As Asheville locals, Greenville, South Carolina is our second home for the city’s coolest festivals, mainstream concerts, amazing theater scene, delicious restaurants, and great downtown area filled with sweet boutique shops. These are my suggestions for planning one weekend in Greenville, SC to experience it all! This guide might even make you want to move here…
Just one hour and twenty minutes from Asheville, NC, Tom and I spend a lot of time in Greenville, South Carolina. For years, my doctors’ offices were here, and we cannot resist the Off-Broadway theater shows and blockbuster concerts like Disturbed, Blink-182, Hamilton, Back to the Future, and more.
We frequently overnight, waking up in Downtown Greenville to enjoy the coffee shops, restaurants, and shops – buying local honey, new release books, and cute clothes. Keep reading for my ideal Greenville weekend. All photos are my own. P.S. You might also like my one to two day Asheville itinerary (great for a weekend, too).
Quick Snapshot: Weekend In Greenville Itinerary
Use this quick snapshot to plan your Greenville getaway. Then, keep scrolling for more details, including hotel, food, drink, and shop recommendations. I’ll share great venues for music and plays, along with my favorite Greenville festivals.
Day 1
- Hotel check-in (scroll for all our hotel recs; we stay overnight multiple times a month in concert and theater season); top two: The Grand Bohemian Lodge (“wow” factor; splurge) and Holiday Inn Express (super budget-friendly)
- Drinks and snacks at a brewery, coffee shop, or bar like Coffee Underground, Flying Fox Coffee, Foxcroft Food & Wine, Ink N Ivy, and Up on the Roof
- Dinner in Downtown Greenville at Nose Dive, Curean, Sushi Murasaki, The Trappe Door, and Gather GVL
Day 2
- Bike riding the Swamp Rabbit Trail
- Shop at M. Judson Booksellers, Savannah Bee Company, Traveling Chic Boutique, and Augusta Twenty Boutique + A20 Market Coffee Shop
- Stroll Falls Park on the Reedy and cross Liberty Bridge
- For families, head to the Greenville Zoo
- Attend a local festival, concert, or theater performance
Day 3
- Brunch
- Explore nearby Travelers Rest, including the Swamp Rabbit Trail, cafes, shops, and more
- Wine taste at a nearby winery like Eagle Mountain
- Enjoy Paris Mountain State Park or head into Western North Carolina with our Asheville, NC things to do guide; Hendersonville, NC is a great stop, too, for food, museums, and hiking.
Day 1 (Friday): Arriving In Greenville
If you are coming from the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), expect a 20-minute drive into Downtown Greenville. This Greenville itinerary will include options with and without a car. Book your car rental here.
Check-In (Where To Stay)
Tom and I don’t love leaving overnight bags in any vehicle, especially in larger cities. For safety (and I do feel safe in Greenville), we try to check in immediately or leave our luggage at the hotel. For just one weekend in Greenville, we also highly recommend staying downtown for its convenience to enjoy the walkable parts of the city.
Is the Grand Bohemian worth it?
A few centrally-located, Downtown Greenville hotels we recommend include:
- The Grand Bohemian Lodge ($$$ – $$$$): For a romantic weekend getaway or special occasion on Falls Park on the Reedy; the Grand Boho is a gorgeous treat; we’ve stayed here and loved drinks by the fireplace and the falls at night; the restaurants are delicious, and you cannot beat the views and location.
- The Westin Poinsett ($$$): For historic charm and theater-goers, located on Main Street.
- AC Hotel by Marriott Greenville ($$ – $$$): We enjoy staying here for its location immediately across from the Peace Center; the breakfast and bar area are nice to relax in, and the location is central for all of Downtown GVL. It’s quiet for its location.
- Hampton Inn & Suites Greenville-Downtown-Riverplace ($$): For the best value within walking distance of Downtown Greenville.
- Home2 Suites by Hilton Greenville Downtown ($$): We stay here for concerts at the Bon Secours; find good prices with valet parking and kitchenettes. It’s great if you want to store snacks in the fridge and be on the edge of Downtown.
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Greenville Downtown (an IHG Hotel) ($$): We stay here frequently – it’s across the street from the Home2 Suites, too – for concerts and plays with room upgrades and bottled water for rewards members; they have an on-site shop, parking, and friendly staff (bathrooms are just slightly dated); it’s clean, and the price is always excellent. We probably book here the most for our budget.
