Everything you need to know about visiting Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, including where to take photos and how to save money.
Are you familiar with the impressive Biltmore Estate? It surprised me when my daughter (then 10 years old) asked if we could visit. It was so out of the blue to me, but she had been reading Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty, which is set at the Biltmore Estate. Five years later, she still wanted to visit, and we finally got the chance!
About Biltmore Estate
The historic Biltmore Estate, located in Asheville, North Carolina, is the largest privately owned home in the United States. The 250-room French Renaissance chateau was built between 1889 and 1895 by George Washington Vanderbilt II. The house features 175,000 square feet of lavishly decorated rooms, including a banquet hall with 70-foot ceilings, a library with over 10,000 books, and indoor amenities such as a bowling alley and a swimming pool.
The gardens on the estate’s expansive grounds are fabulous! They were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who is known for designing Central Park. The grounds include formal gardens, wooded trails, and the picturesque Bass Pond.
Best Photo Spots
Some of my favorite photo spots during our visit to Biltmore were:
- Front Lawn with the stunning view of the house with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background. It doesn’t get more classic than this view.
- Library Terrace when its century-old wisteria is in bloom in the spring.
- The Walled Garden tulips were in bloom during our visit, but all of the gardens offer something a little different depending on the time of year that you visit.
- The Conservatory, which is filled with exotic plants and flowers.
- Bass Pond and boathouse are tucked away in a quiet area of the estate with a cute wooden bridge along the water.
Beyond the House
Below are some places to see beyond the house at Biltmore Estate:
- Gardens – The estate has over 75 acres of gorgeous gardens including the Italian Garden, the Azalea Garden, the Rose Garden, the Walled Garden, and the Conservatory. Our favorite was the Library Terrace with the century-old wisteria in bloom.
- Trails – The estate has over 20+ miles of trails that you can explore by hiking or bicycling.
- Carriage and Horseback Trail Rides – If you would like to take a carriage ride or trail ride at Biltmore, be sure to book ahead of time. Both rides meet in the Deerpark area at the barn. We had a wonderful time on our horseback ride and got to see the house from a distance.
- Antler Hill & Village – This area of the estate is full of dining, shopping, exhibits, and the Winery, plus a Farmyard, Bike Barn, and Pisgah Playground.
- Biltmore Winery – A complimentary wine tasting at the Winery is included in your Biltmore daytime admission. The Winery is located in the Antler Hill & Village area.
Is a visit worth it?
For us, this has been a bucket list item for my daughter for almost 5 years, so I was very happy to get to take her to visit. The estate is beautiful, especially the gardens, and I had a blast getting to take a ton of photos at this historic and magical place. We spent nearly the whole day at the estate experiencing as much as we could and enjoying the activities. However, it is very pricey to visit the estate, especially for a family. Below are some ways to help you save on your visit.
Ways to Save
Since visiting the estate can be very pricey, there are several ways to save money. First, look for any promotions that Biltmore is currently running. I have occasionally seen free children’s tickets, for example. Also consider the day of the week and time of year that you are visiting. Biltmore changes the price of a ticket based on these two things, so you could end up spending more on the weekend than during the week or in the spring versus the summer.
Another way to save money is to book a ticket that does not include touring the house. While the inside of the house is lovely, it could completely be skipped. I would have done this; however, my daughter wanted to tour the inside of the house.
Consider bringing a picnic lunch and your drinks with you to the estate. There are several spots that you can enjoy your picnic lunch, and you will then save money versus buying food and drinks onsite.
