The reputation of Asheville NC as a magical getaway has been well-known for over a century. So much so that one of the world’s wealthiest families, the Vanderbilts, built their Biltmore Estate there in the late 1800s.
Over the last 20 years, Asheville has emerged as a major hub in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC, offering outdoor recreation, arts and culture, luxury hotels, historical architecture, and much more.
This Western NC hotspot is home to the headquarters of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and has been dubbed “Beer City” for the abundance of great Asheville breweries.
We’ve covered the best things to do in Asheville NC in great depth before. But this time around we’re going to look at some of the many things that make romantic getaways in Asheville NC such a wonderful choice.
Read on for our guide to the best things to do in Asheville for couples, including lots of options for those interested in romantic hotels, tours, and luxurious pampering!
READ MORE: The 15 Best Hotels in Asheville NC to Visit
Top Places to Stay near Asheville NC
- The Omni Grove Park Inn (Romantic historic inn w/mountain views & subterranean spa)
- Cambria Hotel (Downtown Asheville hotel with fridge & restaurant, highly recommended)
- Kimpton – Hotel Arras, IHG (Downtown Asheville 4-star hotel w/great breakfast & bikes)
- The Inn On Biltmore Estate (Biltmore hotel with on-site spa w/casual & fine dining restaurants)
- Hampton Inn & Suites Biltmore Village (Pet-friendly, budget-friendly hotel w/free breakfast)
- Black Walnut B&B Inn (Romantic B&B in the Montford Historic District)
- Engadine Inn & Cabins (Victorian inn & 6 cabins, 15 minutes from the city)
Things to Do in Asheville NC for Couples
- Stroll at the NC Arboretum
- Visit the Asheville Botanical Garden
- Tour the Biltmore House
- Spa Treatments at the Omni Grove Park Inn
- Stay at the Grand Bohemian
- Scenic Helicopter Experience
- Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway
- Watch the Sunset from Craggy Gardens
- River Arts District & Downtown Mountain Mural Tour
- Downtown Asheville E-Bike Tour with Tastings
READ MORE: The 10 Best North Carolina Mountain Resorts to Visit
1. Stroll at the NC Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmstead, Asheville NC • (828) 665-2492
Located just south of Asheville, the North Carolina Arboretum celebrates the botanical diversity of the Southern Appalachian Mountains with manicured gardens and well-maintained trails.
The 65-acre arboretum contains permanent garden exhibits of native North Carolina wildflowers and other species, as well as important plants from around the world (such as the long-running Bonsai Exhibition Garden).
There are a dozen short hiking trails compromising over 10 miles, which are perfect for taking romantic walks. Several of these trails are open to cycling as well.
As of Spring 2024, the Bent Creek Bistro will be reopening in the Education Center. Like many of the area’s best restaurants, the bistro serves locally sourced, seasonal fare.
There is no admission fee to enter the garden, making it one of the least pricey Asheville date ideas. There is, however, a $20 parking fee for standard-sized vehicles (less than 20 feet long).
READ MORE: The Top 15 Treehouse Rentals near Asheville NC
2. Visit the Asheville Botanical Garden
151 W.T. Weaver Blvd, Asheville NC • (828) 252-5190
This non-profit botanical garden also showcases Southern Appalachian flora, with a native plant collection surpasses 500 species. It’s open daily from sunrise to sunset, and parking and admission are free!
Highlights include the Botany Center & Garden Path Gift Shop, a 1/2-mile Loop Trail with a couple of side trails, and Reed Creek (which runs right through the property).
Visiting the Asheville Botanical Garden is yet another example of free romantic things to do in Asheville NC.
It’s just a short walk from the French Broad River, where you’ll find several Asheville breweries (Zillicoah Beer Company, Ginger’s Revenge, and Outsider Brewing Company) and French Broad Chocolate Factory & Café.
If breweries are your main focus, check out the Asheville: Guided Craft Brewery Tour, which includes behind-the-scenes tours and tastings at 3 local breweries or cider houses.
READ MORE: The 25 Best Places for Horseback Riding In/Near Asheville NC
3. Tour the Biltmore House
One Lodge Street, Asheville NC • (800) 411-3812
While many visiting couples prefer romantic cabins in Asheville NC and the surrounding mountains, the Vanderbilts’ former home offers opulence turned all the way up!
Billed as America’s Largest Home, the Biltmore Estate can be explored via various tours, including a 90-minute “Guests of the Vanderbilts” Tour, an hour-long Rooftop Tour, and a self-guided Visit to the Gardens.
Other romantic things to do for couples included a Guided Bike Ride, Guided Bird Walks, and a Behind-the-Scenes Winery Tour & Tasting.
The Biltmore House is a whole other level of exceptional from early November to early January, with their always-dazzling Christmas celebration. Their Candlelight Evenings are especially romantic!
Entrance into the Biltmore Estate is $70 per person in Winter, $80 from Spring through Fall, and $110 throughout the Christmas season.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Romantic Getaways in NC (Hotels, Inns & Resorts)
4. Spa Treatments at the Omni Grove Park Inn
290 Macon Avenue, Asheville NC • (800) 438-5800
For those seeking pampering, the Omni Grove Park Inn was listed by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the Top Resort Spas in North America. We say it’s also one of the most sumptuous things to do in Asheville for Couples!
Their spa has a whole spectrum of treatments, including facials, massages, and pedicures. They also offer body treatments such as wraps, detoxes, and wellness pods.
The 43,000-square-foot facility features two waterfall pools, a lap swimming pool with 6,500 fiber optic stars above it (and music under the water!), and three fireside lounges.
Couples will love the fact that the spa is strictly an electronic device-free environment, with no cell phones, e-readers, iPads, or cameras allowed.
