Celebrating a Biltmore Christmas

A Biltmore Christmas is like nothing you have ever experienced before.  Throughout the estate find 100+ decorated trees with 25,000+ ornaments, 1.5 miles of fresh garlands, 500 wreaths and sprays, 2,000 poinsettias and other favorite holiday plants and 100 kissing balls!

While a trip in 2020 may look a bit different many of the same beautiful things from previous years are still around.  This year is a big celebration for them- it’s 125 years since the First Biltmore Christmas!

Be sure to check out Visiting The Biltmore Estate on a Budget!  This includes information on where to eat, where to stay and how to maximize your time!

Judging from the smell this is the only live tree in the house.  It is ENORMOUS and in the banquet hall.

Daytime and Candlelight Tours

When you attend a Biltmore Christmas they have two different “events”.  The most popular dates and times sell out quickly so if you anticipate you want to attend and have limited availability don’t wait too long to reserve your tickets.

Daytime Tickets include a self-guided house tour before 5 PM with a full day of estate exploration (although pay for the audio guide and it feels less “self-guided). You’ll book an entry time at time of ticket purchase for the house tour, so plan ahead. In my experience the earlier during the day you do the tour the better.  This trip we were able to do the first tour at 9 a.m. and it left the rest of the day available to relax and enjoy.  Daytime Admission Pricing: $74 – $244 (that’s with a deluxe personal tour).  Remember to be sure to grab the audio guide- it’s worth the extra $12.

Candlelight Christmas Evening Tickets include a magical tour of Biltmore House (enter 5:45-10:45 PM), complete with live musicians, glowing fireplaces and twinkling lights. The front lawn glows with a 55-ft. Norway spruce with 45,000 lights and hundreds of luminaries. Advance purchase is required and the most popular time slots fill quickly.  Included with the Candlelight ticket is a daytime visit on the same day or next day to explore the rest of the Estate. Pricing starts at $84 and they do some online discounts if you book early enough.

Get An Annual Pass– If you live within driving distance consider getting a season’s pass.  For November 2020 they are marked down to $199 each.  If you make one or two more trips you would easily save that much.  And they have great events all year long.  We got passes when they were heavily discounted during the spring and are so glad we did.

Be sure to check out Visiting The Biltmore Estate on a Budget!  This includes information on where to eat, where to stay and how to maximize your time!

Some Ways to Save at Biltmore Christmas

We did find a few ways to save at a Biltmore Christmas.  First there is an audio tour with the daytime house tour and an audio tour for the Candlelight Christmas Evening.  They are both the same.  So don’t pay for both- there is no new information!

Gas in Asheville was insane compared to prices only a few exits up the interstate.  So before you hit Asheville fill up your tank.  There was an almost $.40 per gallon price difference!

Because you can keep your car on property pack some snacks and water.  The meals at Biltmore are worth the cost but you can save by bringing your own snacks.

What Do You See on a Biltmore Christmas Visit?

In front of the house is a beautiful fir tree and tons of smaller trees covered in beautiful lights.

Then turn around and take in the beautiful house behind you.

Beautiful mantle pieces, trees and other decorations have been tastefully displayed around the 175,000 square foot home.

Yes it’s three fireplaces in one!  This is the front banquet hall and to the sides of the fireplace are the doors servants used to get in and out.

If you look to the left you will see a portrait of Cornelius Vanderbilt who began the family dynasty with $100.  On the right you will see two Renoir paintings George Vanderbilt purchased before the artist because famous.  This is the breakfast room.

The library looks like a postcard! 

This chess set belonged to Napoleon! 

I loved this tree in the tapestry room.  Very rare tapestries are on the walls of this room along with pictures of the home owners.

There are parts of the house only open for the Candlelight Tour!

The back door view of the Banquet Hall!  

Shopping, Dining and the Winery

There are a dozen shops on the Estate including A Christmas Past, Bookbinder’s, Toymaker’s and Confectionery in the Stables beside the house (along with my favorite restaurant). And if you forget something The Gate House Shop at the entrance of the Estate carries a sampling from many of the other shops- this is before you enter the estate so no ticket is needed.

Some of the restaurants will have special seatings and food for the holidays so be sure to keep your eye on the Biltmore website.

Wine tastings at the winery are free.  Currently you need to have a reservation (covid) but usually you can just walk up and try five of their wines.  We did this in 2020 and were able to try some of the holiday varieties.  I highly recommend the Christmas White if you enjoy a sweet wine.

When Should We Plan Our Trip?

As soon as possible!  If you want to go on a Candlelight Tour they fill up quickly on popular dates.  Additionally the earlier you book you can usually get a few dollars off your ticket if you purchase online.  We are planning our 2020 trip in August to be sure we get everything we want!