Visitor’s Guide to the Biltmore Estate

Table of Contents

1 Information About the Biltmore
2 The Bilmore House and Estate
3 The Biltmore Gardens
4 The Biltmore Winery
5 Antler Hill Village and Biltmore Village
6 Christmas at the Biltmore
7 Other Biltmore Activities
8 Where to Stay
9 Conclusion
10 Pin it for Later

No trip to Asheville, North Carolina is complete without a visit to the Biltmore Estate. The building was first owned by George Vanderbilt in 1889 and took six years for construction to finish. At 178,926 square feet in size and 250 rooms, the estate is the largest privately-owned home in the United States.

The Biltmore was inspired by many of the magnificent French châteaux. The family began opening up their home during the Great Depression as a source of income, and it has remained a popular tourist attraction ever since.

The Biltmore estate is still owned by the family today, who have continued to preserve it for us to enjoy. This travel guide goes over all the information you need to plan your trip, the different parts of the estate to visit, and travel and hotel accommodations.

Last updated on January 4th, 2023

Information About the Biltmore

Entrance to the Biltmore

Daytime admission is around $75, but the cost fluctuates depending on the day and time of the year. During the winter months, the price of admission goes up due to this being the most popular time of the year to visit.

I do recommend purchasing your tickets before you get there. It will save you a lot of time and is also cheaper. We visited with a group of 10 people and were able to call ahead and get a group discount with audio guides included.

We opted for the self-guided tour of the estate. The Biltmore also offers a guided tour, but it is much more expensive.

TIP: If you decide to buy your ticket at the estate, you will have to purchase them at the Ticketing Sales Center near the front gate. Purchasing and printing your ticket ahead of time will save time and money doing this.

Parking

The entire estate is extremely large, and there are several parking lots available. Lots A and B are only a 10-minute walk from the Biltmore Mansion, and there is another parking lot near Antler Hill Village.

There are also complimentary shuttles that will take you to the different parts of the property so that you do not have to walk.

Tips About Visiting the Biltmore

Spend the extra $15 ($12 if you purchase online) for an audio guide. The guide gives you a detailed history of each room you visit in the estate and is worth the purchase.
Wear comfortable shoes since you will be doing a lot of walking.
There are a few restaurants around the property, and they stay pretty booked throughout the day. To avoid waiting for a table, make sure to call ahead and make a lunch/dinner reservation.

The Bilmore House and Estate

Once you are inside the mansion, you will be able to get started with your self-guided tour. Due to the high number of visitors each day, everyone navigates through the levels the same way.

Although it was busy, there was lots of room to move around, and I did not feel rushed to go on to the next room before I was ready. The tour takes you to three floors of the house as well as the basement.

Some of the most interesting rooms were the Halloween room, swimming pool, and gymnasium. The amount of time spent in preserving each room is impressive.

From the furnishings to the wall and ceiling moldings, everything is extremely ornate and detailed. You truly feel like you have traveled back in time the minute you step through the front door.

The audio guides were very helpful, and are worth the extra money. We were able to get them as part of our group discount, but I would spend the extra few dollars for them if they do not come with your admission ticket. The guides give in-depth information about each room you tour and include interesting facts about the estate, people who have visited, and many of the furnishings and artworks.

The Biltmore Gardens

The Biltmore Gardens are one of the most beautiful gardens you will see. The gardens were designed by Frederick Olmsted, who also designed Central Park. You could probably spend an entire day just walking around the different areas.

Some areas to visit are the azaleas garden, rose garden, and greenhouse. It was still winter when we visited, so the garden was not in full bloom, but it was still pretty to see.

The Biltmore Winery

Your ticket includes free wine tasting at the Biltmore winery. The winery is in the Antler Hill Village. You can either drive your car there and park at the village parking area or hop on a shuttle.

The tasting was a fun addition to our visit. Our server was very knowledgeable about the different types of wines the Biltmore produces. For the wine tasting, we were given a menu of the wineries selection and were able to order flights for the ones we wanted to try.

The tasting room is attached to the wine shop, where we quickly bought some bottles to bring home with us and a couple of other goodies that were for sale.

If you want a more personal experience, there are a few options available:

Stop next door at the Wine Bar for a more intimate setting.
Take a tour of the winery, followed by a private tasting.
Book a wine and chocolate tasting.

Antler Hill Village and Biltmore Village

Antler Village is located on the Biltmore Estate. The village is a few miles from the house and is where you will find the Vanderbilt exhibit, shops, restaurants, and winery.

It has its own parking lot, so you can either drive your car there or take a shuttle. I highly recommend stopping by the creamery for ice cream while you are there.

Just outside the Biltmore Estate entrance is Biltmore Village. The community was used to staff the mansion’s employees back when Biltmore was first built. There is a much larger variety of restaurants available here. Some popular restaurants include the Corner Kitchen, Village Wayside Bar and Grill, and The Cantina. You will also find several unique boutiques and shops to explore.

Christmas at the Biltmore

Winter is the most popular time to visit the Biltmore. The entire estate is transformed into a winter wonderland, with Christmas decorations everywhere you turn.

During the holidays, you will find 100 decorated trees, over 100,000 lights around the property, and numerous Christmas displays at both the mansion and Antler Hill Village. Visitors can choose from either the Daytime or Evening Experiences. Christmas at the Biltmore is perfect for a romantic weekend getaway.

Other Biltmore Activities

There are lots of other great things to do around the property. One of our favorite things is to rent a bike for a couple of hours and explore. Here are some other activities to try!

Hike the different trails around the property. You can either hike on your own or pay for a guided tour around the grounds.
Visit an Exhibit – The Biltmore often has special exhibits on display.
Book a roof-top tour of the mansion.
Horseback riding around the property is available as well but as part of a guided group.
Take a 2-hour clay shooting lesson.
Enjoy a falconry experience where you learn how to train and handle a falcon.

Where to Stay

The Inn on Biltmore Estate is located on the property and is one of the priciest hotels in the area. If you are looking for luxurious accommodations and enjoy knowing that you’re staying within walking distance of the Biltmore mansion, the Inn is a beautiful place to stay.

Village Hotel is another option if you want to stay on the estate, but for a more moderate price. The rooms here are more casual than those at the Inn but are still a great choice if you want to be within walking distance of the winery and Antler Village.

The Windsor Boutique Hotel is located in downtown Asheville, just a short drive away from the Biltmore. If you are planning on spending some time exploring Asheville, this hotel is within walking distance of many breweries and restaurants in the city.

The Foundry Hotel was originally the foundry that supplied the steel for the Biltmore Estate. It is now a modern hotel just minutes from downtown Asheville.

Omni Grove Park Inn is located in the mountains, offering a more quiet experience. The hotel has its own golf court, swimming pool, spa, and restaurant for guests to enjoy.

Conclusion

The Biltmore Estate is a magical place that has things for the entire family to do. Whether you have time to spend the weekend, or visit for just the day, it is worth a trip to the magnificent estate.

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