If you’re wondering what to do in Asheville for the first time, where to stay, what Asheville is known for, how many days you need, and which attractions are actually worth your time, this guide has you covered.
And if you only have a few days we’ll also show you an easy way to get an introduction to Asheville before you start exploring on your own.
Quick Asheville First-Timer FAQ
What is Asheville known for?
Asheville is best known for its Blue Ridge Mountains, thriving arts scene, craft breweries, historic architecture, independent restaurants, and famously eclectic personality.
How many days do you need in Asheville?
Three days is a great starting point for a first visit. A long weekend gives you enough time to explore downtown, experience the River Arts District, enjoy the food and beer scene, and take an unforgettable hike through the mountains.
What are the best things to do in Asheville for first-time visitors?
Start with downtown Asheville, explore the River Arts District, visit Biltmore, experience the Blue Ridge Parkway, eat and drink locally, and take a tour that introduces you to the city. We recommend LaZoom Bus Tours, of course. LaZoom has 20 years of experience entertaining guests through our informative and hilarious bus tours, running every day, rain or shine.
Is Asheville walkable?
Parts of Asheville are very walkable, especially downtown. However, many of the area’s biggest attractions – including the Blue Ridge Parkway, Biltmore, and portions of the River Arts District – are easier to reach by car or tour. Ubers can be hard to come by during the busy season (July through October), so consider a car rental if you don’t want to wait.
What is the best way to see Asheville for the first time?
If you want an overview before deciding where to spend more time, a sightseeing tour is an efficient way to learn the layout, history, neighborhoods, and personality of the city. LaZoom’s Hey Asheville Tour gives tourists an excellent overview of the city. Ages 13 and up.
Take a LaZoom Tour to Get Your Bearings
One of the easiest ways to get an introduction to Asheville is aboard LaZoom’s Hey Asheville Comedy Bus Tour.
Instead of sitting through a traditional sightseeing lecture, you’ll explore Asheville aboard LaZoom’s iconic purple bus while professional performers combine comedy, local history, and sightseeing.
The approximately 90-minute tour travels through areas including downtown, historic Montford, the River Arts District, and South Slope, with a brewery stop along the way. (LaZoom Asheville Bus Tours)
Why we recommend it for first-time visitors: you get a surprisingly useful introduction to Asheville while having a much better time than you probably imagined possible on a sightseeing bus.
It also gives you a sense of the neighborhoods you’ll want to come back to later.
Pro tip: Take Hey Asheville early in your trip. Then use the rest of your visit to return to the places that caught your attention.
Visit the River Arts District
Asheville’s River Arts District—often called the RAD—is one of the city’s most distinctive neighborhoods.
The area is home to working artist studios, galleries, murals, restaurants, breweries, and creative spaces spread throughout former industrial buildings along the French Broad River.
It’s not simply a place where you look at art. You can often see artists actually making it.
Painters paint. Potters throw clay. Metalworkers weld. Fiber artists weave.
The result is an area that feels active and constantly changing. (Explore Asheville)
First-timer tip: Don’t try to see everything in one visit. Pick a few studios or galleries that interest you, then leave yourself time to wander.
Experience the Blue Ridge Parkway
If you’re visiting Asheville and don’t spend at least some time in the mountains, you’re missing a huge part of what makes the area special.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the best ways to experience the landscape surrounding Asheville, with scenic overlooks, hiking trails, forests, waterfalls, and mountain views.
You don’t have to spend an entire day driving it, either.
There are several accessible sections near Asheville, including the Folk Art Center, Craggy Gardens, Mount Mitchell, Mount Pisgah, and Graveyard Fields. (Explore Asheville)
How much time should you spend on the Parkway?
For a first visit, even a few hours can be worthwhile.
Pick a direction, choose a couple of stops, and don’t underestimate how long you’ll want to stop for photos.
Important: Parkway conditions can change because of weather, construction, and ongoing recovery work. Check current conditions before heading out. (Explore Asheville)
Eat Your Way Through Asheville
Asheville has developed a reputation as a serious food destination – and for good reason. You’ll find everything from Southern comfort food and farm-to-table restaurants to international cuisine, food trucks, bakeries, coffee shops, and inventive tasting menus.
The best strategy for a first visit isn’t necessarily finding the restaurant with the longest list of awards.
Instead, look for places that feel distinctly Asheville.
Try something you’ve never ordered before. Ask a bartender or server what they love.
And remember that one of the best things to do in Asheville is simply eat, drink, and wander.
