Top Asheville Walking Tours

Maximize 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.

Hike the best of the Blue Ridge Parkway on this guided day trip to three scenic waterfalls from Asheville. Take in views of the mountains as you tour the classic road in a comfortable van and hear stories about the area’s natural history and culture from your local guide. Watch for blooming laurels and rhododendron as you walk the easy to moderate trails through lush oak and hickory forests. Enjoy light refreshments along the way with plenty of time to relax by the falls before returning to Asheville.

The lead guide and operations manager, Paddy has been leading tours for 12 years and has a close rapport with the restaurant owners and chefs. These relationships allow us to offer the best food tastings in town. Stu Helm, an Asheville star and food writer has been with AFT for 10 years. He had a choice where to lead tours and he chose Asheville Food Tours because he loves how we operate in his city. Sarah Ray has been with AFT for 3 years. She is an Asheville native as well as a trained baker and lover of all things culinary. We have low to no turnover and our guides love what they do. No other food tour in Asheville can boast that. You can choose to eat in Asheville but we suggest you do it with Asheville Food Tours! On vacation here? Coming on a tour with us can also help you choose where to eat for the rest of your trip! The guides know everyone!

Take a spooky stroll through the streets of downtown Asheville on this ghost walking tour that helps you navigate at night safely. Your ghoulish guide will reveal some of the area’s hair-raising tales and dark history that you won't find in the guidebook, 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.

Asheville’s reputation as one of the top cities for brews in the Southeast is well-deserved, but the huge number of breweries to choose from can be intimidating for visitors. 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.

One of the most biodiverse spots in the nation, the Blue Ridge Parkway shouldn’t just be driven—it 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.

Asheville’s music scene is off the charts, and you’ll explore its eclectic roots first-hand on this tour. Led by your local guide, you’ll hit up local and national venues, recording studios, listening cafes, and even a vinyl production facility. The tour ends with a walk around downtown and discounted tickets to Asheville’s famous Moogseum.

Six tastings, one walkable loop through downtown Asheville, and a food scene most visitors miss. Start with a chargrilled Indian street food roll in warm flatbread with slaw and chutney, then a buttermilk biscuit built around dry-cured Appalachian ham. Next, a pressed panini on toasted ciabatta from a shop better known for its hand-cut potato chips. Somewhere in the middle, your Secret Food Tours guide leads you into two local artisanal shops for tastings kept off the itinerary until you're standing in front of them. Dessert is a quarter-pound ice cream cookie sandwich. Your guide lives in Asheville and will tell you why the arcade outside was meant to carry a fourteen-storey tower, how the city's refusal to default on a Great Depression debt saved the buildings you're standing in, and where locals eat on a night off. Small groups, an easy walking pace, and a guide with strong opinions about where to eat next.

Explore the history of the most charming city of Appalachia, including its rise, growth, and how it continues to impress to this day. Discover what gives Asheville its unique reputation as one of America's most exceptional cities, experience its stunning architecture, and gain a deeper understanding of the city like never before with the guidance of a historian.

Unlike a typical bar crawl or sightseeing tour, Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours combines rooftop culture, mountain scenery, local history, and handcrafted cocktails into one unforgettable experience. Guests enjoy reserved seating and a complimentary cocktail or mocktail at each carefully selected rooftop venue, with plenty of time to relax and take in the atmosphere. Along the way, knowledgeable local guides share fascinating stories about Asheville's history, architecture, and transformation while guests enjoy panoramic Blue Ridge Mountain and downtown skyline views. Perfect for couples, friends, solo travelers, and anyone looking to discover a side of Asheville most visitors never see.

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville boasts the second-largest collection of Art Deco architecture in America. On this walking tour, you’ll discover the city’s remarkable history, from its Cherokee origins to its Roaring Twenties boom. You’ll also hear about the unexpected preservation of its architectural treasures due to the Great Depression. (Don’t worry, it will make sense later.) This tour starts at the Visitor’s Center and takes you through downtown Asheville’s most iconic landmarks. Along the way, you’ll hear stories about the visionaries who shaped its distinctive character. You’ll learn how wealthy entrepreneurs like E.W. Grove and George Willis Pack transformed the city’s skyline and see how the arts have flourished here, from traditional Appalachian folk music to contemporary crafts. You’ll discover the city’s literary connections to Thomas Wolfe and O. Henry while passing bustling music venues and artisan markets.

