Asheville Travelers Recommend

Three days in Asheville give you enough time to enjoy the city’s hip art scene, sample an abundance of microbrews, and explore the surrounding mountains and rivers. Read on for how to make the most of three days in Asheville. 

Day 1: Explore the History

Kick-off your Asheville experience with an electric bike tour that takes you along the city’s greenways, through downtown, and to historic attractions such as the Basilica of Saint Lawrence and Grove Park Inn. 

For a deeper dive into the area’s history, head to Biltmore Estate for a self-guided tour of the historic mansion and its grounds. For a unique view of the Biltmore, book a stand-up paddleboarding trip along the portion of the French Broad River that flows through the estate’s grounds. Wrap up the evening with dinner at the Biltmore Estate’s dining room, where the menu focuses on local, estate-raised ingredients. 

Day 2:  Experience the Adventure

Start your second day with a white-water rafting trip. Depending on your appetite for adventure, opt for a scenic float on the French Broad River or increase the excitement during an adrenaline-filled rafting trip on the Watauga River. Follow up your white-water adventure with a horseback trail ride along the scenic Fern Forest Trail. Or, head back to town to challenge yourself on a city-wide scavenger hunt adventure. The clue-finding quest takes you past city highlights such as art galleries, parks, and historic buildings. 

After dinner in one of Asheville’s many downtown eateries, join a paranormal tour to discover Asheville’s ghosts and mysteries. Ghost tours typically reveal the dark side of the Basilica of St. Lawrence and visit the Asheville Mystery Museum in the basement of the Asheville Masonic Temple.

Day 3: Blue Ridge Essentials

Get up early to embark on a hiking tour of the Blue Ridge Mountains. To maximize your time and ensure you don’t miss top sights, book a tour of the Blue Ridge Parkway that covers the region’s top waterfalls, hiking trails, and scenic overlooks. If you visit in the summertime, book a swimming-specific tour that takes you to secluded swimming holes that are difficult to find on your own. Many hiking adventures include a picnic lunch. 

Conclude your stay with a walking and brewery tour. Or, if you’re tired from your day of hiking, skip the walking tour and book an electric bike brew crawl that enables you to glide effortlessly from one brewery to the next. 

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville combines art galleries and breweries with history and nature. Though its hard to squeeze all of Asheville’s attractions into 24 hours, here’s how to make the most of one day.

Morning: Cruise the City

Get acquainted with the city on an electric bike or Segway tour, which typically take you through downtown, along the French Broad River, and past the city square. By traveling on an electric bike or Segway, you’ll cover more sights than you would if you were on foot. Plus, exploring with a guide means you don’t have to worry about navigating, and can instead focus on historic details and sights along the way. 

Afternoon: Visit the Biltmore Estate

After spending the morning in downtown Asheville, head to the famous Biltmore Estate for a self-guided audio tour of the historic 250-room château. Book a tour that comes with a lunch voucher to enjoy a meal at one of the on-site restaurants before exploring the mansion and its gardens.

Before heading back into town, catch sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains from one of the overlooks along the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

Night: Go Brewery Hopping

This evening, delve into Asheville’s beer culture on a walking tour that takes you to some of the city’s top microbreweries. Along the way, you’ll typically sample a variety of beers and learn about each brewery’s processes and philosophies. Then, get to know a different side of the city on a ghost tour; paranormal adventures tend to visit spooky locations such as the Asheville Mystery Museum, set in the basement of the Asheville Masonic Temple. 

If beer and spooky stories aren’t your bag, get dinner at one of the many farm-to-table restaurants in downtown Asheville. Wrap up the night with rooftop cocktails and a view of the city lights at SkyBar Asheville.

As well as being a hub for outdoor adventure, Asheville is home to a lively arts and culture scene. Two days in the hip southern town give you just enough time to tick off cultural highlights and explore the surrounding region. Here’s how. 

Day 1: Culture and History

**Morning:**Get to know downtown Asheville on a Segway tour, on which a guide introduces you to local history, culture, and top sights. Plus, you can orient yourself without worrying about navigating or finding parking. 

**Afternoon:**Put your new-found knowledge of Asheville to use on a scavenger hunt adventure that lets you pair up with friends to discover the city in a fun way. Hunts focus on solving clues and completing challenges, and typically cover historic attractions such as the Grove Arcade, Vance Memorial, and Basilica of Saint Lawrence. 

**Night:**Head to the historic Biltmore Estate—a 250-room mansion that boasts the title of America's largest home—for a self-guided tour of the château and gardens. Then, enjoy estate-raised local fare in the historic dining room while watching sunset.

Day 2: Outdoor Adventures

**Morning:**Catch an early breakfast at one of Asheville’s hip cafes and then venture into the mountains on a hiking tour. With countless mountain trails, waterfalls, and scenic overlooks, there’s no shortage of places to explore in the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

**Afternoon:**After your morning hike, spend the afternoon stand-up paddleboarding along the French Broad River. Or, if you’re not too tired out from your hike, go white-water rafting on the Watauga River. 

**Night:**Spend your final evening in Asheville on a brewery tour that takes you to several of the town’s best breweries. Sample local beers and learn about the beer-making process and then, when the tour concludes, continue bar hopping to listen to live music.