Charleston – is a beautiful town with colorful houses, lots of greenery, beaches, and colorful streets for a perfect weekend getaway in South USA. So let’s plan 3 days in Charleston itinerary with the best things to do in Charleston, SC, this weekend.
Charleston, also known as “The Holy City,” is a beautiful family-friendly city to plan your weekend getaway.
- Best Things To Do In Charleston SC This Weekend (Complete Charleston Travel Guide)
- One day in Charleston – The perfect itinerary.
Highlights of 3 Days in Charleston Itinerary
- Historic Houses Tour + Colorful Streets tour
- Plantations tour
- Short-day tours to nearby Islands or Beaches
Plan your 3 days in Charleston Itinerary – Weekend Getaway
Day 1 – Historic District walking tour + Home tours | Charleston Itinerary
Historic District is walkable but still, Start your day with 40 minutes Free Shuttle Bus tour in Historic Region.
TIP – The museums, home tours, shops, restaurants, and eating zones close by 5:00 PM in Charleston, SC. So start your day early if you book home tours and museum visits.
After that, grab your favorite spot and start walking around.
Start your walking tour from The Battery and then proceed to Rainbow Row – a series of 13 colorful houses and the most photogenic spot of Charleston, SC.
There are many funny stories and myths about Rainbow Houses. All these are painted in unique and vibrant pastel shades with ancient architecture, which must be included in your 3 Days in Charleston Itinerary – Weekend Getaway.
If you are a history buff and love History, then take a Slave Museum tour or Old Custom House & Provost Dungeon tour. You need to buy separate tickets for them.
These tours are guided and last approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. All these museums and Historic home tours are located in the walking Historic District of Charleston, SC.
Heyward Washington, Edmondston – Alston, Aiken Rhett, and Nathaniel Russel are some of the most visited homes displaying the American colonial lifestyle. After these museum tours, go for Historic home tours. These house tours are guided and are approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Grab a quick lunch at boutique cafes in Historic District, Charleston, SC.
After lunch, admire some beautiful churches; Charleston has gorgeous churches.
Step into the past by booking a lovely carriage tour of the whole Historic region and feel all the historic vibes.
Take an evening walk in the waterfront park and discover the Pineapple fountain.
Discover the famous Pink House on Chalmer’s Street, which is also one of the most photogenic spots in Charleston, SC. Now you know the best places to visit in Charleston, SC.
Ghost & Vampire tours are worth taking here, and these tours take you to historic houses at night with some fun and spooky adventure.
Day 2 – Plantations Tour | Charleston Itinerary
Charleston was once upon a time one of the wealthiest cities in the Lowcountry or South USA due to slave trading and agricultural goods like rice, indigo, and tea.
Many plantations got developed in the 18th century in this region. These wealthy plantation owners had many enslaved people and huge lands with lakes, rivers, agriculture, forests, valuable trees, and many more. Now, these plantations turned into museums and have opened their doors for visitors.
Take 2 to 3 plantation tours. Most are about 15 to 20 miles away from Charleston and open their doors at 9:00 AM. So start your day early so you can do at least 2 to 3 plantations in a full day.
The most visited one is Magnolia Plantations, America’s most romantic garden.
Boone’s plantation is worth visiting as it has funny and guided tractor rides through all farms and fields. Include Boone’s Plantations and Magnolia Plantations in your Charleston in 3 days.
Have quick lunch in between hopping from one plantation to another. The plantations close their gates between 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Return to Charleston between 5:00 PM and then take a beautiful walk around King’s Street, as it has lovely boutique shopping, rustic cafes, vibrant pubs, lavish restaurants, and colorful buildings.
Charleston is a great foodie city; therefore, if you are in this city, book a food & Gourmet tour and experience the great food scene here.
Day 3 – Short day trip to Islands + Beaches | Charleston Itinerary
Grab your swimming gear and head to beaches, as there are many exotic beaches and islands near Charleston. On such a third day, you keep it all for water activities.
Book a cruise to the island or drive down to Hilton Head Island for perfect beach holidays in Lowcountry.
