An Amazing Weekend in Charlotte: 3 Day Itinerary (2024)
Are you planning a weekend in Charlotte and wondering exactly how to spend it? You’re probably wondering about all the best food, bars, and what to do in Charlotte with your days, and even how to get around without wasting time, and this this itinerary will help you spend 3 perfect days in Charlotte!
After spending some time in Western NC exploring Asheville and The Biltmore Estates, Caleb and I took a short 3-hour from Raleigh so we could spend 72 hours in Charlotte. We made all the mistakes (like staying outside of uptown – 10/10 do not recommend – but more on that later) and learned all the ins and outs of making the most of your weekend in Charlotte nc!
Whether you’re looking for eclectic art and “vibes”, culture or just to drink amazing craft beer, craft cocktails, or to faceplant into southern food (fried chicken 🤤) the tagline “Charlotte’s got a lot” really rings true!
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Without further ado, let’s dive into your Charlotte Itinerary!
From the author: Caleb and I spent a long weekend in Charlotte and did everything in this itinerary so we could give you personal insight on the best way to spend your time in Charlotte! If you have questions, leave a comment and I’ll respond ASP!
Best Time to visit Charlotte
The absolute best time to visit Charlotte is in the spring – March to May – or the fall, September to October. The Summer in North Carolina is super hot and humid so your hair will not look good for all your cute photos and you will be hot and sticky. On the other hand, the winter can be quite cold and you’ll look like Rudolph in all your photos. The shoulder season sees cooler temperatures and fewer tourists which means cheaper prices and a nicer experience as it’s not as busy!
Where to Stay
There are so many neighborhoods in Charlotte to stay depending on what vibes you’re looking for and your budget:
- NoDa which gets its name from the main straight in the area – North Davidson – is known as the arts district. It has TONS of craft breweries, colorful murals, galleries, and live music venues. This is an option if you prefer Airbnb as that is the only option in this neighborhood and they are limited.
- Plaza Midwood is a quirky neighborhood that is a mix of southern and funky charm with vintage shops, breweries, and tattoo shops.
- South End is the home of the rail trail, lots of shops to look around, and modern southern charm.
- Dilworth is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Charlotte. It has historic homes with picturesque tree-lined streets and lots of charm. It also has lots of great dining options!
- University Place is near UNC Charlotte and is much cheaper because it’s filled with college kids. You’ll be decently close to uptown (a 15-minute drive) and save money!
- Uptown is where we recommend to stay. It is the bustling city center with many hotels, restaurants, museums, and things to do! If you prefer to stay in a hotel and be walkable to nightlife/food, this is where you should stay!
WHERE NOT TO STAY:
We always stick to our “bougie backpacker” travel style and try to save as much money as possible on a hotel so we have a larger “fun” budget for food, drinks, and experiences. During our weekend in Charlotte, we stayed way outside the city at a Microtel and it was the worst decision ever. We tried public transport and it always failed us and we ended up having to take Uber everywhere.
We wasted time trying to do public transport and probably spent just as much money as if we just stayed down and walked everywhere! It’s worth a little extra splurge to stay in uptown, we promise!
Uptown Hotel Recommendations
As we do not recommend the hotel that we stayed in, here are some better options that we have researched and found for you:
>>For a more budget option downtown – Springhill Suites actually looks pretty nicely decorated, is in a central location and has free breakfast! YES.
>>For a mid-range option – The Dunhill Hotel is right downtown and is a historic building! It looks like it’s beautifully decorated and the rooms come with bathrobes. Can you imagine a fuzzy robe after a nice shower? FANCY.
>>For a more “high-end” option – The Kimpton Tryon is a place we would have loved to stay! It’s right in the center of downtown and, I mean, take a look at their food photos! DELISH.
