24 Hours in Raleigh Itinerary (for First Time Visitors)

If you only have 24 hours in Raleigh, our one-day Raleigh itinerary is what we suggest for first time visitors to get a reel feel for downtown Raleigh – the culture, the history, the food and drink scene, and the Southern community feel.

Aerial view of a city skyline and the houses, streets and trees in downtown Raleigh
Downtown Raleigh skyline

We put this itinerary together from personal experience after having lived here for over 10 years now and spending a lot of time in the downtown Raleigh area. These are the places we take visiting friends and are some of the most “Raleigh experiences to have!”

This itinerary includes suggestions on where to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, activities for the morning and afternoon, pre-dinner and after-dinner drinks, and hotels to stay in. Let us take the guesswork out of your trip to Raleigh!

Family walking across a bridge looking at a city skyline in downtown Raleigh, NC
View of downtown from Boylan Bridge

Getting around Raleigh downtown is easy by either walking, using the bicycle renting service Cardinal Bikeshare, riding an electric scooter, or using the free R-LINE circulator bus to navigate the 12 block downtown radius. You barely even have to move your car – see parking in Raleigh options here.

Of course, we suggest you stay longer than one day as there are plenty of cool activities in Raleigh, so check out our 48 hours in Raleigh itinerary, and our Raleigh bucket list post. Plus we have other itinerary posts coming soon specific for couples, families, and the hip party people (join our free VIP email tribe so you don’t miss those). But for a general overall short visit, we’ve got you covered down below! 

We love living in Raleigh, and we hope this guide helps your visit be stress free and full of fun memories and wanting more time in the city of oaks. Now, let us show you around.

24-Hour Raleigh Itinerary

Breakfast

Big Ed’s Restaurant City Market

A group of people sitting at a table in a restaurant
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 Restaurant 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.

Plate of pork, eggs, and breakfast potatoes
Sliced pork loin
Plate of steak and eggs and a black coffee
Ribeye steak & eggs

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.

Alternate breakfast options:

  • The Morning Times – quality, local food. Sit on the sidewalk or in their upstairs art gallery. Great coffee (see coffee suggestions down below)
  • A Place at the Table – Raleigh’s pay-what-you-can-afford cafe. Amazing concept and staff. 

Coffee (and morning stroll)

Leave Big Ed’s restaurant via the cobblestone streets of City Market and head towards nearby Moore Square to stretch your legs, get some nature, and see the city skyline. 

Moore Square

Moore Square, downtown Raleigh
Moore Square in the heart of downtown!

Moore Square is a four-acre urban green space that was originally conceived as one of five public green spaces in Raleigh and the square and surrounds is a charming mix of old and new in the heart of downtown Raleigh.

Here you’ll find a large open lawn area, magnificent oak trees, a shaded “tree house” area for kids, 30-foot-wide sidewalks on the edge of the park, and a small splash pad for kids during the warmer months.

Take a stroll around the perimeter, or sit on the grass and take in the views of the city skyline.

City park surrounded by trees and city buildings
Moore Squares large open grass area and oak trees

From Moore Square, head west up Hargett Street towards our suggested coffee stop at The Morning Times! On the way to coffee pop into some local shops around the Hargett St area including Black Friday Market and DECO.

Coffee at The Morning Times

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

This is one of our favorite coffee shops in downtown Raleigh and popular with the locals. We love their lattes (our kids love their cookies and baked goods) and we like to either sit in the cozy upstairs that also functions as an art gallery, or on the sidewalk and watch the Raleigh street scene go by (perfect with your furry friends or on a sunny day).

Alternative coffee shops:

  • Sir Walter Coffee – cool barista bar with a focus on unique coffee creations, tea lattes, tea cocktails, kombucha, and alcohol (you might feel like you’re in NYC).
  • 42 & Lawrence – on the edge of Moore Square. Serves up really good organic coffee and nitro cold brews at their mod bar setup.

Mid-Morning Activities

Fayetteville Street

A view of a city
Fayetteville Street

Fayetteville Street is the central thoroughfare of downtown Raleigh, or the city’s central business corridor, and is bookended by the State Capitol Building to the north, and the Performing Arts Center to the south.

After coffee at the Morning Times, turn left onto Fayetteville St from Hargett St and head south towards the Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts, then turn around and head north back up Fayetteville towards the NC State Capitol Building (distance: 0.7 miles, about 15 minutes).

