CHARLESTON ITINERARY – 48 HOUR GUIDE

Charleston South Carolina just became one of my favorite cities in the states! The city has been on my bucket list for the longest time but Max and I finally made it. Since initially posting this article, we’ve actually been back a few times! I’ve put together a complete Charleston Itinerary below outlining everything you need to know prior to visiting. The guide includes the best things to do in Charleston SC as well the best sites to see, when to visit, and where to stay in town.

If you’ve read some of my other posts you probably know I love a walkable, colorful, and charming town. Charleston is the perfect combination.

Deciding between Charleston and Savannah? I’ve linked a quick comparison of the two cities.

And don’t forget to pin this for later!

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The city is relatively small but I recommend setting aside two days for your Charleston itinerary. You could honestly do a lot in one day but why rush it. While it’s small, there’s a ton of shopping and sites to see. The city of Charleston is also a destination for foodies with some great restaurants to try.

While two days is enough to explore, there’s a lot to see outside of the city! If you want to head outside of town add a few days onto your Charleston itinerary. Popular add ons include Kiawah Island, Beaufort SC, and local beaches. Hilton Head is another great destination in South Carolina if you want to see a few more places.

The best time to visit is in the Spring and Fall. The Charleston SC weather is cooler and less humid than the summer months. And on that note, let me just say, summers are hot in the South! We visited the first weekend of August and it was HOT!

It’s also generally pretty busy during the summer making the shoulder season a more appealing time to visit. However, due to covid, it really wasn’t that busy when we visited!

As far as accommodation goes, Charleston hotels offer everything from popular hotel chains to airbnbs and small boutique hotels. If your Charleston itinerary focuses on spending the majority of time in the historic district, I recommend staying close to downtown. I’ll go into detail below but it’s walkable so once you’re there you don’t need to rely on transportation.

We’ve stayed at a few hotels in Charleston SC. The first time we stayed at the Homewood Suites by Hilton near the historic district and it was excellent! The location was perfect, since it’s a quick walk from town. The rooms are nice and spacious and the staff is fantastic.

While we prefer staying downtown, it’s expensive! If you’re looking for cost conscious options, staying in Mount Pleasant is a great option if you have a car. It’s a large area with great restaurants, shopping, and beach accessibility. The Hyatt House and Tru By Hilton in Mount Pleasant are generally reasonably priced. We stayed at the Tru last time we were in town and it’s not the most comfortable hotel but it’s good for the price point.

As I mentioned, Charleston is super walkable so it’s easy to get around. In my opinion, this is the best way to explore town; well maybe not in the heat. We brought bikes and loved biking around town – especially since it was hot during our visit.

You can also utilize the free shuttle, DASH which runs to the peninsula, Aquarium, Broad Street, Waterfront Park and more. There are three separate lines so if you’re interested, check the schedule I’ve linked. Last but not least, you can also Uber or Lyft around town.

Honestly, similar to Europe, the best thing to do is simply wander through the streets! But with that said, there are a few key spots to visit! Charleston Carriage Tours are still a popular way to see the town as they’re informative and a great way to see town and learn some history. If carriage tours aren’t your thing, you can also do a walking tour which visit key spots in town and give great insight on historic Charleston SC. We did a walking tour on our last trip and loved learning more about the city. As one of the most haunted cities in the USA, a ghost tour is another must on a trip to Charleston!

Charleston Tours –

• Carriage Ride
• Walking Tour
• Ghost Tour

A Charleston itinerary wouldn’t be complete without plenty of time on King Street. It’s the street for shopping with notable stores like Lilly Pulitzer & Lululemon as well as a handful of boutique shops. In my opinion, the prettiest part of King Street is near Marion Square Park. Impressive churches like St. Matthew’s and Citadel Square surround the park. The Charleston Farmer’s Market also takes place at the park on Saturdays. The market is open from 8 am to 2 pm from April through November. As you can tell, King Street is a cannot miss!

