baskets weren’t so expensive!
Written October 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Walter F
1 contribution
Sep. 2023 • Couples
Today we were accosted by two youths selling flowers, and then verbally abused with vulgar language. Very bizarre I would stay away from people selling sweet grass flowers
Written September 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Isina A
Miami Beach, FL167 contributions
Is it pet-friendly?
romadaro
Washington DC, DC1,565 contributions
To be honest, I didn't see anyone with a pet and I wouldn't recommend it as the aisles are narrow at some points and it's extremely crowded and you literally have to squeeze through the chokepoints.
Kathy S
Jacksonville, FL
Can you rent wheelchairs or scooters?

Klee7312
Rogersville, AL177 contributions
I didnt see a place where you could rent wheelchairs or scooters when I was there.
Do most vendors take cards or are most cash only?
Natalie P
Asheboro, NC46 contributions
Most take card some but some
Only take cash it’s good to bring both.
laurelgardens
Rincon, GA242 contributions
Is it wheelchair accessable?
diana m
Joplin, MO142 contributions
I think so... it wasn’t anything I was actually looking for. But when I went back to my photos it appears to be
I’m looking for contact info for the vendor who makes the wall art of classic song lyrics. Would really appreciate any info.
Jessica B
Ghent, WV36 contributions
The website said the market is closed. Is it closed right now? We're planning to visit in a few weeks and I was hoping it would be open.
PAULABeachBikeCruise
Ocean Isle Beach, NC428 contributions
Due to Covid 19, The Charleston City Market has limited hours, 9:30 am - 5 pm daily. Masks are mandatory.
We hope to return to our regular hours as soon as possible.
FrequentFlier221734
Milford, DE1 contribution
Traveling Nov.2019 is the city market open and if so what are the time and days
Snowybears
Locust Grove, VA452 contributions
They are typically open 7 days a week 9:30- 6:00 Sunday- Thursday and. 9:30-10:30 Friday and Saturday.
Also right there are several carriage ride companies, may I suggest taking one of those. So much fun! Lots of good places to eat there also.
On the corner of East Bay St and Market St is a good place to park.
what is the name of the store that sells dehydrated okra
travelistanr1
London1,176 contributions
We bought the okra, as well as cheerwine (cherry cola) and specialty chocolate there, that may help you find it. It is on the left side of the alley when entering from the city side
It is called Sweet Charleston
DianeSchaefer
Cranston1 contribution
Hi, I am looking for the name of the vendor who sells the okra chips in clear bags. Thank you, Diane
tabs
New York City, NY14 contributions
it was sweet gourmet! i’m eating them now!!!
Gili G
Pikesville20 contributions
How does Sweet Charleston's okra is dried and keeps the green color? When I dry my okra it turns brown.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingCHARLESTON CITY MARKET - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Charleston City Market
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Charleston City Market:
- Daytime Horse-Drawn Carriage Sightseeing Tour of Historic Charleston (From C$68.49)
- Charleston See-It-All Sightseeing Bus Tour (From C$44.15)
- Haunted Evening Horse and Carriage Tour of Charleston (From C$68.56)
- Evening Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour of Downtown Charleston (From C$61.63)
- Charleston City Sightseeing Bus Tour (From C$65.13)
- Hotels near Charleston City Market:
- (0.04 km) ON THE MARKET - CHARMING STUDIO IN THE HEART OF HISTORIC DOWNTOWN!
- (0.04 km) ON MARKET STREET - EXCEPTIONAL LOCATION IN THE HEART OF HISTORIC DOWNTOWN!
- (0.13 km) French Quarter Inn
- (0.11 km) Emeline
- (0.08 km) Planters Inn
- Restaurants near Charleston City Market:
- (0.03 km) The Ice Cream Shop
- (0.03 km) The Fudgery
- (0.03 km) Market Street Sweets
- (0.05 km) Another Broken Egg Cafe
- (0.05 km) Port Of Call Food & Brew Hall
- Attractions near Charleston City Market:
- (0.00 km) Gallery Chuma
- (0.00 km) Tommy Dew's Walking History Tour
- (0.00 km) Charleston Christmas Collectibles
- (0.00 km) Wonder Works Toys
- (0.03 km) Buggage: Luggage Pickup, Delivery, and Storage