A Local's Guide to 48 Hours in Asheville

Curious about what to do in Asheville, NC?  Asheville is an amazing little mountain city that is no longer a secret.  Here's a guide to the perfect 48 Hours in Asheville... from a local!

Weekend Asheville Trip - A Local's Guide

When I moved to Asheville and Western North Carolina 20 years ago, I had to explain to most people who asked about Asheville where I was moving.  It was a gem of a city, still largely unknown beyond the Southeast.  Tides have changed, and Asheville has gotten so much press that now when I mention to strangers around the world that I live here, they instantly want to gush about Asheville to me.

Asheville is a little mountain utopia in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and while I wish we would get a few fewer tourists, I understand why people flock here.  It's for the same reasons that I love living here.  Gorgeous, highly accessible mountains with endless day hikes, outdoor adventure, a music scene, handcrafted drinks of all kinds, a unique, quirky hippie vibe with local artists you can't find anywhere else, and an epic food scene that promoted local food long before local food was cool.

For a pretty small city... Asheville has big draws.  Asheville was hit by Hurricane Helene in 2024, but the downtown area and the Biltmore House are completely back to normal.  Biltmore Village is quickly recovering too!  Plan your trip knowing your old Asheville is still here.

I write so many travel posts about places I've been to, but I realized I never actually wrote a travel guide for my own city... the place I live and breathe.  Plus, after the umpteenth person asked me for suggestions, I thought it was time to write my travel guide.  This is a complete itinerary and schedule including what to do in Asheville.

There are SO many places I adore in Asheville... that it was hard to pick favorites for only 48 hours.  I think that's one reason I've hesitated to write this too... because picking between my favorite things to do in Asheville is like asking me to pick a favorite pet... It's hard!  But for your sake, I did it.  For this guide, I'm assuming you'll be staying downtown, have a weekend (arriving mid-day Friday and leaving mid-day Sunday), and want to mainly explore downtown in your 48 hours in Asheville.

There are so many other places I simply adore, but these are the places and experiences that I think are most unique to this city and give you a taste of what we are all about.  This is where I send my friends and family most often.

So with that... I hope you get a chance to visit Asheville and go on this little adventure!

The Perfect 48 Hours in Asheville: What to Do

48 Hours in Asheville -Day 1

Arrive/ Check-In / Lunch

Welcome to Asheville!  Start your 48 hours in Asheville with a visit to Wicked Weed Brewery for food and drinks.  You've probably heard about Asheville's epic beer scene, so start with a flight.  The restaurant is a great introduction to Asheville's beer and food scene.  Try the Pernicious beer and soak in the atmosphere.

 

 

Afternoon

The LaZoom Comedy Bus Tour is a fun, hilarious introduction to all things quirky about Asheville.  It's also called the purple bus, and you will see them around town all weekend.  It's a very relaxed tour and comedy show rolled into one.  I don't want to give too much away, but you will be rolling on the floor laughing!  You can bring drinks on the bus, so be sure to pick up a few at their office before you head on.  It’s popular but is worth the hype.

Book your time online ahead of time.

Drinks

Depending on which season you are visiting, stop by a rooftop bar for drinks and a chance to watch the sunset.  Here are a few of my favorites to be outdoors.

• The Montford
• Capella on 9 at the AC Hotel
• Heningways Cuba
• Soprana
• The Observatory at The Restoration Hotel

If it's winter and you need a fun indoor option, my favorite spot is the Tiki Easy Bar.

Dinner

Curate remains one of Asheville's hottest dinner spots, and for good reason.  It’s a Spanish tapas-style restaurant with a James Beard-nominated chef.  Reservations go fast, so book as soon as you decide to come.

The handcrafted drinks and menu will leave you swooning.  It absolutely lives up to the hype and is the kind of place you talk about for awhile.

If you can't get into Curate, a few of my other favorites are The Marketplace, The Bull and Beggar (also delicious), Chestnut, Nine Mile, and The Lobster Trap.  There are so many great restaurants in Asheville, though... so it's hard to go wrong!

A new favorite to consider is staying and eating at Soprana Rooftop Cucina, a new Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant.

 

Dessert

If you are still hungry, consider stopping by the French Broad Chocolate Lounge in Pack Square for a sweet treat!

It's right up the street and is such a fun place to visit.  I love all their sweets but am partial to their brownies.

 

 

After Dinner Drinks

If you are still ready to celebrate, stop by a local bar for some after-dinner drinks.  Here are a few local favorites.  You can also do more brewery visits after dinner.

• Antidote <--- The prettiest new bar that makes its own gin!
• The Times Bar at the S&W ---> Located in the pretty, historic S&W building.
• 5 Walnut <--- A fabulous local wine bar.
• District 42 <--- A swanky newish bar at the bottom of the old renovated BB&T Building.

 

48 Hours in Asheville Day 2: What to Do in Asheville

Breakfast

Enjoy a locally grown and raised Asheville breakfast at Early Girl Eatery.  This restaurant was at the heart of the farm-to-table movement in Asheville and is southern comfort food at its best

If Early Girl is booked, you can also try Tupelo Honey or Over Easy Cafe.

 

Shopping or Hiking

Depending on your physical ability, the weather, and whether you have a car, you can shop or hike in the morning.  My suggestion for a close-to-town hike with epic views is Craggy Pinnacle.  You don't have much time to hike with only 48 hours in Asheville, but this is your best bet!

Asheville is a great place to get outdoors and see mountains and waterfalls.

It's 24 miles from Asheville along the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it takes closer to 45 minutes to get there.  The drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway is part of the fun too! It's about a mile and gains 252 feet in elevation... but it's a lot of bang for your buck for hikes closer to town.  The trails are easy to follow.

