Charming Charleston for a Girls Weekend Trip
Charleston, South Carolina, has long been known for its charm, Southern cuisine, rich history, and picturesque landscapes. A girls (or guys) weekend trip to this captivating city is perfect for those looking to indulge in a unique blend of culture, cuisine, craft cocktails, and natural beauty.
We were inspired by one of our guest poster’s (Alden W. Smith) brunch in Charleston trip so my mom and I had to try a girls weekend there and loved it! It was so easy to walk the whole historic district and we are already planning a return trip! We also think it makes a great “empty nest” trip destination!
We will highlight the top reasons why Charleston is an outstanding weekend getaway idea, and highlight some must-see attractions and activities to enjoy on your own weekend trip. We’ll then list our own Charleston 3-day itinerary with lots of photos to help you plan your perfect girls or guys (yes, I know I simplified without the ‘ apostrophe) weekend trip.
Why is Charleston Called the “Holy City”?
Charleston is also often called the “Holy City” because of its rich religious history and the abundance of church steeples (over 400) that punctuate its skyline.
The city has long been a hub for religious tolerance, dating back to its founding in 1670 when it was established as a haven for religious freedom.
This welcoming atmosphere attracted various religious denominations, which led to the construction of numerous churches throughout the city. As a result, Charleston has become known for its distinctive skyline of church steeples and its enduring commitment to religious diversity and freedom.
Besides being the “Holy City”, Charleston is also a college town and popular bridal party or bachelorette party trip destination.
We saw sooo many bridal parties in cute matching dresses having a great time! There are so many options that make Charleston a great destination for that too!
If you don’t have much time you can totally Jump ahead to our Charleston 3-day itinerary (click here) and then read the rest later!
More Great Girl’s Trip Options to Check Out
What Makes Charleston a Perfect Girls (or Guys)Weekend Trip Idea?
Charleston has Easy Access and Affordability:
Charleston is relatively easy to access, with direct flights from several major cities (we flew Breeze Airlines for 35$ each way!) and a drivable distance from various locations in the Southeast. The city offers accommodations and experiences to suit a variety of budgets, making it a practical choice for weekend trips.
Rich Cultural Experiences and Walkability:
Charleston’s history, art, and culture make it an engaging destination for a girls (or guys) trip. The group can visit museums, historic homes, and galleries, or attend live performances at theaters like the Dock Street Theatre. These are all easily walkable as well.
Charleston’s Southern Hospitality and Charming Atmosphere:
Charleston’s reputation for warm and welcoming Southern hospitality ensures that visitors feel comfortable and well-taken care of during their stay, making it an inviting destination for a memorable weekend trip.
We had a great time and loved the atmosphere everywhere we went! The city is also very clean compared to our own French Quarter (sadly) which really impressed us.
The city’s historic district is filled with picturesque streets, beautiful antebellum architecture, and lush gardens, creating a charming and romantic atmosphere that sets the tone for a memorable trip.
Great Shopping in Charleston
Charleston is a shopper’s paradise, with an array of boutiques, antique stores, and local artisan shops along King Street, Meeting Street, and the Old City Market. We found lots of retail therapy and some unique hidden gems along the way.
Vibrant Food Scene
Charleston is known for its culinary delights, boasting a wide range of award-winning restaurants, cafes, and bars. From traditional Southern dishes to innovative fusion cuisine, there’s something to satisfy every palate, making it perfect for a group of diverse tastes.
We got aquainted with Charleston’s food scene by taking a delicious secret food tour on our weekend trip and found places that we returned to for a bite and drink later and that we will go on the next visit.
Outdoor Activities and Easy Beach Day Trips:
Charleston’s coastal location provides opportunities for outdoor adventures, such as boat tours, paddleboarding, or a day trip to nearby beaches like Folly Beach or Isle of Palms. We did a half day trip to Folly Beach to see the lighthouse and boardwalk and will write a guide to check out later this week!
Where to Stay in Charleston For a Weekend Girls Trip:
We stayed in the Historic District area and found it to be perfect for walking or taking the free DASH trolley bus to get around.
Hilton Embassy Suites Historic District
Despite reading some not great reviews we took a chance and decided to stay at this historic hotel (and use Hilton Points) and we were NOT disappointed! The photo above is a veiw of the amazing building.
We loved the free breakfast and free evening wine reception and took advantage of it every day of our stay (it helped saved money on our trip!). The rooms also are large with a separate living/kitchen area and was perfect for sharing a hotel room. The building that the Embassy Suites Historic District is in was the former Citadel and the unique architecture adds to the feel of this hotel.
Hotel Bennett
Hotel Bennett is a luxe hotel next to Marion Square and in a perfect walking location to everything. We had drinks at the bar here and definitely want to try it out next time! The location is great as well.