Celebratory Drinks (Best Places To Grab A Drink)
Living up to our namesake, we get to know a city by its beverages: coffee, local craft beer, wine, and hand-crafted cocktails. However, we appreciate more low-key places versus happening nightlife spots. I’m a day drinker…
From rooftop bars to breweries, these are a few memorable places for drinks in Greenville:
- Up on the Roof – Spy Greenville from above with sprawling rooftop views, boozy drinks that come in cute bottles, and both a graze and full restaurant menu with sliders, seafood, and veggie sharables.
- Liability Brewing Co – As a half-Celiac household, Liability’s gluten-reduced beers work for us; we love the murals and vibes of this local craft brewery. You will need transportation here, though, as it is not walkable from Downtown. Yee-Haw Brewing Company is another option for a walkable Downtown brewery along with much newer New Realm (with food!) in Greenville’s West End.
- Lobby Bar at the Grand Bohemian Lodge (or Spirit & Bower downstairs) – We usually avoid hotel bars, but this one is special. At the Grand Bohemian, grab drinks overlooking Falls Park on the Reedy. Tip: head here when non-guests have left to avoid the crowds.
- Coffee Underground – We cannot resist a good coffee shop. Coffee Underground boasts an underground theater and a coffee cafe. It’s a hipster cultural hotspot with later evening hours. We love Flying Fox Coffee (a local favorite) too, but you’ll only have a few (of the best) coffee drinks to select from.
- Foxcroft Wine Co. – It is hard to pick just one wine flight, and we highly recommend the tapas. Discover new wines from across the globe; we’ve brought our favorites home from their vast wine shop.
We are slowly working our way through Greenville’s bars and breweries, and our readers also love Better Than… cough, cough. It’s a dessert restaurant with hilariously fitting and provocative names.
Dinner Downtown (Our Top Restaurants)
For Downtown Greenville restaurants, we highly recommend making advanced dinner reservations, especially for fancy restaurants. You will see a lot of Southern cuisine in South Carolina (obviously), but Tom and I prefer the pub grub and sushi scene.
Our most frequented dinner restaurants:
- Nose Dive is a cozy Main Street restaurant with indoor and seasonal outdoor seating. Expect casual bites, great drinks, and a restaurant that caters to food intolerances and allergies. I always crave their hummus plate and order a burger, poke bowl special, or fish and chips. Tom loves a GF burger and tender BBQ chicken. It’s always jumping!
- The Trappe Door is our go-to. Head to the dimly-lit, quaint basement, and think Belgian beer, fish and chips, mussel pots, and so much more. The beer list is remarkable, and you’ll see all of your fellow theater-goers here. It’s a must if you aren’t going fancy.
A few more Greenville restaurants to consider include Roost (even though it’s attached to a hotel, we eat here for quality and service), Curean (love their charcuterie and romantic atmosphere), Chicora Alley (we like their Travelers Rest location), Grill Marks (a jumping burger joint), The Lazy Goat, and Sassafras Southern Bistro (Southern fare). Sushi Murasaki and SushiGo have fresh sushi rolls. Our readers love Pomegranate On Main and Soby’s.
Day 2 (Saturday): Full Day In Greenville
There is so much to do with one full day in Greenville. These are just a few options, depending on who you are traveling with and your interests. Find family-friendly activities as well as more adult-only adventures.
Outdoors Lovers: Swamp Rabbit Trail
For road bikers and low-key mountain bikers, the Swamp Rabbit Trail (SRT) is a great way to spend your weekend in Greenville with nice weather. I love the SRT, which keeps growing in length – about 26 to 28 miles now with connectors.
Whether you rent bikes or bring your own, pass through public parks, food and drink areas, and Greenville landmarks. The trail is family-friendly with restrooms and bike lock spots along the way. We have an entire article about enjoying the Swamp Rabbit Trail attractions.
A must here includes grabbing lunch at the Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery. We also enjoy Pangaea and Southernside breweries. The trail even goes through the Greenville Zoo.
If you prefer guided tours, take an electric bike tour of the Swamp Rabbit Trail. If biking isn’t your jam, take a peek at this popular Segway tour, too!
For The Family: Greenville Zoo
For a family-friendly weekend in Greenville, head to the Greenville Zoo. However, I understand that zoos may or may not be for you. They aren’t necessarily my jam, but Tom and I have dropped into the Greenville Zoo to see some of their well-cared-for animals like the baby giraffe and orangutans. Meet a very large tortoise, and watch the monkeys.
