Things to do in Charleston, SC

When my childhood best friend moved to Charleston last year, I knew I would be planning a trip down there as soon as possible. I’d heard good things about this destination, and my own trip did not disappoint. Here are some of my favorite things to do in Charleston, SC.

What to do in Charleston

Simply walking around downtown can take up a whole day in itself. The streets are filled with colorful buildings, southern charm, and endless spots for great food. The downtown area is relatively small, so it’s easy to see everything on foot, and there are plenty of great things to do and see. A few of my favorite places to photograph were Rainbow Row, the pineapple homage in the waterfront park, and the Huguenot Church. Just a short walk from downtown is the water, where I was lucky enough to see some dolphins mid-swim. Outside of the main area there are endless islands, beaches and beautiful scenery. Magnolia Plantation was a great day trip filled with history and some of the most beautiful paths and gardens I’ve seen. Sullivan’s Island is a popular spot near the beach with great restaurants a well.

Where to Eat in Charleston

When it comes to food, the south always has the most amazing dishes. Pawpaw, Husk, and Taco Boy were all delicious dinner spots, and Carmella’s and Sugar Bakeshop both provided the perfect place to satisfy my sweet tooth.

Even though I was with one of the few groups of girls not on a bachelorette party while bar hopping, I did manage to find a lot of great spots to grab a drink. The Watch, Vendu and Market Pavillion all have rooftops with great views of the city and the water, while One Broad Street and The Gin Joint were two of our favorite happy hour stops.

Where to stay in charleston

When it comes to where to stay, I would recommend an AirBnb close to downtown. There are a lot of affordable and cute options that are also great for a girls trip or bachelorette.

While a car is probably not needed for the whole trip, I would highly recommend renting a car for anything you want to do outside of the city. We took an Uber to Magnolia Plantation, and while it worked out in the end, it was a very long drive and getting a pickup out of there took a while.

A city with history, beauty and mouth watering food makes Charleston the perfect long weekend stop for just about anyone.
Check out my map with all the places listed in the post and more!

JOIN THE MAILING LIST!