Charleston in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Charleston is one of the most beautiful and picturesque cities in the United States, with its colourful houses, carriages and rich history. Wandering through its streets or enjoying its coastline will allow you to get to know a little more of the place.

You'll see that there's so much to see and do in Charleston, so this guide to enjoy the city in 3 days will help you plan your stay. Are you ready? Here we go!

Charleston is one of the most interesting options to get to know all the charm of the south of the United States. Its past as a hub of the slave trade makes it a key point to understand the history, not only of the region, but also of the country.

Here I suggest you start with a general overview and then dedicate the first full day to visiting the French Quarter, one of the city's most beautiful neighbourhoods.

Take a sightseeing bus tour

Start your first day in this beautiful city by taking a tour on a Charleston sightseeing bus. This is a great way to get a feel for the place, and a very good opportunity to get a clearer idea of the different attractions to see. You can then visit them at your own pace, much more in detail.

Visit the waterfront, the Pineapple fountain, the French Quarter, the traditional market with its basket weaving crafts made in Sweetgrass, the beautiful Rainbow Row and so on.

A short 2 hour tour will give you a taste of Charleston.

In addition, the specialised local guides will tell you all about this beautiful city, its history, its most emblematic corners, and the highlights you can't miss. This is an excellent option if you only have 3 days to see it all.

Visit the French Quarter

After the bus ride, I suggest you start your walking tour in one of the most emblematic places in the city, the French Quarter.

Reminiscent of its New Orleans counterpart, this picturesque collection of alleys and little houses is one of the must-see places in Charleston.

Located mainly between Broad Street and South Market Street, this quaint neighbourhood will have you falling in love in no time. Its streets and alleys, and the facades of its houses that seem to be frozen in time, have a magic all their own.

Here, among other things, you can find part of the old city. In Chalmers Street you can visit the Old Slave Mart Museum.

In what was once the most important slave market in the United States, today this museum is the most important in the city, where you can discover all about the past and history of Charleston before the sale of slaves was banned in public in 1865.

This is undoubtedly one of **Charleston'**s most romantic neighbourhoods. The area also has the highest concentration of art galleries in the city. An ideal place to start your 3-day trip.

Tour the Waterfront Park

Also within the French Quarter, on the southernmost portion of the peninsula, you'll find beautiful Waterfront Park, one of Charleston's most picturesque parks.

Here, in addition to enjoying views of the Cooper River, you'll be able to see the cannons used in the American Civil War.

It's a lively place to visit if you're looking for something to do with kids in Charleston, especially on a warm day, as you'll also be able to stroll through its gardens and paths, and see its fountains, one of which is the city's most famous: the Pineapple Fountain.

Now a symbol of Charleston, the fountain is located at one end of the park and is one of the city's most photographed landmarks.

Waterfront Park is a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery. From here you can see the beautiful Ravenel Bridge and the boats coming and going.

Enjoy a night out in Charleston

After a day outdoors, there's nothing better than going out for a drink and enjoying Charleston's nightlife. If you're not travelling with children, you can visit some of the city's best bars and nightclubs.

Many of them are located in the King Street area, so you can take a stroll around here and discover the best of Charleston's nightlife.

With great places like Uptown Social or Handcraft Kitchen & Cocktails, you can enjoy a craft beer or a glass of fine wine, as well as the most delicious dishes, in a cool and friendly atmosphere.

If you prefer to get out and about, you should check out some of the best nightclubs and discos, places like Mynt or Share House. You can also find plenty of nightlife along Ann Street.

Start your second day in Charleston with a hearty American breakfast at Millers. If you're not the early riser type, Another broken egg is a great place for a delicious mid-morning brunch. Then it's time to explore some of the city's more traditional spots.

See the traditional Charleston City Market

After breakfasting like a king, head to the historic Charleston City Market, a charming place where in the early 1800s people traded a variety of foods, including meats and vegetables brought in from the farms and plantations of neighbouring towns.

Today the place functions as a market with a strong focus on tourism. Its neoclassical style façade will catch your attention for its great beauty.

Here you can find different types of handicrafts, although the most traditional are those made with Sweetgrass, a kind of reed used to make baskets and hampers. An excellent option to buy a traditional southern gift.

Located on the border between the French Quarter and the beautiful South of Broad neighbourhood, this market is a must on your 3-day visit to Charleston.

Visit one of the most photo-worthy streets: Rainbow Row

About 15 minutes' walk south you'll find one of the most photographed spots in the whole city. This is the famous Rainbow Row, a row of quaint Georgian-style cottages painted in soft pastel colours.

In the early 20th century, these houses overlooked the Cooper River and had fallen into disrepair through use and proximity to the waterfront. For this reason, and with the intention of making it a tourist attraction, they were restored and coloured.

Since then, the image they form has become a must-see destination for anyone visiting the city, and the neighbourhood is extremely attractive.

Although today Rainbow Row no longer faces the river, it is just a few metres from Charleston Bay, where you can walk and enjoy the scenery.

