Asheville
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Asheville - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Asheville Art Museum
Downtown | Museum/GalleryEstablished in 1948, the 68,000-square-foot museum kept the footprint of the old Pack Library, a 1926 Italian Renaissance–style building that...
Established in 1948, the 68,000-square-foot museum kept the footprint of the old Pack Library, a 1926 Italian Renaissance–style building that houses the museum, but with a contemporary glass entry and art-filled gallery and atrium. The expansion increased display space by 70% and added a rooftop sculpture garden and café. The new galleries can now display more of the museum's permanent collection of American art since 1860, with an emphasis on Southeast regional artists, including those from Black Mountain College. Asheville Art Museum admission is free, but you may donate $5 to support the museum’s programs.
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2. Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar
Downtown | Store/MallAt this unusual bookstore and bar, you can relax on an overstuffed chair or sofa while sipping one of 80 wines and champagnes by the glass....
At this unusual bookstore and bar, you can relax on an overstuffed chair or sofa while sipping one of 80 wines and champagnes by the glass. The inventory includes more than 20,000 secondhand books, with special strength in Civil War, American history, and North Carolina subjects. It's pet friendly, too, with an "espresso dog bar."
Grove Arcade, 1 Page Ave., southwest corner, Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA828-252–0020 -
3. Biltmore House and Estate
Biltmore Village | Historic HomeBuilt in the 1890s as the home of George Vanderbilt, the astonishing 250-room French Renaissance château is America's largest private house...
Built in the 1890s as the home of George Vanderbilt, the astonishing 250-room French Renaissance château is America's largest private house and the number one attraction of its kind in North Carolina. Richard Morris Hunt designed it, and Frederick Law Olmsted landscaped the original 125,000-acre estate (now 8,000 acres). It took 1,000 workers five years to complete the gargantuan project. On view are the antiques and art collected by the Vanderbilts, including notable paintings by Renoir and John Singer Sargent, along with 75 acres of gardens, formally landscaped grounds, and many hiking trails. You can also see the on-site Biltmore Winery, the most-visited one in America. Candlelight tours of the house are offered at Christmastime. Also on the grounds are a deluxe hotel, a more moderately priced hotel, many restaurants, and an equestrian center. Antler Hill Village includes a hotel, shops, restaurants, farm buildings, and crafts demonstrations. Most people tour the house on their own, but guided tours are available. Note that there are a lot of stairs to climb, but much of the house is accessible for guests in wheelchairs or with limited mobility. Pricing is complex, varying by month and day of the week, and not inexpensive, but a visit is well worth the cost for its access to the house, gardens, winery, and extensive grounds. Self-guided visits to the interior of the house typically require advance reservations.
1 Lodge St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28803, USA828-225–1333Sight Details
Rate Includes: From $64 -
4. Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe
Downtown | Store/MallThis is what an independent bookstore should be, with an intelligent selection of new books, many author appearances and other events, and a...
This is what an independent bookstore should be, with an intelligent selection of new books, many author appearances and other events, and a comfortable café. Staffers speak many foreign languages, including Hungarian, Russian, Italian, Spanish, French, and German.
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5. Mountain Dance & Folk Festival
Downtown | Festival–SightThe oldest folk music festival in the country was established in 1928 by the folk music collector Bascom Lamar Lunsford. It takes place annually...
The oldest folk music festival in the country was established in 1928 by the folk music collector Bascom Lamar Lunsford. It takes place annually "along 'bout sundown" (in fact, 7 to 10 pm) for three nights (Thursday through Saturday) the first weekend of August. You'll see and hear the real thing here—old-timey Appalachian pickers, singers, clog dancers, and more. Tickets can be purchased at the door but it's best to order in advance online.
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, 340 Victoria Rd., Mission Health Conference Center , Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA828-257–4530-ticketsSight Details
Rate Includes: $20 a night, 3 nights $54, $22 a night, 3-night package $60 -
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6. North Carolina Arboretum
Greater Asheville | GardenPart of the original Biltmore Estate, these 434 acres completed Frederick Law Olmsted's dream of creating a world-class arboretum in the western...
Part of the original Biltmore Estate, these 434 acres completed Frederick Law Olmsted's dream of creating a world-class arboretum in the western part of North Carolina. The arboretum is now affiliated with the University of North Carolina and is part of Pisgah National Forest. Highlights include southern Appalachian flora in stunning settings, such as the Blue Ridge Quilt Garden, with bedding plants arranged in patterns reminiscent of Appalachian quilts, and sculptures set among the gardens. The arboretum has 65 acres of cultivated gardens. A 10-mile network of trails is great for hiking or mountain biking. The 16,000-square-foot Baker Exhibit Center hosts traveling exhibits on art, science, and history. Dogs are welcome on the grounds but must be leashed.Admission is free but there is a parking fee.
