How to Spend a Long Weekend in Charleston, SC: 3 Days Exploring Downtown, Mount Pleasant & Folly Beach (+Map)
- Jules
- May 4
- 9 min read
After hearing so many raving reviews about the charming little coastal town of Charleston, South Carolina, I finally had to see it for myself. Not only did this quaint city have all the musts of a beach town, but it also captivated us with historical buildings, beautiful views, and incredible southern food. Our long weekend in Charleston was a full 3 day trip come true as we explored the best parts of Downtown Charleston, Folly Beach, and the Mount Pleasant / Sullivan's Island area. So, let's get into how to spend a long weekend in Charleston!
On a side note, I visited with my fiancé for the main purpose of discovering if Charleston was going to be the next place we would call home. We did tour a handful of apartments during this trip, so I'll mark this time as dedicated free exploration time. While we ended up not moving to Charleston (obviously - and for reasons that had nothing to do with our experience here), we absolutely loved it and will be keeping it in mind for years to come.
Day 0: Arrival to Charleston
Our flight from Austin landed us in the evening hours, so we didn't have a chance to do anything except check into our accommodation this night.
Where to Stay: The Jonathan Jasper Wright Inn
Our stay here was perfect for a short trip. It was easily walkable around Downtown and had on-site parking available for our rental car. I will say the room we stayed in was quite small (room for 2 people max), but it worked perfectly fine since we actually didn't spend much time in the room at all, and it was much more reasonably priced due to this.
Note: CHS is a smaller airport, and we did end up renting a car since we wanted to visit more than just downtown. While Downtown is walkable, the surrounding areas of Charleston (Mount Pleasant, Sullivan's Island, and Folly Beach are not). You'll absolutely require a driver to get to these places.
Day 1: Exploring Downtown - A DIY Walking Tour
Breakfast: Babas on Canon
known for their banana bread and coffee
We started the morning wandering in the general direction of King Street (the iconic "main" street of downtown where shops are plentiful. Tucked away, we stopped in and sat at Babas on Canon for coffee and breakfast treats before truly beginning our walking tour.
Walking Tour:
Stop 1: King Street
Wandering down King Street in Charleston is like stepping into a vibrant tapestry of history and modern charm. This bustling thoroughfare is lined with an eclectic mix of boutique shops, art galleries, and delightful eateries, making it a shopper's paradise and a food lover's dream.
Stop 2: Charleston City Market
Charleston City Market is a historic marketplace located in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, known for its vibrant atmosphere and unique local crafts. Established in the late 18th century, it features a variety of vendors selling handmade goods, artwork, and traditional Lowcountry cuisine. Visitors can explore the market's rich history while enjoying the diverse offerings from local artisans and food vendors. It's also a great spot to pick up souvenirs!
Stop 3: Waterfront Park Pier
Waterfront Park Pier in Charleston offers stunning views of the harbor and the iconic Pineapple Fountain. The pier serves as a serene gathering place, perfect for leisurely strolls and enjoying the picturesque scenery. P.S. there's a bunch of wooden swings on the pier that make the perfect place to stop and pause.
Stop 4: Pineapple Fountain
The Pineapple Fountain in Charleston is a charming landmark located in Waterfront Park, celebrated for its unique design that symbolizes hospitality. This iconic fountain features a cascading waterfall and is surrounded by lush gardens.
Stop 5: Rainbow Row
Rainbow Row in Charleston is a famous series of 13 colorful historic houses located along East Bay Street, known for their vibrant pastel hues and charming architecture.
Stop 6 / Lunch: Sorelle Mercado
For outdoor street seating or a cute indoor atmosphere, this spot is a great place to rest the feet and grab a quick bite to eat. We loved sitting outside and people watching.
Stop 7: The Battery
The Battery in Charleston is a historic promenade that offers stunning views of the harbor and is lined with beautiful antebellum mansions.
After all this exploring, you're definitely going to want to go straight back to your hotel and lay down for a bit, which is exactly what we did... before getting up and heading right back out.
Pre-Dinner: Shem Creek
I love a good waterfront view and a walking trail, so when I discovered this spot, I was hooked. Parking is available near the start of the trail. Though it's pretty short, the little trail took us to a pier out to the water where we had a great view of the bridge, boats bringing in their catch, and the sun glistening over the water.
This would probably also be a good spot if you're looking for somewhere to catch sunset.
Dinner: Saltwater Cowboys
Just around the corner from Shem Creek is Saltwater Cowboys. Like the name suggests, this is a trendy little spot known for its incredible sunset views, better drinks, and southern comfort food. It's a very casual spot with great outdoor seating, and it was such a relaxing vibe we considered coming back more than once.
This restaurant does not do reservations, so opt to go early if your goal is to avoid a wait and/or get a spot for sunset
We went around 5:15ish and it started to get crowded soon after
Their drinks were also incredible
Pro Tip: Walk to the very top of the building upstairs where there is no dining to enjoy panoramic sunset views.
Day 2: Folly Beach & Downtown
Breakfast: Point Break Coffee
had great acai bowls and lattes; also a drive-thru for convenience!
Explore Folly Beach
Our day was pretty open since we toured a couple apartments around Folly and James Island. However, we did do some fun things in this area in the early afternoon, which I'll leave below.
Folly Beach & Pier
Tip: If you're visiting during summer or early fall, bring a bathing suit and get the full Folly Beach day experience, and if you're a surfer, this is one of the best beaches on the east coast for waves! Unfortunately, we visited just after beach season, but checking out the beach and pier were still absolutely worth it. However, Charleston is pretty mild during fall, so you could always opt for a beach picnic too.
