10 Reasons to Visit Biltmore Estate Alone

When I first got to Asheville I realized the only thing I had booked were tickets to the Biltmore Estate… solo! In my defense, I was coming from 2 very historical cities (Savannah & Charleston) and there was so much to plan out that by the time I got to North Carolina I was exhausted.

My mom always says “everything happens for a reason”. This being the only indoor activity I purchased tickets for, I was relieved to find out how popular it is and sells out fast Friday-Sundays. I happened to book on a Friday!

This is a part of my solo southern road trip, so if you’re interested in that series, check it out! In the meantime, let’s get into 10 Reasons to Visit Biltmore Estate Alone.

Table of Contents

History of the Biltmore Estate

The house started construction on the 250 room home in 1889 by George Vanderbilt. It took 6 years to complete and it was finished in the French Renaissance chateau style. It was originally built to be his country home but when he eventually married his wife, they made it their permanent address.

It opened to the public in 1930 to generate money during the great depression but remained open ever since! For more info on its fascinating history here.

Is it worth the price?

For me, this was one of the highlights of my trip. It was something unique to do in the small city. I think it’s something you do at least once if you plan to return to Asheville over and over. It has a great guide system that’s all done by electronic devices handed out when you first enter in.

You get to roam the estate as long as you want if you bought a daytime pass. I highly recommend getting there early to explore the gardens before heading on your tour, or booking an early pass to roam later in the day.

At the end of the day, if you’re someone who loves history, something to do in Asheville other than getting outdoors, or if it’s a rainy day – the day pass is totally worth the price.

Biltmore at Christmas

Christmas at Biltmore is extra magical. The entire house is lit up and has well over 80 fully decorated Christmas trees. I could not count them all but they were all beautiful and unique. (Photos below!)

Quick tips & fun facts

Wear comfortable shoes
7 minute walk from the parking lot and well over 2 hours on your feet
Take a picture of your parking lot (it’s like Disneyland over there)
You can’t video inside the home but you can take pictures without flash
Reserve your wine tasting reservations along with your day pass
Get to the estate early or book your tour early and stay later to explore the gardens
Grounds open at 9am and you can get there when ever you want

10 Reasons to Visit Biltmore Estate Alone

I am a big fan of visiting estates, manors, castles, museums, art galleries/exhibits, fairs, markets, etc… alone. It’s one of my favorite pass times because no one is waiting on me! I can take alllllll the time I want, and that is called stress-free relaxation my friends.

You pay attention

It’s so much easier to pay attention when you are at this house by yourself. The 3:30pm Friday tour I was on had about 50 people enter with me. There were a lot of families and grandparents, etc. I was definitely able to pay more attention after letting them go ahead of me.

Go at your own pace!

My favorite part. I waited for no one and no one waited for me!

Easy to get to the front or make your way to the back

Again, if there are tons of kids right in front, it’s easy to get around them or step back and away. Other rooms I was less interested in and stood in the back of the room with ease.

Take our time at the gift shop

Gift Shops (plural). Cause holy moly the gift shops!

The Carriage House – house decor
A Gardener’s Place – plants & gardening
A Christmas Past – Christmas shoppe
The Confectionery – candy shop
Bookbinder’s – book shop
Toymaker’s – toy shop

Avoid big groups

It’s so easy to bypass the big families or groups of people.

Get one on one time with a sommelier

The tasting was a unique experience. The turnover is super fast to keep the lines moving and accommodate a lot of people. However, when you’re there by yourself, it’s much easier to have a conversation with either your sommelier or neighbors!

I was able to ask my somm so many questions and find out more about the wines than the average group.

Skip over people

If you’re not into a room or there are too many people, you can skip it and come back later! I did that with some of the kitchen rooms and it was really easy to bounce back.

Explore the gardens

As stated above, I recommend getting there early to explore the gardens. I wish I had done my research because I would have loved to see the roses and the conservatory. I’d allow an extra hour to enjoy it!

No judgement for ordering wine to take home

I walked away wanting to buy 3 bottles of wine but because I live in Seattle, I didn’t have room in my suitcase to take them home. However, Biltmore can ship wine to every state except for AK, AL, DE, HI, LA, MS, OK, NJ, RI, and UT.

Shipping makes it easy to place an order, and no one is going to judge you for doing it! 😅

Arguably the most important reason to go to Biltmore alone! I bought a whole hummus and pita chip snack pack for myself. Could it have fed 3 people? It doesn’t matter because I was alone and only I know the answer to that. 😂

Are you thinking about going to Biltmore? I’d love to know when you’re going and what you’re most excited about. I think this was the highlight of my Asheville visit, besides the hike I took on my second day.

Wishing you an amazing adventure!