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, North Carolina, 28806, USA828-665–2492Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free; $12 for parking, Free, parking $14 ($7 first Tues. of month) -
7. Sierra Nevada Brewery
Greater Asheville | Winery/Brewery/DistillerySierra Nevada, one of the country's largest national craft breweries, situated its East Coast brewery and distribution center on a 190-acre...
Sierra Nevada, one of the country's largest national craft breweries, situated its East Coast brewery and distribution center on a 190-acre site on the French Broad River. The beautifully landscaped complex includes a good restaurant, tasting room, gift shop, and hiking and biking trails. Sierra Nevada offers the best brewery tours in the region, ranging from a free 45-minute brewhouse tour to a three-hour Beer Geek tour. Tours book up quickly, so reserve as far in advance as possible.
100 Sierra Nevada Way, Asheville, North Carolina, 28732, USA828-681–5300Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tours free–$45 -
8. Thomas Wolfe Memorial
Downtown | Historic HomeAsheville's most famous son, novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900–38), grew up in a 29-room Queen Anne–style home that his mother ran as a boardinghouse...
Asheville's most famous son, novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900–38), grew up in a 29-room Queen Anne–style home that his mother ran as a boardinghouse. In his prime in the 1930s, Wolfe was widely viewed as one of the best writers America had ever produced. The house—memorialized as "Dixieland" in Wolfe's novel Look Homeward, Angel–-has been restored to its original 1916 condition, including a light canary-yellow paint (though Wolfe called it "dirty yellow") on the exterior. You'll find a visitor center and many displays, and there are hourly guided tours of the house and heirloom gardens.
52 Market St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA828-253–8304Sight Details
Rate Includes: $5, Closed Sun. and Mon. -
9. ASAP
Downtown | Library/ArchiveMore than 1,200 small family farms, tailgate markets, farm-to-table restaurants, and similar organizations in the region belong to the Asheville...
More than 1,200 small family farms, tailgate markets, farm-to-table restaurants, and similar organizations in the region belong to the Asheville-based ASAP. ASAP lists more than 200 area restaurants and bakeries that buy direct from local farmers. A farm tour is held annually in September. ASAP also publishes a print and online guide to local food sources and tailgate markets.
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10. Asheville Cotton Mill Studios
River Arts District | Store/MallThis 1887 brick building, one of the oldest industrial buildings in Asheville, is a former factory once owned by Moses H. Cone, whose family...
This 1887 brick building, one of the oldest industrial buildings in Asheville, is a former factory once owned by Moses H. Cone, whose family mansion is on the Blue Ridge Parkway. With an exterior covered by a colorful mural, it now has studios for artists and entrepreneurs.
122 Riverside Dr., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA828-252–9122Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
11. aSHEville Museum
Downtown | Museum/GalleryAmong the exhibits in this small, 3,000-square-foot women's cultural center, whose ambitions sometimes exceed its abilities to execute, are...
Among the exhibits in this small, 3,000-square-foot women's cultural center, whose ambitions sometimes exceed its abilities to execute, are one on pioneer women of Appalachia and a display of "100+ Years of Sexism in Advertising," which traces images of American women in print ads.
35 Wall St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA828-785–5722Sight Details
Rate Includes: $12, Mon.–Thurs. 10–7, Fri. and Sat. 10–8, Sun. noon–5, $5–$15 (pay as you choose), Closed Sun. -
12. Asheville Museum of Science
Downtown | Museum/GalleryThe Colburn Earth Science Museum moved to a new space in the heart of downtown Asheville and has expanded into a full-fledged science museum...
The Colburn Earth Science Museum moved to a new space in the heart of downtown Asheville and has expanded into a full-fledged science museum. AMOS has interactive exhibits, special events, and educational programs. Among the exhibits are a large collection of North Carolina minerals, a small planetarium, and a Teratophoneus dinosaur skeleton.
43 Patton Ave., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA828-254–7162Sight Details
Rate Includes: $8 -
13. Asheville Pinball Museum
Downtown | Museum/GalleryOne of the more unusual attractions in town is the Asheville Pinball Museum, an arcade featuring dozens of vintage pinball machines and video...
