Charleston is a city just brimming in history and Southern charm.
As you walk through its streets, you’ll find candy-colored houses, beautiful gardens, cute shops, history museums, and killer eateries.
For a foodie like me, Charleston really delivers.
I was just at the beach near Charleston — Isle of Palms — for a week and went into the city several times. I’m ready to hand over my recommended one day in Charleston itinerary, with tips for visiting.
Overview & Tips For One Day In Charleston
Here’s a snapshot glance of what you can see in 1 day:
- White Point Garden
- Battery
- Rainbow Row
- Historic Center
- Museums
- Magnolia Plantation or Fort Sumter option
- dinner at a great restaurant
- ghost tour or sunset cruise
Here are some quick tips for visiting Charleston:
- consider booking a guided walking tour to get the historical backdrop
- you may want to book the Charleston tour pass for quick entry to sites
- book dinner reservations well in advance
- bring comfy footwear for the cobblestones
- stay hydrated!
One Day in Charleston Itinerary
If you check out a map of Charleston, you’ll see that the historic center sits on a peninsula.
Start your one day Charleston itinerary at the southern tip, where you’ll find White Point Garden. This spot features beautiful oak trees and lovely harbor views, though recent construction might affect the scenery.
Right nearby, you’ll discover the oleander-lined Battery, a seawall that doubles as one of Charleston’s best promenades.
With harbor views on one side, including Fort Sumter in the distance, and gorgeous homes on the other, it’s a must-see. The refreshing sea breeze is a welcome relief, especially during Charleston’s hot weather.
After walking the length of the Battery from White Point Garden, you’ll find East Battery Street, which turns into East Bay Street.
Head north up East Bay Street, and you’ll arrive at one of Charleston’s most iconic landmarks: the pastel-colored houses of Rainbow Row.
These 18th century homes got their bright colors in the 1930s and 1940s, possibly to cope with the summer heat or help locals find their way home at night.
Regardless of the reason, they’re a must-see on any trip to Charleston.
Historic Center
Then, explore Charleston’s historic center, which is best done on foot.
Don’t miss cobblestone Chalmers Street, home to the famous Pink House, and Church Street, which boasts some of Charleston’s most beautiful homes.
The Pink House is a favorite because of its bright color and gambrel tile roof, set off by the cobblestones in front.
Also worth a visit are Philadelphia Alley, St. Philip’s Church, St. Michael’s Church, and King Street.
The French Huguenot Church and Dock Street Theater are worth a look, too!
King Street is where you’ll find loads of shops and boutiques. Everywhere you look, there are hanging flowers decorating lamp posts.
The most upscale section of King Street, often referred to as the “Fashion District,” is located between Calhoun Street and Market Street.
I was shopping with my daughter and she really liked Candlefish, a temple to all things candle-related.
We also loved Sewing Down South, which is featured in the TV show Southern Charm. And Something About Me has incredibly cute clothing for women.
The South of Broad neighborhood and French Quarter, with their beautiful homes and tree-lined streets, are deserve a wander.
Further north, you’ll find the Charleston City Market. This historic market dates back to the 1790s.
The current building is from the 19th century. It’s an excellent spot for souvenir shopping for things like sweetgrass baskets and other artisanal goodies.
When you need a break from the heat, grab some lunch in the historic center. If you want something casual, check out Leon’s Oyster Shop, Hominy Grill, or Brown Dog Deli.
You could also book a guided food tour. The pro is that you can sample all the different kinds of Low Country food. The con is that it lasts 2.5 hours, which takes up a substantial chunk of your day.
Museums
After lunch, head to one of Charleston’s museums on Museum Mile.
The Old Slave Mart Museum, the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, and the Gibbes Museum of Art are all great choices.
The Gibbes is housed in a beautiful Beaux-Artes style building. It’s renowned for its extensive collection of American art, with a particular focus on works related to the South and Charleston’s rich cultural heritage.
Alternatively, you could visit one of Charleston’s house museums like the Aiken-Rhett House or the Nathaniel Russell House.
I visited the Aiken-Rhett house. The museum provides insights into the antebellum South, the lives of the wealthy elite, and the experiences of enslaved individuals.
Magnolia Plantation
For a change of pace, and if you have time, you could also drive to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.
Located about 30 minutes from downtown Charleston, this historic site has been owned by the Drayton family since the 1670s.
It features beautiful gardens, an authentic period house museum, and nature trails.
In fact, the Romantic Garden is the last surviving 19th century garden of its type. It also boast the most ancient azalea and camellia collection in the United States.
To see it all, you can zip around on the nature train. If it’s not too hot outside, you’ll see some alligators on the ride.
To learn about the plantation’s dark history, you can take the Slavery to Freedom tour and see Slave Street.
