Charleston in 1 Day: all you need to know

The things to see and do in Charleston are bound to come up no matter how long your stay is. This is due to the fact that it's a city that perfectly captures the beauty that characterises the old southern cities of America, but at the same time maintains a very particular essence.

I invite you to read all the information I have compiled for you so that you can make the most of the 24 hours you will spend in this beautiful corner of North America.

Created as a defensive barrier to the surf that later became an artillery bastion during the American Civil War. This seawall is now known as the Charleston Battery.

It is an undisputed synonym for the architectural beauty that defines this important South Carolina city and this is largely due to the sequence of Antebellum houses that line this urban section.

Antebellum means ante bellum , a reference to the antebellum mansions that abounded in slave towns such as Charleston. As well as on the major plantations that drove the economy of the antebellum South.

This is one of the best things to do with children in Charleston because of its proximity to the White Point Garden. This is the southernmost point of the peninsula on which the city is built and is a park full of cannons that are a historical precedent of the Civil War. It is also full of flowers and the well-known mossy oaks of the American Deep South.

In fact, if you're interested, you can take a guided tour of some of these historic properties, but keep in mind that this is a paid service with varying rates, sometimes with minimum donations and sometimes with seasonal pricing.

Like New Orleans, Charleston has its own French Quarter. This neighbourhood is located within the perimeter of what was the walled city during the post-colonial American era and although the French identity is much more diluted in this city, the architectural style of that historical period is still discernible.

Many of the sites on this list of activities are built within this neighbourhood. It is therefore not unusual for the best guided tours of Charleston to focus with great care on this corner of the city.

Food is plentiful in Charleston's French Quarter, and breakfast at one of the area's cafés is always a good idea. Southern food is quite unique in the American culinary universe, which should make you even more interested in sitting down for a bite to eat before continuing on your busy sightseeing itinerary.

As one of the most important slave-era cities in the American South, it's logical to know that this particular part of the country was an epicentre for the trade of slaves who worked on the state's plantations. This particular attraction is right in the heart of the French Quarter and is therefore a logical stop on your sightseeing itinerary.

It consists of the last standing building that functioned for that purpose in the historic period prior to the American Civil War. It is part of the National Register of Historic Landmarks and is actually a small part of what was once an entire street dedicated to the indoor slave trade. This was a change in the slave trade due to the enactment of a law prohibiting open auctions.

Today it has a museum that educates the public of tourists and locals about the atrocities of the African-American slave trade up to the final moments of the repeal of slavery in the United States.

Such a stop is quite appropriate if you are interested in the history of the places you visit on your travels. Even more so, knowing that in the particular case of Charleston there is the fact that it was a city where up to 40% of the slave labour trade in the 18th century was mobilised.

One of the most interesting and beneficial aspects of the list of activities I have compiled for you is that they all take place in the historic heart of the city.

So, a simple 15 or 20 minute walk from the Old Smart to the picturesque street known as Rainbow Row is a good plan in your tourist itinerary, just like in other cities such as New York or Miami Beach.

It's a collection of 13 historic Georgian townhouses that are painted in pastel tones and are architecturally significant for their origins between 1748 and 1845.

It's not really an activity that's going to take too much time out of your day in Charleston, but it's certainly one of the prettiest spots in the city to be photographed. Even more so if you're someone who really enjoys learning about the aesthetic identity of the places you see on your travels.

It's also a great thing to see and do in Charleston in January because it can give you the perfect combination of South Carolina's sunshine and the moderate cold that can be felt at this time of year.

Blinds Tiger Pub is a bar that has been open to the public in Charleston since the 90's and takes its direct inspiration from the Spekeasy's that existed on these city streets as a social escape from the rigorous drinking laws. It's two blocks from Rainbow Row, making it a convenient alternative for lunch before getting on with the rest of your day.

At the same time, this is an interesting plan because the Prohibition era of the early 1900s was marked by the predictable appearance of speakeasies in all parts of the country.

In the case of Charleston there were some very famous ones called Blind Tigers and today there are some establishments, like this restaurant I recommend, that have taken direct inspiration from the nooks and crannies of that time.

This particular venue is often at the top of the list when it comes to outdoor patio dining and drinking alternatives. Another very interesting aspect of the establishment is that it is built in a building dating back to 1803.

However, you don't necessarily have to eat at this restaurant to be guaranteed a good ambient experience. Downtown Charleston is full of restaurants that cater to all types of culinary approaches, leaving you with approximately 3 or 4 choices on the same street.

