16 Charming Airbnbs in Charleston, From Brick Cottages to Light-Filled Lofts
Charleston, South Carolina, is a water town, and proud of that fact. The late US Senator Fritz Hollings used to boast that while all great cities have their rivers (London the Thames, Paris the Seine, New York City the Hudson, Washington, DC the Potomac), Charleston has two: the Cooper and the Ashley, wrapping around the peninsula to form the harbor. With tree-lined walkable streets, gorgeous public parks, piers for dolphin watching, ancient alleys to explore, an internationally significant restaurant scene, art galleries to peruse, boutique shops to hit up, and oysters to slurp down, there's an abundance of good reasons to visit Charleston.
And while there are many great hotels to choose from, staying in an Airbnb can offer a bit more privacy and freedom. The city grants licenses for vacation rentals sparingly—a deliberate move to preserve livability and character—so know that your Superhost worked hard for the right to host you. We’ve rounded up the choicest venues, from an exclusive 19th-century brick carriage house with a private ornamental garden, to an epic urban loft with access to a private chef, to myriad design-inspired houses with signature piazzas positioned to catch the prevailing salty breezes. Read on for our edit of the 16 best Airbnbs in Charleston.
We've selected these listings based on Superhost status, ratings, amenities, location, decor, editor stays, and previous guest reviews. This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
FAQ:
Where should I stay in Charleston?
It’s an intimately sized city—many residents commute by foot, bike, or skateboard—so no matter what neighborhood you choose, you’re fairly close to everything. On the historic peninsula, the official “hospitality district” is the Cannonborough/Elliotborough neighborhood, a hot zone for cool cafes and creative restaurants peppered among little houses. You can also find unique rentals scattered downtown, from private carriage houses to more urban lofts on major thoroughfares like King Street or East Bay. If it’s quiet or nature you seek, remember that Charleston’s marsh vistas and island beaches are a short drive away (20 to 30 minutes max).
What's the best month to visit Charleston?
The Holy City’s subtropical climate yields mild winters and steamy summers, with palmettos and live oaks that stay green year-round. In March and April the city perfumes with blooming jasmine, wisteria, and magnolias. October is great too: not overly hot, less crowded, and with pastel stucco facades set against a deepening blue sky.
How much does it cost to rent a house in Charleston?
Small apartments start at $100, with an average rental of $275 per night. Luxury properties and larger homes average $1,200 and hit upwards of $3,000 per night.
All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Victorian home in a neighborhood dining hub
Bed & bath: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
Top amenities: Gorgeous interior design, rocking chairs on the front porch, smart lock self-check-in, onsite parking, responsive host
Neighborhood: On Spring Street, surrounded by tasty restaurantsKeep a pen or camera handy—you’ll want to take design notes at this Victorian home on Spring Street transformed by “paint whisperer” Alyssa Demilio using the rich pigments of Farrow & Ball. She’s a genius with artisan tiles, too (check out those deep indigo herringbone walls in one of the bathrooms). This listing reserves the first floor of the house, a 2,000-square-foot space with a back patio for alfresco dining amid live oaks and banana trees. You can also take over the entire house if you plan to expand your group by reserving the upstairs, too. Restaurant-wise, this neighborhood explodes with choice venues—many of them James Beard winners or finalists. Xiao Bao Biscuit, The Ordinary, Southbound, Malagon, and Chubby Fish are favorites, and don’t forget to try naturally-leavened Welton’s Tiny Bakeshop a short walk up King Street.
Brick carriage house with ornate parterre garden
Bed & bath: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths
Top amenities: “South of Broad” living, plush king beds in both rooms, smooth linens, free parking
Neighborhood: Harleston Village, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the area, close to Colonial Lake for strollsA rare find, this thoughtfully preserved carriage house sits on a deep lot in Harleston Village, one of the oldest neighborhoods on the peninsula. Historically, Charleston was peppered with detached kitchens and carriage houses shielded behind more prominent street-front manors, and this one has been restored as a luxury private rental. Guests enter through an arched doorway into the shiplap foyer that joins the kitchen and sitting room, all infused with natural light. We love the raw beams of the vaulted dormer bedrooms and the large king-size beds in both. Morning coffee on the garden bench listening to bluebirds and chickadees is a must. To splurge, walk over to Circa 1886 for dinner in another restored carriage house behind the Wentworth Mansion.