Discover the spooky side of Asheville with this small-group nighttime walking tour. Meet your guide for a city stroll focused on Asheville's haunted and paranormally active locations. Hear stories about local history as you walk past landmarks including the Basilica of St. Lawrence, Battery Park Hotel, and Pack's Tavern. Choose between two different tour lengths depending on your needs and interests.

The only tour in Asheville that includes an easy, beautiful and interesting urban bird lake hike with a luxury private spa experience that is unique and completely relaxing. The spa has only 100% five-star reviews on Google, Viator and TripAdvisor.

Step into a different world above Asheville. Just an elevator ride away, Asheville's rooftops offer a perspective most visitors never experience. This guided rooftop tour combines handcrafted cocktails, reserved seating, panoramic mountain views, and fascinating local stories into one unforgettable evening. Along the way, guests discover stylish rooftop spaces hidden above downtown while learning about Asheville's history, architecture, and transformation from knowledgeable local guides. It's the perfect experience for travelers looking to go beyond the typical sightseeing tour and discover Asheville from above.

Combine a haunted ghost tour with drinks on this unique small-group pub crawl in Asheville. Follow your guide around to some of the city’s most iconic spots to grab drinks (own expense) while hearing spooky stories about spirits that may still be lingering around town—something you won't get from your typical guidebook.

Discover West Jefferson Through Food, History & Stories. Explore the culinary delights of West Jefferson on this engaging walking food tour. Sample five delicious tastings, including three seated and two on-the-go, while uncovering the rich history and cultural stories of the area. Meet fellow food enthusiasts as you stroll past vibrant murals and local art, experiencing the charm of the High Country. This tour welcomes participants of all ages and is limited to 10 people, ensuring a cozy and personalized experience. Enjoy a memorable afternoon filled with food, fun, and fascinating tales, rain or shine. - Savor 5 food tastings, including 3 indoor and 2 on-the-go - Discover local history and cultural insights along the way - Limited to 10 participants for an intimate experience - Available Saturdays from 2:00 pm to 4:15 pm

Discover Asheville’s noteworthy landmarks and architectural gems while covering plenty of ground. 3 Hours (Approximately) tour by electric bike lets you safely navigate Asheville’s hilly terrain. Follow your guide through city streets, greenways, and picturesque neighborhoods. At carefully chosen viewpoints, you’ll stop to hear the stories behind historical sites.

Join us and explore Asheville's dark side with this tour of Asheville's deadliest and most infamous stories of murder and mayhem. From the most infamous serial killer in the city's history, mysterious unsolved murders, to tales of "mountain justice" gone horrifically awry, the Asheville True Crime Tour is a totally unique way to explore the city's past, both recent and distant.

The Boojum, Mothman, the Brown Mountain Lights - the stuff of Appalachian legend… or is it? Join Angus, your kilted Highland storyteller, as he leads you through four unique Asheville pubs, sharing strange encounters, sinister lore, and tales of creatures said to still haunt the region. This evening pub crawl weaves history, myth, and the eerie unknown - from hidden alleys to quiet taverns, some legends may be closer than you think. Your guide through Appalachian folklore has spent decades on stage as a professional actor, director, and fight choreographer, so expect a fully immersive night, not just a walking tour. *Brewery stops are subject to change due to events or availability at individual venues.

For some late-night thrills beyond booze, this Asheville ghost tour is hard to beat—it’s the only one that stops at a cemetery. You’ll meet your guide for a spooky sojourn through Riverside Cemetery and the historic Montford neighborhood, hearing about murderers, their victims, wandering spirits, and more. You’ll get tips for more Asheville experiences, and you might even walk away with a ghostly photo or two.

Enjoy a day of family-friendly fun at Elijah Mountain Gem Mine and Goat Farm. Suitable for all ages, mine for gems and fossils along indoor and outdoor water flumes and keep whatever you find. Explore the property, tackle an obstacle course, visit the goats in the goat barn, and see peacocks, pheasants, and more in the aviary.

A delightful afternoon awaits as you interact with our friendly goats during a daily walk at 1:00 pm. Guests can pet, brush, and learn about these charming creatures while discovering interesting facts about each goat, including our newest baby additions. After the goat encounter, take your time to explore our little farm store, stocked with specialty jams, local crafts, goat soaps, and unique gifts for campers and goat lovers alike. This experience is perfect for those seeking a relaxing escape while connecting with nature and animals.

Check out the Blue Ridge Parkway without having to keep your eyes on the road with this chauffeur-driven tour. Your naturalist driver will do the driving, pointing out special sights and teaching you about the natural history of the area along the way. You'll also have the chance to stop for a hike and some photos before returning to Asheville.