As you stroll up and down Fayetteville St you’ll pass several restaurants and bars, hotels, the Court House, and through City Plaza. 

The North Carolina State Capitol Building

Aerial shot of the NC State Capitol building surrounded by oak trees
Surrounded by magnificent oak trees

Built in 1840, the NC State Capitol building is a National Historic Landmark and one of the best-preserved examples of Greek Revival-style architecture. 

You can tour all three floors of the building, plus monuments and statues on display outside in the grounds among more magnificent oak trees – Raleigh is nicknamed “city of oaks” for a reason! Self-guided tours available.

Museum of Natural Sciences, OR, the Museum of History

Aerial view of a museum
Museum of Natural Sciences

Raleigh has a lot of excellent museums and because of the quality and the amount of free museums it has often been referred to as the “Smithsonian of the South”

Below are two excellent museums in Raleigh just across the street from the Capitol Building. Because this is a short 24-hour Raleigh trip, we suggest you pick one or the other. Yes, they both deserve more time, but they are FREE, and you can always come back on another trip!

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

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

The excellent Museum of Natural Sciences is North Carolina’s most visited museum with over 4 floors of exhibits, live animals, and 3D movies. We love their permanent collection of dinosaur skeletons and whale skeletons. And don’t forget your photo with the giant globe out front. It’s one of the best things to do in Raleigh.

North Carolina Museum of History

History exhibits inside a museum
Museum of History

The Museum of History was founded in 1902 and welcomes more than 400,000+ visitors a year. On display are more than 14,000 years and 150,000 artifacts of history.

Lunch

The downtown Raleigh food scene has thrived in recent years (minus Covid setbacks) and is one of our favorite areas to eat and drink in the city area.

Below we have listed some local Raleigh restaurants all centrally located downtown and based on a few select categories to help you get a taste of Raleigh and what it is popular with the locals.

BBQ:

VIDEO: Check out Clyde Cooper’s BBQ

Southern comfort food:

  • The Raleigh Times – a timeless watering hole in a 100 year old building serving up quality American pub grub. Nice inside seating, or on the sidewalk or cool rooftop!
  • Parkside Restaurant – a retro-industrial restaurant serving traditional Southern comfort food the locals love!
  • Beasley’s Chicken + Honey – popular Raleigh restaurant by famed chef Ashley Christensen. Specializing in Fried chicken and sandwiches. Brunch on the weekend.

Food halls:

  • Morgan Street Food Hall – 20 different food concepts showcasing local eateries. Perfect for families or groups of friends with different food tastes.
  • Transfer Co. Food Hall – 12+ vendors in the historic Carolina Coach Garage. Again, something for everyone here!
Morgan Street Food Hall
Morgan Street Food Hall

Italian:

  • Cafe Luna – Tuscan-accented Italian fare in an airy, art-filled space since 1996. Very reasonable prices.

Mediterranean:

  • Taverna Agora – authentic Greek food with an amazing rooftop dining experience we keep going back for and is fantastic for brunch on the weekends!

Mexican:

  • Centro – modern Mexican food in the heart of downtown Raleigh.

Afternoon activities

Explore the Warehouse District

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

The six-block Warehouse District is one of our favorite neigborhoods in Raleigh to explore, an area that 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.

Located an easy 10-minute walk west of downtown. En route, be sure to walk through Nash Square – a public parkland with lush lawn, a variety of perennials, a short loop walk around the square, and many native shade trees, including beautiful oaks and magnolias.

Family of four walking through a city park
Nash Square

What to do in the Warehouse District:

Alternate afternoon activities:

  • Got young kids? Pullen Park (5-minute drive from downtown Raleigh) is one of the most fun things to do in Raleigh with kids and is the fifth oldest operating amusement park in the USA. Ride the historic carousel and iconic miniature train, take paddle boats out on the lake, or play in the playgrounds.
Young girl riding a carousel at a park
Pullen Park carousel
  • Dorothea Dix Park – set on a whopping 300+ acres and just a 5 minute drive from downtown, Dix Park is the largest park in Raleigh with impressive views of the downtown Raleigh skyline. It’s a lovely space with wide-open fields, rolling meadows, and tree-lined streets. The “Flowers Field” section is a top spot for a picnic with city views!
People picnicking in a park with a city skyline in the background
Dorothea Dix Park
  • Lake Johnson Loop – walk, jog, or bike the paved three-mile loop around the lake. We used to live on Lake Johnson and it’s our favorite lake trail in Raleigh!
Lady standing on a bridge taking a photo of a lake
Lake Johnson
  • Explore historic neighborhoods. Historic Oakwood dates back to the 1800’s and rose after the Civil War. It’s home to magnificent oak trees, Grand Victorians and modest bungalows. And don’t miss the magnificent Oakwood Cemetery! And Boylan Heights was one of Raleigh’s first planned suburbs with development beginning in 1907 and has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Historic home with a front porch
Home in Historic Oakwood
  • Marbles Kids Museum – two levels of kid-focused museum activities with dozens of hands-on exhibits. Perfect for toddlers and up to 10 years.

