Charleston City Market Reviews

The Charleston City Market is a fun and interesting place to walk through. Numerous venders selling everything from tourist items to art and locally made Grass Baskets. It’s open air with sections inclosed and several blocks long. You could spend several hours there just looking at all the venders goods or burn through in no time at all. Lots of restaurants/bars in the area so if you get tired you can pull into one of them, eat or have a couple drinks, and then resume your looking again. Well worth the stop if your in Charleston.

This is a "must stop" if traveling in Charleston. Bought a straw hat and hot sauce. Asked to wear mask which was not a problem but humid. Also some good restaurants in the area, i.e. Henry's and Carolina Crab House.

I must preface my review by saying that there were some lovely artisans and artwork; however, the majority of stalls that we visited were overpriced souvenir-type items. There were two vendors who were helpful and kind but the others that we encountered were a bit snarky and pushy. There were young boys handing out palm frond roses. After it was in my hand, he asked for money. When I said “no thank you” and went to hand the rose back to him, he brusquely grabbed it out of my hand. It was after that encounter that I saw signs saying not to interact with peddlers with roses. It was very strange.

So many products are from locals. Soaps, bathbombs, purses, shopping bags, aprons,art of all kinds. The people were so helpful. We shopped 2 days here, and if you get hungry there is Cali biscuits in the market, and lots of restaurants close by. We also booked a carriage tour just outside. Enjoy and take your time.

This market has a big variety of crafters and artisans and a few food and drink stalls. The prices are not different from the city shops. Charleston is hot and always humid and the market only has air conditioning in the first building.

Great market. Nice variety of items made by local artists. Definitely worth an hour or so to meander around Take your time

Market is nice with local artisans and cool stuff. However our day at the market was ruined by the kids who try to GIVE u a palm frond. After they supposedly give you one they then ask for a donation. It's a total scam. They tell u to F off if you don't buy one and yell and swear at you. Stay away from these kids it's a scam and they will swear at you if you refuse to buy a palm. Just ignore them like they don't exist is what I was told after the fact.

So it’s basically an indoor craft show or flea market. Basically, you have a vendor space and someone is selling things they make or built. There were some places that had local stuff, post cards, souvenirs, but was able to walk through it rather quickly since there wasn’t a lot that I was interested in. Yes, it was something to see in Charleston to kill some time, but it is not a must see and do!

Neat old market buildings spanning several blocks. If you're over by the pineapple fountain, it's worth the short walk over. Prices are expected tourism high, and much of the inventory is the same throughout the buildings.

A good snack to enjoy while shopping the City Market’s many blocks of vendors. Had the cinnamon and sugar mini donuts at Lil Yum Yums

I really enjoyed this. I try to pick up a souvenir or two everywhere I visit and always want it to be locally made. I'm lucky if I find even one. If I do it's usually art. Here I found handmade items, local art, locally made soaps, lotions, hand painted ornaments and magnets. Don't skip the night market, it's different vendors and I found more stuff there too.

Nice way to spend a couple of hours browsing. Not cheap items but a convenient place to find souvenirs in and around the market.

Loved being able to stroll through the market everyday. We stayed about a block away at the Loutrel and it was perfect to walk through every morning. They had every vendor you could possibly need or want.

I reduced my score because of the number of local kids who hound visitors with their handcrafted flowers. Each exit or entrance of the market had these kids trying to give away their crafts for a ‘donation’. Thus the reduction. The market itself was beautiful. It has a good variety of vendors which makes the visit appealing. The variety goes from very expensive to reasonable. So there is something for everyone.

Cool landmark but extremely disappointing market. I was expecting locally made unique things and it was largely manufactured made-in-China looking stuff. Touristy tchotchkes for the cruise-ship crowd. So if that's you, please go. My family of 5, ranging from my 82 year old mother-in-law to my 6 year old great-nephew, was supremely unimpressed and disappointed.

Hundreds of stalls, many handmade goods, some by the stall owner. Good for getting gifts and tourist mementos. Everything is very pricey. Disappointed that only 3 of about 100 stalls we passed was black owned.

The market is not a market in the normal sense! It’s really a large craft fair with some quality merchandise along with some standard tourist souvenirs .

A string of 3 pleasant and attractive single story market buildings to stroll through & engage with the vendors & pick up a few gift items for your return to normal life. The Market is on the route of one of the free DASH buses making it easy to access, and there are some food vendors inside with several more options along the streets flanking it. Visiting on an early-in-the-week day like my wife & I did would probably yield smaller crowds, as the central aisle of the Market space is narrow and may get difficult to navigate especially for visitors with mobility challenges.

Cute building. Section of the market has aircon and was nice and cool. Nothing too special.

Was still nice to walk through.

The Market will come up as a must see on many lists, and while it may be central to Charleston, you won’t be missing a ton if you don’t get around to it. It’s essentially a covered craft fair. You get a few handcrafted unique items, but some stalls seem like they’re re-selling cheap Amazon stuff. It’s good if you’re looking to kill an hour or so, but it’s not an all day (or even half day) activity. I imagine the stalls are rented somehow so there could be variety at different times of the year. Only a few options for food specifically in the market but many restaurants nearby. Callies biscuits is worth going to and waiting in line for.

A very nice way to spend a few hours. The cobblestone roads, briefly Southern homes, port walkway surrounding the market were very touristic but nice. We would go back. Items available for purchase were only local to that location as we can see. Jewelry, baked goods and sweet grass items were available for purchase. It was great for people watching. Hotels were in the pricey side but if you are planning a day trip it was worth it in our opinion. Restaurants were a mix of touristic but there were also seafood restaurants by the pier that had wait times to seating. I’d say reservations would be required in warmer summer days.

Just a flea market in old buildings. We bought a couple of Christmas ornaments (not locally made) and my wife bought an inexpensive ring. We weren't in the market for seagrass baskets, which we saw on a couple of stalls.

Covered market similar to French market in New Orleans but much cleaner! Fun to look at different wares but some things are very expensive.

Neat open air market. Bought a bracelet hand made by a local woman who also gives you a few drops essential oils to put on the beads. The oils represent the rainbow row houses. Pretty cool. Lots to look at. Many souvenirs if you are in search of something from your trip to Charleston.

If you’re in the area, you might want to take a quick walk through this market, but most of the items sold are touristy kitsch that were not my thing. In my opinion it’s not worth a special trip since most of the items sold here could be found just about anywhere.

Nice place if you are in the neighborhood but don’t make an effort to go there.
Pretty clean and nice place to spend 10-15 minutes.

This is a nice indoor/outdoor market to visit. You can certainly find some unique things like socks w/funny sayings, soaps, Gullah woven baskets, miniature cookies, nuts & bolts art and lots more.

I was really pleasantly surprised by the Charleston City Market. In so many other towns, they’re mostly junk and touristy trinkets. The Charleston City Market had a lot more handmade items, local foods and crafts made by local artisans than I’ve seen anywhere else. As a bonus, I had some lovely conversations with some of the artists who were selling there and bought some lovely things to bring home with me.

There’s a big parking garage just about two blocks up the street. I found this to be a really great way to shop local and spend an hour or so!

The Charleston City Market is most definitely a place to be seen, but it really is a place to spend money on souvenirs and nibbles. With a selection of items to purchase from hats and t shirts to beautiful and expensive jewelry and baskets there is something for everyone.

We really enjoyed spending time with the local artists and their goodies. Lots of choices and art to see here. Jewelry, baskets, clothes and other beautiful items. Clean restrooms and well lauded out.

The history of America is in Charleston, SC. I thoroughly enjoyed the Phillip Simmons walking tour..Larry, WOW! a very polite, respectful and knowledgeable storyteller. His demeanor and cadence; compliments the historical impact the tour represents

Lots of trinkets and stuff, not much interesting. Charming is not a word I would associate with it. It struck me as overly touristy and not a good use of time.

Nice stores. Local artists and locally owned businesses showcasing their items. We enjoyed walking around and looking at some of the handmade pieces.

If you are a poc, or a person who does not like racism and prejudice people; this is not the place to go. Out of all the markets we walked through and all of the business we gave; we probably had five nice merchants, and 80% of the people who were visiting or lived there were staring, glaring, and rude. Will not be returning to this city because it’s not for people who love diversity and love difference. They have horses out in 100° weather. I did not see one horse drinking water or any other method to cool down. The whole downtown market area smelled like horse piss, and no one was spraying it with any agents to clean the street or sidewalks. The only thing that I enjoyed was the ambience of the nature. I love palm trees & greenery. That was my highlight.

