Spend a day at Biltmore in Asheville

What's your favorite thing to do when you're in Asheville?

We have a hard time choosing, but we'd never visit "The Paris of the South" without a trip to America’s Largest Home®, Biltmore. And there is nowhere we'd rather stay than less than a quarter-mile from the grounds at The Residences at Biltmore.

To help you make the most of your visit, we’ve compiled a full day’s itinerary just for our guests to enjoy the best the Estate - and our suites - have to offer.

First Things First: Brunch at Azalea Bar & Kitchen

It’s the most important meal of the day, so if you’re waking up in one of our suites on a Saturday or Sunday, we suggest grabbing Southern-inspired brunch at our on-site restaurant, Azalea Bar & Kitchen. Azalea offers a plethora of unique dishes on the weekend from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., plus specialty cocktails and coffee. Here during the week? We recommend nearby locally-owned breakfast spots like Biscuit Head, Corner Kitchen, or Well-Bred Bakery. Our concierge will be happy to suggest more, so be sure to ask.

Be sure to wear comfy shoes, because you’ll be doing a lot of walking.

*Insider tip: Buy your Biltmore entry tickets online; you can reserve an entry time and you’ll get a discount on admission. *

Morning: Arrive at the Estate

If you’ve already bought your tickets online, drive past the gatehouse to the parking lot and start your Biltmore adventure. If you haven’t bought your tickets, head over to the Ticketing Sales Center to buy them. You must have a reservation to enter the house.

Your first order of business after parking should be touring the house. Check the house’s website for important updates on other guest requirements, including any current mask mandates and what you can - and can’t - bring with you.

Plan for at least 2 hours to see the entire house. The cost of standard admission covers an audio-guided tour, during which you’ll see several stories of the house - including the basement. Knowledgeable house “interpreters” are stationed in most rooms to answer questions as you move along.

Insider tip: Use the restroom in the stable area before entering the house, because there are no public restrooms once you’re inside.

Leaving the house doesn’t mean your day is over! There is so much to do on the 8,000 acres of grounds.

Grab a snack at one of the cafes in the stable area, then head over to the garden and marvel over the rows and rows of beautiful flowers on display. Every spring, the gardens and Conservatory erupt in color and seasonal flowers like tulips, roses, and dogwood and redbud trees. The annual celebration of flowers and colors in the gardens, Biltmore Blooms, begins on March 25. As does the Chihuly at Biltmore display at the Amherst at Deerpark™ exhibition space. Artist Dale Chihuly’s pedestal works, Drawings, and large-scale installations of Chandeliers, Towers, Mille Fiori, and Neon will be featured. Admission is included with your Estate admission.

Afternoon: Get Active

After a stroll through the gardens, walk or drive to one of the numerous trails on the property. We suggest a trip down the Azalea Garden Path to the Bass Pond where you can rest and watch the ripples on the water, the Bass Pond Waterfall, and the bridge. If you’re up for a hike, there are nearly 22 miles of trails throughout the Biltmore Estate's rolling hills and green landscapes. Each trail has its own natural wonders to behold, but the Lagoon Trail offers a magnificent view of the back of the house, as well as another relaxing spot for resting or picnicking around the lagoon or the French Broad River. There are even parking spots, so that’s one less thing to worry about.

Want a closer view of the house from the back? From the Lagoon Trail, navigate to the Deer Park Trail. You’ll end up just behind the gardens. Taking the Lagoon Trail in the opposite direction leads to Antler Hill Village, where the winery, shops, farm, and Outdoor Adventure Center are located. The spring marks the return of guided trail rides on horseback and carriage rides, as well as raft and kayak trips along the French Broad River.

If you’ve still got time on your hands, the Outdoor Adventure Center offers numerous experiences for you to reserve, like sporting clays lessons, falconry, fly-fishing, guided trail rides, and more. There’s even a Land Rover off-roading adventure you can take. The Farmyard offers up-close and hands-on interactions with animals such as chickens, goats, lambs, and more. It’s a great place for the kids, and not far from the Pisgah Playground, where kids can run off some energy and engage in creative play.

Insider tip: Ask the concierge at The Residences at Biltmore for information about a 10% discount on a Land Rover Experience.

Evening: Wind Down

No visit to Antler Hill Village is complete without a tour of Biltmore’s winery and a stop in the tasting room for samples. After a few drinks, sit back and enjoy the sounds of live music at the Bandstand, grab an ice cream cone from The Creamery, or do some people-watching while you relax on the lawn of the Village Green.

*Insider tip: Bring folding chairs or a blanket if you don’t want to sit on the lawn or in case no seats around the bandstand are available. And don’t forget your bug spray, especially in the warmer evenings of late spring. *

After a long day of living like the Vanderbilts, you’re likely to be hungry. Grab a cocktail or a meal at Azalea Bar & Kitchen. It’s open 4 nights a week for dinner, and you’ll find a delightful menu of Southern fusion dishes that are unlike any other restaurants in Asheville. Indulge in a craft cocktail and house-made dessert, or choose from our selection of locally-made draft beers.

If you’re visiting on a night when Azalea is closed, be sure to ask our concierge to make reservations for dinner at one of Asheville's numerous award-winning restaurants, like Chai Pani (pro tip: The Indian street food restaurant won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant in 2022, so reservations are a must). After dinner, retreat to the comfort of your suite to cuddle up by the fireplace, take a long soak in one of our Jacuzzi bathtubs, or break out some board games to play with the family. Then have sweet dreams as you drift off to sleep with the memories of a day at Biltmore fresh in your mind.

Our 2- and 3-bedroom suites have room for as many as 8 to sleep comfortably. It’s not quite Biltmore, but we still have plenty of amenities to enjoy, whether you’re on a romantic retreat for two or a family retreat to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Are you ready to book your spring getaway to Asheville with us? Call for more information: 1-888-786-3648