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    Hearst Castle

    4.2 (2k reviews)
    Closed • 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Melissa L.

    It was my First time visiting the castle, and it was amazing. I got to enjoy 2 tours and with the same tour guide. She was very informative, there was just so much to see and it was a lot to take all in. The story of how the castle was built and how ahead of their time they actually were in the 20's. The lavish parties he put on and how attentive he was to his guests, and he made sure women were able to go to the billiards room and had jewelry boxes for the ladies jewelry so their jewelry wouldn't scratch the tables. It was amazing learning his story and seeing his accomplishments. The lavish architecture and the attention to detail, especially the faces on the building. The beautiful Art of the tapestries. The family called it the Ranch house, and the wild life you can still see, like the Zebras.

    Sasha A.

    We visited Hearst Castle a few days ago. Parking was free and easy, which was a nice start to the visit. The estate itself is beautiful, and the views are absolutely stunning. It's definitely worth seeing at least once. The tour, however, left me a little disappointed. It lasts about an hour and moves pretty quickly through the rooms. For $35 per adult, I expected a more engaging experience. The biggest issue was being able to hear the guide. She wasn't speaking quietly, but with a group that size, a microphone or headset was really needed. Every time she turned to face another part of the group or started walking, it became almost impossible to hear what she was saying. I think adding some kind of audio system would make the tour much more enjoyable for everyone. The shuttle buses also need some attention. They're very noisy, and because they're gas-powered, it was difficult to hear the narration during the ride. Electric buses would make the experience much more enjoyable. Another surprise was the restroom situation. The main restroom near the visitor center was closed, so everyone had to use portable toilets outside. On a hot day, that wasn't a pleasant experience at all. With so many visitors every day, I would expect the regular restrooms to be open and available. Before boarding the bus, they also take your photo and offer it for sale at the end of the tour. The price was around $45 for a single photo, which honestly felt excessive. For that price, I simply couldn't justify buying it. At the end of the tour, they also ask for donations. Considering the ticket prices, that felt a little strange to me. Overall, I'm glad we visited because the property is beautiful, but I don't think the tour experience matched the price. With a few improvements, it could be so much better.

    Joyce T.

    Parking is easy and free. The staff are helpful, and the tour was interesting with history about the castle. The indoor and outdoor pools are awesome. However, I'm not sure if it's worth paying $35 for a one-hour tour plus a short visit, especially since you have to leave right after the tour and aren't allowed to walk around the gardens. There are also some animals you can see along the way to Hearst Castle. Overall, I think I enjoyed Getty Villa more.

    Entrance
    Sam J.

    It had been nearly two decades since I was last at Hearst Castle. I'm not sure why I waited so long to go back. I'm not sure why everyone that lives in California hasn't visited. It's a great drive there whether you do the coastal route or drive through the valley. Situated halfway between LA na SF it's a perfect quick getaway. The beauty of the castle. The vision of the architect. The strength of the family. It's a great visit a great experience and a great way to spend a day. Do at least the grand rooms tour and we double up and also did the upstairs tour. We were fortunate to get a clear day so the views from the mountain were amazing. If you are thinking about it, just do it.

    Pranathi B.

    It's fascinating to find European-style castles right here in America. There are several tour options, each covering a different section of the castle. We chose the Grand Rooms tour, which is recommended for first-time visitors. All tours are guided and run on a strict schedule. We visited on a weekend and had no trouble getting tickets, though we did wait 1 to 1.5 hours for the next available slot. We used that time to watch the documentary film about the castle, and I highly recommend it. The movie adds context that deepens your appreciation, even though the tour covers much of the same history. Note: Only porta potties were available during our visit, so plan a restroom break beforehand if needed. The welcome center has a café and gift shop. The castle feels like a true reflection of America: an amalgamation of history from around the world. As our guide explained, William Randolph Hearst was no purist. He brought in pieces from every corner of the globe. The art and architecture span centuries and cultures, including Egypt, Italy, Spain, France, Greece, China, and Persia. Persian rugs, Chinese art, Egyptian sculptures, Italian paintings, and Roman statues fill the rooms. The tapestries in the Great Hall are breathtaking. It's impossible to absorb every detail in one short tour, but soaking in architecture that has stood the test of time made the visit unforgettable. Both the pools are covered as part of all the tours apparently. These pools aren't huge but the tiles and century old artwork surrounding them made them extraordinary.

    Kelly R.

    5 stars all the way! Wow, such a unique and fascinating tour! I highly recommend going. Between the history, architecture, art from around the world, and stardom... it was incredible. I definitely did not expect to be so blown away. Loved the home movies at the end. I've been already recommending this place to friends and family. I also felt the tours were really well timed, and didn't drag on or overload you with information. Excellently done. You just have to see this castle for yourself. The only critique I have is that their bathrooms have been out of order for like 6 or 7 months according to my local friend, and not sure when they are planning to fix it. There are porta potties.

    Grand entrance
    Nancy M.

    So much history and so much to see here. We took the tour of the grand entrance and pools. You learn the most in this tour but there are other tours available as well such as the upstairs bedrooms and library or even the kitchen. Each tour is about 2 hours long. It's great to visit and the views are AMAZING! There is also a theater showing after the tour on the hearts family. Totally recommend visiting and bring your walking shoes!

