I’m not what you’d call an upper-crust kind of guy.
I’ve never owned a whole suit and prefer tennis shoes for all situations. I briefly studied international business in college but couldn’t stay awake in class and had to run with my tail between my legs back to the liberal arts.
It’s OK. My family is filled with successful, intelligent and thoughtful people, some of whom have done quite well. But we are, at heart, members of the hoi polloi.
We are proud to come from farmers and laborers, although if you climb far enough back in my Papaw’s family tree you’ll find George Washington’s grandfather, the bad guy from “Braveheart,” Pepin the Short, Charlemagne and St. Arnulf, the patron saint of beer.
We are, however, long since removed from any royal pretensions.
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The few times I’ve tried to make my way into the more structured world of the elite, I didn’t like it.
But what I do like? I like the trappings.
The grand churches and magnificent grounds and the art and the literature. I love the tapestries and giant fireplaces and everything that came with being insanely wealthy in old Europe or the new world.
In short, I like Biltmore and places like it. The grandeur appeals to my imagination.
And while I wouldn’t want to live in that world, I like to visit it, maybe even imagine myself in it.
What can you do at Biltmore?
Biltmore – a massive mansion built in the 1890s as a summer home for a ridiculously wealthy member of the Vanderbilt family George Vanderbilt – is the gilded age mansion of my dreams.
The grounds are a massive garden, the American version of Versailles. The house is 178,926 square feet of Downton Abbey relocated to mountains outside of Asheville, North Carolina.
Each room is elegant and opulent and filled with American history. It’s a man-made paradise, both inside and out.
I really lack the vocabulary to describe it. It’s magnificent, like the Titanic but on land.
It’s a tribute to exceptionalism and the power of money.
However, it can also be a bit depressing when considering how one family possessed so much wealth at a time when so many Americans lived in crushing poverty. But, honestly, it’s best not to think of all that whilst on tour.
Biltmore, America’s largest home, is far more than the house and grounds. It is essentially its own village with a hotel, an inn and cottages you can rent for overnight stays.
Antler Hill Village features a number of diverting shops and places to eat, like Cedric’s Tavern, as well as the winery.
There’s hiking, craft demonstrations and live music at the bandstand, which ends in October due to the weather. Hiking is included in admission or with a stay at one of the Biltmore Estate’s overnight properties.
There is also a farmyard where kids can see laying hens, lambs, calves, goats and draft horses. The crafts and the farmyard are included with your daytime admission. The live band is also included with admission.
What is the best time to visit Biltmore?
The Biltmore is beautiful all year round, but I especially love it at Christmas.
When the house is decked for the season, it’s transmuted.
You’re no longer a tourist in T-shirt and jeans, schlepping through somebody else’s decadent summer home. You’re in another place, another time. The elegance is enveloping. Even for a schlub like me.
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What are the dates for Christmas at Biltmore?
Christmas doesn’t end at Biltmore on December 25. Nah, son. When you’re as rich as the Vanderbilts, you get to choose when Christmas is over.
This season, Christmas at Biltmore begins Nov. 4, 2022 and will end Jan. 8, 2023. Christmas decorations will stay up the entire time. The last candlelight tour will be on Jan. 7.
Plan to stay late. Biltmore and the grounds are beautiful at Christmas time, but at night, with luminaries and lights on 8,000 acres of gardens and grounds, Biltmore is a dream.
How much does it cost to go to the Biltmore at Christmas?
During the holiday season, guests are given two main house tour options, a daytime tour, and a candlelight Christmas evening tour – each with its own tiered ticket prices.
At the time of this writing, there are three tiers: an audio-guided visit, an audio-guided visit plus and an expert-guided visit.
The evening tours run a little higher. Here is a breakdown of the evening tour tiers:
For $119 to $154 per person, you get a nighttime tour of the house with an audio guide, access to the grounds either the day before or after your evening visit as well as access to Antler Hill Village and Winery and a wine tasting.
For $149 to $189 per person, you get all that plus entrance to the immersive, multi-sensory exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: 500 Years of Genius by Grande Experiences.
I haven’t done this, but would love to do it.
Finally, the $384 to $424 tier offers an evening visit to Biltmore with an expert-guided, 90-minute small-group tour which will include exclusive Vanderbilt family Christmas stories.
For example, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, who later passed away on the Lusitania, formally asked St. Nicholas for a polo pony in his notarized letter but instead received a common nag after being impudent towards Papa entirely too close to Christmas.
You also receive a daytime audio tour of the house and access to the grounds. All tiers come with complimentary parking.
How long does it take to go through the Biltmore at Christmas?
The self-guided Biltmore candlelight audio tours are a 40-minute experience. The expert-guided tour lasts about 90 minutes.
In either case, you will want to set aside at least two hours or more for the entire Biltmore experience as there is a lot to see and do outside the tour itself.
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What do you wear to Biltmore?
Since Biltmore is so opulent, many people feel compelled to dress up a little.
Remember you’re going to be doing a lot of walking and exploring.
