For first-time visitors, Asheville reveals itself best over time.
Through scenic drives and historic halls, working art studios and walkable streets, meals that reflect the land and stories that linger long after you leave. This five-day itinerary is designed to help you experience the city as it unfolds layer by layer, neighborhood by neighborhood, until what you take home isn’t just memories, but a genuine feel for the place.
Begin your Asheville story on the Blue Ridge Parkway, often called “America’s Favorite Drive.” Designed in the 1930s as part of a New Deal public works project, the Parkway was built to showcase (not conquer) the landscape. Pull off at overlooks near Craggy Gardens, where elevations top 5,000 feet and spring rhododendron and summer breezes feel worlds away from downtown.
Turn those mountain views into lunch plans. For a simple, thoughtfully made picnic to-go, stop by The Rhu before your drive, a downtown café known for elevated sandwiches, seasonal salads, and baked goods that travel well.
If you’re looking to elevate the experience, arrange a custom picnic with Parkway Picnics ahead of time. They specialize in curated, luxury picnic setups—complete with locally sourced food, styled tablescapes, and scenic locations along the Parkway or nearby overlooks. It’s a memorable way to settle into Asheville’s slower rhythm while letting someone else handle the details.
Either way, this midday pause is an Asheville ritual: slow down, look out, breathe deep.
Take an unstructured walk through downtown Asheville and let curiosity lead. Independent shops, galleries, and cafés far outnumber national chains here, giving the city its distinctly local feel. Wander where your interests pull you, whether that’s a bookstore, a record shop, or a sidewalk gallery.
If architecture catches your eye, Asheville rewards looking up. The downtown core is one of the country’s best-preserved collections of Art Deco architecture outside Miami, shaped by a 1920s building boom that forever changed the skyline. Visitors interested in the details can follow a self-guided architecture walk to uncover iconic façades, historic buildings, and hidden design moments woven into everyday streets.
Settle in at The Market Place, a cornerstone of Asheville’s dining scene since the late 1970s. Long before “locavore” entered the culinary lexicon, this restaurant was building menus around Appalachian farms and regional ingredients—making it a fitting first-night table and a quiet introduction to Asheville’s deep-rooted food culture.
Start the day at Sunny Point Café, a longtime favorite known for generous breakfasts, house-made jams, and a neighborhood feel that captures West Asheville’s laid-back charm.
After breakfast, get to know Asheville through the people who love telling its story. Booking a guided tour adds color, context, and personality you won’t find on your own.
Hop aboard LaZoom Tours for a comedic, offbeat take on the city, or opt for Gray Line Trolley Tours for a classic overview of Asheville’s neighborhoods and landmarks. If you prefer to stay on foot, Asheville By Foot walking tours offer a closer look at the Art Deco buildings, historic streets, and stories that shaped downtown.
If you’d rather explore at your own pace, Asheville also offers excellent self-guided options, including the Black Cultural Heritage Trail, which highlights the city’s rich African American history, and the Asheville Urban Trail, a marked walking route that weaves art, architecture, and local stories into the sidewalks themselves.
Spend the afternoon in the River Arts District, where former mills and warehouses along the French Broad River now house hundreds of working artists. This is one of the largest concentrations of working artists in the Southeast, and many studios welcome visitors daily.
Plan lunch at Piccolina while you're in the RAD, a cozy, small-space Italian spot that treats “casual” like a craft. By day, they’re known for scratch-made Neapolitan sandwiches, pizza, and a rotating lineup of sweet bites—ideal fuel before (or between) studio visits. If you’re timing it right for later in the weekend, they also shift into an intimate dinner service with handmade pastas and seasonal plates (proof that the RAD’s love of making doesn’t stop at the studio door).
As evening settles in, head to the South Slope, a compact stretch of downtown that helped earn Asheville its reputation as one of the best beer cities in the country. Start at Green Man Brewery, one of Asheville’s earliest craft breweries, then build your own crawl with nearby favorites like Burial Beer Co., Hi-Wire Brewing, and Wicked Weed Brewing.
