24 Hours in Raleigh (Itinerary) what to do in Raleigh for 1st timers!

If you only have one day and don’t know what to do in Raleigh, I have called this city my home for over 10 years and the below 24 hours in Raleigh itinerary is what I suggest for visitors to get a reel feel for Raleigh – the culture, the history, the food and drink scene, and the Southern community feel.

Family of four walking across a bridge with city buildings in the background.
Boylan Bridge, downtown Raleigh

I put this itinerary together from my own personal experiences. These are the places I take visiting friends and family and are some of the most “Raleigh experiences to have” in the City of Oaks.

This itinerary includes suggestions on where to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, the top morning and afternoon activities and experiences to have, where to go for pre-dinner and after-dinner drinks, and the top hotels to stay in.

As one of the South’s most vibrant and eclectic mid-size cities, I have a fun 24-hours planned for you in the capital city of North Carolina, whether you are in town for business, to visit family or friends, or are looking to move to Raleigh like us!

Mom and two daughters posing for a photo with a sign saying Raleigh behind them.
Raleigh Union Station

Of course, I suggest you stay longer than one day as there are so many cool things to do in Raleigh, so check out our 48 hours in Raleigh guide for even more recommendations. Ok, allow me to show you around and take the guesswork out of your trip to Raleigh!

24 Hours in Raleigh

Breakfast

Big Ed’s City Market

big eds
Love the decor at Big Ed’s

You’ve arrived in The South and there’s no better introduction to Raleigh and its welcoming community than Big Ed’s in historic City Market, the best Southern style breakfast in Raleigh.

This is the local experience you’re looking for. They’ve been serving up generous portions of Southern comfort food since 1958. Here you’ll enjoy a laid-back vibe with a collection of funky antiques hanging from the ceiling, warm Southern hospitality, and food like what grandma used to make.

Especially popular for their GIANT pancakes, local country ham, fried chicken, aged ribeye steak & eggs, sliced pork loin, fried catfish, fluffy biscuits, and double-brewed sweet tea. Read our full review.

Alternate breakfast options:

  • Mecca Restaurant – oldest of the Raleigh restaurants. Historic setting with red stools along a long counter, a black and white checkered floor, and wooden booths. Serving unpretentious and comforting meals since 1930, this is one of the few true diners left in Raleigh.
  • State Farmers’ Market Restaurant – another popular place for locals to get a country breakfast and Southern dining experience. Start each meal with their highly acclaimed biscuits!
  • A Place at the Table – Raleigh’s pay-what-you-can-afford cafe. Amazing concept and staff. Consider the Huevos Rancheros or build your own biscuit. Great coffee too.
  • See our full guide on where to eat the best breakfast in Raleigh (13 local hot spots).

Coffee

Since moving to Raleigh in 2004, the local coffee and cafe scene has improved considerably. As Australians, we are fussy and take our coffee recommendations seriously, and below are a select few we recommend.

The Morning Times

People sitting at tables and chairs outside a coffee shop enjoying breakfast
The Morning Times

The Morning Times is right in the heart of downtown and a short walk from Big Ed’s. It’s one of the popular coffee shops in downtown with the locals. We typically order lattes (our kids love their cookies) and we enjoy sitting either in the cozy upstairs that doubles as a small art gallery, or on the sidewalk in the sun. Solid breakfast burrito here, too!

Heirloom Brewshop

Possibly our favorite coffee spot in downtown is Heirloom Brewshop in the Warehouse District. This is a specialty coffee shop, premium tea house, sake bar and kitchen all rolled into one with an Asian-inspired menu.

A pink espresso machine and wood slat ceiling are focal points, and large windows allow in lots of natural light. Choose from a full coffee bar of options, and their gluten-free Mochi Donuts are a hit. Read our full review of Heirloom.

Jubala on Hillsborough St

Located across the street from NC State University and just a 5-minute drive from downtown, Jubala Coffee is another of our favorite Raleigh coffee shops. Known for their tasty small bite’s menu and professionally trained baristas who make excellent lattes and the full spectrum of coffees.

Their biscuits are my favorite in Raleigh (my pick is the bacon + fried egg + pimento cheese) and our kids are big fans of their Nutella & Banana Waffles.

Morning Activities

Museums

Raleigh is home to excellent museums and because of the quality and number of free museums in the city, Raleigh is often referred to as the “Smithsonian of the South”. 

NC Museum of Natural Sciences

Display of a dinosaur Skelton in a museum
Museum of Natural Sciences

Located in the heart of downtown, the Museum of Natural Sciences is North Carolina’s most visited museum and one of the top attractions in Raleigh. Explore over 4 floors of exhibits including walk-through dioramas, live animals, microbes and meteorites, 3D movies, and there’s a fantastic permanent collection of dinosaur and whale skeletons. 

