Worried about getting overwhelmed or exhausted by trying to see it all (like me)!? From locals, these are the best attractions and places to eat, sleep, and drink with only 36 hours in Asheville, NC. Find everything from blockbusters to local, hidden gems. This is the itinerary that enchanted Tom and I to decide to move here. Of course, find so much more that we think you will love, too.
When we first visited Western North Carolina, we barely had 2 days in Asheville (AVL) to see all the attractions, hike in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, and tour the historic Biltmore Estate. However, that short time also convinced us to move here. We’ve been AVL residents since 2019.
If you find yourself with a similarly short time to explore the city, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. This is our ideal Asheville itinerary to experience a bit of it all, but you also might want to peruse our longer bucket list of the best Asheville things to do. All photos are our own.
36 Hours In Asheville Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arriving In Asheville
When your plane, bus, or car arrives in North Carolina, you probably cannot enjoy a full day in Asheville. However, even with a few hours or an afternoon to spare – and if you are anything like Tom and I – hit the ground running.
1. Tour & support the recovering River Arts District
Each of Asheville’s unique neighborhoods has its vibe. Reminiscent of Wynwood Walls in Miami, we love the River Arts District (RAD), which is full of artist studios and shops. However, because of its proximity to the French Broad River, the area was devastated by Tropical Storm/Hurricane Helene.
Much of Upper RAD is open (all of Roberts Street, Artful Way, Depot Street, and Clingman Avenue), and a few places have reopened in the lower areas. Add these memorable highlights to your Asheville itinerary:
- Walking, skating, and biking the RAD Riverwalk along the French Broad River (much of the riverwalk has been cleared and repaired)
- Spying urban street art
- Shopping for jewelry, sculptures, pottery, clothing, and paintings
- Snapping a photo with the Asheville Silo (near Baby Bull)
- Eating at delicious RAD restaurants like Baby Bull (burgers), Ultra Coffeebar (coffee & breakfast/lunch), and The Bull and Beggar (meats)
- Drinking at Ginger’s Revenge (GF ginger beer), RAD Brewing, Hi-Wire’s RAD Beer Garden, and Anoche (tequila bar)
- Grabbing food and catching a show at The Grey Eagle Music Hall and The Grey Eagle Taqueria
- Taking a chocolate factory tour and eating dessert or coffee at French Broad Chocolate’s RAD location; I love their vegan bonbons
Stay Updated & Support RAD’s Recovery Post-Helene
Visit the River Arts District’s official website to see who/what is reopening and where. Leave a donation and consider signing up for an art class or workshop. Visit their newly opened Downtown Asheville RADA Outpost at 24 N Lexington. Second Gear relocated to the Westgate Plaza. Guajiro – my favorite Cuban food truck – reopened at Hi-Wire Biltmore Village.
2. Dine at Foodtopia’s best restaurants
With 36 hours in Asheville – a city nicknamed “Foodtopia” filled with absolutely unforgettable restaurants – you are going to have to make some hard decisions. Tom and I are both avid foodies and have eaten at hundreds of restaurants across the city.
For fine dining, romantic, and award-winning restaurants, head to:
- Cúrate – Spanish tapas and wine; Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsey dined here; make advanced reservations ASAP; James Beard award-winning
- Chai Pani – Indian street snacks; budget-friendly; no reservations; Meherwan Irani is a James Beard award-winning and highly acclaimed chef; order a spicy cocktail
- Plant – Asheville’s dedicated vegan restaurant; I always order their “cheese” plate and love the ravioli and roasted beets; save room for dessert
- Posana – Contemporary American cuisine with locally sourced ingredients; dedicated gluten-free kitchen (we have an entire guide to GF Asheville as a Celiac household)
- Neng Jr.’s – Intimate Filipinx restaurant with a seasonal menu; advanced reservations; highly unique with sauces you will want to lick off the plate; I love the Duck Adobo
- Luminosa – This modern Italian eatery in the gorgeous Flat Iron Hotel is great for celebrations with unique bites like bone marrow tater tots
We also have a list of our favorite AVL date night restaurants as locals.
