Chances are, you’ve seen the iconic Biltmore as a movie setting such as featured in Hallmark’s movie, “A Biltmore Christmas.”
You may have even thought it was a castle-like setting far in the mountains of Canada, but it’s not. The Biltmore Estate is located in the heart of Ashville, North Carolina.
Unique 8,000 Acre Mountain Destination With Steep History
Minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway and Downtown Asheville, Biltmore is an awe-inspiring 8,000-acre mountain getaway. Its unique destination features a brilliant historic home, behind-the-scenes tours, historic gardens, outdoor adventures, award-winning winery, an exhibition, first class dining, shopping, special events, and luxurious overnight accommodations. As you can imagine, there is something for everyone at Biltmore Estate no matter the season.
A bit of Biltmore history: In 1889, George Vanderbilt began the process of building his vision of a country home, and after 6 years, Biltmore House was first opened to friends and family on Christmas Eve, 1895. The Biltmore is a refreshing display of European architecture in the middle of the American South.
Biltmore House, known as “America’s Largest Home,” was designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt and spans 175,000 square feet, which is more than four acres of floor space. The 250-room French Renaissance chateau includes 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. Biltmore’s art collection includes works by Monet, Renoir, and even objects spanning more than 92,000 items. Biltmore Estate features 75 acres of gardens.
Today, the Biltmore Estate in Asheville attracts over one million visitors per year. It’s an impressive piece of history, from the historic 250-room house to its private rolling hills, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Biltmore.
Staying Overnight at Biltmore Comes With Exclusive Perks
While you can simply spend a day visiting Biltmore, staying overnight at Biltmore has many benefits. The Biltmore grounds feature splendid overnight properties and a resort experience that is sure to etch unforgettable memories.
Choose to stay at one these accommodations:
:: Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate
:: Inn on Biltmore Estate
:: Cottages on Biltmore Estate
Each accommodation is unique and beautiful. I will be brutally honest. Biltmore comes with a high price tag but justified. This should be a “bucket list” visit for all travelers. A magical castle set right in the U.S. and you have the opportunity to live like a queen even for a one- or two-night stay. And yes, you can simply stay at a local hotel and make Biltmore a day visit but you’d be missing out on an experience you’ll never forget. Special offers and packages are available to make it a most magical getaway.
Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate
We selected to stay at the Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate for two nights and used our AAA discount. It’s a cute farmhouse-inspired hotel with 209 contemporary-styled guest rooms nestled within Antler Hill Village.
A little past the lobby is The Kitchen Café, a quick service food establishment for coffee, breakfast, lunch, or snacks. If you’re interested in a sit-down meal, the Village Social is also onsite, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A live performer sings to guests several evenings a week for an added special touch. It was nice to see that the hotel offered a daily Wine Social (complimentary glass of wine in a paper cup) and a daily complimentary Cookie Hour in the lobby.
An overnight stay at Village Hotel includes:
:: Complimentary self-parking
:: Village Social serving breakfast, lunch and dinner (fee)
:: The Kitchen Café (fee)
:: Antler Hill Village & Winery
:: Optional tour and activity add-ons
:: Fitness center
:: Heated outdoor pool (year-round)
:: The Spa Biltmore in The Inn on Biltmore Estate (fee)
:: Two universal EV charging stations
:: Luggage carts
Village Hotel Room Accommodations
Our overnight stay included access to the Biltmore grounds and gardens, Antler Hill Village, and the winery plus round-trip shuttle service around the property.
Accommodations at Village Hotel include:
:: Village Room – One room with a charming window seat, one king bed or two double beds, and a bathroom.
:: Village Double with Living Room – One bedroom, separate living room, bar-style seating, and two bathrooms.
:: Village Studio King – jOne king bed, conversational seating, a twin daybed with twin trundle, and a bathroom.
We stayed in a nicely decorated and furnished Village Room. The room is spacious with rustic but elegant décor. The window seat was my favorite part! There was a comfortable bed, a large, flat-screen television, mini-fridge, Keurig coffeemaker, in-room safe, iron and ironing board, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Bathroom was nice as well with a modern granite tiled counter, a walk-in shower, and bath products. Of course, daily housekeeping service was much appreciated.
Featured Attractions and Activities at Biltmore®
Plan to spend at least one full day or two days to explore Biltmore Estate. From the Village hotel, we hopped aboard a free daily shuttle that stops at several points on the estate, including Biltmore House. You can enjoy unlimited house visits during your stay. But before you leave the Village area, there is so much to do!