Three-bedroom loft above Hank’s Seafood Restaurant
Bed & bath: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
Top amenities: Keyless entry, exclusivity, private billiards room, Viking kitchen appliances, Hank’s restaurant downstairs
Neighborhood: In the city center, steps from the Historic Charleston City Market“Loft” is an understatement for this cavernous upscale hideaway in the heart of Charleston. There’s a masculine edge to it: exposed beams overhead, ship models on display, comfy leather chairs, framed turtle shells, and a beckoning billiards room. Down a short hallway, a sunny atrium opens into three bedrooms, each with en suite baths (the master soaking tub is the one to fight over). Since the loft is professionally managed, you can pop across the street to sister property Hotel Emeline to use their gym, or over to The Ryder Hotel for poolside cocktails. You can even order up for dinner or hire a chef from Hank's to cater a private event.
Boho-chic house on Spring Street with a double porch
Bed & bath: 5 bedrooms, 4 baths
Top amenities: Bright and preppy bohemian vibe, backyard patio, porch rockers upstairs and downstairs, parking onsite, keyless entry
Neighborhood: Nearby King Street, close to a thriving cocktail scene surrounded by creativesImagine that Lilly Pulitzer vacationed in Costa Rica and then retired in Charleston. This is where you’d find her. Preppy pinks and greens, wicker furniture, woven light fixtures, and colorful bohemian accents—it’s fresh, clean, festive, and laid-back, all within the framework of a traditional two-story, five-bedroom Charleston house. Grab a Counter Culture coffee next door and kick back in porch rockers to watch the foot traffic along Spring, or walk a few blocks east for King Street’s thriving cocktail scene. The area is home to a fun mix of creatives, with boutique shops—from custom handbags to jewelry to skateboards—a stone’s throw from numerous restaurants.
Retro-glam cottage on Cannon Street
Bed & bath: 4 bedrooms, 5 baths
Top amenities: Cheerful color scheme, Andy Warhol and Slim Aarons collectibles, plentiful beds
Neighborhood: Cannonborough, featuring excellent restaurants across the street and wonderful sunsetsA whimsical, upscale Palm Beach vibe imbues this sunny four-bedroom flat on the second floor of a refurbished house in fashionable Cannonborough. Technicolor Queen Elizabeth II presides in the sitting room courtesy of Andy Warhol, and playful images by Slim Aarons dot the rooms—the legendary photographer whose mission was to photograph “attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places.” Gleaming white shiplap walls and rustic wood floors serve as a raw canvas for all the pops of color, from bubble-gum pink doors that open to the veranda, to the smooth contours of retro sea-mist Smeg appliances in the kitchen. You’ll have to flip a coin for the brass-trimmed bunk beds tucked in the hallway like an upscale yacht (the other three rooms include one king and two rooms with two twins each). Tasty cupcakes are yours three doors down at “small batch from scratch” Sugar Bakeshop.
Oceanfront haven on Folly Beach
Bed & bath: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths
Top amenities: Open deck overlooking the wide beach, mesmerizing seascape, large kitchen island, La Cornue stove, Sub Zero wine fridge
Neighborhood: A quiet residential area (no parties, please) with direct beach accessFolly Beach is a long sliver of an island just south of Charleston, a surfer’s haven, with a quaint Center Street full of bars and restaurants—arguably Charleston’s most welcoming and least pretentious barrier island. This raised one-story cottage sits squarely on the dunes facing the Atlantic. You can sip a drink on deck and walk barefoot on the short sandy path to the beach, then walk or bike miles in either direction (there’s a picturesque lighthouse at the north end and a bird sanctuary off the southern tip).
