16 Free Things to do in Asheville, North Carolina
16 Free Things to do in Asheville, North Carolina
What’s better than a vacation? Well, let’s see… how about a vacation where you can stretch out your budget because almost everything you do is FREE. Keeping this in mind, I’ve prepared a list of free things for you to do while visiting beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. Let’s dive right in!
Free Things to Do in Asheville, NC
Free Walking Tour
I’m going to start off with one of the best things you can do in a new city, a free walking tour. These tours given by local residents who know the area like the back of their hand are an outstanding way to save money and see the sites!
A free walking tour is the first thing we do when we get to a new city for these reasons:
- Free walking tour guides show you the most important sites
- You get a local’s view of the city
- See things you would not normally see on your own, or even with a paid tour
- That Fitbit will get a workout
- You learn a lot about the city you’re visiting
- The tours are free (other than the tip)
- If there’s something else you want to see that is not on the agenda, your guide will either oblige, or help you get there on your own
- Guides are happy to share with you their tips on the best restaurants, bars and activities
Asheville Free Walking Tours
Asheville Free Walking Tours are given by Jordan, a local resident. He speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese. Jordan offers two different 2 hour tours:
- Downtown Asheville: Jordan will take you through Downtown Asheville giving you background information and history about the beautiful architecture and quirky culture. Not only will you learn about the city, you’ll also get to taste some of the local treats including donuts, gin and honey. He will also get you a sample at one of the best breweries in the city.
- River Arts District: The River Arts District is an interesting area of Asheville. A free tour of this artsy area will take you through the history of the District, the artists and galleries. Your guide will take you along the peaceful French Broad River, for a taste of local beer and wine, and to a historical music venue. If you appreciate art, this tour is for you.
Although the tours are free, your enthusiastic and very knowledgeable local guide works hard to provide you with the best experience. So, please be sure to bring along some cash to tip your guide what you feel your tour was worth. We usually tip between $10 and $20 per person for a tour, depending on the length and quality of the tour.
Paid Tour Options
If walking the city isn’t for you, Viator has some really great paid tours by electric bike, car, bus or horse.
GPSMyCity
If you’d rather see Asheville on your own, you can design your personal free walking tour with the GPSMyCity app. GPSMyCity features self-guided walks for over 1,000 cities worldwide. Choose one of their pre-designed tours, or create your own. Each walk comes with a route map and a GPS navigation guide from one stop to the next. The best part about this app is that it works offline, so there’s no need for a data plan when traveling outside of your home country. Download the GPSMyCity app here.
Take a Scenic Drive on The Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic highway that runs from Virginia down to Cherokee, North Carolina. The only thing this drive will cost you is your tank of gas. See my separate post with what to see and where to stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Free Concerts
Downtown After Five hosts free outdoor concerts every third Friday in July, August and September from 5pm to 9pm. The concerts take place on North Lexington Avenue near the I-240 overpass. Admission is completely free, but if you want purchase beer from local and national beer vendors, you must buy a wristband for $2.
Hike Pisgah National Forest
The Pisgah National Forest covers over 500,000 acres in Western North Carolina. Hike some of the highest mountains in the Southern Appalachians, or trailheads leading to fantastic waterfalls. Find a trail that meets your activity level at Alltrails.com.
Mt. Mitchell State Park
The summit of Mt. Mitchell is one of the highest points east of the Mississippi, at over 6,600 feet. Views from the summit are unbelievable, and there are plenty of trails for short walks or long treks. I remember being up there years ago when it was 80 degrees down below, but it was absolutely freezing when we got to the summit. Bring a light jacket along with you! See all of the hiking trails at Mt. Mitchell, as well as all more information for visiting one of America’s first state parks.
Biltmore Village
While visiting the Biltmore Estate may put a huge dent in your budget, a walk through the quaint Biltmore Village will not.
Biltmore Village was once a place where employees of the Biltmore Estate lived. Now, all of these beautiful homes have been turned into shops, cafes and restaurants.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Straddling the states of Tennessee and North Carolina, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in the Smoky Mountains, more fondly known as “The Smokies”.
