7 of the Best Tours to Take in Asheville

Those who want to do more than taste Asheville’s famed craft beer scene should consider booking a brewery tour at Sierra Nevada or New Belgium or join one of the regularly scheduled tours at a number of other Asheville breweries. But craft beer geeks should consider joining this tour. Discover which breweries are worth the hype on this Asheville brewery tour, which takes you to craft breweries with behind-the-scene access and ample pours at each. Unlike other Asheville brewery tours, this one is led by a certified cicerone, a recognized expert when it comes to beer.

Several rental outlets dot the French Broad River providing adventurers with kayaks, tubes and SUP boards to enjoy the massive river away from its banks. Wai Mauna Asheville leads highly rated SUP, or stand-up paddleboards, tours that take guests through the Biltmore Estate or Asheville’s River Arts District. Explore the historic French Broad River in Asheville on a stand-up paddleboard during this guided, 2.5-hour, small-group tour. Float through the city’s calm, downtown waterway and learn about the history of the region while participating in one of Asheville’s most popular activities. Paddleboarding experience is helpful but not necessary.

Make the most of your time in Downtown Asheville with a sightseeing tour led by a local guide. Learn about Asheville’s history and culture during a city stroll that includes breweries, distilleries, cafes, and historic sites. See popular landmarks like the Basilica of St. Lawrence, Grove Arcade, and the Leaf Global Arts Center. Taste local beer and spirits during brewery and distillery visits. In lieu of a tour ticket, tip your guide whatever amount you find fair.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is stunning from mile marker 0 in Afton, Virginia all the way to its 469th-mile marker at the mouth of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, there are more scenic overlooks between milepost 412 to 455 than at any other section of the parkway, and even though you could drive straight through in about 40 minutes, plan on stopping a lot and packing a lunch to make a day of it. And if you’re lucky, you’ll time it out just right to see one of the Blue Ridge Mountains’ signature dramatic sunsets. Waterfall hunting is an active sport in Asheville since the area has literally hundreds of waterfalls of all shapes and sizes to discover. Some visitors opt to go on a self-guided waterfall hunt, but for a richer experience, interested folks can book a hiking tour of Blue Ridge Parkway waterfalls. A beauty of this kind deserves to be seen on foot, with a naturalist leading the way. With your guide at the helm, you and your small group will hike to gorgeous waterfalls, up to panoramic mountain views, and through the technicolor meadows, hills, and valleys that make Asheville and the Pisgah National Forest so beloved.

For another amazing way to experience the Blue Ridge Mountains, visitors may want to consider a magical hot air balloon tour. Many tour-goers have called their balloon-riding in Asheville bucket-list-worthy, and these tours become especially popular during the area’s extremely colorful falls.

Whenever a city has maintained some of its original structures – and Asheville has many centuries-old haunts – then ghost stories often follow. Combine Asheville’s location among America’s oldest mountains with its historical landmarks and it’s no surprise that Asheville has several highly rated haunted tours. Take a spooky stroll through the streets of downtown Asheville on this ghost walking tour. Led by an expert local guide, learn about the area’s hair-raising tales and dark history, like the woman who haunts the Omni Grove Park Inn, the body entombed in the wall of the Basilica of St. Lawrence, and much more. It’s a fascinating, spine-tingling adventure.

Lastly, this self-guided walking tour along Asheville’s Urban Trail won’t cost you a thing except for time. Start at the visitor center to grab a map and visit plaque #1, then follow the 1.7-mile trail as it weaves through downtown and showcases Asheville’s history, culture and a few iconic figures through bronze statues and plaques. Take your day at your own pace as you enjoy the sights of Asheville, completely tailoring the day to your interests and your own time.