Downtown Asheville Arts District (DAAD) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Downtown Asheville Arts District. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Asheville Adults-Only Comedy Ghost Tour by LaZoom

• Half-Day Moped Tour in Asheville, NC

• The Best of Asheville: Private 2.5-hour Walking Tour

Visiting the DAAD itself is free; it's a self-guided walk through downtown streets and galleries, not a ticketed attraction. However, plenty of tours will get you more out of your time exploring Asheville’s art scene—and have some fun along the way. Sightseeing tours start at around US$45 per person.

No ticket is required to explore the Downtown Asheville Arts District on your own—free Gallery Guides are available at member galleries and various spots around town. If you'd rather join a guided experience, some walking tours cover the district, or you could join a workshop or attend a demonstration.

Think of DAAD like a member organization and RAD as a whole neighborhood. DAAD is a compact, walkable cluster of 20-plus fine art galleries and museums in downtown Asheville. RAD is a larger creative hub along the French Broad River, known for working artist studios in converted industrial buildings.

The DAAD includes more than 20 member galleries and museums within downtown Asheville. Offerings range widely, from fine art, pottery, and paintings to studio crafts, so you can expect real variety in a single, easily walkable few-block stretch of the city. It’s perhaps the city’s best spot for a quick, walkable taste of Asheville’s artsy side.

First Friday Art Walks go from 5pm–8pm on the first Friday of each month, from April through December. They’re the district's signature draw, with galleries hosting late-night openings and casual but fun events. Outside of those dates, galleries keep regular hours year-round for casual browsing, though fall in Asheville is particularly lovely.