My wife and I had an enjoyable time. Was busy but not horribly. A lot of vendors and some may feel overly priced, but I think it was in-line with many such attractions. We will probably be back.

An Asian lady named Ling selling doilies or placemats was so rude to me that I will never come back and will recommend to my friends not to shop at the Charleston Market. She’s near booth 19. Avoid this mean person at all costs.

It was so so crowded. People won't stop to let you look at anything and the prices were unbelievably high. I went ten years ago and it was good. This past weekend...I'll never go again and I don't recommend it. Forget about bringing little kids in there. There's no room .

A nice place to stroll through. It's a few blocks long and offers many items . Looks very old on the outside but new on the inside.

We happened to be at the market one night recently when they had 4 bands playing in the market, the mayor was there to give e awards to merchants and to honor the lady responsible for rejuvenating the market in the 1970's. Plenty of restaurants nearby and the waterfront is only minutes away. History is abundant with homes from the 1700's, cobblestone and marble walk ways, pedal cabs and carriage tours.

My mom and I went to check out the market during our mother-daughter trip. It’s a beautiful market and it’s so nice that it is covered / indoors in case of bad weather. You can find a lot of unique handmade items here like jewelry, clothing, candles, and food. However, the prices were do expensive that we ended up buying a couple biscuits from Callies, walking through, and then leaving. We really wanted to support the vendors since they were all so nice, but simply couldn’t afford most items. If you’re looking for something extremely unique for a nice gift, this is a great place to go. If you’re looking for a deal, this might not be the place. It’s a great spot to kill time and explore the city, though!

Lots of fun food, gifts, and crafts… we loved the walkability and the history! Original art, jewelry, baskets, toys… something for everyone.

Interesting downtown walk-through flea market. lots of excellent shops to browse through. Highly recommended for a walk through

Such a cool place! You're unlikely to leave without a purchase of some kind, as there is literally something for everyone!

Established in 1807, the Charleston City Market is one of the oldest public meeting places in the USA. The market is very close to the cruise terminal so my wife and I had the easy opportunity to visit and admire the bustling scene. Lots going on and lots of people hunting for souvenirs and bargain buys.

If you have done markets in other countries or cities it is the same. Local art and crafts along with some food vendors. Don’t miss the stores on the street side. There are some great ones.

Take a nice stroll through the very long, covered city market. Many of the booths are repetitive and the merchandise throughout ranges from high end baskets to junk. But there are some "gems" here and there.

The market is full of mostly locally made, locally owned booths- nearly. Have to ask questions to be sure.
Some beautiful crafts only found in the area. It is a jewel in the city.

The market was a typical city street market, in this case filled with hundreds of indigenous woven baskets. There was also a lot of low to mid -range priced jewelry, souvenirs, pottery and various artwork. Depends on what you are looking for. I found the market very touristy and contained nothing of interest to me.

Basically a craft market to see what the locals are selling - jewelry, leather and miscellaneous crafts. Wish the sawgrass baskets weren’t so expensive!

Fun! There’s a nice selection of foods, baskets, clothes and fun foods. The vendors are nice. I enjoyed shopping in the market. I bought several sterling sliver rings that I love.

The place is huge with some portion of it air-conditioned. Lots of shops with restroom and ATM facilities. One thing didnt like though was one of the vendors mentioned a different price but while on the way back (after taking money from ATM) same vendor increased the price by a $.

We stayed on Sullivan's Island and spent day one driving around S I and Isle of Palms. We ate dinner at Sullivan's Fish Camp. I had roasted oysters and was not impressed.
Day two we drove out 17 to find an Indian mound walked two miles and found my navigator had wrong directions. We stopped at Seewee Restaurant on Hwy 17 near Awendaw. Yummy She Crab Soup.
Our amazing waitress told us about Avian Center and bird show.
Day 3 we went to the bird show at avian center on 17 near Awendaw. Great learning experience. Owls, Hawks, Vulture.
We ate dinner at Page's Okra Grill. We ate here 3 times during our stay. It was fabulous.
Went into Charleston once. Had a horsedrawn wagon tour. It was near the market so we went there. We drove around the battery and left. Too many people.

Lived the hustle and bustle of the market. There were so many vendors. There were some quality stalls with true artist products (especially sweet grass basket weavers)with some mix of craft goods and your usual tourist items.

We stopped at the overcrowded City Market but nothing attracted me there - mediocre crafts, equally mediocre food stalls, obsessive crowds… I don’t understand why it is so popular.

This could have been very cool. The idea is that the market spans across about six city blocks (some indoor, some out) with vendors selling local items/crafts. The reality is that many of the vendors sell the same mass manufactured Charleston-themed items. Would also be nice if there were food vendors but there’s just a bakery at the end and some stalls selling sweets, but that’s about it.

My friends and I came by on a Saturday at around 10:30 am, which is when we thought it opened (apparently it's 9:30) and it was already pretty packed at that time. I bought a cute little Charleston pineapple ornament for $15, which I thought was really unique - until I saw the same one at various souvenir shops on the outskirts of the market for $10. I guess they need to pay their rent somehow since the market is such a prime spot. My advice would be to walk through early, see if there is anything you like, and head to the shops not within the market. You'll likely find it there for cheaper.

I always stroll through the market when visiting. Love to see what new hand crafted items are available, what new photos and painting the artists have and love to see the sweet grass baskets. You can also find some seasonings and ingredients for traditional southern foods availability for sale.
Some Friday and Saturday nights they have night market - slightly less vendors but a nice experience.

This is an interesting place to see, but be prepared for it to be a tourist area. Not a lot of food. It’s more merchandise oriented. Worth seeing, but don’t expect to eat there.

If you’re looking for gifts and/or Nick-nacks this is the place. An covered yet open air market with gift ideas, art, and more. This a good place to fill in your sight-seeing schedule. Many restaurants adjacent and nearby. I would definitely make time to stop.

Delightful in Evening! I’ve went to the market in daytime in September and it’s a total different experience. During the summer at night we had exceptionally higher end merchants vs when we went in September. I don’t know if the summer months draw better vendors or it was just the luck of the draw on the day we went. I’d of given my first visit three stars and this one four. I can’t say it’s a five star adventure due to difficulty parking, that alone gets very frustrating. I’d recommend if you are in town to hit this place in the evening when it’s cool.

What a fun morning strolling through dozens and dozens of unique stalls by local artists. A highlight was seeing Mr. Elijea Dumas, who we bought a grass basket from over 30 years ago. He is still gracious and friendly. Great gifts and souvenirs.

A interesting way to spend an hour or less shopping a great variety of vendors selling their creations. Bathrooms available. Open air and sheltered from the weather.

Multiple buildings with so many fun vendors in each! From pictures to baskets to gifts to food, this is a fun place to explore to get some great pieces of Charleston & the south. Parking available in garages around the area, minimal
Parking on the streets.

Lots of stuff to see some of it local crafts like the grass baskets. There is a very good biscuit stand for a filling breakfast sandwich. Lots of traffic so weaving in and out of the masses can be a chore. Best do early when the open. Don’t forget the stores on the street outside the market. There is a good hat store. Also this is a place to catch a buggy tour.

We had a lot of fun walking around the City Market! We actually went on a day that they also had a night market. It was so neat to see all of the vendors.

It has been about 18-15 years since I had been to the market. As I remember it there was more of a variety of things in the market. You also didn’t need to take out a 2nd mortgage to buy a Sweet Grass Basket. But boy how things have changed. Very disappointing ☹️

I’m sure there is some thing for everyone to find at this market. I found a few pair of inexpensive earrings. Julie also bought earrings and some lovely scarves.

a fun way to spend the afternoon or morning.llots of cool vendors in the old marketplace. we shopped and bought some local goods, jewelry, spices, shirts

Fun browsing through this HuGE market! We had a blast and bought some unique items. So much fun! However if you want to buy a sweet grass basket, be aware they are extremely expensive there! Other than that so fun and all of the owners gave good advice on restaurants, etc.

This was a nice way to spend an hour and since is under cover, you can go in any weather! The sweet grass baskets are unique to Charleston and worth seeing - all baskets aren't the same, be careful! There were a varied number of artisans, but not all unique to SC. I'm glad we went but I don't really need to go again.

