How to Spend a Weekend in Greenville, SC

Greenville, South Carolina, has many quirks. It has a famous “Swamp Rabbit Trail” and rabbit emblems everywhere. It hosts a yearly charity “Duck Derby,” during which tens of thousands of rubber ducks race down the falls of the Reedy River that transects the city. It’s the home of the poinsettia plant and a talent-packed concentration of visual artists. Greenville is at once big-city-important and small-town-cozy.

In celebration of Southwest Airlines launching a daily one-hour nonstop flight from Nashville to the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), we’ve updated our insider’s guide to a weekend in Greenville, SC!

If you have not been to GSP, it’s one of our favorite airports for many reasons: it’s easy to navigate, the landscaping is gorgeous, the parking is easy, and the people are so nice! Check out the new flights right here.

Wyche Pavillion on the Reedy River — In the early 1900s, Greenville was the center of the world’s textile industry. Many of the old mill structures have been repurposed for play and living. Image: Van Zeppelin Aerial / VisitGreenvilleSC

Weekend in Greenville DAY 1: GSP to Downtown Greenville

Over the past three years, I’ve spent two May weekends in Greenville, so I’ve seen a lot, and it’s becoming a tradition. This weekend plan combines the best of all my Greenville adventures. This year, with Furman and Clemson wrapping up their school years nearby, and tens of thousands descending for the award-winning Artisphere festival, the town was a hive of excitement.

Luxury hotel lobby features a modern stone fireplace, elegant seating area, dark wood flooring, and an antler chandelier against a backdrop of rustic-themed decor and warm lighting — perfect for your weekend in Greenville SC. — You don’t have to stay at the Grand Bohemian Lodge to enjoy its art gallery, fireplaces, boutique, dining options, and stunning river views. Image: Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville, Autograph Collection

Straight from the airport, my travel companion/mom and I checked into Marriott’s SpringHill Suites right downtown, but there is no shortage of fabulous lodging options, like the Westin Pointset, the spectacular Grand Bohemian Lodge, and the new boutique Hotel Hartness. You don’t need a car here unless you plan on exploring nearby towns; downtown has SO much to see, and it’s all walkable.

We popped into a few fabulous shops, including Vintage Now Modern (a curio-filled interiors wonderland) and M. Judson Booksellers (a charming independent bookstore and coffee shop). We felt called to the famous Reedy Creek Falls and walked over the stunning 345-foot suspension Liberty Bridge for the best GVL views.

The Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy River in Greenville, SC — The Liberty Bridge — a 345-foot, curved bridge held in the air by a single suspension cable — is the only one of its kind in the United States. Image: Vanzeppelin Aerial / VisitGreenvilleSC

There is no better place for a pre-dinner sunset cocktail than Juniper. The brightly colored florals and greenery that adorn the space are as irresistibly photo-worthy as the gin-centric cocktails. For dinner, we pulled up some barstools around a corner of the chef’s bar at CAMP, a reservation you’ll want to lock down as soon as you’ve booked your Greenville trip. The pork belly steamed baos, chicken curry, and coconut torte dessert were hits. Watching the young, meticulous chefs was the sweetest treat of all.

Flower decor in entrance to Juniper bar in Greenville SC — At Juniper, I opted for the “Risk it for the Hibiscus” (silver tequila, hibiscus, lemon, and blood orange olive oil) instead of a gin cocktail. But be sure to get something with gin — it’s what they’re known for! Image: Zoe Yarborough

Weekend in Greenville DAY 2: Art! And LOTS of it!

We kicked off our first full day walking wide-eyed through the Greenville Saturday Market. More than 75 local makers and vendors are set up on the other side of the downtown from the art festival, and it’s a fabulous place to grab coffee and a pastry. We then took one of the only car rides of the weekend to Unity Park and The Commons, a funky merchant hall with craft libations at Community Tap, fresh-baked goods at Bake Room, sinfully tasty concoctions from world-renowned Methodical Coffee, and local fare from Automatic Taco and GB&D.

Bake Shop in Commons Food Hall SC — Bake Room is known for their AM Buns (they sell out almost daily), and people rave about the croissants, but I tried a delectable salted chocolate chip cookie. Image: The Commons via Facebook

Any town can claim to be “arts-supportive,” but few places embrace the arts more than Greenville. Visual artists flourish there. I heard the same refrain from every artist we met at Artisphere and beyond. We had the incredible opportunity to tour Oyé Studios, a collective of a dozen artists’ studios in an old church.

