Charleston makes for the perfect weekend getaway! The stunning city of Charleston, South Carolina offers a lot to experience, see, eat and enjoy within 4 days.

Whether you are traveling through the United States and want to explore the American South; you live in the North and are looking for a warm getaway in the Holy City; you’re seeking out a girl’s weekend in Charleston or to have fun on a Bachelorette party; you want to enjoy one of the most romantic getaways in South Carolina or you even want to do a fun family vacation, this destination is great for all to enjoy. (It is even wonderful for a solo trip!)

The city is filled with bright colors, pineapples, excellent Southern comfort food, fascinating history, beautiful hotels, stunning houses and architecture, serene nature and so much more!

I visited Charleston, South Carolina for 4 days in early November 2018. Even though you can visit Charleston throughout any of the four seasons, fall is one of the best times to enjoy the best weather!

(In November 2019, my mom and I visited Savannah, Georgia – Charleston’s sister city. I recommend combining both trips into one larger vacation. I advise doing 2 or 3 days in Charleston and 3 or 4 days in Savannah. You can also do 4 days in Charleston and Savannah if you’re limited on time and want to see both cities. If you want to squeeze some beach time in there, I suggest adding a few days in Hilton Head, South Carolina, since it is between the two cities. Both spots make for the best weekend trips from Charleston. )

Discover everything to do during a weekend in Charleston! Here is a thorough itinerary for 4 days in Charleston.

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How to Visit Charleston, South Carolina in a Long Weekend:

There are numerous ways to get to Charleston, South Carolina! Since my mom and I were coming from New Jersey, we flew from Newark Liberty International Airport to Charleston International Airport. We found affordable flights through Skyscanner!

If you live in the South, traveling to Charleston could be done easily by renting a car.

When flying into Charleston, you could get picked up at the airport and taken straight to your accommodation using Go Airport Shuttle.

Looking for an RV for your next trip, reserve here!

The Best Hotel for a 4-Day Charleston Weekend Getaway:

During our time in Charleston, we stayed at The Mills House, Curio Collection by Hilton and LOVED it! The hotel itself is historical and pretty in pink.

Featuring southern charm throughout, The Mills House opened in 1853 and is situated in historic downtown Charleston near many popular attractions.

The grounds and lobby are stunning and I couldn’t help but admire everything about it. It is the perfect hotel for a Charleston, SC weekend trip.

Every morning during our time in Charleston, my mom and I would head down to the hotel’s courtyard and enjoy the complimentary coffee and tea they had. In the middle of the courtyard is a beautiful pineapple fountain that resembles the iconic Pineapple Fountain found in Charleston’s Waterfront Park. It is so relaxing and The Mills House will play comforting music in the background.

Since The Mills House opened in 1853, there is much history that stands with it.

A local grain merchant named Otis Mills originally built the hotel. It survived the destruction of the Civil War but was later burnt down due to a devastating fire that destroyed a huge chunk of Charleston. It was entirely demolished in 1968 and rebuilt a few years later. The façade is a replica of the original hotel, but the builders managed to squeeze in an additional floor.

Nowadays, it is a beautiful hotel that serves guests traveling from all over the world. It also holds weddings, corporate meetings and conferences.

In addition to The Mills House, there are many other luxury, mid-budget/boutique and budget hotels throughout the city that are great for your long weekend Charleston vacation. There are also a wide range of Vrbo options.

Luxury Accommodation: Charleston Place, A Belmond Hotel

Boutique Accommodation: The Spectator Hotel

Mid-Budget Accommodation: Hotel Emeline

Budget Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Mount Pleasant

4-Days Enjoying a Memorable Weekend in Charleston

Day 1: Arrive in Charleston and Explore the Best Places

Admire Charleston Architecture:

After we landed and checked into The Mills House, we started walking through the city. I love how quaint Charleston is. Strolling through the Holy City in general is relaxing and should be something you do during your long Charleston weekend getaway.

Most houses still standing in the city have been there for centuries. The architecture of the homes is a mix of Colonial, Georgian, Federal, Victorian and more. In addition to the beautiful architecture, many of Charleston’s homes are painted different colors as a tribute to Charleston’s Colonial/Caribbean heritage.

Stroll along King Street – A Great Way to Shop:

Known as one of the top 10 streets in America, King Street boasts the city’s trendiest restaurants, bars, hotels, art galleries, clothing boutiques, coffee shops and so much more. It is a shopper’s dream!

You could find top retailers, boutique stores, antique shops, art galleries and more on King Street. It is wonderful! I also love the pastel buildings on this street.

