Biltmore House has 250 rooms behind a limestone facade modelled on the chateaux of the Loire, built for George Washington Vanderbilt II and opened in 1895. The surrounding estate, landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted, includes gardens, a winery and miles of trails.
The self-guided route runs through the banquet hall, the library, the indoor pool and bowling alley, the kitchens and the family and guest bedrooms.
Olmsted's designed landscape, from the formal Italian and Walled Gardens to the glasshouse Conservatory and the woodland approach road.
At the far end of the estate, a village with the winery, where a tasting is included with admission, plus a farm, exhibits and restaurants.
Admission is a timed daytime ticket whose price changes by date and season, and is lower when booked several days ahead. Parking and the winery tasting are included; audio guides and specialty guided tours of the rooftop, upstairs or behind the scenes cost extra. Confirm current prices and any weather or seasonal closures on biltmore.com.
Same-day admission is the most expensive. Buying seven or more days in advance, and choosing a mid-week date, brings the cost down noticeably.
The house takes a couple of hours, but the gardens, Antler Hill Village and the winery can easily fill the rest of the day. Driving between areas is normal.
Spring for the gardens, autumn for the mountain colour, and the Christmas season for the candlelit house, which needs separate evening tickets.
How much does Biltmore cost?
Admission varies by date and how far ahead you book, typically in the range of a high daytime attraction price. Check biltmore.com for the exact figure for your date.
Is the house tour guided?
The standard house visit is self-guided, with an optional paid audio guide. Guided specialty tours of specific areas are extra and should be booked ahead.
How long do I need?
Plan for most of a day if you want the house, the gardens and Antler Hill Village with the winery.
Was Biltmore affected by the 2024 flooding?
The estate closed after Hurricane Helene in September 2024 and reopened later that year. Check the official site for any current access notes before you travel.
Biltmore was built between 1889 and 1895 for George Washington Vanderbilt II, to a design by Richard Morris Hunt, with grounds laid out by Frederick Law Olmsted. At around 175,000 square feet it is the largest privately owned home in the United States.
It remains in the Vanderbilt family, run by The Biltmore Company as a for-profit historic house and estate, with a winery, hotels, gardens and a working farm across roughly 8,000 acres.
This page is an independent guide for visitors. It is not affiliated with The Biltmore Company.