Drink Some Asheville Beer
Asheville has become famous for its craft beer scene, with breweries scattered throughout downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.
South Slope, in particular, is an easy area for visitors to explore on foot, with multiple breweries close together.
You don’t have to become a beer expert to enjoy Asheville’s brewery culture.
Order something you’ve never tried, sit outside when the weather cooperates, and let the afternoon unfold.
Want the brewery experience without planning the route?
LaZoom’s Fender Bender Band & Beer Bus combines live music with brewery stops, making it an especially good option for visitors who want to experience Asheville’s beer culture as part of an organized outing. LaZoom describes the experience as a 21+ tour featuring live local bands and three brewery stops. (LaZoom Asheville Bus Tours)
Experience Asheville After Dark
Asheville changes after sunset.
Downtown restaurants and bars fill up, live music spills from venues, and the city’s stranger side starts to emerge. If you’re looking for something beyond dinner and drinks, consider a nighttime tour.
Try LaZoom’s Ghosted Comedy Tour
LaZoom’s Ghosted Haunted Comedy Tour combines Asheville history, ghost stories, live performance, and comedy into a 60-minute evening experience.
It’s an adults-only tour for guests 17 and older, departing from the LaZoom Room in downtown Asheville. (LaZoom Asheville Bus Tours)
This isn’t a traditional serious ghost tour.
You’ll hear stories about Asheville’s darker history while performers turn the experience into a theatrical comedy show.
Best for: date nights, groups of friends, bachelorette trips, and anyone who thinks a normal walking ghost tour sounds a little too predictable.
Don’t Try to Do Everything
This might be the most important Asheville travel advice we can give you.
You cannot—and should not—experience everything on your first trip.
If you have three days, prioritize:
Day 1: Get to Know Asheville
- Explore downtown
- Take a LaZoom Hey Asheville tour
- Visit a few shops or galleries
- Have dinner downtown
- Grab a drink or see live music
Day 2: Mountains + Asheville Culture
- Drive part of the Blue Ridge Parkway
- Hike or visit a scenic overlook
- Explore the River Arts District
- Have dinner at a local restaurant
Day 3: Choose Your Adventure
Spend the day doing what sounds most like you.
History: Biltmore and historic neighborhoods
Art: River Arts District and galleries
Beer: Brewery hopping
Outdoors: Hiking, waterfalls, and the Parkway
Food: Restaurants, bakeries, coffee, and markets
Nightlife: Live music, comedy, bars, or Ghosted
The beauty of Asheville is that you don’t have to choose just one.
Where Should You Stay in Asheville?
For a first visit, staying relatively close to downtown can make your trip easier.
Downtown puts you near restaurants, bars, shops, entertainment, and several major neighborhoods.
Other popular areas include:
- Downtown
- Best for first-time visitors who want convenience and nightlife.
- River Arts District
- Best for art lovers and visitors who want a more creative, industrial atmosphere.
- West Asheville
- Best for a more laid-back neighborhood feel, independent restaurants, bars, and local hangouts.
- Biltmore Village
- Best for visitors who want easy access to Biltmore and a quieter, polished atmosphere.
- Small Towns Surrounding Asheville (rent a car!) – Black Mountain, Brevard, Fletcher, Swannanoa
What Should You Pack for Asheville?
Asheville’s mountain weather can be unpredictable, so layers are your friend.
For a typical trip, consider bringing:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- A light jacket or sweater
- Rain gear
- Sunscreen
- A reusable water bottle
- Hiking shoes if you’re heading into the mountains
- Clothes you can layer
- A camera, or plenty of phone storage
And comfortable shoes are not optional.
You’ll probably walk more than you expect.
The Best First Thing to Do in Asheville? Get on the Purple Bus.
If you’re visiting Asheville for the first time, don’t spend your entire vacation staring at Google Maps trying to figure out which neighborhood you should visit next.
Start with an experience that introduces you to the city.
Hey Asheville is LaZoom’s signature comedy sightseeing tour, combining local history, sightseeing, live performance, and Asheville’s famously weird sense of humor into one 90-minute ride. It covers downtown, Montford, the River Arts District, and South Slope, with a brewery stop along the way. (LaZoom Asheville Bus Tours)
It’s sightseeing – but unlike anything you’ve seen before.
And once you’ve learned where everything is, you can spend the rest of your trip going back to the places you want to explore more deeply.
Ready to see Asheville? Get on the purple bus!
