Are you going to South Carolina soon and wondering which areas to avoid in Charleston, dangerous neighborhoods and the best places to stay?

Given the current context, it is legitimate to ask these questions before choosing the neighborhood where you will stay in Charleston. Indeed, for ten years, the major European and American cities have suffered a sharp increase in insecurity.

For clear and precise answers, here is a guide to Charleston neighborhoods.

Charleston dangerous city?

NO, if we refer to numerous rankings that list the most dangerous cities in the United States. Indeed, Charleston is not at the top. You can verify this on the websites of the FBI , Statista , WorldPopulationReview , or NeighborhoodScout.com.

On a national level, by comparison, Charleston is much less dangerous than cities like Memphis , Baltimore , Detroit or New Orleans.

According to Numbeo's ranking of the most crime-ridden cities in the United States, Charleston has a crime index of only 40.66 for 2024. In terms of crime, the city is therefore in the lower range. In fact, it is ranked less crime-ridden than very safe cities like Honolulu or New York!

Is Charleston safe for tourists?

YES but like everywhere else, tourists should remain cautious and simply avoid some dangerous areas of Charleston (see below).

Charleston is a city rich in history and one of the most beautiful cities in South Carolina. As a result, it would be a shame for tourists to deprive themselves of visiting Charleston because the tourist sites of the city do not represent any danger.

Certainly, there are some neighborhoods where there is violence, drug trafficking and settling of scores between rival gangs. But these neighborhoods are far from those generally frequented by tourists (see list of dangerous neighborhoods in Charleston below).

Map of Charleston SC neighborhoods

Charleston is made up of 11 main districts (plus several smaller, unofficial ones). To identify areas to avoid and the best neighborhoods to stay in, here's a map where you can locate them: Google Maps

Areas to avoid in Charleston

The city of Charleston itself is not dangerous. However, it's important to know that Charleston County also includes one of the most dangerous areas in the United States: North Charleston . This large area is located only 9 miles, or 15 km, from the city of Charleston.

According to the most recent FBI data, the total crime rate in North Charleston is 6 per 249 population. This rate is 100% higher than the average rate of 000 per 166 people.

Charleston Dangerous Neighborhoods

Without being dangerous neighborhoods where tourists would risk their lives, here are those that web statistics classify as the least safe in Charleston:

• North charleston
• Hanhan
• West Ashley
• Harleston-Village
• summerville
• James Island
• Goose creek

Areas to avoid in the city of Charleston

Here are the areas to avoid especially at night in the city of Charleston (information from many websites that I have synthesized):

• Around Nassau Street
• Around Short Dukes
• Along the street America Street
• Interstate 26
• Some places of East-Central

Best neighborhoods to stay in Charleston

Hard to say which is the best neighborhood in Charleston. Indeed, this city has many beautiful neighborhoods that all have their own character, atmosphere and identity. And choosing the best neighborhood in Charleston will depend on your tastes and the type of stay you are going to spend there.

But, there are neighborhoods that are more popular or more fashionable than others. According to professionals and real estate agencies, the best areas to stay in Charleston would be:

• Downtown Charleston
• Grimball Gates
• Mount pleasant
• Stiles Point
• Kiawah island
• Park Circle
• Stiles Point
• Wagener Terrace
• South of Broad
• Sullivans Island
• Folly Beach

Best neighborhood in Charleston for tourists

The favorite area for tourists visiting Charleston is Downtown , also known as the Historic District.

Where is Downtown Charleston located?

Downtown Charleston is the peninsula-shaped area overlooking Charleston Harbor and bordered by the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. In fact, when people talk about Charleston, they're usually referring to the downtown area. See location of this area

Downtown Charleston's most touristy neighborhood

Culturally and historically rich, Downtown is full of very good restaurants, art galleries, museums and many shops.

It is therefore in this district that tourists will be able to enjoy on foot the many activities, the rich colonial architectural heritage, the pretty streets with colorful houses, the splendid French quarters and the Battery. They can take a horse-drawn carriage ride to discover King Street, Waterfront Park and its Pineapple Fountain, Church Street, the Old Exchange Building, the Old City Market or Nathaniel Russell's house.

Where to stay in Charleston?

Here is one of the best hotels in Charleston, ideally located in the heart of the Historic District: The Charleston Place.

It is in fact a splendid palace whose location is perfect for visiting Charleston on foot: 100 meters from the Peninsula Grill, 300 meters from the historic district and 500 meters from the museum of the former slave market. 

Cheap hotel in Charleston in the Historic District

For those who are not looking for palaces, here is a very good hotel, inexpensive, well rated and well located for visiting Charleston:

This article was written by synthesizing information collected from press articles, economic sites, forums, statistics and web rankings. It is only a simple summary of the data available on the internet and therefore does not contain any judgment or discrimination.