Planning a Charleston weekend getaway? Get the perfect itinerary, best time to visit, where to stay, and top food picks right here.
It was not a “we lost our way and freaked out” kind of ordeal. It was that two-day rush to do everything. Go to every must-try restaurant. Chase down every pastel-colored house on Rainbow Row to snap a picture of it. Be totally and hilariously exhausted, sunburned, and strange unfulfilled. I felt more worn out when I arrived than when I finally got back home. Does this ring a bell?
And that‘s when six months later when I came back with actual plans, not a Pinterest board, not a prayer I ‘got’ it. Charleston, SC is a city where a little planning goes a long way. It‘s walk-able, historic, relaxed, sticky-sweet, inviting. It‘s the kind of place that won‘t make sense unless you stop trying to make sense of it.
It is all the information I knew I needed or wanted to know that first trip in one place. I think of this as the agenda I would have given my sister when she walked out the door for her other weekend in Charleston, the one that worked. If you are taking a Charleston weekend trip yourself, this is the agenda I would give you. If you are planning a Charleston weekend of your own, your journey can begin here. And if Charleston is bit of a leap for your next trip, check out 15 Weekend Getaways from Los Angeles You‘ll Love for something a little closer to home.
Why Charleston Is the Perfect Weekend Getaway
How can I answer the obvious fundamental question, why go to Charleston for a weekend?
- It is tiny. While wandering the weekends in bigcities often involved scanning one neighborhood while trying to avoid all other neighborhoods, it‘s quite feasible to spend the days in Charleston, walking across the historic district on foot. One can wake up in a 200-year old inn, stroll to a brunch, walk past cobblestones by 10, be sitting with a cocktail on a rooftop bar by 6pm without ever getting into a car.
And variety; there‘s the 19th-century church where you can pause to have what will probably be the best shrimp & grits you‘ve ever had in what was obviously a garage owner‘s spare room.
Here‘s the thing no one told you-actually Charleston isn‘t kind of a “checklist city” even though it technically is. Make sure to visit Rainbow row and take a walk on the Battery. It doesn‘t really feel that way though, the way sightseeing can even sometimes feel in bigger cities. It feels kind of like taking a really nice walk in a really old part of town that also has some fantastic restaurants on every corner.
Best Seasons for a Charleston Weekend Getaway
Time is more of a factor here in Charleston than you could imagine. That was my downfall the time I first visited. If I visited in July. Rookie mistake.
The summers in Charleston are unbearable. The air is heavy, steamy and hot. The five minute walk to places has you feeling like you just ran a mile or two. So while you would love to walk through the historical district, by 10 o‘clock you will already be feeling sticky and sticky.
Spring (March-May)
It may be good to mention here that the months March to May are the hard months when the snow has just melted, but the ground still remains frozen for planting.
Most travelers consider spring the best time to go and for once, the majority is right. It‘s within that range of 65-80 F (18-27 C), when the gardens are splendid and the humidity hasn‘t yet crossed over into summer territory. Besides, the renowned Spoleto Festival, Italy‘s equivalent of Edinburgh, takes place in that very period if you wish to have some culture with your travel.
Fall (September-November)
I will be attempting to make my observations as detailed as possible on the birds’ behavior so that I can look at the patterns of the different indicators of health. I will record the number of birds of each species present.
Autumn is my personal favorite, and when I recommend you come if you want to see it with less crowds but still nice weather. The summer heat has long gone. Hurricane season is winding down. The light on the historic buildings has this stunning golden hue- that your bum iphone camera still just might take a professional looking picture of.
Winter
In winter, a positive perestimator was used for all fine particle measurements. This was a number weighted average which implies the contamination was assumed to be equally dispersed with a greater chance of settling in the winter months. The perestimator used was 1.28, which can be shown to be 170 under the worst case scenarios.
As far as winter is concerned, it will be enormous saving, but you will have to sacrifice for theglovenjoy glow outside for comfort outside. If savings are your only concern, winter will be a more convenient time to ten days for the seasons (as previously discussed, you may need to bring more air conditioning clothing than you thought and spend more time between heat enjoying sessions.)
