Download GPX file for this article
34.85250-82.39389Full screen dynamic map

From Wikivoyage
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Greenville has been described as Athens, Georgia for adults. It is the county seat of and largest city in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States. Greenville is also the center of the largest metropolitan area of South Carolina. Columbia, Charleston, and North Charleston have more people, but the urban area around Greenville is larger. With its historic homes and modern office towers, Greenville has been described as where "Old South" meets "New South".

Understand

Greenville is the primary city of "The Upstate" of South Carolina, an area that includes the six counties of northwestern South Carolina along the borders of North Carolina and Georgia. It is the principal city of the Greenville Metropolitan Statistical Area (2005 estimated population: 591,251) which is included in the greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Combined Statistical Area (population 1,185,534 according to 2005 estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau). Greenville County is both the most populous and most dense in the state at 407,383, but because its city limits enclose less than 30 square miles, the population of the city proper is 56,002 (2000 U.S. Census). Perhaps a more accurate representation of Greenville's size is the urbanized area, which includes all of the city plus adjacent unincorporated areas and some suburbs that have a high population density - this figure is 302,194.

Get in

By plane

Greenville is served by two airports, Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU) and Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), located in nearby Greer. Greenville-Spartanburg International is the state's second busiest airport.

By train

An Amtrak station is located at 1120 West Washington Street. Greenville is on Amtrak's Crescent Line, running daily from New Orleans to New York City's Penn Station, with stops including Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington, D.C.. Northbound trains are in Greenville at 5AM and southbound trains at 11PM. +1-800-872-7245

By car

Greenville is on the Interstate 85 corridor, linking it to Atlanta and Charlotte, and Interstate 26, which is in nearby Spartanburg, goes northwest through Asheville on to Tennessee, and southeast on to Charleston. It also is located at the northern terminus of the Interstate 385 corridor. The other freeways that converge in the area include Interstate 185 and U.S. Highway 123 (Calhoun Memorial Highway). Other major highways include U.S. Highway 25, Business U.S. Highway 25, U.S. Highway 29 and U.S. Highway 276. Main Street is home to many of the downtown area's shopping and dining destinations.

Get around

  • Greenlink, Main Office: 1021 S. Main St; Transfer Center: 100 W. McBee Avenue, +1 864 467-5001 [1]. Greenlink offers 11 fixed routes to destinations all across Greenville County. All Greenlink buses are wheelchair accessible, and each Greenlink bus is equipped with a bike rack to make commuting easier for bike riders. Free WiFi is now available on all Greenlink Buses. Single rides $1.50; Day passes $5.00; 20-ride pass $27.00; discounted fares available for children and seniors.
  • Yellow Cab of Greenville, 529 W Washington St, +1 864 233-6666,
  • Downtown Pedicab, currently servicing eight pedicabs in downtown Greenville.
  • Downtown Trolley, [2]. The City of Greenville currently operates two downtown trolleys.
  • Pedal Chic Bicycle Rentals, 651 B South Main Street, +1 864 242-2442 [3]. Women's, men's, and kid's bikes and baby trailers for rent. Limited availability, so please call ahead to book your reservation. $15.00 for 4 hours; $25.00 for 8 hours.

See

  • Greenville County Museum of Art, 420 College Street, +1 864 271-7570. Tu-W, F–Sa 11AM–5PM; Th 11AM-8PM, Su 1PM-5PM. If you weren't expecting great art in this corner of South Carolina, you will be in for a surprise. Regular traveling exhibits combine with the museum's own 32 Wyeths to make this a worthwhile stop for any art lover. Free.
  • Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery, 1700 Wade Hampton Blvd. Tu-Sunday, 2-5. Closed Monday. A thorough presentation of European Old Masters from the fourteenth through the nineteenth centuries including one of the finest collections of Italian Baroque painting in the United States. Includes religious art by Rubens, van Dyck, Reni, Tintoretto, Le Brun, Cranach, Ribera, and Murillo set among period furniture, sculpture, tapestries, and porcelains. Adults $5, Seniors $4, Students $3.
  • Falls Park on the Reedy. South Main Street. This is clearly one of the most unique and beautiful urban parks you'll ever find in the USA. located around the 60-foot Reedy Falls, the park creates an oasis in the midst of the bustling city. This is also the original birthplace of what would eventually become known as "Pleasantburg" - later renamed, "Greenville."
  • Cleveland Park, 150 Cleveland Park Drive. Sunrise to sunset. Located adjacent to the Greenville Zoo, this park features four playgrounds, six tennis courts, two sand volleyball courts, and a dog park. There are 4.5 miles of paved paths used for running and biking which connect to the longer 17.5 mile Swamp Rabbit Trail. Cleveland Park also includes a fitness trail with pull-up bars, parallel bars, climbing rope, and other body-weight exercise stations. Free.