More casual and local dining options that we love:
- Nine Mile – Caribbean-influenced cuisine with the best food allergy and intolerance-friendly menu; multiple locations; no reservations
- Haywood Common – Shared West Asheville pet-friendly patio with The Whale (beer); healthy eats; casual counter service
- Bone & Broth – Elevated North Asheville tavern; local meats; advanced reservations
- Little D’s – Neighborhood casual “fine dining” with American cuisine from the owners of Downtown’s Asheville Proper (steak)
- Tall John’s – Montford neighborhood tavern with my favorite bathroom wallpaper (go look)
- Murasaki – A South Asheville Asian tapas and sushi restaurant with ramen
Romantic Date Idea: If you are planning a romantic Asheville getaway from May to October, we highly suggest dining at Nine Mile or Tall John’s before watching a free, under-the-stars Shakespeare in the Park performance in Historic Montford. Consider booking a nearby Bed & Breakfast, including The Lion And The Rose, 1900 Inn on Montford, or Black Walnut B&B.
3. Grab a drink from an unforgettable bar
End your first day in Asheville, celebrating with a drink – OK, and clearly, we cannot resist charcuterie. While Asheville has loads of great bars to choose from (we’ll get to breweries later), for the most unique experience, head to the Battery Park Book Exchange located inside the historic Grove Arcade. This is one of the city’s best used bookstores. Sip champagne, wine, and literary cocktails between the stacks. Catch live music or a poetry reading.
With gorgeous weather, we also love Asheville’s rooftop bars for breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our favorites include The Montford, Capella on 9, Hemingway’s Cuba, The Flat Iron Rooftop, and The Social Lounge. Tom and I cannot resist wine bars like Leo’s House of Thirst and 5 Walnut. New(er) to Asheville, head to Färməsē, a basement cocktail lounge.
📚 For bibliotourists: I am a huge literary traveler as a rogue, MLIS-degreed librarian. Be sure to read our Asheville Book Lovers’ Itinerary (coming soon) to find the best bookshops, libraries, literary and historical sites, and movie filming locations.
Day 2: Full Day In Asheville
Make the most out of your 1 to 2 days in Asheville. If you plan on staying in the city proper, we suggest half a day visiting Biltmore Estate, followed by heading downtown for breweries and shopping before catching a sunset at The Omni Grove Park Inn. For a local breakfast in Asheville, try Sunny Point, All Day Darling, 5 Points, Pulp & Sprout, or Liberty House Cafe.
However, if Biltmore is not for you, we suggest hiking DuPont State Forest for breathtaking Asheville waterfall hikes, followed by lunch in Hendersonville and wine tasting across Henderson County. Hendersonville is about 35 – 45 minutes from Asheville.
4. Tour Biltmore Estate
With only 36 hours in Asheville, visit Biltmore Estate, the area’s blockbuster tourist attraction. As America’s largest home, dreamed up by George and Edith Vanderbilt with the help of Richard Morris Hunt and Frederick Law Olmsted, Biltmore is Asheville’s version of the Newport mansions.
We are Biltmore annual passholders. To get your money’s worth without exhausting yourself, we suggest:
- Self-guided or audio Biltmore House tour first thing in the morning; budget 1 to 1.5 hours; use the restrooms before entering
- Stroll the gardens; our favorite is the Walled Garden
- Lunch at Stable Cafe (next to the house) or Cedric’s Tavern (Antler Hill Village); make advanced reservations
- Wine taste at Biltmore Winery
- If time allows, walk the Lagoon Trail or catch a special exhibit
- With kids, enjoy the live demonstrations, barnyard, bike rentals, and wooden playground
In the winter, Christmas at Biltmore is also a must, especially Candlelight Christmas evenings. Consider overnighting at the Village Hotel or The Inn. We have an entire guide to visiting Biltmore Estate filled with things to do.
History Lovers Tip: Read The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan before visiting Biltmore Estate. A local Asheville author, Kiernan, explains the creation and history behind Biltmore and the role the Vanderbilts played in Asheville’s economy. Edith participated in politics – quite the achievement for her time -and both Vanderbilts helped contribute to forestry education. I loved this enlightening book, and it enhanced my perspective of WNC.
5. Try a local craft beer
If you need a palate cleanser after fancy Biltmore Estate, every 36-hour Asheville itinerary should include visiting a craft brewery. Asheville is famous for its craft beer.