Tip: Check their hours, especially in the winter, with closures. It’s also a few dollars cheaper if you purchase in advance online.
For Downtown Greenville Exploration: Falls Park on the Reedy, Liberty Bridge, & Stores
If this is your first time visiting Greenville, we suggest staying downtown and enjoying Falls Park on the Reedy. This is a breathtaking and surprising city space filled with falls, a walkable park, and plenty of areas to relax. Of course, you can’t miss Greenville’s biggest attraction, Liberty Bridge, a single-suspension bridge over the falls.
Then, stroll the downtown area, dipping into our favorite bookstore, M. Judson Booksellers. Downtown Greenville is filled with boutique shops for clothes and candles, ice cream cafes, and more. For cute dresses, head to Traveling Chic Boutique, my favorite. We love getting honey products with a mead tasting at Savannah Bee Company, too.
For Culture & Fun: Festival, Concert, or Theater
Having lived outside of Hartford, CT (NYC and Boston are right there), Jakarta, Indonesia, and the Tampa/Orlando, Florida areas, I’ve been spoiled with terrific theater and concerts. Greenville is truly a happening city for music and theater lovers.
Be sure to see what band (or event) is coming to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. We’ve seen Disturbed, Seether, Staind, Blink-182, and Saint Asonia. Watch an Off-Broadway play at the Peace Center – their season line-ups are spectacular.
Or, attend a popular festival like Fall for Greenville or Artisphere – our two personal favorites there.
Before You Go… Be sure to grab our guide to attending concerts at the Bon Secours (coming soon). See what to expect, where to stay, and top tips for having the most comfortable experience (trust me, those seats hurt!).
Day 3 (Sunday): Before You Go
No Greenville weekend itinerary is complete without brunch and a little nearby exploration on your way out. While Greer, SC, and Hendersonville/Flat Rock, NC are fairly close, Travelers Rest is a hidden gem. But first, brunch!
Sunday Brunch (Delicious Mid-Morning Restaurants)
Whether you are looking for a quick and cheap meal on the run or a nice brunch out, Greenville has quite a few places to grab breakfast and brunch. If you are staying at the Grand Bohemian, try their delicious restaurant overlooking the falls, Between the Trees (our food was delicious!).
Tupelo Honey and Biscuit Head are just as popular in Greenville as in Asheville, NC. Stax Omega Diner (live waitlist on their website), Roost, Tupelo Honey Cafe, CAMP, and Soby’s are just a few more options.
I highly recommend TopSoil Restaurant in Travelers Rest, which overlooks the Swamp Rabbit Trail and is James Beard-recognized.
Visit Travelers Rest
Travelers Rest is a small city about 20 minutes by car from Greenville. However, you can also access and easily explore the area from the Swamp Rabbit Trail; some establishments have bike racks.
With much smaller vibes, a few of our favorite stops in Travelers Rest include:
- Swamp Rabbit Brewery & Taproom
- As The Page Turns – My personal favorite used and new bookstore; I’ll drive the hour from Asheville to donate our books and shop here
- Farmhouse Tacos – Get the margarita flight!
- TruBroth – The best pho secret around
- TopSoil Restaurant – Weekend brunch and James Beard semi-finalist
Wine Taste At A Greenville Winery
On the way back to Asheville, there are two wineries less than 10 minutes apart: Eagle Mountain Vineyards and Winery and Kennington Family Winery. Build a wine flight at Kennington, which also has a juice flight for kids and seasonal mimosa flights. I love Eagle Mountain for their wine slushies, reds, and gorgeous tasting room.
Before You Go…
While I write from a very local standpoint for our Asheville articles, I frequent (and love) the happening Upstate. I’d love to know your favorite way to spend a weekend in Greenville, from restaurants to bars and special events and cute shops. Tom and I are always trying new places. Let me know in the comments!
Great insights into Greenville! For music fans be sure to checkout the Chicora Alley Sun afternoon Jazz jams, Wed night live jazz at Blues Alley, and in Traveler’s Rest, Thurs night live jazz at Topsoil (just nominated for a James Beard award!). Thanks!
These are terrific suggestions, Adam. Thanks so much! We’ve been eyeing Chicora Alley every time we drive by and have heard great things. We will have to stop in very soon. Our readers will especially enjoy these music recs too.