Neighborhood guest house ideal for large groups
Bed & bath: 8 bedrooms, 8 baths
Top amenities: Two open kitchens, hardwood floors throughout, plenty of room for socializing upstairs and downstairs, ample parking
Neighborhood: Next door to Cannon Green, a lofty event space, and upscale restaurant Wild CommonThis yellow clapboard house on Spring Street is made for gatherings. Each of the eight bedrooms has its own bathroom (no sharing required), and both floors boast open kitchen counters with barstools and plush sofas for watching TV and socializing. The deep lot stretches from Cannon to Spring streets and includes two other detached houses, in case you want to triple the size of your group and rent them all. Cannon Green is next door (a stunningly tasteful event venue), so we’re hearing wedding bells, plus the siren call of restaurant Wild Common’s tasting menu.
Serene cottage near Upper King
Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: French doors, koi pond, heated lap pool shared with neighbors, beautiful garden
Neighborhood: Residential, a short walk to excellent restaurants; one block west of Upper King Street’s bustling shops, eateries, and cocktail sceneA block away from all the bars and fine dining on Upper King, Tully Alley feels secretive, more like a private drive than a street. Behind a wooden gate sits this stand-alone pool house whose French doors open onto a koi pond, with a bamboo-shrouded lap pool beyond. Technically the rental sleeps four (there’s a pull-out couch) but we like the idea of a twosome waking among the treetops, grabbing coffee at Sugar Bakeshop, tapas at Malagón, and making Babas on Cannon their neighborhood joint any time of day (caviar sandwiches, anyone?).
Pet-friendly four-bedroom on Spring Street
Bed & bath: 4 bedrooms, 4 baths
Top amenities: Breezy porches, exposed brick elements, modern kitchen, poolside lounge furniture, option to rent neighboring houses to accommodate even larger groups
Neighborhood: Slightly off the beaten path, in the residential district of Cannonborough, a 10-minute walk west of Upper King Street, with a handful of fun restaurants and coffee bars close byThis western end of Spring Street boasts lots of clapboard houses, all with fresh coats of paint and colorful doorways. This four-bedroom house is beautifully restored, clean, and airy, with double porches, en-suite baths, and the vibe of a boutique hotel. It’s part of a cluster of similar homes on the lot whose guests share access to a pool plus a dog run (but no pups allowed in the pool itself). You are blocks from highways that branch out to quick day trips and barrier island beaches, plus plenty of dining options on Spring itself. Consider booking a nearby Airbnb crabbing experience and learn to throw a cast net.
Family pad with a pool on Folly Beach
Bed & bath: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths
Top amenities: Private pool, kid-friendly, one block from beach, lush landscaping, charcoal grill, teak lounge chairs
Neighborhood: Folly Beach is a super laid-back barrier island near Charleston, with lively taco joints, fresh poke bowls, and great local marketsFor beach-seekers, this is a great home base. It's one block in from the beach, elevated with a back deck overlooking the pool, and buffered by lush woodlands. Take your locally roasted Second State Coffee onto the screened front porch while your kids sleep in their shiplap bunkbed room. Check out surfers nearby at the popular stretch of beach nicknamed “The Washout,” or book a surf lesson or a sunset paddle on Airbnb Experiences. Bert’s Market and Crosby’s Fish & Shrimp Co. have everything you could possibly crave, and you’re only a 20-minute drive from downtown Charleston.
Loft in friendly, creative Park Circle
Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Houseplants, smooth flooring, sunny studio
Neighborhood: A popular artsy community north of Charleston, with great restaurants, breweries, and live musicSeven miles north of Charleston’s city center sits the Park Circle neighborhood, where residential streets radiate out from a central butterfly garden. Its youthful, creative community fosters a hub of wine bars, breweries, and excellent restaurants, including Stems & Skins, The CODfather, Jackrabbit Filly, The Junction, and EVO Pizzeria, all of which rival downtown venues. Nestled in the backyard of a family home, this raised studio loft is a spotless, comfortable respite after a day of sightseeing, full of natural light and well-tended potted plants. You can grill out to the tunes of live music streaming through the trees from nearby Holy City Brewing.