For popular and famous breweries in Downtown Asheville, head to:
- Green Man (best ESB)
- Wicked Weed Brewing (with good food; Funkatorium nearby)
- Burial Beer Co. (gotta love those beer names)
- Twin Leaf Brewery
- Hi-Wire Brewing (tiki bar, too)
Local favorites that we recommend include:
- Hillman Beer (great food; pet & kid-friendly)
- Highland Brewing (fun events and DJ music)
- Outsider Brewing (unique small batch brewing)
- River Arts District Brewing (food trucks)
- White Labs Brewing Co. (pizza and gluten-reduced beer options)
If you prefer guided tours, consider this Downtown Asheville brewery tour or this likely-to-sell-out, signature guided tour. For non-alcoholic beverages, enjoy Asheville’s hipster coffee shop scene.
6. Explore and shop in Downtown Asheville
Downtown Asheville is always worth a visit. Walkable and easy to navigate, you don’t need a car. Before we moved to Asheville, we took an Uber downtown from our hotel (we stayed off Brevard Road at the budget-friendly and great Hampton Inn). The main Downtown Asheville area and streets include Wall St., Biltmore Ave., Lexington Ave., and Page Ave.
With only 36 hours in Asheville, a few points of interest to see downtown include:
- Taking a picture in front of the Flat Iron sculpture
- Playing vintage arcade games at the Asheville Pinball Museum
- Admiring art at the Asheville Art Museum or a T-Rex at the Science Museum
- Shopping at Malaprops Bookstore or Woolworth Walk (I have a gorgeous fox painting from here)
- Touring the Thomas Wolfe Memorial
- Grabbing hot chocolate and dessert at French Broad Chocolate Lounge, Old Europe, or Asheville Chocolate
- Shopping at the historic Grove Arcade and side streets; we love Moonlight Makers
- Dining at a Downtown Asheville restaurant like Limones, Luminosa, Strada, The Market Place, or Zambra
- Booking a foot soak and 20-minute massage at Wake Foot Sanctuary
- Fueling up at a Downtown AVL coffee shop like The Rhu, High Five, or Double D’s
For more guided tours, visitors love this ghost tour or this tip-based walking tour. You cannot go wrong with LaZoom or Gray Line Trolley Tours; we’ve done ghost tours on both, but LaZoom also has loads of comedy tours, perfect for the entire family. Gray Line has sightseeing hop-on, hop-off options.
7. Catch an Omni Grove Park Inn sunset
The Omni Grove Park Inn is the adult Disney World of the NC mountains. While you can stay overnight at this luxury resort with a world-class spa and golf course, we recommend stopping by for a sunset dinner at Edison or Sunset Terrace. Or, grab drinks at The Great Hall Bar.
Those vibrant pink, orange, and purple sunsets will rival Santorini (we honeymooned in Greece). This is the perfect way to end your last night in Asheville. And if you happen to land in Asheville around Christmas, you’ll also love their holiday decor and annual gingerbread house display with hot cocoa.
Day 3: Heading Out
If you have half a day in Asheville before heading out, these are our final suggestions. However, if you skip Biltmore altogether, driving the Blue Ridge Parkway is another great way to spend 36 hours in Asheville for Day 2.
8. Drive down the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) is a 469-mile, 2-lane, scenic road managed by the National Park Service (NPS). Free to access, the Parkway runs from Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.
A must for any Asheville itinerary, find endless scenic overlooks and cascading waterfalls. These nearby BRP hikes have some of the best mountain views. Before heading out, check the NPS site for gate and weather closures.
More outdoor options: Head to Black Balsam via the Art Loeb Trail or climb Mount Pisgah. We have an entire guide of things to do around Mount Pisgah. In the fall, the BRP is a must for leaf peeping hikes around Asheville. Or, take a popular guided waterfall hiking tour.
9. Eat lunch at Sierra Nevada Brewing or Burning Blush (for airport travelers)
If you are ending your 36-hour Asheville visit, Sierra Nevada is a massive brewing facility with a restaurant. Have lunch in their taproom before heading to the Asheville airport (under 10 minutes away). Nearby, Mills River Brewing and Bold Rock also have food trucks. I love Burning Blush.
Where To Stay For A Short Asheville Visit
Asheville has plenty of nice places to stay. However, with one to two nights in Asheville, these are our top picks for location and comfort.
- Aloft – Downtown Asheville – If you are looking to stay in the heart of Downtown Asheville, the updated Aloft Hotel has murals, hipster rooms, and sprawling public areas, including a rooftop pool and ledge.
- Asheville Cottages – Luxury cottages perfect for the entire family. Think a full kitchen, hot tub, and living room with a fireplace. They gifted us a staycation to check them out for our readers, and we loved it.
- The Lion and the Rose – A pink lady, Historic Montford District Bed & Breakfast.
