Downtown
I arrived in North Charleston by train very late in the evening, over an hour late. Fortunately, I managed to catch the last bus to my hostel. The bus driver was incredibly friendly and allowed me to enter for free. I stayed at the Not So Hostel. The hostel was fantastic! The next day, I went downtown. The area managed to preserve its buildings from the 18th and early 19th centuries, making it, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful cities in the United States. I took numerous amazing pictures there. The place is also easily walkable.
Rainbow Row
The most iconic area of the city is Rainbow Row, a small strip of colorful houses. Make sure to go there in the morning to take photos when it's less crowded. During the day, the place is crowded, making it difficult to take good photos.
Waterfront Park
Next to the Rainbow Row lies the Waterfront Park. You may sit there and enjoy a snack or the good weather. There is also a pier at the park where you might spot dolphins. This was definitely one of my highlights of the trip, as I never saw dolphins before.
French Quarter
Afterwards you should check out the French Quarter. This place has many restaurants. You can also take gorgeous pictures there.
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
In the evening, I had the idea to take pictures of the sunset on the other side of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. It’s a short bus ride away, and the fare is very cheap. I spent almost two hours there, taking photos with my phone in one hand and a Target bag full of groceries in the other. It was definitely worth it, even though my feet were killing me from all the walking.
Angel Oak Tree
The next day, I visited Angel Oak Tree, an ancient oak tree estimated to be between 300 and 400 years old. You can only get there by car or bus. The bus line is somewhat unreliable, with only two buses operating daily. Despite this, I managed to make the round trip. However, if you miss the last bus, you might need to call an Uber. The bus journey took approximately three hours, but the sight of the tree was definitely worth the wait.
Public Transport
Public transportation in Charleston is quite bad. There are only buses, which are consistently late. Moreover, most of the places near Charleston are not accessible by bus. Fortunately, I managed to reach Angel Oak Tree by bus.
Conclusion
Charleston is a beautiful city with many things to see, so I can definitely recommend it. Only the buses suck.