Renovated three-bed on Morris Street
Bed & bath: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
Top amenities: Porches, private parking, nicely tiled bathrooms
Neighborhood: Elliotborough, a residential district with bakeries and small restaurants, close to King Street’s fine dining, oyster bars, and cocktail venuesThis 1850s three-bedroom home was taken down to studs by its architect owners, then built out, retaining the original brickwork, exposed ceiling beams, and heart pine floors, while adding pristine white shiplap and industrial furnishings. The result is bright and clean, with authentic texture and pleasing tile accents. Near the intersection of Morris and Coming streets, this rental is poised within walking distance of King Street’s shopping and nightlife, as well as reputable eateries Sugar Bakeshop, Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, Sorghum & Salt, The Grocery, and The Ordinary.
King Street apartment with a private courtyard
Bed & bath: 1 bedroom, 1 bath
Top amenities: Brick fireplace, Carrera marble countertops, enclosed garden patio
Neighborhood: Position A for King Street shopping, yet private and removedOn the second Sunday of each month, this section of King Street closes to traffic and takes on a European pedestrian mall vibe with outdoor cafes, shops, and on-leash dogs. The secure gate to this ground floor apartment opens directly onto the action, but the one-bedroom apartment itself is pleasantly set back at the end of a long alley: secluded, peaceful, with 900 square feet of garden space lined with fig ivy. The owner deals in antiques—you’ll love his vintage French sofa, 1920s gilded sconces, Italian Carrera countertops, and the fact that he hand-applied each shell on the Venetian-grotto-style overmantel.
Curated antiques on Society Street
Bed & bath: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths
Top amenities: Clawfoot tub, 12-foot ceilings, enclosed backyard garden patio, private porch
Neighborhood: Society Street, which juts east from bustling King Street, is a quiet side street close to everything downtownLook for the white picket fence of this personable Society Street house. Host Ginger frequents estate sales for her charming mélange of antiques, from a midcentury-modern folding bar to hand-painted chairs from Mexico. The top-floor apartment has three bedrooms, but you can rent the entire house, which sleeps up to 12. Pick up truffles and French press coffees at Christophe Artisan Chocolatier-Patissier, walk to The Ryder’s poolside bar for cocktails, and dine at Basic Kitchen, FIG, and Lenoir, all a brief stroll away. Then come back and relax in the privacy of your secluded garden patio.
Stylish two-bedroom suite on trendy Spring Street
Bed & bath: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths
Top amenities: Smart TV, private parking, fully stocked kitchen
Neighborhood: Good for those who love to walk (a 12-minute stroll to Upper King Street)While some guests argue that this apartment is on the fringe of walkability (King Street is a 10-minute walk east), others adore its “out of the fray” location. Either way, you’ve got Bon Banh Mi one block west, 132 Spring Coffee right across the street, and Xiao Bao Biscuit in an old gas station one block east. If you’ve come by car, you’re close to The Crosstown bypass that slingshots you in either direction to various beaches and day trips. As for the inside, we love the expert design touches in this two-bedroom, like the snazzy backsplash in the full kitchen. To note, this first-floor suite shares an outdoor patio with another unit.
Spacious, modern trio of homes near King Street
Bed & bath: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
Top amenities: Open layout, new construction, sunny and roomy, porch views
Neighborhood: On popular Spring Street near the King Street actionSpring Street has evolved into a verifiable foodie hub, with phenomenal restaurants like Malagón, Pink Cactus, Wild Common at Cannon Green, and Xiao Bao Biscuit. Here at the intersection with St. Philip sit three identical modern dwellings built in homage to traditional Charleston models (retail below, residences above) but with an airy, open layout, and keyless entry. Each unit features three bedrooms, and larger groups could rent all three buildings together to sleep as many as 30 people. Head one block east to King Street for fancy seafood towers at The Ordinary and a happening cocktail scene.
