If you're going to spend 4 days in Charleston, that's incredible! Charleston is a lovely city in South Carolina that's amazing to visit.
Charleston is one of the prettiest cities in the United States. That's because of all the colorful places, cobblestone streets, and more. And besides that, there are many great things to do in Charleston!
4 days is the perfect amount of time to explore the city. In 4 days, you can explore all highlights, see incredible sights, and have a great time! It's an amazing amount of time if you want to get to know the city and enjoy it.
This 4 days in Charleston itinerary is perfect for your trip to the city. The itinerary includes the best things to do, amazing places for food, and more!
Table of Contents
Getting to Charleston
There are several ways to travel when you want to spend 4 days in Charleston. You can do so by airplane, bus, car, or train.
Airplane
One of the best ways to reach the city of Charleston if you are coming from a far place is by airplane.
Charleston International Airport has many routes to a variety of destinations. So it can be very convenient for your 4 days in Charleston.
For example, you can come here from lots of places within the United States. Some of the busiest routes are ones to Atlanta, Charlotte, and Baltimore. Besides that, there are connections to various other countries, such as the UK.
From the airport, you can reach the city center of Charleston by car, bus, or taxi. By car, this takes about 20 minutes. Moreover, the journey by bus takes about 1 hour. Going by taxi is another way to reach the city center. This is a fast option, but it is also the most expensive.
Bus
There are bus companies with routes to the city of Charleston.
For example, the company Greyhound has routes to several places. One of their routes goes from Savannah to Charleston, but they have a lot of destinations.
Going by bus is a cheaper way to get to Charleston, but it also often takes longer.
Car
Traveling by car is often the most convenient method if you are coming from a nearby place. That's because it is a fast way and you can decide for yourself when you are going to the city! So that's great for your 4 days in Charleston.
Train
There are various train connections to places in the state of South Carolina and beyond.
This is a great way to travel if you are coming from a place that is too far for driving by car, but too short for an airplane.
Travel Tips for Spending 4 Days in Charleston
Here are some tips to make your trip of 4 days in Charleston even better!
Because the buildings of the city are very pretty, you should bring a camera with you. That way you can take a lot of pictures when you are here!
Another tip for visiting Charleston is to walk everywhere! That way you can better experience everything the city has to offer, as the locals also do that! You can see so much more when you walk everywhere.
Itinerary for 4 Days in Charleston
Now, let's start with this 4-day Charleston itinerary. This guide is perfect if you want to have an amazing time in the city!
Day 1: Seeing Highlights of the City on the First Day of Your 4 Days in Charleston
During the first day of the itinerary, you are going to see some sights and highlights of the city.
Breakfast at Toast
Let's start with breakfast. A great place for this in the historic center of Charleston is Toast! This is a great place if you are going to explore the city center afterward.
This place has fresh southern food that is very delicious. Your breakfast will be great for sure when you are here!
There is a large variety of dishes here.
For example, there is French toast that is great! Also, they have great sandwiches. And they have fresh fruit.
What's great as well is that the service at the restaurant is very good! It's a perfect place to start your 4 days in Charleston with breakfast!
Visit the Historic District of Charleston
After breakfast, it is time to start exploring the city of Charleston.
One of the best places to do this is at the Historic District of Charleston.
This is a great place to wander around. There are lots of shops and stores here, which is great! For example, if you want to shop in Charleston, you should go here!
Another great thing about the city center is the architecture of the buildings you find here. There are lots of beautiful houses in various colors. This is great to see, and lovely for a relaxing stroll!
Also, there are palm trees that line the streets with historic buildings. This is a unique sight to see and a great introduction for your 4 days in Charleston!
Go to the Battery
When walking through the Historic District, you should also go to the Battery.
This is a promenade along the coast of Charleston. It is a great place to walk and look at the sea! It's definitely a must-see when you're 4 days in Charleston.
Another great thing about the Battery is the large number of antebellum homes that you can find here.
These are houses that have antebellum architecture. This is an architectural style that was popular from the creation of the US till the Civil War.
These are very large and classical homes that are wonderful to see!
Walk Through White Point Garden
Now it is time to go to White Point Garden. This is a public park that you can find at the southernmost point of the Battery.