Within walking distance from the hotel, there are restaurants like Bistro, Cedric’s Tavern, and Village Social, shops, Biltmore winery, blacksmith and craft demonstrations, walking, hiking, and biking trails, Farmyard, Bike Barn, and Pisgah Playground. Your Biltmore ticket includes a complimentary wine tasting at the winery if you’re over 21. The Biltmore tasting room serves wines made from the estate’s vineyards.
Take a self-guided garden tour amidst Biltmore’s 75 acres of formal gardens. The Biltmore Gardens and Trails are divided into sections including the Italian Garden, Shrub Garden, Spring Garden, Conservatory, Azalea Garden, Walled Garden, Rose & Butterfly Garden, Bass Pond, and Winter Garden. I loved strolling the Biltmore Gardens, but I’d say that my favorite highlights were the Azalea Gardens, the Conservatory, and Bass Pond.
Biltmore House, the 250-room “castle” as I like to describe it, includes 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. I suggest you take the audio guided tour, so you hear firsthand about what you’re actually seeing in each of the Biltmore House rooms.
The “Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures” exhibition features nearly 1,000 dazzling expert-crafted replicas of King Tut’s exquisite burial goods through an immersive journey to the Valley of the Kings where you’ll discover fascinating facts about King Tut’s tomb.
Farmyard in Antler Village allows you to get up close to working farm animals and learn how they’re part of the Biltmore’s agricultural history.
Farm to Table Tour & Taste experience, exclusively for overnight guests and Passholders, offers even more in-depth information about Biltmore’s farming legacy and how it connects to a modern-day field-to-table philosophy.
Biltmore Sporting Clays Club allows you to test your clay shooting skills or take a lesson. It’s not as easy as you might think.
Falconry at Biltmore allows you to discover the ancient art of falconry as you learn to handle trained hawks or falcons and possibly experience the thrill of a raptor flying to land on your gloved hand.
Guided bird walks allow you to enjoy an engaging, educational adventure led by a professional Ventures Birding tour guide.
Horseback and Carriage Rides lets you can explore more than 80 miles of equestrian trails with guided rides suitable for beginners and experienced riders.
Hiking on Biltmore gives you access to more than 20 miles of hiking trails on the estate whether you prefer easy or more intense hikes.
Biking at Biltmore is a great way to explore the grounds and trails. Use your own bicycle or rent a bike (solo, tandem, and e-bikes) at the Bike Barn in Antler Hill Village. You can even opt for a guided bike ride to explore the massive, 8,000-acre estate.
Dining at Biltmore
In addition to the restaurants at the Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate, there are additional restaurants at Biltmore that serve everything from comfort food to burgers, barbeque sandwiches, and hot dogs, plus a tavern with live music, an afternoon tea spot, and an ice cream parlor.
If a light breakfast is more your speed, stop by The Kitchen Café inside Village Hotel or The Bake Shop by Biltmore House for coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries. If you want a hearty breakfast, enjoy a sit-down meal at Village Social inside the Village Hotel or The Dining Room inside The Inn.
For a casual lunch, pay a visit to Cedric’s Tavern in Antler Hill Village. If you’re near the Biltmore House or strolling the gardens, the Stable Café features Appalachian comfort food in what used to be considered the horse stables back in Biltmore history. You can also grab a quick bite to eat at the Courtyard Market, the Conservatory Café, or The Smokehouse Food Truck.
For an afternoon snack, visit the Biltmore Dairy Bar, The Bake Shop and The Creamery, so you can enjoy lots of sweet treats including ice cream based on the original delicious Biltmore Dairy recipe.
Magical, Memorable, and a Bit Pricey
The Biltmore Estate is a can’t-miss attraction when visiting Asheville whether it’s a family getaway, romantic rendezvous, special birthday or anniversary celebration, bachelorette party, or other perfect excuse to visit. Was the high cost of the room at the Village Hotel on Biltmore Estates worth it? YES, it definitely was! Staying on the grounds made the stay even more memorable and we were able to take room breaks throughout the day to rest our feet.
I would say it’s a once in a lifetime visit to see Biltmore Estate, but I really want to go back – and soon! The grounds, the house, the gardens, the hotel, the food, and the activities were all that impressive. To say it’s a magical “castle” is an understatement. Driving down the long narrow entrance toward the Biltmore House is my very own Hallmark movie moment.