- The Restoration Asheville – Located Downtown with a rooftop bar and multiple restaurants, this 4-star hotel is in a great location with stellar views.
- Hampton Inn And Suites Asheville Biltmore Area – Although this hotel sits on busy Brevard Road – NC-191 – across from the Asheville Outlets, it was one of our favorites before moving here. Clean, updated, and in the middle of everything, access Downtown Asheville, Biltmore, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s family and budget-friendly.
- Blind Tiger Asheville – They also gifted us a staycation at this beautiful boutique hotel in the historic Chestnut Street area. Another charming gem. Walk to Bone & Broth, find Little Free Libraries, and even walk downtown.
- Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate – Tom and I stay here for fun during Passholder Appreciation Months (and our out-of-town family stays here). See Biltmore, enjoy the trails, and have access to great on-property restaurants. Plus, Biltmore Village is right outside those gates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Along with large attractions like Biltmore Estate, Asheville is famous for the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. Hike and chase waterfalls, drive the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, and dine at award-winning restaurants. It’s beautiful and delicious.
Yes, Downtown Asheville is a great place to eat at famous restaurants, see historic buildings, shop at unique boutiques, and enjoy the city’s craft breweries. Plus, it’s walkable; no car is needed. Find plenty of local art, too!
To experience the tourist attractions and local haunts, spend 3 to 4 days in Asheville. This will give you time for day trips.
Can we please meet up at the Battery Park Book Exchange? That place sounds awesome!! Asheville is only 3ish hours away from Atlanta so I think I’ll have to convince my parents to take a long weekend there with me. Then I’ll ditch them for a bit to hang with you!
Riiiggght!?
The Biltmore sounds amazing. I might be able to lure them over with that. Your husband is gluten free right? So do those breweries have gluten-free options? My father is gluten-free too. My mom doesn’t drink so she’d just watch me and my father drink. Or if there’s no gluten-free options then they will both watch me drink.
I love all your Asheville posts! I think I should just move there although maybe I should visit first.
Yessss, OMG we meet all of the bloggers at the Battery Park Book Exchange. It’s the perfect spot to grab a literary cocktail and catch up.
Haha, don’t tell your parents that I said so, but that sounds like an amazing plan to me. You have to read Thomas Wolfe before you come–preferably Look Homeward, Angel–so that you can go on a literary date. It would be perfect!
There are also great fiction books about the Biltmore so I see another date there. See, we are building up your blog content too!! Plus, this will help you reach your goal of doing more literary dates outside of NYC.
My husband is gluten-free and Asheville is full of GF options for food and drinks. Yes, they have gf-free/reduced beer, cider, wine… You’d be all set for your dad. Some places, like Top of the Monk, make amazing mocktails too.
Thank you SO MUCH!!!! I’D DIE IF YOU MOVED HERE—but in a totally good way.
Um, wow, I feel like I’m all mentally boozed up and full after reading this post. I want to eat at EVERY SINGLE PLACE you mentioned. I think I need more than 36 hours though. The Biltmore is on the very top of my list! If I visit, that may be the first thing on the agenda and since you have annual passes, you’ll have to come with.
I love the sound of Chestnut or perhaps it’s the image you painted. Our favorite thing to do (at the right place) is to sit at a bar and share a charcuterie plate. Hubby will have sparkling water with lime while I enjoy the glass of wine I get to have every now and then. Seriously such a perfect setting.
I want to visit for 2020. Let’s see! I’ll need to do my own foodie review after I stuff my face.
Wonderful post! There is so much to do there and I don’t think people even realize it.
You would love Asheville as a foodie town sooooo much!
The Biltmore is definitely a must–it’s just so iconic and SO ASHEVILLE. The grounds are neverending, and there is truly something for everyone. You bet I’d come with. I’m loving our annual passes. We like to go just to eat and grab a drink sometimes. Then, we hit the light walking trails.
Chestnut is also a classic. It’s just quaint and classy. Plus, you recently saw that yummy drink I posted on The Uncorked Librarian’s IG. Charcuteries are literally my favorite. The Montford Rooftop bar has a good board too with amazing views.
Yes, come visit!! Thank you!
Wow, Sierra Nevada? The Richie Rich estate, food and booze? The chance to meet you – we really have to head down there at some point in 2020!
Yes, and Sierra is literally next to the airport…it’s perfect planning!
We’d love to see you guys. Let us know. So much beer *research* to be had.