Charleston Travelers Recommend

Historic mansions, fragrant gardens, Low Country cuisine, and Southern charm—you’ll find it all in the Holy City. With two days to spend in Charleston, you’ll have time to explore the historic streets, tour antebellum mansions, and treat your tastebuds to local flavors. Read on for tips on how to spend your two days in Charleston.

Day 1: City Sightseeing

Morning: Start your day with an orientation in Charleston’s historic district the old-fashioned way, by horse-drawn carriage. As you clop along the cobbled streets, you’ll pass historic mansions, churches, and gardens while learning more about the city’s rich history (including its role in the Civil War).

Afternoon: Now that you’ve explored Charleston on land, it’s time to see the city from the water aboard a harbor cruise. As you sail through Charleston Harbor, beneath bridges, and along the Cooper River, keep an eye out for bottlenose dolphins. Most tours offer narration on what you’re seeing.

Night: After a day of sightseeing, treat your tastebuds to some hearty Low Country cuisine. Book a table at one of the many trendy restaurants in the Historic District, or join a local foodie for a food walking tour of Downtown Charleston or Upper King Street.

Day 2: Step Back in Time

Morning: Start your journey back in time with a morning visit to one of Charleston’s many historic antebellum plantations. Relive Gone with the Wind at Boone Hall, walk among the majestic oaks of Drayton Hall, stroll through the gardens of Magnolia Plantation, or learn about one of Charleston’s most influential families at Middleton Place.

Afternoon: The Civil War began in Charleston on the grounds of Fort Sumter, today a national monument accessible only by boat. Spend the afternoon exploring the historic site to learn more about Charleston’s key role in the Civil War.

Night: Charleston has lived through its fare share of tragedy, and tonight is your chance to uncover its darker side during an evening ghost tour. Learn about the restless spirits of the old city, and walk the overgrown grounds of the notoriously haunted Unitarian Church Graveyard.

Centuries-old mansions, flowery gardens, ironwork balconies, and palmetto palms accentuate the old-world charm of Charleston, a city where American history and Southern hospitality meet. While you could easily spend a week or more exploring, here are some tips for how to make the most out of a single day in the Holy City. 

Morning: Historic District

Much of Charleston’s appeal lies in its immaculately preserved historical district, so spend time this morning soaking up the scenery of this romantic neighborhood. Visit some of the city’s many mansions, gardens, and churches by horse-drawn carriage, or lace up your shoes for a walking tour of its historic streets. Most sightseeing tours, whether on foot or by bus or carriage, include a historical introduction to the city, with stops at points of interest such as Rainbow Row and the Waterfront Battery.

Afternoon: Forts and Plantations

This afternoon, take your pick of one of the city’s star attractions to focus your attention. History buffs might want to hop on a boat and visit Fort Sumter National Monument to see where the Civil War began. Another option is to spend the afternoon at one of Charleston’s antebellum plantations, such as Magnolia Plantation with its romantic gardens or 17th-century Boone Hall Plantation, among the oldest working plantations in the US.

Night: Sunset Sail

Some of the best views of Charleston are from the water. This evening, board a classic tall ship for a sailing excursion through picturesque Charleston Harbor and sip a cocktail as the sun sinks below the horizon. Once back on solid ground, head to King Street to sample some of the city’s famed Low Country cuisine, such as shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, po’boy sandwiches, or pimento cheese (aka the caviar of the South). Let your stomach lead the way, or join a local foodie for a guided tasting through the city streets. 

Get an idea of what life was like in antebellum South Carolina by visiting one of the historical mansions or plantations just outside Charleston Here are the top 18th- and 19th-century homes where you can learn about pre–Civil War history.

Joseph Manigault House

Built in 1803, Charleston’s Joseph Manigault House is a US National Historic Landmark and today part of the Charleston Museum. Visit on your own or as part of a historical Charleston tour to gain insight into the city’s heritage from a guide. Inside, admire American, English, and French furniture, and check out the period garden outside. 

Heyward-Washington House

Also part of the Charleston Museum, the 1772 Heyward-Washington House was built in Georgian style and once played host to George Washington. If you plan to visit both this site and the Joseph Manigault House, purchase a 2-site ticket from the Charleston Museum to save money. Alternatively, some historical and cultural walking tours of the city either pass by or enter the house. Inside, see Charleston-made furniture and the 1740s kitchen building.

