Your Perfect Charleston Bachelorette Party Itinerary

Charleston is definitely one of the top bachelorette party destinations in the United States! With its amazing bars and restaurants, beautiful city streets, and location near the beach, it’s easy to see why. Here’s your perfect Charleston bachelorette party itinerary.

We Southern brides have so many great options for bachelorette party destinations. So why did I choose Charleston for my bachelorette? Because in Charleston, you get the best of both beach and city, Charleston has a great restaurant and bar scene, and there’s so much to do in the historic downtown district!

Ready to plan the perfect bachelorette party in Charleston? Steal my Charleston bachelorette party itinerary below!

Charleston Bachelorette Party Itinerary

Day 1 Charleston Bachelorette Party

I drove to Charleston with two of my bridesmaids since it’s only about a 5 hour drive from Atlanta. My maid-of-honor flew in from DC. The Charleston International Airport is only about 25 minutes from downtown and about 40 minutes from Folly Beach.

I recommend having a car for this Charleston bachelorette party itinerary because we’re taking advantage of both the beach and the city, and it’s just easier to have your own transportation if you’re not staying only in the downtown area. So if you don’t have anyone driving in, be sure to rent a car.

Check-in to your Bachelorette Pad

For my Charleston bachelorette party, we stayed at this adorable beach condo in Folly Beach. This Airbnb was perfect for our intimate party of four people!

It’s located just across the river from Folly Island with great views of the marsh. You can easily walk to the restaurants and the main beach.

The condo has a spacious living room and a fully-equipped kitchen. There are three bedrooms with four separate beds, so we each got our own beds, which was really nice! There is also a community pool that’s open in the summer.

We got settled in with all the groceries we’d brought with us and started decorating!

Book your stay at this Folly Beach condo here.

Decorate your party space

My bridesmaids did a fantastic job picking out some fun decor and games for our weekend. Since I know phallic decor isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, I’ve separated out the raunchy and the un-raunchy for your browsing pleasure:

Non-Raunchy Decor and Gifts

• Bridesmaid Robes — I bought my bridesmaids simple, silky robes with their names engraved. These even doubled as bathing suit cover-ups for those of us who forgot to pack ours!
• Customized Tote Bags — Everyone got a cute tote bag to commemorate the weekend. I’m not sure where my bridesmaids ordered our design from, but there are plenty of cute designs to choose from on Etsy.
• Bride To Be Sash — I absolutely LOVE the purple bride-to-be sash my maid-of-honor bought me!
• Bride and Team Bride Cups — Because you’ve gotta have something to put your mixed drinks in!
• Bachelorette Party Photo Booth Props — These cute props make for the perfect photo-opp!
• Inflatable Pool Drink Holders — Since we were having a pool and beach weekend, I bought these inflatable koosies for my bridesmaids. I chose this pack specifically because it has a bear koosie (and I love bears) and this pack because it has a ring koosie (perfect for the bride); there are other variety packs on Amazon to choose from that also have the ring.
• Bachelorette Party Games — This set of 5 games (What’s In Your Purse; Would She Rather; Bride or Groom Guess Who; Bridal Word Scramble; and Wishes for the Bride and Groom) are tame and good for getting the party started.

Raunchy Decor and Games

• Stripper Straws — If you can’t have the strippers, at least you can have stripper straws!
• Phallic Straws — These hilarious straws are so much fun for a bachelorette party! Be sure to bring them out with you as you bar-hop because they’re even funnier out in the wild.
• Inflatable Ring Toss Game — This slightly raunchy game where you try to toss a ring onto an inflatable banana held between your legs is a lot of fun.
• Stick The Junk on The Hunk Game — It’s like “Pin The Tail on The Donkey” but with a hunky cartoon man.
• Drink If Game — This game is pretty tame, but it’s designed to get really get the party going. The game is simple: you drink if the card applies to you.
• Telestrations After Dark Game — This game is like playing “Telephone” but with drawing. Miscommunications, and bad drawing skills abound, and most of the prompts are for adults.

After putting up the decorations, we set out for some exploring and to get dinner.

Walk along Folly Beach

Before dinner, we took a walk on the Folly Beach Fishing Pier. Sunset is a great time to go for a walk along Folly Beach! Plus, the pier stretches 1,049 feet out over the water, so you can get some amazing views of the shoreline.