Can’t go to Charleston without shopping thru the market. So many vendors for a great shopping experience.

We stayed in Charleston for a couple hours passing through on our road trip. After some good grub, we walked through the market and it had lots of shopping options. Both sides filled with any kind of shopping you would want or need. It’s definitely worth the walk through and they have bathroom along the way.

Market has everything. Fun place to visit. Vendors were great. Lots of unique stuff to buy. Highly recommended

There were a number of cute little shops. Most of the places were closed, which could have been because of the holidays and the outdoor section was also closed. I also found things to be a little pricey.

Cute market place, nothing like it was years ago. Some vendors prices were astronomical for certain items which in normal settings you’d find much more reasonably priced elsewhere especially the jewelry. It was cute to just browse and look while just needing to kill some time. We won’t be back.

Lots of vendors. Great place for souvenirs. Nice quality items. We spent 45 minutes here. Public restrooms here.

Lots to see and buy if you like that sort of activity. Definitely a place to experience when visiting Charleston.

A better description would be helpful on letting visitors know exactly what there is for sale in the market. The majority of vendors are not selling locally created arts and crafts. It is very crowded.

Charleston City Market gets very crowded on the weekends. There are still nice items to purchase but some of the vendors have their merchandise overpriced. It has declined over the past several years since we have been here.

Good to kill some time and sample the usual items sold to tourists.

A large multi blocklong open air market in the city. Some unique vendors among the typical sellers of jewelry, `Authentic' Charleston souvenirs, food stalls, clothing and other assorted tchotchkes. A bit crowded but manageable. A pretty even mix of masked and unmasked.

A nice diversion while taking in all the other sites, experiences and food Charleston has to offer. I guess a `Must See' while in Charleston, but don't feel too bad if you don't make it.

I loved the vendor selections. There was a nice selection of both handmade and manufactured items to choose from.

One of many places to visit. Lots of China stuff, few real arts and crafts.
Flooding during Rain is absolutely Ridiculous!! Watch weather, avid area during flooding, dangerous and unhealthy, lots of floating "stuff" and liquids on top, remember those Carriage rides?
Little biscuit is near North end. Restrooms at South and other past glass doors on North. Very busy, for people watching. Products like Coozies , etc, you can buy cheaper at Walmart. Tour a Museum, instead, learn real History.

It was too busy to be able to walk through the market and aporeciate it. The entrance was cute otherwise amd , if you ho to Charledton,you can not miss it !

Looked up the city market before heading to Charleston. We knew we wanted to see the market for its history and it's location. There are still a few vendors selling local craft, you just need to find them in the very long line of shops. Local artists can still be found here. We wanted to buy a couple of sweetgrass baskets but even the small ones were priced around $100. We walked down Meeting Street near The Battery and saw sweetgrass baskets being made and were able to get them for much less. So for the reviews that say things can cost a little more at the City Market, I agree; but for those that say there are no more local vendors to purchase hand-made craft, I disagree.

A bit like our farmers market at home - 2 rows of stalls under a covered roof and you travel from one building to the next along with every other tourist in Charleston. You have to try it at least once, although there is much better shopping elsewhere. Be prepared for it to be crowded and not the greatest quality or variety of items, but a convenient spot to grab a sea grass basket - try to get one from a seller who is actively making them onsite instead of one of the resellers of you can.

Charleston City Market is a very large covered open air market.

I browsed jewelry, accessories, and home goods vendors. You could buy candies and many other types of crafts. Good for souvenirs.

I remember coming here as a child, and even 6 years ago, and yet I was unimpressed by the place and the merchandise

The Market was located in downtown Charleston. There was quite a bit of vendors. It was open air. There was beautiful artwork and other hand crafted items. Items ranged from $-$$$$.

We explored the City Market during a recent trip to Charleston. Lots and lots of people, mostly touristy kind of options. Plenty of restaurants in the area. It's the kind of place that you want to see once and that's enough.

A good way to explore an interesting part of the city.

Great local vendors. A lot of repetitive items though. For example, there was a ton of jewelry vendors. Great atmosphere.

With it being one of the oldest city markets in the country we figured it would be a “ must stop by” location when visiting South Carolina. Went here May of 24’! This is more of a craft fair than a city market per-say but I would still recommend going for the experience! It’s 4 big barn sized buildings full crafts made by local vendors. Wooden and metal statues, figures, paintings, Knick knacks, collectibles, clothes, you name it!

We visited around Mother’s Day so we managed to snag a few really good gifts for the parents while we were there. If you happen to visit here around a holiday keep this area in mind as there were a lot of cool things that make a good gift you won’t find anywhere else!

We love to support local shopping and love that the market is there. I wish there was more variety of vendors, a lot of straw basket vendors and t-shirts. The nice thing is that it is always changing so we make a point of walking through each time we are in Charleston.

This market was bigger than I expected. It stretches far down the block with separate buildings. There were local vendors.

The biggest draw is the longevity and the history of the location; it’s very crowded and replication of products being sold by multiple vendors… so if you are looking for Gullah/Geechie baskets there plenty! Artwork, traditional food products (grits, jams, etc.) and other souvenirs you will definitely find something here.

We quickly passed through and did not see anything we had to have. Other than the baskets, I did not see anything unique that you would not see in any other market.

I love venues like this...a little bit of a Craft Fair mixed with a Small Business vibe. There was more variety than I expected...stalls with clothing, food items, toys, novelty items, one-of-a kind crafts. I advise getting there when they first open in the morning. I was able to scope out all of the booths really fast within a half hour and then I went back to the places where I wanted to take a closer look. In some cases, you can meet the person that made the item you plan to buy which I think is very cool!

Lovely covered market, some of which was air conditioned which was very welcome on the heat. Bustling market full of Knick knacks, pictures, jewellery , decs, food and much more. We loved mooching about, all the sellers were very friendly too

When in Charleston DO take the time to stroll through the City Market. What a great combination of local vendors, Sweetgrass crafts and foods. the people are friendly and glad to see you, interact with you.
Enjoy!

This market is well known and part of Historic Charleston. It has many vendors and each day there could be different vendors. Also, there is an evening market, with different vendors. There are so many different things being offered. We found some items for Christmas gifts, and were very pleased with our finds. I would recommend visiting here!

Several blocks of indoor marketers selling artwork, crafts, gifts, and food. Certainly worth an hour to stroll and peruse. Plenty to find here, and located in the heart of the restaurant district.

Great variety and close together. The vendors aren’t pushy like many markets tend to be. There are many great food options as well.

definitely worth a visit. A long series of covered buildings, open at the sides, perfect in all weather. Many lovely stalls, lots of locally made product. safe place to wander around, huge variety of products. could easily spend a couple of hours there.

Plenty of choices as each stall was extremely varied and colourful. It was a little cramped as it was so busy but it added to the atmosphere I suppose.
A little pricey for market pieces too.

Loved the variety of vendors and all the seagrass baskets! You’ll have a little bit of everything here - clothes, souvenirs, household items,….A must do!

Many vendors with a variety of goods, saw many selling sweet grass items/baskets. Tried locating unique items to remember the trip.

It had some neat things to buy. Callie’s Biscuits were very good. The area is very crammed by Callie’s and everyone was standing and waiting for their order. The Christmas store had cute ornaments.

Love the market! You can find anything really here!!! I got myself a mug, basket, purse, charcuterie board and Christmas ornament. Some prices are higher on items than others, so shop around. One vendor there sold lemonade, it was delicious, my husband and I went back twice because it was so delish.

Fun place to spend an hour or two, but not really a must do even for avid shoppers. This market is a little bit of everything - part tourist trap, just a handful of food options, some unique boutique/designer goods, a lot of others that aren't quite as unique or memorable.

A lot of vendors selling mostly handmade goods. It fun to look and do a little shopping. The day we were there everything began folding up at 3 so get there a bit early. or you will miss out. Combine that with a local meal within walking distance - make a great day!

Centrally located in the heart of the historic district of Charleston usually bustling with activity. Multiple vendors set up shop in stalls selling their goods to tourists. Also nearby shops along Market Street. Not a must see in Charleston but it’s hard to visit the city without passing through here and it is a good place to find some souvenirs.