There is nothing like strolling through King Street during sunset. Between all of the pastel colors, palm trees and orange and purple skies, King Street shines like magic during golden hour. It cannot be missed during a long weekend trip to Charleston.

Savor a Lowcountry Dinner:

Prior to traveling to Charleston, I had never heard of the word “Lowcountry” before. When I first arrived in the city, all I saw and heard was “Lowcountry.”

A few hours later, when we went to dinner, I discovered that it is the name of the geographic and cultural region along South Carolina’s coast, including the Sea Islands. Since Charleston’s cuisine is catered to Lowcountry classics, we decided to have it for dinner on our first evening.

One thing to note about going out to dinner in Charleston is that you must make reservations on Friday and Saturday nights. Ensure you also have reservations made for brunch on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

When we were trying to make dinner plans that Saturday night, we were having difficulty finding a place with open seating for three people. We were lucky to find a charming restaurant next to The Mills House that served some of the best Lowcountry food in the Holy City.

Located in a beautiful Federal-style house is Husk Restaurant. Since it was a lovely night, we sat outside on the second-floor porch. It was nice to sit under gas lamps and enjoy fantastic food. It’s one of the best places to eat in Charleston!

As an appetizer, we all enjoyed Husk’s freshly-baked cornbread with delicious fall butter. My mom and I had the Lowcountry cider-glazed roasted chicken with vegetables and Southern dumplings for the main course. It was amazing!

To top it all, my cousin and I enjoyed a pumpkin blondie topped with a maple panna cotta. It was to die for! I enjoyed all of these delicious items with a South Carolina cider.

Day 2: Explore the City of Charleston during Your Weekend Getaway

Enjoy a Lowcountry Brunch in the Downtown Area:

One of my favorite things to do during a U.S. trip is to get brunch on a Saturday or Sunday morning. On our second day in this sunny Southern city, my cousin, my mom and I went to a nice jazz restaurant that offered tasty Lowcountry brunch options.

High Cotton is in Downtown Charleston, a few blocks from The Mills House. Featuring beautiful and open dining rooms, High Cotton is the perfect place to start your 4-day weekend in Charleston.

High Cotton offers a great mimosa trio for brunch where you could get a full or half bottle of Champagne with carafes of peach nectar, pomegranate and orange juice. (I recommend getting this and it is perfect for sharing!)

I enjoyed a lobster and bacon omelet with hash browns for my main meal. It was just as amazing as it sounds and looks!

In addition to offering mouth-watering food for brunch and dinner, the restaurant will bring in local jazz bands!

Visit Charleston’s Waterfront Park during your Weekend Trip:

After brunch, our first stop was Waterfront Park, one of the Lowcountry’s most visited parks. This beautiful park is a great place to take a stroll and enjoy the views of the Charleston Harbor, Ravenel Bridge (Charleston’s iconic suspension bridge), local gardens, the famous Pineapple Fountain and more.

The Pineapple Fountain is one of the top attractions at Waterfront Park and seeing it shouldn’t be excluded from your Charleston itinerary. No matter where you go in Charleston, you will find pineapple statues and logos everywhere. It symbolizes hospitality and it will also make you feel like you’re on a tropical Charleston vacation. You cannot miss out on seeing it during your 4-day weekend trip to Charleston, SC.

Walk around Charleston’s Rainbow Row:

The iconic Rainbow Row in downtown Charleston is a row of pastel-colored historic homes. It’s one of my favorite places in the Holy City, but please note that there will be a lot of people taking photos at this spot. No matter what, you cannot miss out on seeing Rainbow Row during your long weekend getaway in Charleston.

Legend has it that the valid reason for the colors of Rainbow Row was that drunk sailors could find their way home more accessible. Others believe they were painted lighter to keep them cooler during Charleston’s hot and humid summers. (They reminded me of the colorful houses in Burano, Italy.)

Admire the Beautiful Homes in The Battery:

Located on the lower shores of the Charleston peninsula is The Battery. This landmark is a defensive seawall and promenade in Charleston and it was named for a Civil War coastal defense artillery battery at the site.

In addition to its historical sites, The Battery has some gorgeous mansions to admire! It is fantastic to think that a lot of these mansions are worth tens of millions of U.S. dollars.

Tour Historic Downtown Charleston during Your Charleston, SC Weekend Trip:

Another one of my favorite things to do during my long weekend trip to Charleston was to turn off a random street in The Battery and stroll into the heart of the historic district.

Here, you will find the most beautiful and charming homes in the city. As you stroll through the streets, during your 4-day weekend in Charleston, SC, you will want to buy every house!

I also recommend doing a horse and carriage ride around the city. We did a horse ride for an hour; it was one of the best ways to learn about Charleston and its history.