This park is amazing to visit. There is a lot of grass, and there are old oak trees that are very beautiful.
Another great thing about the park is that you can find here many wartime monuments. There are cannons from the Civil War and there are statues.
What's great as well is that there are many benches in the park. This makes it a good place to hang out!
Also, from the park, you have a beautiful view of Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter, where you are going later!
Have Lunch at the Historic Charleston City Market
The Charleston City Market is a historic place that is great when you are 4 days in Charleston.
You find this place in the historic center of Charleston as well.
What's great is that you find many places with great food here. That means that there is definitely something that you like here!
For example, you find here Callie's Hot Little Biscuit. This is a place where you can get biscuits, sandwiches, and more food! This makes it a great place for lunch in the city center!
Another great place for food at the city market is City Market Grocery. This is a coffee shop that also serves sandwiches, salads, fruit, smoothies, and more.
See Rainbow Row
After lunch, you should definitely go to Rainbow Row.
This is one of the most beautiful places in the city of Charleston.
You find here Georgian row houses that look very pretty! These houses have pastel colors that are great to see! Together they form a rainbow, which is the reason for the name of the street! The colors make the street very unique.
As it's very pretty, it's on this 4-day Charleston itinerary.
There are some myths about why the houses have the colors they have.
One of the most fun is that drunken sailors painted their houses to remember which house was theirs. That way they could go to the correct house when they returned from the port.
Go to the Mary Martin Fine Art Gallery
The Mary Martin Galleries of Fine Art are great to visit when you are in the city center of Charleston.
You can discover a lot of new art here, which is great during your 4 days in Charleston.
The art you can see here is from a large variety of genres. But the galleries focus on painters and sculptors.
The Mary Martin Galleries of Fine Art want to feature artists who create original work. This is great to see when you are here.
If you like to discover new artworks that you haven't seen before, then go here! You'll enjoy it here for sure!
Dinner at Prohibition
Now it is time for dinner on the first day.
One of the best restaurants in the city is Prohibition.
The atmosphere of the restaurant feels like the 1920s, which is great! That's because there is lovely vintage decor.
Besides that, the food of the place is great as well!
They have great main dishes that are very tasty! Furthermore, they have delicious desserts that are great to end your meal with!
Also, they have good cocktails.
What's also great here is to have the Chef's Tasting Menu. You can have this every Friday and Saturday. And it contains the Chef's choice of food that is great to try!
Day 2: Exploring More of the City
Today, you will learn a lot about history and you'll see an amazing sight outside of the city center.
Breakfast at Beech
To start your second day in Charleston, let's get some breakfast!
One of the best places for breakfast is Beech. You find this restaurant at 315 King Street.
Beech focuses on serving fresh and healthy food in a fast way. They base their menu on several healthy ingredients.
Some of their best food for breakfast is their bowls. A great bowl is the Beech Bowl, this includes acai, granola, banana, strawberry, and more!
Also, they have great bagels and toast if you like that more for breakfast! And they have even more. You'll love it here for sure!
Also, this is a great place to get cold-pressed juices and smoothies. This is very delicious!
See art at the Charleston Museum
The Charleston Museum is a great museum to visit when you are 4 days in Charleston. That's why you should go here next.
At this museum, you find a great collection of many things. Historic objects, natural history artifacts, and more!
For example, you find here an exhibition focused on furniture from Charleston. Furthermore, there is a part of the museum that focuses on Egyptian objects. And one section is about rocks and minerals that you can find all around the world.
Also, the museum has two historic houses that are worth visiting! These houses have awesome architecture, and they look great from the inside
Furthermore, the Charleston Museum is one of the oldest museums in the United States. Knowing this makes visiting the museum even better!
You can visit the museum every day of the year, except for a few holidays.
Go To Marion Square and the Charleston Farmers Market
Marion Square is a lovely small greenspace that you find in the city center. It is next to the Charleston Museum, so it is easy to get here.
This is a great place to relax and to hang out.
Furthermore, during the summer there is more to do here.
During that time, you can find here the Charleston Farmers Market on Saturdays! This is a great place to go when you going to Charleston for 4 days.
