chloedickensonLast Updated on 24th April 2023
This post about 2 days in Charleston contains affiliate links.
Charleston was never originally on our list of cities to visit in the USA when we first started discussing our backpacking route across America, but after hearing so many wonderful things about it, not to mention the fact that it’s often cited as the number one best city in America by the likes of Travel+Leisure, we knew we’d have to switch up our route somewhat to include it!
It’s one of America’s most historic cities too, with an abundance of history centred around its numerous plantations. Downtown Charleston is like walking into a picture-perfect postcard and the houses here will have you searching on Rightmove in no time!
Teeming with history, great food and some of the most stunning examples of architecture in the United States, Charleston is a city that should not be missed.
If you’re thinking of spending 2 days in Charleston, check out my full itinerary below about how to spend the perfect weekend in Charleston, South Carolina!
Read more: Ultimate 3 Month USA Road Trip Itinerary – New York To California
Where to stay in Charleston for 2 days
Charleston is much bigger than I originally thought and picking the perfect place to stay can be quite tricky, depending on your budget, how you want to get around the city (more on that below) and which attractions and sights you want to stay close to.
We stayed at the Wingate by Wyndham Charleston Airport Coliseum which was actually one of the nicest hotels we stayed at during our entire road trip across America! However, this hotel is located in North Charleston, about a 30-minute drive from the likes of The Battery and Rainbow Row in Downtown Charleston, so it wasn’t really in the best location.
If you hire a car (which I’d probably recommend in hindsight – we didn’t hire a car until we got to Dallas), then this hotel will be ideal as you’ll easily be able to drive everywhere. It was also one of the more affordable options we found in Charleston, as accommodation didn’t seem too cheap in Downtown Charleston.
Book your stay in Charleston here!
How to get to/around Charleston, South Carolina
As I mentioned above, Charleston was so much bigger than I ever anticipated, so while we usually feel able to walk to/from/around most cities, even in America, Charleston doesn’t really allow for that.
The Downtown area of Charleston is certainly very walkable and you can easily see everything in the Historic District with no issue, but if you’re staying in North Charleston (like we did) or you want to take any day trips to the plantations, it’s probably best to hire a car.
We didn’t have a car at this point as we still weren’t 100% sure whether we wanted to get one for the rest of our road trip, so we ended up using Uber and Lyft every day whenever we wanted to get somewhere in and around Charleston.
It’s not super cheap to use these modes of transport, however, and we paid around $18 each way for an Uber from our hotel to Magnolia Plantation. If you don’t have a car while you’re in Charleston, then using ride-sharing apps is a perfectly acceptable way of getting around, just be prepared to budget for it.
If you’re visiting Charleston from somewhere much further away in the US or even if you’re flying from overseas, you can fly into Charleston International Airport, which is actually not too far from where we were staying.
We usually book our flights on Kiwi.com or Skyscanner as these typically offer the best deals on flights all over the world.
Book your flight to Charleston
The best things to do in Charleston in 2 days
Despite popular belief, Charleston isn’t actually the capital city of South Carolina; that title belongs to a city called Columbia thanks to its better-suited, geographically central location.
Originally named Charles Towne, after King Charles II, this historic city was established in 1670 by English Colonists on the west bank of the Ashley River, which marked the beginning of the colonisation of the state of South Carolina.
Today, you’ll find tonnes of its history seeping into modern-day life in Charleston and it still feels very much an “old” city, with just hints of modernisation here and there.
There are so many wonderful things to see and do in Charleston and I’ve got you covered with the very best in my guide to spending 2 days in Charleston!
1. Magnolia Plantation – 2 days in Charleston itinerary
Visiting a plantation while in Charleston is an absolute must-do; there are numerous plantations located in and around Charleston and we paid a visit to Magnolia Plantation on our second full day in the city.
Magnolia Plantation first opened all the way back in 1676 and was home to 196 slaves at one time. While it was first and foremost a plantation, meaning that it had enslaved “workers” living and working there, once slavery was abolished, many of those slaves decided to stay and live at Magnolia as paid staff, tending to the vast gardens around the plantation.
Entrance to Magnolia Plantation costs $29 for adults and included within your entrance ticket, you get to experience the ‘From Slavery To Freedom’ tour that shows you five buildings that were homes of enslaved people throughout the years.
It was incredibly moving and fascinating to learn about this kind of history as it’s not something we’re taught an awful lot about at school in the UK, but it’s a remarkably important and poignant part of American history and this particular tour at Magnolia Plantation really opens your eyes as to what it was like for enslaved people during the 1800s up until the 1870s when slavery was abolished and some of the slaves decided to stay and live there as paid staff.
While the ‘From Slavery To Freedom’ tour is included as part of your entrance ticket when you arrive at Magnolia Plantation, there are several other tours and excursions you can enjoy while you’re there that you have to pay for as an extra add-on.
There are numerous additional tours, including:
- The Magnolia House interior tour (an extra $10 pp) – we did this.