Only go if the weather is clear, and remember to take a sweater.  It will be much cooler than in town.  Winter is not a good time to go.

If you want to check out any other local hikes, here are the 10 Best Hikes Near Asheville with Epic Views.

If you don't have a car and/or aren't up for a hike... go shopping.  Downtown Asheville has lots of cute, quirky, local shops.  Lexington Avenue is a great place to start!  Start at Tops for Shoes and walk north down Lexington Avenue, down the hill to see more.  Stop for a morning tea at Dobra Tea.  It’s on the right-hand side at the bottom of the hill.  It’s a very hippie-style tea shop that serves hundreds of teas from around the world.  Each tea is served in an authentic style teapot and it's one of my favorite hidden gems in the city.

 

Lunch

Stop by Biltmore Village on your way back from the hike and have lunch at the Corner Kitchen.  Explore the nearby shops.

If you are staying downtown, Good Hot Fish, Huli Sues, or Chestnut are great options.

 

 

Afternoon

After lunch, explore the South Slope Breweries.  You can't come to Asheville without exploring the beer culture!  South Slope has lots of them clustered together, so you can try several without driving.  Try the Funkatorium (for sour beers), Asheville Brewing, Hi-Wire, Catawba, Burial, Twin Leaf Brewing!  The Hubs is the beer lover in our family and recommends going to at least Burial and Twin Leaf.  If you missed Wicked Weed yesterday, you could also do this here because it’s nearby.  Explore this site for some more brewery information.

 

Dinner

Asheville has so many restaurants that it's hard to pick just two, but a new favorite is Luminosa.  This farm-to-table restaurant features upscale Italian food and was given a Michelin Green Star and Bib Gourmand.  It quickly became one of our favorite places in town for its amazing, unique dinner and service.

Another favorite for a great meal is The Blackbird.  It's a charming restaurant with tables perfect for people-watching.

The seafood risotto is one of my favorite dishes, but they also have plenty of other delicious seasonal dishes.  The wine list is also really tasty.

By far my favorite thing, though, is the coconut cake.  It's light yet rich and nothing short of dreamy!

 

After Dinner Drinks

Top of the Monk is another unique spot that makes really tasty handcrafted cocktails.  It’s a private club, but membership is free, and you can sign up when you get there.  They are perfectionists with their drinks, so it takes a few minutes to get your beverage, but it’s worth the wait.

With each drink, you get a key to a cubby with a snack!

 

48 Hours in Asheville Day 3

Breakfast

Start the last day of your 48 hours in Asheville at Green Sage Café or Biscuit Head in West Asheville.  Depending on your mood, stop by Green Sage for a super tasty healthy meal or Biscuit Head for an indulgent brunch with biscuits the size of your head!  They both represent Asheville well!  Green Sage is walkable if you are staying downtown.

Biscuit Head is a short ride away in West Asheville.  If you go there, spend some time exploring West Asheville before you leave.  It’s quirky and charming.

If you have time after breakfast, either shop downtown Asheville (especially if you hiked the day before) or drive to West Asheville or Biltmore Village to explore.

 

Lunch

You will be stuffed by now, but don't leave Asheville without stopping at Chai Pani.  Chai Pani is the most unique and delicious Indian restaurant you will ever eat at!  This is another restaurant owned by a James Beard-nominated chef.  Enjoy some tapas-style eats (Sev Potato Dahi Puri, Aloo Tikki Chaat, Okra fries, Uttapam), or get one of their daily thali plates or Tandori Fish Wrap.  It's out-of-this-world good.  They have recently moved locations, and the space is gorgeous, colorful, and so unique.

After lunch, take a left out of Chai Pani, find the Bee Charmer shop, and walk around.  Several more stores are nearby as well.  You can also pop your head into the Grove Arcade for more shopping if you like.  In winter, they display some of Asheville’s famous Gingerbread houses.

 

Chocolate Break

After visiting those shops, head back down the hill and up the street and pick up a truffle at The Chocolate Fetish.

Even if you are full, pick up a box to remember your time in Asheville.  You’re welcome :-).

Hope you enjoyed your time in Asheville!

 

A Few Things to Remember about Your 48 Hours in Asheville...

Everything I mentioned, except the hike, Biltmore Village, and West Asheville, is walkable.  Asheville is a very easy city to get around.  I listed a lot of things, so if you find something you really like, just stay and linger!  This is a FULL packed 48 hours.

If you are interested, you may also want to consider trading at least a half-day to ¾ day of activities for visiting The Biltmore Estate  It’s quite impressive, and you can also go to their winery and Antler Hill Village.  This is the number 1 attraction in Asheville.  At Christmas, it gets very crowded, so you'll need to buy tickets in advance and book the time you want to go into the house.  It’s pricey and touristy, but I think it’s worth seeing if you've never seen it.  However, you’d miss a lot downtown, and it would be a very different kind of trip, so you’d have to decide what feels more like you.  You’d need a car.

If you have extra time, I'd consider visiting Sierra Nevada.  The taproom is super impressive, but this is a popular spot!  They have tours, a restaurant, and a gorgeous outdoor area.  It’s about 30 minutes south of town near the airport, so you could stop on your way in or out.  You can also hit up New Belgium Brewery.

Other Top Things to Do in Asheville

• North Carolina Arboretum: A gorgeous sprawling garden developed by Fredlick Law Omstead.
• River Arts District: This area is still recovering from Helene along the French Broad River, but lots of art galleries are coming back to life.
• Asheville Pinball Museum: The funniest way to spend a few hours.
• Battery Park Book and Exchange Champagne Bar: One of my favorite bars, and it's in a book shop!  You can drink and shop for books.
• Omni Grove Park Inn: Gorgeous mountain views, plus swanky drinks and food.  Very expensive.

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