Is Christmas at Biltmore worth the expense? Yes! As Biltmore annual passholders and Asheville residents, Tom and I visit Biltmore Estate – America’s largest home – every November and December for the stunning holiday decorations and delicious food.
See which tickets we suggest purchasing: daytime versus evening. And, should you add on the Tut exhibit?! Learn how to make the most of your time on the estate. I’ll talk about the best restaurants and share insider tips from years of experience.
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All photos and experiences are our own across the years. 💙 Christine
Quick 2025 Biltmore Christmas Information To Get You Started
Nothing beats an Asheville, NC Christmas, especially a visit to Biltmore Estate. Biltmore promises festive holiday events, family-friendly activities, and seasonal dining options sure to spark the holiday spirit.
Magical Candlelight Christmas Evenings feature blazing fireplaces, Martha Stewart-worthy Christmas decorations, and a gingerbread Biltmore House hiding in the kitchen. Tour the home with live music in beautifully lit spaces, and savor seasonal cocktails at Biltmore’s onsite restaurants.
From dates to ticket prices, these are the top things to know to help you plan your Christmas at Biltmore Estate:
📝 Use Our Local Biltmore Guides To Help Plan Your Visit
Tom and I have been Biltmore passholders since 2019. Along with their seasonal events, we enjoy live summer music in Antler Hill Village, the endless walking trails, and lunch at Cedric’s.
We have plenty of Biltmore guides for you. After planning your Christmas at the estate, be sure to read our articles on Biltmore dining, our favorite Biltmore facts, and how to best plan your day at Biltmore, any time of the year. After devastating Helene, nearby Biltmore Village and its restaurants are slowly coming back, too.
✨ Insider Tip: Candlelight Christmas Evenings Are Better
If you find yourself debating the best way to experience Christmas at Biltmore, especially between daytime and evening events, I prefer Candlelight Christmas Evening with dinner reservations at Stable Cafe.
Why I love evenings more (but both are great!)
Biltmore House is utterly magical at night with dimmed lights, candles, and 65 fireplaces warming the home. While Biltmore can feel a bit creepy during the day – Biltmore is rumored to be haunted (I blame the tapestries) – at night, with the holiday decorations, it’s stunning. Not to mention the festive holiday lights and decor at Antler Hill Village. Tom and I always leave in the Christmas spirit.
Top Tips To Get The Most Out Of Biltmore’s Christmas Celebrations
As one of Asheville’s largest tourist attractions and a famous historic site, our readers debate those expensive Biltmore tickets. So, whether you are a first-time visitor or a local, these activities will help you get the most for your money while creating life-long memories.
Arrive at sunset
For the best experience, I suggest planning your visit around sunset. Western North Carolina winter sunsets are renowned for vibrant purples, oranges, and hot pinks (hence the photo of the Grove Park Inn).
Picture yourself on the raised viewing area in front of Biltmore House as twilight descends with sparkling Christmas trees and the mansion illuminated against the shimmering Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s one of the most romantic things to do in Asheville for couples.
Take advantage of the audio-guided house tour
Important Information: There is no flash photography and no restrooms inside the house (use the restroom before or after your house tour). Biltmore also offers more specialized tours for wine and history lovers. We’ve taken a delicious wine and chocolate tour that goes inside the clock tour.
As part of the self-guided tour, Biltmore Christmas tickets include an audio guide. The audio tours vary each year – budget about 1 to 1.5 hours – and some are more entertaining than others.
What to expect with an audio guide
One year, Tom and I “attended” a lively Biltmore party with antics like Cedric the dog stealing the turkey and an ill opera singer. We loved it. Another year, the audio guide was more formal with Biltmore curators diving into unique Biltmore history. While I enjoy learning new facts, it was a little more snoozy.
For deeper insights into Biltmore House, read local Asheville author, Denise Kiernan’s, The Last Castle. She sheds light on the Vanderbilt family’s Asheville legacy beyond their wealth. Discover Edith’s political involvement and the couple’s contributions to forestry education. An engaging read, I gained a much larger appreciation for the estate’s maintenance and history. Read our entire list of books about and set in Asheville/Biltmore.
Spy stunning holiday decor & a Biltmore gingerbread house
Did Martha Stewart just vomit all over Biltmore Estate? Yes; yes, the spirit of her did! The 100+ intricately decorated trees, 10,000 ornaments, and 100,000 lights make Christmas at Biltmore magical.
Spy ribbons, presents, wreaths, garlands, and candles. The trees are not original to the home, but certainly induce the Christmas spirit. Of course, the Banquet Hall – a massive dining room – steals the show with the tallest tree. Bibliotourists will adore the beautifully decorated library. Other Biltmore House highlights include the indoor pool, Halloween room, gym, and bowling alley.
