Sight guide · Asheville · United States
Visiting Biltmore Estate
Completed in 1895 for George Vanderbilt and designed by Richard Morris Hunt, Biltmore House is a 250-room French Renaissance-style château and the largest privately owned home in the United States.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Blake Lewis, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Biltmore Estate is a palace in Biltmore Village, Asheville. Allow full day; it is expensive. House entry is by timed ticket; buy online in advance, especially in October and during the Christmas season.
Key facts
- Type
- Palace
- Area
- Biltmore Village
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Recommended
- Good for
- history, architecture, couples and kids
- Best months
- May–July
Plan a trip to Asheville
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
About Biltmore Estate
Completed in 1895 for George Vanderbilt and designed by Richard Morris Hunt, Biltmore House is a 250-room French Renaissance-style château and the largest privately owned home in the United States. The visit covers the banquet hall, library and servants' quarters, followed by Frederick Law Olmsted's gardens, conservatory, the winery and Antler Hill Village.
Tip: Book the earliest house entry, then spend the afternoon in the gardens and at the winery; the estate is large, so allow a full day.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: Full day.
- Cost: Expensive.
- Book ahead: House entry is by timed ticket; buy online in advance, especially in October and during the Christmas season.
- Where: Biltmore Village, shops and inns in the planned village outside the Biltmore Estate gates.
Best time to visit Biltmore Estate
Biltmore Estate is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- July: 29°C (84°F) highs, about 13 rainy days, busy crowds.
- May: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- June: 27°C (81°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, busy crowds.
When to visit Asheville has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Asheville itinerary visits Biltmore Estate on day 1, together with River Arts District and South Slope breweries.
- No. 1 of the 14 sights in our Asheville things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- A family favourite in Asheville with kids.
If you like Biltmore Estate
- Downtown Art Deco walk — Downtown Asheville, 1–1.5 hours
- Basilica of St. Lawrence — Downtown Asheville, 30 minutes
- Omni Grove Park Inn — North Asheville and Grove Park, 1 hour
Staying near Biltmore Estate
Stay in Biltmore Village ($$) to walk here: shops and inns in the planned village outside the Biltmore Estate gates. All areas to stay in Asheville.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Biltmore Estate?
Plan full day.
+Is Biltmore Estate free?
No, it is expensive. Booking ahead is advised.
+When is the best time to visit Biltmore Estate?
May–July, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Book the earliest house entry, then spend the afternoon in the gardens and at the winery; the estate is large, so allow a full day.
+Do I need to book Biltmore Estate in advance?
House entry is by timed ticket; buy online in advance, especially in October and during the Christmas season.
+Is Biltmore Estate good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Asheville. Asheville works for families who like the outdoors, with Biltmore's gardens and farm, the arboretum, the parkway's overlooks and the Great Smoky Mountains nearby.