In May 2025, I achieved my goal of visiting all 50 states by going on a girls weekend with my mom to North Carolina! The highlight of our trip? Visiting the Biltmore Estate in Asheville! I had seen stunning photos of the property, but really didn’t know what to expect. And wow, was I blown away! The estate is huge, incredibly beautiful, and the attention to detail at every turn was noteworthy. Here are my top 8 tips for visiting the Biltmore Estate in Asheville!
1. Plan to spend the whole day on property
The Biltmore Estate is enormous, with so much to explore. Regardless of your house entry time, definitely plan to spend the entire day exploring the property! Our house entry time wasn’t until 10:30 am, but we arrived right at opening, got a great parking spot, and walked around the area surrounding the house. It was a great chance to get pictures of the house and grounds without a lot of other people! The photo at the top of this page is proof of that ;). Even after your house tour, explore the rest of the grounds and also make your way over to the Antler Hill Village for more activities! My mom and I were at the Biltmore from 9:00 am until after 3:00 pm, and we still didn’t feel like we saw it all!
2. Reserve your tickets in advance
Tickets to enter the Biltmore Estate and house are timed, so it’s important to book them in advance! We booked our tickets about a month before our visit, and several early times were already sold out. Tickets can be booked by clicking here. Pricing varies by season, so select the most applicable one for your visit. The time you select is not the time you can enter the property, but rather the time to enter the house for the self-guided tour. Even if you’re not able to get an entry time for later in the day, your ticket grants you admission to the grounds for the entire day! Regardless of your house entry time, I’d recommend arrive early in the morning to enjoy the rest of the property (as mentioned above!).
3. Plan out your meals ahead of time
Another part of planning your tickets in advance, is planning your meals! Like everything, I’d highly recommend making as many reservations as you can ahead of time. We had lunch at the Stable Cafe, which is right next to the house, and it was fantastic! It’s a casual vibe with farm fresh Southern food, right in the original horse stables on property! The booths that surround the perimeter are inside the original horse stalls, which is really fun! Everything in the stables is original, except for some of the electrical and fire safety additions. They were accommodating walk-ins on a first-come, first-serve basis, but I’d recommend making a reservation by clicking here to secure your lunch spot.
4. Enjoy complementary wine tasting
After exploring the house, gardens, and stables, definitely make time to explore the Antler Hill area: notably the winery! Entrance to the winery is included in your admission, and that also comes with complimentary wine tasting! You may encounter a bit of a wait to get into the tasting room, but stay the course because it’s worth it. Your expert sommelier will offer a menu of about 10 different wines, of which you can choose 5 to taste. The entire experience took about a half an hour, and this lightweight left with a little bit of a wine buzz! Talk about getting your moneys worth! After, grab a glass of your favorite from the bar and sit outside in the fresh mountain air and enjoy looking over the lush vineyard.
5. Wear comfortable footwear
The Biltmore covers 8,000 acres with all different terrains: paved paths, gravel, stairs, you name it. Expect a decent amount of walking while you’re here! I was just fine in my Birkenstock Arizona sandals, but I knew if we extended the day any more I would have been sore. Sneakers are probably best, especially when you are in the gardens and on the nature paths! You know yourself and your feet best, so wear whatever is comfortable and durable for you.
6. Leave the big bags at home
The Biltmore has a pretty strict bag policy to get into the area with the house, gardens, stables, and shops. While the front lawn is open, if you want to get in any further you will need to go through a security and bag check. At time of writing, the only small personal bags no larger than 19″ x 14″ x 9″ were allowed in the security area (no backpacks allowed). There are a limited number of lockers to check your bags, but best to just leave them at home or in your car. The full bag policy can be found here.
7. Best Photo Ops!
As mentioned above, the best time to enjoy the grounds are first thing in the morning before the crowds roll in! I loved being able to take some pictures without other people and get that out of the way early. Right when you enter the house property from the parking lots, there is a raised pedestrian bridge that overlooks the front lawn and gives a straight-on view of the house. That is where the photo at the top of this page was taken, and it was one of my favorite spots on the entire property! The Walled Garden, Italian Garden, and Conservatory are also great places to snap pics, especially in the morning without other people! Pictures inside the house can be tricky with the low light, but the back terrace is stunning and gives great views of the rolling mountains!
8. Pack for the weather
In the Smoky Mountains, the weather can change fast! Expect cooler temperatures than nearby cities like Knoxville or Charlotte, and plan for a bit of everything. Layers will be key when visiting the Biltmore estate in Asheville. Inside the house, there is very little cool air (no central AC in the late 1800s!). They did have the windows open and fans stationed through the rooms, but they can only do so much. Outside though, the air temperature was much chillier with the cool mountain breeze. Bring layers and plan for a little bit of everything.
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