Click here to check out prices in other various hotels in Charlotte
The Itinerary For Your Weekend In Charlotte
An Overview Of Your 72 Hours in Charlotte
I’ve broken down this Itinerary into 3 days, with what to do for each part of the day, including where to eat. There are tons of things to do in Charlotte and there is something for everyone. Feel free to pick and choose the things that stand out to you on this itinerary. Here’s a quick rundown of what you will do each day:
Day 1: Explore Uptown Charlotte, check out 7th Street Public Market, and go on a food tour to dive right into the food and cocktail scene.
Day 2: Explore the South End and NoDa districts to immerse yourself in art and end the night with southern food and craft cocktails.
Day 3: Go for a thrilling visit to the National Whitewater Center or the Carowinds Amusement Park.
How To Make The Most Of This Charlotte Itinerary
This itinerary is created assuming that you are staying somewhere in Uptown. If you are staying outside of this area, you will have to get yourself to Uptown to start the itinerary. I’ve also given instructions for using public transport or your own two feet to get between destinations.
Let’s get into how to spend your weekend in Charlotte!
Day 1
Morning
Start your morning at 7th Street Market for a light breakfast and a little exploration of all the eclectic goods for sale inside this food hall/retail space hybrid. The market is right outside the Lynx station, so it’s super easy to get to if you’re not staying in Uptown.
Breakfast: We highly recommend Not Just Coffee and Sweet Crunch Waffles. We had their Belgium-style “Liege” waffles on our food tour and they were truly the best waffles EVER. Liiike, better than the ones we had right in Belgium. Crispy with bites of pearl sugar, covered in chocolate sauce, whipped cream, strawberries, and blueberries? YOU MUST.
We recommend to keep your breakfast on the lighter side, as you do not want to go into the afternoon’s food tour full!
After you’ve ingested your ah-may-zing pancake-with-abs and are experiencing a carb coma, grab your coffee to go and take a 15-minute stroll over to Romare Bearden Park. This is an open, green, communal space in the heart of Uptown. There are pretty statues and waterfalls and it’s a great place to sip coffee and stroll.
Now it’s time to check out Camp North End. This is an old Ford factory that has been turned into a HUGE campus with nice walking paths, awesome chill space, delish food, cocktails, a farmers market, and funky shops.
How to get there: The easiest way is to drive or Uber/Lyft there as it’s only 6 minutes. You can also walk but that will take 45 minutes. If you want to risk it, you can walk over to 4th & Poplar Street from the park and take the #26 bus to Statesville Ave & Oaklawn Ave. From there, walk 10 minutes to Camp North End.
This spot is a little out of the way, but it’s a fun place to check out! If you don’t want to go out of the way, the Nascar Hall of Fame, Discovery Place Science Museum, and Queen City Quarter are all close to the park and are great things to do downtown Charlotte. Or, take an incredible tour of Charlotte.
Afternoon
Now it’s time to head to the Mint Museum Uptown. The Mint Museum is an art museum with international artwork and live performances and it’s a great place to explore for a few hours!
Tickets will run you $15 per person.
How to get there: Use your car, Uber, or your feet as you did on the way to Camp North End! If you want to bus back, simply walk back to the same street you got off at and take the #26 inbound and get off at Trade Street & College Street, and walk 8 mins.
PRO TIP:
f you did not eat at Camp North End and your belly is rumbling, take an 8-minute walk detour and hit the Charlotte-beloved Halal Cart.
Evening
Dinner: Now it’s time to start your food tour with Taste Carolina. You will meet at the “disco chicken” statue across the street from the Mint Museum, in front of the Bechtler Museum of Art. We went on the Charlotte Uptown Evening Tour which was 3 hours of tasting unique dishes, cocktails, wine, and beer all across Uptown. We think starting vacations with a food tour is the BEST way to get to learn about the city and experience the best food that the city has to offer. They are some of our favorite things to do.
Our awesome guide, Johnny, took us to 4 stops with multiple tastings! We got to taste a Poké Bowl at Fin and Fino, an Old Fashioned cocktail at the Cotton Room, AMAZING lamb burgers and fries at Church and Union and then we ended at 7th Street Market for wine, grilled cheese, and the addicting Liege Waffles.
