Biltmore Christmas Tour

Bucket list: Biltmore Christmas ✅

It’s the most wonderful time of the year at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina when fresh evergreens and twinkling Christmas lights add holiday flair to one of the most beautiful mansions you may ever see.

This was my first time seeing the Biltmore at Christmas, but since we were visiting my daughter in the Lake Lure area for Thanksgiving, it was the perfect opportunity to go.

And yes, we went on Thanksgiving Day which was far busier than I would have thought.

Guests enter at timed intervals, but once inside, you’re free to meander along the orchestrated route on your own time, so relax and enjoy all the details.

Each room is decorated uniquely with color-coordinated ornaments and trimmings that match the room’s theme.

Visitors can experience the holiday magic during the day or opt for the evening candlelight tour. Both options are self-guided and you sign up for a specific entrance time.

You can also opt for the audio tour which turns your self-guided experience into more of a hosted and curated experience lasting 90 minutes and you’ll learn a lot about the Vanderbilts.

I didn’t take the audio tour because I couldn’t stomach the thought of paying even more than the price of admission (which was NOT cheap), but I kinda regret it now. (If you decide to add it on, buy it at the time you purchase your admission tickets for a discount.)

If you don’t know anything about the Biltmore House, it’s a 250-room French Renaissance chateau and was built to be the country home of George Washington Vanderbilt. With 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces taking up four acres of floor space, “America’s Largest Home” took six years to build.

It’s epic.

If touring the Biltmore at Christmas doesn’t get you in the holiday spirit, I don’t know what will!

Even the grand staircase was resplendent with elegance.

Christmas at Biltmore decorations - pink room

A christmas tree in a living room filled with furniture and vase of flowers

Of course, there were a few sparingly decorated areas on the lower level which were really fun to see anyhow: the bowling alley, the Halloween room, the indoor pool, kitchens and pantries.

And once you’ve toured the inside be sure to wander the gardens and conservatory.

Set on a most amazing piece of property in Asheville, North Carolina, the 175,000 square foot home is adjacent to 8,000 acres of formal and informal gardens designed by the famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Ulmstead.