One of the more unusual attractions in town is the Asheville Pinball Museum, an arcade featuring dozens of vintage pinball machines and video games. Bring the kids, who'll probably ignore the modern machines in favor of those from the 1930s. There's also a bar serving snacks and craft beers and restrooms labeled Pac Man and Ms. Pac Man.
1 Battle Sq., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA828-776–5671Sight Details
Rate Includes: Museum free, unlimited play $15, Closed Tues. -
14. Basilica of St. Lawrence
Downtown | Religious Building/Site/ShrineA collaboration of Biltmore House head architect Richard Sharp Smith and the Spanish engineer-architect Rafael Guastavino, this elaborate Catholic...
A collaboration of Biltmore House head architect Richard Sharp Smith and the Spanish engineer-architect Rafael Guastavino, this elaborate Catholic basilica was completed in 1909. It follows a Spanish Renaissance design, rendered in brick and polychrome tile, and has a large, self-supporting dome with Catalan-style vaulting. Take a self-guided tour with one of the free brochures in the vestibule, or book a 25- to 45-minute guided tour at least a week in advance.
97 Haywood St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA828-252–6042Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed for tours during masses and other church events -
15. Biltmore Village
Biltmore Village | Historic District/SiteAcross from the main entrance to the Biltmore Estate, Biltmore Village is a highly walkable collection of restored English village–style houses...
Across from the main entrance to the Biltmore Estate, Biltmore Village is a highly walkable collection of restored English village–style houses dating from the turn of the 20th century, along with some newer buildings designed to blend with the original architecture. Stroll the brick sidewalks and tree-lined streets and visit antiques stores, clothing and jewelry shops, art galleries, and restaurants.
Asheville, North Carolina, 28803, USASight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
16. Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center
Downtown | Museum/GalleryAlthough it was around less than 25 years, the famed Black Mountain College was important in the development of several groundbreaking 20th...
Although it was around less than 25 years, the famed Black Mountain College was important in the development of several groundbreaking 20th-century art, dance, and literary movements. Some of the maverick spirits it attracted in its short lifetime were artists Willem and Elaine de Kooning, Robert Rauschenberg, Josef and Anni Albers, and M. C. Richards; dancer Merce Cunningham; musician John Cage; filmmaker Arthur Penn; futurist Buckminster Fuller; and writers Kenneth Noland, Charles Olson, and Robert Creeley.
120 College St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA828-350–8484Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, special exhibits from $5, Closed Sun. and between exhibitions -
17. Botanical Gardens at Asheville
Greater Asheville | GardenAdjoining the University of North Carolina–Asheville campus, this 10-acre site has walking trails and displays of native plants, including a...
Adjoining the University of North Carolina–Asheville campus, this 10-acre site has walking trails and displays of native plants, including a bog with carnivorous plants such as Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, and sundew. It's a fine place for a picnic, and not far from the busy downtown.
151 W.T. Weaver Blvd., at Broadway, 2 miles north of downtown Asheville, Asheville, North Carolina, 28804, USA828-252–5190Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free (donation suggested) -
18. Cathedral of All Souls
Biltmore Village | Religious Building/Site/ShrineOne of the most beautiful churches in America, the Episcopal Cathedral of All Souls was designed by Richard Morris Hunt following the traditional...
One of the most beautiful churches in America, the Episcopal Cathedral of All Souls was designed by Richard Morris Hunt following the traditional Greek Cross plan and inspired by abbey churches in northern England. It opened in 1896.
9 Swan St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28805, USA828-274–2681Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
19. New Belgium Brewery
River Arts District | Winery/Brewery/DistilleryFort Collins, Colorado-based national craft brewery New Belgium opened its $175 million Eastern U.S. brewery and distribution headquarters in...
Fort Collins, Colorado-based national craft brewery New Belgium opened its $175 million Eastern U.S. brewery and distribution headquarters in 2015 at the edge of the River Arts District on the site of the former Asheville Stockyards. Take one of the dozen free brewery tours offered daily (every half hour from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm), or sip beers in the tasting room overlooking the French Broad. It offers a lineup of regular, seasonal, and sour beer brews.
21 Craven St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, USA828-333–6900Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
20. North Asheville Tailgate Market
Metro North | Market/BazaarAsheville's oldest tailgate market has about 40 vendors selling local produce, fruit, meats, breads, and crafts. ...
Asheville's oldest tailgate market has about 40 vendors selling local produce, fruit, meats, breads, and crafts.
UNC-Asheville, 1 University Heights, Parking Lot C, Asheville, North Carolina, 28804, USA828-776–6286Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Jan.–mid-Apr.
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