Charleston in 2 Days: everything you need to know

As you may know Charleston is a city located in South Carolina famous for its rich culture, historic past and delicious food. As one of the most visited destinations in North America there is a lot to see and do in Charleston, so if you want to make the most of your time you'll need to prioritise what's most important.

Today I present to you my ideas for a 2-day itinerary in Charleston; the present travel plan includes two full days from morning to evening leaving out the arrival day and the departure day.

If you are looking for longer itinerary options, I recommend you to take a look at the itinerary of What to see in Charleston in 3 days or What to see in Charleston in 4 days.

The first day is all about seeing the highlights of the heart of Charleston, admiring the local architecture and learning a little about its historic past - don't forget to sample the delicious southern food!

Start with a guided tour of Charleston

Charleston is a city rich in history and culture, so one of the best things to do on the morning of your first day is a guided tour of the city, so you'll learn a little about the city's history and landmarks from an expert guide.

You'll find many local companies in Charleston that offer this type of experience. Generally, the tour lasts approximately 2 hours and costs from €30 per traveller. They are conducted on foot, taking in the highlights on a leisurely stroll through the heart of the city.

Don't feel like walking? Other alternatives for those who don't want to take a walking tour are the Charleston sightseeing bus or take one of the famous carriage tours where a guide takes travellers through the most beautiful streets and highlights of downtown Charleston.

Go to The Battery

Considered among the best things to do in Charleston, you can't leave the city without taking a relaxing stroll along the picturesque waterfront at the southern end of the city.

I recommend taking advantage of the end of your downtown tour to go to the South of Broad residential area and specifically to The Battery to enjoy one of the best views Charleston has to offer. Take your camera ready!

When touring the area be sure to spend time in the White Point Garden, one of Charleston's most important and beautiful public parks where you'll find gigantic oak trees and beautifully preserved palm trees. Several memorials to the American Civil War can also be found here.

• Hours: Open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Admission: Free to the public.
• Length of visit: 1 to 2 hours may be sufficient to see the highlights of the site.

Visit the Nathaniel Russell House Museum.

Leaving the White Point Garden behind, the famous Nathaniel Russell House Museum is less than a 10-minute walk down Meeting Street in the heart of Charleston.

It is a visit I highly recommend to anyone interested in Charleston's historical past, the social dynamics and lifestyle of the people just a few centuries ago.

Nathaniel Russell was a famed and wealthy Southern merchant who, like other great lords of the time, amassed his fortune primarily through slave labour and labour. The Russell family's slaves comprised at least 20 men and women who built and maintained the house and beautiful gardens.

If your trip to Charleston is short and you don't have the opportunity to visit the plantations, a tour of the Nathaniel Russell House will help you understand the living conditions of these enslaved people.

Leaving aside the terrible historical context, the house itself is an admirable work of Southern architecture; on the tour, pay special attention to the spiral staircase, the beautiful hand-carved furniture and the dreamy gardens.

• Opening hours: The museum is open to the public from 10am to 6pm, every day of the year.
• Entry fee: A visit to the museum costs around €15 for an adult ticket and €7 for children aged 6-16. Children under the age of 6 are free.
• Duration of visit: The tour of the house and the different rooms will take just over 1 hour to complete.

Take a lunch break

As you will notice on your tour in the South of Broad area you won 't find any shopping establishments, let alone restaurants, but as you leave Nathaniel Russell House you are on the edge of the residential area and nearby there are several alternative restaurants where you can have a snack.

Below is a list of some options, but I recommend each traveller to do their own research based on their personal preferences.

• The Establishment If you're craving seafood, this elegant seafood restaurant offers classic southern dishes.

• Brown Dog Deli If you want to eat with the locals, Brown Dog Deli offers deli sandwiches in an eighties-inspired space.

• Millers All Day Bistro, bakery and bar in a friendly, family-friendly space. They have an excellent collection of craft beer and desserts.

Stroll along and see the beautiful Rainbow Row

Across the waterfront and just a 5-minute walk from the museum is Rainbow Row. Here you'll find a row of beautiful mansions built in the Southern style, a type of architecture that grew out of a mixture of various styles and became extremely popular during the 17th century.

The row of houses look directly onto The Battery waterfront and will take you back to the years when Charleston was the heart and soul of maritime and commercial activity throughout the area.

Today the houses on Rainbow Row are painted in a variety of pastel and tropical colours, so make sure you have plenty of batteries and take lots of photos during your visit.

Take a sunset boat tour of Charleston.

End your first day in Charleston with a sunset boat ride; it's one of the most relaxing activities you can do in Charleston and one of the most popular with first-time travellers. Consequently, you will find several local companies offering this experience.

While aboat tour of Charleston can be done at any time of the day, I personally recommend sunset to enjoy the sunset over Charleston's historic harbour.

As well as seeing numerous sights from the waterfront, this tour will also give you the opportunity to learn about the city's maritime history, making it even more enriching and interesting. If you're in Charleston in July or August, taking the boat ride at the end of the day is the best way to escape the heat.

