• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
About Get In Touch Latest

Tall Girl Big World

Germany & Europe Travel

  • Home
  • Berlin
    • Berlin Itineraries
    • Neighborhood Guides
  • Germany
    • Cologne
    • Dresden
    • Düsseldorf
    • Frankfurt
    • Munich
  • Europe
    • Denmark
    • England
    • Greece
    • Italy
    • Scotland
    • Spain
About Get In Touch Latest
Home » Destinations

3-Day Charleston Itinerary: The Must-See Attractions for First Time Visitors

By: Claire  On: March 12, 2023  Updated: January 22, 2025   Leave a comment

A weekend in Charleston is the perfect amount of time to see the top attractions and get a feel for the city. Here’s a flexible 3-day Charleston itinerary for first time visitors!

This post contains affiliate links, from which we may receive a commission. You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.

Charleston's Pineapple Fountain on a sunny day.

Oozing with southern charm, Charleston is the place to visit if you love picture-perfect houses, shopping at local boutiques, great food, and American history. It’s big enough to spend a long weekend in and still have things left to see on your next trip, but small enough that you don’t have to wake up early every morning to squeeze everything in.

In short: a weekend in Charleston is the perfect amount of time for first time visitors!

If you’re planning a long weekend in Charleston, here are the best things to do in this colorful city.

This 3-day Charleston trip itinerary covers the top attractions, but I’ve listed additional activities near the end of this post for anyone who’s been before and is looking to experience new things.

Table of Contents

Click “show” to see the full table of contents for this post. You can jump around the post as desired by clicking on the individual sections listed below.    

Charleston 3-Day Itinerary Click to Expand
1 Table of Contents
2 Day 1: Nathaniel-Russel House, Battery, Rainbow Row, City Market & Sullivan’s Island
2.1 Nathaniel-Russell House
2.2 The Battery
2.3 Rainbow Row
2.4 City Market
2.5 Sullivan’s Island
3 Day 2: Magnolia Plantation & King Street Shopping
3.1 Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
3.2 Window Shop on King Street
4 Day 3: Fort Sumter, Williams Mansion, French Quarter, & Pineapple Fountain
4.1 Fort Sumter
4.2 Williams Mansion
4.3 French Quarter
4.4 Joe Riley Waterfront Park
5 Looking for Even More Things to Do in Charleston?
6 Frequently Asked Questions
7 Bonus Tip: How to Save Money on Admission Fees!
8 Enjoy Your Trip to Charleston!
9 More Cities to Visit on the East Coast:

Day 1: Nathaniel-Russel House, Battery, Rainbow Row, City Market & Sullivan’s Island

You’ll be spending the first of your three days in Charleston exploring the city center, and you’ll end the day at the beach. There are quite a few attractions on Sullivan’s Island besides the beach, so don’t fret if the weather’s not super warm!

You’ll want to start your day around 9 or 10am, as most of the attractions in the area close by 6pm.

Nathaniel-Russell House

Opening hours: 10am to 4pm daily

Cost: $16

Time needed: 1 hour

The spiral staircase at the Nathaniel-Russel House in Charleston.

Start your weekend in Charleston with a tour of one of the city’s best house museums. The Nathaniel-Russell House belonged to one of the city’s wealthiest merchants and has been meticulously refurbished to reflect how the house would have looked upon its completion in 1808.

Unlike the majority of homes in the area, the Nathaniel-Russell House was built in the Federal style and lacks the two-story porch Charleston houses are known for.

During the 45-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to admire Charleston’s most famous staircase—a three-story, free-flying feat of engineering (the secret is that each step rests on the previous step, which holds the entire structure up!).

After the tour, take time to explore the formal gardens. Although small, they’re incredibly beautiful.

The Battery

Time Needed: 30 minutes

The Battery along the Charleston waterfront

Just 10 minutes south of the Nathaniel-Russell House is the lovely White Point Garden. Walk through the garden to Murray Boulevard and head left onto the battery.

Here you’ll see cannons that were used to defend the city from invaders, and you’ll get a good look at the French Quarter’s most expensive mansions as you walk north along the water’s edge.

Take your time, as there are often dolphins in the bay. You’ll need a good eye to spot them, though!

Rainbow Row

Time needed: 20 minutes

Charleston's Rainbow Row on a sunny day

Keep walking along the battery until you hit Rainbow Row, a collection of pastel-colored houses that no trip to Charleston is complete without seeing.