Furthermore, several festivals take place at Marion Square. For example, you find here the Spoleto Arts Festival. Also, it is a great place to visit during Christmas, as there is always a tree here. In fact, there was a Christmas tree during the holidays for the last 100 years.
Lunch at Caviar & Bananas
After visiting Marion Square you can have lunch at Caviar & Bananas.
They use only the best ingredients that come from both local and global sources!
This place is great if you want a delicious salad! They have a large variety of this!
Also, Caviar & Bananas is the perfect place if you want to have a delicious sandwich.
What's great is that you can create your own sandwich or salad here. You can choose exactly what you like most to create the most delicious food!
See the Angel Oak Tree
During the afternoon you should definitely go to the Angel Oak Tree.
The Angel Oak Tree lies about outside of the city center of Charleston. You find the tree in Angel Oak Park together with other trees.
What makes this tree special is that it is about 400 to 500 years old. This is amazing, as that's older than the United States!
Besides that, the tree looks very cool! It has branches that go horizontal and that are very large. This looks very impressive.
You can reach the Angel Oak Tree from the Historic District of Charleston in about 25 minutes. The tree lies about 12 miles (or 19 kilometers) from the city center.
Walk Through Johns Island Park
Close to the Angel Oak Tree, you find John Island Park. This is a great place with nature and lots of things to do. You can walk here from Angel Oak Tree!
You find a lot of nature here, which makes it ideal for a relaxing time!
Furthermore, there are all kinds of facilities here. That's also why it's in this 4 days in Charleston itinerary.
For example, there are places where you can do sports. There is a tennis court, a baseball field, and a volleyball field.
Furthermore, there is a playground, there are benches, and there are restrooms. So it is a very convenient place to visit!
Dinner at El Mercadito & Taqueria
El Mercadito & Taqueria is a place that you can find close to Johns Island Park.
This makes it a very convenient place to have dinner at the end of the second day!
At El Mercadito & Taqueria you can get delicious Mexican food. Their tacos are very delicious!
What's also great about this place is that the service here is also very good!
Of course, you could also go back to the historic center of Charleston to have dinner. You find there many great restaurants that are wonderful for dinner!
Day 3: Seeing Nature, Sights, and a Beach During Your 4 Days in Charleston
It's time to see nature, learn about history, and head to the beach!
Breakfast at East Bay Meeting House
You can have a very good breakfast at East Bay Meeting House, so I recommend going there on this third day!
You find this place in the French Quarter of Charleston. This is convenient if you are going to Waterfront Park after this place.
This place is a Parisian cafe with elements from the Southern United States. You can find a lot of different French food here.
For example, you can have here a quiche with spinach or with portobello mushrooms.
Also, you can have French toast here and they have delicious homemade granola.
When you have breakfast here, I also recommend having orange or cranberry juice!
Walk Through Waterfront Park
Waterfront Park is a small park that you can find along the Cooper River. It is at the Historic Center of Charleston.
This is a great place to go for a relaxing time! So if you want to relax during your 4 days in Charleston, you should go here for sure! There are many beautiful trees, which is nice!
Furthermore, you have a wonderful view of the river, which is great as well. Also, the view at sunset is great as well!
One of the most iconic landmarks at Waterfront Park is the Pineapple Fountain. This is a unique fountain that looks like a pineapple.
See the Fortifications of Charles Town
Let's start with the next activity on this 4-day Charleston itinerary! Before Charleston was Charleston, it was Charles Town.
During that time there was a constant threat from other countries, such as France and Spain. Furthermore, Native Americans and pirates also formed a threat.
That's why the people of the city built a fortification wall around the settlement to defend it.
Next to Rainbow Row, you can see a sign with information about the wall. Furthermore, there is a section of the wall here.
This is a great historic sight in the city of Charleston, that you should not miss out on!
What's great is that it is easy to walk here from Waterfront Park.
Visit the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is a great museum in the city of Charleston. You find it on the other side of the Cooper River.
This is a great place to learn about naval and maritime history.
You find here all kinds of exhibits that are very interesting.
One of the highlights of the museum is the USS Yorktown. This is an aircraft carrier built during the second world war. It's great that you can see an aircraft carrier from up close.
Also, you find the Medal of Honor museum on board. You find here information from all those who received such a medal.
Besides that, there are many other vessels from the Navy here.
