Harleston Village: Charleston Neighborhood Spotlight
Harleston Village is one of Downtown Charleston’s many diverse neighborhoods. It sits on the southeast side of the peninsula, near Colonial Lake Park, one of the city’s most stunning relaxation areas.
Discover why you should stay in Harleston Village and all the nearby attractions you might want to visit on your trip to Charleston.
Reasons to Stay in Harleston Village
There are plenty of reasons why you should stay in Harleston Village on your next trip to Charleston. Whether you’re planning on booking a hotel or a home rental, here are the top reasons to stay in this centrally located Charleston neighborhood.
It’s Quieter Than Other Downtown Neighborhoods: Because there aren’t a lot of attractions within the neighborhood itself, Harleston Village is a little quieter. There also aren’t any bars here, so the neighborhood stays pretty quiet after dark.
If you want to stay in a quieter neighborhood that’s within walking distance of all the most popular attractions in Downtown Charleston, Harleston Village could be a good contender.
It’s Very Walkable: This area of Charleston is very flat, so it’s easy to get around on foot here. You can also walk to the King Street shopping district within a matter of minutes, the French Quarter in about five minutes, Waterfront Park in a little over 20 minutes, the Charleston City Market in just under 15 minutes, and the Battery in just under 30 minutes.
It’s Close to Downtown Attractions: Harleston Village is sandwiched between several popular Charleston neighborhoods, including King Street to the east, Marion Square to the north, and South of Broad to the south.
This means that many popular attractions are within walking distance, including the French Quarter, Rainbow Row, King Street, the Charleston City Market, the Battery, and Waterfront Park.
It’s Close to Plenty of Restaurants: While there aren’t many restaurants within Harleston Village proper, there are plenty of restaurants in nearby neighborhoods, within walking distance.
The most popular restaurant in Harleston Village is Circa 1886, which features Lowcountry cuisine, including a blue crab salad, sea scallops, and foie gras.
But if you want to stake out other nearby restaurants, we recommend checking out the Sweetwater Cafe, Husk, and Millers All Day, which are all within walking distance of Harleston Village.
Things to Do Near Harleston Village
If you’re considering staying in Harleston Village on your trip to Charleston, here are some of the most popular nearby attractions.
Walk Down King Street
Only a few minutes walk from Harleston Village to the east is King Street. This street runs north to south and is one of the largest thoroughfares in Charleston. And even though it isn’t the largest street in the Holy City, it might be the most famous.
Lovers of food, architecture, history, and shopping will all find something to enjoy on King Street.
Stroll down King Street on Second Sunday to enjoy local foods and check out artisans; pop into one of the many boutiques to buy a souvenir or shop like a Charlestonian; or have a seat in one of the many restaurants and dine on Lowcountry cuisine.
You don’t even have to spend any money to enjoy King Street. You could very easily spend hours strolling along the street and enjoying the Art Deco architecture and colorful buildings.
If you want to learn about the history of King Street, you should join us on our Charleston History tour.
Take a Walking Tour
If you want to understand the history of Charleston, there’s no better way to do so than taking a walking tour!
Our Charleston History tour departs from City Hall, which is just a 15-minute walk from Harleston Village. On this tour, you’ll see many of the sites on the list below, including the French Quarter and the Battery. This is our most comprehensive walking tour that will give you an overview of the city.
Our Alleys and Hidden Passages tour departs from the Old Exchange Building, which is only a 20-minute walk from Harleston Village. This tour also provides an overview of the city, but unlike our main history tour, it takes you through the network of back alleyways and passages used by both the upper crust and commoners alike.
If you don’t see a public tour that strikes your fancy, you can always book a private tour of Charleston.
Charleston private tours can be tailored to your interests to include the topics that interest you most about the Holy City.
Visit the French Quarter
Only a 20-minute walk from Harleston Village is the French Quarter, one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Charleston.
The French Quarter is where you’ll find Rainbow Row, the French Huguenot Church, the Old Exchange Building, the Provost Dungeon, the Dock Street Theatre, and Waterfront Park.
If this is your first time visiting Charleston, you might want to consider staying in a neighborhood near the French Quarter (like Harleston Village) since there’s a good chance you’ll be headed to this neighborhood for many of your must-do activities.
Take Photos at the Battery
Only a 30-minute walk from Harleston Village is the Battery and White Point Gardens. From here, you’ll get beautiful views of the Charleston Harbor, and you can walk along the promenade.
Other attractions include the USS Hobson Memorial, the Nathaniel Russell House Museum, and the Patrick O’Donnell House.
The Battery is the perfect place to take a picnic, or just to enjoy the sights and rest on a bench for a few minutes.
Shop at the Charleston City Market
Only a 15-minute walk from Harleston Village is the Charleston City Market. This attraction is ideal for history lovers, foodies, and shopaholics.
Here you’ll find crafts sold by local artisans, some of the best Lowcountry food in the city, and plenty of souvenirs to take home.
The Charleston City Market is one of the oldest markets in the country and dates back to 1807. Today you can sample food, such as boiled peanuts, biscuits, coconut cake, and seafood. Souvenirs include sweetgrass baskets, artwork, and home goods.