As you may have noticed with the other items on this list, Charleston is a city distinguished by the fullness of its rich history and the role it played in the cultural formation of the American Deep South.

It is in this context that the Charleston Historic Market appears, which is a market that spans four streets inside buildings that are more than 200 years old.

Here you will find a wide variety of products such as fine art, antiques, handicrafts and locally produced and handmade foodstuffs. Clothes, jewellery, leather goods and other clothing are also some of the attractions in the type of shopping you can do when you visit this public market.

On weekends, up to 300 local vendors gather here with the kind of commercial diversity you'd expect to find at such traditional community markets. The best part of the whole thing is that it's an activity that doesn't usually take that much time out of your day, giving you plenty of time to explore Charleston on your day trip.

Charleston's importance to the Confederate forces in the South during the Civil War led the city to develop all manner of defensive fortifications along its bay. Fort Sumter is one of the most important of these, as it is an island that could regulate the entry of all vessels due to its privileged position in the geography of the area.

In fact, the first battle of the Confederate Civil War took place here, which is why it is a national monument that can be just as interesting for the tourist agenda of your visit as the other afternoon activities that I have offered you in the previous points.

The trip usually takes two hours, with half an hour there and half an hour back. When you get off the boat at the island, you are given a guided tour of about an hour to learn about the conditions under which the soldiers lived in the fortress on the island.

The starting point is the docks which are located right next to the South Carolina Aquarium. Which makes sense given that many of Charleston's best boat tours are along its extensive river and sea coastline. To get there I suggest taking a taxi for the simple fact that it's the only activity of the day that leaves the streets of Charleston's French Quarter.

Charleston is popularly known in the United States as The Holy City and this is due to the large concentration of Episcopal, Baptist and Catholic churches in the historic area of the city. This is curious considering that it is not as large as the centres of other American urban communities.

You can continue your afternoon visiting them after returning from Fort Sumter. Especially if you want to continue exploring the French Quarter and the surrounding area.

This is an activity that has little to do with religious motivation, as it is a plan that can occur either in the morning or in the afternoon just to marvel at the beautiful architectural style of these historic buildings.

St Michaels Episcopal Church with its tall white steeple, St Phillip's Church and the French Huegenot Church are the most important in the city. But there are others such as the Unitarian Church that are also relevant to your sightseeing tour.

All four have old cemeteries that can be visited with a guide who will explain the history of the most famous deceased with an eternal rest in that plot of land. Although the most interesting thing about these churches would be the carols that are sung during the Christmas festivities, making them one of the things to see or do in Charleston at Christmas time.

Charleston's antiquity as an influential territory in the formation of the United States as an independent federation, its importance in the Civil War and in the slave economy made it one of the cities with the most ghost stories in all of North America.

For these reasons, the best ghost tours in Charleston are a good alternative to entertain your evening if you are interested in such topics or at least find them amusing.

Stories of intrigue, heartbreak and military betrayal are some of the tales that are usually told by guides who specialise in this historical aspect of the city. They accompany you for about 90 minutes through alleys, roads and cemeteries in the historical heart of the country.

It is a relatively inexpensive activity , as some of the most prestigious tours in the city do not usually cost more than 35 euros per person.

An alternative plan that might be more to your liking than a spooky ghost tour is a carriage ride through the city's streets. Charleston's early 18th-century post-colonial charm makes it another Deep South scene where it's common to enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride through the touristy streets of the oldest section of the peninsula.

They usually last an hour on average and the best carriage tours of Charleston always come with free cancellation. This is very convenient when it comes to a one-day visit where the timing of the sightseeing itinerary can take an unexpected turn at any time.

Many of the iconic sites I've mentioned in this series of recommendations are often on the route of such services. So it' s always best to research your online booking alternatives in advance so that you don't end up choosing one that repeats the same sites you've already walked to on the morning of your day.

Take into consideration that the capacity of these equestrian vehicles is usually for two people and that the rates are per passenger, not per journey. This can raise the cost of the activity to around 100 euros, but it is well worth it, especially if it is a sunset ride.

While Charleston may not be the epicentre of the nightlife scene, it's still a vibrant food and cocktail scene with all kinds of establishments in the southern neighbourhoods of the peninsula. That's why partying at a southern bar, whether traditional or modern, is one of the best things to see and do in Charleston at night.

Arranging a transfer to the Charleston airport before your evening activities is also an excellent idea if you want to celebrate in peace and quiet, knowing that all the planning for your departure from the city has been done the day before.