It was a windy walk with Hurricane Isaias scheduled to come our way in a few days. Make sure you keep an eye on the weather, especially during hurricane season!

Dinner & Drinks at Folly Beach Crab Shack

For dinner, we ate at Folly Beach Crab Shack. This restaurant has been a Folly Beach staple for 20 years. It’s consistently named one of the best seafood restaurants in Charleston and in South Carolina as a whole.

We sat on the outdoor deck and had various fried seafood dishes and tropical drinks. I can recommend the fried shrimp and Tropical Storm drink (very fitting for hurricane season).

Evening at the Condo for Bachelorette Party Games

Afterward dinner, we went back to the condo to make some drinks of our own and to break out a few of our bachelorette party games.

Day 2 Charleston Bachelorette Party

For our second day, we started off at the beach before heading to Downtown Charleston for a little of that classic Southern Charm.

Morning at the Beach

We spent our morning at the beach. If you want to avoid the crowds, then the earlier you go to the beach, the better!

In order to avoid the more crowded parts of the main beach, we went to the west side of the island toward Folly Beach County Park. The parking lot at the park filled up quickly, so we found parking at one of the lots on West Ashley Avenue.

On the beach, we set up camp by a crop of rocks that created a little lagoon at low tide. The water on the Atlantic Coast is nice and warm and full of waves. It’s great for body surfing, but for this trip we were mostly just getting knocked around, which is fun in it’s own way.

I got to try out my new fake engagement ring — a silicone ring shaped like a diamond that I can wear without worry of losing or damaging my real engagement ring. I call it my adventure ring!

We frolicked in the water and laid out in the sun for about 2.5 hours.

Related: The Ultimate Beach Vacation Packing List

Lunch at the Condo

We made a light lunch at the condo (leftovers from Folly Beach Crab Shack the night before came in handy!) and washed the beach off of us before heading into town to explore Downtown Charleston.

Carriage Tour of Downtown Charleston

Our main event for Saturday was a horse-drawn carriage tour of Charleston. We booked with Palmetto Carriage Works for a daytime carriage tour of the residential district.

This hour-long tour took us through Charleston’s historic downtown district to learn about the many historic houses, mansions, and churches that make up the city.

A carriage tour is a classic Charleston tour, and it’s such a fun way to see the city with the girls!

Book your Charleston horse-drawn carriage tour here.

Shopping on King Street

King Street is Charleston’s premier shopping street. You’ll find everything from big luxury brands to small local boutiques on this street.

We only spent about an hour looking into shops on King Street, but you could easily spend all day shopping if you wanted!

Dinner at Sorghum & Salt

Sorghum & Salt is a small restaurant that focuses on locally-crafted cuisine. They use ingredients that are grown, raised, and produced from local farms in the area.

We shared a plate of their Bread and House Made Ricotta. For my entrée, I had the Chicken Sugo with fresh gargenelli pasta.

Evening at the Condo for more Bachelorette Party Games

Once we were stuffed with delicious food, we went back to the condo to finish up our bachelorette party games.

But if you want to spend some more time out on the town, find more fun things to do in Charleston at night here!

Day 3 Charleston Bachelorette Party

For our final Charleston bachelorette party day, we checked out of our beach condo and spent some time exploring Downtown Charleston before heading home.

Brunch at Gaulart & Maliclet Fast and French

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What’s a bachelorette party in Charleston without brunch?

Gaulart & Maliclet Fast and French is a cute French café with fresh and simple ingredients for food that is fast, affordable, and healthy.

I recommend their Grand Petit Déjeuner or a Croissant Magnifique.

Visit Rainbow Row

The top Instagram spot in Charleston has to be Rainbow Row. And it’s the perfect spot for a photoshoot! In fact, you’ll probably see plenty of other bachelorette parties taking pictures at Rainbow Row since it’s such a popular thing to do in Charleston.

These famous 14 houses on East Bay street are painted in eye-catching bright pastel colors. This row of historic homes dates back to 1704, but after the Civil War the area became very rundown. Then, in the 1930s, Dorothy Porcher Legge purchased the homes and painted them their iconic hues in an effort to make the area look nicer. I’d say it worked!

Of course, we had to stop and take some pictures in this top photo spot. When in Charleston! Plus, it doesn’t hurt that this is a totally free thing you can do in Charleston.

