If you asked me for the best place for a girls weekend getaway, I would say my favorite is Charleston, SC. This beautiful city is one of the best girls trip destinations, in my opinion, because it perfectly combines so many things! Charleston is the perfect mix of beautiful architecture, interesting history, and incredible food. When you’re gathering girls weekend ideas, Charleston SC is likely to hit pretty high on your list, whether you’re planning a college friend reunion or a Charleston bachelorette party. Having already done a Charleston girls weekend, as well as a Charleston honeymoon and a Charleston babymoon, I’ve compiled all sorts of great activities and ideas for this beautiful historic city. Keep reading for my top tips and best things to do in Charleston SC.
Where to Stay in Charleston – Best Hotels in Charleston, SC
A beautiful historic hotel is the perfect place to stay on a girls weekend getaway in Charleston. If you can stay in the historic district, you’ll find plenty to do within walking distance to fill 3 days in Charleston. Some of the best hotels in Charleston to book for a girls weekend are French Quarter Inn Charleston, HarbourView Inn, The Charleston Place, Emeline Hotel Charleston, The Vendue, and The Palmetto Hotel. Another great option for a girls trip or Charleston bachelorette party is to book rooms at one of the many adorable Charleston bed and breakfast inns.
Best Time To Visit Charleston SC
Charleston is a great year-round destination! You can easily enjoy a weekend in Charleston in the winter, because there are so many beautiful indoor spaces to explore, from historic home tours to delicious Charleston restaurants. If you’ve booked Charleston girls trip for a beach weekend, you’ll want to visit in the summer months when the temperature is hot enough to enjoy the sand. If I had to pick the best time to visit Charleston SC, I’d recommend either spring or fall, because milder temperatures will mean that you enjoy walking around and exploring on foot.
Charleston SC on a Budget
If you’re looking for cheap girls getaway weekend ideas, Charleston is a great option! If you live on the east coast, Charleston is probably a pretty easy place to get to. Choosing a home rental or hotel outside of the historic district can save you a lot of money and make your trip to Charleston very affordable. We’ve stayed both in Mount Pleasant and James Island and it’s just a quick drive into historic Charleston. Not to mention, both of those areas have some great food and sites of their own! Looking for some girls weekend ideas for affordable or free things to do in Charleston SC? Walk the historic streets, enjoy the waterfront park, take a trip to the Charleston beach, and do some window shopping. Choose from the many delicious fast casual restaurants in Charleston to keep your meal receipts down, and you will quickly find that Charleston is one of the best cheap girls getaway weekend ideas.
3 Day Itinerary for Charleston Girls Weekend
Charleston SC Girls Trip Day 1 – Historic District
If you only had 1 day in Charleston SC, I’d tell you to focus your time on the historic neighborhood, so naturally that’s the best place for a Charleston girls trip to start.
Have Brunch
Nothing says girls weekend quite like brunch, so finding the perfect breakfast Charleston SC restaurant is a great way to kick off the weekend. Some popular restaurants are Toast Charleston (several locations), The Palmetto Cafe, and Millers All Day.
Take a Carriage Ride
Booking a carriage tour with Palmetto Carriage Works or Old South Carriage Co through the historic district is my favorite way to start a weekend in Charleston, because you will learn all about Charleston’s history, cover a significant portion of the historic district, and get some ideas of how you might like to spend the rest of your time here. This is also an excellent way to kick off a Charleston bachelorette party before heading to dinner.
City Market Charleston
The Charleston City Market is the best place for girls trip souvenirs. The indoor and outdoor market buildings stretch for a few blocks, so enjoy wandering around to see what kind of souvenirs you’d like to take home from your girls weekend getaway.
Historic District Restaurant Options
Here are some delicious options for lunch and dinner in Charleston’s historic district: Poogan’s Porch, 82 Queen, Fleet Landing Charleston, Husk, Charleston Grill, FIG, Magnolias Charleston, High Cotton, and Slightly North of Broad.
Or take a food tour! If you just can’t choose from Charleston favorites like shrimp & grits, fried green tomatoes, and pimento cheese, sample a little bit of everything on a walking food tour.
Additional Things To Do in Charleston, SC for Young Adults
To round out your first day, here are some of the best things to do in Charleston, SC for young adults during your girls weekend:
Waterfront Park and the iconic Pineapple Fountain Charleston
Rainbow Row houses on East Bay Street
The Battery seawall and White Point Garden
Tour historic homes like the Nathaniel Russell House, the Aiken-Rhett House, the Heyward-Washington House, and the Williams Mansion
Take a ghost tour and learn more about the Old Charleston Jail
Charleston SC Girls Trip Day 2 – Greater Charleston Area
We’re going to cover some ground on day 2 of your girls trip to Charleston SC.
Angel Oak Tree
This giant oak tree is a beautiful place to start the morning and another iconic Charleston symbol. Closed on Wednesdays and free to visit, the Angel Oak Tree is estimated to be between 500 and 1500 years old.
Plantation Tour
Spending the afternoon at one (or more) local plantations is one of the best things to do around Charleston SC. Three of the most visited are Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Middleton Place, and McLeod Plantation Historic Site. Book a tour to learn about the Gullah/Geechee heritage and the enslaved people who built these plantations. Boone Hall is another highly visited local plantation, but it’s the farthest away from the Angel Oak Tree, so it’s not my top pick for this girls weekend getaway itinerary.
Greater Charleston Restaurant Options
Three great Charleston restaurants you’ll find nearby for day 2 are Boxcar Betty’s, Toast! All Day, and Early Bird Diner.
Additional Things To Do Around Charleston SC
Another great place to visit in the greater Charleston area on your girls weekend is the Charleston Tea Garden. Take a 40 minute trolley tour to learn about the farming of tea and then walk through the tea factory to learn more about the production.
Charleston SC Girls Trip Day 3 – Choose Your Own Adventure
Wrap up 3 days in Charleston with a choose your own adventure day! The best girls trips are tailored to the tastes of your group. What makes Charleston one of the best girls trip destinations is the wide variety of activities and attractions that are available here. Here are the top 3 options I recommend for rounding out your Charleston girls weekend getaway:
Fort Sumter
If your group enjoys history and hasn’t already had their fill, take a morning ferry out to Fort Sumter and see where the Civil War began. Touring this national monument takes about 2.5 hours and you might even see dolphins on the ferry ride!
King Street Shopping
One of our personal favorite girls weekend ideas is a shopping day. King Street in Charleston’s historic district has high end brands as well as many specialty boutiques that you can’t find anywhere else. Find an updated list of stores on King Street here.
Charleston Beach
A Charleston beach day is always a perfect choice for a summer girls weekend getaway, and Charleston has 4 nearby beaches to choose from: Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms on the north side and Folly Beach and Kiawah Island on the south side.
Charleston Food Tour
Get a taste of all Charleston’s southern favorites with your girls on a Charleston food tour.
Girls Weekend Ideas In Charleston
Book one of the best hotels in Charleston, SC, take an amazing historical tour, and choose from the many delicious restaurants, and you’re sure to have one of the best girls trips of your life! As you can see, Charleston is one of the best girls trip destinations!
See more of our Charleston Series:
What To Do In Charleston
Charleston 1 Day Itinerary
Charleston 3 Day Itinerary
What To Do In Charleston With Kids
Babymoon in Charleston
Girls Trip to Charleston
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Girls Trip to Charleston – 3 Day Weekend in Charleston Itinerary