• Hours: Sunset tours run around 6pm or 7pm depending on the season.
• Price: From approximately €45 per traveller. Minors will pay a reduced rate.
• Duration: The tour takes about 2 hours to complete, you must be at the port 20 minutes before minimum to board.

Take advantage of your second day in Charleston to visit the local markets and learn about the dynamics of its citizens. I also recommend touring the war sites located just beyond the heart of the city and learn a little about Charleston's connection to the war against slavery.

Wake up early and visit the Charleston City Market

Wake up early on the morning of your second day of exploration to check out Charleston's City Market. Located in the heart of the city, it's a tourist-focused market where you'll get a first-hand look at life in the Old South; it's been in operation since the 19th century and is one of the oldest urban markets in the United States.

Some of the things you'll find in the stalls at the Charleston City Market include toys, clothing, art, leather goods, local crafts and much more. Consequently, a visit to the market is an excellent opportunity to purchase travel souvenirs and gifts.

I recommend paying special attention to the artisans of Gullah, African-American hand-woven baskets, a tradition that originated in West Africa and has been kept alive in this area by passing on the knowledge from one generation to the next.

• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 09:30h to 18h. Friday and Saturday evenings from 18:30h to 22:30h.
• Admission fee: Free for the general public.
• Duration of the visit: I recommend booking at least 1 hour to visit this attraction.

Break for lunch

Leaving the Charleston City Market behind you, head towards the waterfront to find restaurants and some of Charleston's best dining options. Use the following list as a reference but I recommend doing your own research.

• Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar Seafood restaurant with fabulous views of the Cooper River.

• The Griffon American cuisine restaurant with a focus on burgers and craft beer, the ambience of the place resembles an elegant English pub.

• Poogan's Smokehouse Industrial-style restaurant serving traditional Southern barbecue and signature cocktails.

Walk to Joe Riley Waterfront Park

The Waterfront Park is just an 8-minute walk from Charleston's waterfront. Here you'll find another of the city's most important parks and gardens and one of the most loved and visited by tourists and locals alike.

Founded in 1990, the most prominent and photographed site is the famous pineapple-shaped water fountain. I recommend taking the obligatory photograph of this important site as a testament to your visit to Charleston and then spend some time strolling the beautiful walkways where you get spectacular views of the Charleston waterfront.

You'll find the walk relaxing, especially after the hustle and bustle of the Charleston market.

• Hours: Generally from 07h to 21:30h. Closing time may vary especially during the winter season in Charleston.
• Admission fee: Free for the general public.
• Length of visit: I recommend booking between 1 or 2 hours to enjoy the view and the nature of the place.

See Fort Sumter National Monument.

On your second day in Charleston take time to visit Fort Sumter National Monument, which stands on a small man-made island in Charleston harbour just off the South of Broad.

The main way to get there is by taking the Charlestone ferry or water taxi line which, although not the main attraction, is a short ride across the waters that you'll enjoy immensely.

In the enclave you'll find caves with stone caverns that today house several Civil War-era cannons. It's a highly recommended visit especially if you're going to Charlestone with children, as the war stories and the opportunity to see old weaponry up close is very entertaining for them.

The attraction is free and open to the public, however, the Charlestone Ferry service obviously has limited numbers per trip. I recommend purchasing tickets in advance in order to ensure space on the day and time you want to visit.

• Opening hours: Open to the public daily from 9am to 6pm.
• Entry Fee: Entr ance to Fort Sumter is free, however the cost of the ferry to get to the island is around €30 per person.
• Length of visit: You should allow 3 hours or more for this adventure.

In the evening: take the Charleston Ghost Tour

Make the most of your time in the city and conclude your last day in Charleston with one of the best things to do in Charleston at night: a ghost and mystery tour to learn about the southern city's dark past.

Charleston is considered one of the most haunted cities in the United States, which is why this activity is highly demanded by tourists looking to learn first-hand about the stories that gave birth to the myth.

In the city you will find numerous companies offering the Charleston ghost tour in different formats, with different themes and visiting different locations. You'll find everything from family tours that children can attend to tours that are exclusively for adults due to the content of the stories.

• Hours: You'll find ghost tours at different times, but I recommend doing them at dusk.
• Price: Around €35 per traveller.
• Duration: You should reserve at least 2 hours for the tour.

Enjoy a farewell dinner to say goodbye to the city

Once the Charleston ghost tour is over, take advantage of your proximity to the historic area of the city to enjoy a nice dinner and relax.

The old town is filled with many small restaurants and bars with a lot of personality so I recommend spending a little time before your trip to find the best one for you.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

• Gaulart & Maliclet Fast and French Inc. French bistro style restaurant offering quality beer and a collection of French wines by day and night.

• Queen is an elegant terrace bar whose selection of artisanal coffees, southern desserts and teas is among the best in the area.

• The Establishment If you're looking for a taste of the South, The Establishment has a varied and delicious range of food on offer. Meals are served with a variety of classic beers, wine and bourbon drinks.