36 Hours in Beaufort, NC (Things to Do, Where to Eat & Stay)

In little more than a 2.5-hour drive from Raleigh, the town of Beaufort lies waiting to be explored. A fascinating and historic town with a tumultuous past, its known to be the place where Captain Blackbeard, one of the most feared pirates of the seas, used to jaunt. 

Although its pirate days are long gone, the historic homes, oak-tree-lined streets, and glittering waterfront still speak of a time not forgotten. Beaufort’s heritage and its commitment to preserving the past beckons you to slow down, to bask in the simplicity, and let the stresses of city life ebb away in a place where time stands still.

The relaxing atmosphere means Beaufort is the perfect place to go for a getaway from city life. So, if you have 36 hours to spend in Beaufort, here are some tips on how you can spend it.

Where to Stay

Inlet inn

• Inlet Inn is a stunning waterfront inn with balconies overlooking the creek and boats in the marina. Most rooms come with balconies.
• Beaufort Hotel is a romantic, award-winning hotel set on 10 acres of waterfront property overlooking Taylor Creek. Features elegantly styled guest rooms.
• Cute cottage in the historic center. This one bedroom cottage sleeps four guests and is two blocks from Front St, and benefits from parking and a private English garden.

How to get around

Beaufort is a very walkable town, with many of the historic attractions conveniently occupying a handful of blocks in the Beaufort Historic Site. There is the Island Express Ferry Service, which will take you to water attractions such as Harkers Island, Cape Lookout, the Rachel Carson Coastal Estuarine Reserve, and the Shackleford Banks. 

Itinerary

Friday: Relax by the waterfront

4:00 pm: Check into your accommodation

Begin by dropping your bags at your accommodation and slipping out of city life and into relaxation mode. Beaufort does not have a huge number of hotels due to its small size, but we recommend staying in one of the hotels on Front Street or near the Beaufort Historic Site, so you are within walking distance of attractions. 

Our recommendations, Inlet Inn and Beaufort Hotel, both come with parking, so you can leave your car at your accommodation and explore on foot for the weekend.

5:00 pm: Walk along Front Street

Once you’re all settled, go for a walk along Front Street, the main thoroughfare of Beaufort, and where all the action happens. It sits with the shores of Taylor Creek on one side, and boutique shops and cafes nestled in historic homes on the other.

There is a boardwalk and a fishing pier, as well as several waterfront restaurants and spots to admire the gorgeous views across the inlet to Carrot Island. This is our favorite spot to catch a sunset, so time your visit around Golden Hour and you won’t be disappointed.

6:00 pm: Dinner at Moonrakers

To continue soaking up those sunset waterfront views and to fill your rumbling stomach at the same time, head to Moonrakers, a three-story restaurant and bar serving up coastal cuisine.

This modern, upper-casual restaurant is located in a historic home in the Beaufort Historical District and has a delightful setting for a date night or a sunset dinner with friends.

Modern, upper-casual restaurant

This restaurant also hosts local musicians for entertainment, and even playful pods of dolphins are known to come to put on a show below its deck on occasion. On the menu, must-try dishes are the Clam Chowder, Blackened Grouper, or Shrimp & Grits.  

7:30 pm: The Port City Co Beaufort Ghost Walk

Beaufort is known for its history of piracy, and so you can imagine there would be a few haunting stories to tell. The Port City Co. offers a guided ghost walk throughout the historic district, where your guide reveals stories of betrayal, treachery, and tragedy.

Part ghost stories, part history lesson, this informative tour is a great way to learn about the legacy of Blackbeard and other fearful pirates, as well as other key events in Beaufort throughout the Colonial and Civil War eras.

9:00 pm: Drinks and live music at Backstreet Pub

If you’re not ready for the fun to stop, head to Backstreet Pub, an old, hole-in-the-wall type dive bar with a lively outdoor patio and stage for live music.  During peak season, there’s live music most nights, and this small bar becomes the busiest and most vibrant place to be in Beaufort after the sun goes down.

Saturday: Highlights in history and nature

9:00 am: Breakfast at Turner Street Market

Bakery + cafe

Wake up and bury the events of last night with some hearty and affordable breakfast at Turner Street Market. This bakery, cafe, antique shop, and wholesale market has your morning made. It serves decent coffee and huge breakfasts for less than $7.00 per meal.

Some of the most popular items on the menu are the Bubba Biscuit (bacon) Sandwich, the Breakfast Burrito, and the Breakfast Sandwich. They also have pastries made in-house and fruit and yoghurt bowls for those who prefer a healthier option.

10:00 am: Self-guided walking tour or Historic District Double-Decker Bus Tour 

One of the top things to do in Beaufort is to wander around the historic district, aptly named Beaufort Historic Site, which has 30 historic homes, buildings, and landmarks. This six-block area has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Pop into the Visitor’s Center (Robert W. and Elva Faison Safrit Historical Center) and pick up a map, or download a digital tour using the UniGuide app.

Old Burying Ground / Blackbeard stayed here!

Some standout places to check out are the Old Burying Ground, a cemetery dating back to 1731, which has both Revolutionary and Civil War graves, and Hammock House, the oldest house in Beaufort that was once a pirate inn and where Blackbeard is documented to have stayed.

If you don’t want to do a guided tour, then you can book onto one of the Double-Deck Bus Tours, which operate year-round, Monday to Saturday. In the winter, they run from 10:30 am and 2:00 pm, and in the summer from 10:00 am and 2:30 pm.