NC Museum of History

Historical memorabilia and artifacts inside a history museum.
Museum of History

If you’re more into history, across the street from the Natural Sciences museum is the Museum of History. Founded in 1902, more than 400,000+ people a year visit this museum and on display are 150,000 artifacts and more than 14,000 years of history.

NC Museum of Art

Young girl looking at large steel ring art sculpture
Museum Park

Art lovers should head to the impressive NC Museum of Art which is home to more than a dozen beautiful indoor gallery spaces showcasing art from around the world. You can either self-explore or take an engaging tour, see performing arts and participate in family workshops.

Don’t miss taking a stroll through the attached Anne & Jim Goodnight Museum Park, a 164-acre park and trail system that features more than a dozen commissioned works of art. 

Marbles Kids Museum

a little girl playing with toys

If you’ve got young kids (up until the age of about 12), Marbles Kids Museum is one of the best things to do with kids in Raleigh. There are two levels of kid-focused museum activities here with dozens of hands-on exhibits and the state’s only 3D-capable IMAX theater. For even more museums, read our full guide to the 8 top museums in Raleigh.

Lunch

Below is a short list of local restaurants all centrally located and based on a few select categories to help you get a taste of Raleigh and places popular with the locals.

Barbecue

two plates of food on a table
Sam Jones BBQ

In case you don’t know, North Carolina is a barbecue state and enjoying a plate of bbq in Raleigh is one of those “welcome to the South” moments you should experience.

  • Sam Jones BBQ is famous in Eastern NC. They smoke whole hogs on site and are popular for their chopped BBQ, fried chicken, ribs, and baked flat cornbread. And I’m a big fan of their smoked turkey sandwich!
  • The Pit Authentic BBQ is another of the popular BBQ spots in Raleigh. They serve whole-hog, pit-cooked Eastern-style bbq and their signature items include Baby Back Ribs and Chopped BBQ, plus their Brunswick Stew, Heirloom Cabbage Collards, and Fried Green Tomatoes are popular.

Southern American

People sitting down to lunch inside a restaurant
Beasley’s Chicken + Honey
  • Beasley’s Chicken + Honey – popular Southern dining experience in downtown by famed chef Ashley Christensen. They specialize in Fried chicken and sandwiches, and are popular brunch spot on weekends.
  • Parkside Restaurant – a retro-industrial restaurant serving traditional Southern comfort food the locals love. They do an excellent burger, plus chicken & waffle sandwich, prime rib, and other popular Southern dishes.

Burgers

Burger with cheese, red peppers, lettuce and avocado.
Burger Village
  • Burger Village – If you’re looking for grass-fed, organic, and exotic burgers look no further. Choose from exotic meats like bison, elk, boar, and ostrich, plus your standard offerings such as beef, salmon, and chicken. Read our full review.
  • MoJoe’s – classic local neighborhood burger joint serving excellent burgers along with wings and pub-style appetizers. I love their Carnivore burger with a side of tater tots. Indoor and outdoor seating. See more burger suggestions here.

Mexican

Plates of Mexican food in a restaurant.
Gringo A Go Go
  • Gringo A Go Go – one of the popular Mexican restaurants in Raleigh with their colorful outdoor patio, real Mexican food and seasonal hand-crafted Margaritas. Brunch on Sundays. Read our full review.
  • Centro – Modern Mexican food in the heart of downtown. Funky little place with a laid-back Mexican vibe and atmosphere, Centro utilizes organic and local ingredients in flavorful ways. See more Mexican restaurants here.

For even more places to eat lunch including food halls, sandwich shops, and cafes see our complete guide to 40 spots to eat lunch in Raleigh.

Mediterranean

  • Taverna Agora Greek Kitchen – amazing rooftop patio and authentic Greek food, you can’t beat the food and vibe here. Traditional favorites like Baklava Sticky Buns, Gyro hash, Greek Omelet, Baked Eggs and Pita, Moussaka, and lamb burger!
  • Sitti (Lebanese) – popular restaurant serving versions of authentic Lebanese dishes in an upbeat atmosphere with communal tables or your own space.

Afternoon activities

Umstead State Park

Woman walking down a hiking trail in the forest.
Umstead State Park

Now you have a full stomach it’s time to get some steps in. An easy 15-minute drive from downtown brings you to one of the best outdoor places in Raleigh, and one of the state’s most visited parks – William B. Umstead State Park

This natural oasis surrounds three man-made lakes and has over 22 miles of trails ranging from easy to moderate. If you love to get active on nature trails through the forest, or do some biking, trail running, picnicking, canoeing, or even horseback riding, then Umstead is calling you!