Pre-dinner drinks

There are plenty of great Raleigh bars and Raleigh breweries downtown that are perfect for all occasions. Below are a select few of our favorites that are also popular with other locals.

Beers:

  • Crank Arm Brewing – the guys at Cram Arm are passionate about beer and bikes. My pick: Road Hazard Hazy IPA.
  • The Raleigh Times Bar – a timeless watering hole and probably the most famous bar in Raleigh – even Obama had a campaign beer here. Extensive Belgian beer selection, multiple levels and an awesome open rooftop.
Outside view of a bar with tables and chairs on the sidewalk
The Raleigh Times Bar

Wine bar:

Whiskey & Cocktail bars:

  • Whiskey Kitchen – a beautiful open space and hip venue with a repurposed industrial feel. Over 300 whiskies plus craft cocktails, beer and wine options you can’t go wrong. Not sure which whiskey to drink, try a flight.
  • Dram & Draught – excellent range of whiskeys from around the world, plus seasonal cocktails, wines, and draught beer from Raleigh and beyond.
  • Killjoy – cool and colorful decor plus signature cocktails. One of our favorite Raleigh bars!

Dinner

Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing

Mon and two daughters eating brunch with a view of the city
Amazing food & views of downtown

If there’s one place in Raleigh we take first time visitors for that wow moment, it’s Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing. The best view of the Raleigh skyline from their outstanding outdoor patio is paired with excellent food, craft beer and unique cocktails. 

There’s a fun casual atmosphere that’s perfect for a group of friends, a date, or a family like ours (they have a kids menu).

Whilst Wye Hill Kitchen has the name “brewery” attached, don’t come here expecting your typical pub grub or brewery food – this is more innovative, up-scale food with an emphasis placed on North Carolina ingredients and unique twists on familiar dishes.

Other dinner suggestions:

Asian fusion:

  • Bida Manda is one of the best Asian restaurants in Raleigh – possibly some of our favorite Southeast Asian food in the USA.

Steakhouse:

  • Oak Steakhouse – contemporary establishment offering quality steaks cooked right plus seafood, pasta, and desserts. Relaxed atmosphere, excellent service. 

Italian:

Vegetarian & vegan:

  • Fiction Kitchen – if you’re looking for vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Raleigh, go here!
  • Irregardless Cafe – classic Raleigh staple since 1975 offering a global menu of locally sourced fare, plus live music.

Fine dining:

  • Second Empire Restaurant & Tavern – an exquisite fine dining experience inside a Second Empire Victorian that incorporates beauty, history, Southern charm, gourmet meals and excellent service.

  • Crawford & Son – the perfect date night experience for those who want an intimate setting with a little buzzy vibe. Casual yet elegant with innovative dishes beautifully presented by award winning chef, Scott Crawford.

After-dinner drinks or activities

  • Watts & Ward – probably our favorite bar in Raleigh (underground bar at least). A craft cocktail bar founded upon the underground spirit of the 1920s. Leather seating, rustic tables, dim lighting and bookshelves full of history. An inventive cocktail menu and low-key jazz events.
A lady and man sitting on a couch in a bar having drinks
Cool underground bar
  • Bittersweet – locals favorite dessert bar where you can get bourbon with your pie, or champagne with your cake, and specialty cocktails.

Where to Stay

Aerial view of the outside of a Residence Inn hotel
Residence Inn, downtown Raleigh

The choice of hotels in Raleigh keeps getting better. Below are our handpicked selection for a short stay:

Use the map below to find your Raleigh hotel and book!

There you have it. I hope this guide on Raleigh helps you have a memorable time in the city of oaks. If you have any questions, or suggestions of your own, please leave a comment down below! 

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FREE Printable CHECKLIST for all the best things to do in Raleigh  + updates + insider tips. 
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