Quick Guide
Spring, fall and winter are all excellent times to visit Charlotte, depending on what you’re looking for. Spring (March through May) is particularly beautiful — the weather is warm but pleasant, flowers are blooming, and parks and patios are abuzz with activity. Fall sees fewer visitors and spectacular foliage if you go in mid-to-late October. Hotel rates and airfare tend to be the cheapest from December through February.
Visas
Travelers from outside the United States will need a valid passport, as well as ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) eligibility or a full visa.
Money
Currency is in U.S. dollars. ATMs are widely available.
Travel Health
Refer to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for up-to-date information and guidance. Before traveling, research and prepare for what to do if you get sick while away.
Getting Here
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a 15- to 20-minute drive from downtown — rent a car, take a taxi, use a rideshare app, take public transit (the CATS Sprinter Service) or book a private shuttle to get to your destination. Alternately, three Amtrak routes serve the city, and daily Greyhound service to and from Charlotte is available with connections in Raleigh, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; and other cities.
Getting Around
The best way to get around Charlotte is by car — either rental car, taxi or rideshare, all of which are readily available. Public transit includes the CATS (Charlotte Area Transit System) light rail and bus service. There are also bike-sharing options throughout the city.
Local Lingo
English is the primary language spoken in Charlotte. Note that Charlotte’s Uptown is what is usually called downtown in other cities.
Must-Have Apps
Insider Tip
Check out what many consider to be the best venue for live music in Charlotte: The Visulite Theater. Diverse acts include country, indie rock and jazz, and pretty much everything in between.
Spring, fall and winter are all excellent times to visit Charlotte, depending on what you’re looking for. Spring (March through May) is particularly beautiful — the weather is warm but pleasant, flowers are blooming, and parks and patios are abuzz with activity. Fall sees fewer visitors and spectacular foliage if you go in mid-to-late October. Hotel rates and airfare tend to be the cheapest from December through February.
Visas
Travelers from outside the United States will need a valid passport, as well as ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) eligibility or a full visa.
Money
Currency is in U.S. dollars. ATMs are widely available.
Travel Health
Refer to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for up-to-date information and guidance. Before traveling, research and prepare for what to do if you get sick while away.
Getting Here
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a 15- to 20-minute drive from downtown — rent a car, take a taxi, use a rideshare app, take public transit (the CATS Sprinter Service) or book a private shuttle to get to your destination. Alternately, three Amtrak routes serve the city, and daily Greyhound service to and from Charlotte is available with connections in Raleigh, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; and other cities.
Getting Around
The best way to get around Charlotte is by car — either rental car, taxi or rideshare, all of which are readily available. Public transit includes the CATS (Charlotte Area Transit System) light rail and bus service. There are also bike-sharing options throughout the city.
Local Lingo
English is the primary language spoken in Charlotte. Note that Charlotte’s Uptown is what is usually called downtown in other cities.
Must-Have Apps
Insider Tip
Check out what many consider to be the best venue for live music in Charlotte: The Visulite Theater. Diverse acts include country, indie rock and jazz, and pretty much everything in between.
Did You Know?
When it’s complete, the Little Sugar Creek Greenway — a 19-mile network of trails, streams and paved pathways — will run all the way down to the South Carolina state line.
