Charleston in 2 days

Planning a trip to Charleston? Our experienced travel editors break down the town so you can make the most of your stay. Let these itineraries be your guide, whether you're here for a weekend or a whole week.

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Day 1
1 Take a carriage tour of the Historic District.
2 Browse the 200-year-old City Market, stopping to sample some pralines at one of the candy shops.
3 Listen to costumed interpreters talk about pirate history at the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon.
4 Dine at McCrady's, where the chef was just named the James Beard 2010 Best Chef in the Southeast.
5 Enjoy drinks on the front patio at Chai's, a see-and-be-seen destination on trendy Upper King.

Day 2
1 Take a boat tour out to Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired.
2 Have a taste of South Carolina's Sea Islands at Gullah Cuisine out in Mount Pleasant.
3 Take your camera to Rainbow Row, Charleston's most photogenic block.
4 Move on to the Battery, a close second in terms of prettiness.
5 Put on your best cocktail dress or seersucker suit for dinner at Peninsula Grill.
6 Follow it up with drinks on the roof overlooking the harbor at the Vendue Inn.