Charleston is the perfect place for a bachelor party with a combination of great golf courses, fun nightlife and the open seas all within minutes of downtown. The dining options include a plethora of delicious restaurants, rooftop bars and breweries that are worth checking out in between activities. There’s a reason Charleston was ranked the best city in the world by Travel + Leisure in 2016 but it can be a little intimidating when trying to plan for a short weekend with the boys. That’s why we’ve made this ultimate guide for your bachelor party in Charleston, so you know when to visit, where to stay and what to do while you’re here!
When to visit Charleston for a Bachelor Party
Charleston’s subtropical climate is one of the reasons Charleston has visitors year round and you can get great weather in all 12 months of the year. However, if you want the best chance of warm sunny days that aren’t too hot for golf, we recommend planning your bachelor party in either the Spring or Fall. The summer can also be very nice, but with an average high of 89 degrees it can often be too hot (especially if you plan on day drinking).
Budget Tip: If you wanna save some money and don’t plan on going into the Ocean, the cool season lasting from December 2nd to March 2nd is still a great time to visit and you will save huge amounts of money on airfare and lodging!
Where to Stay in Charleston for a Bachelor Party
Depending on the size of your group and budget, there are several different areas and types of lodging that would accommodate your bachelor party in Charleston.
Downtown Charleston
Downtown is the obvious choice if you want to be able to walk to all of the restaurants and bars. However, it’s also the priciest option and there are not many house rentals. This means it’s ideal for smaller groups who want to ball out in a beautiful hotel and walk to everything but don’t need a big house for after parties. Our favorite hotels downtown are the Dewberry, Hotel Bennett and the Grand Bohemian.
Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant is a beautiful beachtown approximately 15 minutes from downtown Charleston with plenty of big house rentals that are perfect for bachelor parties. Depending on your budget there are several options that have pools and are walking distance from the beach. There are also several 3 star hotels for great value if you prefer to save your money for the activities!
James Island
Similar to Mount Pleasant, only South of Charleston instead of North, this is another great place to find some big house rentals. Just remember that you will want to figure out group transportation before you start drinking!
Bachelor Party Activities in Charleston
Now that you’ve figured out when you’re going to visit and where you’re going to stay, it’s time to decide what to do during your stay in Charleston!
Ride a Party Bus
Whether you’re staying in one of the beach towns (Mount Pleasant, James Island, Kiawah) and need transportation to downtown Charleston or staying downtown and want to go to the beach, a party bus is always the most fun way to get from point A to B. This is especially true for bachelor parties that are large in number and personality. We may be a little biased but there is no better Charleston party bus than Double Black Transportation. Along with standard hourly rates, we also offer half-day and full-day rates that allow time to be shuttled between the beach, shopping, dinner and the clubs without breaking the bank.
Brewery Hop
There are over a dozen breweries in the Charleston area and they all offer something unique. If you can only visit one we recommend Palmetto which is the oldest brewery in Charleston and also the closest to downtown! However, if you have some time to make it into a crawl then you can head north from there and hit Revelry, Munkle, Edmund’s Oast and the Brew Lab.
Find a Beach
Charleston is surrounded by pristine beaches and you should definitely check at least one out while you’re here. Our favorites are Isle of Palms and Folly Beach if you want a laid back experience, while Sullivan’s Island is the place to go if you want more activity.
Dine on Southern Specialties
There is an awesome food scene in Charleston, with many restaurants specializing in lowcountry cuisine as well as traditional seafood. Fig is our favorite fine dining restaurant, while we love 167 Raw Oyster Bar for all of our shellfish fans out there. No Charleston restaurant list can be complete without mentioning Leon’s, which serves the best fried chicken and southern-style seafood in the area.
Dance at a Club
While there are many great nightlife options in Charleston, Trio is the only true nightclub where A-list DJs play when they’re in town, including Dillon Francis this Spring. There are tables available for large groups as well as GA.
Book a Boat
Is there anything better than renting a boat for your bachelor party? We’re not sure, especially not in Charleston! You can ride along the coastline or go check out Fort Sumter, a seafort that dates back to the War of 1812. If you’re on a tighter budget but still want to get out on the water, we recommend the Charleston Harbor Tour as well!
See a Show at the Wonderer
The best new place to watch live music is at the members-only club, The Wonderer. As a social, wellness club it is usually open to its members, however they have recently been hosting public concerts at the stage in front of their pool.
Go Golfing
There are tons of good golf courses in the Charleston area and you should definitely make time in your itinerary to play a round or two. The best course that you can get on is the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island. Golfweek ranked it #9 of the best public courses in the United States in 2021. Unfortunately, their greens fees cost accordingly at a whopping $600 per person. Luckily, there are a lot of other great courses nearby with much lower prices including Shadowmoss and Patriots Point.