A great introductory trail is the 2.8-mile Sal’s Branch Trail. However, if you’re up for a woodland walk, the Sycamore Trail is a 7.2-mile loop and the longest trail. But possibly my favorite trail is the 6-mile loop, Company Mill Trail.

Lake Johnson Loop Trail

People walking across a bridge at a lake surrounded by forest
Lake Johnson

If you love lake trails, Lake Johnson is our favorite of the lakes in Raleigh and just a 10-minute drive from downtown. The fully paved 3-mile greenway loop around the eastern side of the lake is popular with students at nearby NC State University and families. There’s a 700-foot-long boardwalk across the center of the lake, a boat house, small beach area, and picnic shelters. 

Pullen Park (young kids)

Young girl riding a carousel at a park
Historic carousel

One of the top Raleigh attractions for kids is historic Pullen Park which dates back to 1887. It was the first public park in North Carolina and is the fifth oldest operating amusement park in the US.

Here you can ride a historic carousel and miniature train, rent pedal boats, let the kids run free on the playgrounds, have a picnic or even grill out in one of the picnic areas.

Explore Historic Neighborhoods

Aerial view of a city skyline with a warehouse district in the foreground
The Warehouse District

If you’re not into nature hikes and prefer to stick more to the downtown area, Raleigh has some excellent historic neighborhoods to explore either on foot or by car.

Historic Oakwood & North Person St

Historic home with a front porch
Historic Oakwood

Historic Oakwood dates back to the 1800’s. It rose after the Civil War and is home to magnificent oak trees, Grand Victorians and modest bungalows. Check out this Free walking tour and don’t miss the magnificent Oakwood Cemetery

North Person Street borders historic Oakwood and is possibly my favorite street in Raleigh. Shop at local boutique stores and a bookstore, or grab a bite to eat or drink at many of my favorite spots in the city:

  • Edge of Urge – boutique store specializing in clothing, jewelry and accessories.
  • Unlikely Professionals – part dive bar, part retail store.
  • So & So Books – independent local bookstore.
  • Two Roosters – handcrafted ice cream by an NC State grad.
  • Pelagic Beer & Wine – craft retail beer store and tasting room. 
  • Standard Beer + Food – hip and contemporary brewery with tasty tacos.
  • Oakwood Pizza – New York style pizza.
  • William & Company – fantastic local neighborhood cocktail bar.
  • Krispy Kreme – the second original store in the world (after Winston-Salem)
  • Crawford & Son – fine dining by award-winning chef, Scott Crawford.

Boylan Heights

boylan heights raleigh nc
Boylan Heights

Historic Boylan Heights is another of the premier neighborhoods in Raleigh. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Craftsman bungalows sit along with transitional Queen Anne/Colonial Revivals and Dutch Colonials, while mature trees dominate the streetscapes.

  • Rebus Works – coffee shop and tasty treats plus gallery run by artists.
  • Boulted Bread – popular local bakery.
  • Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing – excellent drinks + small paltes and views!
  • Vault Craft Beer – old bank turned brewery.
  • Dorothea Dix Park – Raleigh’s largest city park.

The Warehouse District:

Aerial view of a city skyline with a warehouse district in the foreground
Warehouse District

The six-block Warehouse District was transformed from its former red-brick industrial buildings into a vibrant mix of restaurants, cafes, bars, a brewery, a food hall, boutique shopping, art museums, studios and technology firms.

Pre-dinner drinks

There are some great bars and Raleigh breweries that are perfect for a pre-dinner drink (or all occasions). Below are a select few of our personal favorites.

Breweries

People sitting at a table drinking with a city skyline in the background.
Wye Hill has awesome views!
  • Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing – we take all first-time visitors here for the wow moment. The best view of the Raleigh skyline from their outstanding outdoor patio is paired with excellent craft beer and unique cocktails.
  • Crank Arm Brewing – the guys at Crank Arm are super passionate about craft beer and bikes. Relaxed and friendly vibe here in the Warehouse District. My pick: Road Hazard Hazy IPA.
  • Raleigh Beer Garden – not an actual brewery, but with 350+ beers on tap, at time of opening they became the world record-holder for largest selection of draft beer!

Wine bars

  • Vita Vite Art Gallery + Wine Bar – premier wine bar that doubles as an art gallery. Excellent selection of wine and relaxed atmosphere. Locations in the Warehouse District and North Hills.
  • Barcelona Wine Bar – as global travelers we cannot resist a place that takes us away on a quick vacation without needing to jump on a flight. An array of Spanish wines and tapas transporting you to the streets of Barcelona. 

Whiskey & Cocktail bars

  • Whiskey Kitchen – repurposed industrial building and beautiful open space. Over 300 whiskies plus craft cocktails and beer and wine, you can’t go wrong here.
  • William & Company – cozy local neighborhood cocktail bar next to Historic Oakwood. Fresh and unique craft cocktails created by top-notch bartenders!