Dedicate the morning to Biltmore Estate, the grand vision of George Vanderbilt, who began construction in the late 1800s as a private mountain retreat. With 250 rooms, the house remains the largest privately owned home in the United States, and a master class in Gilded Age ambition, innovation, and craftsmanship.
After touring the house, shift into a slower pace at Antler Hill Village. Explore the surrounding grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, whose approach emphasized harmony between architecture and landscape (he also designed New York’s Central Park). Enjoy lunch on-site, then head to the Biltmore Winery (now the most-visited winery in America) for complimentary tastings and a look at how the estate continues to evolve.
Spend the afternoon wandering the gardens, walking estate trails, or simply pausing to take in long-range views of the Blue Ridge Mountains framed by rolling pastures. Fun fact: Biltmore played a major role in the early U.S. conservation story. Carl A. Schenck founded the Biltmore Forest School on the estate, often cited as the first forestry school in the United States.
Return to town for dinner at Luminosa, the Italian-inspired restaurant inside the Flat Iron Hotel. It’s earned standout recognition for sustainability and value, including a MICHELIN Green Star and Bib Gourmand, and the restaurant itself emphasizes a hyperlocal approach and sustainability-driven practices.
Today, we head west. Visit the North Carolina Arboretum, a living museum dedicated to plants of the Southern Appalachians. Its gardens and trails offer an easy, restorative way to connect with the landscape without committing to a full hike.
After the Arboretum, head into West Asheville for a relaxed, local lunch. If you’re looking for something easy and casual, head to Finest (AVL) on Haywood Road, a Northeast/Italian-American–style deli, bar, and neighborhood restaurant that’s built for quick lunches and “grab a seat and stay awhile” hangs.
If you’re in the mood to linger a little longer, opt for Dobra Tea, where globally sourced teas anchor a light, plant-forward menu. It’s a lunch-with-intention kind of place that's perfect for slowing the pace and easing into the afternoon.
In West Asheville, wandering without a plan is part of the appeal. If you’re in the mood for a coffee break, local roasters like Rowan Coffee offer a thoughtful pause. Those drawn to Asheville’s more eclectic side might enjoy browsing places such as House of Black Cat Magic, while vintage lovers can pop into thrift shops like rEvolve buy∙sell∙trade for a little treasure hunting. Murals, locally owned boutiques, and unexpected finds fill in the spaces between, making West Asheville a neighborhood best explored by following whatever sparks your curiosity.
Dine at Leo’s House of Thirst, a beloved neighborhood spot known for seasonal small plates, natural wines, and an atmosphere that feels equal parts European café and Asheville hangout.
Head to the Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa, opened in 1913 and built from massive stones quarried on-site. Its sweeping terraces have welcomed presidents, writers, and artists for more than a century—and they still offer some of the most iconic mountain views in the region. Even a short visit here feels like stepping into Asheville’s living history.
If time allows, linger a little longer—Asheville has a way of rewarding stillness. You could book time at the The Spa at the Omni Grove Park Inn, one of the largest spas on the East Coast, known for its underground pools, contrast bathing, and fireside relaxation spaces. For a more secluded, nature-immersed experience, Shoji Spa & Retreat offers private outdoor soaking tubs inspired by Japanese onsen traditions. If wellness looks more like quiet restoration, Asheville Salt Cave or the social-forward Recline & Unwind Social Spa provide gentler ways to reset before heading back into town.
Return downtown for lunch at Chai Pani, the award-winning Indian street food restaurant that helped put Asheville’s Foodtopia reputation on the national map. Bright flavors, shareable plates, and a lively atmosphere make it a fitting midday stop on your final day.
Use your remaining hours to circle back to what caught your eye earlier—another walk past Art Deco landmarks, a stop at a favorite gallery, or time in a local bookstore. Asheville often reveals its best details the second (or third) time around.
Close your trip at Cúrate, a downtown institution known for Spanish tapas, thoughtful hospitality, and a convivial energy that brings everyone a little closer together. It’s the kind of final meal that invites reflection, shared plates, and the quiet realization that you’ve started to understand the rhythm of the place.
