3 Day Charleston Travel Itinerary
CHARLESTON
SOUTH CAROLINA
The Ultimate 3 Day Charleston Travel Itinerary: The Perfect Weekend
TELL ME MORE ON CHARLESTON
Formally known as Charles Town after King Charles II, Charleston is a historical city in the South Eastern United States. It played a large role in the American Revolution and was the starting place of the American Civil War. Charleston is home to the first museum, college, and library in America. The city is built on a peninsula facing the Ashley and Cooper rivers. Charleston’s history is captured in the many museums, forts, historical houses, and walking tours.
Founded: 1670
City Formation: 1783
Famous Food: She Crab Soup
Known Drink: Planter’s Punch & Sweet Tea
Souvenir: Sweetgrass Basket
When to Visit: March – May & September – December
Highlights OF 3 days in Charleston
Top Places from Locals
Shopping
King Street
The Market
Farmers Market Marion Square
Photography
Rainbow Row
Church Street
Waterfront Park
Drinks
Husk
Rooftop Bar at Vendue
Holy City Brewery
History
Battery
Fort Sumter
The Charleston Museum
Food
Lost Dog Cafe
Cru Cafe
Coast Seafood
Relaxation
Folly Beach
Kiawah Island
Sullivans Island
Tips
- A car is needed if wanting to explore multiple places beyond downtown
- Ride Share Apps are available to get around
- Downtown is about a 2 mile walk to see all the sights
- Dinner reservations are needed at most restaurants downtown
- Lunch reservations are needed on busy weekends, but if you go at off times by 11 am or after 1 pm there is a better chance to get a table without a reservation
SOME SUGGESTIONS ARE LINKED TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR RESERVATIONS
Best Hotels for Three Days in Charleston
Downtown is the most central location for sightseeing, food, drink, and shopping. Folly beach will give you more relaxed and laidback vibes close to 20 minutes from downtown. Mt. Pleasant is 10 minutes from downtown and offers more reasonable pricing on hotels. The hotels below are where we have stayed or have explored staying in Charleston during our trips.
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Downtown
Homewood Suites by Hilton $
Courtyard Charleston Historic District $
Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Waterfront $
Meeting Street Inn $$
The Mills House $$
Andrew Pinckney Inn $$
The Dewberry $$$
Hotel Bennet $$$
Zero George Street $$$
The Restoration Hotel $$$
Folly Beach
Beachside Boutique Inn $
Waters Edge $$
Tides Folly Beach $$$
Mt. Pleasant
Embassy Suites by Hilton $
Hilton Garden Inn $
Candlewood Suites $
Best Restaurants for Three Days in Charleston
Downtown Charleston is filled with amazing food from quick bites to nice meals. Making reservations far in advance is suggested for dinner.
Breakfast
Millers All Day $
Lost Dog Cafe (Best Biscuits & Gravy) $
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit $
Eli’s Table $
Marina Variety Store $
Halls Sunday Brunch (Upscale American) $$
Coffee
Second State $
Bitty and Beau’s $
Mercantile and Mash $
Kudu Coffee $
Lunch
Cru (American) $
Bertha’s Kitchen (Soul Food) $
Hannibal’s Kitchen (Soul Food) $
Swig n Swine BBQ $$ (Drive or Ride Share)
Lewis BBQ $$
Sorelle $$
Drinks
Edmund’s & Oast Happy Hour 4 to 5 daily $
Bay Street Biergarten $
Revelry Brewery $
Balila’s $$
The Gin Joint $$
Dinner
Coast (Shrimp & Grits) $$
The Ordinary $$
167 Raw $$
Kings BBQ $$ (North Charleston – Drive or Ride Share)
Leon’s Oyster Shop $$
Husk (Southern Farm to Table) $$
Fig $$$
Desserts
Kaminsky’s $
Kilwin’s Ice Cream $
Carmella’s Cafe $
Market Street Sweets $
Pecan Pie $
Check our our best breakfast guide to Charleston HERE!
What to See with Three Days in Charleston
There are so many wonderful places to see in Charleston that convey the historic charm everyone who visits this city has come to love. With three days in Charleston, these are our favorite locations to capture this charm for yourself.
Downtown
Rainbow Row
The Market
The Battery
King Street
Church Street
Four Corners of Law
Waterfront Park
Fort Sumter $
Old Exchange Building $
Ghost Tour $
Mt. Pleasant
Boone Hall Plantation $
Patriots Point $
Sullivan’s Island (Beach)
West Ashley & Surrounding Area
Middleton Place $
Magnolia Plantation $
Drayton Hall $
Angel Oak $
The itinerary below covers how to spend three days in Charleston with our top restaurant recommendations for each meal. We have included maps for each day that can easily be downloaded to your phone to help navigate.
The Perfect 3 Day Charleston Travel Itinerary
Day 1 in Charleston
Morning
Breakfast
Millers All Day
Sightseeing
King Street
Marion Square
Four Corners of Law
Church Street
The Market
Afternoon
Lunch
Cru
Sightseeing
The Battery
Waterfront Park
Rainbow Row
Old Exchange Building $
Day 2 in Charleston
Evening
Dinner
Sightseeing / Dessert
Stroll the market and king street
Kaminsky’s – Dessert
Day 3 in Charleston
Morning
Breakfast
Lost Dog Cafe – Drive
Sightseeing
Walk Folly Beach
Hope you enjoy this 3 Day Charleston Travel Itinerary: The Perfect Weekend!
