So you may have noticed – admission to the Biltmore is super expensive…
I am just finishing up living in Asheville for a total of 2 months. When I arrived, the first thing I did was look up all the things to check off my bucket list, and a trip to Asheville isn’t complete without a visit to the Biltmore Estate.
However, I can’t be the only one who was utterly shocked at the price point. It was going to be over $70 per person for a single day pass! That’s the same price I had paid per a day at Disney World the year before (as a Florida resident).
The Biltmore Estate ain’t cheap. And that’s why I’m writing this article to help you get the most bang for your buck.
Planning in Advance
Tip #1: Use an Affiliate Link
Nowadays, if you’re not using an affiliate link, you’re missing out on $$$ to be saved. Admittedly, it is fairly difficult to find an affiliate link for the Biltmore, but if you look hard enough you can find one. The one I used was through my AAA membership, with which I saved $5 per ticket.
Tip #2: Go on a Weekday if you Can
Incredibly this place fills up, especially with its popularity among the older retired crowd. If you can go on a weekday you’ll get more enjoyment out of the visit and be able to have more flexibility in timing your day.
Tip #3: Skip the Annual Pass
In my opinion – save your money and skip on the annual pass. Unless you’re sure you’ll max it out, or if you’re visiting during peak season when tickets are an absurd $100+. Sometimes around Holidays they’ll have a sale on annual passes, which you should look out for.
The only reason why I was considering an annual pass is for the perk of discounts for guests you bring. But alas, it only saves them $5 per ticket…the same discount offered by using an affiliate link like AAA.
Tip #4: Reserve your house tour time for late morning
I recommend between 11:30 and noon. This gives you ample time to explore most of the gardens around the Chateau if you arrive at opening at 9am.
Most people suggest snagging the earliest reservation time possible. I say, look for the reservation time that has the most spots available, while also being close to your target time. For example, all the earliest spots were booked up for the home tour, so I was tempted to book the 11:30, the next earliest option. But then I realized there were only 6 openings left, as opposed to 11:45, which had close to 40 spots open. More spots open means a better chance of less people in your group (hence, a shorter line)
The Day Of
Tip #1: Get there at opening
Even if your reservation for the house tour isn’t until later. This way you can stroll the gardens and take it all in without too many crowds. Opening is the best time to get acquainted with the grounds.
Tip #2: Use the free audio tour!
I used to be that person who would always skip the audio tour. But now – as of September 2021 – the audio tour is free with your purchase of a ticket. I believe it’s normally a $9 value! Use the audio tour and it’ll help you get the most enjoyment out of your tour. I personally thought it was fantastic!
Tip #3: Eat Lunch at the Stable Cafe
If you’re like us and starving after the tour tells you about the amazing food George Vanderbilt enjoyed every day, you’ll want to get your food ASAP. This place was extremely speedy, delicious, with great service and unique ambiance (you feel like you’re in a stable!)
The Stable Cafe is a tucked away gem of a full service restaurant. As you leave the Biltmore House you may notice LONG lines at the Courtyard Market and assume it’s your best option.
Don’t fall into this! Walk just steps beyond into the shops and to the far right will be the host for the Stable Cafe. It was almost empty when we got there and the prices weren’t too bad at all for food that actually didn’t disappoint!
Tip #4: Take advantage of the complimentary Wine Tasting
I recommend booking this at a time that you think you’ll be completely finished and satisfied with the Biltmore House and all of its surrounding gardens, because once you shuttle or park at the Antler Hill Village and Winery, you likely won’t hassle with going back to the other area. For us this was around 3:00.
Tip #4: Take advantage of the biking trails
We brought our bikes, but you can also rent bikes at the Antler Hill Village. The bike trail we took was fairly short, took us about 35 minutes there and back, but absolutely unique and breathtaking! Talking about rows of sunflowers along the path with mountain vistas in the distance. We opted for the paved trail since my bike has road tires, but there are also some gravel paths you can take.
We finished biking with just the right amount of time to check out the Antler Hill shops before making our Wine Tasting reservation. The Village is quite small, but don’t miss the cute farm animals! I ended my day with 2 baby cows liking my fingers. Hbu??
Tip #5: Check out the creamery
It’s a cute, enthusiastically run ice cream shop with options that don’t disappoint. Sure it is a bit pricier than you might get at DQ, but nothing that will break the bank. We enjoyed ending our day with a scoop of ice cream and strolling around the Village as the stores closed and things quieted down. It’s really a beautiful area.
Is the Biltmore Estate Worth Visiting?
So this is definitely a question that’s going to run through your mind when you’re planning a visit to Asheville. And when ticket prices are this high, it’s easy to wonder whether it will be worth the money or not. Here are my two cents:
If you are visiting Asheville for over 1 week, then YES I would recommend seeing the Biltmore.
If staying in the area for over 7 days, the Biltmore becomes worth visiting whether you think you’d enjoy it or not. This is because you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy other aspects of Asheville and can risk “losing” a day to the Biltmore. Though, you’re not really “losing” anything, you’re gaining memories and learning about this unique place.
If you are only going to be in Asheville for a few days, then I would only go to the Biltmore if it is something on your bucket list.
I get it – Asheville isn’t the easiest of places to visit from just anywhere in the world. It has a tiny airport and is a bit isolated – even by car.
That being said, if visiting the Biltmore Estate is on your bucketlist – then YES visit now, even if your visit is short. I say this because from my own research, the cost of admission has only increased each year. Even though admission is quite expensive, it will also never be this low again.
However, for many visiting Asheville, they have never even heard of the Biltmore beforehand. If you are in this category, you can feel comfortable skipping out on this and still get an amazing trip out of Asheville.
To me, the price of $75 per ticket is quite high – so I would not have personally visited if we hadn’t stayed in Asheville for 2 months. We figured – we’re here to experience all that Asheville has to offer, so we may as well take a day to get the most out of it. And as a lover of architecture, landscape architecture, walking (a lot!) and photography – it really was an enjoyable day and experience.
What do you think? Will you be visiting the Biltmore Estate anytime soon? Don’t forget good walking shoes, your bicycle, and a positive attitude to take on the day and live it to its fullest!
