20 Iconic Photo Spots in Charleston, SC

Charleston, South Carolina is such a dreamy, photogenic Southern city. Historic architecture, bright blooms, pastel houses, and enormous live oak trees all combine for some truly beautiful photo opportunities, which I’m sure you’ve seen all over Instagram.

We’ve compiled a list so you can get your own version of the most instagrammable places in Charleston.

Most of these sites are beautiful all year round, but some are especially jaw-dropping in certain seasons like when the azaleas or jasmine are in bloom.

Here’s our top 19 most insta-worthy photo spots in Charleston!

The Best Photo Spots in Charleston

This list is divided by neighborhoods and areas in and around Charleston.
⭐ Scroll to the bottom for a map you can save to your phone!

Downtown Charleston

Rainbow Row

A colorful remnant from the colonial period, the bright pink, yellow, blue, and green homes inspired the name for Rainbow Row, one of Charleston’s most iconic photo spots.

These aren’t the only pastel-colored homes in Charleston, but they’re the most famous because they’re close to a lot of other popular sites in the downtown area. Broad Street is less than a block away, and The Battery is a short stroll south of here.

The morning sun is the best time to catch Rainbow Row for photos.

Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park

Easily the second most familiar photo in Charleston, the Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park in downtown Charleston has surely shown up on your Instagram feed at some point.

Morning is a great time to get your shot here. Sunrise is just over the trees across the harbor.

This area gets busy! It’s an easy walk from Broad Street, The Battery, or the Charleston City Market.

There’s also another fountain at this park that’s a popular splash pad-like spot for kids throughout the summer.

The Battery & White Point Gardens

The very tippy end of the downtown Charleston peninsula is known as The Battery.

Once upon a time, that’s what it was: a defensive battery with cannons that defended the city and harbor. Nowadays, it’s a beautifully constructed slate walkway atop the seawall with a green garden space.

The green space shaded by several enormous live oak trees features several memorials and a large white gazebo. It’s great for a stroll, a picnic, or letting the kids or your dog run around.

It’s also right next to some of the fanciest homes in Charleston, if you need more Southern charm in your life.

Hampton Park

Live oaks, azaleas, and picnic tables. Oh yeah, and it’s free. Need we say more?

Hampton Park is one of my favorite spots for flower photography. Azaleas, roses, camellias, daffodils, coneflowers, lantana, and more all bloom here.

There’s always something in bloom, no matter the season.

It’s also a fantastic free option for getting up close and personal with enormous live oaks covered in Spanish moss. We have a full list of places to see live oaks, if you’re interested.

Hampton Park is right next to The Citadel’s campus, so you’ll always find plenty of people jogging circles around the park, whether on the gravel trails or the paved, shaded running path.

Charleston City Market area

The outside of the market is architecturally interesting, but the inside is usually overcrowded. Make sure vendors are ok with you photographing their wares before you take pictures.

I would still say to walk through a few times, so you can see vendors on both sides, but support locals selling locally-made wares. We love the Southern Sisters’ Gingerbread Snaps!

Pro Tip: The sweetgrass baskets are popular Charleston souvenirs, but you’ll probably pay the highest price if you buy them here at the market.

American Theater on King Street

Such an aesthetic Charleston vibe here! The American Theater is vintage Art Deco in all its glory.

You’ll recognize this theater from the movie The Notebook, but it’s not a movie theater anymore.

Now it’s an event space, primarily for weddings but also sometimes for conferences or business retreats.

No matter. You can still get that insta-worthy photo outside!

Historic Alleys

The historic district in downtown Charleston is full of unique alleyways from its colonial roots.

Some alleys are dressed up, like Philadelphia Alley, and others are still used today by its residents, like Longitude Lane.

Count on cobblestones, window boxes, brick and iron fences, jasmine, and the ever-present live oak trees.

There are even alley walking tours if you’d prefer a guide, but this is an easy, free activity you can do on your own with our map at the bottom of this post!

Broad Street

Palmetto-lined Broad Street is home to tasty restaurants, neat shops, and the so-called “Four Corners of Law.”

There’s so much to photograph here! Colorful buildings, imposing churches, cute details, and little touches.

Just take a stroll down the street, then turn around and walk the other side of the street.

Afternoon is a good time to capture the glow on the south side facades. I’ve also seen some cool blue hour captures here with storefronts and lighting shining bright.

Mount Pleasant

Pitt Street Bridge Park

This is more of a pier than a bridge nowadays, but it’s a great sunset spot for moody photos of downtown and the harbor at golden hour (right before sunset) and blue hour (right after sunset).

The Pitt Street Bridge used to be the only connection between Old Mount Pleasant and Sullivan’s Island but was eventually replaced by the more centrally-located Ben Sawyer Bridge.

The Pitt Street bridge’s deck was removed but the pilings remain, sticking out in the cove for pelicans and other birds to enjoy.

You can fish from the pier, bring your dog for a walk, or sit on a bench and watch the sunset. It’s a nice, free spot to enjoy coastal views.

Parking is along the street. There’s a small turnaround at the end, but you’ll need a good turning radius.

Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park and Pier

Enjoy a pirate ship playground, open lawn, and fishing pier in the shadow of the Arthur Ravenel Bridge.

The park hosts events throughout the summer like dancing on the pier and kid-friendly movies on the lawn.

But I come here for great photos of the underside of the bridge, container ships as they pass by, and random salt marsh and Cooper River close-ups.

