Asheville
Save30 hand-picked places in 10 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.
Only have a day? See a ready-made day plan ↓10 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
America's largest private home with gardens and a winery
- Tip: Book ahead
- Tip: Allow a few hours
1 tip
- Visit the winery included with admission
📷 Photos
- 2
Showcase of Southern Appalachian craft on the Blue Ridge Parkway
3 tips
- Free admission
- Craft demonstrations on select days
- Good stop before driving the Parkway
📷 Photos
- 3
Historic stone resort with huge fireplaces and mountain views
- Tip: Sunset
3 tips
- Sunset on the terrace is a highlight
- Visit even if not staying
- Look for gingerbread house display in winter
📷 Photos
- 4
Downtown green heart of Asheville surrounded by landmarks
3 tips
- Check for events and concerts
- Start downtown walks here
- Street musicians common on weekends
📷 Photos
- 5
Former industrial riverfront filled with artist studios and murals
3 tips
- Studios open most afternoons
- Last Saturday of the month has studio strolls
- Wear comfy shoes for wandering
📷 Photos
- 6
Landscaped gardens and trails in the Pisgah foothills
3 tips
- Parking fee applies
- Bonsai exhibition is a highlight
- Easy trails for families
📷 Photos
- 7
Historic 1929 arcade with shops, food and market stalls
3 tips
- Great place for lunch
- Look up at the Gothic details
- Weekly tailgate market nearby
📷 Photos
- 8
Spanish Baroque basilica with a huge freestanding elliptical dome
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Check Mass times
- Dome interior is most striking
📷 Photos
- 9
Granite monolith with sweeping Hickory Nut Gorge views
3 tips
- About 40 minutes from Asheville
- Elevator or stairs to the top
- Hickory Nut Falls trail is a good add-on
📷 Photos
- 10
Blue Ridge Parkway heath balds ablaze with rhododendron in June
3 tips
- Peak bloom is mid-June
- Parkway road may close in winter
- Short trail to a mountain-top shelter
📷 Photos
Take this map with you
Opens Google Maps with these places, ready to save to your own list.
Before you go: Asheville tips
Transportation
- Use ART buses: Asheville Rides Transit connects downtown with West Asheville and other neighbourhoods from the ART Station.
- Walk downtown: The downtown core is compact and full of galleries, bars and shops, so park once and explore on foot.
- Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway: You need a car for the Parkway and trailheads; check for seasonal closures before setting out.
Security
- Stay aware at night: Asheville is generally safe, but keep to busy streets downtown late at night and lock your car.
- Hike prepared: Mountain weather changes fast, so carry water, layers and a map, as phone signal can be weak.
- Check road conditions: After storms or in winter, some mountain roads close; check status before driving.
Saving
- Enjoy free hikes: Many trails in Pisgah National Forest and along the Parkway are free to access.
- Join the drum circle: The Friday evening drum circle at Pritchard Park is a free, very Asheville experience in warmer months.
- Visit Biltmore smartly: Biltmore tickets are pricey, so buy online in advance, which usually costs less than at the gate.
Weather/Clothing
- Layer up: Mountain mornings are cool even in summer, so bring layers and a light jacket for higher elevations.
- Plan for autumn crowds: October brings stunning foliage and cool, crisp days, so pack warm layers and book early.
- Bring rain gear in summer: Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, so carry a rain jacket on hikes.
Cultural
- Explore the beer scene: Asheville is famous for craft breweries; the South Slope area has many within walking distance.
- Support local makers: The River Arts District is full of working studios where you can meet artists and buy directly.
- Try Southern food: Look for biscuits, barbecue and farm to table cooking using Appalachian ingredients.
Local Hacks
- Arrive early at trailheads: Popular spots on the Parkway fill up fast on weekends, so start hikes early.
- Catch sunset at a overlook: Parkway overlooks near the city are great for sunsets; check the time and bring a layer.
- Check the WNC Farmers Market: The Western North Carolina Farmers Market sells local produce, honey and crafts.
1-day itineraries in Asheville
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.
More cities in United States
- Albuquerque
- Anchorage
- Annapolis
- Aspen
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Bar Harbor
- Bend
- Boise
- Boston
- Boulder
- Bozeman
- Branson
- Breckenridge
- Buffalo
- Burlington (Vermont)
- Cape Cod
- Cape May
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Charleston
- Charleston (West Virginia)
- Charlotte
- Chattanooga
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Colorado Springs
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Destin
- Detroit
- Durango
- Estes Park
- Flagstaff
- Fort Lauderdale
- Fort Worth
- Fredericksburg
- Galveston
- Gatlinburg
- Gettysburg
- Hilo
- Honolulu
- Hot Springs
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Jackson Hole
- Juneau
- Kansas City
- Kauai (Lihue)
- Kennebunkport
- Ketchikan
- Key West
- Kona
- Lake Placid
- Lake Tahoe (South Lake Tahoe)
- Lancaster
- Las Vegas
- Leavenworth
- Lexington
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Mackinac Island
- Madison
- Martha's Vineyard
- Maui (Lahaina)
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Moab
- Monterey
- Myrtle Beach
- Nantucket
- Napa
- Naples
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Newport (Rhode Island)
- Oklahoma City
- Orlando
- Outer Banks
- Page
- Palm Springs
- Park City
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Portland (Maine)
- Providence
- Raleigh
- Rapid City
- Richmond
- Sacramento
- Saint Augustine
- Salem
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Fe
- Santa Monica
- Sarasota
- Savannah
- Seattle
- Sedona
- Spokane
- Springdale (Zion)
- St. Louis
- St. Petersburg
- Stowe
- Tampa
- Taos
- Telluride
- Toledo
- Tucson
- Washington DC
- Whitefish
- Williamsburg
- Yosemite Valley