One Day In Beautiful Charleston SC
The perfect way to spend one day in Charleston SC.
Charleston SC is renowned for its beautiful architecture, vibrant nightlife, and incredible food. This is a city that really does have it all, and if you’re lucky enough to have one day in Charleston SC then you’ll want to cram it full of the best on offer.
We were lucky enough to have a whole week here (after we decided to extend our stay because we loved it so much!) so we have a good idea of the real highlights, and the things you should try to cover with only one day here.
We’ve put together the perfect itinerary for a day visit here, but before we get started there are a few things to know before you go.
One Day In Charleston Quick Menu
- How to get to Charleston SC
- Where To Stay In Charleston SC
- Book in advance
- One day in Charleston itinerary
- Evening entertainment
- Alternative Options For Visiting Charleston
How To Get To Charleston SC
One of the easiest ways to get to Charleston SC is to drive. The city is well set up for cars, and most hotels offer parking for a small cost, which is well worth it for the ease and security.
We’ve designed this itinerary with walking in mind, so you won’t need a car at all. If you do have one though there are some great attractions outside the city which I’ve detailed at the bottom of this post.
If you don’t have a car then we’ve got you sorted! Charleston International Airport is a 20-minute taxi ride from Charleston center, so grab a taxi and hop straight on over!
This is one of the cheapest services we could find and will cost you under £40 – book in advance to avoid any hassle on arriving. With only one day in Charleston, you won’t want to waste any time!
Where To Stay In Charleston SC
If you have the time then it’s well worth spending a night in Charleston. The night-life here is world famous and you’ll be in for a treat with the hotel options available.
Our advice is to stay as central as possible to make sure you have maximum time to explore. And consider treating yourself to one of the best hotels in Charleston with a balcony!
Book a room in advance and request early check in so you can drop off your bags as soon as you arrive.
Check out the mid-century inspired The Dewberry hotel or Hotel Bennett for Charleston’s most luxurious accommodation within walking distance of all the main sights, or take a look at Barksdale House Inn for something more within budget.
We can’t recommend the John Rutledge House Inn highly enough. It’s exactly what the name suggests – the former home of John Rutledge and a stay here is quite the claim to fame, so it’s a great option for a short stay in Charleston. It’s also beautiful.
Check out the most romantic places to stay in Charleston.
What To Book Before Your One Day In Charleston SC
If you only have one day in Charleston SC then you should book any tours you plan on doing in advance so you’re all set up and ready to go when you arrive. It can get really busy here, especially during the best times to visit Charleston.
You won’t be able to fit in all the top tours available so choose one or two that really take your fancy – there really is so much to do in Charleston that you’ll be sure to find the perfect tour for you.
We’ve listed some of our favourites below, and would highly recommend you make sure a history tour of some kind is included as Charleston SC has such a rich past. We’ve detailed our favourite suggestions in the itinerary but here are a few to take a look at.
- Historic walking tour – this is a must-do to really get to know Charleston’s rich, historic past
- Historic Harbor Cruise – this was a real highlight for us
- Charleston’s Ghost Tour – as spooky (and entertaining) as they come!
- Charleston’s Tour Pass – this will save you money on A LOT of attractions so is well worth getting in advance
One Day In Charleston SC Itinerary
The Morning In Charleston
10 a.m.: Hopefully you’re feeling fresh this morning as with only one day in Charleston you’ll want to hit the ground running! If you’re staying overnight then drop your bags and head straight back out again!
Note: If you couldn’t book early check-in then not to worry, we’ve found this luggage drop service conveniently located in Charleston so you can leave your luggage for the day while you explore and pick up when your room’s ready!
You’ll want to start your trip here with a history tour to immerse yourself in one of the things Charleston is most famous for – its rich and fascinating past. Unsurprisingly, there are tonnes of history tours in Charleston. We have listed a few of our favourites below.
This historic walking tour is the perfect choice for anyone with only one day in Charleston. It crams in over 100 historical sights, including all of Charleston’s most famous and photo worthy spots.
If you’re visiting Charleston SC in the heat of summer then you might want to consider booking a tour that doesn’t involve walking (see below)! It gets super hot here in the summer months and even as someone who loves warmer climates, I struggled walking around this city in August!