- The Nature Train (an extra $10 pp) – we did this.
- Audubon Swamp tour (an extra $10 pp) – we didn’t do this as we just wanted to do the Nature Train.
The Nature Train was actually the first part of Magnolia that we experienced and this 45-minute tour takes you around the property’s swamps and wildlife areas. We knew that there was a possibility of seeing alligators on this tour, which is mainly why we decided to do it, but unfortunately, it was too cold so we didn’t see any!
We did see many other types of wildlife, however, including turtles and many species of birds. I was a little bit disappointed that we didn’t see any alligators, but I’d still highly recommend adding the Nature Tour to your entrance ticket when you arrive as it’s a great way to learn more about the wildlife and grasslands of the property.
There are more than 600 acres of habitats and gardens at Magnolia Plantation and this is a great way to scratch the surface of all that land.
As well as the ‘From Freedom To Slavery’ tour and the Nature Tram tour, we also bought tickets to see the inside of Magnolia House. Unfortunately, you’re not allowed to take any pictures inside the house, so I can’t show you what it looks like inside, but the tour around the house really is fascinating.
The house has been owned by the Drayton family since its inception and it’s been passed down to 15 generations over the years. One thing I found really fascinating about Magnolia House is that it is actually the third one to grace the property; the first two burned down and the one that you see today is still (thankfully!) intact.
Since the 1840s, when Reverend John Grimke-Drayton inherited the property, Magnolia Plantation has been renowned for its spectacular gardens and a wander around the property and its many lush acres is another must-do while at the plantation.
FAQs about Magnolia Plantation
How long do I need to spend at Magnolia Plantation?
While you might be able to see and do everything at Magnolia much quicker, I’d advise leaving a full day free on your itinerary to explore the plantation and its marvellous grounds as it really is one of the very best things to do in Charleston.
How to get to Magnolia Plantation
If you don’t fancy booking a tour to take you to and from Magnolia Plantation and you want to make your own way there instead, you can use Uber or Lyft like we did which will take you to and from the plantation. Just remember to order your ride back into Charleston well before the plantation closes!
How much does Magnolia Plantation cost?
Entrance to Magnolia Plantation is $29 per adult, but there are several additions that you can buy as extra tours and exhibitions once you’re there.
You can also take a tour with Get Your Guide or Viator which includes transport to and from Magnolia Plantation.
Can I buy tickets online?
Unfortunately, you can’t pre-book tickets to Magnolia Plantation, you can only purchase tickets onsite once you arrive at the Welcome Center. However, you can book a tour to Magnolia Plantation with transport included if you’d prefer to do that.
2. St Matthew’s Lutheran Church
Dating all the way back to the 1840s, this spectacular church in Charleston, just opposite Marion Square, is an absolute must-see while in the city.
It was once the tallest building in the whole of South Carolina and while it no longer holds that title, it still remains as the tallest church steeple in the state.
We didn’t actually go inside the church itself, but we enjoyed marvelling at its grand exterior and I’d urge you to do the same while in Charleston.
3. Marion Square
Adjacent to St Matthew’s Church, you’ll find Marion Square; a beautiful, open-air park right in the heart of Downtown Charleston where many local college and high school kids frequent to play sports and enjoy drinks in the sun.
There aren’t too many things to actually do in the square, but it’s definitely worth a wander through for the beautiful surrounding buildings.
4. Rainbow Row
These brightly coloured houses along The Battery make for the perfect Instagram location in Charleston.
While of course, you can’t go inside any of these houses as they’re occupied by real homeowners, you can stroll past them and take pictures of their bountiful beauty. I actually preferred these to the infamous Painted Ladies in San Francisco and each one is slightly unique to the next, so they really are aesthetically pleasing to look at.
Where to find Rainbow Row: East Bay Street – North of Tradd St. and south of Elliott St, numbers 79 to 107.
5. The Battery – 2 days in Charleston
The Battery is technically the name of the wall that used to protect the city from invaders, but now this entire neighbourhood, including White Point Garden, is a wonderful place to hang out in Charleston.
Walking along the promenade of The Battery is a must-do while in Charleston, as is checking out the stunning houses that reside on the waterfront.
6. Charleston City Market
Dating all the way back to the early 1800s, the Historic Charleston City Market is a great place to visit in the city if you’re looking to experience more of Charleston’s exciting history, plus the chance to browse more than 100 vendors selling local produce and handmade artisanal crafts.
It stretches for three and a half blocks right in the heart of the city, so you really can’t miss it. Even if you don’t intend on purchasing anything from the market stalls, it’s still worth having a stroll through to get a feel of the authenticity of one of Charleston’s most-visited attractions.
7. St Philip’s Church
The current St. Philip’s Church is actually the third one to reside on the site as the first one was a mere wooden building that was then built over by a second brick church. However, that burnt down in 1835, with the current church being constructed between 1835 to 1838.
Charleston certainly isn’t short of beautiful churches; it’s actually home to more than 400, and St Philip’s Church is one of the most-photographed thanks to its impressive stature and beauty.