The Charleston Place
The Charleston Place is also a luxe option and has an amazing mall right inside of it. We loved having coffee at the cafe there and the amazing staircase that is the centerpiece of the lobby! There was also a musician playing piano when we were there. Even if you don’t stay here definitely visit just for the shopping and hanging out areas.
French Quarter Inn
French Quarter Inn is a cute five star boutique hotel with a rooftop courtyard that is in the middle of it all. The buidling architecture in this area is amazing although I may be biased because it reminds me of our own French Quarter here in New Orleans.
You really can’t go wrong with any hotel in the Charleston Historic District!
What to do and see on a Girls (or Guys) Weekend Charleston Trip:
Rainbow Row:
Take a journey through Charleston’s historic district by visiting the iconic Rainbow Row, a series of thirteen pastel-colored Georgian-style homes. This picturesque spot is perfect for capturing memories with your travel companions.
Walk Along The Battery:
Take a leisurely stroll along The Battery, a historic seawall and promenade, to enjoy breathtaking waterfront views, magnificent antebellum mansions, and lush gardens.
City Market:
Immerse yourselves in the local culture by visiting the Old City Market, where you can shop for unique souvenirs, handmade crafts, and local delicacies. This bustling market is the ideal place to experience the charm of Charleston.
Take a Food Tour or Cooking Class in Charleston:
We loved our Charleston food tour there and next time will try to get in for the cooking class with a local Charleston Chef(it was sold out). We Indulged in Charleston’s renowned food scene by sampling classic southern dishes, like low country grits and she-crab soup.
There are some great history and pub tours too!
Visit Provost Dungeon or take a Ghost Tour:
Add a touch of mystery to your girls trip with a ghost tour through Charleston’s historic district. Listen to spine-chilling tales of the city’s haunted past as you explore its most famous ghostly sites, including cemeteries, churches, and alleyways. We did the Provost Dungeon tour and it was creepy and included a walk around town seeing other spooky spots.
See Historic Churches:
Charleston (the Holy City) is famous for its beautiful historic churches, such as St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, St. Philip’s Church, and the French Huguenot Church. Take a self-guided tour or join a guided walking tour to learn about their fascinating histories.
Take a Harbor day or sunset Boat Tour
We loved our harbor boat tour and getting to see the city from a different perspective! It’s also the only way to see Ft. Sumpter if that is on your list. Next time, we’ll take the schooner boat tour to have a different experience.
Dock Street Theatre:
Catch a live performance at the Dock Street Theatre, America’s oldest operating theater. Its stunning architecture and captivating productions make for a memorable night out with your friends.
The Nathaniel Russell House:
Step back in time with a visit to the Nathaniel Russell House, an elegant Federal-style mansion featuring period furnishings and beautiful formal gardens. Guided tours are available to learn more about the house’s history and its former residents.
Charleston Museum Mile:
Explore Charleston’s Museum Mile, which boasts numerous museums and historic sites, such as the Charleston Museum, the Gibbes Museum of Art, and the Heyward-Washington House. Discover the city’s rich history and artistic heritage at your own pace.
Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour:
An easy way to experience the charm of Charleston’s historic district with a horse-drawn carriage tour. Relax and take in the stunning architecture and picturesque streets as the guide shares stories and anecdotes about the city’s history.
Find the Mobile Booze Pop Van (adults only)
Okay, we have many cocktail-related things here in The Big Easy, but even we don’t have a mobile booze frozen pop van! This was an unexpected find that I loved and will look for again.
Our 3-day Girls Trip Weekend Itinerary
We’ve detailed the places we went and what we experienced hour by hour below to help you plan your weekend trip to Charleston.
Day 1
Our quick flight arrived at 9:00 am and we took a quick 15 minute rideshare to our hotel, The Embassy Suites Historic District. Our room was not yet ready, but we were able to drop our bags in the luggage room at the hotel and hit the ground running (or walking) to explore Charleston. We explored the hotel’s historic building and grounds that was the former Citadel a bit (it’s lovely) and then headed out.
Day 1 First Stop: 10:30-11:30 Charleston Museum which was just a block away from our hotel.
Next, across the street to the Visitors Center and Dash free trolley stop. We rode the trolley to get to the Charleston Market and explored and shopped there from 12:00 – 1:00.
Day 1 1:00 – 2:00
We walked across from the market to Henry’s on the Market to try their delicious version of “she-crab” soup and have lunch on the rooftop. It was pretty windy, but we loved the funky vibe and music up there!
Day 1 2:00 – 3:00
After lunch at Henry’s we needed a walk so we decided to walk to The Battery area along the waterfront to see the infamous Pineapple Fountain. There’s a nice pathway that we walked for awhile enjoying the views and seeing the harbor.