PRO TIP:
When you book this tour online, make sure you note your preference even if not an allergy so you can enjoy and make the most of your money. Taylor does not like whiskey and made a note of this in advance so she got to have a different cocktail at the Cotton Room. Also, make sure you pace yourself because there is a lot of food! You don’t HAVE to eat the entire portions of what they give you.
Tickets will run you about $100 per person.
If you need a nightcap after your tour, Aura Roof Top Bar is a great place for a date-night nightcap. This is on top of the JW Marriot hotel and is just a few minutes walk from where your tour ends. We recommend to look at the sunset time and get there before for the best view! If you can, go right after the food tour to get a spot as it gets busy fast!
Day 2
Morning
Breakfast: Day 2 starts with coffee and a pastry in Uptown at Amelie’s French Bakery. This is a VERY popular French bakery chain in the area that combines French patisserie techniques with American flavors and we loved it. It is a little expensive for a bakery but we really enjoyed everything we shared. They even have some gluten-free options. If you are feeling hungrier, snag a more filling brunch at The Asbury, Church and Union, or Cafe Monte.
After you’re sugared out, get your coffee to go and head down to the South End to explore the Rail Trail. The Rail Trail is a 4.5-mile linear park and pathway that bisects the South End and runs parallel to the LYNX Blue Line. It’s got fun bars, restaurants, shops and galleries. We even found ourselves in the middle of a bustling street market with local vendors.
How to get there: We walked there as it’s only a 25-minute walk. However, you could also take the Lynx Blue Line to Bland Street Station if you’re not feeling more steps.
Afternoon
Lunch: Once you’ve seen the sites and your stomach is begging you for some real food outside of sugar, it’s time to head to the Optimist Hall for lunch. The Optimist Hall was our FAVORITE stop in all of Charlotte. This is the best food fall we have ever been to. So many international food options in one place and a super cool, laid-back vibe.
We highly recommend “Bao and Broth Ramen + Bun Shop” and “Enat Ethiopian Restaurant.” We will dream of this food forever.
How to get there: If you want to walk, it’s an hour from the South End. You can also take the LYNX blue line over to Parkwood station to make it much faster.
Once you get to Parkwood you might be a little thirsty so I have just the detour for you! We suggest walking 10 minutes to Rosie’s Coffee and Wine Garden. We were SO excited to go here because it looked like such a hidden gem – wine in a rose garden!! But, it was closed for a wedding which was a huge bummer. If you don’t want wine, check out Birdsong Brewing co for some craft beer.
After you’re done sipping (or if you didn’t want to go in the first place) it’s time to head to NoDa, the art district/brewery district of Charlotte. This is a great place to hit up more breweries such as NODA Brewery, Heist, and Free Range Brewing!
How to get there: We opted to walk there as it was just 30 minutes and takes you right up Davidson Street. This is the heart of NoDa and where all the breweries are, so it makes for great Brewery hopping. If you don’t want to walk, hop back on the LYNX Blue Line and head to 36th Street Station.
If you’re starting to feel hungry, there is Jeni’s ice cream serving up delicious scoops only 3 minutes from the 36th Street Station which is a great afternoon pick-me-up on a hot day. If you opted not to stop at the Breweries on the way, you will find Bar A Vins here for a glass of wine.
PRO TIP:
Charlotte can’t have “happy hour” prices due to their weird alcohol rules. They have to “all-day drink specials” as a workaround,
Evening
Dinner: Now it’s time to eat at Haberdish, one of Charlotte’s most popular restaurants that makes classic, Southern comfort food modern. Be sure to make reservations as it gets busy. We tried the deviled eggs with smoked trout, smoked chicken, and a few sides and loved all of it!