Aiken-Rhett House

Listed on the US National Register of Historic Places, the Aiken-Rhett House was built in 1820 and was once the home of the governor of South Carolina. See it from the outside on a walking tour or horse-drawn carriage tour of the city, or visit on your own by purchasing a ticket from the Historic Charleston Foundation, which also operates the Nathaniel Russell House. The well-preserved slave quarters provide insight into how the enslaved once lived here.

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Magnolia Plantation dates back to 1676, when the Drayton family first established its property; Drayton family members continue to control the estate today. Located northwest of Charleston on the Ashley River, the plantation can be visited on a tour or independently. Allot plenty of time for both the plantation house tour and a stroll around the gardens, as well as optional activities like the Nature Train or Slavery to Freedom tour.  

Middleton Place

A US National Historic Landmark District on the Ashley River, Middleton Place was built in 1755. The 65-acre property is known as the home of the oldest landscaped gardens in the country. During a visit, you can also see historical family artifacts inside the house and the stable yards, where costumed staff members demonstrate blacksmithing, weaving, and carpentry.

Boone Hall Plantation

Northeast of Charleston, Boone Hall Plantation dates back to 1681 and is known for its avenue of live oak trees that line the entrance to the property. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the plantation can be visited on a tour from Charleston. Learn how the plantation evolved over the centuries, and see the slave quarters for a somber look at this part of history.

South Carolina is a beautiful slice of countryside presented to you with the warm hospitality and lilting Southern accent of Lowcountry folk. And while life here may seem to move at a slower pace, Charleston has some of the richest history in the United States and there’s an over-abundance of things to do and see. If three days is all you’ve got, here’s how to go about spending it.

Day One: Get Oriented

Charleston is a big city, but not overwhelmingly so. Most points of interest can be centered around the Historic District and it’s here where you should first orient yourself. Start the day with a stroll through Meeting Street, and walk the Museum Mile. A vast array of historical and cultural attractions meets you along this pleasant pathway, and you can get a good survey of the exquisite antebellum mansions that define the area. Consider a picnic at the White Point Garden or go for a stroll along its beautiful promenade. Then, at the Charleston Market, and rub shoulders with the locals, try some famous sweet tea, and pick up some freshly picked fruits and vegetables, as well as a few souvenirs to mark your introduction to the Lowcountry.

Day Two: Explore Charleston’s History

There’s a lot of history packed into this one-time Colonial town. From the late 1600s onward, important history has been made in Charleston and one of the best ways to get a sense of this is by visiting Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum where, along with getting an introduction to the beautiful Charleston Harbor, you’ll find the USS Yorktown (a retired aircraft carrier), the USS Clamagore (a wartime submarine), and the USS Laffey (a retired battleship), as well as the history of each ship and the region. In the afternoon, head over to the Circular Congregational Church and explore their graveyard to see how almost 300 years of history has shaped this iconic meeting place.

Day Three: Go Beyond

Some of the distinctive beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry is held in its majestic waterways, and there’s no better way to experience them than by getting out of the city’s borders for a day by the coast. Consider a day trip to one of the area’s wonderful beaches which offer everything from scenic getaways to resort-style adventure, or delve into the antebellum past of the Old South and visit a plantation to see why the area is so beloved.

The beach might not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning a trip to historic Charleston, but the shores of South Carolina’s Lowcountry are dotted with beautiful stretches of sand. Here are some of the best options for a day of sun, sand, and sea.

Kiawah Island

Situated about an hour outside of Charleston, Kiawah Island ranks among South Carolina’s top beach resorts. Visitors will find a public beach—considered one of the best in the country—at the southern end of this beautiful barrier island, as well as plenty of bike paths.

Folly Beach

Perhaps the most iconic beach in Lowcountry, Folly Beach has a little bit of everything: waves for surfing, lifeguards for safe swimming, a fishing pier, food vendors, and even a historic lighthouse (Morris Island) at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. Folly Beach is also a popular jumping off point for stand-up paddleboarding trips along the Carolina coast.

Sullivan’s Island

This largely residential barrier island north of downtown Charleston was once the stomping ground of poet Edgar Allan Poe. Today, visitors come for its broad beach where an offshore sandbar creates excellent conditions for swimming and kiteboarding.

Isle of Palms

Located just across an inlet from Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms attracts families with its lively beaches and collection of shops and oceanfront restaurants.Those with an interest in angling can head out to fish in the creeks of Charleston Harbor or out to sea to catch flounder and red fish trout.