Wear clothes that are comfortable but appropriate. You’re not going to be running into any of the Vanderbilts, so you don’t have to impress anybody.
The only place you need to dress up at Biltmore is The Dining Room at The Inn on Biltmore Estate, where business casual attire is recommended.
Collared shirts and slacks, dresses, or blouses with skirts or dress pants are encouraged.
What can you do for free at Biltmore?
You may be wondering since you have to pay to even hike the grounds if there’s anything you can do at Biltmore for free.
The good news is, you have two options for free entertainment.
If you like to window shop, you can visit the gatehouse shop or the Shops at Biltmore, located across from the entrance to the mansion.
The Shops at Biltmore are a series of shops, restaurants and cafes. The village features tree-lined streets, vintage cottages and brick walkways. It’s charming. It’s picturesque. But it ain’t exactly Biltmore.
Also, admittedly, if you lack self-control and end up buying souvenirs from the gatehouse or the Shops at Biltmore, these experiences may become considerably less free rather quickly.
Finally, if you’ve already purchased an admission ticket, you’ll be able to partake in free wine tasting at the Biltmore Winery.
How can you save money on Biltmore?
Biltmore offers a variety of special offers and discounts, including military and senior citizen discounts, which are updated throughout the year on its website.
You may also be able to save a little extra money by booking a tour on a weekday instead of the weekend when pricing is usually a bit cheaper. Reserving your tickets early is also recommended if you want to save some money on admission.
Is Christmas at Biltmore worth the money?
So is the candlelight tour worth it? I’d say it depends on you’d budget.
The first two tiers are only about $20 more than the daytime tickets and include everything you’d normally receive during the day plus candles. So yes, if your budget has a bit of wiggle room it might be worth it. But the $385 tier is a bit steep for my taste.
I would say Christmas at Biltmore is worth the splurge, especially at the baseline tiers for the daytime ($99) and evening tours ($119).
It is a unique experience that you and your family will be unlikely to forget.
To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit the Biltmore website.
Have you visited Biltmore at Christmas? What did you think? Let us know in the comments.
Read the web story version of this article here.
We love the Biltmore even more at Christmas! My husband and I have been there three times for Christmas season and three visits in spring and fall. It is fabulous anytime! We recently spent our 40th wedding anniversary at the Biltmore Estate and felt truly blessed to be surrounded by such beauty and opulence. We are looking forward to our visit next spring!
I have been to Biltmore many times as I live in the Carolinas, but I must say I love the candlelight tour the best. I bought tickets for my Husband and myself a few years ago for a romantic weekend. I wasn’t let down. Everything was amazing, like walking into a book from the past. All the decorations were breath taking. The fact that there were 73 christmas
trees was amazing. I will probably do it again. I took my daughter and granddaughter in february for a girls weekend we had a great time.
Interesting a few years ago my wife want to visit chihuly at the Biltmore. we live in chicago and i stated to look into it. After view cost of the tcikets for the Biltmore and chihuly and looking at the airfare. I found that it was cheaper to just fly to Seattle to the chihuly museum and see chihuly flights were about the same . Biltmore is just too expensive to attract people from other metropolitan areas. They need to consider this if they want to attract national audiences
I’ve made a special to see Biltmore at Christmas. I’ve been several times before, but not at Christmas. My problem is that the lights are turned down so low inside the house that you can only see Christmas lights, nothing else. You miss some of the beauty of the house since it’s so dark.
Never been at Christmas but were there a week before “ Christmas opened” so we saw a lot of behind the scenes set up happening ( interesting to me DH not so impressed
But your comment about attire – DH woke up the day before our Biltmore visit convinced he had “ nothing to wear” to the elegant Biltmore- we were referred to the Mast general store in Asheville where our sales clerk told us that “ hiker chic” was the suggested dress code
Christmas at the Biltmore is extra in a really bad way. The place screams ‘money, money, money’ without an ounce of style or authenticity. Christmas at the biltmore is as vulgar and plastic as it is all the rest of the year.
First the Biltmore is worth seeing anytime of the year. If you live in NC this place is a must see, the house the town! There is no way to live in NC and not experience the Biltmore, the history, who built the house, the grounds and inside during Christmas is unbelievable. The drive is worth it and the money you spend is worth it. They hotel is grand the winery is the best and the food is great. Don’t listen to anyone, and the pics don’t do it justice! Trust me I have been three times and still find something new to awe about!
Is there a New Years Eve Dance at the Biltmore or the Inn?
Hi Harry! I did not find a New Year’s event for Biltmore. Hope that helps!
Can I speak with a real person to make reservations for Christmas 2022?
When can reservations be made ?
Phone number??
Thanks
Hi Bob! (800) 411.3812 is the only number I’m able to find. Sounds like they’re experiencing high call volumes but if you stay on, you should be able to talk to a representative. Hope that helps!
We just got home from there! We did the daytime regular tour but late enough the Christmas lights were on. It was absolutely beautiful! We would love to go back. Would love to have some true candle light tour but it was too expensive for us this trip.