Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Charleston?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Charleston?
Many visitors spend two to seven days in Charleston during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This coastal town offers a number of attractions to explore, including the historic old town, the quaint atmosphere, the restaurant scene, and the shops and boutiques.
Charleston is a historic and charming city on the coast of South Carolina. It's one of the most beautiful towns in the area and it has many pastel antebellum houses and horse-drawn carriages that take you along its cobblestoned streets. There is also a waterfront park and many nearby beaches. You can also explore historic plantations that educate visitors on the city's past which is rooted in slavery.
Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Charleston? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is 3 days enough time in Charleston?
With only three days, you might feel a bit pressed for time when it comes to exploring the main attractions. After all, As a popular coastal town, Charleston offers a large number of activities and attractions for visitors. To fully embrace Charleston, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to plan two to seven days to experience the historic old town, the quaint atmosphere, the restaurant scene, and the shops and boutiques. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.
How to spend 3 days in Charleston
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. Charleston's downtown is one of the most charming and well preserved Old Town's in the United States. It's easy to see why it's become a world class destination.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Charleston Chicora 2 Hours Walking Tour ($34)
- Historic Women of Charleston Guided Walking Tour ($34)
- Charleston historical walking tour with a Professor of History at The Citadel ($40)
The culinary scene in Charleston is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this coastal town's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. Food lovers will enjoy the city's low country classics. There are many local restaurants in town that serve southern specialties. You can also head a bit out of the town center if you want a waterfront restaurant. Local favorites include she-crab soup, shrimp and grits, cornbread, and fried green tomatoes.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class ($250)
- Charleston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours ($110)
- Charleston Food Tour ($99)
Charleston is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the coastal town, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The downtown area is very walkable, but once you leave the historic heart, it's best to have a car.
Charleston offers a charming atmosphere that's hard to find anywhere else. Spend part of the day exploring the scenery. From it's cobblestone streets to its picturesque buildings and historic churches, this town is the epitome of quaintness.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Charleston Chicora 2 Hours Walking Tour ($34)
- Historic Women of Charleston Guided Walking Tour ($34)
- Charleston historical walking tour with a Professor of History at The Citadel ($40)
Charleston is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The charming history, beautiful architecture, and historic churches all make this city one of the most beautiful in the southern United States.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Charleston Chicora 2 Hours Walking Tour ($34)
- Historic Women of Charleston Guided Walking Tour ($34)
- Charleston historical walking tour with a Professor of History at The Citadel ($40)
Shopping in Charleston is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. The city is famous for its historic market in the center of town. Local goods, foods, and crafts are sold daily here. There are also many clothing and local shops throughout town, particularly along King Street, which has boutiques and high end outlets. Outside of town, stop by Tanger Outlet Mall if you want name brands at a discount price.
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. As a college town, there are plenty of bars and nightclubs around town. There's also a lively music scene. Head to the areas near the college for the most affordable and active nightlife. Popular clubs in town include Cure Night Club, Deco Nightclub, and Mynt.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Bay Street Bastards Pub Crawl Shared Tour in Charleston ($35)
- Charleston Terrors Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl ($34)
Is 4 days enough time in Charleston?
Charleston is a small coastal town that is quite popular with tourists. Four days is probably not enough time here. You might feel rushed to see the main attractions of Charleston such as the historic old town, the quaint atmosphere, the restaurant scene, and the shops and boutiques. To thoroughly enjoy all that the coastal town has to offer, you'll probably want more time. Most travelers schedule two to seven days to fully experience the quaint coastal town. Nevertheless, if time is of the essence, we have some nice suggestions for your visit.
A Plantation Estate near Charleston, South Carolina
How to spend 4 days in Charleston
With 4 days in Charleston, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the coastal town has to offer.
The beautiful beaches await you in Charleston, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. The area has a number of beautiful and fun nearby beaches including Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, and Seabrook Island. Folly Beach is an active and quirky beach area, while Kiawah is more family-friendly. Seabrook is more residential and more expensive.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Pirates of Charleston: Pirate Adventures and River cruises ($39)
- Charleston Marsh Eco Boat Cruise with stop at Morris Island Lighthouse ($56)
- 2 Hours Shem Creek Safari Kayak Tour ($52)
Live music is very popular in Charleston, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. You can hear a number of local bands or enjoy a more widely known group at larger venues in the area.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music ($88)
Is 5 days enough time in Charleston?
For many visitors, five days in Charleston would be just the right amount of time. In fact, lots of tourists spend roughly two to seven days in the quaint coastal town to check out the amazing charming old town and terrific quaint atmosphere. Below we have some suggestions on how to spend your time here.
How to spend 5 days in Charleston
If you have more than 5 days in Charleston, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the coastal town has to offer.
You'll find a few good museums and historic landmarks here, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. This city is famous for its many historic churches and plantations. The plantations are open to visit and will educate you on the city's past, which is heavily involved in slavery. You can also visit Fort Sumter National Monument by boat or take a tour of the USS Yorktown.
A few tour suggestions include:
- City Bus Tour with Charleston Museum Admission ($43)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Charleston.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Charleston, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.