Itinerary · Asheville · United States
One day in Asheville
A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing Asheville, not crossing it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Folk Art Center, Asheville · Photo: Doug Coldwell, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 3. Day 1: Biltmore Estate and River Arts District. Base yourself in Downtown Asheville.
Key facts
- Days
- 1
- Sights covered
- 3
- Day trips
- None
- Best base
- Downtown Asheville
- Book ahead
- Biltmore Estate
Plan a trip to Asheville
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Day by day
Day 1: Biltmore Estate and River Arts District
Biltmore Estate and River Arts District, then South Slope breweries in the evening. Biltmore Estate to River Arts District: 5.4 km in a straight line, so take transit.
Breakfast
Breakfast: Biscuits
Morning
Biltmore Estate
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. Allow Full day.
Late morning
River Arts District
Check which studios are open before you go, and buy directly from artists to support the district's recovery. Allow 2–3 hours.
Lunch
Lunch: Mountain trout
Farm-to-table restaurants across the city and smoked trout at local markets.
Evening
South Slope breweries
Walk between taprooms rather than driving, and ask about tasting flights to try several beers at each stop.
Before you go
- Biltmore Estate: House entry is by timed ticket; buy online in advance, especially in October and during the Christmas season.
If it rains
- Swap in Folk Art Center (Blue Ridge Parkway): Ask about the day's craft demonstrations, and combine your visit with a short drive along the parkway.
- Swap in Grove Arcade (Downtown Asheville): Look at the winged lions guarding the north entrance, then walk to Battery Park Book Exchange for a drink among the books.
- Swap in Asheville Art Museum (Downtown Asheville): Go up to the rooftop sculpture terrace for the view, and look for works by Black Mountain College artists in the permanent galleries.
Where to stay for this itinerary
$$$ · Best for first-timers, food lovers, couples and nightlife
Downtown Asheville
Art Deco streets of galleries, bookshops, restaurants and rooftop bars
Pace and daylight
The sights in this plan add up to roughly 10–14 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.8 hours in December to 14.6 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.
Getting between stops: Car. A car is the easiest way to reach the Biltmore Estate, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the arboretum and the mountains.
More or fewer days
Questions travellers ask
+Is one day enough in Asheville?
One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 3. How many days Asheville needs.
+What should I book before visiting Asheville?
Biltmore Estate.