After dinner, venture over to Idlewild. This is a hidden gem cocktail bar in the NoDa district that has no menu. Simply tell the bartender your likes, dislikes, and what you’re in the mood for and they will surprise you with a drink. It’s our favorite kind of cocktail bar and you definitely need reservations!
We recommend sticking around NoDa for the rest of the evening. You can either spend the night drinking cocktails in Idlewild (our choice) or hit up The Evening Muse around the corner for live music.
Day 3
Well, your last day is here and you have some options.
Option 1: Check out of your hotel, pack up your car, and head to brunch at one of the spots recommended yesterday. Then, drive over the to National Whitewater Center, which also happens to be near the airport! This spot has 1,300 woodland acres with a massive variety of outdoor activities like whitewater rafting, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, rock climbing, rope courses, mountain biking, and ziplines.
An all-access pass will run you about $75 each for the day.
Option 2: If you’re a couple who loves fun, head to the Carowinds Amusement Park after brunch. This is the local amusement park that has rides, a waterpark, and dining options.
Make sure you check Carowinds’ park hours before your visit. The park closes in winter, and open dates vary yearly.
A day pass will run you $40 each when you buy online instead of $75 at the gate!
How to Get To Charlotte
There are many ways to get yourself over to this city depending on how far away you’re coming from.
You can fly into the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which is a 15-minute drive from the city center. It is one of the world’s busiest airports so you should have no problem finding a flight in from wherever in the world you are!
Okay so you hate planes and you want to pretend you’re on a European Vacation? You’re in luck! You can be ultra-fancy and take the train depending on where you’re coming from. Three Amtrak routes serve the city daily: The Piedmont connects Charlotte and Raleigh; the Carolinian runs to New York; and the Crescent travels from New York to New Orleans!
If planes and trains are not your thing well then you know the next option is obviously automobiles (am I showing my age?) If you’re lucky enough to be close enough to drive (like we are!) congrats! This is the easiest way. The drive is only 2 hours and 45 minutes from Raleigh, 2 hours and 15 minutes from Asheville, and 1 and a half hours from Greensboro.
Just enough time to learn more about each other with our couples-related road trip questions 😏.
Finally, if planes, trains, and automobiles are not for you then there is always the Greyhound bus. There are daily Greyhound services with connections to large cities like Raleigh, Atlanta, and Richmond. Bonus points: The station is basically downtown – only a 10-minute walk!
Getting Around
There are many ways to get around for your Charlotte weekend trip!
The fan favorite is always Uber or Lyft as this allows you to get around quickly without having to worry about parking or if you hole up in a cocktail bar and have a few more than planned. Not that we’ve ever been there…
Uber and Lyft are all over Charlotte so you should have no problem grabbing one from anywhere on this itinerary or coming from the airport.
If you have a car, this is also an awesome option as it will allow you to get around the absolute fastest – no waiting for rideshare apps when it gets busy. However, important to note that we saw daily parking rates of up to $50 a day (what, are they golden spots?) and parking can be hard to come by in busy times.
Plus…we’re gonna drink some good cocktails on this itinerary so #safety and stuff.
If you want to rent a car, we highly recommend using Discover Cars and you can check the rental car prices in Charlotte here.
PRO TIP:
On Sunday parking is free. A lot of the meters will not say that it is free, even though street signs do, and you might be confused like we were. Do we pay? Do we not? Don’t do it. I know you might be worried that it’ll get towed. But, it won’t. If it does, you can send me the bill because you don’t have my address. 😏
The Lynx Blue line is a FANTASTIC way to get around most places on this itinerary. It goes from UNC Charlotte, through NoDa, Uptown, The South End, and ends at the Pineville city limits. You can use the CATS-PASS app to book tickets and it’s only $2.20 per adult one way which makes it super cost-effective to save money for delish food and cocktails. Snag the 10-ride pass for $22 if you plan to use it a lot!