The City Market is a great place for a stroll. There are many different artisans such as basket weavers, jewelry makers, and crafters who work with metal, wood and stone. You will also find beautiful, original artwork and spice merchants. The Market has several restrooms which are very clean and tidy. In addition, the Market is located near many restaurants, as well as coffee and sweets cafes so you can get a bite to eat or a drink after! A must stop when in Charleston!

Typical tourist market with a wide range of stalls from cheap, tacky souvenirs to upmarket clothing and local foods. Well worth a visit.

A nice collection of local artists and provisions with some imports thrown in. Enjoy seeing what is different and admiring the sweet grass baskets.

Great place to get local reminders from handwoven sweet grass baskets, paintings, and other souvenirs of your visit to this charming city

We always go here when we come to Charleston and never buy anything, too high, too crowded and too hot.

We did buy some reasonably priced prints from a shop in the air conditioned section

I enjoyed the history of the market, I thought that was pretty cool! Would I purchase everything the vendors have to offer? No, but it was fun to see. Yes, there were a lot of repeats throughout the booths, but there was plenty of everything to choose from. We were there around 11 am on Sunday morning, so it was quite busy. We only had the day to explore Charleston, so we chose the market and the waterfront. I would definitely return here if just to grab a snack and people watch!

We’ve stopped there 3 times so far! Great bargains and not what you’ll find in an ordinary gift shop! The booths change a bit daily!

Some nice vendors but need to know your prices. Sweet grass baskets are beautiful but very pricey. Lots of jewelry and items you find in many open air markets. Not a lot of what I would call Local items from the area other than the baskets.

I really enjoyed shopping here. My favorite part was that there were locals artists so not everything there was “tourist junk”. There are no restaurants and it was busy at 10am on a Friday.

WOW, this place is bigger than we thought, almost four blocks long and filled with many cool shops. We picked up a few "must haves" along the way and enjoyed watching the different crafters weaving baskets and other items. Fun time lots to see.

Spent roughly 1 hour browsing the various shops. Great variety of gifts and decor along with unique food items. Awesome place for travelers to pick up items unique to Charleston.

I went around 10:30am and vendors were still setting up, some tables were just completely empty. Besides the famous baskets, and SOME original art, it was pretty unremarkable. I did have a cool conversation with one local vendor about the weaving. Otherwise it was basically a quick walkthrough.

The City Market was very busy the Saturday we went. I had been before back in 2017 and noticed a big change in the number of vendors selling jewelry and basic trinkets. Before there seemed to be many more local artisans selling their handmade items and artwork. It seemed a lot more touristy this go-round.

Great idea for an indoor crafts market. All of the merchants took credit cards. They have ATM’s, restrooms, some food and some of the buildings are enclosed and have A/C. There is pay-for public parking across the street at $6.50/hour with a $35/day max.

Easy to walk through all of it. Enjoyed it, recommend it!

The market is a interesting stroll. Many different items and varieties. it was an enjoyable 2 hours. Be sure and walk towards the water and see the Pineapple fountain

No different than any other touristy market imo. The most interesting items at the shop were the Christmas ornaments, natural jam/syrup/honey products, and the sweetgrass weave products. There were too many cheap jewelry stands and not enough larger plus sizes for the clothing shops. We wound up not purchasing anything we were interested in due to price or lack of sizes. Ultimately though, if you've never been to the city market I would recommend going just to see it and if you happen to find something you like in your price range, go ahead and purchase.

Basically you can do all your shopping in one place. Had various items for sale. Very crowded at times. Some items very expensive so be careful. Not many places to sit so if you are unable to walk. it will be tough.

After reading the reviews, my family and I were excited to visit the market. We were disappointed. The merchandise was WAY over priced. A weaved little basket was over $150. Some tiny painted pins were $20 a pc. I feel like when my daughter asked if it was ‘home made’ - and the owner of the booth said yes- it truly wasn’t. Lots of the same stuff. It was a crowded place. It really was more of a tourist trap. I did buy coffee beans though. They smelled really good. My daughter found a beaded bracelet that means hope. So still bought stuff. But really not worth the hype.

A nice way to spend some time, alot to see with some duplication .You can probably get all your shopping for Charleston done here!

We got there right at 9am and it was already getting pretty busy. There is a lot of sellers selling different stuff. The best comparison I can think you is it’s similar to a flea market. Most of it is open air(I can see it getting really hot). Then There is a portion that is air conditioned. It’s a nice place if you like crafty items, pickled/pre-mixed food, clothes, art, etc… . But go early.

Also, the horse carriage tours are right beside it if u choose to do that. We didn’t but May in the further.

It was nice but no great deals to be found there. Lots of arts and crafts. How many booths with baskets do we need?

Visited the City Market and it was a delight of all types of merchandise from local vendors.
It’s a must visit to get souvenirs to take home.

A very large market that spans a few buildings. It is nice to walk the area and see what vendors are selling. The wood working and basket makers was the area I enjoyed others are jewelry and trinkets I’ve seen before

Cool place to wonder and find local handmade gifts to take back home with you. It stretches about a quarter of a mile so people are spread out. Pretty much sell everything you would think of at a street market jewelry, shoes, hand made baskets you name it.

Loved Charleston City Market!!! All the handmade goods and friendly vendors made for a great shopping experience. I highly recommend it!

Market was great. A lot of vendors to choose from. A lot of people packed together which made us a little uncomfortable with Covid threat, but overall a fun place to shop and browse.

Slightly disappointing. Would love to see more local crafts within the market. Just not as attractive of a spot as it has been in the past.

A nice diversion. From local arts and crafts to top end home decor, this place has it all. You can find something for everyone.

Lots of stuff to look at. Most of it over priced chachsky, but it’s presented well. Would be overwhelming on a bustier day, but we were there on Monday mid-day. Wear comfortable shoes.

We were hoping for unique handcrafted local items but there was a ton of cheap imported goods. The handmade things we saw weren’t very original. The exceptions were the hand woven Gullah baskets which are lovely but prohibitively expensive.

This is a tourist stronghold in old Charleston. Glad, I guess, that I’ve been there now, but would never go back.

City Market is huge! I was shocked to find this out. Tons and tons of vendors, nice products, and open air to enjoy. Building after building full of stuff. Be sure to check it out.

Great market. Lots of little shops. Good combo of food, artwork, souvenirs, baskets and jewelry. Lots of fun to walk through if you’re sightseeing in Charleston.

Drove around it first. Bit of challenge finding the parking garage., About 2 blocks away. Went on a Tuesday. Lots of vendors were closed. We purchased SS rings with gemstones, a candle, SS neck chains, Shea butter cream and soaps, a ceramic sea turtle and a giant peanut butter cup with bacon. Place is a mix of local artists, little mini shops, gourmet packaged food items, jewelry, one place serves hot and cold food. Worth a visit

If you are going to Charleston, you can't miss the market. Lots of fun things to see and BUY. I re-discovered the Charleston Shoe Company which also has a larger store on King Street.

Must see market in the heart of Charleston. Great place to pick up a souvenir or gift. Probably only takes 30 minutes to fully see.

They've changed the Open Air Market from what it used to be and it's a lot of bougie shops that have overpriced stuff it used to be local artists decent prices a place to get souvenirs and home made Charleston unique gifts it's just disappointing nowhere for handicapped people to stop and rest taken all the benches out lost a lot of its history and charm

This is a fun and interesting place to walk thru. So many unique items and loved watching the basket weavers. Right downtown and would highly recommend!

Charleston City Market is something worth going through. It’s made up of several buildings of vendors and stores. Most offer goods either made by local artisans or about the Charleston area, although some are just general goods not specific to or locally made.

When it rains know that about half are in “outdoor stalls”. It’s covered and you won’t get wet, but when you go from building/stall to the next, you have to go outside. We were there when it was storming pretty badly and it flooded. No way to keep dry shoes— the water between the stalls came up to my ankles. But, as soon as the rain stopped, the water receded and dried up quickly.

Only two small food options but there is so much nearby that it doesn’t matter. I’d say an hour is probably all you need.

Yes it’s a tourist trap!!
But it’s an enjoyable experience for an early morning walk before the crowds start
This place has many side exits if you’ve had enough
Great way to walk to the waterfront…. very entertaining

My family enjoyed going through the market. My niece was happy with the souvenirs she purchased. It is pricey, but there’s something for everyone. It was very hot though—the air conditioned section was a sweet relief. Definitely a must if haven’t been before.

Must see if in the city. They are open most days and Fri-Sat evenings (different vendors in the evenings). We went back a couple times and found some unique treasures to take home.