Lunch at Woody's Pizza
In the mood for great pizza for lunch? Then head over to Woody's Pizza! This is a place next to Folly Beach, which is the next stop of this itinerary.
Their pizza is great and they have a large variety of pizza. You can choose which size of pizza you want, or you can have only one slice.
Also, this is a great place for subs and salads. So if you like that more, then you can have that here!
Go to Folly Beach
This afternoon, you should definitely head to the beach.
The nearest beach near Charleston is Folly Beach. You can get here in about 25 minutes by car. The distance from the city center of Charleston to Folly Beach is about 12 miles (or 19 kilometers).
Folly Beach is a great place to relax when you are spending 4 days in Charleston.
It is a great beach that is very relaxing to hang out at!
Furthermore, there are many amenities at the beach, which makes it a great place to visit! And there are lots of restaurants next to the beach. So I'd definitely recommend having a drink here as well.
Walk Through Folly River Park
If you still have time left after going to Folly Beach, you should definitely go to Folly River Park.
This is a park that is perfect to relax after a beach day! Walking through it is a wonderful activity to end your afternoon with.
You find here lots of trees that are very beautiful and that provide a lot of shadows.
From Folly Beach, you can walk to the park in about 6 minutes, which is great! When walking there from the beach, you walk next to lovely restaurants. These a great for dinner after visiting the park.
Dinner at Loggerhead's Beach Grill
After relaxing at Folly River Park, go to Loggerhead's Beach Grill!
You find this restaurant on Folly Beach and you have a wonderful view from here. Also, the atmosphere of the place is very laid-back, which is great!
This place is great if you are looking for good burgers for a fair price. But they also have other food!
Also, if you only want to have a drink here, you can do so too!
Furthermore, there is daily entertainment at this place, which makes your experience better!
Day 4: See More Places in Charleston
During the last day in Charleston, you will see some more beautiful sights in the city of Charleston. It's a great day of this 4-day Charleston itinerary!
Relax at Washington Square
Washington Square is a lovely public park in the city center of Charleston.
You find it next to the City Hall
There are beautiful trees, plants, and grass fields. Furthermore, there are several walking paths for a relaxing walk.
Besides that, there are benches in the park, which makes this a perfect place to relax!
Also, there is a statue in the park!
Brunch at Café Framboise
After going to Washington Square, I recommend having brunch at Café Framboise.
Café Framboise is a restaurant that you find in downtown Charleston. You find here a great French menu with lots of great brunch items!
One of their best brunch dishes is the La Avocado Classic. This is toasted Challah bread with avocado puree and chili flakes, together with a salad.
Also, you can have a quiche here. And this place is great if you are looking for salads, gourmet sandwiches, and paninis!
See the Gibbes Museum of Art
Now it's time to go to another one of the best museums in Charleston.
The Gibbes Museum of Art is an art museum in the city with a lovely collection.
You can find it inside a historic building in the Historic District of Charleston.
The collection of the museum focuses on fine art. In fact, there are more than 10,000 artworks of this kind here. Moreover, the focus of the museum lies in artworks that have a connection with Charleston.
Some of the artists whose work is here include Henrietta Johnston and Jeremiah Theus.
You can visit the museum every day of the week, but there are some holidays with closures.
Go to Fort Sumter National Monument
During this last afternoon of your 4 days in Charleston, go to Fort Sumter!
This is a sea fort that you can fin on an artificial island at Charleston Harbor. Going here is incredible if you like learning about history.
Its history dates back to the year 1814. The city built it during the War of 1812 to protect the harbor against foreign countries.
It played a role in the American Civil War. During the Battle of Fort Sumter, there was a bombardment of Fort Sumter. During this battle, there were a lot of damages.
You can get to the island by ferry which takes 30 minutes. This ferry leaves from Patriots Point.
Dinner at Eli's Table
At Eli's Table, you can have delicious food for dinner at the end of your fourth day!
They have food with flavors from all over the world, which is great! Furthermore, they only use fresh and local ingredients.
One of their best dishes is the Vegetarian Risotto. This dish has fresh vegetables that the restaurant selects daily, which is awesome.
Also, every Thursday there is live jazz here from 7 PM to 10 PM, which is great!
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