Do

As the largest city in the Upstate, Greenville offers many activities and attractions. Greenville's theaters and event venues regularly host major concerts and touring theater companies. Four independent theaters present several plays a year.

  • Palmetto Expo Center. Is the largest convention center between Atlanta, GA and Washington, DC, has more than 315,000 square feet of exhibition space and 88,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. Many trade shows, conventions, and other events are held here each year.
  • Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Formerly the Bi-Lo Center, is a 16,000-seat arena in downtown Greenville which hosts major concerts and sporting events each year.
  • Centre Stage, Greenville's Professional Theater. Stage is a year-round, 285-seat professional theater offering a wide range of entertainment that includes music, comedy, drama and special events within easy walking distance of Falls Park and the historic West End. Free parking, assistive listening devices, art exhibitions, chamber music concerts, independent film screenings, galas and more await visitors to this state-of-the-art performance facility, noted for its unique configuration, comfort and intimacy.
  • Peace Center. Is a performing arts center that hosts touring Broadway shows, symphonies, concerts, and civic events. Known internationally for its excellent acoustics, the Peace Center is also home to the Carolina Ballet Theatre, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, and Greenville Chorale.
  • The Warehouse Theatre. Is a black box theater operating for over 32 years, is in the Historic West End.
  • South Carolina Governor's School For The Arts & Humanities a state-funded residential high school for the Fine Arts and hosts many performances and exhibits put together by its student population.
  • CrossWinds Golf Course, 61 Villa Road, +1 864-233-6336. This golf course is very unique because it has 18 holes that were all designed by a different designer! It’s a fun Par 3 course that can be played in 2 hours for 18 holes or in 1 hour for 9 holes!
  • Greenville Zoo, 150 Cleveland Park Drive, +1 864 467-4300. A 14-acre facility featuring hundreds of wildlife from all over the world including giraffe, monkeys, giant tortoises and elephants. Go on a wildlife adventure through the zoo’s beautifully landscaped acres filled with up close and personal views of its residents! Open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, 10 AM to 4:15PM, gates close at 5PM.
  • Paris Mountain State Park, 2401 State Park Road, +1 864 244-5565. 15 miles of hiking/biking trails (no biking on Saturdays). Admission: $2/adult; $1.25 SC Seniors; free for those 15 and younger. 8AM-9PM daily, during daylight saving time. Winter hours: 8AM-6:00, daily.
  • Swamp Rabbit Trail. The Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 17.5 mile multi-use trail system that runs along the Reedy River connecting Greenville County with schools, parks, and local businesses.
  • Saturday Market. More than fifty vendors, including local family farms, bakeries, and coffee, on two blocks of Main Street. Open from 8:30AM to 12:30PM every Saturday, May through October.
  • Greenville Drive, 945 South Main Street (Fluor Field), +1 864 240-4500. Greenville's minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox plays at Fluor Field in Greenville's West End. Fluor Field boasts its own "Green Monster," a 30-foot high wall in left field, equipped with a manual scoreboard. The dimensions all around the outfield wall are to the same specifications as Fenway Park, including "Pesky’s Pole" in right field. Tickets purchased prior to the day of game - at the Drive Box Office, by Phone or Internet - are $5 for Lawn and Deck; $6 for Reserved Terrace; $7 for Reserved and $8 for Box Seats. Tickets purchased on the day of game will cost $1 more than advance sale tickets.


