Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Asheville lies in a broad valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina, where the Swannanoa River joins the French Broad. It flourished as a mountain resort in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and decades of post-Depression debt meant much of its downtown architecture survived rather than being replaced. That legacy, along with a deep crafts tradition and a lively arts and brewing scene, gives the city an independent, creative streak.
The Biltmore Estate, the enormous Vanderbilt mansion that opened in 1895, anchors many itineraries. Downtown, Art Deco buildings frame Pack Square, the Basilica of St. Lawrence shows off a broad tiled dome, and the Grove Arcade houses shops, with the Thomas Wolfe Memorial preserving the novelist's boyhood home nearby. Former warehouses in the River Arts District now hold working studios, and West Asheville has a relaxed strip of cafes and bars. Heading out on the Blue Ridge Parkway, travelers reach the Folk Art Center, the rhododendron-covered slopes of Craggy Gardens and Mount Mitchell State Park, home to the highest summit east of the Mississippi. The North Carolina Arboretum is closer to town.
Asheville suits food lovers, craft beer fans and anyone wanting mountain scenery with city comforts. October brings fall color and crowds. The region is still recovering from 2024 hurricane damage, so checking Parkway and trail conditions beforehand is wise.
WiserMap travel guideAsheville North Carolina Biltmore and Blue Ridge ParkwayPlan an Asheville trip with this guide to Biltmore, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the River Arts District, downtown architecture, breweries, fall color and more.Read the guide
George Vanderbilt's 250-room French Renaissance chateau, finished in 1895 and still the largest privately owned house in the United States. Tickets cover the house, formal gardens and Antler Hill Village with its winery. Tickets are dated, so book ahead and plan a full day.
Downtown Asheville has one of the best collections of Art Deco buildings in the Southeast, including City Hall and the S and W Cafeteria. Pack Square Park is the green heart of the area. A self-guided Urban Trail with bronze markers explains the history as you walk.
A Spanish Renaissance church completed in 1909 by architect Rafael Guastavino, whose tile vaulting forms one of the largest freestanding elliptical domes in North America. Visitors may enter outside of services, and Guastavino himself is buried in the crypt chapel.
The Grove Arcade is a 1929 indoor shopping arcade with ornate terra cotta, now home to shops and restaurants. A few blocks away, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial preserves the boarding house of the writer's mother, setting of Look Homeward, Angel. Guided tours of the house run several times a day.
Former warehouses and factories along the French Broad River now hold hundreds of artist studios, where you can watch potters, painters and glassblowers at work. There are also breweries and cafes. Many studios open on weekdays too, and the Second Saturday events are especially lively.
A relaxed neighborhood west of the French Broad River, centered on Haywood Road with its independent shops, cafes, tacos, bars and music venues. It feels more local than downtown. Come in the evening for food and drink, and look for the murals along the side streets.
Home of the Southern Highland Craft Guild at milepost 382 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It has a gallery of fine handmade crafts for sale, a permanent collection and craft demonstrations in season. Entry is free, and short trails from the parking lot connect to the Mountains to Sea Trail.
A high section of the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville known for its rhododendron balds, which bloom pink and purple in June. Short trails lead to Craggy Pinnacle and the picnic area. It is often cool and windy, so bring a jacket, and check for winter Parkway closures.
Mount Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River at 6,684 feet, reached by a spur road from the Blue Ridge Parkway. A short paved path leads to an observation deck, and longer trails cross the spruce-fir forest. Weather changes quickly and the summit is often in cloud.
A 434-acre public garden in the Bent Creek area near the Blue Ridge Parkway, with a bonsai exhibition, themed gardens, forest trails and changing exhibits. It is popular for walking and biking. Entry is by a per-vehicle parking fee, and it makes an easy half day outing.
A free garden next to UNC Asheville devoted to plants native to the Southern Appalachians, with wildflowers, ferns, a creek and wooded paths. It is small and peaceful, ideal for an hour's walk. Spring brings the best wildflowers, and volunteers run a small gift shop on site.
The main visitor center on the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 384 near Asheville, with an interactive map, a film about the road and rangers who advise on hikes and closures. It is the best starting point for a scenic drive. Check the Parkway road status before heading out in winter.
Top-rated local businesses in Asheville, with real reviews on WiserMap.
No reviews yet. Been to Asheville? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Asheville? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photos
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
Photo: Gary Stevens from Asheville NC, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Blake Lewis, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: DiscoA340, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Antony-22, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Teemu08, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jonathan Geiger, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: National Park Service, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Acroterion, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: DiscoA340, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: anoldent, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Oldmancolin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: 24dupontchevy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: JST Tx, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Seasider53, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Owen Allen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: P. Hughes, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: P. Hughes, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Antony-22, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Antony-22, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Antony-22, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Antony-22, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jerry Michalski, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: nschouterden, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: nschouterden, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Bill McMannis, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: w_lemay, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: w_lemay, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: w_lemay, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Warren LeMay, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: w_lemay, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Doug Coldwell, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: fo.ol, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: fo.ol, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: fo.ol, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Thomas, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: DiscoA340, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: DiscoA340, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: DiscoA340, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: DiscoA340, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: DiscoA340, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: DiscoA340, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: DiscoA340, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: anoldent, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: anoldent, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: anoldent, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ken Thomas, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Zen Sutherland aka Zen sutherland at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Stilfehler, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Stilfehler, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