For some great restaurants and the Charleston City Market, head to Market Street! Contrary to the photos below, this area is constantly bustling – we happen to hit it at the right time. The historic Charleston City Market is at the center of the street so you have to check it out. The market offers a ton of local products making it one of the best spots to shop and dine in town! The market has a mix of indoor and outdoor vendors.

Charleston is often referred to as the Holy City! Since the 1700s, the city has been known for its religious diversity and tolerance. As such, there are many beautiful churches downtown. If you visit one of the rooftops in Charleston, you’ll notice the church steeples across the skyline. A few of my favorites include St. Philip’s Church and the French Huguenot Church. But honestly, if you wander around town, you’ll pass a number of gorgeous churches!

Rainbow row is another can’t miss on a Charleston itinerary. It’s around the corner from Battery Park. These historic homes were first constructed in the mid 1700s but didn’t become the colorful houses you see today until the mid 1930s. There are a few theories as to why the houses were painted pastel colors. One of which is so drunken sailors could find thier way home! Whatever the reason, the street is captivating. This colorful row of houses is probably the most photographed spot in town. You cannot leave Charleston without making a quick stop for photos at Rainbow Row!

Battery Park is a promenade at the tip of the Peninsula of Charleston. For some reason, this waterfront area reminds me of somewhere on the West Coast like San Francisco. With that said, the views are top notch! It’s a great spot for a walk as the park is shady with a nice path along the water. During the Civil War Battery Park became a fortification for the city. Because of this, there are cannons and monuments in the park.

Joe Wiley Waterfront is another beautiful waterfront area in Charleston. The waterfront is quiet with a lot of green space. There are a ton of benches along the walking path for you to sit down and soak in the view!

I highly recommend including at least one plantation visit into your Charleston itinerary. While the plantations are beautiful most are home to a dark history. You’ll learn so much during your visit it’s well worth the trip.

Magnolia Plantation Gardens located on the Ashley River is about 3o minutes from downtown. We visited the Gardens last time we were in Charleston and it was absolutely beautiful. It’s been open since 1870 making it the oldest public garden in America. You can tour the grounds on your own or go on one of the many tours offered. There’s a lot to see so make sure you set aside enough time for your visit!

If you don’t have a car in town, you can still visit the plantations on a tour. The tour includes fees to get into the plantation as well as transportation round-trip.

Pricing: There are a handful of different tickets you can purchase from $8 to $20. I’ve linked the pricing and tour information here.

Middleton Palace is around the corner from Magnolia Plantation Gardens so I recommend touring both. We visited Middleton Palace last time we were visited and it was interesting. The grounds are absolutely beautiful but they’re also home to a very dark history. The palace was an 1800s rice plantation and birthplace of Arthur Middleton who signed the Declaration of Independence. The Middleton Palace has a complex history as the Middleton family enslaved Africans and African Americans to live and work on the property. There are a handful of tours you can take on site which will go into more detail on slavery and the slave trade. The Palace is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm with hours varying on holidays.

If you don’t have a car in town, you can still visit the plantations on a tour. The tour includes fees to get into the plantation as well as transportation round-trip. The tour also includes a 3-course lunch at Middleton Palace which might be why it’s so much more expensive than the other tours I’ve linked in the article. Middleton was our favorite plantation we visited in the area.

Pricing listed below includes a few guided tours if you’re interested.

• Adults 14 & up: $29 online ($32 in person)
• Kids 6-13: $10

Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens is about 30 minutes from downtown in Mount Pleaseant. We didn’t have time to visit Boone Hall but it’s been recognized as one of the best plantation to visit in Charleston. The plantation was founded in 1681 by Englishman Major John Boone. The most recognizable part of the plantation is the two rows of live oak trees as you enter which were planted in 1743. There are several events held at the plantation throughout the year including a strawberry festival, Christmas tree festival, wine under the oaks, and many more. Boone Hall is open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 12pm to 5 pm.

If you don’t have a car in town, you can still visit the plantations on a tour. The tour includes fees to get into the plantation as well as transportation round-trip. As I mentioned, it’s worth visiting at least one plantation during your trip as you will learn so much.