Dinner

Modern American

White car parked outside a restaurant.
Stanbury is a neighborhood gem!
  • Stanbury – Probably the most unique of the dining experiences in Raleigh. Outstanding food and terrific ambiance in a quirky, rustic venue with excellent service! Their menu changes daily (updated on their Facebook) and features modern cuisine via small plates and entrees (the best steak I’ve had in Raleigh), plus craft cocktails. No reservations here, walk ins only!

Asian

  • Bida Manda – we spent 12 months in Southeast Asia and don’t hesitate to say this is best of the Asian restaurants in Raleigh, and my favorite Southeast Asian restaurant in North Carolina. Well renowned for its authentic Laotian cuisine with ample vegetarian and gluten free options.
  • Five Star Restaurant – named after the owner’s grandfather who was the equivalent of a Five Star General in the U.S. Army and served in the Republic of China (Taiwan) armed forces. Highly regarded by the locals. My pick: the Pork Dumplings and Crispy Sesame Beef.

Italian

  • Giorgio Pizza Bar – Get a true taste of Italy in North Hills by famed restauranter, Giorgios Bakatsias. Delightful pizzas and pastas with accompanying Italian wines.
  • Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar – enjoy the ultimate outdoor dining experience near downtown on their open-air secluded patio by the pool.

Vegetarian & Vegan

plates of vegan food
Fiction Kitchen
  • Fiction Kitchen – 100% vegan restaurant that combines creative flair with classic Southern comfort foods like “chicken and waffles”, to globally inspired plates like Vegan charcuterie board, potato chaat, curry bowl, homestyle meatloaf, and risotto. Excellent cocktails.
  • Irregardless Cafe – iconic vegetarian restaurant and the oldest in Raleigh. Seasonal menu that features an array of vegetarian and vegan options, plus meat and seafood (something for everyone) Cozy and fun community vibe and live music. 

Fine Dining

  • Second Empire Restaurant & Tavern – for a special occasion, enjoy an exquisite fine dining experience inside a Second Empire Victorian that incorporates history, Southern charm, gourmet meals and excellent service.
  • Crawford & Son – perfect date night experience for those who want an intimate setting but with a little buzzy vibe. Casual yet elegant with innovative dishes beautifully presented by award winning chef, Scott Crawford.

For even more places to eat, see our guide to our favorite downtown restaurants, and our guide to the best gluten free restaurants.

After-dinner drinks (or activities)

Two cocktail glasses on a table in a bar
Dram & Draught
  • Watts & Ward – my favorite of the underground bars in Raleigh. A craft cocktail bar founded upon the underground spirit of the 1920s. Leather seating, rustic tables, dim lighting and bookshelves full of history. Inventive cocktail menu and low-key music.
  • Dram & Draught – excellent whiskey bar with a range of whiskeys from around the world, plus seasonal cocktails, wines, and draught beer from Raleigh (and beyond).
  • Bittersweet – if you enjoy the concept of a dessert bar, a place where you can get bourbon with your pie, or champagne with your cake, then consider Bittersweet. A bar I love to go to in downtown for an Espresso Martini and Irish Coffee.
  • See a show at the Performing Arts Center (home to the Carolina Ballet and the NC Symphony).
  • Catch a concert at Red Hat Amphitheater.
  • Or see an intimate live music performance at The Lincoln Theater.

If you’re looking to party late into the night, the main nightlife area of Raleigh is the Glenwood South Entertainment District which is lined with bars, breweries and restaurants.

Hotels in Raleigh

Hotel building i downtown Raleigh surrounded by trees and carparking spaces
Residence Inn, downtown

There is a growing list of hotels in Raleigh to choose from. Below is my handpicked selection:

  • Residence Inn Raleigh – cozy apartment style (all-suite) accommodation and perfect for couples and families. Excellent central downtown location, walk to everything!
  • Marriott Raleigh City Center – in the middle of it all in downtown Raleigh on Fayetteville Street. Good for leisure or business travel. 
  • The Casso – boutique hotel and super convenient to the Glenwood South Entertainment District and the Warehouse District.
  • StateView Hotel – located on NC State University’s Centennial campus, you feel like you’re a million miles away in the forest by a lake, but you’re just a 3-mile drive from downtown!
  • Heights House Hotel – boutique hotel in historic Boylan Heights on the edge of downtown. This historic landmark dates to the 1860s.
  • NOTE: if you are looking for hotels near Raleigh Airport, stay here.

There you have it. If you don’t know what to do in Raleigh, now you do! This 24 hours in Raleigh guide will give you a real taste of the city, its culture, history, food and drink scene.

If you have longer than one day and you’re in town for one of our cool festivals or sporting events, be sure to check out our 2 days in Raleigh guide.


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