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Asheville

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025

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Man standing on top of the mountain relaxing and  enjoying beautiful summer mountain landscape. A panoramic view of the Smoky Mountains from the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Near Asheville.; Shutterstock ID 1907256715; your: Sloane Tucker; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: destination
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Overview

The undisputed ‘capital’ of the North Carolina mountains, Asheville is both a major tourist destination and one of the coolest small cities in the South. Cradled in a sweeping curve of the Blue Ridge Pkwy, it offers easy access to outdoor adventures of all kinds, while downtown's historic art-deco buildings hold stylish New Southern restaurants, decadent chocolate shops, and the homegrown microbreweries that explain the nickname 'Beer City.'

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • The Biltmore Estate in Asheville.

    Biltmore Estate

    Asheville

    Charmed by Asheville's natural beauty, shipping and railroad heir George Washington Vanderbilt II decided to build a summer home modeled after three…

  • Asheville Art Museum

    Asheville Art Museum

    Asheville

    The glass-fronted West Wing is a showstopping introduction to this downtown museum, which is looking sleek after a $24 million renovation that added 70%…

  • Folk Art Center

    Folk Art Center

    Asheville

    Part gallery, part store, and wholly dedicated to Southern craftsmanship, the superb Folk Art Center stands directly off the Blue Ridge Pkwy, 6 miles east…

  • Thomas Wolfe Memorial

    Thomas Wolfe Memorial

    Asheville

    An incongruous survivor of old Asheville, this downtown clapboard structure was the childhood home of Look Homeward, Angel author Thomas Wolfe (1900–38)…

  • Asheville Pinball Museum

    Asheville Pinball Museum

    Asheville

    A veritable time machine, this downtown treat transports gamers back to the much-lamented pinball arcades of yesteryear. With stock ranging from vintage…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Time to Visit

This month-by-month guide to what's happening in Asheville, perched high up in the Appalachian mountains, can help you plan your trip.

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Transportation

With a population just under 100,000, Asheville is the largest city in Western North Carolina. The city is tucked within the Blue Ridge Mountains and flanked…

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Free Things to Do

The collegial spirit of Asheville is maintained in part by the many free activities offered across town, from public art and live concerts to trail-filled…

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Best Neighborhoods

Asheville is the epicenter of urban fun in Western North Carolina. Here are the five neighborhoods you can't miss.

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Day Trips

Wondering where to spend a day exploring from your home base Asheville? These are our 18 favorites.

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