Rainbow Row dates back to the early 1700’s when the houses used to sit near the waterfront (Charleston’s city limits have since expanded and the houses are no longer on the water).

Merchants used to do business on the bottom floor of these homes and would live above their shops to save money. No one is completely sure why these houses were painted in such bright colors, but one popular theory is that the colors were meant to help drunk sailors find their way home.  

City Market

Time needed: 1-2 hours

The entrance to Charleston's City Market, at sunset.

Charleston’s Historic City Market is one of the oldest markets in the US and is open every day except Christmas. While there are plenty of normal touristy souvenirs for sale here, there are also lots of one-of-a-kind watercolor paintings of Charleston’s famous landmarks, homemade spice blends, home wares, and more.

Sweetgrass baskets are a particularly popular souvenir and are handmade in Charleston by Gullah artisans. The Gullah people are descendants of enslaved Africans, and their language and basketry skills are unique to South Carolina.

Sullivan’s Island

Time needed: 2-4 hours

A boardwalk on Sullivan's Island, near Charleston

Although quite small, there’s lots to do on Sullivan’s Island.

If the weather is nice, bring your swimsuit and spend the afternoon on the beach. The waves aren’t big near the beach, so you can go swimming with younger kids here if you’re traveling with family.

If you’re a history buff, a visit to Fort Moultrie is a must. When the British attacked in June 1776, the men at Fort Moultrie (then called Fort Sullivan) beat them back and saved the city from invasion.

After the nine-hour battle, the fort was renamed Fort Moultrie in honor of its commander, Colonel William Moultrie.

Day 2: Magnolia Plantation & King Street Shopping

Although you’ll be on your feet for much of your second day in Charleston, it’s the most relaxed day of this 3-day Charleston itinerary since you’ll be at a plantation all morning.  

This is one day that you might wish to change up the afternoon activity. I spent half of my day at Magnolia Plantation, as listed below, but if window shopping isn’t your thing take a look at the additional Charleston activities I’ve listed at the end of this itinerary if you’d rather not spend so much time on King Street!

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Opening hours: 9am to 5pm daily

Cost: $32 (reduced admission available for kids, seniors, teachers, and military with ID)

Time needed: 4-5 hours

The house at Charleston's Magnolia Plantation, in the morning light

The most visited plantation in Charleston, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is truly spectacular. It was founded in 1676 by the Drayton family and is a private home to this day.

The entrance fee is a little steep, but it’s well worth your money. You’ll want to arrive early so you can tour the house and gardens before too many visitors arrive.

Magnolia Plantation is good for both solo travelers and families, as it has a variety of tours and programs, including a nature train and a swamp tour.

A white bridge amongst the trees on the grounds of Magnolia Plantation
Trees and shrubs framing a view of the river on Magnolia Plantation

Give yourself lots of time to properly explore the gardens around the plantation. Just keep a lookout for alligators as they like to hide in the water. (They’re small, don’t worry! But you shouldn’t touch them).

You’ll need the entire morning to see Magnolia Plantation, so save yourself some time afterwards and eat lunch at the Peacock Café onsite. The food is nothing fancy—hot dogs, chips, sandwiches, and such—but it’s reasonably priced.

Claim one of the nearby picnic tables and have fun watching the peacocks strut about the yard. They roam freely and are incredibly entertaining!

Window Shop on King Street

Time needed: 90+ minutes

Storefronts along King Street in Charleston, SC

You didn’t think I’d let you spend 3 days in Charleston without window shopping along its most famous street, did you?

King Street is lined with a variety of stores ranging from high-end boutiques to local thrift shops.

Avid readers should visit Blue Bicycle Books and jewelry lovers will swoon over the Peyton William Jewelry shop. If you’re looking for less expensive souvenirs, the Savannah Bee Company sells a range of local honeys that adhere to TSA’s liquids rule.

Day 3: Fort Sumter, Williams Mansion, French Quarter, & Pineapple Fountain

Grab your comfiest walking shoes because your third and final day in Charleston will be spent touring historic sites and admiring old homes. What a wonderful way to end three perfect days in Charleston! 