Tour the Nathaniel Russell House

Our last stop before leaving Charleston was a historic home tour of the Nathaniel Russell House. There are a ton of historic homes in Charleston you can tour, but we chose this one because it’s supposed to be one of the best.

Built in 1808, the Nathaniel Russell House was regarded as one of Charleston’s finest homes in its era. Nathaniel Russell and wife Sarah Hopton Russell spared no expense constructing the house’s geometrically shaped rooms, elaborate plasterwork ornamentation, formal gardens, and three-story cantilevered flying staircase.

A 45-minute tour of the house lets you look into the lives of the Russells and the 18 enslaved people who worked in the home. You’ll learn about the architecture as well as the preservation and conservation initiatives that the historic site is constantly undergoing.

You can get discounted tickets to the Nathaniel Russell House using the Charleston TourPass.

Where to Stay for a Charleston Bachelorette Party

For your Charleston bachelorette party, you have the option to stay in the city or stay on the beach. That’s what I love about Charleston: there are so many options!

In Downtown Charleston, you can stay in a hotel or rent a historical home for a truly unique stay. Check out the best hotels in Charleston here. There are tons of Airbnbs and vacation rentals that are perfect for a bachelorette party of any size.

For a beach stay, you can choose from relaxing beach houses and condos on Folly Beach, on Isle of Palms, or on Sullivan’s Island.

We rented this cute beach condo in Folly Beach. It’s located just across the river from Folly Island with great views of the marsh. You can easily walk to the restaurants and the main beach.

More Things to Do in Charleston for a Bachelorette Party

Need more Charleston bachelorette party ideas? Here’s my quick-list of fun things to do in Charleston and Folly Beach with the girls:

• Shopping on King Street
• Visit Rainbow Row
• Luxury picnic done-for-you
• Rent a kayak on Folly Beach
• Visit Magnolia Plantation
• Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour
• Rent a beach cabana
• Brunch at any of Charleston’s top restaurants
• Take a brunch walking tour
• Photoshoot with Flytographer (get $50 off your first photoshoot using my link!)
• Bar-hopping at any of Charleston’s top bars
• Boozy milkshakes from Carmella’s Cafe and Dessert Bar
• Cocktail class at Élevé Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge
• Surf lessons on Folly Beach
• Dolphin Cruise on Charleston Harbor
• Rent a private sailing charter
• Create your own custom perfume
• Take a ghost tour

Charleston Bachelorette Itinerary Map

Ready to plan an amazing Charleston bachelorette party? Use the map below to find all the locations listed in this itinerary.

I hope this helps you plan your perfect laid-back bachelorette party itinerary for Charleston, South Carolina! Charleston is a charming city with so much to see and do that you’re guaranteed to have a great time!

More Girls’ Trip Inspiration

Check out these other itineraries to help you plan the perfect girls’ getaway!

• Santa Fe Bachelorette Party: Weekend Itinerary
• Ellijay Winery Tour: The Best Girls’ Trip Itinerary
• How to Spend the Perfect Girls’ Weekend in Savannah, Georgia
• Winery Day Tour of North Georgia: The Perfect Girls’ Trip

More Charleston Tips

Check out the posts below to continue planning your Charleston vacation:

• 13 Best Charleston Ghost Tours For a Scary-Good Time
• 14 Romantic Things to Do in Charleston for Couples
• 50+ Fun Things to Do in Charleston at Night
• 10 Amazing Hotels in Charleston, SC
• 10 Best Tours in Charleston, SC
• 16 Best Restaurants in Charleston, SC
• 11 Best Bars in Charleston, SC
• 9 Free Things to Do in Charleston, SC
• 37 Best Things to Do in Charleston, SC
• 7 Days in Charleston: Perfect 1 Week Charleston Itinerary
• 14 Tips for Your First Trip to Charleston, SC
• 14 Best Summer Vacation Spots in the South
• The Best Winter Vacations in the South

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Ready to visit Charleston, South Carolina? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Book your flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
• Find accommodation: You can find top hotels in Charleston using Booking.com or vacation rentals near Charleston using VRBO.
• Get packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.

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Cheers!

Paige

Have any tips for a perfect bachelorette party weekend in Charleston, South Carolina? Share them below!