The Local Instagrammer’s Guide to Charleston

It’s my year and a half anniversary of living here in the Lowcountry, and I’m so excited to share with y’all my Instagrammer’s Guide to Charleston! I’ve rounded up my favorite spots in this gorgeous city to snap pretty photos for the gram, from well-known favorites to some hidden gems. I hope you find it helpful!

#1 Charleston City Hall

This gorgeous building is best known for it’s grand double staircase made of marble. It’s the perfect spot to make a colorful outfit pop!

#2 Tradd Blue Door

The blue door on Tradd Street, just off of Rainbow Row is a favorite of mine! The best time to catch the best light here is in the evening about an hour before sunset, and the jasmine above the door blooms around April-May.

#3 Old Post House Inn

This blue and white building is so classic “Charleston” and makes for awesome pics. It’s located in Old Village Mount Pleasant, which has some of the most gorgeous neighborhoods to stroll around in (see #14).

#4 Sullivan’s Island Beach

Anywhere on Sullivan’s Island is great for pretty photos, but I love going to Station 19 because you can get a great shot of the lighthouse!

#5 Rainbow Row

The beautiful colored houses on East Bay Street make for the cutest and most classic Instagram photos of Charleston. If you want to avoid the tourists, go early in the morning, but the best time to get photos is the evening when it’s all shaded.

#6 Tradd Pink Door

One of the most popular doorsteps in Charleston might be the pink door at 126 Tradd St. Depending on the time of year you visit, you might have to wait a bit to grab a photo, but it’s definitely worth it. Go about an hour and a half before sunset to avoid any shadows.

#7 The Mills House

This gorgeous pink hotel is such a hotspot for photos! It’s cute for close-ups if you want a solid pink backdrop, but I also like crossing Meeting Street and getting the whole hotel in the shot.

#8 Waterfront Park

I might be a little biased about this spot because it’s where Brent and I got engaged (EEK!!) but it’s really cute for photos of the pretty palm trees. Also if you keep walking, you’ll find the next location on my list.

#9 The Pineapple Fountain

To be honest, this spot is really tough to grab a photo without a bunch of people in it unless it’s in the Fall or Winter or super early in the morning BUT it’s doable.

#10 Church Street Marble Stairs

Showing y’all a photo of the whole staircase because if you saw it in others you might think you’re looking for something more grand, but these are them! These steps make for the perfect outfit photo and the light is best in the morning.

#11 East Bay Street

After you grab a photo by the blue door on Tradd (#2 on the list) walk toward East Bay and cross the street for photos of Rainbow Row on a grander scale. Those trees behind me are crape myrtles that bloom around June/July into early Fall, and it’s also good to wait until about an hour before sunset for a photo.

#12 Hampton Park

The prettiest and biggest park in Charleston is Hampton Park. Grab a photo by the lake or walk around and you’ll see so many gorgeous flowers and pathways with beautiful live oaks and Spanish moss.

#13 The “Barbie Mansion”

It saddens me to say that this house is under construction right now and may not be pink by the time it’s done (NOO!) but for now the fence is still a cute place to grab a fun pink photo.

#14 Old Village Mount Pleasant

The Old Post House Inn isn’t the only cute spot in this area. If you walk around, there are so many gorgeous Southern homes that make for great photo ops. I personally love this one on Venning Street!

#15 The Wisteria Wall

Of course you shouldn’t expect the wisteria to be in bloom all year, but when it is it’s magical! Stop by this address during the month of March or early April to check it out, it blooms for about 3 weeks so you have to catch it at just the right time.

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I hope y’all found this Instagrammer’s Guide to Charleston helpful! Tag me in your posts on IG (@byhilaryrose) and I’ll share them on my stories!