  • Greenville Road Warriors, 650 N Academy St, Greenville, SC 29601. Greenville's ECHL hockey team since 2010. Minor league affiliate to the New York Rangers.

Annual Events

  • InnoVenture. Each March helps build Communities of Innovation around corporations, universities, and emerging companies.
  • ARTISPHERE. Each April showcases the arts, reflects the area's international flair and maximizes existing arts programs by providing a diverse menu of experiences that center around the arts.
  • Living Gallery. Around Easter each spring, employs drama, music, and live portrayals of great works of art to bring the works of the Old Masters to life. Reproduced paintings, some as large as 20' square, feature live models and extraordinary detail. Each year's production is unique and the program is offered several nights each spring. Annually attended by over 10,000 people.
  • Fall for Greenville. Is a major festival held on the 1st weekend in October. This festival features local cuisine, live performances on several stages, and the Greenville Cycling Classic bicycle race.
  • Greek Festival is a major street festival that is held in May by members of the Greek Orthodox Church that offer Greek food and cultural activities.
  • Art in the Park is a major arts festival that takes place in Reedy Falls Park near downtown Greenville.
  • AT&T Red White & Blue. Is an exciting annual event celebrating Indepenence Day. The event is held on July 4, in Downtown.
  • Countybank Main Street Jazz. Is an annual tradition in Downtown Greenville. Every Friday evening from April to September, a portion of North Main Street is closed to vehicle traffic, and an exciting street festival is opened to pedestrians of all ages. Live jazz bands are brought in for the occasion, plus food, drinks, and other entertainment are available.
  • Reedy River Run a 10K race that is held in late February or early March.
  • The Red Party annual dance party, held at the History Museum of the Upcountry [4], is a fundraiser for AID Upstate [5], an AIDS Service Organization serving Upstate South Carolina (Anderson, Oconee, Pickens and Greenville counties). Currently, AU serves, on average, 750+ clients and families touched by HIV/AIDS.

Buy

  • Haywood Mall, 700 Haywood Road, +1 864 288-0512. More than 150 specialty shops like Apple, Banana Republic, Coach, J. Crew, Francesca’s Collection, Sephora and Williams-Sonoma are anchored by Belk, Dillard's, Macy*s, jcpenney and Sears.
  • Liz Daly Designs, 421 South Main Street, +1 864 325-4445. Daly Designs, LLC is the working studio of Liz Daly-Korybski, an internationally renowned Glass Jewelry Designer. Over 73 different product lines in house, ranging from glass, vintage, and upcycled Jewelry to vases and functional art. Dog friendly.
  • Llyn Strong Fine Art Jewelry, 119 North Main Street, +1 864 233-5900. From breathtaking earrings to inspiring gemstone rings and bracelets, the collections of llyn strong celebrate the artistry of jewelry. Working with natural-colored gemstones, precious materials and inspirations around her, llyn uses her award-winning talent to create timeless works of art that are both distinctive and wearable.
  • Mast General Store, 111 North Main Street, +1 864 235-1883. M-Th 10AM-6PM; F-Sa 10AM-9PM; Su 12-6PM. Clothing, hiking and camping gear, shoes, old-fashioned toys, candy, cookware and pottery, etc.
  • Urban Thread, 207 North Main Street, +1 864 255-3330. Consignment clothing and accessories.

Eat

With over 80 restaurants in downtown alone, Greenville has become known as a culinary center in South Carolina. Here are just a handful.