For more holiday light displays around Asheville, head to another one of our favorites: The NC Arboretum’s Winter Lights event.
Dine on Biltmore Estate – Our 2 picks
Insider Tip: To dine on the estate, you will need a daytime ticket, an annual pass, or an on-site accommodation reservation. Make advanced online dinner reservations on OpenTable to avoid long wait times or getting turned away. For Christmas at Biltmore, Tom and I most enjoy Stable Cafe since it’s next to the house and open for a special dinner.
There is no shortage of restaurants directly on Biltmore Estate.
What we love about Stable Cafe
Most notably, Stable Café offers a ritzy (and pricey), 3-course Candlelight Christmas Evenings dinner. I usually have soup or salad along with the risotto or vegan/veggie option. One year, Tom devoured a delicious-smelling duck leg. They label gluten-free and vegetarian items and, in recent years, introduced a fancy children’s menu. The sparkling ambiance is romantic.
More budget-friendly, for lunch during Daytime Celebrations, we also enjoy Stable Café’s chicken salad sandwiches, Southern samplers, and classic burgers. For littles, choose from chicken tenders, burgers, grilled cheese, and BLTs.
What we love about Cedric’s Tavern
One of my favorite Biltmore restaurants, Cedric’s Tavern – an ode to the Vanderbilts’ beloved Saint Bernard – offers pub vibes with lighter fare like fish and chips, bangers and mash, burgers, and Shepherd’s pie. I live for their seasonal cocktails, including a red and white sangria. Head here if you are skipping the house tour, are wine tasting, or want to see Antler Hill Village all decked out. Don’t forget to grab cocktails at the Inn at Biltmore’s Library Bar, too.
Overnight at a gorgeous Biltmore property
Treat yourself to the ultimate Biltmore Estate Christmas experience with an overnight stay. Even as locals (Passholder Appreciation months!), Tom and I, as well as our families, stay at Biltmore’s Village Hotel, which is centrally located with moderate prices, spa access, and Biltmore Winery right next door. Village Social is delicious, and grab a seasonal latte at The Kitchen Café.
For a more luxurious stay, choose The Inn On Biltmore Estate, featuring plentiful on-property conveniences and, by request, mountain views. Suites are named after George Vanderbilt’s friends or relatives, and there’s a premier cottage for an extravagant experience. If Biltmore’s prices aren’t in your budget range, consider our top recommended Asheville hotels.
Add on a special exhibit – Is the Tut exhibit worth it?
In 2025, consider paying an additional fee for “Tutankhamun at Biltmore.” I won’t lie, Tom and I go to almost all of Biltmore’s special exhibits, but we avoided this one all year. It didn’t speak to me. I’m a double history and English major with an MLIS – so trust me, I usually appreciate and seek out cool history.
However, we finally went in September, and while the intro exhibit and video didn’t do it for me, the replica artifacts were interesting (and a bit creepy). I learned a few new facts, and our Uncorked readers really loved it. The ending presentation is vast and unique. I’d say go with your personal interest in this one. We are glad we went.
Shop for terrific souvenirs and gifts
Biltmore is full of specialty shopping for Christmas gifts and souvenirs. Tom and I love to ship wine, usually half a case, to our family in Connecticut. I own one of those Biltmore hats in white.
🛍️ A few of our favorite stores on Biltmore Estate:
- A Christmas Past – Christmas ornaments
- Bookbinder’s – Small bookshop
- Carriage House – Clothing, gifts, specialty items, and more
- Wine Shop – Don’t forget your complimentary wine tasting
- Antler Hill Outfitters – Hiking and lifestyle goods
🎥 Before You Go: Get In The Spirit With Hallmark
If you appreciate a little armchair travel, time travel films, and movies filmed in North Carolina, be sure to tune into the Hallmark Channel. In A Biltmore Christmas, you’ll recognize Biltmore Library, Gardens, and Conservatory, and the Inn at Biltmore Estate. Spy the Winter Garden, Tapestry Gallery, and Banquet Hall. Catch a scene of Hendersonville’s train depot, too!
Official Hallmark Movie Poster
A Biltmore Christmas (2023)
Starring Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha, Lucy is writing a script for a remake of a holiday movie. While on a tour of the grounds, she knocks over an hourglass and finds herself transported back in time to 1946. Of course, she finds romance in a time period where she doesn’t belong. I’m pretty sure I’ve watched it at least 4 times now.
Fun Fact: The production team recruited Asheville locals as stand-ins and filming lasted for 15 days.
Before You Go, Plan The Holidays In Asheville With These Guides
🎅🏼 The Omni Grove Park Inn’s famous gingerbread houses
🥾 Open winter hikes
⛄️ Pick out your local Christmas tree
🎨 Top things locals actually do in Asheville
🍴 Restaurants in Asheville you have to visit
❄️ Plan the perfect day indoors