Pricing listed below includes a few guided tours as well.

• Adults 13 & up: $28
• Kids 6-12: $12

If you’re a beach goer, there are some excellent Charleston SC beaches. Several of the best beaches are within a short distance of downtown but you’ll need a car to get to most. Below is a list of popular beaches within an hour of the downtown. As I mentioned, if you have 3 days in town, I highly recommend setting aside a day at the beach in your Charleston itinerary.

• Folly Beach (20 minutes)
  
• Sullivans Island (20 minutes)
• Kiawah Island (40 minutes)
• Isle of Palms (45 minutes)
• Edisto Beach (1 hour)

Charleston is a town for foodies! From rooftop bars to a restaurant in a church, there are some pretty trendy options. Popular cuisine ranges from seafood to classic southern comfort food! There are a ton restaurants to try but I’ve put together a list of the best restaurants in Charleston SC.

For some Southern biscuits, head to Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit! The menu ranges from basic biscuits with bacon, egg, and cheese to something a little more sweet like blackberry jam. This little biscuit spot is perfect for a quick grab and go breakfast. With that said, I recommend placing your order ahead of time. The line was pretty long when we went since it’s a poppin spot! Since it’s a small shop only a few people fit inside at a time. You’ll wait in line outside, place your order inside, and wait for it to be ready outside. The biscuits are flaky and delicious, you won’t be disappointed!

I love acai so it’s a staple for me wherever I go! My favorite thing about Playa Bowls is you can mix and match the base and toppings. My favorite combination is the Pura Vida bowl with half green half acai. We ordered and ate our bowls as we walked the streets of Charleston! Playa Bowls is a chain in over 10 states in the US. I’ve been to the one in Wilmington as well and it was delish!

Another spot I want to try for acai is Beech. So if you love acai like me, check it out!

Husk is one of the most popular spots in the city and a staple on a Charleston itinerary! My favorite thing about Husk is they use local ingredients from the South. Because of this, the menu is authentic to southern cuisine and changes frequently. We went for brunch and it was phenomenal! The atmosphere is unique being set in a historic house, it has that southern feel.

If you want to try Husk, make a reservation! Max booked our reservation about a week in advance. Keep in mind, we visited during Covid so the town wasn’t as busy as usual. Normally, you might want to book even further in advance.

Another unique dining experience to have is 5Church Charleston. The restaurant is inside of a 100 year old church. As you can imagine, the interior is beautiful with high ceilings and grand windows. The inside is edgy with a cool atmosphere and decor.

We just got drinks and appetizers from 5 Church which were great! Next time we want to try brunch since they have a mimosa flight which looks right up my alley! The restaurant tends to be busy on the weekends but we were able to make a reservation the same day.

Workshop is a food hall about 2-3 miles from downtown. With 6 vendors in the food hall, there’s something for everyone! It sounds like the kitchens rotate regularly so there’s always something new to try! Right now, the food hall offers everything from Mediterranean, to brats, and sushi. Workshop also hosts a ton of events throughout the year so double check the website before your visit. They’ve had everything from markets to cooking classes and guest chefs.

This was high up on my list but unfortunately we didn’t make it. We have a few food halls in Raleigh and love going to them so were curious to check it out.

If you’re a coffee drinker, you’re in luck! There are a ton of cool coffee shops downtown. We only had time to try a few but love the Rise. The shop is trendy with a small seating area inside and outside. Another great spot is Bitty & Beau’s. The coffee shop has a great cause with a few locations in the South. The shop employs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in order to allow them be more accepted and included in the community.

Charleston South Carolina is seriously the cutest town I’ve been to in the states! I hope this Charleston Itinerary hope you plan an incredible few days in town. Now that Max and I are a quick trip from the city, I know we will be visiting a lot! If you’ve already been, what’s your favorite thing to do in Charleston?

Traveling to South Carolina? Read more:

• Beaufort, South Carolina in 48 hours
• Best things to do in Hilton Head

Safe travels,

Sarah :)

I’ve linked a few of my favorite travel essentials below! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below, I’d be happy to answer!