IMPORTANT: We DO NOT recommend other public transport, like the bus, as it is very inconvenient and not reliable. We tried taking it multiple times and it was always late or didn’t come at all which was super fun at 11 pm. (No, no it was not.)
Finally, your feet are a great way to see the city! Uptown Charlotte is highly walkable and much of this itinerary is walkable. We always walk as much as possible to save money and burn some calories for more food.
Where to Eat and Drink
If you don’t like the options that I shared in this itinerary, here are some other foodie and drink spots to try:
- Global small plates, sushi, and cocktails: Soul Gastrolounge
- Brunch: Heist Or Ruby Sunshine
- Brewery/Pub Food: Heist
- Fine dining: McNinch House
- Donuts: OMG Donuts & Coffee or Reigning Donuts
- BBQ: Midwood Smokehouse
- Japanese: JINYA Ramen Bar or O-Ku Sushi
- Italian: Angeline’s
- Classic Breakfast: Famous Toastery or Ruby Sunshine
- Cocktails: The Cellar at Duckworth’s or Crunkleton.
Budget For Your Weekend in Charlotte
If you plan our itinerary you can expect to spend about $800-$100 total for two people, depending on where you stay, how many cocktails you have, etc. We always try to cut back in some areas, like how we only have 2 bigger meals out and then one snack each day instead of 3, and we try to walk most places. We think it’s worth our budget to enjoy great restaurants and cocktails every day, but you could also cut this back if you wanted to save money.
If you want to make it cheaper, consider staying outside of town as we did and just know you will have to take transit, Uber or just drive to get downtown. Many of these outskirt hotels also offer free breakfast you could use to cut back costs and save them for dinner and drinks 😏.
3 Tips to Know Before Going On Your Weekend in Charlotte
You’re almost ready to go on your weekend and you can almost smell the greasy deliciousness of fried chicken and tangy pork ribs wafting through the air but hold up buttercup. We learned a few things during our weekend in Charlotte that would have been REAL handy to learn beforehand and we want to impart such wisdom to you:
- Downtown Charlotte is called UPTOWN Charlotte. I know, it’s weird and confusing and makes zero sense but I don’t make the rules.
- Alcohol in general has some super weird rules in all of North Carolina, but especially in Charlotte. Restaurants are allowed to serve alcohol but have to make the majority of their money off selling food. The law does not specifically mention bars but allows for “private clubs” instead. Because of this, you may be asked to become a member and pay a “membership fee” to go to bars. Don’t worry this is usually only around $1 or so and it’s just to help them comply with the law.
- If you plan to use local transport (more on that below!) use the “CATS-PASS” App which is the official mobile ticketing app for the transit system. You can use the app to find the nearest rail station, see when the next train is coming, get driving or walking directions to the stations, see the schedules, or pay for travel in advance! Hello – no longer watching the train whiz by as you confusedly waste time poking around the ticket kiosk wondering exactly what ticket you need.
Other Things to Do On Your Weekend in Charlotte NC
If you have more time or want to switch out some of the activities on this itinerary, there are so many other things to see and do in Charlotte! Here are a list of some other options for you:
- Nascar Hall of Fame
- North Carolina Botanical Garden
- A self-guided brewery tour or this guided tour if you want someone to plan it all for you!
- Reedy Creek Nature Center & Nature Preserve
- Discovery Place Science. This is usually for families and lots of kids, so we usually avoid these kinds of places. But, if you’re a kid-at-heart you may enjoy this!
- Queen City Quarter is a massive indoor shopping mall with dining, drinking, shops, a bowling alley, and a movie theatre
- Carowinds Amusement Park. This is a “go-to” for a lot of tourists to Charlotte!
- Bill Graham Library
- Lake Norman
FAQ
Are there gluten-free or vegan options available in Charlotte?
Yes, there are many gluten-free and vegan options available! Check out Flower Child, Plant Joy, Sanctuary Bistro, and Sunflour Baking Company.
What are the must-try foods in Charlotte?
