Make The Most Out Of Christmas At Biltmore: A Passholder’s Guide
Is Christmas at Biltmore worth it? Yes! As Biltmore annual passholders and Asheville locals, we frequent Biltmore Estate – America’s largest home – every winter for the stunning holiday decorations and delicious food. Keep reading for more of our favorite things to do on the estate, especially in November and December, to get your money’s worth. All photos and experiences are our own.
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Top Things To Know In 2024
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 that 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. You will never grow bored at Biltmore Estate.
From dates to ticket prices, these are the top things to know to help you plan your Christmas at Biltmore Estate:
Candlelight Christmas Evenings Are Better
If you are debating the best way to experience Biltmore at Christmas, especially between daytime and evening events, I prefer Biltmore Candlelight Christmas Evenings tickets 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 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 holiday lights and decor at Antler Hill Village. Tom and I always leave in the Christmas spirit.
How 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 this holiday season.
Arrive at sunset
For the best experience, we 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
There is no flash photography or restrooms inside the house. Biltmore also offers more specialized tours for wine and history lovers. We’ve taken a delicious wine and chocolate tour in 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. One year, we “attended” a lively Biltmore party with antics like Cedric the dog stealing the turkey and an ill opera singer. This year, the guide was more formal with Biltmore curators diving into unique Biltmore history. I love learning new facts, but a forewarning: it is a little long-winded.
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 excessive 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 utterly magical.
Spy ribbons, presents, wreaths, garlands, and candles. The trees are not original to the home but certainly induce that 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.
Dine on Biltmore Estate
To eat at Biltmore, you will need a daytime ticket, annual pass, or on-site accommodation reservation. Make advanced online dinner reservations on OpenTable to avoid long wait times or getting turned away. During Christmas at Biltmore, we prefer Stable Cafe since it’s next to the house tour.
There certainly is no shortage of restaurants directly on Biltmore Estate. 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. This year, Tom devoured a delicious smelling duck leg. They label gluten-free and vegetarian items and 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.
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 love their seasonal cocktails. Head here if you are skipping the house tour, are wine tasting, or just 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 and our families stay at Biltmore’s Village Hotel, which is centrally located with moderate prices, spa access, and Biltmore Winery next door. Onsite 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 these top recommended Asheville hotels.
Add on a special exhibit
In 2024, Christmas at Biltmore Estate features a spectacular Chihuly exhibit in the Amherst Building at Deerpark. I love blown glass designs. Similar to St. Pete, Florida’s Chihuly Museum, this is a quick but beautiful exhibit of Dale Chihuly’s work. You’ll also find a piece outside of Biltmore House. I think it’s worth the add-on if you’ve never seen his work.
Shop for terrific souvenirs and gifts
Biltmore is full of specialty shopping for Christmas gifts and souvenirs. We love to ship wine bottles, 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 3 times now.
Fun Fact: The production team recruited Asheville locals as stand-ins and filming lasted for 15 days.
Spend The Holidays In Asheville With These Guides
- The Omni Grove Park Inn’s famous gingerbread houses
- Accessible and open winter hikes
- Pick out your local Christmas tree
- Top things locals actually do in Asheville
- Restaurants in Asheville you have to visit
Christine Frascarelli
Christine (pronouns: she/her) is the owner of Uncorked Asheville. After falling in love with those gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, Christine and her husband Tom decided to call Asheville, North Carolina home. When her pointy Italian nose isn’t stuck in a book, Christine is adopting all of the kitties, getting lost in the forest, and drinking an ESB. She has a BA in English and History from Smith College, her MLIS from USF-Tampa, and is a former U.S. Fulbright Scholar - Indonesia. Christine also owns The Uncorked Librarian LLC with books and movies to inspire travel.