Downtown

  • Barley's Taproom & Pizzeria, 25 West Washington Street, +1 864 232-3706. Located in a 19th century hardware and feed store one block off Main St. in historic downtown Greenville, the focus of Barley's has been to create the single best beer selection in the Southeast. Barley's has been the regular recipient of local "Best of" awards for its pizza, beer list, poolroom, bar and best place to hang out. 72 craft beers on tap as well as over 200 bottled beers.
  • The Cazbah, 16 West McBee Avenue, +1 864 241-9909, fax: +1 864 241-9910. Tapas restaurant and wine bar. Outdoor seating available.
  • Coffee Underground, 1 East Coffee Street (Underneath Ristorante Bergamo), +1 864 298-0494, . Mon-Thu 7AM - 11PM; Fri 7AM - Midnight; Sat 8AM - Midnight; Sun 8AM - 10PM. Locally-owned coffee house and bistro with a cozy & friendly atmosphere. The perfect place to meet with colleagues & friends, or to find a nook for studying. Take in performances in the Theater, where weekly performances by comedians, poets & singer-songwriters are hosted. Coffee roasted in-house. Also serving beer, wine, and cocktails.
  • Handi Indian Cuisine, 18 North Main Street, +1 864 241-7999. Lunch buffet available as well as full menu. Full bar and covered outdoor seating available.
  • Luna Rosa Gelato Café, 9 West Washington Street, +1 864 241-4040. A family owned and operated restaurant featuring authentic artisan gelato made fresh daily, as well as homemade food for lunch. Outside seating available, weather permitting. Dog friendly.
  • Nose Dive, 116 South Main Street, +1 864 373-7300. A casual GastroPub offering high quality "pub fare", unique cocktails, a distinctive wine list and handcrafted brews that provides a "neighborhood" social scene on Main Street.
  • Ristorante Bergamo, 100 North Main Street, +1 864 271-8667. Tuesday-Saturday 5:30PM-9:30PM. Modern Northern Italian cuisine. Try the in-house made limoncello. Reservations highly recommended.
  • Roost, 220 North Main Street (At the Hyatt), +1 864 298-2424. Lunch 11AM-3PM. Dinner 5PM-10PM. Bar 3PM-11PM.. Focused on local, organic, and seasonal food.
  • Soby's New South Cuisine, 207 South Main Street, +1 864 232-7007. Tuesday-Saturday 5:30PM-9:30PM. Soby’s is a blend of contemporary cuisine infused with traditional southern ingredients. Signature dishes include Barbecue Shrimp and Grits, Fried Green Tomatoes with Jalapeno Pimento Cheese, and Crab Cakes Remoulade. The wine list offers more than 500 selections and is a Wine Spectator Magazine award-winner for the past eight years, a 'Best of Award of Excellence' the past two.
  • Soby's On The Side, 22 East Court Street, +1 864 271-8431. A deli-bakery that serves breakfast, lunch and selection of baked goods for eat-in, take out or corporate delivery.
  • Sushi Wasabi, 4 South Main Street, +1 864 271-2452. Delicious, fresh assortment of sushi in a modern restaurant. Licensed to serve beer, wine and liquor.
  • Trappe Door, 23 West Washington Street (Underneath Barley's), +1 864 451-7490. Belgian restaurant and bar, with a huge selection of Belgian and Belgian-style beers and excellent mussels.
  • Trattoria Giorgio, 121 South Main Street, +1 864 271-9166. Tue-Sat 6PM-9:30 PM. Offering traditional Italian cuisine, this was a favorite dining spot for actors George Clooney and Renee Zellweger during the Upstate filming of the 2008 film, Leatherheads. The dining room is elegantly casual, and reservations are strongly recommended. Patio dining is available if the weather permits.
  • Trio Brick Oven Café, 22 North Main Street, +1 864 467-1000, fax: +1 864 467-0475. M-Th 11:30AM-10PM; Fr-Sa 11:30AM-11PM. An eclectic fare of gourmet wood-fired pizzas are a specialty, with sauces made fresh daily and in such intriguing combinations as roast chicken with basil pesto. A wide variety of homemade pasta dishes like sautéed crawfish and rotini are another specialty of the house. Rotisserie chicken as well as a variety of wraps and sandwiches round out the menu. Enjoy your meal outdoors, weather permitting.