1. Carolina-style hot dog – This consists of a toasted bun, chili on top, and a coleslaw made of chopped onions and mustard. JJ’s Red Hots serves a variety of hot dogs, but it’s the Char Heel that is what you have to get.
2. Cheerwine – Don’t get it twisted, this has no booze. It’s a Southern soft drink with a unique cherry flavor that you can find at most restaurants and markets.
3. Sonker – This is sort of like a cobbler but, instead of a thick batter that is dolloped over the top, a thin pancake-like batter is poured over hot fruit. Snag this as an ending to your meal at Haberdish.
4. Fried Chicken – It’s the south, ‘nuff said. Haberdish is also known for its fried chicken. It even ranked #9 best fried chicken in the country according to this Yelp study.
5. Pimento Cheese – This spread is made of cheese, mayo, and pimento peppers and I LOVE it. It’s usually served on crackers or you can head to The Common Market for a pimento cheese sandwich!
Is Charlotte safe?
Charlotte is slightly more dangerous than some nearby cities. Its overall crime rate is slightly higher than the national average for North Carolina but the city is implementing a lot of new initiatives to improve safety! As long as you stay within the main neighborhoods listed and don’t wander down dark alleys, you’ll be fine. We were out at night together and did not feel unsafe at all.
Is free wifi available at most places?
Yes there is free Wi-Fi available at most places that you pay for (bakeries, restaurants, etc.) We had no issues here.
However, we strongly recommend using Google Fi as a phone service. If you get the unlimited plan you get unlimited data/service ALL OVER THE WORLD. It has been game-changing for our travels like WHOA. You can CLICK here to sign up and get $20 free credit!
Is Charlotte Worth Visiting?
Yes, Charlotte is SO worth visiting! When we were looking into things to do in Charlotte, we kept finding searches for “Is Charlotte boring?” and it made us SO nervous to go. I mean, if there are a million people (okay, like 5) searching for this, there must be some reason why everyone thinks it’s boring and we were concerned we would think the same.
But, heck to the NO, Charlotte is NOT boring. Unlike the coastal beachy areas of NC, It has Southern charm, historic architecture, amazing cocktail bars and food (our love language), and lots of fun things to do for couples. A Charlotte weekend trip is absolutely worth your time!
Is 3 Days in Charlotte NC Enough?
Yes, 3 days in Charlotte is absolutely enough time to explore the different neighborhoods, eat some food, and experience the city! You could also just spend 48 hours in Charlotte and pick and choose some of the parts of my suggested itinerary that sound the best for you if you need to shorten it.
Final Thoughts: A Weekend In Charlotte NC
Charlotte was not boring at all, as we feared. From delicious food to cocktails to eclectic markets, unique art, and lots of nearby hiking trails, Charlotte really does have a lot!
Why not check out our travel tips for couples guide so you can make sure your weekend is the best it can be together?
So, do you think you’ll be checking out Charlotte, North Carolina anytime soon?
Why Not Checkout Asheville Next?
- 4 Ways to get from Charlotte to Asheville
- 21 Pisgah National Forest Waterfalls for Adventure
- Is the Biltmore Worth it?
Video music credit: Views by @iksonmusic
Hey y’all! 🌟 Just stumbled upon this awesome weekend itinerary for Charlotte, and it’s got me all excited to plan a getaway with my significant other! The tips on where to stay are spot-on – learning from their mistake of staying outside uptown (note to self: never again). The local neighborhood suggestions like NoDa and Plaza Midwood sound like hidden gems, and I can’t wait to explore the artsy vibes and craft breweries. 🎨🍻 Also, major shoutout for the honest advice on public transport – saved me from potential travel chaos! And seriously, Liege waffles at 7th Street Market are a must-try, right? Planning to dive into this itinerary ASAP, but quick question: Any other hidden gems in Charlotte I should know about?
So glad this was helpful! I think we covered all the gems here! Let us know how your trip goes!!