8. Pineapple Fountain
The Pineapple Fountain along the waterfront in the downtown area of the city isn’t exactly a ground-breaking feat of architecture, but it is very pretty to look at and you’ll likely pass it as you’re walking along the waterfront.
It’s also not too far from Rainbow Row, The Battery or White Point Garden, either, so it’s worth making a little detour to see it while you’re in the area.
Where to find it: 1 Vendue Range, Charleston, SC 29401.
9. White Point Garden – 2 days in Charleston
Inside White Point Garden, you’ll find several monuments and Revolutionary and Civil War-era cannons, plus plenty of places to sit and people-watch or enjoy a stroll through the beautiful trees.
It’s truly one of the most gorgeous open-air spaces in Downtown Charleston and as it’s right next to The Battery, you’ll already be in such close proximity to it that it’s definitely worth adding to your itinerary.
10. French Huguenot Church
While this pretty pink church isn’t quite as impressive as the one in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, it’s still a very photogenic church that has a very turbulent history and the original buildings have been burnt down numerous times, plus it’s been damaged by shellfire and even an earthquake in 1886!
Even if you’re not a religious believer, I’d still recommend having a nosey at the French Huguenot Church and maybe even learning more about its vibrant past if you’re interested in that kind of history.
11. St Michael’s Church – 2 days in Charleston
I told you Charleston has many churches!
St Michael’s Church is yet another beautiful building you’ll find in Downtown Charleston and it’s also the oldest church building in the city.
Numerous key historic figures have worshipped at St Michael’s Church in the past, including Robert E. Lee and George Washington!
12. Take a tour of the Old Charleston Jail
Unfortunately, the Old Charleston Jail was closed when we visited due to Covid, but if you get the chance to take a tour of it while you’re in the city, then I’d definitely recommend it as it came highly recommended to us by several Uber drivers who claimed it was one of the most haunted buildings in Charleston!
Over the years, it’s housed many of the most infamous criminals in Charleston, as well as Federal prisoners of war during the Civil War between 1861 and 1865. I really wished we’d have been able to take a tour of it as I think it would be so fascinating to discover its dark and enigmatic history!
13. Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
One of my very favourite things to do whenever I’m visiting a new city is to simply wander around aimlessly and admire all the incredible buildings and that’s exactly what we did in Charleston and I’d highly advise you to do the same.
One of the buildings we came across while strolling through the downtown area of the city was the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon which dates all the way back to 1771.
It’s been the home of some of the most important events in the history of the state of South Carolina, including when British forces turned the bottom floor of the Old Exchange into a military prison that was named the “Provost dungeon” during the American Revolution and throughout the years, it kept American POWs, British soldiers and enslaved people within its dark and dingy confines.
14. Postal Museum
We didn’t actually go inside the Postal Museum as it’s not really something that interests me; I just thought the exterior of the building was remarkably beautiful and it’s also right next door to St. Michael’s Church, so you can’t really miss it!
If you do decide to head inside and explore the museum, you’ll find post office memorabilia such as old stamps and newspaper clippings and you’ll learn more about the pivotal roles the post office played in some of the city’s most important historic events.
Where to eat in Charleston
Charleston is famed for its “Lowcountry” cuisine which is the type of cooking associated with the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
Popular dishes include things like shrimp and grits, fried cabbage, gumbo, crab soup and more. We’re not very big fans of seafood in this capacity (I only really like tuna and fish fingers!), so we didn’t eat too much “authentic” cuisine while we were in Charleston, but we did have a few nice meals and we tried a few places to drink in Charleston as well, which you can find below!
The Griffon
The Griffon came highly recommended to us and I’m so glad we ate there as it was such a fun place. The walls and ceilings are completely covered in notes of currencies from all over the world which was so fascinating to see!
In terms of the food at The Griffon, I had the fried fish sandwich with tater tots ($12.99) which were so yummy and Matt had the Griffon hotdog ($8.99). If you’re looking for a very friendly, but super easygoing place to eat and drink in Downtown Charleston, definitely add The Griffon to your list.
Burn’s Alley Tavern – 2 days in Charleston food itinerary
Bruns Alley Tavern is a very grungy and unique bar in Charleston that has live music and a few arcade games. One really cool thing about this place is that they have dozens of IDs hanging behind the bar – I think it’s ones they’ve either confiscated for being fake or they’re ones that people have left behind when leaving the bar!
Pints are around $5-$6 in here and the atmosphere tends to get lively around 6pm.
Bonus best things to do in Charleston, SC
If you have a bit longer than just 2 days to spend in Charleston, check out some more of the best things to do in the city below.
- Visit Middleton Place
- Check out the Fort Sumter National Monument
- Visit Boone Hall Plantation
- Take a day trip to Folly Beach
- Take a day trip to see the Angel Oak Tree
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Pin for later – 2 days in Charleston
Is Charleston somewhere you’d like to visit one day? Have you ever been to a plantation before? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram at @imjustagirl_16.