Day 1 3:00 – 4:00
From the Battery area we walked to see the colorful Georgian homes of Rainbow Row and snap a few pics, of course. We walked further along E. Bay St. to the Historic Charleston Foundation Museum and spent some time finding out about all of the preservation work that they undertake.
Day 1 4:00 – 5:00
We walked back on E. Bay St. past the Provost Dungeon in the Old Exchange Building and decided that we would do a dungeon and ghost tour later that night so I booked it on the Viator website.
Day 1 5:00 – 6:30
We realized it was almost time for the evening reception at our hotel and that our room was ready so we headed back to the hotel walking back up E. Bay Street to the Market area and then to Meeting Street to head back to our hotel.
We had wine and small bites at the hotel’s free reception and decided we were still full from lunch at Henry’s so we’d just catch a small bite later if we were hungry after the ghost tour.
Day 1 6:30 – 9:00
It was time to start walking back towards the Market area for our ghost and dungeon tour meetup so we walked from the hotel and came across the Pounce Cat Cafe and Wine Bar on Meeting St. and had to stop for a minute!
We then met our tour group and visited the dungeon area which was creepy and the stories from our guide made it better. The tour then brought us throughout different spooky areas and an alley of the city ending at the infamous Pineapple Fountain (cool to see it at night this time).
Day 1 9:00 – 10:00
Once the ghost tour was over we headed back towards the hotel, but stopped along the way for a craft cocktail at Fait Lux inside the Hotel Bennett.
We then called it a day and felt it was a successful first day of our weekend trip!
Day 2
Day 2 8:30 – 9:00
It was an early morning and we took advantage of the Embassy Suites Hotel’s free breakfast. It was a decent selection with made to order omlets and eggs too. You can sit at the tables inside or outside near the pool.
Day 2 9:00 – 3:00
We decided to be adventurous today and take a day trip to Folly Beach (and to see the Morris Island Lighthouse). I’ll do a longer review of Folly Beach and the Lighthouse soon, but I’m so glad we went. We took a rideshare to get there and were dropped off about 30 minutes later at the Folly Beach Fishing Pier.
I will say that visiting Folly Beach is not like most beaches with a walkway near the beach. You can walk on the beach and pier, but the rest is houses or hotels without any boardwalk or sidewalk area. Walking though the little town area is easy though! We had an amazing lunch and drink at Chico Feo while we planned how we were going to get to the pathway (it’s at the end of Folly Beach area) to see the Lighthouse. I love lighthouses and even though you can’t go in it I just wanted to see it and take pics. Morris Island Lighthouse is also the 6th oldest lighthouse in the U.S.
We found the only taxi service in the area, Folly Beach Cab Company 843-452-3684. The owner was our driver and he thankfully took us to the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve park that has a colorful grafitti pathway that leads to the beach where you can view the lighthouse (or kayak to it) and waited for us to do it! It was an amazing experience!
Our driver told us that it may be hard to get a rideshare to come back and get us from Folly Beach and sure enough when I searched on my app there were none so we were thankful that he agreed to drive us back to the hotel in Charleston after!
The fee was less than we expected so we were happy and thankful! When we were headed back the line of cars to get into Folly Beach stretched for miles so keep that in mind when planning a day trip. We were lucky this time, but would rent a car next time.
Side Note: We found (later) that there is a Morris Island Lighthouse tour that brings you to the island (I Will do this next time!) from Charleston and a Lowcountry Tour that takes you to the same path we walked to the lighthouse from Folly Beach! These are other great options if you don’t want to rent a car because the tours leave from Charleston and are easily accessible.
Day 2 3:30 – 5:30
After getting back to the hotel from our Folly Beach sojourn we freshened up quickly and then walked towards Meeting Street to do some shopping and find some coffee!
We love all of the shops in the Meeting St. and King St. areas and bought a few things along the way before heading into the mall connected to Charleston Place Hotel. We found the cafe inside of there to be perfect! The decor of the hotel lobby is amazing as well. The cafe had great coffee and some delicous pastries that we had to try.
Day 2 5:30 – 6:30
Once we were re-caffeinated it was onward to check out more of Charleston! We stopped to see the Four Corners of Law and visited Washington Square Park where we saw a guy walking his cat who would not cooperate. We also realized we missed our hotel reception, but we were fine with it because we were doing so many things.
Day 2 6:30 – 7:30
We were getting hungry so headed back to the Market area and found Mason’s Lobster Rolls! They were delicious and my second favorite (my fave is in Key West). The naked roll is just fresh lobster heated with warm butter on a grilled garlic roll and it was beyond amazing. I will definitely visit again!
Day 2 7:30 – 9:00
The sun was setting soon and we walked around a little to see the beautiful sunset beyond the many church steeples in Charleston (the Holy City). We then found some expert craft cocktails at The Gin Joint on the way back to the hotel. We were ready for an early night after a long, yet fun day.
