Home/Destinations/Charleston/Charleston in 3 days
3 days · Charleston itinerary

Charleston in 3 Days: The Complete Itinerary

Three days in Charleston cover the city, plantations and Lowcountry. Here is how to spend three perfect days — with the best-rated tours to book.

At a glance

  1. 1Historic city
  2. 2Plantations
  3. 3Fort Sumter
  4. 4Food & ghosts

Day 1: the historic city

Carriage tour, Rainbow Row and the Battery.

Day 2: the plantations

Boone Hall and Magnolia.

Day 3: harbor & flavours

Fort Sumter, food and ghosts.

Book the experiences in this itinerary

Top-rated tours for exactly what this plan recommends in Charleston — prices per person.

Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation
Charleston
Magnolia Plantation Day Tour with Transportation
4.6(91)·5 hours
from$75/ person
via Viator
Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class
Charleston
Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class
5.0(982)·4 hours
from$250/ person
via Viator
Charleston historical walking tour with a Professor of History at The Citadel
Charleston
Charleston historical walking tour with a Professor of History at The Citadel
5.0(1,481)·3 hours
from$40/ person
via Viator
Day at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens with Chicora Tours
Charleston
Day at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens with Chicora Tours
4.6(78)·7 hours
from$109/ person
via Viator
Private Charleston Walking Food Tour in the French Quarter
Charleston
Private Charleston Walking Food Tour in the French Quarter
5.0(241)·4 hours
from$227/ person
via Viator
Charleston Dark History & Ghost Tour with Adam
Charleston
Charleston Dark History & Ghost Tour with Adam
4.9(327)·1 hour
from$23/ person
via Viator
Boone Hall Plantation All-Access Admission Ticket
Charleston
Boone Hall Plantation All-Access Admission Ticket
4.6(1,932)·4 hours
from$37/ person
via Viator
Charleston Brunch Food Tour: Biscuits, Shrimps, Grits and More
Charleston
Charleston Brunch Food Tour: Biscuits, Shrimps, Grits and More
4.9(325)·3 hours
from$111/ person
via Viator

Charleston in 3 days — FAQ

Is 3 days enough for Charleston?
Three days let you explore the historic city, tour the plantations, and enjoy food and ghost tours.
What are the best day trips from Charleston?
The Boone Hall and Magnolia plantations, Fort Sumter, and Folly Beach are the top trips.
How do I plan a 3-day Charleston itinerary?
Spend day one in the historic city, day two at the plantations, and day three on the harbor and food.

Explore more in Charleston

Carriage ToursHarbor & Fort SumterPlantations & GardensGhost ToursFood ToursHistoric Walking