Hilton Head is an upscale country town in South Carolina with a lovely beachfront. On the drive to Hilton Head, you can find many scenic plantations.
If you find islands a little bit far, go for nearby beaches – Folly Beach(15 Miles away) or Edisto Beach. Charleston itinerary is incomplete without the addition of beaches.
Spend half a day at the beach, have lunch at Hilton Head, and return to Charleston. In the evening, discover Charleston’s historic areas and find some hidden alleys with beautiful houses, doorways, window patios, and cobbled-stoned streets.
If you are a history buff, visiting Fort Sumter is worth it as you experience America’s colonial past.
There are many things to do in Charleston and day trips around Charleston, and hopefully, you will soon plan 3 days in Charleston itinerary for a perfect weekend getaway.
Where to stay in Charleston for a weekend getaway
- Luxury Stay option – Book a magnificent luxury hotel in Historic District.
- Mid-range Stay Option – Book a fantastic hotel stay in Historic District next to Visitor’s center and Free Tourist Shuttle Bus.
- Affordable Stay Option – Book an affordable stay in Charleston on Spring Street.
Charleston Travel Tips & Information
Let’s check some valuable tips and information before planning a visit to Charleston, SC, and things to do in Charleston South Carolina.
Where To Stay In Charleston, SC – Book your hotels
- Luxury Stay option – Book a magnificent luxury hotel in Historic District.
- Mid-range Stay Option – Book a fantastic hotel stay in Historic District next to Visitor’s center and Free Tourist Shuttle Bus.
- Affordable Stay Option – Book an affordable stay in Charleston on Spring Street.
Best Time to Visit Charleston, SC – Charleston Weekend Getaway
- Spring – March to May – The best time to visit
- Autumn/Fall – October through November – the best time to visit
- Summer – June to September are hot and humid
- Winter – Not freezing and so perfect cold weather if you are not going for beaches.
TIP – In peak season and on weekends, hotels are super pricey as Charleston is a favorite destination for romantic getaways and family getaways in Southern-East USA
Some Amazing Day Trips from Charleston – Best things to do in Charleston SC this weekend
Within 45 minutes to 2 hours drive
- Savannah
- Wadmalaw Island
- South Lowcountry Tour
- Myrtle Beach
- Georgetown
- Edisto Island
- Hilton Head
How to commute in Charleston, SC
- Charleston Historic District is entirely walkable and can also catch the free shuttle bus.
- You must drive or book guided tours for the plantations and islands.
Charleston Weekend Getaway Tips
- All attraction museums close at 5 PM and open at 9 AM, so plan your day accordingly.
- The historical region of Charleston is walkable.
- Coterie is one of the fine dining restaurants with a lovely leafy patio seating in the historic area. It is heaven for vegetarians and offers amazing Indian food.
- Plantations are located outside the city limit and so consider your timeframe accordingly.
- Many historic houses have guided tours of 1 hour and run after every 1 hour. Plan accordingly.
- Weekends and holidays are very crowded, and so hotels are expensive here.
- In many plantations, entrance tickets do not include a boat ride, train ride, or house inside tour.
- Charleston is a family and pet-friendly city.
- History buffs love this city as Charleston is linked to the expansion of English settlement in the late 1600s, the Civil Wars, and the American Revolutionary War of the 1780s.
- Carta Free shuttle bus is the best way to get a glimpse of this city, and you can also plan your trip.
- Charleston is a city of churches; therefore, you will find beautiful churches here with the sounds of Church bells. Therefore Charleston is known as “The Holy City.”
- The original name of Charleston was Charles Towne.
- It is one of the oldest cities in the U.S.
- It was the original capital of South Carolina till 1786, and then the capital of South Carolina moved to Columbia.
- Charleston should be included in the southern USA tour and tops any South USA travel itinerary.
- Nearby many Historic homes people are residing in, so be quiet and do not disturb the surroundings.
I hope now you know how to spend the perfect 3 days in Charleston itinerary – a weekend getaway and will soon plan your Charleston itinerary.
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