Day 3
Day 3 8:00 – 9:00
It was a surprise that we woke up early after the active day we had before, but we did and were ready for another full day in Charleston! We bypassed breakfast at the hotel to visit a little Cuban cafe I saw the day before. Cafecito was all that I’d hoped and they had the perfect cortadito that I love so much! The colorful decor and homemade breakfast items were delicious.
Day 3 9:00 – 11:00
A full schedule was planned today and it was our last full day of this weekend trip so we tried to fit it all in. After breakfast we walked towards the waterfront and found a farmer’s market going on outside of our hotel in the Marion Square park. We had to do a little shopping and found some nice items!
We continued walking to the South Carolina Aquarium on the waterfront and the viewing platform at the Ft. Sumpter visitors center to get a picture of the Charleston Bridge. The aquarium was nice and not huge so we got through it quickly. The Ft. Sumpter visitors center had some interesting exhibits inside detailing the history of Ft. Sumpter and the viewing platform outside had nice views of the harbor.
Day 3 11:00 – 1:30
To the left of the aquarium was our meeting point for our Charleston Harbor Boat Tour that would bring us by Ft. Sumpter, the Battery, and an amazing view of Charleston from the water. It was a little windy, but a nice ride and we got a great view of the bridge and the fort! It’s nice to see the area from a water perspective too. We walked/ran to our next meeting spot for the next adventure (a food tour)near the Market area.
Day 3 1:30 – 3:30
Our Savor the Flavors of Charleston food tour met near the Market area and we went off with our small group to enjoy the tastes of the area. First stop was a taste of delicious philly cheesesteak hand pies (like empanadas) at Handy and Hot. They were more than filling and we were already loving this tour! Next, was a sweet bite at Christophe Artisan Chocolates and a cappuccino. They have a lovely and colorful courtyard with seating and vibrant murals.
We then sampled “she-crab” soup, low country grits, and Charleston’s famous pimento (and other bites) at the Oyster House Seafood Restaurant. We had a tropical cocktail there as well. The food was great, but I loved Henry’s “she-crab” soup better.
Our next stop was to the Spice and Tea Company. I was skeptical because we have those in New Orleans and other places I’ve been, but was pleasantly surprised that they prepared tastings of exclusive Charleston items (including pimento) that they offer. We wound up buying a great Gullah Geechee Spice mix and Charleston Sunshine salt to take home!
Our tour ended at my favorite (and the sister location to the Charleston brunch spot Alden wrote about), Poogan’s Smokehouse. We had an amazing cornbread served in a cast iron pot to share between us as well as smoked pork sliders and greens. The ambiance in Poogan’s Smokehouse is slightly industrial chic with open high ceilings and nice decor. The bar looked nice too and we will return to try it!
We said goodbye to our tour and both agreed that it was a really nice one that we’d do again. Our knowledgable guide also gave a really good history of Charleston’s cuisine and insider tips. We highly recommend this food tour in Charleston!
Day 3 3:30 – 6:00
After the food tour we walked and went in a few shops that we’d missed in the Market and King Street area and then headed back to the hotel for the evening reception for a moscato and a small bite (we were too full really so didn’t eat much).
Day 3 6:00 – 8:00
Since it was our last day we had to explore Chalreston a little more so we walked in the opposite direction (Hutson Street) than we had been walking and found the Charleston’s Smallest Bar along with some other fun and crowded entertainment district places as well as a train museum in Hutson Alley. The museum was closed, but the area was a lot of fun and we’ll visit the museum on the next visit.
We were back at the hotel early at around 8:00 p.m. and decided to call it a night (I know, we could’ve went more!) since we had to travel home the next day relatively early.
On Monday we had just enough time to have breakfast and headed to the airport in a rideshare for our flight home.
The Charleston airport is nice and easy to navigate so we had some time to check out The Club CHS lounge using our Priority Pass membership. It is the sister lounge to The Club MSY at our home airport that we recently reviewed. Charleston’s The Club CHS was a little smaller than our home lounge and part of it was closed off, but it was still a nice break with decent food and drink offerings.
After our quick lounge rest it was off to our gate for our flight home (sad face).
Final Thoughts on our Weekend Girls Trip to Charleston
We loved Charleston and will definitely return soon for another visit! We also feel like we were able to cover a lot of ground in 3 days so that is one of the reasons it makes such a great weekend trip.
Charleston is such a gem of a destination and is an exceptional destination for a weekend getaway. With its rich history, stunning architecture, delicious cuisine, and beautiful landscapes, it’s no wonder why so many visitors fall in love with this charming city.
Hopefully, our experiences and itinerary can help you plan your visit now so you can discover the enchanting allure of Charleston for yourself.
Don’t forget to check out our best new Top 12 Travel Gifts article for 2024! It will help you find the perfect gift for the travel-lovers on your list!