Falls Park and the West End

  • American Grocery Restaurant, 732 S. Main Street, +1 864 232-7665, fax: +1 864 232-7569, . Dining Tu-Sa 6PM-Close; Bar Tu-Sa 5PM-Close. American Grocery strives to serve the finest in refined American Seasonal Cuisine, featuring products sourced from local and regional farms and from artisan producers from within the United States. Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner every year from 2008 through 2012.
  • Chicora Alley, 608B South Main St. (Upstairs), +1 864 232-4100. Su-M 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5PM-mid; Tu-Sa 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5PM-2AM.. Veggie-friendly and tasty food. Southern cooking meets Tex-Mex, so expect collard greens in your quesadilla. $8-20.
  • Larkin's On The River, 318 S. Main Street (Behind the Peace Center), +1 864 467-9777. An award-winning restaurant serving premium cut steaks, fresh seafood, and fine wines. Every menu item is created with the freshest ingredients and served with a creative flair.
  • The Lazy Goat, 170 River Place, +1 864 679-5299. The Lazy Goat is a Mediterranean-themed restaurant with a "made from scratch" menu featuring global influences from Spain, Morocco, Italy, France, Greece, Africa and the Middle East.
  • Mellow Mushroom, 1 Augusta Street, +1 864 233-9020. Enjoy a fun atmosphere and hand-tossed pizzas, calzones, hoagies, and salads. Full bar with over 100 beers! Parties welcome.
  • Pomegranate on Main, 618 South Main Street, +1 864 241-3012. Mon-Fri 11:30AM to 2:30PM, 5:30PM until close; Sat 11:30AM until close.. Pomegranate on Main offers a modern, inviting atmosphere with an open dining room accented by traditional Persian touches. Iranian artists provided the amazing one-of-a-kind pieces of art. The outdoor patio offers a cozy feel under the pergola and beautiful sky!
  • Saffron's Sidewalk Cafe, 1 Augusta Street, Suite 101, +1 864 241-0401. Located in the West End Market, Saffron's offers a wide variety cafe menu with the largest outdoor seating patio in Greenville.

Elsewhere

  • Henry's Smokehouse, 240 Wade Hampton Blvd, +1 864 232-7774, fax: +1 864 232-7237. Get your BBQ fix at what some aficianados consider the best BBQ in town. As befits the food, simple decor, but a pleasant outdoor seating area with a view of the highway. $5-$8.
  • Pita House, 495 S Pleasantburg Dr, +1 864-271-9895. lunch/dinner. The best Middle Eastern food in Greenville is at the Pita House. Casual dining and a family atmosphere. $5-$12.

Drink

  • Blue Ridge Brewing, 217 North Main Street, +1 864 232-4677. Mon-Sat 11AM - 2AM; Sun 11AM - Midnight.. A Greenville landmark known for award winning, signature beers and an ever-changing seasonal brew lineup. Handcrafted ales brewed on site by brewmaster Johannes.
  • Carolina Ale House, 113 South Main Street, +1 864 351-0521. 11AM-2PM. Sports bar. Rooftop seating available, open air weather permitting.
  • Connolly's Irish Pub, 24 East Court Street, +1 864 467-0300. M-Sa 4:30PM-2AM.
  • Dark Corner Distillery, 241-B North Main Street, +1 864 631-1144. Summer hours: Mon-Wed: 11AM - 6PM; Thur-Sat 11AM - 7PM. Winter hours: Mon-Thur 12PM - 6PM, Fri-Sat 11AM - 7PM.. A craft micro distillery focusing on hand-spiriting small batches of whiskey and other spirits. Tastings and tours offered daily.
  • Two Twenty One North Ultra Lounge, 221 North Main Street (Across from the Hyatt), +1 864 233-9202. Mon-Sat 9AM-9PM; Wine Café serving dinner Mon-Sat from 5:00. This place has a 100+ person line on Thursdays, when it is college night 18+. Hip-hop, and dance music, and pricey drinks for Greenville.

