Hearst Castle Discount Tickets Aaa (2024)

FAQs

How much does it cost to go to Hearst Castle? ›

Plan to be at Hearst Castle for a minimum of three hours. The guided portion of the tour is indoors and lasts about 60 minutes. The Bus ride up and down the hill is about 30 minutes each way and the movie is 40 minutes. With a one hour tour, our total visit was 3 hours, 45 minutes.

It really depends on how you want to spend your time. An afternoon is definitely enough time to drive through Big Sur and to stop and see the scenery. If you want to spend time hiking or exploring, then a whole day is better. Hearst Castle is excellent and definitely worth the time.

In 1957, the Hearst Corporation donated the estate to the State of California and it's been operated by the State as a museum ever since. One of the conditions of the donation was that the Hearst family still have access to the property for personal use at their discretion.

Parking is plentiful and free for guests during their stay. Continental Breakfast is also free every morning.

In order to ensure visitor safety and to protect the historic estate, framed backpacks are not permitted. In addition, items such as skateboards, roller shoes and bicycles are not permitted.

Only bottled water may be brought on tour. Please call the district office at Hearst Castle at (805) 927-2065 to arrange for this unique and personalized tour experience of Hearst Castle.

Purchase tickets to visit Hearst Castle and enjoy the movie, “Hearst Castle – Building the Dream,” or shop for souvenirs and grab a bite to eat before your bus transports you up the hill to tour Hearst Castle. Visit the historic exhibition for free in the east end of the Visitor Center.

Approximately 332 stairs, both up and down; 3/4-mile route to walk; 15-minute bus ride to and from the Visitor Center; Considerable time standing.

Home to stately Hearst Castle, the unincorporated town of San Simeon sits along one of the most pristine stretches of California Highway 1 and the Pacific Ocean.

Can you sleep at Hearst Castle? ›

You can't stay overnight at Hearst Castle, but you can bunk down at Hearst's Hacienda near King City and the tiny town of Jolon. That's a bit of a drive from the castle.

For this reason, the Grand Rooms Tour is recommended for most first-time guests. For a more in-depth look at the property, opt for the Upstairs Suites Tour. This tour provides a more intimate look at the castle, focusing on the private rooms used by William Randolph Hearst and his guests.

The California estate that was once home to newspaper scion William Randolph Hearst sold for $63.1 million to billionaire investor Nicolas Berggruen in an auction on Tuesday.

Their guest list included many of the Hollywood stars of the period; Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, the Marx Brothers, Greta Garbo, Buster Keaton, Mary Pickford, Jean Harlow and Clark Gable all visited, some on multiple occasions.

Works of Art

This great museum is filled with Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities – along with Old Master European paintings, sculptures, and decorative art; Chinese and Near Eastern art; and about thirty historic carved and painted ceilings from Renaissance Italy and Spain.

3/4-mile route to walk; 15-minute bus ride to and from the Visitor Center; Considerable time standing.

Personal Photography

Photography for personal enjoyment is encouraged. However, due to operational impacts, photography related to birthdays, engagements, weddings, graduations, etc. is prohibited. Tripods are not allowed either inside the buildings or on the grounds, but monopods are in both locations.