It’s also within walking distance of Patriot’s Point, home of the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier museum ship.

Arthur Ravenel Bridge

The iconic Arthur Ravenel cable-stayed bridge crosses the Cooper River and connects Mount Pleasant to downtown Charleston.

You’ll see the bridge’s profile in many a Charleston photo, but you can also climb the bridge. No, not with a harness and up the towers, but via a well-maintained shared-use path that runs the length of the bridge on the harbor side.

Park at the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park and walk up the deck of the bridge for amazing panoramic views of Charleston harbor, Patriot’s Point, and any giant ocean freighters that happen to be passing under the bridge as you stand there.

Fun Tip: Another unique option for photographing this bridge: participate in the annual Cooper River 10k Bridge Run in April every year. You’ll run on the roadway portion of the bridge and get great centered views of the bridge as you go.

Shem Creek Boardwalk

Shem Creek is famous for its restaurants, but there’s also a small park boardwalk area here.

See the salt marsh with peek-a-boo views of the Arthur Ravenel Bridge. Then walk out to the gazebo where the creek meets the Cooper River and the harbor.

If you’re lucky, you’ll spot some dolphins in the creek! They love when the shrimp boats come in and to check out the kayakers in the mornings.

Johns Island and Folly Beach

Folly Beach Pier

You’ve got options at Folly Beach Pier!

Take photos from the beach at sunset, in the surf underneath at midday, or while strolling the pier any time of day.

Grab a bite at the restaurant, or get an ice cream or fishing license from the pier shop and go enjoy the pier.

You can’t go wrong with photos in this bustling spot.

Morris Island Lighthouse

When you arrive at Folly Beach, take a left and drive to the end of the island to the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve. From here, you can get some great shots of the Morris Island Lighthouse across the water.

You’ll need a good zoom lens, and I prefer afternoon light for this location.

Alternatively, book a boat tour that passes closer to Morris Island.

May Forest State Park

South Carolina’s newest state park is still building out their amenities, but the views across the harbor to the Arthur Ravenel Bridge are pretty amazing.

There’s not a lot else to do here yet, but it’s worth a stop if you’re in the area for Folly Beach or other James Island adventures.

Angel Oak

Touted as the oldest and largest Southern live oak tree east of the Mississippi River, the Angel Oak on Johns Island is one of Charleston’s most iconic photo spots.

It’s a city park, so it has operating hours, but it’s free entry. For all the need-to-know details, check out our full guide to Angel Oak.

Instagrammers Beware: If you’re a serious photographer, read their photography policy before you go. They require permits for photo shoots and otherwise prohibit tripods, props, and clothing changes. (If you’re just taking pictures of you/your family with your phone, you’ll be fine.)

I wouldn’t drive all the way out here just for this photo, though. There are plenty of large, beautiful live oaks at Hampton Park or White Point Gardens at the Battery in downtown Charleston.

It’s worth a stop if you’re in the area for something else, like the Charleston Aqua Park or the Charleston Tea Garden, or on your way out to Kiawah or Seabrook Island.

Historic Plantations & Other Sites

Boone Hall Oak Allée

If you’re looking for a beautiful live oak allée and award-winning historical exhibits, Boone Hall is for you.

You’ll drive right down the middle of the dirt road that leads to the main house, lined and shaded by towering live oak trees draped with Spanish moss.

You’re free to wander the grounds, including the allée, so you can take all the dreamy photos you want here. Just watch out for incoming and outgoing cars.

Boone Hall also has fantastic Gullah culture presentations and a very informative exhibit in the remaining brick slave quarters that also line one side of the entrance.

There are other, free-to-visit live oak allées in the Charleston area, but Boone Hall can knock off a couple of your must-get photos in one spot while learning some history or about a different culture.

Middleton Place Plantation

Middleton Place is home to my favorite plantation house to photograph because it’s the closest to its original style. It’s actually just one wing of the original building.

The house was burned to the ground when the Union army showed up during the Civil War. You can still see the front stairs and a pile of bricks where the original main home stood, just to the left (out of frame) in the photograph above.

The gardens are traditional English style, orderly and beautiful. Stroll the straight paths to see azaleas in spring, camellias in winter, and statues throughout.

My favorite photo spot is the butterfly lakes. On a blue day with bright white clouds, you can capture some stunning reflections here.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

Magnolia’s white footbridge is probably its most popular photo spot. It’s pretty in any season, but in March the azaleas make this spot a must-see.

The wild, romantic gardens are fun to get lost in, with several varieties of azaleas and camellias in bloom, depending on the season.

The house is unique, having been renovated and expanded several times before the property was donated to become a historic site.

A surprise here is the Audubon Swamp Garden. Don’t let the name fool you. The swamp is a wildlife photographer’s dream with herons, egrets, and alligators all taking center stage here.

Cypress Gardens

Another beautiful swampy area with lily pads, alligators, live oaks, and azaleas.

The best perspective here is from the water. Row boat rental is included in your entry admission, so you can hop in the white boats and paddle around for a unique view of this popular area.

Bonus: This is one of Charleston’s many filming locations. You’ll recognize it as the swamp hideout in The Patriot.

Map of Charleston’s Best Photo Spots

Here’s where everything on this list is located so you can plan your days without backtracking!

⭐ Click the star to the right of the map title, and it will save this map to your Google Drive! To see the map legend, click the sliding bar icon to the left of the map title.

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Safe travels, adventurer!

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