Worth the visit. Many different vendors with a large variety of options for the tourist shopper. A nice respite from the heat and sun or rain.

The Charleston Market was very nice to walk through and experience. We stopped at a few vendors but did not purchase anything. At night, there are more artsy type vendors at the Market.

There with the grandsons having a great time,seeing everthing we can before we had to go to the airport love walking around

Many vendors and choices. Not anything particularly unique (except perhaps the $240 woven sweet grass basket). Appeared well run and nothing untoward by any means. Just not special

Such a great way to start my trip to Charleston! Enjoyed strolling through the market, found lots of hand made items, paintings,jewelry, odds and ends of all kinds. So glad we went there. Weekend is the best time to as there were more vendors there, however still nice during the week.

this indoor/outdoor shopping area seems to go on for 4 blocks or so with different vendors selling their interesting wares.

Since 1807, the Charleston City Market has been a hub of activity. Encompassing four city blocks, from Meeting Street to Bay Street, the City Market has been known for sweetgrass baskets, restaurants, bars and local vendors selling everything from jewelry to bags of stone ground grits. Open daily from 9:30 to 5:30 and Friday and Saturday nights from 6:30 to 10:30, the market's three open-air structures or sheds have survived fires, tornadoes, earthquakes and cannonball bombardments during the Civil War. Today, it is a place of enterprise with hundreds of entrepreneurs operating small businesses at Charleston's most visited public attraction. The bustling shopping atmosphere keeps tourists and locals returning to pursue stalls filled with iconic, rare and unexpected products. Of special note are the more than 50 sweetgrass basket weavers who carry on a special Charleston tradition. After a $5.5 million renovation in 2010, the centerpiece of the historic landmark is the Great Hall, enclosed and air conditioned with 20 merchants and a straight central aisle that runs the entire length of the building. Browse the City Market from one end to the other and see bath and body products, perfumes, clothing, home and garden furnishings, cigars, hot sauces, jellies, jams, nuts, Southern recipe cookbooks, tea, coffee, hats, chocolates, toys, gifts, books, wall art, vases, towels and aprons. Did I miss anything? Take a lunch break at one of two restaurants in the Great Hall, City Market Grocery or Callie's grab-and-go Hot Little Biscuit. From authentic Lowcountry dishes, like shrimp and grits, to sophisticated Southern delicacies such as bourbon-blazed shrimp with lobster hushpuppies or pimento cheese sandwiches, you get a genuine taste of what Charleston is all about.

Not my thing, but I am sure tons of people would love to visit the market. Lots of things to see and purchase.

It was neat seeing locals with their own made items. Also it is neat that this marketplace has been open for many many years.

Within the heart of the French Quarter, this is one of the oldest markets in the US. Various vendors fill this market. It’s mainly crafts and other types of trinkets. This is not a food market.

nice to visit but do not expect much. Junky souvenirs. close to other things to visit. prices not any better.

This market is HUGE! You could easily make a half a day trip out of this, especially when it is busy. Lots of great local artists to chose from for sure. Would love to come back for the night market to try to food too.

If it is your first time in Charleston, as it was for us, you may enjoy the City Market as there are a variety of local artisans selling there crafts or a multitude of vendors selling similar stuff so bargain shopping may be of benefit. There are a lot of photos and pictures of areas in and around Charleston. It's a great place to spend an hour or two to pass the time away while you wait for a restaurant reservation or tour to start.

The City Market has great shopping and people watching. It's worth a walk through while you're in Charleston. There are many points of entry along the market and it's much longer than you might think from first view on the outside as it actually stretches several blocks.

This place had tons of places to shop from. They had a great lemonade stand. The only thing I didn’t like is that some places started to pack up early but we had a good time and found cool things.

Awesome place to shop!!! Went with a group and we all enjoyed the time shopping there. Also sells some snack food items and souvenirs.

Lots of souvenir stalls. It's not a market like many historic towns have with stalls of ready to eat foods - often with the street food versions of the town's cuisines. And it's not a farmer's market selling seasonal produce.

Cute market with tons of booths to view different products in. Lots of prints of photos and art work that were reasonably priced and gorgeous. Definitely a good place to go if you’re looking for a souvenir or something crafty to bring home. Not terribly crowded on a Sunday mid-day.

We walked thru the market, it was very nice and clean, some places air conditioned, others open air, all vendors were friendly..... prices were moderate to expensive

Crazy prices. So crowded you could barely move. But of course, this is a must see when going to Charleston.

Very fun and varied market in the heart of historic Charleston There are some interesting items and of course the iconic baskets.

So many people told us that this was something we couldn't miss while we were in Charleston that we had very high expectations. It was interesting to walk through, but it's not something I would visit again.

Big open market with a lot of vendors. It covered space but extremely crowed. Tons of basket vendors and souvenirs shops.

In April it’s not unbearably hot yet and is actually really nice in climate. Tons of art, beautiful pieces, all styles. Bought some prints and painted magnets and such.

While the market buildings have historic significance the current use is pretty touristy with moderate to low end vendors. On the plus side a small section of one of the buildings is air-conditioned and there are public restrooms. The majority of the vendors rotate retail space and are randomly assigned from day to day. For us it was a once through and done.

There are better shopping opportunities and shops through out the historic district. In particular we found the Historic Charleston Foundation Shop (108 Meeting Street) to have lovely keepsake/gift items unique to Charleston. Additionally, the profits go toward the foundation's preservation efforts and purchases are exempt from the current 11% tax.

You probably need to go, but nothing all that unique. Or at least as far as I could tell. There is no room to stand and look and you get swept along in the crowd. To be fair, I was there on a Saturday and the weather was horrendous outside.

This was a cool place. Filled with local artists and vendors. The food booths give free samples!
It’s a huge long building on Market Street. There are a lot of shops and restaurants around it, so the whole area is great

Popular tourist destination, crowded even on a March Friday, but wide selection of art, crafts, jewelry, apparel, food/kitchen items, etc.

Great place to buy local artists work. Including sweet grass baskets. Wonderful gift ideas with local flavor.

Brilliant place to shop for all sorts of things from sweets ,
to wood carvings to French table clothes to Christmas decorations ,restrooms and cafe, it really did have everything.
This market is set in 5 building sections all under cover.
It was very busy when we visited but we enjoyed the experience and were able to purchase some really lovely items.
Recommend a visit when you are in Charleston.

Many small stalls with craftsmanship, local specialties and China goods. It is air conditioned and fun to walk through and browse through here. Found a lot of souvenirs. A nice little pastime.

Fun market to walk through. It is made up of alot of booths with individuals selling a variety of merchandise. Clothing, jewelry, food, games, and more!

Totally different than earlier years. Nothing but open stall after open stall of jewelry and nick nacks. Very crowded on a warm pleasant afternoon.

A must see!
Arrive early to get great pastries and coffee to walk with as you stroll vendors! Everything from hand made paper bowls to fine jewelry!
We bought traditional silver rice bead necklaces, pastries, wonderful lines and some prints!
It’s a great historical market where locals and tourists can enjoy! We loved talking with the local vendors and hearing of their history of generations living here

So many stores in here selling food, craft and souvenirs. I lost control and bought so many things here and they were all related to Charleston SC. I am afraid of coming here again, LOL.

We visited and really enjoyed our stroll through the market! Lots of vendors!! We visited during the week and all booths or sections were full! There is something for everyone!

Don’t waste your vacation time. This is like a huge flea market very very limited hand made crafts 98% china junk

For history it’s a great place to go to… for shopping it’s a waste. It’s basically the same stuff every 50 feet. The prices are way too high, and it’s way too crowded.

First time in Charleston and we really enjoyed walking through the market each day. Lots of different things to buy both local and not. They had quite a few different sweetgrass basket booths. They do get very expensive. The largest ones we saw were around $600. We bought a nice little sweetgrass rose bouquet for $20. Lots of jewelry booths many rings, bracelets and necklaces to look at and try on. I purchased a pretty larimar stone ring to remember our wonderful trip. They had a nice booth with many different Charleston themed shirts which were decently priced. Dolores' Southern Delights had some really tasty treats. The cinnamon pecans were DELICIOUS! I was so happy to find a snack that was both delicious and dairy free! There are bathrooms inside that were clean and a section of the market that was air conditioned which was nice to escape the sun and heat for a bit. The vendors were so friendly and helpful. Only thing is we wish they had a bit more variety of handmade items and not so many booths that repeated, but overall it was a great market and we will definitely visit again.