Due to high demand and limited availability, it’s strongly advised to book in advance for day passes to the hotel and specific treatments at the spa.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Downtown Asheville Restaurants for Foodies
5. Stay at the Grand Bohemian Hotel
11 Boston Way, Asheville NC • (828) 505-2949
The posh Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville is a AAA 4-diamond located next to the Biltmore Estate. It’s also widely regarded as one of the most luxurious and romantic hotels in Asheville.
Amenities at the Grand Bohemian include a casual upscale restaurant (Red Stag Grill), signature treatments at Poseidon Spa (by appointment only), and a fully-stocked fitness center.
Most of their rooms and suites are located in the Main Building. But the King rooms in the Manor Building offer enchanting extras like marble bathrooms, oversized tubs, and fine linens.
They also offer an in-room wine and cocktail menu for before-dinner drinks or evening nightcaps.
Rooms at the Grand Bohemian aren’t cheap, starting at about $400 a night (for a King Room in the Manor House) and going up to $619 (for a King Executive Studio in the Main Building).
READ MORE: 10 Must-Visit Blue Ridge Mountain Resorts
6. Scenic Helicopter Experience
240 Wright Brothers Way, Fletcher NC • (828) 820-5007
While Downtown Asheville is a walkable city worth exploring, the Scenic Helicopter Experience offers a very different way to see the town and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
Scenic Helicopter Tours offers several flights in the Asheville area. The shortest is the 12-mile “Asheville Introduction Tour,” which goes for $59 a person.
Their longest trip is “The Grand Asheville Expedition,” a 100-mile journey offering bird’s eye views of Asheville-area attractions such as the Biltmore Estate, Looking Glass Rock, and Chimney Rock.
They also have romantic tours, including “The Asheville Night Flight” (a beautiful ride over the city) and “The Helicopter & Wine Tasting Adventure” (with VIP services and amazing scenery).
These tours are mostly private, with a 2-person minimum and a 3-person max, making them one of the most popular things for couples to do in Asheville.
READ MORE: The 30 Best Waterfalls Near Asheville NC
7. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 384, Asheville NC • (828) 348-3400
Ironically, one of the most romantic things to do in Asheville NC is drive out of it on the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, which is divided roughly equally between North Carolina and Virginia.
The BRP is famous for its amazing overlooks, Spring blossoms, Fall foliage, and numerous waterfalls. But in our experience the world-renowned scenic route is best enjoyed on a leisurely drive through the mountains.
To the south of Asheville, highlights include Mount Pisgah, the historic Pisgah Inn, breathtaking views of the Great Balsam Mountains, and Richland Balsam (the highest point on the Parkway at 6,140 feet).
Heading north, my favorite favorite spots include Mount Mitchell and Crabtree Falls. First-timers will benefit from using a self-guided Blue Ridge Parkway driving app tour, which includes maps, audio stories, and images.
Visitors can also leave the driving to a certified Blue Ridge Parkway Naturalist, who will point out special sights and stop for photos and brief hikes along the way!
READ MORE: The 15 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Hotels & Cabin Rentals in NC & VA
8. Watch the Sunset from Craggy Gardens
Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 364.5 • (828) 348-3400
My wife Emma and I instantly fell in love with the Blue Ridge Parkway, and we’ve driven every mile of it in North Carolina multiple times.
Located just north of Asheville, Craggy Gardens remains one of our favorite BRP stops. It has phenomenal views and beautiful wildflowers, especially the gnarly rhododendron.
Craggy Gardens features a Visitor Center and an inviting picnic area, with several short hiking trails to explore the gardens as well as Craggy Pinnacle.
From the Craggy Dome Parking Overlook, visitors can take the Craggy Pinnacle Trail to the mountain’s summit, where you’ll be rewarded with jaw-dropping 360º panoramic views.
This spot is very unique compared to others on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s also one of the top places in the area to watch a spectacular sunset.
What better way to make your romantic getaway in Asheville NC a wonderful memory?
READ MORE: The 7 Best Places for Snow Skiing Near Asheville NC
9. River Arts District Electric Bike Tour
1 River Arts Place, Asheville, NC • (828) 338-8484
The Flying Bike offers a collection of e-bike tours in Asheville, including a 3-Hour City tour, Asheville’s Best Pizza tour, and this tour of the culturally rich River Arts District.
Their River Arts District Electric Bike Tour lasts for 3 hours and visits various local artists, with a front-row seat to watch them practice their crafts.
There’s time along the way to enjoy stops at local art markets and galleries, as well as biking the greenways along the banks of the French Broad River.
My wife Emma (who loves to paint) is a huge fan of murals and street art, so this is an ideal afternoon for her. The River Art District is also home to several great craft breweries, which is an ideal afternoon for me.
In short, this tour is a fun thing to do in Asheville for couples who like variety!
READ MORE: Asheville River Arts District: A Guide to Galleries & Restaurants
10. Downtown Asheville E-Bike Tour with Tastings
1 River Arts Place, Asheville NC • (828) 338-8484
For those of us who are not avid cyclists, e-bike tours are ideal for getting the experience of biking around a town without hours of strenuous peddling.
Flying Bike Tours is the top choice for e-bike tours in Asheville, and has cool offerings like the Downtown Asheville Electric Bike Tour.
This Downtown Asheville tour is about 12 miles round-trip and takes around 3 hours. It visits the Grove Arcade, Basilica of St. Lawrence, the historic Montford neighborhood, and Sunset Terrace at the Omni Grove Park Inn.
Riding e-bikes makes conquering the hills of Asheville effortless, rather than something exhausting. It’s a great way to see the city, enjoy the outdoors, and get a little exercise! –by Jonathon Engels; lead image via Canva
