Is Christmas at Biltmore Estate worth the expense? Yes! As Biltmore annual passholders and Asheville residents, Tom and I especially enjoy Biltmore Estate every November and December for the stunning holiday decorations and delicious food.
See which tickets we suggest purchasing—Daytime versus Candlelight Christmas Evenings—and 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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Nothing beats an Asheville, NC Christmas, especially a visit to Biltmore Estate, America’s largest home. During the holidays, Biltmore promises festive events, family-friendly activities, and seasonal dining options, sure to spark the holiday spirit.
Admire Martha Stewart-worthy Christmas decorations and a gingerbread Biltmore House. Tour the home with live music in beautifully lit spaces, and savor seasonal cocktails at Biltmore’s on-site restaurants.
At night, the mansion is utterly enchanting with those blazing fireplaces. See how to experience it all here—from passholders and Asheville locals since 2019. 📸 All photos and opinions are our own. 💙 Christine of Uncorked Asheville
🎟️ Quick Facts To Get You Started
From Locals: Know Before You Go
- 📆 Best dates: Weekdays in November are calmer. Thanksgiving and the weeks around Christmas are the busiest.
- 🎟️ Book early: We learned to book as early as August. Convenient times and prime dates, especially around weekends, sell out quickly. Buy tickets as soon as you know your dates.
- 🍽️ Dinner reservations: Tom and I check available dinner reservations when booking our house tour times to ensure both are available. Reserve on OpenTable.
- ⏰ Time to allow: Arrive at Biltmore Estate’s entrance gates 45 minutes before your first activity, especially for house entry. House entry has a metal detector/security. Generally, we spend 1 to 1.5 hours touring Biltmore House. For the nearby grounds and gardens, allow another 30 to 45 minutes (not including trails). For Antler Hill Village and Biltmore Winery, plan on another 1 to 1.5 hours. You will need to drive or take a shuttle across the estate from the house to Antler Hill Village/Winery. All of these activities total around 4 hours.
- 🧥 What to wear: Because it’s the NC mountains, wear layers. You may need a coat, especially in December, but Biltmore House can be warm. Wear comfortable walking shoes—I cannot stress this enough.
- ♿️ Accessibility: Biltmore House has multiple floors with several flights of stairs. First and second floors are accessible, with an elevator between them. Antler Hill Village, the Walled Garden, and Biltmore Conservatory are ADA accessible, but some of the gardens are not. Park and Ride Lot E has accessible parking with shuttle transportation. Limited wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Read Biltmore’s accessibility guide and contact Biltmore Estate with questions.
Plan Your Magical Adventure: Our Free Asheville Guide + Bucket List
✨ Daytime Versus Candlelight Christmas Evenings: Which Ticket Should You Buy?
|
Daytime |
Candlelight Christmas Evenings |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Best For |
Families with young children; if you prefer early evenings in or warmer days |
Couples; date night; night owls; if you love holiday lights; if you don’t mind chillier evenings out |
|
Ticket |
Generally cheaper, especially mid-week and non-peak times |
Slightly more expensive, especially on weekends and peak holiday times |
|
Vibes |
Bright, festive, and cheery |
Dimmed lights & romantic with fireplaces blazing; Antler Hill Village lights up; catch the sunset |
|
Crowds |
Busy but more spread out |
Busier and tends to sell out quickly; Stable Cafe is uniquely open for dinner |
|
Our Pick |
Great if you’ve done Candlelight before or are a passholder (passholders don’t pay extra) |
Our preferred ticket for the ambiance and magic |
Why We Prefer Candlelight Christmas Evenings
If you are still debating the best way to experience Christmas at Biltmore, especially between daytime and evening events, Tom and I prefer Candlelight Christmas Evenings with dinner reservations at Stable Cafe.
Biltmore House is utterly magical at night with dimmed lights, candles, and 65 fireplaces warming the home. While Biltmore can feel a bit dusty/creepy during the day— Biltmore is rumored to be haunted (I blame the tapestries)—at night, with the holiday decorations and sunsets, 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.
đź’µ Is Christmas At Biltmore Worth It?
Yes, but it’s worth noting the pros and cons, as it might not be for everyone. Christmas at Biltmore is expensive. Tom and I live here, so we don’t have to worry about hotels, rental cars, and added vacation costs. One year, we decided to take our families during the day, as nighttime costs for 4 quickly seemed too high.
âś… It’s worth it if:
- You’ve never been before
- You love holiday decor and/or history; this includes shopping for Christmas ornaments and decorations
- It’s a special occasion, holiday family reunion, or romantic night out
- You make the most of that ticket, walking the grounds/gardens, dining on the estate, shopping, and visiting Antler Hill Village (wine tasting, too!)