Very crowded area with vendors on either side. There are some great finds and vendors tend to be in the same locations so if you miss purchasing something one day you can go back and more than likely find it again.

Couldn’t really tell what being sold was authentic to Charleston and/or crafted by local artisans and what was commercial products being sold.

Great people watching and browsing for the locals who peddle their merchandise. No harassment occurs here and the arts and many of the products are really cool. Plan an hour or two.

Yeah, you have to go here if spending any appreciaable time at all in Charleston (mroe than one day). Temper your expectations, because mixed into the local artisan and culinary finds are standard tourist trap faire, and even (also in the bordering stores across the street) deceptive marketing ploys aimed at the less astute.

The best thing we found was the Carolina Gold Rice, available from many merchants at various prices $15-$20. We found the best value was achieved when bought directly from the Charleston Historical Society, with the added comfort that the proceeds could go to historic preservation activities.

For those who like shopping, the right place to go. Similar to the handicraft fairs in Brazil, there are several shops, from soaps, keyers, spices, baskets... only missed quitutes (rsr) but on the sides, outside there are several shops that sells, ice cream, cookies, cafes and bars!

There is a lot of stuff that one does not need. I was hoping for more authentic, local artisans. It was a quick walk through.

Fun to explore a bit. Nice guy selling nice quality leather wallets and passport covers. Enjoyed seeing the sweetgrass makers.

The market is a “must do”. There are so many vendors with so many unique items. We purchased several things as we stroll through the market on two days. Wow, it’s important to remember there’s a lot of tourist kinds of items, there’s some truly unique items to Charleston as well. Everything was friendly, and the prices were quite reasonable. You should know that some of the vendors are there every day other vendors are not. So it’s likely if you go more than one time you will see different vendors. Also, if you get the opportunity, on Friday and Saturday evenings, they have a night market and that had different vendors as well. this is just part of Charleston charm.

Nice big market providing a wide variety of goods including food, art and Gullah sweetgrass baskets which is what we wanted from Charleston. The baskets cost a lot and if you find cheap ones, they are fakes so don't get them.

Proximity to the cruise port would be awesome -IF- Charleston wasn't run by buffoons who decided they don't want cruiser money and now have cruise ships dock well away from this place.

Skip the museum on top of the market.

Although it felt like 10 repeating booths, the sheer size of the market and understanding it’s historical context is absolutely worth the walk through.

So fun to shop at City Market. People were friendly and locally made craft items were well made. Should be a stop for Charleston visitors

Charlestown City Market dates back many years and is located in the historic district of Charlestown. One long connected building.

One stop shopping experience which reminded me of other markets like in Dallas or other larger cities. There is a lot of history here and I encourage you to learn about that.
The merchandise was of higher quality and some local products such as the Sawgrass baskets beautifully woven with care.

It was so crowded when we were there that you couldn't get close enough to check the wares out. Of course it didn't help that the temps outside were over 90 degrees outside.
If you are there when it is not so crowded and cooler out, I think you would have a nice time checking the market out.

Very boring, same old same old, lots of t shirts and imports from china, some of the handmade grass baskets but very expensive

Some cool items, but every vendor I interacted with was rude. Very much a tourist trap… and not really worth it unless you just want to walk through. Also, they sell food with nowhere to eat and it’s so crowded, you can’t stand anywhere unless you leave.

The variety of vendors is plentiful. However, we were disappointed by how early many of the vendors packed up for the day. We were told that this is typical for February, before the tourist season really kicks in.
Also, unlike other city markets, there are VERY few food/drink options at City Market. For a market that spans almost four city blocks, we were stunned that we couldn't find a variety of food/drink options. When we visited, there was only one food vendor open in the whole market. Again, this might have been because of the time of year.

My husband and I enjoyed walking through the market area. There were many quality shops to browse in (I bought a good bit as it turns out)! We also had interesting discussions with the sales staff and even other customers. This area is definitely touristy but the merchandise is overall good quality.

A nice way to spend a few hours. Unique gifts and plenty of choices. Picked up quite a few Christmas presents. Had the most delicious real lemonade here. Something for everyone!

This market is open air with some air conditioned areas. It is historical with lots of options. Most of the stuff we saw was touristy. I do not like shopping but wanted to see it due to its fame. If you are a shopper you probably rate this higher than I do.

Cute market with some nice stuff being sold. It was very crowded the day we went. Only one small portion is air conditioned.

It is a typical open air market but you can literally buy everything that you need from this market. Would suggest to walk through the whole market and then go back to where you want to purchase. There are so many things to choose from! So May choices from food items to candles, pictures,jewelry, sweet grass basket,etc. It is all located there. They are open every day which is super convenient! I would definitely recommended going to the Charleston Market when visiting Charleston. We went early and there was no crowd, it does tend to get crowed, so go early!

Great shopping area off meeting and market street . Paintings, jewelry, leather goods, nice local people, clean, safe area.. close to seafront and colorful
Rainbow house row. Connects quick to King street

We spent a few hours wandering in the market and there are many local artisans displaying their goods. It is a historic buildings and you can find local baskets, paintings, food, literally all kinds of interesting items. It is several blocks long so it takes a bit to see everything

I bought a gorgeous shawl, cookbook, homemade spices, shrimp and grits mix and baseball caps. I wanted a sweet grass basket, but they were quite pricey. Hopefully, I can purchase one next time we visit. It is a fun place to spend the day. They also sell nuts and treats. Don't miss this market when visiting Charleston.

The Charleston City Market is a must walk through location. There are many vendors with all sorts of wares to peruse and purchase, including candy and Gullah roses.

It was good to go by and wander a bit. Lots of cool stuff to look at and very cool open air experience, but much of the local items were overpriced.

A unique mix of food, drinks, and local products close to cruise port, 5 minute walk. There are ample free public restrooms. The horse drawn carriages are in this part of the city.

Covered and many vendors. A lot of sea grass basket works which is handmade. Jewelry, artwork, food, ornaments. Great shopping.

Not a bad joint, kinda boring for the average guy, a place for social media checkin. The place was clean and nice restrooms. Not 2nd A friendly!

It's fun ... If you like sweetgrass baskets, a wide variety of local artisans, and more. I didn't count the buildings as we went through them, but there were 5 or 6 or so. They were all loaded with sweetgrass baskets, a wide variety of local artisans, and many other things like gift items, sweet treats, coffee, jewelry, and t-shirts, and I could go on and on.

Nice city market in a historic building. Many vendors from art to souvenirs to toys to sweetgrass baskets and beyond. Definitely worth a stroll and possibly worth a bit of purchasing. They have clean bathrooms, too.

It’s always fun to walk through the Charleston market - so many cool things to see, not the least of which is the people making amazing sweet grass baskets. We found a variety of treasures - some useful and some just for fun. We rarely miss the market when we’re in Charleston.

Definitely touristy but worth at least walking through and checking out. Local vendors with various offerings. Be sure to check out the grass baskets which are locally made by hand.

Talk about an overrated tourist trap! Crowded space, vendors selling touristy junk. Reminded my wife and I of street vendors in NYC. Don't waste your time, seriously.

The city market is a lot of fun. It’s pretty big and has a lot of vendors. It’s nicer than other similar ones that I’ve been too. We walked around for about an hour and covered it all and bought a few things.

Went during a "girls trip" lots of cute items. Something for everyone. Got some local food items, cute pair of earrings. Beautiful leather items. Was really hot and humid the day we went so the air conditioned portion was a nice respite.

Great market for seeing all the local shops and vendors selling their wares like they did 100 years or more ago. Some quite pricey, others reasonable, depends on what you're looking for.

