How to spend an amazing 3-day Weekend in Charlotte, NC

Charlotte was such an easy city for a weekend trip. The main uptown area is incredibly walkable, and traffic never seemed to be bad. I grew up just over the border in York County and my friends and I would often venture into Charlotte when we couldn’t find things to do in Rock Hill.

While the days of my youth included visiting the South Park Mall and wandering around Uptown, this most recent visit was the first time I’ve really taken the time to get to know Charlotte for what she is.

Keep reading for my guide on how to spend a weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Charlotte Weekend Itinerary

The city of Charlotte was named after Queen Charlotte of Mecklenberg-Strelitz, aka the namesake for the fictional adaptation of Queen Charlotte from the Bridgerton series.

Over time Charlotte has grown into an incredibly diverse city in the south, with a vibrant culture that I think is often overlooked for other southern cities like New Orleans, Nashville, or Atlanta. But Charlotte has a lot to offer.

Here’s how I would spend a weekend in Charlotte:

Day 1 of your three-day guide to Charlotte, NC

Morning: Get to your hotel and settle in

After you get into town, stop by your hotel and leave your bags if you can. It’s time to head into the city and stretch your legs.

You might even walk to this first location – we did! If you have time to kill before lunch, walk around the Little Sugar Creek Greenway by the Metropolitan Shopping Mall. The full creek runs through most of Charlotte, and many sections are part of the greenway, though not all connected. There are also several shops in the mall, and a Target just across the street.

The farm-fresh produce was evident in the thoughtful sides, from a Candied Sweet Potato glazed with brown butter and finished with thyme, to the 3-cheese baked macaroni and cheese. These elevated versions of classic family reunion staples in the Southern diet were truly to die for.

The space also gives off a tasteful vibe, with dark walls, golden accents, and Afrobeats music setting the ambiance for the soul food inside.

We also enjoyed the fried pork chop with pickled apples and sawmill gravy, and the field pea mafe which was a little spicey. The oxtail meatloaf with red pepper glaze sounded good, but didn’t end up standing out for us compared to the rest.

We ended the meal with the plantain pudding covered in smoked dulce de leche drizzle which I would also highly recommend.

Evening: Dilworth and Dinner

Stuffed yet? Spend the evening decompressing. Head to the historic Dilworth neighborhood where Charlotte’s first streetcar was to walk around and maybe grab a coffee. Nearby Freedom Park is also a popular spot for locals and may offer interesting views of the Charlotte skyline.

Time for dinner! Consider The People’s Market which has locations in Southside and Elizabeth neighborhoods for an affordable bite to eat.

Check out options for touring Charlotte – by bike, segway, or golf cart!

Morning: breakfast with a purpose

Start day 2 with another incredible meal: this time you’re having breakfast at Community Matters Cafe. I loved this cafe, which also came recommended from my friend and amazing blogger Kay from The Awkward Traveller. Not only is the food good, but the proceeds go to an incredible mission.

Community Matters Cafe is an extension of the project with Charlotte Rescue Mission – a nonprofit that provides education, support, and opportunities to survivors of addiction. Students in the program have the opportunity to learn life skills in a compassionate environment, as well as access to affordable housing and counseling. You might even meet a program participant at the cafe.

Beyond the mission, the food at Community Matters is actually impressive. We enjoyed specialty lattes – themed from Harry Potter in October – and breakfast. My husband devoured his Johnnycakes with pulled pork aside from the few bites I stole. I also enjoyed the cajun skillet, and we had to add a flapjack on the side which was perfectly fluffy and griddled to perfection.

Do note that tips are considered donations to the non-profit.

Exploring Uptown Charlotte

After breakfast, you’re ready to spend some time exploring Uptown Charlotte! Visit a museum or two, enjoy wandering in parks and the city skyline, and browse the shops. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Visit museums like Levine Museum of the New South which is free and has a permanent exhibit on the history of Charlotte.

The area where Charlotte is located was initially a crossroads for the Ye Iswa people, or people of the river, for over 6,000 years. You can still visit a welcome center for the Catawba people, as they are known in English, in nearby Rock Hill, South Carolina, and attend their annual cultural celebration Yap Ye Iswa in the fall.

The area grew quickly, first through America’s first gold rush, and then the textile industry via slave labor. The city became the largest in North Carolina due to connections via railroad.

Other museums in uptown are within walking distance, including the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, Mint Museum, Nascar Hall of Fame. Note that some museums are not open on Mondays. Your ticket to Bechtler Museum gets you half off at the Harvey B Gantt Museum and the Mint Museum.

The Green is a park with whimsical direction signs, public art, and sustainable infrastructure plus informational signs to teach you about how it is good for the environment

The Alley has elevated shops with street food and is across the street from Romare Bearden Park which has excellent views of the Charlotte skyline.

Afternoon: Recover with lunch and a BYOB bus tour

When you have worked up an appetite again grab lunch at the nonprofit King’s Kitchen or something quick at a shop in The Alley. We went to The Alley and had birria tacos and Indian food – two faves!

