Welcome to Charleston
A Guide to Charleston Culture, Etiquette, Parking, Restrooms, & Services
Founded in 1670, Charleston is not just a living museum with some of the most well preserved architecture in America, but most of all, it’s our home. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with our culture and etiquette. Help us keep our city clean, safe, and peaceful.
Etiquette
- Respect private property, historic buildings are real homes, do not walk into driveways or gardens and never look into windows.
- Respect Gullah sweetgrass basket artists, do not photograph them or their work without permission.
- No bicycles or scooters on sidewalks, Charleston is bike friendly but bikes must follow the same rules as cars, ride in the street and share the road.
- Keep the volume down, Charleston has many quiet residential streets, enjoy the city but be considerate of the people who live here.
- Use crosswalks when possible, always look both ways before entering a street even if it is one way.
- Leave the flowers, admire them, photograph them, enjoy their fragrance but do not pick them.
- Dispose of trash properly, trash and recycling bins are all over the city, do not leave trash because you do not want to carry it.
- Do not block sidewalks, Charleston walkways are narrow, if you stop move aside so others can pass.
- If you are sightseeing in your car, be aware of drivers behind you, pull over to enjoy views and allow traffic to pass.