Charleston, South Carolina is an excellent place to spend a couple of days or a weekend on vacation. With its charming architecture, hospitable and friendly people, beautiful parks, and delectable southern food, this city has no end of fascinating things to see and do.
I recently spent a few days in Charleston and really enjoyed my time there! So what should you do if you only have 48 hours in Charleston? Here are 10 activities that will help you make the most of your time in this marvelous city.
10 Things to do in Charleston in Two Days
1. See Rainbow Row
Out of all the things to see and do in Charleston, one of the best is simply walking around town and discovering the beautiful architectural styles and colors of the city! And one of the prettiest streets to wander is Rainbow Row.
Rainbow Row is an iconic row of pastel Georgian houses on East Bay Street. It’s every Instagrammer’s dream, with the range of pastel shades that seem simply made for the gram. You’ll likely see lots of other people taking photos here, and you’ll probably want to take a few of your own too. So snap a couple shots or just admire the beauty as you stroll through the town—either way this is a street not to miss!
2. Wander the Battery
People come to the Battery in Charleston for a variety of reasons—none of which is charging their electronic devices, because it’s not that type of battery. Rather, the Battery is a defensive seawall that is named after a Civil War era artillery battery that was once used to defend the coast.
The pathway along the battery is a nice place to take a stroll. There are plaques along the wall relating the history of this area and the battles that took place, while the park nearby contains cannons and cannonballs in a nod to the artillery battery that once used this as their base.
There is also a gazebo in the park, as well as splendid antebellum homes in this section of town. With the nearby houses’ bright colors (reminiscent of Rainbow Row), these homes are fun to see while learning about the history of the Battery.
3. Visit the Charleston City Market
What’s a visit to Charleston without exploring the iconic Charleston City Market?
This market consists of four buildings filled with local goods…from handwoven baskets, to local styles of cookies, to cute stuffed llamas made from real llama wool! You certainly can’t go wrong when wandering the market.
The vendors change daily, so if you see something you like be sure to either purchase it that day or ask the vendor when they will be in the market again. Otherwise you may miss out on purchasing something you love!
4. Discover Brackish and Other Local Goods
A visit to Charleston isn’t complete without making a stop at the Preservation Society of Charleston‘s shop to discover some cool local goods. With a range of products, you are sure to find a souvenir you like and support local businesses at the same time!
In particular, if you haven’t yet heard of Brackish…well, you’re missing out. From Bill Murray to Michael on The Good Place, all the cool kids are wearing Brackish ties these days.
These feather bow ties are handcrafted in Charleston and made with all-natural, sustainably sourced feathers. Their geometric patterns are striking and will certainly add pizzazz to your outfit the next time you need to wear a tie! I particularly love this geometric tie and this cool tie as well, but they have so many amazing options that it’s really hard to choose.
And if ties aren’t your thing, they have a few other products including earrings…but it’s my belief that the ties are the most stunning of their products!
5. Eat Delicious Southern Food
There’s nothing quite like enjoying the local food when visiting a new place! While there are many southern specialties and a range of delicious seafood to eat here, a few of my favorites to try are She Crab Soup (you can find this many places throughout the city as it is a local specialty), fried green tomatoes, and hush puppies from the Oyster House.
Why am I so passionate about the Oyster House’s hush puppies? Probably because they come with the most delectable whipped pecan butter that is simply to die for. They also sell this butter by the jar if you find yourself as in love with it as I am and want to take some home with you in your suitcase.
6. Visit the Waterfront Park and Pineapple Fountain
Charleston has several adorable fountains (some of which you can even play in when it’s warm enough!), but the Pineapple Fountain is perhaps the most iconic.
Even though the pineapple is not native to Charleston, you can find this symbol all throughout the city because it represents hospitality. Legend has it that in the days when Charleston was a large center for shipping, sea captains would spear a pineapple on their fence posts to announce their return from a voyage. After announcing their return in this way, they would hold a party to celebrate their homecoming. From this time on, the pineapple has come to represent welcome and hospitality and has become a common symbol in Charleston.
