If you want to experience the best of America’s deep south and spend time vacationing amongst colorful pastel homes and cobblestone streets, then I highly recommend planning a trip to Charleston, South Carolina.
Visiting the many historic homes and beautiful plantations is undoubtedly some of the top things to see and do in Charleston. This fun and vibrant city boast activities suitable to every kind of traveler.
So if you’re looking for a complete list of top things to do in Charleston, look no further than here. Here’s how to plan the ultimate 3-day Charleston Itinerary.
Ready to head to America’s Holy City? Here is your ultimate 3-day Charleston Itinerary.
Charleston’s Top Highlights
Rainbow Row: A famous row of 19th-century pastel-colored townhouses located on East Bay Street. South of Broad is the perfect place to enjoy Charleston’s stunning historic buildings and homes. Plus, it’s the best spot for a photo op!
The Pineapple Fountain: Without a doubt, the most photographed site in all of Charleston. Don’t miss this pineapple-shaped water fountain located in Charleston’s Waterfront Park. The pineapple is a standard design in Charleston and is the ultimate symbol of Southern hospitality.
Charleston City Market: Charleston’s historic city market has been around since 1790 and is a great spot to shop local art stalls and souvenirs.
King Street: Charleston’s King Street is the epitome of Southern charm. You can find many shops, restaurants, clubs, hotels & more here.
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The Best Summer Weekend Getaways In The United States
3-day Charleston Itinerary
Day 1: Historic Downtown Charleston.
Day 2: South of Broad & Boone Hall Plantation.
Day 3: Cypress Gardens.
Where to stay in Charleston
While planning your Charleston weekend itinerary, you will find a large selection of accommodation options to suit any budget. That said, Charleston is one of the few best places to splurge and truly embrace the ultimate Southern hospitality.
Staying close to the downtown area is the best option if you dont have a car. However, if you plan to explore outside of the city center (and you totally should), neighborhoods like Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, and North Charleston are also great options.
Best Luxury Hotels
Hotel Bennett – Located right on King Street and in the historic district of Charleston. The south’s grandest luxury hotel.
Planters Inn – Located slightly south of the historic Charleston City Market, this beautiful boutique property feels like a secret hideaway in the heart of the city.
The Pinch – Also situated in the downtown Charleston area is the newly restored Victorian-style hotel The Pinch. The hotel features 22 luxury rooms and suites and is close proximity to the Charleston Museum and South Carolina Aquarium.
Best Mid-range to budget Hotels
Cambria Mount Pleasant – Situated in the heart of Mt Pleasant, not too far from Charleston’s downtown. Convenient location and affordable pricing.
Hyatt Place North Charleston – The Hyatt Place never disappoints, in my opinion. Only 15mins away from Charleston International Airport and a short 23 min drive from Magnolia Plantation & Gardens.
Barksdale House Inn – This cute and cozy B&B located in the historic center of Charleston is your home away from home. This inn is a living landmark featuring uniquely decorated rooms & daily la carte breakfast.
21 East Battery – This gorgeous B&B was built in 1825 and was once the stables, carriage house, and slave quarters of Charleston’s historic Edmondston Alston House.
Getting Around
A great way to get around Charleston is by foot, bike, or my favorite by scooter. On this trip, we had our motorized scooter with us. We had a blast zipping all over the city and found it the best way to get around.
The attractions in Charleston’s downtown area are very close to one another, you’ll find yourself within walking distance of some of Charleston’s best restaurants and coffee shops. For further venturing, you can rent a car or grab an Uber or Lyft.
Hot Tip! Check to see if your hotel or B&B provides bicycles, as this will save you from renting one!
Map of Charleston
To get a better idea and layout of the city, here is a map with Charleston’s top things to see and do
Day One: Downtown Charleston
Alrighty! Now that you know some of the top attractions and how to get around, let’s dive in.
Spend your morning exploring Charleston’s historic downtown area. Grab coffee and Breakfast at Harken Cafe, this rustic chic cafe serves up some delicious baked goods and fantastic coffee.
My biggest tip! Reservations for restaurants in Charleston fill up fast. I was surprised that some places were completely booked out months in advance.
For your best chance of getting in, show up at off-peak times (2-3 pm for lunch & booking late dinner reservations). We sat at the bar a few times and still had a great experience.
Harken Cafe is located in the French Quarter, which is the best spot to start exploring and soak in the city’s beautiful architecture. Start with a self-guided walking tour of the city. Here are a few highlights you may want to cover!
The Old Slave Mart Museum
Located on Chalmers Street, this gothic revival building was once the location for slaves bought to Charleston and sold at public auctions. This small but interesting museum is full of rich history and is a must-stop when exploring downtown.
Charleston City Market
Next up, we have Charleton’s iconic city market. The market stretches 4 blocks and is filled with countless craft stalls, a great place to buy food, souvenirs, and clothes.
King Street
Named after Britain’s King Charles, King Street is the perfect blend of local history, nightlife, fashion, art, antique shopping, and incredible food. Take your time strolling all of King street and soak up the sights and atmosphere that is Charleston.
Waterfront Park
This historic park faces the beautiful Charleston Harbor and the Ravenel Bridge. Take a short walk down the tree-lined walkways and take in the views.
Here you will also find Charleston’s legendary “Pineapple Fountain.” It’s super unique and definitely worth checking out.
After soaking in the sights, you can head back to your hotel for some chill time before heading out for dinner. Stella’s Greek Restaurant is an excellent spot for dinner if you’re in the mood for some Mediterranean flare.
Day Two: South of Broad & Boone Hall Plantation
Alight! Let’s kick off day two of your Charleston itinerary with a breaky & coffee date at The Black Door Cafe. This super cute cafe is located on Meeting Street and has a great atmosphere and delicious food.