Beautiful artisans and was fun to walk around and see the beautiful work. Relaxing stroll through the market

There are many historic sites, antebellum mansions and fine dining restaurants to visit in Charleston, South Carolina, from Fort Sumter to Patriots Point to Drayton Hall. But the starting point for first-time visitors is the City Market. Located at 188 Meeting Street in downtown Charleston, it is a historic market complex that was established in the 1790s and stretches for four city blocks from the architecturally significant Market Hall of Confederate Museum which faces Meeting Street through a continuous series of one-story market sheds that finally terminates at East Bay Street. A word to the wise: City Market should not be confused with the Old Slave Market, a nearby museum where slaves were sold. Slaves never were sold at City Market, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973. For openers, the City Market Hall, which has housed Charleston's Confederate Museum since 1899, has been described as a building of the "highest architectural design quality." Originally known as the Centre Market, it was a replacement for the city's beef market building that burned in 1796. Throughout the 19th century, the market provided a convenient place for area farms and plantations to sell beef and produce as well as a place for locals to gather and socialize. A Greek Revival-style building, City Market stretches for 1,240 feet through a continuous series of sheds oriented east to west and flanked by North Market Street on the north side and South Market Street on the south side. The first shed stretches from the rear of Market Hall to Church Street, the second shed from Church to Anson Street, the third shed from Anson to State Street and the fourth shed from State to East Bay Street. Today, the City Market's 300 vendors sell souvenirs, collectibles, graphics, jewelry, clothing, books, food, bakery goods, crafts, artwork, antiques and the most popular item of all, Gullah sweetgrass baskets. You've never experienced anything like it.

Great place to shop for local items, such as art and jewelry, as well as a few food options for a quick bite. Infused alcohol cigars was a plus !

We walked through this a couple times - wasn't any better the second time. We have been to markets all over the world I found this one underwhelming. Lots of more interesting places to visit in Charleston.

We really enjoyed walking thru the market - so many unique items to look at, admire & purchase ! I would recommend to anyone visiting Charleston

Nice, clean, average flea market experience with artisan vendors/goods. Can spend at least an hour in these covered stalls.

Located on Market Street between Church and Meeting Streets, the City Market is a historic market complex in downtown Charleston. My wife and I visited here on a pleasant Wednesday in May 2025.

As we strolled through the four-block market, we saw an interesting and diverse set of vendors selling apparel, packaged local snacks, glassware, fragrances, candles, jewelry, refreshments, carvings, paintings and Charleston souvenirs. The most interesting and unique vendors were the Gullah artisans weaving and selling their sweetgrass baskets

The market is a big draw for tourists and, as one can imagine, some of the items for sale can be rather pricey. However, if you are vigilant you may be able to spot some deals; for example, my wife found an excellent bargain on post cards.

The Charleston City Market was one of our first-time visitor “to-do’s,” and we’re glad we took some time to check this off our list.

Regardless of what you might be looking to puchase at a market, visiting the Charleston City Market will likely have something for you. Artwork, baskets, collectibles, coffee, candles...you name it, someone in the market is selling it.

I was referred to the city market since I could only find one place on king street with postcards and magnets. City market is local vendors’ stalls selling their products including sweet treats, artwork, and more. I found a few postcards, but then found some nice magnets near the oyster bar on meeting street. I’d highly suggest meeting street instead of this busy area.

Today we were accosted by two youths selling flowers, and then verbally abused with vulgar language. Very bizarre I would stay away from people selling sweet grass flowers

This market is a waste of time and left me and my family angry. When we were leaving a man handed me and my mother palm roses. He started telling a story of how he was raising money for a trip. When I realized what was happening- I handed the rose back to him. He snatched the rose from my mother’s hand and tried to get a ring off her finger. He also cursed at me.
We walked one block outside the market and I saw a security guard- I told him about the incident. He laughed at me. No help at all.
Don’t go! This place ruined my day. Be very aware of your surroundings.

Nice selection of odds and ends. Friendly sellers. Fun people watching! Lots of touristy things but enjoyable to wander about.

Probably dedicate an hour I would say.

My husband and I went just to browse but ended up spending a little money. Fun just to look at the different vendors and spend a little time.

The city market is in the center of town and takes up about 6 blocks of separate buildings. some air conditioned , some not. this is where all the local venders come to sell there items. You will find mostly craft items here. pictures, paintings, hats, magnets, ect.... We did find this a bid redundant as most buildings had venders selling similar items and asking for higher prices than what we were able to find in the regular stores just a few steps away.
I would caution you to be weary of the street vendors selling the rosses . they try to give you one saying its free or only two dollers. then when you take it , the price goes up to ten. or they say its my last one can i get 5 dollars for it. we say this every day on our 4 day trip.

Pretty cool market area in the French quarter. They were open at night as well and had a variety of things to check out if you like to shop. Definitely stop by!

If you are visiting Charleston, I would recommend checking this place out. It is a cool venue and has a lot going on. There is food, drinks, jewelry, local art, etc. You can spend a half-hour to a couple of hours here.

We enjoyed exploring the market, with friends who were experiencing Charleston for the first time (though in fairness, our last visit here, was decades ago).
We always appreciate the repurposing of historic architecture, for current relevance. The melding of old-school detail/design/craftmanship, with the housing of small-business, entrepreneurial exuberance; makes for a quintessential American experience.
There is an engaging mixture of vendors/wares to browse and explore. Certainly some of the offerings are kitschy/touristy items; but there is also a healthy variety of quality crafts, interesting creations and tempting foods/snacks/treats.
This location also provides a prime opportunity, for those of us who enjoy watching a passing parade of people, enjoying a pleasant weekend afternoon.
This market area is a wonderful resource for the residents of the city; as well as its visitors.

First established in 1790, this four-block market housed in Market Hall has been designated an historic landmark. Specialty goods like local Sawgrass baskets, novelties, jewelry, leather, souvenirs, paintings and various other crafts adorn the place. Found some items overpriced and some items kitschy. Watch out for the palm frond frolicking folk. Many nearby eating and drinking spots...

The city market had a very nice mix of vendors and products to appeal to a wide range of consumers. There was everything from refrigerator magnets to linens to handmade baskets.

Definitely a place to take in the sites and check out all the neat stuff but it is very expensive! The history behind it is what brings me to it everytime but it is definitely a huge tourist trap especially with the cruise ships coming through there.

Oh and not dog friendly although we did take our dog through the outside part but its a big no in the inside part... I get that.

I loved all of Charleston and was looking forward to this market. There were some beautifully woven baskets and they normal soaps and t-shirts etc. If you are short on time skipping this would be okay.

Unique experience. This is a must see for Charleston. We bought silver rings, necklaces, soaps, food and handbags. There is so much to see and do in these area.

We loved visiting the Charleston City Market! So many fun booths to browse and several lovely purchases! We enjoyed breakfast at Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit and strolled the market all the way through. Very enjoyable!

On either side of the market is north and south streets with lots of stores so don’t miss them. The market itself can get crowded but it is fun and o walk around.

It was ok, not a big deal. I've been to markets all over the US and this one was average nothing special. It was raining the day we went so we appreciated the shelter. I bought a magnet. You can find all different souvenirs here, however the better ones are in the shops outside the market on either side of it. The quality of the Christmas ornaments were better out of the market.

Worth a browse. Some lovely photos and art works of Charleston for purchase. Open air market but undercover. Reasonably quick walk-through for us.

could visit again and again. don’t miss!! fabulous items. unique!! spring is best or fall. love love love love it!!

The Charleston City Market was an interesting set up. It has many different artistic items from jewelry, pictures of Charleston, leather goods, foods, woven baskets. I was able to pick up a couple of souvenirs which were well made & at reasonable prices.

A lot of repetitive items. Panhandlers outside. There are signs inside that ask that you not buy from them. Cash only for most places. There is an ATM available. Not really something I would make a point to see.

Junk sale for old women. Just a crappy flea market with handkerchiefs and woven baskets. I would rather watch paint dry then make this trip

A long row about 4 blocks of higher end flea market stuff. Don't expect the junk.well worth a walk through if in Charleston South Carolina.

This historic place is filled with local vendors that give you an informative and beautiful glimpse of what this charming city is all about. This is NOT a farmers/food market. You'll find some quality souvenirs, fine art, crafts (including Gullah Sweetgrass baskets), artisan food, baked goods, and more. If you are hesitant to go into a crowded busy place, mask-up; otherwise, shop to your hearts content. Other local attractions are not far, but when you get tired to walking- go to the intersection, and you'll find bike taxis. Bike Taxis take cash, Venmo, and CashApp.

i visited this Market 16 years ago and WOW what a change!! This was a lovely surprise and just delightful to walk through. I love the mixture of more permanent open store-fronts along with stall type artisans. Such great variety! We just loved this!!

We enjoyed perusing all the many different types of goods available for purchase. I have as looking for Carolina Gold rice and was delighted to find some at the Charleston Historical Society booth and, bonus, it was tax free because they are a non-profit. We spent an enjoyable afternoon checking out the varied offerings.