Folly is more well known as a bar hopping spot, so if that's something that appeals to you check out the map for some more ideas on popular bars. We saw a bunch just walking around, so a weekend bar hopping day would also be a fun way to spend your time in Folly Beach.
Lunch: Chico Feo
We decided to stop by this semi-hidden but pretty popular little spot for a light lunch of tacos. More well-known as a bar, Chico Feo is a pretty local spot with a few chill vibe. I wouldn't recommend going here if you're really hungry because the tacos are very small.
Other Nearby Lunch Options:
Bert's - a little market that offers made to order sandwiches and other options
Pinky's on the Beach - a cute little lunch spot right on the beach
Downtown Folly Shopping
If surf shops and souvenir spots are your vibe, then it's worth walking around the main shopping street. We wandered in a handful of cool surf shops, boutiques, and souvenir stores before settling on another magnet for our fridge.
The Pineapple Hut
Pineapple dole whip in a real pineapple with pineapple chunks!! This was the cutest and most delicious treat to end our day in Folly! Absolutely worth a stop if you love a good sweet treat.
Melton Peter Demetre Park in James Island
Before returning to Downtown Charleston, this park is worth a quick visit. Nestled in the suburbs of James Island (if you can even call multimillion dollar houses on the water that), the park has gorgeous views of downtown across the harbour. It was a very quiet spot that was perfect for a couple pictures and a few restful breaths of fresh air.
Pre-Dinner Drinks: Satellite Bar
Looking for another great view? Head to the top of this King Street building to grab a cocktail with a view looking down on everyone walking by. Not to mention this spot was incredibly cute.
Tip: For my fashion gals, it's pretty much impossible to be overdressed in Charleston, so bring the cute outfits because you'll fit right in.
Dinner Downtown: The Darling Oyster Bar
If you're going to take one of my dinner recommendations, let it be this one. Make yourself a reservation in advance because this place books up - and for good reason. With a mix of upscale southern comfort food, fresh caught seafood, and the most aesthetic Charleston atmosphere, this restaurant took the cake. It was the perfect spot to spend a date night, drink a glass of wine, and savor delicious Charleston cuisine.
Pro Tip: Make a reservation via Google at least a week or two in advance. Walk-ins are accepted at their regular bar and their raw bar, but there was a very long wait for a seat - not to mention it was incredibly crowded at the bar.
Day 3: Mount Pleasant & Sullivan's Island
Breakfast: Kudu Coffee & Charleston Farmer's Market
Kudu Coffee for coffee and light pastries
The Biscuit Shed (food truck) @ the Charleston Farmer's Market for southern comfort style biscuit sandwiches
We started our final morning wandering to the Charleston Farmer's Market. We came across Kudu Coffee on our way over and made an impromptu stop for cold brew and pastries. The farmer's market was then the perfect stop to walk around the park exploring local artist stands, vendors selling jewelry and souvenirs, and food trucks with delicious smelling options. We chose The Biscuit Shed based on the line, and it was delightful.
Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park
Our first stop was just across the scenic bridge where we took a short walk along a pier beneath the bridge. It was a scenic little stop to check out more of the Mount Pleasant area before diving into an apartment tour (aka your free time!)
I'on Area & Lunch at Square Onion
This charming little area is perfect for a stroll through some of the prominent Charleston houses around the Mount Pleasant side of the city. Colorful siding, beautiful landscaping, palm trees, and canals run through this area making it a great spot to casually hang out. There's a handful of little restaurants around I'on for whatever you're looking for.
Sullivan's Island Beach
Republic Ice Cream - delicious sweet treats & milkshakes
Middle Street - a very small "main" street with a few restaurants and shops
The Obstinate Daughter - iconic CHS spot but previously hard to get into
Sullivan's Fish Camp
Sullivan's Island is a well known spot in Charleston; mostly for being a more relaxed beach option than Folly. We heard, and experienced, great things about it, and the beach itself was quite large, flat, and relatively scenic with a lighthouse in the horizon and purple grass growing amongst the dunes. However, if we're coming it to Folly, I was surprised by the lack of things to do in the relative area. Aside from Middle Street - which was incredibly small and honestly didn't have much beyond an ice cream shop, a few restaurants, and a few shops, there was not much else to do. So, if you're looking for a beach day, this is a great spot, but if you're looking for a beach you can grab food nearby or find something else to do, Sullivan's is probably not for you.
Dinner: Pick for Yourself
From the map below, there are countless options for whatever area you happen to be staying in. While we headed back over to Folly at this point and grabbed a pretty mid pizza before running to the beach for sunset, there are plenty of great food options serving a variety of cuisines and styles.
Sunset at Folly Beach
This was a highlight of our trip. We were running late, and missed the actual sun going down (though we got great views over the marshes on our drive over to Folly). Regardless, we made it to the Folly Beach Pier in time to see the sky changing from blue to orange to pink, cascading over the waves while surfers got their final waves of the day in. This was a truly magical sight, and I would highly recommend trying to catch the sunset here.
How to Spend a Long Weekend in Charleston: Google Maps
Things to do, Food to eat, Places to shop & More!
The following map has been carefully curated with thoughtful choices and only includes the top recommended, viral spots, and must see sights. Use this google map to help you plan your itinerary! The map is broken down into layers, and I would suggest planning your itinerary the most effectively by grouping things you want to do by area:
Folly Beach / James Island
Mount Pleasant / Sullivan's Island
Downtown Charleston
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