- You’re visiting from out of town, and this is your big splurge/”must-see”
- You are a passholder booking a Daytime ticket where you don’t pay extra
❌ It might not be worth it if:
- You are on a tight budget (times are hard right now; we get it)
- You dislike crowds, lines, and congested spaces (I’m immunocompromised and might wear a mask)
- You’d rather spend that money on multiple December Asheville attractions like Winter Lights, The Omni Grove Park Inn’s Annual National Gingerbread House Competition, and an award-winning Asheville restaurant
đź’°How to spend less:
- Go in November and/or mid-weekdays when prices are lower
- If you are visiting Biltmore more than once or twice each year, consider an annual pass; passholders also don’t pay extra for Daytime tickets and receive discounted prices for Candlelight Christmas Evenings
- Dine off-site or pick a cheaper Biltmore dining option like their BBQ food truck or Stable Cafe during the day; order charcuterie and snacks at the Wine Bar or ice cream at The Creamery
🏰 Plan Your Full Visit: How To Get The Most Out Of Christmas At Biltmore
As one of Asheville’s largest tourist attractions and a famous historic site—whether you are a first-time visitor or a local—these activities will help you get the most for your money while creating lifelong memories. đź“ť We also have in-depth guides with our favorite Biltmore facts and how to best plan your day at Biltmore, any time of the year.
For Candelight Christmas Evenings, arrive at sunset for the best views
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 Omni Grove Park Inn, and their Gingerbread House Competition pairs perfectly with Christmas at Biltmore).
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 the Biltmore House audio tour (some years are funnier)
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.
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.
✨ No Flash, No Restrooms: Read This Before Your House Tour
Flash photography is not allowed, and there are 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 tower.
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.
Biltmore Christmas Decorations: Don’t miss the Biltmore gingerbread house
Did Martha Stewart vomit Christmas all over Biltmore Estate? Yes; yes, the spirit of her did! The 100+ intricately decorated trees, 10,000 Christmas tree ornaments, and seemingly endless lights make Christmas at Biltmore magical.
Spy ribbons, presents, wreaths, garlands, and candles. The trees are not original to the home, but they certainly kindle the Christmas spirit. Of course, the Banquet Hall, a massive dining room, steals the show with the tallest tree, a Fraser fir. It takes 50 team members to raise and secure this 35-foot showstopper.
Bibliotourists will adore the beautifully decorated library. Other Biltmore House highlights include the indoor pool, Halloween room, gym, and bowling alley. Read Biltmore’s official decor tally here.
Where To Eat For Christmas at Biltmore: Our 2 Favorites
There certainly is no shortage of restaurants at Biltmore Estate. Make advance online dinner reservations on OpenTable as soon as you book your house tickets to avoid long wait times or getting turned away. During Christmas at Biltmore, Tom and I most enjoy Stable Cafe; it’s next to the house and open for a special dinner.
Stable Cafe: Candlelight Christmas Dinner
Most notably, Stable CafĂ© 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 (and much-needed) children’s menu. The sparkling ambiance is romantic.
More budget-friendly, for lunch during Daytime Celebrations, we also enjoy Stable CafĂ©’s chicken salad sandwiches, Southern samplers, and classic burgers. For littles, choose from chicken tenders, burgers, grilled cheese, and BLTs.
Cedric’s Tavern: elevated pub food and seasonal cocktails for pooch lovers
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.
Where to Stay For Christmas at Biltmore
Treat yourself to the ultimate Biltmore Estate Christmas experience with an overnight stay. Even as locals (Passholder Appreciation months!), Tom and I—and our family members—stay at Biltmore’s Village Hotel, which is centrally located with moderate prices, spa access, and Biltmore Winery next door. Village Social is delicious, and grab a seasonal latte at The Kitchen CafĂ©.
For a more luxurious stay, choose The Inn On Biltmore Estate, with 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, consider our top recommended Asheville hotels.
Biltmore Christmas Shopping: Our Favorite Stores
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
🎥 Watch A Biltmore Christmas Before You Go
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 (2023)
Starring Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha, Lucy is writing a script for a remake of a holiday movie. While touring 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.
🎄More Christmas In Asheville Guides 🤶🏻
🥾 Open winter hikes
🎄Where to see holiday lights
🎨 Top things locals actually do in Asheville
❄️ Plan the perfect day indoors
🍴 Nearby Biltmore Village Restaurants
🎄Have you experienced Christmas at Biltmore? What do you love? What do you wish you knew? We are always updating our guides to be more helpful for visitors. Let us know in the comments! Happy Holidays! ❤️ Christine of Uncorked Asheville