If you are in Charleston, you should of course visit the market which is located in the historic quarter and in historic buildings. There is a lot of art, jewelry and other fun to see and buy.

quite a few little shops set up in the city market. it stretches for several block. Most is open air but a few with air conditioning.

We browsed early in our visit but the local product made so much more sense and was so much more meaningful after we visited so many wonderful restaurants, parks, fountains and plantations.

Huge shopping area with great items - some of them similar. Had jewelry, arts and crafts, local foods, souvenirs, drinks, clothing, and bags.

Great fun shops for locals off season. Very heavy traffic during tourist season with cruise ships in port. Parking can be a nightmare especially with all the pedestrian traffic. Lots of options for food and shopping but plan on quite a bit of walking. Rich history downtown!

This place is something you’d want to consider checking out just because it is a part of the city. I found it very crowded when I went but I pushed through to see what is in the market. Lots of goodies, food, trinkets, Knick knacks, souvenirs. Outside the market on either side are more of the same.

You can find just about everything at the City Market. Lots of things significant to Charleston. Lots of homemade goodies. From hats, to Jewelry, soaps, paintings, Woodwork items. Food, sweets, nuts, homemade candies and fudge. You have to stop by. It seems to go on for miles.

Only a few off us ate here, since others ate at different restaurants. At first I did not think that I would find anything that I wanted to eat. Then I went back around the front and noticed chicken salad croissant. I love chicken salad croissants, so this is what I ordered. The clerk told me to check back in seven minutes. I came back early, and my chicken salad croissant was ready. It had even been toasted. The reason that I did not give a higher rating is that a side should have been offered with it. One of my friends did share her fries with me, so that helped. I also did some shopping the next day; however, I did not buy anything. I had heard about the sweet baskets and wanted to check them out. Someone said that they were very expensive. I checked one and the price was unbelieveable. City Market is a nice place for browsing but if you want to save money, I recommend that you shop somewhere else.

Half of the market it indoor with air conditioning snd the other half is not. A lot of the same thing offered in the booths but it was something to do. The lemonade stand is awesome! There a multiple restaurants around the market along with carriage rides.

Has a lot of T-shirt shops and local trinkets. Basket wea very interesting. Can be crowded on weekends. Historical area to walk around which is a nice area

There was plenty of souvenirs and gifts to satisfy any shoppers urges. Some very interesting. This is a great place to get your Gulla baskets if you hadn’t yet. Great area near the water with lots of horse drawn carriages going by. It is close enough to walk to Rainbow Row.

Beautiful hand made local crafts. Some (hard to get rid of) older tables with not as great stuff. Many local crafters and artists and delicacies! The night market Friday and Saturday is 100 % local and exquisite.

One of the nation’s oldest public markets, Charleston City Market, is both a cultural and a culinary hub. Open during the day year-round, with weekly Night Markets, Charleston City Market is constantly bustling.

It is a great glimpse into life in the Old South. It has been a shopping hub since the 1800s. The market buzzes with residents and visitors alike, perusing stalls loaded with toys, clothes, art, leather goods, and regional souvenirs.

If you want to buy souvenirs to take home, head to the Charleston City Market. It is a great place to purchase goodies and soak up local culture. There is a noticeable African American influence reflected in the different food and product vendors
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Do not forget to pick up a sweetgrass basket, a quintessential souvenir from the South. Gullah artisans have been weaving these baskets for more than 300 years now!

Built-in 1841 in the Greek Revival style, the red sandstone building with green ironwork trim, along with its sheds, are among the more than 100 sites in the city listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

We love the Charleston Market. It is a must visit in the Charleston area. They have neat gifts that you cannot find anywhere else.

What a cool. historic shopping area with a range of items to wear or use, including baskets, coffee, and tons of jewelry. Most vendors are friendly and welcoming while others seemed overly bothered to take the time to tend to us, but just one rotten apple shouldn't stop you from visiting this area - easy walk, great bathrooms and more.

Very wide selection of goods sold but could get crowded during peak tourist seasons. Very similar to Faneuil Hall at the Boston City Market. Cramped with tourists so you sometimes have to jostle your way through.

Beautiful market with many sweetgrass basket sellers. We bought from Corey Alston at the front entrance of the market. What beautiful craftsmanship! I highly recommend a stop by here to buy local goods.

Huge market with stalls filled with lots of vendors selling very nice products. Including local foods and gifts to take home. Fun shopping morning.

Big crowded market. Lots of shopping but far to much imported junk. Was looking for more local handmade items. Did buy some Benne cookies, pralines, and comfortable shoes.

They just added air conditioning and updated restrooms, awesome! Great finds here really fun to walk thru, vendors are so creative.

Whenever family or friends want to go to Charleston we always have to end up at the City Market. If you are into cheap jewelry , t shirts and so so artwork it is the place to go. Otherwise avoid it. There is very little variety and soon most to the stuff looks like it was delivered from the same truck.

While parking and traffic are an issue anywhere in Charleston the area are the market is especially bad.

Love to wander through to see what the venders have for sale. Have not been there for over 5 years so it was nice to visit once again.

Wanted to like it, but too touristy and full of stuff of low quality. Wish that it would focus more on quality items made and/ or created in Charleston.

The city market is a lovely indoor area comprised of several buildings across a number of blocks in the heart of Charleston. It’s filled with a variety of local goods, many of which are handmade, and numerous other products. Not your typical “flea market or straw market” fare; much higher quality. The vendors are quite friendly and not pushy. We purchased two imported French tablecloths, exactly like one which we bought while in France, as well as some handmade silver jewelry.
Worth a visit! Lots of wonderful restaurants surround the market.

This used to be a quaint shopping experience. Now if you want mostly tourist junk made in China this is the place for you.

It just happened to be a rainy day in Charleston so we spent a couple hours shopping. We found something for everyone on our list. And we learned a bit more about Gullah culture visiting the Chuma Gullah Gallery and by talking with the sweet grass artisans.

Great atmosphere for tourist shopping. Lots of local jewelry, artwork, crafts. Vendors are very polite and not pushy. Restaurants and other venues are within stepping distance.

Fun market. There are gifts and souvenirs to buy. Most can be found in cheaper shops, but fun to look at. Lemonade was a must. The heat is tough, but there is Ac and bathrooms in the middle. I suggest starting at the beginning, and not in the middle.

The City Market is a nice place with numerous different vendors offering a wide variety of items. It was a nice day so a little crowded, but still a good experience.

I rated this average because each market section had some unique finds but a lot of items that were just imported from overseas. I think they should allocate this market for local crafters and shops.

Huge multi building market specializing in arts and crafts,some foods,clothes and accessories.Should be able to spend a couple of hours and come up with something different.We went when temps were comfortable,but may get real hot in the summer despite a few overhead fans.

WOW!!! This is the largest, most diverse marketplace I've ever seen in the U.S. Don't let the building fool you. The market starts under the war museum (shown) and extends for blocks. There's some duplication, as can be expected, but there's also a good variety of art, jewelry, nick nacks, and more. It's a little pricey, but the quality is uncompromising. Check it out when in Charleston

I have to say that I agree with some comments. Junk I can buy anywhere. However, the baskets are amazing! And visit the Night Market. No junk, just real stuff that people in the area actually made. The non touristy restaurants are the best. Avoid the crowd.

Many unique vendors to check out, Air Conditioning in the central part, shaded in the rest - so a nice reprieve after a lot of walking on a hot day! Something for everyone!

This market reminds me of New Orleans French Market. Many small businesses and vendors selling various items. They had everything from food, clothes, candles, etc.

The Charleston City Market was a great place to see local art and artists, but also be able to purchase items from businesses. It was fun to walk through, interesting to speak with locals and neat to see all the offerings. There were many other places to shop outside the Market but I recommend seeing the City Market for the experience even if you don't find great buys.

This is so cool. Definitely happy I was able to visit. There are several vendors. all are very friendly. The prices are a bit higher than you might find around the corner.

A must for shopping and just enjoying Charleston! We found all kinds of from socks, Christmas ornaments, leather goods, perfumes, to even cute little finger puppets!

Wandered through this very crowded market but with high temperatures and 98% humidity, it was just too darn hot to stick around for long. Yes, a few sections are air conditioned but most aren't. They have an interesting selection of vendors with all kinds of products - including lots of food items. Glad I stopped by.