Whether you’re a lifelong Ashevillian longing to embrace your inner tourist or you have a limited amount of time in the Land of the Sky, here are 20+ tours guaranteed to show you the sights you want to see.
Note: Price estimates are based on individual adult rates available at the time of publishing. Check each company’s website to see current pricing.
Top Tours
Asheville Free Walking Tours | $0-$15 | Explore downtown or the RAD, take a bite of the local food scene on the Taste of West Asheville tour, or dig into tunes of the past on the Music History tour — many of the tours are tip-based, so you can make a contribution after your excursion.
Biltmore Estate | $110-$410 | The striking historic home is ready for you to explore with an audio guide.
Citizen Vinyl | Free | Every Wednesday through Saturday at noon and 1 p.m. and on Sunday at 12:30 and 1:30 p.m., you can learn more about the record-pressing facility and immerse yourself in the history of the Citizen-Times building.
Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville | $30-$37 | Embark on the hop-on, hop-off tour to travel through a variety of neighborhoods and make stops to shop, browse art galleries, and indulge in the culinary scene — or opt for the ghost or Christmas tours for a themed journey.
Hood Huggers International Tours | $30-$55 | Dive into the past, learn about the present, and explore the future of the African-American community in Asheville on one of the walking or driving tours.
La Zoom Tours | $27-$49 | You’ll laugh and learn on these comedy tours aboard the purple bus — plus, locals can get 20% off midweek tours with proof of Buncombe County residence.
Mountaineer Motor Tours | $250-$300 | Hop inside a 1923 Ford Model T for a ride around downtown and Grove Park, or a route through Riverside Cemetery, Historic Montford Neighborhood and downtown Asheville.
Thomas Wolfe Memorial | $5 | Tours of the author’s childhood home are available Tuesday-Saturday, departing on the half hour.
Heath Townson of Mountaineer Motor Tours also just acquired a 1956 Chrysler 300 B.
Photo by Franzi Charen
Eat and Drink
Asheville Food Tours | $85 | Choose from four different tour experiences to get a taste of some of the best bites our culinary scene has to offer.
Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours | $89 | Enjoy views of the Blue Ridge Mountains while sipping on seasonal cocktails or mocktails at three rooftops — plus, you’ll learn plenty of history about each location along the way.
Eating Asheville Tours | $79-$89 | Explore our city on foot while making stops at restaurants, bakeries, and bars, both new and old.
BREW-ed Brewery Tours | $65 | Learn about the science of craft beer, from the ingredients all the way to the finished product (which you’ll get to sample plenty of).
Make new friends over good food with Asheville Food Tours.
Photo by Stu Helm
Art is all around
Art Connections Art Tours | $85-$165 | Let Sherry Masters design a custom tour to accommodate your creative interest.
Asheville Art Experience | $55 | Dive into the rich and energetic spirit of the River Arts District, walking through artist studios and appreciating works of various mediums.
Asheville Art Museum Public Tours | Free with general admission | The Museum frequently offers docent-guided tours through special exhibitions and the Museum’s Collections — check the calendar to stay up to date with opportunities.
Mountain Mural Tours | $25-$40 | Hop on the bus or lace up your walking shoes to explore the murals, graffiti, and sculptures that make Asheville’s urban art scene so unique.
Get outdoors
Asheville Drifters | $250-$500 | If you’re looking to reel in a trout or smallmouth bass, expert guides will help you out, offering a variety of float fishing trips and wade fishing trips.
Asheville Hiking Tours | $99 | Reserve a spot on the Waterfalls and Blue Ridge Parkway tour to discover breathtaking scenery during the easy-to-moderate 2.5-mile journey.
Asheville Jeep Tours | $75-$99 | Let your guide take the wheel and show you the biodiversity of the region from paved or gravel roads.
No Taste Like Home | $42-$77 | Embark on the expert-led foraging tour to find wild foods like mushrooms, berries, and edible plants, followed by a cooking demo and tasting.
WNC Photo Tours | Prices vary with group size | Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned photographer, J Smilanic and Matt Williams will teach you the best practices to capture gorgeous landscape photography.
A glimpse of the spoils you may gather on a No Taste Like Home tour.
Photo by AVLtoday
All in on history
Asheville Architecture Trail | Free | Study up on the buildings of the 1920s by following the interactive map to 14 locations.
Asheville By Foot Walking Tours | $30 | Get your steps in while your guide chronicles the abundant history behind local landmarks on “The Asheville Insider Walking Tour.”
Asheville Urban Trail | Free | Use the interactive map to absorb the stories of our city’s iconic figures, events, and locations — read the plaques at each stop and listen along to the audio tour.