Rey Alfonso's artist stuido at Oye Studios in Greenville SC — Outside the old church that houses Oyé Studios, old paintbrushes hang from tree branches like ornaments. A gravel patio is the reported stage for ritualistic evening jam sessions over cigars and beers. Inside, every space — like Rey Alfonso‘s paint collection — felt raw and inspiring. Image: Zoe Yarborough

As Oyé tenant and artist Michelle Jardines walked us through each room (the studio isn’t open to the public), I found myself fangirling every time I realized whose studio I had entered — including the studios of Dorothy Shain, Glory Day Loflin, and Jessica Fields, to name a few.

There was so much to soak up at Artisphere back in town, and I had to pick who’d receive my media award. We grabbed a local beer at the festival’s Arts & Drafts tent to sip while we perused art by 140 juried artists in every medium imaginable, from precious jewelry and textiles to black-and-white photography and abstract sculptures. A balcony table at the modern Italian hot spot Jianna offered the perfect perch to people-watch and refuel midday.

Person wearing an elaborate blue costume on stilts interacts with people at a sunny weekend event in Greenville, SC, with a brick building and trees in the background. — The festival streets were peppered with live music stages, street performers, and interactive artist demonstrations like glass blowing and weaving. Image: Allie Wall

Once you’ve thoroughly explored downtown, take a break and siesta, then head over to Gather GVL. This award-winning food hall is a collection of colorfully stacked shipping containers that house a bevy of food vendors. We let the Greenville locals steer us toward homemade blueberry lemonade, the chef’s kiss on top of a 20,000-step walking day.

Nestled within a vibrant grassy expanse, this outdoor recreational area buzzes with socializing groups. Various seating arrangements including couches, chairs, and tables invite relaxation. In the background, several food stalls promise a delightful taste of a weekend in Greenville, SC. — Gather GVL has a packed lineup of live music, retail pop-ups, and local fare. Image: Gather GVL

On our walk back downtown to our 8 p.m. dinner, we couldn’t help but admire Greenville’s nocturnal side. While so many Southern cities shut down at dusk, Greenville’s shops stay open, the river lights up, and al fresco tables are full. Dinner at Jones Oyster Co. was one of the highlights of the weekend. We split — and devoured — baked oysters, cheddar hushpuppies, crab fried rice, and a lobster roll.

Plate of golden-brown hush puppies arranged on patterned paper, with one partially bitten, revealing a fluffy and textured interior. — Jones Oyster Co. doesn’t take reservations, but it’s worth a little wait, I promise. Image: The Jones Oyster Co.

Weekend in Greenville DAY 3: Veer Off the Beaten Path

We kicked off our final half-day with a coffee tour hosted by Greenville guru and tour guide extraordinaire John Nolan of Greenville History & Culinary Tours. John drove us in his comfy Sprinter van to three completely distinct yet individually fantastic coffee shops: Coffee Underground, Unlocked, and Mountain Goat, where we tasted and learned all about their roasts.

liberty bridge sunset — Fall is another terrific time to visit Greenville. Attend Fall for Greenville Festival (pictured), and rent an e-bike to take the Swamp Rabbit Trail to the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Image: Vanzeppelin Aerial / VisitGreenvilleSC

Once John got us nice and caffeinated, we headed outside to Greenville’s Swamp Rabbit Trail. This 28-mile multi-use rail-to-trail has received many awards, including #1 America’s Best Urban Bike Paths by Fodor’s Travel. More than 750,000 locals and visitors ride the trail each year, and you can walk, run, or bike it to the charmingly outdoorsy town of Travelers Rest.

We grabbed a pre-flight coffee at the chic Barista Alley in the nearby town of Greer, whose European-style (and gutter-free) downtown is covered in a ceiling of string lights and flanked by shops and eateries.

Greer Station streets in Greer, SC — Greer, SC, is near the airport, so make it your final stop! Image: Vanzeppelin Aerial / VisitGreenvilleSC

As your weekend in Greenville ends, I guarantee you’ll already be planning the next. Whether you go for Artisphere in May, Euphoria in September, Fall for Greenville in October, or any random weekend, Greenville and its quirks are ready to greet you.

Southwest’s daily direct flights from BNA to GSP will be available starting June 4, 2024. Check them out here.

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About the Author
Zoe Yarborough

Zoe is a StyleBlueprint staff writer, Charlotte native, Washington & Lee graduate, and Nashville transplant of eleven years. She teaches Pilates, helps manage recording artists, and likes to "research" Germantown's food scene.