The name “Smoky” comes from the natural fog hanging over the mountain range. If you’ve ever been here, you’ve seen it… the mountains look like they’re covered in smoke.
Downtown Buskers
Downtown Asheville is one of the top music cities in the United States. Gifted performers fill the streets with great music… free of charge. These street musicians are not panhandlers, but this is how they make their living, so please tip them as appreciation for their performances.
There is no set time to find the buskers, but normally you’ll find them from about late morning until around 9pm. As for locations, just follow the sound. Your best bets will be on Battery Park Avenue, on Haywood Street, and near Pack Square.
Omni Grove Park Inn
The Omni Grove Park Inn is a historic resort hotel in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been rated as a Four Diamond Hotel since 2001.
After demolishing several sanitariums in Asheville, construction on Grove Park Inn began in 1912 and was completed in just under 12 months. The hotel is known for its rough granite stacked stone, its huge lobby with fireplaces that are as tall as some guests, and its amazing scenery.
This stunning Inn opened for business on July 12, 1913, and it has hosted many of the United States’ Presidents, as well as other noted guests. Omni Hotels bought the property in 2013.
Stop at the Inn for an afternoon of stunning scenery from the Sunset Terrace, or take a seat in one of the rockers to enjoy the immense fireplaces in the Lobby.
See my review of the Grove Park Inn here.
Stroll Through Art Galleries
Asheville is a haven for artists, and for art lovers. There is art everywhere! Take a stroll downtown and go window shopping through the galleries, studios and art centers. Better yet, take a walk through the River Arts District where you’ll see artists in the process of making their masterpieces.
Sliding Rock
In Pisgah National Forest is a natural waterslide called Sliding Rock. It’s technically a waterfall that free falls into a pool that is about 7 feet deep. Be forewarned that the water is very cold and it can get quite crowded. Get there early on a weekday for the least crowds. It is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 9am to 8pm, and lifeguards are on duty.
Asheville Urban Trail
Spend a couple of hours winding you way through the self-guided 1.7 mile long Urban Trail. It takes you through the cultural and architectural history of Asheville. Each stop on the trail is marked with a sculpture of an historical person or moment in history. The trail circles the downtown area starting at Pack Square at the intersection of Biltmore Avenue and Patton Avenue.
Museums
Admission to museums in Asheville is free, but they do appreciate donations. For car buffs, the Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum at Grovewood Village has dozens of fun vintage vehicles to admire. If you love a little history, check out the Biltmore Industries Homespun Museum where you’ll see memorabilia and antiques of the Biltmore. I love a beautiful church, and the Basilica of St. Lawrence can be seen with a self-guided or a guided tour.
Brewery Tours
There are over 25 breweries in Asheville. Tours are available in most of them. Of course, if you want to do more than sample the brews, that will cost you.
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Company: Tours are currently unavailable due to Covid restrictions, but they will be returning shortly. You can take a self-guided tour, or request a tour with a guide. Find more information about Sierra Nevada’s brewery tours here.
- New Belgium Brewing: Tours are temporarily suspended at New Belgium Brewing. Stay updated by checking the website. However, they are open daily for tastings.
- Highland Brewing: Again, tours are suspended but will be returning shortly. However, the taproom is open for tastings. Find more information and stay updated as to the resuming of Highland Brewing tours here.
Festivals and Farmers Markets
Asheville’s open-air Farmers Market is open 7 days a week all year around, and it’s free to browse.
Most of Asheville’s festivals are free of charge. Check out Asheville’s annual festivals and events here.
Additional Things to Do in Asheville
Finding & Booking Accommodations
Lodging is one of the most important aspects of planning a trip. You want to find the right place for the best price. Our favorite resource when we want to rent a home or apartment is VRBO. The search engines we use for making all other reservations for lodging are Booking.com and Agoda. Booking and Agoda really seem to have the best deals on hotels, B&B’s and rental properties, and they will price match! Read more about finding and booking accommodations.
Share Your Travel Tips and Comments
As always, if you have any of your own travel tips to add to this post, any remarks on the article, or if my information needs an edit or addition, please leave your comments below. I value all of your input.
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