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The Biltmore House is the largest private home in the United States, at 175,000 square feet. It is located outside Asheville, North Carolina.
TIPS FOR VISITING BILTMORE ESTATE
- Take your time. Plan to spend the day, or perhaps two.
- Wear very comfortable walking shoes.
- Arrive early (9 a.m.) to avoid crowds. Tour the Biltmore House first.
- Saturdays are the busiest days. The most crowded days of the year are Saturdays in April, May, October, November, and December.
- Be sure to have an automobile since the drive to the Biltmore House from the entrance gate is three miles. It's another two miles to the winery.
- Bring a picnic or stop by the Ice Cream Shop outside the Biltmore House to purchase a picnic to go. There are many great picnic spots on the Estate.
- If you arrive on the estate after 3 p.m., your ticket can be validated for the next day at the Reception & Ticket Center.
OVERVIEW OF BILTMORE ESTATE
Biltmore Estate provides the ideal location for romance with a century old French Renaissance chateau. George W. Vanderbilt's 8,000-acre estate with its 250-room Biltmore House, 75 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, and the nation's most visited winery offers plenty of opportunities.
BILTMORE HOUSE: Share the wonder of Biltmore House, the largest privately owned home in America, with a priceless collection of arts and antiques original to the Vanderbilt home. Since the house is a self-guided tour, pay the little extra for the audio companion tour as soon as you enter the house. Excellent guided tours may be purchased to go "behind the scenes." After touring more than 60 rooms in the house, stop at the Stable Courtyard for refreshments or a visit to several quaint shops (and one large souvenir shop). The Stable Café is great for sandwiches, burgers, and salads. Allow at least two hours for a house tour.
GARDENS: Spectacular gardens and woodlands are perfect for leisurely strolls. From the house, walk hand-in-hand through gardens designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, best known for designing Central Park in New York City. The lush and beautiful reflecting ponds of the Italian Gardens are a fitting entry into a stunning world of garden paths. A short walk takes you to the four-acre Walled Garden and adjacent Conservatory. For a longer walk, follow signs to the Bass Pond to find a more secluded (and romantic) area. In spring and summer, the Meadow Trail features wildflowers and grasses, while the Woodland Trail is ablaze with azaleas in spring. Stop by A Gardener's Place to shop or check into a guided garden walks during special events.
OUR FAVORITE PHOTO SPOT: The most dramatic view of Biltmore House is en route from the house to the winery. Look for the small lake (Lagoon) on your left. This is a narrow unpaved road that crosses a small bridge and takes you around the lake for a stunning view of Biltmore House (see photo at left). Add a blanket and a bottle of Biltmore Estate wine for an especially romantic outing.
BILTMORE ESTATE WINERY: At the winery, enjoy a self-guided "behind the scenes" tour and sample Biltmore Estate wines in the Tasting Room. Browse the Wine Shop. The Bistro Restaurant is an excellent choice for dinner, with its welcoming European atmosphere. Other culinary activities include cooking demonstrations, seminars, guest chef programs, introductory wine classes and daylong cooking classes featuring the estate's own chefs.
LIFE ON THE FARM: For those interested in learning about Biltmore's agricultural heritage, there's the Farm Village. The village includes the Historic Horse Barn, built in 1902 and restored in 2004 to communicate the rich farm life that the estate has supported for more than a century. In addition to displays of historic farm equipment, guests can explore the Kitchen Garden and meet draft horses, calves, lambs and chickens at the Farmyard. On select dates throughout the year, visitors can enjoy mountain music and see artisans including a blacksmith and woodworkers practice their craft.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: Behind the Biltmore Winery, you will find "Explore Biltmore Estate," an outdoor program with options for couples including hiking, biking, horseback riding, float trips, fly fishing and carriage rides. Special arrangements can even be made for a sunset carriage ride complete with Biltmore Estate sparkling wine. A horseback ride takes you along trails through fields and forests to a ridge overlooking Biltmore House. Splurge for a private carriage ride around the estate. Or get in the driver's seat with the Land Rover Experience Driving School.
HOW TO GET THERE
- From Interstate 40: Biltmore Estate is located just north of exit 50 on U.S. Highway 25.
- From Interstate 26: take Interstate 40 East, then take exit 50.
- From the Blue Ridge Parkway: take the U.S. Highway 25-North exit; Biltmore Estate is approximately 4 miles from the parkway.
HOURS AND ADMISSION
Until April 4, Adults $40.00 Children $0.00 (0-16)
After April 4, Adults $40.00 Youth $19.00, Children $0.00 (0-9)
*Tickets purchased thru American Patriot Getaways
Pricing not applicable to groups. For groups of 20 or more, contact groupsales@biltmore.com or 800-211-9805.
* Prices are subject to change.
* Festival of Flowers activities occur April 7–May 20.
- Your daytime admission includes a self-guided tour of Biltmore House, gardens, winery, and Farm Village.
TIP: Reserve a specialty tour for the next day and enjoy another full day on the estate at no charge. Or add a day for $10.
- The Estate is open seven days a week, 365 days a year.
- The Admissions Gate and Reception & Ticket Center are open Jan. 2–Mar. 30 from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Mar. 31–Nov. 2 from 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; and Nov. 3–Jan. 1 from 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
All Shows and Pricing are Subject to change without notice.
All ticket purchases are non refundable. |
