North Carolina · United States
Where to stay in Charlotte
Charlotte is a city in North Carolina, United States, home to about 875,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- CLT9 km · Charlotte Douglas International Airport
- Currency
- USDUnited States dollar
- Time zone
- America/New York
- Language
- Carolinian, Chamorro, Hawaiian
About
About Charlotte
Charlotte is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. With a population of 874,579 at the 2020 census, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., seventh-most populous city in the South, and second-most populous city in the Southeast (after Jacksonville, Florida).
Charlotte is the largest city in the state, with a population of 875,000 (2020) residents within the city limits. As of 2020, the Charlotte-Gastonia-Salisbury combined statistical area (CSA) had a regional population of 2.6 million, and Charlotte is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. It is the center of finance, industry, technology, and entertainment for the region. It is a renowned financial powerhouse and banking center, with Bank of America's corporate headquarters and Wells Fargo's East Coast Operations in Uptown.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Charlotte
Do
Bojangles' Coliseum is a historic domed arena in East Charlotte that is used for community events, conventions and smaller musical acts. Memorial Stadium in Elizabeth is used for smaller events such as high school and college football games and band competitions. Carolina Ascent FC play here in the new USL Super League in women's soccer. PNC Music Pavilion is the venue for big shows in Charlotte. It's in University City. The Spectrum Center in Uptown hosts musical and sports-related shows each year.
- Driving Tours
- Charlotte 101 Class and Tour
- Heroes Convention
- CIAA Basketball Tournament
- St. Patrick's Day Parade
- Southern Spring Home and Garden Show
- PGA Quail Hollow Championship
- Taste of Charlotte
- Scarowinds
- Carolina Renaissance Festival
- Southern Christmas Show
- EclecFest
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Charlotte to stay in
If you are not driving or renting a car during your visit, try to find lodging near the center city (these can be found in the district articles). Otherwise you will be stuck paying cab and bus fares, and you will find it quite difficult to move around as freely as you'd like. Most of the city's large hotels are either uptown, near the airport, or in the University area. There are also some luxury hotels appearing in Ballantyne, and there are the typical options off the highways and interstate exits.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Charlotte
21 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Dunhill Hotel | 0.3 km | |
| Hotel Charlotte | 1924 | 0.3 km |
| South Tryon Square | 1961 | 0.2 km |
| Barringer Hotel | 1950 | 0.5 km |
| The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte | 0.2 km | |
| Westin Charlotte | 2003 | 0.7 km |
| Canopy by Hilton Charlotte Southpark | 8.6 km | |
| Charlotte Marriott City Center | 0.1 km | |
| Charlotte Marriott SouthPark | 7.8 km | |
| Hilton Charlotte Airport Hotel | 7.8 km | |
| Hilton Charlotte University Place | 12.4 km | |
| Hilton Charlotte Uptown | 0.3 km | |
| Holiday Inn Charlotte Center City | 0.3 km | |
| Homewood Suites by Hilton Charlotte Ballantyne Area | 17.2 km | |
| Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel | 0.3 km | |
| Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel | 8.2 km | |
| Sheraton Charlotte Airport | 7.3 km | |
| Sonesta Charlotte Executive Park | 8.6 km | |
| The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte | 18.8 km | |
| The Duke Mansion | 3.2 km | |
| The Ivey's Hotel | 0.1 km |
All 21 hotels in Charlotte, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit Charlotte
Charlotte has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; August is the wettest, with about 111 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Charlotte: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), about 9.2 km from the city centre in a straight line; Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA, 22 km) and Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO, 127 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Charlotte Douglas International Airport CLT has excellent coverage of the eastern half of the U.S. and the Caribbean as well as service to several European and Central American hubs. American Airlines operates the majority of the airport's flights. Sprinter (CATS Route 5) buses run regularly between the airport and Uptown. A one-way ticket costs $2.20. Two additional routes connect the airport with Northlake Mall (Route 590) and LYNX Blue Line Archdale Station (Route 591).
Getting around
Uptown is very dense, and almost all attractions in that part of town are easily reached by walking. However, only a few other districts (such as NoDa and Dilworth) are truly pedestrian-friendly. Outer districts, such as Ballantyne and University City, are pedestrian-unfriendly areas. In fact, Charlotte has one of the lowest walk scores for any major American city. If you must walk, give some thought to the weather; summer days in the South are quite hot and it is easy to get dehydrated. Uptown is laid out in a grid, with numbered streets running east-west with few exceptions.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
CLT · Charlotte Douglas International Airport
USA · Concord-Padgett Regional Airport
GSO · Piedmont Triad International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Charlotte
Eat
For the most part, Charlotte's culinary tastes are in line with the rest of the American South. Standards such as grits, sweet potatoes (yams), and greens are common in kitchens and restaurants. Southern food is typically high in fats and carbohydrates, so dieters should be careful to stick to higher-end restaurants that serve a more cosmopolitan fare. Otherwise, dig in and enjoy the richness of the Southern diet. Many of Charlotte's older restaurants are owned by Greek families. Often, you will unexpectedly find Greek items on the menus of restaurants that otherwise serve American fare.
Drink
Liquor is available by the drink in the city of Charlotte. However, some smaller towns in the region prohibit liquor sales. If you plan to explore nearby counties, there is a chance you may encounter a "dry" area. Open containers of alcohol are never permitted on the street; if you order a beverage you must finish it before leaving the restaurant or bar. If you want to buy liquor by the bottle, you must do it at state-run ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Commission) stores, rather than at traditional liquor stores. Beer and wine are available for purchase at most markets, grocery stores and gas stations. Cheerwine, a cherry-flavored soft drink, is a local favorite.
Stay safe
Though Charlotte's crime rates are significantly lower than other major U.S. cities, it still suffers from many "big city issues", so don't let your guard all the way down. If you are uptown, the biggest worry is auto theft/break-in, which is hardly rampant. Violent crime is relatively rare in the central district, as well as the affluent southern side of town. The most dangerous areas are the west and east sides. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police (CMPD) almost always maintain a visible presence in crowded areas. If you have trouble, look for an officer. In some parts of the city the police are deployed on bikes as well as cars.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Charlotte: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Charlotte?
Charlotte has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; August is the wettest, with about 111 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Charlotte?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), about 9.2 km from the city centre in a straight line; Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA, 22 km) and Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO, 127 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Charlotte?
United States dollar (USD).
Nearby
Destinations near Charlotte
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.