If you want to see Charleston from a different perspective then head out on this historic harbour cruise. You’ll be travelling in style on a traditional 1920s steam boat, and have a guided tour of some of Charleston’s most famous spots from the water. We absolutely loved this trip!
If you have kids this is also a great option – keep an eye out for dolphins on the way!
Many people find the horse-drawn carriage rides a real highlight, so with only one day in Charleston why not make the most of your limited time here by combining a little history with a carriage ride! The perfect way to see the city in style and a big hit among couples and families alike!
12 p.m.: Head to Queen Street Grocery for something to eat after your historic tour. This classy cafe opened in 1922 and has been a little of everything over the years – from an Apothecary to a full-blown Grocery Store and now a trendy cafe.
The signature crepes (this is what we opted for) are a real treat, or they serve hot-pressed sandwiches to go. With your picnic in tow head to the nearby Colonial Lake park and rest those legs while taking in one of Charleston’s most scenic spots!
In The Afternoon
2 p.m.: Start the afternoon the Gibbes Art Museum for some Charleston culture. Gibbes is one of the oldest art museums in the United States and includes over four centuries of paintings, decorative works, sculptures, and other works from American artists like Angelica Kaufmann and Conrad Wise Chapman. You’ll enjoy a visit here even if art isn’t your ‘thing’.
Alternatively you could head to King Street to indulge in some boutique shopping. Charleston’s historic district is full of cute little individual stores where you can pick up a special souvenir or present for a loved one.
4 p.m.: It’s time to sample what Charleston does best – oysters and champagne! Delaney Oyster House is a really cute place to relax with a glass of bubbly and something delicious. We headed here after reading a recommendation on the place and it didn’t disappoint.
5 p.m.: Enjoy a late afternoon stroll along Charleston Harbor and see the “famous” Pineapple Fountain on the way. If you’re visiting in the winter months, wrap up warm and sit on one of the swinging chairs on the promenade to watch the colours of the sunset.
In The Evening
7 p.m.: Husk is the restaurant that kicked off chef Sean Brock’s empire and it focuses on mostly Southern cuisine. You’ll need to book in advance to get a seat at this famous restaurant but it’s well worth it, especially if you only have one day in Charleston! It’s the perfect place to get a real taste of the area.
The menu changes regularly but you can expect to enjoy dishes like deviled eggs with pickled okra and okra stew with Carolina gold rice.
8 p.m.: If you still have the energy then Charleston has a great evening scene, with something for everyone. In fact, there’s so much to do in Charleston at night that we’ve written a whole post on it. Check it out for your evening entertainment!
Options For More Than One Day In Charleston
If you’ve got more than just a day in Charleston SC then lucky you! There is so much more to see and do here, you could honestly spend weeks here and not get bored.
Here’s an extensive list of the best things to do in Charleston if you want to soak up all this city has to offer. Or we’ve included our top picks below!
Take A Food Tour
Charleston is famed for its food so what better way to experience it than through a food tour. Visit a variety of local eateries, culinary landmarks, restaurants and bakeries, each vital to understanding the evolution of food in the city and why it is so unique. You’ll have the chance to try stone ground grits, Charleston benne wafers, gourmet local chocolates, sweet tea and a whole lot more!
Visit Middle Place In Charleston
Middleton Palace is where two of America’s Founding Fathers called home: Henry Middleton, a president of the First Continental Congress, and his son Arthur Middleton, who signed the Declaration of Independence.
On a visit here you can explore the incredibly beautiful landscaped gardens and the House Museum filled with Middleton family possessions.
Kayaking Tour
The tidal marshes around Charleston are teeming with Lowcountry biodiversity. Keep your eyes peeled for sightings of wildlife such as Loggerhead turtles, bottlenose dolphins, and more as you paddle down Folly Creek.
We hope you have the most amazing time in this incredible city, and we’re pretty sure that after a day spent in Charleston SC you’re going to be booking a longer stay as soon as you get back! So make sure you check out some more of our top things to do in Charleston below for all the inspiration you need!
We’d love to know what you got up to on your trip in the comments section below, and if you found this post useful then share and join us on the social media channels below!
About Us!
Hi there! We’re Emily, Adam and Tiny Cat, liveaboard sailors travelling the world on our 38ft sailboat and writing about it as we go. We hope we can inspire you to live the life you’ve always dreamed, whether that’s exploring the world or living a more simple way of life in a tiny home.
