Asheville Travel Guide: Things to Do, Best Time to Visit & Itinerary

Day 1: Vanderbilt Visions

• Morning: Start your trip at the Biltmore Estate with a reserved 9:30 AM house tour to beat the mid-day rush, costing approximately $80-$100 per person depending on the season. Spend two hours marveling at the library, the banquet hall, and the indoor swimming pool before heading out to the gardens.
• Afternoon: Enjoy a casual lunch at the Stable Cafe right next to the house for about $60, then take the complimentary shuttle to Antler Hill Village for a wine tasting which is included with your admission ticket. Walk along the river path or explore the farmyard area before leaving the estate grounds around 4:00 PM.
• Evening: Drive 10 minutes to Biltmore Village for a sophisticated dinner at The Corner Kitchen, housed in a century-old cottage, where a meal for two will run around $120. Finish the night with a craft cocktail at the nearby Red Stag Grill before retiring.

Day 2: Downtown Decadence

• Morning: Head downtown for a hearty Southern breakfast at Tupelo Honey Cafe, budgeting about $45 for two, and don’t forget to order the biscuits with honey. Afterward, spend the morning walking the Urban Trail, a 1.7-mile self-guided history tour marked by 30 sculptural stations throughout the city center.
• Afternoon: Drive up the mountain to The Omni Grove Park Inn and grab a light lunch at the Edison for $70 while enjoying panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the massive historic lobby, the subterranean spa, or the antique car museum next door.
• Evening: Return downtown for a reservation at Cúrate, the city’s most famous restaurant, where you should expect to spend $150 on an incredible spread of Spanish tapas and sherry. End your trip with a nightcap at The Montford Rooftop Bar to see the city lights twinkling against the mountain silhouette.

Day 1: The Blue Ridge Parkway

• Morning: Grab quick coffee and bagels at High Five Coffee for $25 before hitting the Blue Ridge Parkway heading north. Drive about 20 miles to the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center and hike the 1.4-mile roundtrip trail to the pinnacle for 360-degree views.
• Afternoon: Drive back toward town and stop at the Folk Art Center to see traditional Appalachian crafts, which is free to enter. Head to the South Slope district for a late lunch at Burial Beer Co., grabbing food from their permanent food truck for about $40 while tasting their famous dark ales.
• Evening: Continue your brewery crawl on foot to Green Man Brewery and Wicked Weed’s Funkatorium nearby, spending about $15 per flight. For dinner, grab a casual but delicious pizza at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company for roughly $35.

Day 2: Waterfalls and Art

• Morning: Drive 45 minutes south to DuPont State Recreational Forest to see the Triple Falls, a 2.2-mile loop that takes you past three massive waterfalls used in the filming of The Hunger Games. Parking is free, but arrive by 9:00 AM to secure a spot at the High Falls access area.
• Afternoon: Return to Asheville and head to the River Arts District (RAD), grabbing tacos at White Duck Taco Shop for a budget-friendly $30 lunch. Spend three hours walking along the French Broad River greenway and popping into the working studios of potters, painters, and glassblowers at the Marquee or Cotton Mill Studios.
• Evening: Stay in the RAD for dinner at 12 Bones Smokehouse (note they often close early, so check hours) or The Bull and Beggar for a nicer meal costing around $100. Finish the evening at the Wedge Brewing Company nearby to watch the locals play cornhole by the railroad tracks.

Day 3: West Asheville Vibes

• Morning: Explore the funky West Asheville neighborhood, starting with a massive brunch at Sunny Point Café where the line is worth the wait and the bill will be around $50. Walk off the pancakes by browsing the vintage shops and record stores along Haywood Road.
• Afternoon: Rent stand-up paddleboards or tubes from French Broad Outfitters for approximately $30 per person and float a calm 4-mile section of the river that runs right through town. The trip usually takes 2-3 hours and offers a unique perspective of the Biltmore estate grounds from the water.
• Evening: Conclude your trip with a relaxed dinner at Jargon in West Asheville, featuring creative American cuisine in a renovated historic building for about $110. Afterward, catch some live music at The Grey Eagle or The Orange Peel, with tickets typically ranging from $20 to $40.