You can drive there yourself. There’s free parking.
Or, you could book a guided tour from Charleston. But that leaves at 10:30, so you have to shuffle around this itinerary to make it work.
Alternative: Fort Sumter
If you only 1 day in Charleston, Fort Sumter is pretty out of the way. But Civil War buffs may want to make the trek anyway.
The ferry service is the only way to reach the fort, which is located on an island in Charleston Harbor.
The ferry operates multiple times a day, with schedules varying by season. The ride takes about 30 minutes each way and departs from Liberty Square and Patriot’s Point.
You should book your tickets online in advance. They include admission to the museum there.
>>> Click here to book a ferry and Fort Sumter ticket
Dinner
Charleston is positively covered in fantastic restaurants, both beloved traditional spots and dynamic newcomers.
For a memorable experience, consider Husk, FIG, and 82 Queen. Make reservations! I couldn’t get into FIG even though I tried to reserve a month in advance!
If you’ve had your fill of Low Country Food, try Le Farfelle. It’s Italian and was excellent when I was there. Try the oysters!
Want something more casual? You can pick up amazing barbecue at the Lewis Barbecue. We got it to go and it was excellent — the ribs were to die for!
You can also get some great soul food to go from Dave’s Carry Out.
Night Tours
If you’re up for something spooky, Charleston is plenty haunted!
The city’s long history, dating back to its founding in 1670, has left it with numerous tales of ghostly encounters and haunted locations.
You may want to polish off your day in Charleston with a ghost tour. They will take you to haunted spots like the Old City Jail, Dock Street Theater, and the Unitarian Graveyard.
You can also do a haunted tour by horse carriage.
Alternatively, you could take a sunset cruise on the harbor or charter a sailboat.
Tips For One Day In Charleston
How To Get To Charleston
You can fly into Charleston Airport, which is about 12 miles northwest of downtown Charleston.
From there, you can pick up a rental car or taxi/uber into the city.
The Amtrak Silver Meteor and Silver Star routes also serve Charleston.
How To Get Around Charleston
Charleston isn’t that big. You can walk to everything on this itinerary. With just one day in Charleston you’ll want to stick to the historic center anyway.
If it’s hot, just pop into a boutique or coffee shop for an air conditioned break.
If you are driving into the city, know that parking can be gnarly. I would throw your car into a parking lot near your destination. I used the Queen Street parking lot.
Horse-drawn carriage tours offer a unique way to see the historic sites.
You can also rent bikes or scooters to get around or take a bus tour.
When To Visit Charleston
The best times to visit Charleston are in the spring (March to May) and fall (September to November). The weather will be mild and gardens will be in bloom.
Summer is extremely hot. I wouldn’t visit then unless you are planning a beach vacation.
If you are a festival person, Charleston has quite a few of them to plan your visit around:
- Charleston Wine + Food Festival: Held in early March, celebrating the city’s culinary scene.
- Festival of Houses and Gardens: Runs from March to April, offering tours of private historic homes and gardens.
- Spoleto Festival USA: A major arts festival in late May and early June, featuring performances in theater, opera, dance, and music.
- Fall Tours of Homes, History & Architecture: Organized by the Preservation Society of Charleston, offering tours of historic homes and buildings in October.
Where To Stay In Charleston
Charleston Place on Meeting Street is known for its classic elegance, exceptional service, and extensive amenities including a rooftop pool, spa, and fine dining at The Palmetto Cafe and Charleston Grill.
The Dewberry Charleston is also on Meeting Street. It’s a mid-century modern design with luxurious touches, a full-service spa, the rooftop Citrus Club, and Henrietta’s restaurant.
Hotel Bennett is a luxury hotel on King Street. It boasts grand architecture, rooftop pool and bar, Camellias champagne bar, and Gabrielle restaurant.
Finally, Zero George Street is an intimate boutique hotel with restored historic buildings, award-winning restaurant, cooking school, and charming courtyards.
Also, keep in mind that parking is generally not included in the stated rate at most downtown hotels in Charleston. So be sure to check the fine print before booking.
More Than One Day in Charleston?
If you have extra time, you may want to hit the beach on Sullivan’s Island or the Isle of Palms.
Sullivan’s Island is where Fort Sumter is located. You can also visit Fort Moultrie and the Charleston Light.
Aside from that, Sullivan’s Island has a great restaurant — The Obstinate Daughter. You can only reserve two weeks in advance and it seems to always be booked. So set a reminder to nab a reservation.
If you’re a fan of The Notebook film you could also head to Cypress Gardens to live out your Ali and Noah fantasies. This is where the romantic boat scene was filmed — where the pair paddle through the swamp, surrounded by swans.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my one day in Charleston itinerary. Pin it for later.