Shop at History Charleston City Market: 

Established in the late 1700s, Charleston Market is a historic downtown marketplace that stretches four blocks long.

Here, you can find sweetgrass baskets (a Charleston staple) along with clothing, jewelry, art, home decor and food. Not only is there a day market, but there is also one at night. It is a spot you must take advantage of during your Charleston long weekend vacation.

Taste Southern Honey:

Situated in the heart of King Street is Savannah Bee Company, a cute store that offers daily honey tastings. I love honey, so I was in my glory when we did our tasting! We got to taste raw honey, lavender honey, wildflower honey and Charleston honey.

In addition to edible honey, Savannah Bee Company also offers beauty and lifestyle products and gifts. They even provide bee garden tours in Wilmington Island, GA. It’s a great activity to add to your Charleston itinerary for 4 days.

Have Afternoon Drinks during Your Charleston Vacation:

When we finished exploring Charleston’s best, we were ready for an afternoon drink! My cousin brought us to a cute boutique called The Skinny Dip on King Street that has not only a store but also a hidden rooftop bar that sells coffee, tea and frozen wines! It’s adorable.

There is an indoor bar with couches and a little outdoor bar with a cute swinging bench, coffee tables and beautiful décor.

I suggest making your way to The Skinny Dip. It’s the perfect midday stop! In addition to the Charleston store, The Skinny Dip has boutiques in Palm Beach and Nantucket.

Savor Dinner and Dessert on King Street:

For dinner on our second night, we were craving seafood. Since Charleston is a coastal city and is also close to the Atlantic Ocean, there are a lot of great seafood restaurants throughout.

Since oysters are a big staple in Charleston, my cousin took us to a lovely seafood restaurant called The Darling. There are many excellent oyster options for you to choose from at The Darling.

I had the Gulf Oyster, the Blue Points Oyster and the Lowcountry Cups. They were amazing, to say the least! For my main course, I had the seared diver scallops that included corn and walnuts over a pumpkin sweet potato risotto. It was delicious!

After our amazing seafood dinner, we headed to Jeni’s for some delicious homemade ice cream.

Day 3: Enjoy A Day of Charleston History During your Long Weekend Trip

Brunch Southern Style in Charleston:

Another fantastic brunch spot next to The Mills House is Poogan’s Porch. This quaint restaurant is Charleston’s oldest independent culinary establishment with a fresh approach to traditional Southern cooking. Not only could you enjoy brunch at Poogan’s Porch, but they also offer an excellent dinner menu.

Poogan’s Porch opened in 1976 and has been a favorite to celebrities, politicians, tourists as well as locals and I could see why after my experience there. It is a must-visit during a long weekend in Charleston, South Carolina.

I loved how charming and warm the restaurant was the moment I stepped inside. (You could sit outside on the porch as well.) I also enjoyed the lovely music that was playing throughout the house. It added to the ambiance and experience.

For brunch, I enjoyed a mimosa, warm and flaky biscuits as well as a chicken and waffle dish. The highlight was the chicken waffles that I had. The buttermilk waffle melted in my mouth and the fried chicken was amazing! I am still dreaming about this southern brunch.

Learn History at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant:

After brunch, we drove 20 minutes to the town of Mount Pleasant, where we would get our first educational tour of a southern plantation.

Rated as the top plantation in the Charleston area, Boone Hall Plantation is the best attraction that will bring you back in history. It is a must to add it to your 4-day Charleston weekend itinerary.

It’s here where you could get an education on black history in America, slave trade history at Boone Hall (and also in the South in general) as well as the history of the mansion and the families that lived there through centuries.

As we drove through the gates of the plantation, the first thing we saw was the breathtaking live oak trees with mystical Spanish moss that are evenly spaced out next to each other as you drive up to the main house.

While you drive up to the house, which is next to the parking lot, you will see a beautiful horse farm on your right. On your left, you will spot the old slave quarters that are now historical museums.

When you first arrive at Boone Hall Plantation, you must visit the welcome center, where you will be assigned a tour time to visit the big house. Meanwhile, especially if you have some time before your tour starts, I recommend seeing the slave quarters first.

As you tour the slave quarters, it is all self-guided. There are videos that you can watch as you enter each cabin as well as audio recordings.

It is in these cabins that you will get a glimpse at the living quarters and lifestyle of enslaved people that lived and worked at Boone Hall. In these cabins, you will get an education on black history in America from many centuries ago through 2009.

It is an emotional experience but the most educational and eye-opening of the plantation tour.

The guided tour of the main house allows guests to see how the Georgian-styled home blends recovered antique furnishings to recreate an atmosphere that would have surrounded a Coastal Carolina planter’s family centuries ago.