2:00 pm: Lunch at Front Street Grill

Cocktail + grouper bites

Front Street Grill is a popular lunch spot with locals and visitors, with a prime location on the boardwalk. Our server steered us towards a refreshing cocktail of the day – vodka, mint and raspberry – spicy and delicious grilled grouper bites for appetizers, and their signature chili-lime shrimp tacos for entrees (in a bowl for me).

Chili-lime shrimp tacos

Elevating all of this were the views out over Taylor Creek and the small islands of the Rachel Carson Reserve. What a way to continue your weekend getaway in Beaufort.

3:30 pm: Explore the NC Maritime Museum

The North Carolina Maritime Museum is worth an hour. This free museum is well curated, with exhibits telling stories of the region’s seafood industry, lifesaving stations, lighthouses, and sailboats. There’s also an exhibit with excavated and preserved artifacts from the Queen Anne’s Revenge (Blackbeard’s pirate ship), which were discovered just outside Beaufort Inlet.

4:30 pm: Grab homemade ice cream at Beaufort Creamery

Images by Beaufort Creamery

You might be wondering what the long queue on Front Street is for? Well, Beaufort Creamery is a cute ice cream shop that makes all its ice cream themselves on the premises, and you can really taste the freshness and quality. Great selection of flavors, the most popular is Banana Pudding, which can often run out. Grab some ice cream and wonder along the boardwalk.

6:00 pm: Sunset dolphin and wild horses cruise to Shackleford Banks

Images by Island Express Ferry Service 

A highlight of any trip to the Crystal Coast is a chance to admire its rugged and unspoiled beauty. Shackleford Banks is a prime example of this – it’s remote, wild, and left entirely to the elements. Take a scenic sunset cruise (because Golden Hour is the best hour) on a small catamaran to Shackleford Banks, which takes about 30 minutes. 

From there, you have an hour to wander around freely and look for the herd of 110 wild Banker mustangs, who are thought to have landed on the island after a Spanish shipwrecked on the island 500+ years ago. Then, return back to Beaufort and look out for playful dolphins who like to swim along next to the boat. 

8:00 pm: Dinner at Blue Moon Bistro

If you want to push the boat out and enjoy a fancy, fine dining restaurant on your last night in Beaufort, head to Blue Moon Bistro. This quaint dining room is nestled in a historic home and offers fresh French seafood cuisine. At the helm are two prestigious chefs, Jayson Foster and Josh Macklin, who trained under the Michelin-starred chef Marc Meurin in France.

Fantastic food

10:00 pm: Drinks at Tapping the Admiral Rum Bar

Cool live music venue

For a low-key drink, head to Tapping the Admiral Rum Bar, an eco-friendly bar serving 16 drinks on tap (including wine). This small establishment aims to eliminate unnecessary cans and bottles ending up in landfills, so all drinks are served from taps. On some days, they also have live music from local musicians. It’s an outdoor establishment, but they have heaters and fire pits in the winter.

Sunday: Outdoor adventures await

8:00am: Breakfast at the Banks Grill

Shrimp and pimento cheese omelet, chunky monkey donuts, chicken and waffles, or world-famous Cinnamon Buns? These are just some of the reasons why The Banks Grill has been voted local’s favorite breakfast spot several years in a row.

All tastes will be catered for with their extensive breakfast menu – be sure to order a side of creamy grits! They don’t take reservations, and they are popular, so you may want to rise early and get here before the crowds.

9:00am: Hike the Elliot Coues Trail to Fort Macon

Fort Macon State Park is a 15-minute drive away near Atlantic Beach and is one of North Carolina’s most visited state parks. The best way to appreciate it is to walk the Elliot Coues Trail, which takes you for 3.3 miles (5.1km) across sand dunes, through a maritime forest and marsh, to the fort and back.

On one side, you have the beach with great views of the ocean, and on the other is the Bogue Sound, which is more shaded and has several boardwalks and nature viewing opportunities.

Love this trail

The hike should take approximately an hour, not including your time spent admiring the beautifully reconstructed 19th-century Civil War pentagonal brick fort.

11:00 am: Kayak to Rachel Carson Reserve

Spot wild horses

Get in touch with Beaufort Paddle to enquire about a kayak tour of Rachel Carson Reserve, a wildlife reserve, a short and gentle paddle across Taylor’s Creek. Here, wild horses roam in the grasses, and playful dolphins swim beside you as you paddle on the serene, glassy waters.

Led by an expert guide, you will get a close-up view of the two-island reserve made up of shoals and marshes. Learn about the history and ecology of the area before paddling back to Beaufort.

12:30 pm: Final lunch at 34 Degrees North

Before setting off, have lunch at the fancy waterfront restaurant within the Beaufort Inn – 34 Degrees North. It serves fresh, locally sourced East Carolina cuisine, which has earned them the 2024 OpenTable Diners’ Choice award. We spotted dolphins swimming past in the creek.

We love Beaufort. It has fascinating history and interesting people with a pretty location on the water. The drive from Raleigh is very manageable and whether you’re looking for a low-key getaway or a weekend of live music and eating your way around town, you can do either. It also made our list of cute Christmas towns in NC during the holidays. Here are more Carolina Coast getaway ideas:

• Best things to do in Wilmington
• Getaway to Ocean Isle Beach
• Top things to do in the Outer Banks
• Holiday Inn Resort in Wrightsville Beach