Fort Sumter

Opening hours: 9:30am to 4:30pm daily (although your timing will depend on the departure time of your ferry or boat)

Cost: $40 (reduced admission for children, seniors, and military with ID — book tickets here)

Time needed: 2.5 hours

A cannon at Fort Sumter
Photo by Chuck G on Unsplash

Fort Sumter was the site of the first battle of the American Civil War. The only way to get to the fort is by boat (book your tickets well in advance!), which you can catch from Liberty Square in downtown Charleston.

On the 30-minute ride to the fort, you’ll learn about the events that led to the Civil War.

The fort now houses a museum, and you’ll have about an hour on the island to see where one of America’s best known battles took place.

Williams Mansion

Opening hours: 2025 opening hours TBD (the mansion has been closed but will be reopening this year!)

Cost: 2025 ticket prices TBD

Time needed: 45 minutes for “Gilded Age Tour” / 90 minutes for “The Grand Tour”

The front garden of the Williams Mansion in Charleston
A fountain amongst the foliage of the back garden of the Williams Mansion in Charleston

The Williams Mansion (formerly the Calhoun Mansion) was built in 1876 and is the largest single-family residence in Charleston.

It’s a whopping 24,000 square feet and has 35 rooms, all of which are stuffed with an array of antique furniture, priceless paintings, and Louis Comfort Tiffany lighting fixtures.

Because someone still lives in the house, no photos are allowed inside.

The best I can do to explain what the interior looks like is tell you to imagine the genie’s cave of wonders in Aladdin — except that instead of being buried under a pile of sand, the treasure is all sitting in an ornate Gilded Age mansion in Charleston.

Claire’s Tip: The Williams Mansion has been closed for many months, but according to its website is set to re-open for tours in 2025. If this throws a wrench in your plans, consider one of the following instead: booking a 2-hour walking tour or a food tour, going on a horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown, or visiting the Aiken-Rhett House (you can buy a combination ticket at the Nathanial-Russell House on day one!).

French Quarter

Time needed: 90 minutes

A row of mansions along the waterfront in Charleston's French Quarter

The French Quarter is chock-full of million-dollar homes that are mostly used as summer houses. Because this area is residential, there’s not much to do here except meander around taking photos of all the gorgeous mansions.

During the off-season, the French Quarter is basically deserted, which makes it easy to get great shots of the houses.

There are also quite a few art stores in this area, so pop in and see if there are any pieces you’d like to take home with you.

Joe Riley Waterfront Park

Time needed: 30-45 minutes

The pineapple fountain in Charleston's Waterfront Park.

After being on your feet all day, you’ll definitely need a rest. Take a load off at Waterfront Park near Charleston’s iconic Pineapple Fountain.

The pineapple is a symbol of hospitality and can be seen on signs all over the city.

Find a bench near the fountain and enjoy the people watching; cruise ships dock near Waterfront Park and there’s always a crowd of people coming and going.

Claire’s Tip: If you’re in need of a pick-me-up, hit up nearby Tinto y Crema (6 Vendue Range) for a refreshing scoop of artisan gelato.

Looking for Even More Things to Do in Charleston?

The gardens in front of Boone Hall Plantation in Charleston, SC.
Boone Hall Plantation

This 3-day itinerary for Charleston will take you to the absolute must-see attractions. However, if you’ve been to the city before or find yourself zooming through the activities on this itinerary faster than anticipated, know that there are many more things to do in and around the city center.

Check out my guide to Charleston for all of my recommendations on what to do in the city. Everyone travels at a different pace, so it won’t hurt my feelings if you deviate from this itinerary — it’s your vacation, after all!

Other top attractions that you could tack on to this Charleston trip itinerary include:

  • A visit to another of Charleston’s plantations (I also loved Boone Hall and Middleton Place)
  • A beach day at Isle of Palms
  • Window shopping along Meeting Street
  • A tour of the Charleston Tea Garden
  • A visit to the Aiken-Rhett House Museum
  • A tour of the Drayton Hall Home
  • A historic boat tour of the harbor
  • A half day food, wine, and history tour with a cooking class
A front door surrounded by jasmine
A rosebush on a fence in Charleston

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days are needed in Charleston?

At least three full days are needed to see the top attractions in Charleston and get a good lay of the land. A long weekend in Charleston would be perfect, but you could easily fill up to five days in the city since there’s so much to do and see.

Can you see Charleston in a weekend?

