Asheville Downtown Walking Tour: Beer Tasting & Local Arts

Two Hours in Asheville's Weirdest Corners, Plus Beer

You walk two hours through Asheville's downtown with a local guide, stopping at Grove Arcade, the Basilica, and Leaf Global Arts Center. You taste local beer and spirits, get a discount map for the rest of your stay, and receive free artwork shipped to your home. The private option includes the Prohibition-era tunnels under Pack's Tavern. You pay what you think it's worth at the end.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Grove Arcade5m
2. Downtown Asheville Arts DistrictEntry included10m

Asheville walking tour and tastings

• Walk through Grove Arcade
• Discuss Pack Square history and architecture
• Walk down Patton and Haywood roads
• Follow Urban Trail with local tastings
• Taste Salt Face Mule beverage
• Discuss artwork at historic structure
• Pass African-American Cultural Venue
• Pass Wall Street to Pritchard Park
• Enjoy free popcorn at quaint shop

The experience

You're standing in front of Grove Arcade on a Saturday afternoon, and your guide casually mentions the tunnels underneath Pack's Tavern, the ones used during Prohibition, and suddenly you realize this isn't going to be a generic downtown walking tour. The Asheville downtown walking tour runs for two hours, and it moves fast enough that you're never standing around, but slow enough that you actually absorb what's happening. Your local guide walks you along the Urban Trail, hitting the S&W Cafeteria, the Basilica of St Lawrence, and Pritchard Park where the drum circle happens on weekends. The whole thing is tip-based, which means you pay what you think it's worth when you're done: no awkward pricing upfront.

What makes this different from other city tours is the stuff they hand you: a map with actual discounts all over town, free artwork from a local artist (they ship it to your house later), and tastings from places like Twisted Laurel and Archetype. If you book the 2pm slot, you get to try a Salt Face Mule, which is a local thing that tastes like it sounds. You'll stop inside Leaf Global Arts Center for a proper look around, grab a donut from Underground Cafe, and the guide explains how Asheville went from a regular mountain town to the quirky arts hub it is now: the "Keep Asheville Weird" part isn't just a slogan, it's actually baked into how the city operates. The private tour option gets you into those Prohibition tunnels at Pack's Tavern, which is the kind of detail that makes the difference between a tour you forget and one you mention to people for months.

The route itself is walkable for most people. It's downtown, it's flat, and the pace is steady rather than rushed. You'll pass Wall Street, loop through the Arts District, and end up with popcorn at a local shop. If you're doing the public tour, it's in English. Private tours can be in Spanish, Portuguese, or French if you book ahead. The whole experience is designed around not having to figure out where to eat or what's worth seeing. Your guide handles that, and the discount map keeps working after the tour ends.

What’s included

• Your two-hour tour includes a guided walk along the Urban Trail with stops at Grove Arcade, Pack Square, the Basilica of St Lawrence, and Leaf Global Arts Center.
• You'll taste local beer at Twisted Laurel and Archetype, sample a Salt Face Mule (2pm tours only), enjoy a donut from Underground Cafe, and receive free popcorn at a local shop.
• A discount map for restaurants and bars across town comes with your tour, and a piece of free artwork from a local artist will be shipped to your home.
• Private tours add access to the Prohibition tunnels under Pack's Tavern and can be conducted in Spanish, Portuguese, or French.

Options for this experience

2 options

Public Tour OptionGuide in English · 10:00 and 14:00A 2-hour shared guided walking tour of Discover Asheville, with spirit and beer tastings.

Private Tour OptionGuide in English, Spanish or French · 12:00 and 16:15A 2-hour private group guided tour of Discover Asheville, including spirit samples.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 2h, runs every day, 4 start times, from US$ 5 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and French and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:15

GroupUp to 17

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (20 and older) · Senior (100 and older) · Youth (11 to 19 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Asheville Free Walking Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Asheville's actual downtown without planning each stop yourself. The guide handles the history, the tastings, and the recommendations, and the discount map keeps working after you're done. The tip-based format means you're not locked into a price before you know if it's worth it.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In English, at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:15. In Spanish and French, at 12:00 and 16:15.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 19 years); Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Asheville downtown walking tour?

Two hours. The pace is steady and covers the Urban Trail, Grove Arcade, Pack Square, and the Arts District.

What beer tastings are included?

Tastings at Twisted Laurel and Archetype, plus a Salt Face Mule at the 2pm departure. Tastings depend on which local businesses are open that day.

What's the difference between the public and private tour?

Private tours include access to the Prohibition-era tunnels under Pack's Tavern and can be conducted in Spanish, Portuguese, or French. Public tours are in English only.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces on the route are wheelchair accessible, and the tour is suitable for all fitness levels.

Do I have to pay upfront?

No. This is a tip-based tour. You pay what you think it's worth at the end.

What's included in the tour?

A two-hour guided walk, beer and spirit tastings, a private tour of Leaf Global Arts Center, a discount map, free artwork shipped to your home, and popcorn at a local shop.

Is there parking or public transportation nearby?

Public transportation options are available near the starting point. Check with your hotel or the tour operator for parking details.