The tour will only take you through the bottom floor of the house because the current owners’ family will always stay in the upstairs bedrooms, so it is understandable how they would want to keep it private. The inside of the house features an elegant, colonial atmosphere. There is a beautifully-detailed spiral staircase that you will first spot as you enter the mansion. As you tour the rooms, you’ll see gorgeous chandeliers, old-world furniture and much more. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take photos inside the home.

After getting a tour of the main house, we entered the beautiful gardens featuring various plants, flowers and trees. Even though the gardens bloom year-round, the spring and summer show the best of colors. I still think we got to see a lot of beauty during the fall, however.

In addition to touring the slave quarters, main house and gardens, you could watch a performance that best showcases “The Gullah Culture.” (A Gullah was considered an African American living in the Lowcountry.) During your weekend getaway, you could also tour the butterfly pavilion and the old cotton gin.

(Another plantation located in the Charleston area is Magnolia Plantation. Click here to book your tour!)

Get Drinks with a View during Your Charleston Vacation:

When we were finished touring Boone Hall Plantation, we headed back to the city, where we stopped in the French Quarter for some mid-afternoon drinks and a light lunch.

Located near the Pineapple Fountain is The Vendue, which is a boutique hotel by the waterfront. A fun spot to admire stunning views of Charleston is The Rooftop at the Vendue. This fun rooftop bar lets you enjoy everything from spicy margaritas to orange crushes and fish tacos to flatbreads.

Treat Yourself to A Fancy Dinner during your Charleston, SC Weekend Trip:

Before my Charleston weekend getaway, almost everyone I talked to who has been there before recommended that we eat at Charleston Grill. Located in Charleston Place is an upscale Southern-French restaurant that offers the BEST food in Charleston.

On our last night in the city, we decided to try Charleston Grill. One thing to note about this restaurant is that even though it is pricey, you get a lot of freebies, such as a plethora of different bread options and sample tastings for appetizers, main courses and even dessert!

Since everyone raves about Charleston Grill’s crab cake, we decided to get it as an appetizer and it was incredible! For my main course, I had lobster and fregola sarda, which included lobster meat, summer pomodoro, corn, zucchini and ricotta. For dessert, we had the crème brûlée, which also did not disappoint.

Participate in a Charleston Historic Ghost Tour:

One of the most thrilling experiences during our time in Charleston was participating in a ghost and graveyard walking tour through Bulldog Tours.

Charleston is one of the most haunted cities in the United States, so it is worth doing this tour. You need to add a ghost tour to your Charleston long weekend itinerary! It is a lot of fun.

During the tour, we visited Charleston’s two most haunted graveyards. (Side Note: If you didn’t know already, the difference between a graveyard and a cemetery is that a graveyard is attached to a church and a cemetery is separate.)

In addition, we found out that our hotel was haunted as well as Poogan’s Porch, where we had brunch earlier in the day.

According to locals, The Mills House is where you can spot a woman from the 19^th century in a purple dress between 11 pm and 1 am in the rear lobby. Apparently, the rear lobby was a phantom from where the hotel helped burn victims after the devastating Charleston fire.

In addition, people have also seen Confederate soldiers running down the hotel’s hallways in the middle of the night.

It was my second time doing a haunted city tour. The first time was in New Orleans. Click here to book a haunted jail walking tour in Charleston.

I also did a ghost tour later on in Edinburgh, Scotland, Savannah, Salem, Massachusetts and Wilmington, North Carolina. Overall, ghost tours aren’t too scary and the tour company makes it fun for everyone.

Day 4: Relax at Charleston’s Beaches during Your Vacation

Relax at the Beach:

Before heading to the airport to fly back home, we drove 20 minutes south to Folly Beach to relax and enjoy the coastal breeze.

I loved Folly Beach because it was peaceful and relaxing. In addition, Folly Beach’s town was lovely as it featured brightly colorful homes, cute seafood restaurants, cozy coffee shops and great beach stores.

If you are doing a long weekend vacation in Charleston, I recommend squeezing in a beach day while you are there!

Besides Folly Beach, it is also nice to visit Sullivan’s Island as well as Isle of Palms.

Here are great destinations to get to from Charleston:

11 Things to do on Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Long Weekend in Wilmington, North Carolina

Weekend in Asheville, NC

Planning a memorable USA trip? Find more USA travel tips here.

I hope you all enjoyed discovering the best things to do in Charleston, South Carolina in a 4-day weekend. If you have any questions about my time in Charleston, please feel free to email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com.

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Currency: United States Dollar, Capital: Washington D.C., SC State Capital: Columbia, Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time

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