Most of it, yes! I’m sure a local would say differently (there’s always something else to do in any big city!), but I think a weekend is a good starting point for exploring Charleston.

What’s the best way to get around Charleston?

You can get around the city center on foot or by bicycle (there are bike rentals everywhere these days!). However, for getting out to Sullivan’s Island and the nearby plantations, a rental car would be welcome.

Should I rent a car when in Charleston?

If it’s in your budget to rent a car, I recommend doing so. With that said, I followed this exact 3-day itinerary for Charleston without a rental car and managed just fine — but the Uber and taxi fees really added up!

So if you’re like me and can’t or don’t want to mess with renting a car, remember to budget for additional taxi / Uber fees during your trip.

When’s the best time to visit Charleston?

I’ve only visited Charleston in the spring (March / April) and highly recommend visiting then if possible. Charleston in the summer is incredibly hot, muggy, and crowded.

However, in the spring it’s typically warm enough to go outside with just a light jacket or cardigan, there are fewer bugs out, and the city center and beaches aren’t that busy.

The front gate of Boone Hall plantation, with the house in the background
Boone Hall

Bonus Tip: How to Save Money on Admission Fees!

To save money on some of the most popular attractions when visiting Charleston, consider buying a Charleston Tour Pass. You can buy a pass for 1 to 5 days, and save up to 40% on retail admission.

The Charleston Tour Pass gets you into over 40 attractions in the area, so definitely check it out and crunch the numbers to see if it’s a good fit for your weekend trip to Charleston!

Enjoy Your Trip to Charleston!

Although smaller in size, Charleston is one of those cities that you can visit over and over again and always find something new to do. I hope this 3-day itinerary for Charleston is a useful jumping off point for planning your own travels.

If you visit Charleston using this itinerary and have feedback for me — positive or constructive! — don’t hesitate to drop a comment below.

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram to keep up with my daily adventures in Berlin and beyond!

More Cities to Visit on the East Coast:

  • 15+ Top Things to Do in Boston, MA 
  • What to Do in Wilmington, NC
  • 25+ Unique Things to Do in NYC
  • The Best Things to Do in Fredericksburg, VA
  • Day Trip Guide to Alexandria (Washington DC Day Trip!)

posted in: Destinations, USA

Previous
10 Fun Things to Do & See in Coburg, Germany
Next
15 of the Best Free Museums in Berlin

Written by Claire

Hiya! I'm the writer and photographer behind Tall Girl Big World. After being laid off from my corporate editorial job in NYC, I spent a year building up my freelance writing business before moving to Berlin, Germany in 2019. As of 2025, I've just received my permanent residence permit and can now officially call Berlin home. I've traveled extensively throughout Germany and share my top tips and recommendations in my detailed travel guides. I also write guides to my favorite European destinations (when my freelance schedule allows, that is!). Meet Claire.

Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply! Cancel reply

Share your thoughts!
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Claire - Author of Tall Girl Big World.

Hiya, I'm Claire!

After being laid off from my corporate job in NYC, I packed up my bags and moved to Berlin in 2019. Tall Girl Big World is where I share my adventures in Berlin and beyond. You'll find detailed guides on my favorite European cities as well as my top tips and resources for living abroad.

More About Me
Subscribe

Keep Up With Latest Travels!

Subscribe to the newsletter and join me on all the latest adventures, travel tips and more!

Ad

Contact About

categories

Featured Destinations

  • The Best Fall Activities in Berlin, Germany
  • Flea market at 17. Juni Strasse in Berlin.
    Berlin’s Best Flea Markets (to Buy Pretty Much Anything!)
  • 25 Things to Do in Berlin This Summer
  • The Church of the Holy Cross in Hannover
    19 Unmissable Day Trips From Berlin, Germany (by Train!)

About

  • About Claire
  • Get in Touch
  • Read the Blog
  • Privacy Policy
Subscribe

Keep Up With Latest Travels!

Subscribe to the newsletter and join me on all the latest adventures, travel tips and more!

Browse

  • Asia
  • Canada
  • Greece
  • Europe
  • Germany
©2025, Tall Girl Big World. Privacy Policy Disclosure & Disclaimer Terms & Conditions Copyright Notice Back To Top
Design by Pixel Me Designs
×

Keep Up With Latest Travels!

Subscribe to the newsletter and join me on all the latest adventures, travel tips and more!