After breakfast, take the time to explore the rest of downtown and then head to the Boone Hall Plantation for the afternoon.
Rainbow Row
Located on Bay Street sits Charleston’s famous Rainbow Row. The name refers to the 13 pastel-colored homes all lined in a row. These vibrant Georgian-style houses are quite the sight.
However, if I’m being honest, the homes tucked away behind the row were the showstoppers – they are absolutely stunning.
The Battery
Next, we have The Battery, a fortified seawall at the southernmost tip of the Charleston peninsula. Another great highlight of downtown Charleston.
From Rainbow Row, walk along East Bay Street, and you will eventually find yourself on East Battery Street heading towards White Point Garden.
Here you can take in the beautiful historic houses that overlook the ocean. This is my all-time favorite area of Charleston, it’s a beautiful spot for sunrise and sunset walks.
White Point Garden is the perfect pit stop to relax and take a little break before the next leg of your journey – It’s filled with gorgeous live oaks and palmetto trees.
Boone Hall Plantation
To finish your afternoon, head to the Boone Hall Plantation for a tour of the house and grounds. It’s listed as one of America’s oldest working plantations.
Located in Mount Pleasant and only a 23-minute drive from downtown Charleston, the Boone Hall Plantation has an extensive history that dates back to 1681.
John Boone and his wife founded the plantation, and it was his son Thomas Boone that planted the now famous “avenue of oaks” leading up to the main house.
You’ve probably seen this stunning plantation without even knowing it, it’s been in countless movies and tv shows – the most popular being “The Notebook” as the summer house of Allie’s family.
I recommend taking the open-air wagon tour, which begins at the car park. The tour takes about 45 mins and takes you around the plantation grounds. This is a great way to see and learn about the history of the plantation. Plus, it’s free!
After the wagon tour, take yourself on a self-guided tour of the surrounding gardens and slave quarters before heading over to the main house for a tour inside.
Hot Tip! All house tours are at scheduled times, make sure you sign up when you first arrive, so you don’t miss out.
And lastly, take the time to pay respect and learn about the slave history that was present at the plantation.
The Black History of America Exhibit features 9 of the original slave cabins, each containing a specific timeline representing African American history.
In addition to the exhibit, you can also see a live presentation of the Gullah Culture. Listen to the stories of former ancestors and learn about the traditions of the Gullah people.
Day 3: Cypress Gardens
To top off 3 days in Charleston, you can use this day to explore the outer areas of Charleston, such as Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, or James Island. I had heard about Cypress Gardens near Mocks Corner and wanted to check it out.
The Cypress Gardens is a 170-acre nature preserve and garden located 25 mins outside of Charleston. The park’s highlight is definitely canoeing through the beautiful cypress tree swamp filled with native wildlife.
Tickets to the park do include the boat ride. However, it is on a first-come, first-served basis with the boats, so I recommend coming on a weekday when the gardens are quieter.
Cypress Gardens
We had the best time canoeing through the stunning cypress trees and trying to spot some gators! – we didn’t see any, but we could hear them!
This is such a dreamy location, especially in the morning light. Movie fans again might recognize this place as it has been featured in several movies, including The Notebook, The Patriot, and Cold Mountain.
After your boat ride, take your time strolling the miles of garden trails surrounding the swamp. The gardens feature a greenhouse with butterflies & flowers, they also have an impressive exotic reptile exhibit & freshwater aquarium.
Tickets are $10 per person, which includes your boat tour. You can also have a guide for an extra $5.00. After exploring the Cypress Gardens, head back toward Charleston for lunch and a relaxing afternoon.
We stopped at Wayback Burgers on our way back through, and I can confirm the burgers were delicious!
Other great lunch options in Charleston!
– Leon’s Oyster Shop
– Husk
– Charleston Crab House
– Camellias (great for afternoon tea)
Other Hidden Gems
A long weekend in Charleston will undoubtedly give you enough time to hit the highlights, however, if you’re lucky enough to have more time to explore, then I definitely recommend checking out these other incredible spots located around the city.
Fort Sumter: Located on a small island in Charleston Harbor resides Fort Sumter National Monument. Fort Sumter is known for being the site where the first shot of the civil war was fired back in 1861. Hop aboard a ferry and explore the island and its civil war caverns.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens: Known for being the oldest public tourist site in South Carolina and America’s oldest public garden.
This plantation is stunning and definitely worth visiting on your Charleston vacation. Plus, it neighbors Drayton Hall and Middleton Place, making it easy to visit all three of Charleston’s finest plantations.
Angel Oak Tree: Said to be the largest living oak tree east of the Mississippi, sitting at 65 feet high and has a circumference of 25.5 feet. That’s HUGE!
Morris Island Lighthouse: A beautiful old lighthouse located at the north end of James Island. It stands 161 feet tall, making it the tallest lighthouse in South Carolina.
James Island County Park: A serene county park great for biking, camping, fishing, crabbing, and more.
Know before you go!
Lastly, before we wrap things up, here are some final tips to remember for your 3-day Charleston itinerary.
Book reservations in advance!
Charleston is a foodie’s paradise, Be flexible and book reservations in advance.
Definitely check out the outer neighborhoods of Charleston.
Explore beyond downtown Charleston, places such as James Island, Mount Pleasant & West Ashley are beautiful and have their own unique charm about them.
Bring your comfy walking shoes.
One of the best things about Charleston is just how walkable it is. Without leaving its center, you’ll find much history, important landmarks, and more.
Overall I found Charleston to be absolutely incredible! I LOVED everything about this beautiful city.
I hope you found this 3-day Charleston itinerary insightful, and I would love to know your top must-see spots in Charleston, let me know in the comments below!
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