To sum up: It’s a bit of a toss-up if you can only choose one season. But I’d go with the late September early November option. Wonderful walking weather, moderate crowds, and you’re still before the high spring prices ideal for that weekend in Charleston. What more could you want for an easy Charleston weekend?
Where to Stay: Picking Your Home Base
Deciding you stay in Charleston can dictate your whole night, helping you have the right seat at the table. Three Charleston neighborhoods can help you do this.
The Historic District (French Quarter / South of Broad)
If you want the postcard image of cobbled streets, horse-drawn carts and rolling out of bed into a museum, this is for you. It‘s also the most walkable, meaning most sights are on your doorstep within 10 to 15 minutes. Expect to pay for boutique hotels, cast-iron balconies and very high prices.
King Street
King Street is what I would call Charleston‘s “lively downtown street”–shopping, eating, partying, everything all together. It is in walking distance of the livelier activities after dark, but a little less historical than the rest of historical Downtown Charleston, and strikes me as a happy medium.
Downtown/Waterfront (near Waterfront Park)
You will get views of the waterfront without being “out of town” either, with easy access to the lively Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park. The atmosphere here is slightly less frantic than on King street, but still within walking distance of the historic centre.
So what is my verdict? If won‘t cost a fortune, then stay somewhere within walking distance to the historic district. Charleston is less about strolling around and seeing interesting things on the way back to your hotel and more about driving to get food to your lodging if you are staying out of the historic district.
Getting Around Charleston
The silver lining is that for most of the trip, I doubt you will need it and honestly, I wouldn‘t suggest it. Chicago parking can be a nightmare. The streets are tight, there isn‘t much parking and it can cost a fortune.
Charleston is extremely walkable, and and for something a little more distant (such as The beaches, more to come in a bit) ride shares are very cheap and amazingly easy to come by. There is also a free downtown shuttle service called DASH that runs a loop around the tourist attractions. It is something to consider on the second day if your feet hurt!
If getting here by plane, rent a car only if you will be taking many trips to the beaches or traveling to a local plantation. Parking is a pain.
Your Charleston Weekend Itinerary
Here‘s an accurate game plan for a weekend trip to Charleston. It is the one I wish someone had given me in my hand before my first time down there. Think of this as the foundation for any trip to Charleston, no matter how many times you‘ve done it.
Day One: History, Charm, and Getting Your Bearings
Morning: Avoid taking a breakfast in your hotel for at least the first day in the city. It is a minor thing but it will make easier settling in this place. Just buy some sweet pastry and a coffee. Then go straight to the historical center of this place while the lights are relaxing and the crowds are slow.
Head along Rainbow Row, the famous row of brightly painted historic houses on East Bay Street. This is a major tourist attraction. However you cannot avoid it. Because of the brilliance of the colors with the morning sun it appears on virtually every postcard. Walking the full stretch will take less than 15 minutes.
Next walk south to the Battery, a gorgeous promenade on the harbor and a feast for the eyes with beautiful antebellum homes. This is where Charleston‘s “old money” resided. Walking this street, you felt like you had traversed into a history book, without the corset.
Afternoon: lunch in the French Quarter, or wherever along the way (eating will be addressed shortly!), and then Charleston City Market. This, a covered market, has been around in some form since the early 1800s. It is a mixture of souvenir shop, and a window into the local arts & crafts scene- where artisans have traditionally handwoven sweetgrass baskets and passed on the craft through the generations. It can be a bit touristy, but the real and authentic offer is there beneath the taffy and t-shirt laden exterior.
Evening: You seek to use this night to discover what Charleston is truly great at. Are drinks on a rooftop before sundown there are many around downtown followed by an authentic Lowcountry dinner. The Charleston dining experience should not be rapid. Savor your shrimp and grits as the temperature drops.