And besides having an interesting history, the pineapple fountain is highly instagrammable as well, so obviously you need to take a trip to see it in person. It lights up at night too…so it is photogenic (and welcoming!) at all times of day!
7. Take a Carriage Ride through Town
If you are short on time and want to see the city, or are interested in learning more about Charleston’s history and legends, then taking a carriage ride through town can be a good option. It is also fun for kids (and adults)!
There are many different tour companies and varying routes through the city, as each individual carriage is given a route by lottery (regardless of tour company) so that the streets do not become too congested with carriages. You never know what route you will get until you have started the tour!
All the tour guides you use should be certified by the city, so you are sure to get a spectacular ride no matter which one you choose! You can show up on the day and try to get a carriage, but if you like to plan ahead I think its nice to know that you have a tour booked and won’t have to wait or come back later.
Want to book a tour ahead of time? Check out this historic carriage ride through Charleston!
8. Stop by the Savannah Bee Company Shop
This specialty honey shop is the cutest. With products ranging from a variety of delicacy honeys, to lemon or chocolate honey, to lip balms and skincare, to mead…this shop has something for everyone.
They even have a taster bar to allow you to try their honey varieties before you buy. Delicious and fun! From the options I tried I found Sourwood to be the most unique and exquisite, with a taste almost like maple syrup. But they also have a variety of local honey to try and many other specialty types that you can ask them about.
I loved the setup of their shop, their branding, as well as their shelves filled with glass bottles full of honey to buy. It’s elegant and beautiful, while still having an artisan/hipster atmosphere.
9. Explore Boone Hall Plantation
There are many plantations near Charleston including Boone Hall, Magnolia, and Drayton Hall…and many visitors to the area wish to visit one or more during their time here.
During my time in Charleston I decided to visit Boone Hall. It is one of America’s oldest working plantations, and has been continually growing crops for over 320 years. You can take a wagon ride around the property to learn more about the agricultural endeavors of this plantation and farm throughout its history.
A visit to Boone Hall also offers poignant insight into the conditions of slavery in this region, with several slave cabins still standing on the property that you are allowed to enter. These cabins house insightful museums to share about slavery in the south and at Boone Hall in particular. This is one of the reasons a visit to Boone Hall is so meaningful, as they do an excellent job of exposing you to the harsh realities of plantations!
Boone Hall also offers a unique and fun presentation focused on exploring Gullah culture, telling about the adaption and creation of culture by African slaves in the area. It is the only presentation of its type offered at a plantation in the South Carolina Lowcountry area, and is lively and fun to see as it is told primarily through stories and songs from Gullah origins.
Boone Hall’s grounds contain many beautiful outdoor spaces to explore too. Like several plantations throughout America, there is an oak alley of southern live oaks that leads up to the plantation house (these trees are over 275 years old!). The flower gardens and other open spaces and trees also offer delightful places to wander, and it is peaceful to watch the river lazily flow as it cuts across the property.
Click here to book your admission ticket today or book admission with transportation!
10. Stay at the John Rutledge House Inn
If you are looking for a spectacular place to stay while in Charleston, the John Rutledge House Inn is the perfect place to go.
This boutique inn is ideal for history buffs and luxury lovers alike. With its unique connection to American history as the former home of a signer of the U.S. Constitution, you are sure to feel closer to U.S. history when you stay here. And the gorgeous and comfortable interior combined with the staff’s attention to detail makes this the perfect place for those who love luxury as well. Check it out if you will be in the area, as it makes an excellent base to explore historic Charleston!
Click here to check out the John Rutledge House Inn or make a reservation!
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I loved Charleston when I visited for a bachelorette a couple years ago! Rainbow Row is sooo pretty *insert crying emoji*. I ate so much she crab soup when I was there.. SO EFFING GOOD!!!
Ahhh so much fun! Rainbow Row and She Crab Soup are definitely two of my favorite parts of being in Charleston too!