After so many hours of exploring my feet hurt and yours might too. Make a reservation for a tour on the Funny Bus for the afternoon and head over to 7th Street Market. Here you can shop some small businesses and grab some beer or wine for the tour (it’s BYOB – but no food allowed)

The Funny Bus tour takes you around Charlotte and is led by a local comedian. Learn some interesting details about the city and her namesake queen, while resting your feet.

After the tour, have dinner at one of the shops in The Market at 7th Street or somewhere close to your hotel for a relaxing evening. At the market, we grabbed a pizza from Geno D’s, which really hit the spot. For something sweet, get a Belgian waffle from Sweet Crunch—absolutely delicious.

🤪 Check availability for The Funny Bus tour 🚌

Morning: exploring NODA

On your third morning in Charlotte, you’re exploring the NODA (North Of Davidson) neighborhood.

For breakfast choose from several options including Amelie’s, Local Loaf, or Smelly Cat. Amelie’s is a whimsical French bakery that was a favorite of mine when I lived nearby, and Smelly Cat is Charlotte’s longest-running coffeehouse and roastery.

Spend time walking around this artistic neighborhood, taking in the large murals, tasting craft beer at the many breweries, and visiting the small shops.

Charlotte is home to more than 30 craft breweries and a good number of them are in NODA including NoDa Brewing, Free Range Brewing, Birdsong Brewing, and Chamber by Wooden Robot.

Visit with resident cats at Mac Tabby Cat Cafe where you can also get another coffee or smoothie. Just don’t come around 3:00 pm when all the cats are snoozing like we did 🥲

Afternoon: Step back in time with retro games and a food hall

Head to the Optimist Food Hall for lunch, with international options like ramen, Ethiopian, sushi, and dumplings among more classics like pizza and smash burgers.

Spend the afternoon playing nostalgic arcade games at Super Abari. This bar arcade is lots of fun. Grab a cocktail, mocktail, or local beer and some tokens and head into the game room to step back into time. Let your inner child out playing old pinball games, 80s arcade games like Donkey Kong and Pacman, and video games like Street Fighter and Crazy Taxi.

Head across the street to stretch your legs at another section of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway which follows the same creek as this greenway you saw in uptown but with a lot more park area.

For your final dinner in Charlotte, try Pinky’s West Side Grill, which was featured on Diner’s, Drive-In’s, and Dives and is one of my childhood besties’ favorite places to eat in the city.

Other things to do in and around Charlotte

• Carowinds
• US National Whitewater Center
• See a Nascar Race
• Catch a sports game for the Panthers Football, Charlotte FC, or Hornets basketball
• Head out of the city to Lake Wylie or the McDowell Nature Preserve
• Peruse the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens
• Go hiking at Crowders Mountain State Park
• Lake Norman

Getting Around

Walking: I found Charlotte to be surprisingly walkable, though drivers in the south do tend to be less respectful of pedestrians compared to other big cities.

Public Transportation is called CATs (Charlotte Area Transportation) It’s easy to download the app or you can pay cash to take the bus but be aware you’ll need exact change because there is no change.

Rides are $2.20 pp or day pass for $6.60 pp and the route is easy to understand by using Google Maps for directions. You can also take the LYNX lightrail which I hear is more reliable than the bus, especially late at night.

Rideshares like Uber and Lyft are readily available and pretty affordable to get around the city, especially if you have multiple people to split the cost with.

Finally, you can rent scooters to get around short distances but without a helmet or proper lanes this is the least safe option.

If you end up renting a car or driving into the city, be aware you will likely have to parallel park or pay for a garage in Uptown, so for short distances I recommend leaving it at the hotel.

Where to stay in Charlotte, NC

The best region to stay when visiting Charlotte is Uptown because it is central to everything. I visited during a concert weekend and affordable options were limited, but I didn’t have a great experience so I wouldn’t recommend the hotel I stayed with. Instead here are a few options that look good for your consideration:

The Hilton Charlotte Uptown is a 4-star hotel right in the middle of everything and looks like a great option with a mid-range price and decent ratings online.

The Springhill Suites in City Center seems to be a bit more affordable but also has decent ratings online and right in the heart of Uptown.

For something with a little more flair and character, I would try The Ivey’s Hotel or The Grand Bohemian Charlotte, Autograph Collection.

Compare prices and availability in Charlotte

Getting to Charlotte

Most travelers will likely fly into the CLT airport where you can take an Uber, hotel shuttle, public transportation, or your car rental right into the city. Make sure you take advantage of your Priority Pass in the airport by visiting The Club CLT lounge and quick massage at the Be Relax Spa.

If you are driving to Charlotte, you’ll likely drive in on I-77 or I-85.

Charlotte is 3 hours from Charleston, SC via I-26 to I-77, or 4 hours from Atlanta, GA via I-85.

Map of things to do on a weekend in Charlotte NC

Wrapping up this itinerary for a Charlotte NC weekend trip

I really enjoyed going around Charlotte for a weekend and had a lot of fun even with plenty of downtime. This is a great city to explore with excellent food, attractions, and outdoor opportunities. I hope this guide helps you plan a great trip!