Day Two: Beaches, Gardens, and a Slower Pace
Morning: If you‘re craving some sunshine and surf, take an uber out to Folly Beach. About a twenty-five minute ride from downtown, the place will offer a fun contrast to the historic antebellum homes on day‘s first. For a bit less commotion, and a somewhat more family friendly beach, head on over to Sullivan‘s Island.
Afternoon: If you‘re not very into beaches that‘s ok, you can replace this part of the day with a trip to one of the many plantations around Charleston (Magnolia Plantation, Middleton Place etc.). These plantations have the history of slavery on them and you shouldn‘t ignore the fact or see it as beautiful views and scenery. This will make the morning even more serious and fulfilling when your tasting the whole history of the past.
Night: Spend your final night at a restaurant you‘d been craving all weekend. The one everyone told you to check out. Try to schedule a reservation. The most popular Charleston restaurants often fill up weeks before, notably on the weekends. Conclude your night with a peaceful stroll home, walking by empty storefronts along illuminated cobblestone sidewalks. That is what you shall remember beyond anything else.
Where to Eat: Charleston‘s Real Main Attraction
But as for Charleston‘s history–if it‘s the aperitif, then the food most definitely is the main course! The city is proud of its standing and the people truly have earned it!
Must-Try Dishes
You need to keep an eye out for the shrimp and grits. Creamy buttery grits, topped with jumbo shrimp in a delicious gravy. Different restaurantes will make it a little different. And frankly, trying two or three in one weekend isn‘t overkill, it‘s research!
A local specialty, that you will need to try at least once, is She-crab soup –is an epic sherry roasted bisque stirred made with crab roe, sounds a little odd but is absolutely delicious.
If you‘re going to be more laid back, I would find somewhere that serves fried green tomatoes or hoppin’ john (which I hear is rice and black-eyed peas and is Highcountry- heh.). And if you like biscuits, then come hungry, because you‘re going to eat the most embarrassing biscuit you‘ve ever eaten in your life- and I say this as someone who thought they knew biscuits.
Budget Expectations
Budget-wise, expect to spend more in Charleston than in an average sized city. Chefs and restaurants from all over go above and beyond to make Charleston one of the top culinary destinations and it shows in the prices. Indulge in an upscale four course meal with a couple drinks for a $80-120 bill or settle in for one of the more casual inexpensive options.
Packing and Practical Tips
A few things I learned the hard way, so you don‘t have to:
- Shoes should be comfortable. The cobblestoned streets are quite attractive, but a killer on your feet. Put away the stylish yet impractical sandals.
- Humidity is not just for summer, you will need to bring slightly lighter clothing than expected and a pocket fan might be a good investment for visits between May and September. Reservations will be necessary. Charleston is so popular that the most desirable restaurants often require reservations days ahead of time for a weekday evening.
- Most places of the smaller, more family run restaurants accept cards, though it is still cash for the locals.
Final Thoughts: Take it Slow and Let Charleston Do Its Magic
In theory though, it was this tiny mental equivalent that made my first, hurried three-day trip to Charleston worse by light years than the second, vastly better one. Instead of trying to see Charleston, I decided to absorb it.
Yeah, I know all of this sounds unbelievable cheesy. But there is something really fantastic about a city that causes you to slow down. About a town that is too skinny and charming for rushing through or gulping down. About a city that you don‘t ‘do’ over a weekend, but that you “loll into”.
That said, so organize your days I‘ll show you but leave enough free time that you can take that impulsive left turn. That second twenty minutes enjoying your pudding in a perfumed twilight. Of everything listed here, that‘s the one experience that remains forever.
You will also find that Charleston is still here after the second round. Believe me you will be wanting one of these also after a weekend in Charleston! You will know exactly why when you experience a weekend getaway to Charleston for yourselves.
Helpful Resources for Planning Your Trip
A few official sources worth bookmarking as you plan:
- Explore Charleston: For more information about Charleston is the official visitors bureau for the area and features a current events calendar, accommodation guide and visitors guide.
- Middleton Place : Official site of a National Historic Landmark with history and ticketing information.