Sleep

  • Hampton Inn Greenville, 246 Congaree Road, Greenville, SC 29607 (from I-85 exit 54 onto I-385 north to exit 39, left at end of exit and right at 2nd light), +1 864-288-1200. Award winning Hampton Inn Hotel located 5 minuted from I-85 and 5 minutes from downtown Greenville across from the only major shopping mall In Greenville.
  • Hampton Inn Greenville/Travelers Rest, 593 Roe Center Court, +1 864 834-5550, fax: +1 864 660-0015. Travelers Rest. Days and times open. A standard-issue Hampton Inn which has the virtue of being the closest hotel to Furman University. $80-100.
  • Hawthorn SuitesGreenville, 48 McPrice Court, +1 864 297-0099. Located just 15 minutes from the Greenville Spartanburg airport, the hotel offers excellent access to major highways, shopping, restaurants, area attractions, businesses, and downtown Greenville.
  • Hyatt Place Greenville/Haywood, 40 West Orchard Park Drive, +1 864 232-3000. Located eight miles from the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport and three miles from beautiful downtown Greenville.
  • Hyatt Regency Greenville, 220 North Main Street. 330 total rooms, 17 luxurious suites, and 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting space featuring Greenville's largest hotel ballroom. A contemporary downtown hotel.
  • Marriott Courtyard Greenville Haywood Mall, 70 Orchard Park Drive, Greenville, South Carolina 29615, +1 864-234-0300. Located in the Haywood Mall shopping and dining district.
  • Microtel Inn Greenville (Airport-Pelham Rd), 20 Interstate Court, +1 864 297-7866.
  • Microtel Inn Greenville (Mall @ Woodruff Rd), 1024 Woodruff Road, +1 864 297-3811.
  • Pettigru Place Bed & Breakfast, 302 Pettigru Street (less than a mile from Main Street in the Pettigru Historic District), +1 864 242-4529. Check-in: 4 - 7PM, check-out: 11AM. Within walking distance of Main Street. Less than a mile from restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. Five unique rooms, full gourmet breakfast, complimentary wine and cheese, bottomless cookie jar.
  • Sleep Inn Carolina First Center, 231 N Pleasantburg Dr.” directions=, +1 864 240-2006. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Several golf courses, miniature golf courses, movie theaters, picnic areas and playgrounds are within two miles of the hotel, pet-friendly, welcoming/helpful staff 50.
  • Westin Poinsett, 120 South Main Street, +1 864 421-9700. Located in a completely restored 1920's building on Greenville's charming Main Street, the historic Westin Poinsett is Greenville's only four-diamond hotel.

Cope

Consulates

Go next

Upstate

  • Clemson University - A mid-size public state university that is located in the college town of Clemson. 45 minutes away from Greenville by car, it's downtown area is small but filled with activity - especially during the school year. Visit the nearby South Carolina Botanical Garden or throw a frisbee on Bowman Field. Football games are not to be missed if given the opportunity.
  • Lake Hartwell - Bordering Georgia and South Carolina, this lake is used for fishing, sailing, and waterskiing. Boats can be rented for the day at numerous marinas.

Out of state

Due to being within an hour of North Carolina and Georgia, there are many out of state day trips available from Greenville.

  • Western North Carolina - A great way to spend the day away from Greenville is by taking a day trip to go hiking in western North Carolina. Take the scenic US 276 from downtown Greenville towards Brevard, NC. Stop by Dupont State Forest, where part of The Hunger Games was filmed, and hike to see some of the numerous waterfalls. Continue towards Brevard for a stop for lunch, and follow US 276 into Pisgah National Forest. Opt to take a trip down Sliding Rock, a 60 ft high natural water slide into a pool of water, or stop and see the roadside Looking Glass Falls, one of North Carolina's most popular waterfalls. This area is particularly beautiful in Autumn.
Continue on US 276 until it reaches the Blue Ridge Parkway. Take pictures over the gorgeous overlooks as the sun dips in the sky, and continue to Asheville for dinner. Take I-26 south back to Greenville to complete the loop. Dupont State Forest, Pisgah National Forest, and the Blue Ridge Parkway are all free.
Routes through Greenville
CharlotteSpartanburg  N  S  ClemsonAtlanta
CharlotteSpartanburg  N  S  AndersonAtlanta
AshevilleHendersonville  N  S  AugustaBrunswick
SpartanburgGreer  N  S  AndersonAthens



This city travel guide to Greenville is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.