Take a walking tour of the South of Broad neighbourhood

The neighbourhood where you are located is one of the most traditional and beautiful in the city. It overlooks Charleston's two rivers, the Cooper and the Ashley. Here you can enjoy walking freely and appreciate the imposing 19th century mansions.

Some of them have been converted into museums, such as the beautiful Edmonston-Alston House, where you can see period furnishings and get a glimpse of the lifestyle of a wealthy family in 1825 South Carolina.

Continuing along the waterfront you'll come across another of Charleston's must-see spots, the Battery, a charming waterfront promenade, ideal for enjoying what's left of the afternoon outdoors. From here, at the junction of its two rivers, you'll be able to enjoy a stroll and views that are second to none.

Finish your second day by sampling some traditional southern fare at the delicious Poogan's Porch. One of the most unique features of the place is its Lowcountry and Creole cuisine, so you can't leave without trying these flavours - you won't regret it!

Third and last day in this amazing American city. I suggest you have a light breakfast because a day full of excitement awaits you, from carriages and a ferry ride, to a visit to an authentic prison where some old pirates were locked up.

Ride like it's the 1800's in a historic carriage

If you want to tour the city in style, take one of Charleston's carriage tours. Experience the feeling of being part of the city's history.

There are many tours on offer, you can visit the points of greatest historical interest, stroll through its cobblestone streets, its beautiful neighbourhoods with 19th century houses, or for the more daring, a night-time ghost tour, where you will learn from a local guide specialising in the subject, all the stories of apparitions that have made this city famous.

Carriage tours have become a Charleston classic, and one of the best ways to tour South of Board and the French Quarter. Remember that carriages used to be the most common form of transportation for the inhabitants of this and other southern cities in the United States.

The experience is ideal for the whole family, even with small children, as they will enjoy the ride and will be enthusiastic about everything to do with horses. An excellent option not to be missed.

Visit the Old City Jail

After getting off the carriage on Bay Street, you'll have to walk about half a mile down Beaufain Street to Wilson Street. There, just a few metres from the famous Broad Street in the Charleston Village neighbourhood is the former prison, which locals say is one of the most haunted places in the city.

If you take a guided tour of Charleston, it is likely to include a visit to the traditional Old City Jail.

This is one of the most important prisons in the region, both for its beautiful old architecture and the famous inmates it housed.

Active from 1802 to 1939, it held famous pirates, high-ranking officers during the American Civil War and even the famous serial killer of the early 20th century, Lavinia Fisher.

There are many stories that are told about this prison, but the truth is that you can't miss it for its great historical attraction and for being a beautiful building.

Although if you are one of those who enjoy the paranormal, a visit to the old prison when the sun goes down is a very good idea. Included in the best ghost tours in Charleston, you'll learn all about the ghosts that still haunt its corridors and cells from your local guide.

Trace Charleston's past at Liberty Square and Fort Sumter

Whether you're interested in American history or enjoy a charming outdoor venue, these two spaces are ideal for ending your third day in Charleston.

From the prison you can stroll along the waterfront to Liberty Square, or walk to the intersection of Saint Philip Street and Calhoun Street, where you can hop on the 210 bus, which will take you to the aquarium for free.

From there it's only a 2-minute walk to Liberty Square, a green space that's ideal for families to enjoy. From here, ferries depart for Fort Sumter. Located on the Cooper River, Liberty Square is a place to relax and enjoy those last few hours of your last day in Charleston.

After boarding the ferry, and having enjoyed a brief stroll along the waters of the Cooper, you'll arrive at your destination. Located within a National Park, Fort Sumter is the site where the famous American Civil War, the story of the North versus the South, began.

With the election of President Lincoln the Confederates took Fort Sumter as their refuge and base of operations.

The site was reused by the American armed forces during World War II, and finally in 1948 it was established as the national monument that you can visit today, where you can see its imposing cannons.

Finish your trip with an all-American dinner

If you're a lover of grilled meats, you can't leave Charleston without stopping by Queology Restaurant, the best service and the best southern flavours in a fun atmosphere.

If you prefer vegetarian or vegan food, then I recommend Neon Tiger Restaurant, an excellent place with very original options for those who don't eat any kind of meat or meat derivatives.

Here ends this guide for your 3-day trip to the city of Charleston, South Carolina, I hope you have found it useful, and that you enjoy your trip to the fullest.

Touring a city in a few days can be a great way to get to know it. You may decide to come back later and get to know it in more detail, but those first encounters with the city may remain engraved in your memory forever. That's why I leave you with the following recommendations.

Always wear comfortable shoes

Especially if you're someone who likes to walk from one end of the city to the other, you'll need comfortable footwear. While distances in Charleston are really close between points of interest, any walk can be a nightmare without the right footwear.

Best way to get around the city

The distances in Charleston invite you to explore the city on foot. It's not really worth the trip, unless you want to see the famous plantations on the outskirts of the city.

Otherwise you can stroll along the waterfront, see the best of the French Quarter, downtown and the South of Broad, enjoying the southern hospitality and friendliness of everyone in Charleston, South Carolina's most valuable jewel.