Danielle Jeanjaquet
Charleston, SC is the quintessential Southern city, and it’s one of the best destinations for a weekend getaway. History, culture, and delicious comfort food abound within these city walls!
There’s plenty to see and do in Charleston, but here’s how to get the most out of your 2-3 day weekend in the city.
Pssst. For tips on how to get around and where to stay, scroll to the bottom of the post!
Friday Night: Dinner and a Ghost Tour
Begin your Charleston weekend the southern way with a big, delicious dinner!
The food in Charleston is to die for, and you really can’t go wrong with the restaurant you pick. A lot of people are big fans of Fleet Landing for seafood, Butcher & Bee for Mediterranean, and Husk for that Southern comfort food.
For tonight’s adventures, I recommend heading to Tommy Condon’s. It’s a welcoming Irish pub with classic pub eats, as well as some Lowcountry options! They also have some really fun live music and plenty of seating.
The pub is a short walk from Old South Carriage Company, where you might like to spend the evening on a Haunted Carriage Ride around the city!
I love this tour because it’s not too terribly spooky, so you can bring children along. It’s very entertaining, and you get to learn some haunted history as well. It’s the perfect introduction to the city!
Old South is known for taking excellent care of their horses, but some of the other carriage companies in Charleston have not been known for doting the same amount of care on their animals. Just do your research and ask questions if looking at other options!
Saturday, Late Morning: Breakfast and Shopping
After a good night’s sleep, continue your weekend in Charleston with a yummy Southern breakfast!
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit serves delicious, fresh-baked biscuits everyday with tons of different toppings. Perfect for a quick bite!
The Palmetto Cafe is a bit expensive, but if you are feeling fancy and want to dine like the Southern Belle you are, then I recommend it! The Cafe is located in the lush courtyard of the Charleston Place Hotel.
City Lights Coffee is for those who prefer a light breakfast, or just need a caffeine pick-me-up while shopping around. They have great coffee and select bakery bites!
All of these breakfast spots are close to the Charleston City Market, a very famous indoor/outdoor historical landmark that features local products, including art, food, collectibles, and souvenirs. The market stretches 4 city blocks, so there’s plenty to explore!
You’re also very close to the historic King Street, where you’ll find tons of retail shops, ranging from national brands to local boutiques. There’s also art galleries, antique stores, and restaurants too!
Saturday Afternoon: History Highlights
If you are traveling to Charleston during the hot months of summer, it might be a good idea to spend your afternoon indoors at one of Charleston’s many historical landmarks. You might not have time for all of these, but here are my favorites:
Aiken-Rhett House
This historical home was built in 1820 and gives great insight into the life of a rich family in antebellum Charleston. The cool thing about the house is that it is “preserved-as-found” with the original architecture and furnishings. You can also still walk through the carriage house and the original slave quarters! There are self-guided tours so that you can go through the house at your own pace.
Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
This national landmark has been an important piece of history since 1771! The top floors feature some really interesting exhibits, but what I find most exciting is the tour through the Dungeon on the bottom floor. Prisoners from the American Revolution were kept there during wartime!
Fort Sumter
Okay, so this one is not indoors, and it may require purchasing tickets in advance, so plan accordingly!
Fort Sumter is the place where the Civil War began, and can only be accessed by a 30 minute boat ride through Fort Sumter Tours. The cruise departs from either Liberty Square (downtown) or Patriots’ Point (Mt. Pleasant), and allows for about one hour to explore the Fort. It’s quite a fun experience, and I highly recommend it if you have the time!
Saturday Evening: Early Dinner & Sunset on the Battery
After a day of shopping and exploring the history of Charleston, you’ll need something to eat! Eating an early dinner will help to ensure that you get seated at the restaurant of your choice.
One seafood restaurant I really enjoy is Hyman’s Seafood. It’s won best seafood in Charleston time and time again. I love their Carolina Delight dish, a creamy and cheesy twist on shrimp & grits. Their walls are covered with pictures of the famous people that have been to their restaurant, from Oprah to Dolly Parton. Last time I was there, we sat at the same table that Samuel L. Jackson did. Hyman’s does not take reservations, so get there early or late so you don’t have to wait!
After dinner, you can walk off all those calories by heading to The Battery. It’s a beautiful walkway with the bay on one side, and old antebellum mansions on the other!
There’s free parking at White Point Gardens, a small park that connects to the Battery, so I recommend parking there and then walking up E Battery St, which turns into E Bay St. You’ll pass Rainbow Row, a line of bright colored row houses. If you walk down one of the cobblestone streets toward the water, you can venture up to Waterfront Park, featuring a pineapple fountain, and views of the iconic Arthur Ravenal Jr. Bridge.
Sunday Morning: Brunch
What’s a Southern Sunday without brunch?! Charleston features many excellent restaurants, but for brunch I recommend 82 Queen. You can find this restaurant down a rustic alleyway in the French Quarter.Their cup of She Crab Soup is probably the best I’ve ever had. And, their chicken & biscuits and crab cakes are delicious options for entrees!
Sunday Afternoon: Head to a Famous Plantation
On your way out of the city, end your weekend getaway with a trip to one of the many plantations in the Charleston area. Depending on which way you are heading out of town, there’s probably one plantation that is more convenient to visit than the other.
Boone Hall is my personal favorite, and it’s located in the Mt. Pleasant area. This plantation features tours of the house, the grounds, and an impactful exhibit of their old slave quarters. It’s also still a working farm today, and you can buy products from them in their store!
Magnolia Plantations & Gardens is another favorite located near the Charleston Airport. The public gardens are a big feature of this plantation, as well as the Nature Tram and Boat Tours.
Where To Stay & How to Get Around
For your weekend in Charleston, there are lots of great hotel options. Downtown Charleston features some beautiful historic hotels, like The Mills House (Wyndham) and the French Quarter Inn, though these places might be a bit pricey. There are also some adorable bed & breakfast options for a romantic getaway, like the Two Meeting Street Inn by the Battery, and the Jasmine House Inn.
To save some money, I actually like to stay at an Airbnb outside of town and drive into the city. Mt. Pleasant is a lovely, safe area to do so! And, you get to drive over the giant Ravenal Jr. Bridge to get in and out of town, which is an exciting adventure in itself.
Parking downtown is VERY limited, but there are a few parking garages you can leave your car at for the day if you’re driving into the city. The Cumberland Street Garage is an affordable option near the City Market and the French Quarter, so it’s very centrally located. There’s also free street parking at the White Point Gardens right next to the Battery, though not as centrally located.
You can then take the free trolley, DASH, to get around downtown when your feet get tired. You can find a map of the trolley’s three routes here. They also have an app you can download to live-track the buses.
What are you most excited to see on your Charleston weekend getaway? If you’ve been before, where did you stay? Leave a comment below to tell me all about it!
[…] For a full itinerary of what to do and see in Charleston, check out my Charleston Weekend Travel Guide here. […]