    Neptune Pool!
    Michael T.

    Hearst Castle was the home of one of America's first media tycoons during the Roaring 20s. It is a unique piece of history that is definitely worth visiting at least once. Hearst spent his fabulous wealth on things from all over the world, which were exotic at the time and simply aren't available today. Ancient relics, Roman antiquities, art, even entire buildings from Europe and the Middle East. The world used to be a much bigger place so it was quite a feat to move giant pieces of art, stone, and architecture basically by hand across the world and up the side of a very steep mountain dirt road. There are some breathtakingly beautiful areas of the grounds, including the famous pools that everyone knows about, as well as the residences and living areas, including the pool halls. Most of it is maintained just as it was left when Hearst died. Of course, its location on the Central Coast, overlooking the ocean is one of the best spots in the world also. Overall this place is worth a visit every few years. It is also fun to bring people who have never visited before including kids. Five stars.

    One of a kind Billiards room and tables( no pockets) . Thursday October 9, 2025.
    Ray N.

    Our 31st state is an absolutely gorgeous one with a history very unique since it joined the Union 175 years ago on September 9, 1850. Hollywood, the sign on the hill, the breathtaking beaches, the Joshua Tree National Park, the Golden Gare Bridge, Yosemite, Disneyland, Universal Studios and of course the magnificent and rich Hearst Castle. This 250,000 acre estate took 28 years to build and expand ( 1919-1947) and was the brainchild of William Randolph Hearst who brought on the amazing architect Julia Morgan to design and build " La Cuesta Encantanda" or the Enchanted Hill. We opted for the Grand Rooms tour( $35 pp online reservation and prepay via cc) which gave us a mini glimpse of the sheer magnitude and magnificence of this beautiful landmark. We got to tour the opulent and majestic social rooms - the Assembly, Billiards, Refectory, Theater, Gardens and the outdoor Neptune pool and lovely indoor Roman pool; we were told by our wonderful and fun guide Kim that we were literally in the same chairs and locations where President Eisenhower, Greta Garbo, Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Vanderbilt, Hollywood's elite, AP Gianni( from Bank of Italy and founder of Bank of America swam, ate, played mahjong, enjoyed polo and the biggest zoo then featuring polar bears and kangaroos. This estate highlighting architectural gems and marble and designs directly from Italy, Egypt and other countries was donated to the state of California after WW II and it has been preserved and maintained very well. This is a must see. We had a great time. There is a museum, theater ( with a free 40 minute movie), souvenir section and food for purchase counters. The restrooms were out of commission when we were here in early October and there were plenty of Porta Pottys by the outside free parking lot. There are 7 other tours as well. The views of the ocean are fantastic. This should be one of the 7 Wonders of California.

    Cindy O.

    Excellent Tour! We took the Main Rooms tour. Our tour guide was Danielle and she did an excellent job with the history and answering questions. The Visitor Center is new since we last visited. Nice to have an indoor area to queue up for the bus ride up the hill. There's food, drinks, and a gift shop. They first take your photo (think Disneyland) and it's ready when you get off the bus at the end of your tour. The bus ride up if part of the tour. We had a wonderful bus driver that stopped to point out a few sites in addition to Alex Tribec narrating our ride. The acres and acres of surrounding the Castle is amazing! The steep ride up is incredible, and all you can think is, how did they do this back when it was built? The grounds, exterior and interior to the Castle are well maintained. There are pieces inside that are 1000s of years old, again, absolutely amazing! This tour included both the outdoor and indoor pool and the main rooms inside. There are several different tours and I highly recommend coming back for the different ones. They even offer an evening tour!

    Gohar K.

    What an incredible place to revisit again. I have been here with my husband thirty years ago and now finally came back with our boys. Going up the mountain with the bus is just breathtaking. The beautiful mountains and the ocean views are incredible. How did they even build this castle on the top of the hill over a hundred years ago. Our tour guide was amazing. We had a great time hearing the story of William Hearst and his passion for collection art and antiques. The collection here is unbelievable. So many unique and one of a kind antiques from all over the world. Very impressive. So much beauty in one place. Now the state of California owns this amazing place and us visitors can go see it for just $35. Isn't that amazing? A must visit if you ever come to central California.

    Richard D.

    A great part of California to vist. Beautiful structure and design of many nations in one. To see the dedication of Julia Moragan and Randolph Hearst combined together is amazing and eye catching

    Natalia

    What a beautiful place to visit! Everything was so peaceful and tells a story of one's life that had an impact. I went with my Boyfriend family to this trip and it went very well, the tour was give or take an hour or two. The walking is a no joke! So get ready for some cardio. If you love to take pictures this is definitely the place. I would love to go again once it's all open to all of the property. I only got to see some of the inside but was still very beautiful especially the air pieces. For sure a trip to take with the family!!

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    Page 1 of 51

    Hearst Castle Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Hearst Castle

    Are masks required for the tours?

    Optional

    How long (time) is the Grand Rooms tour?

    It took us almost two hours from the time we parked to the time we got back to our car. The Grand Rooms tour is really 60 minutes but this does NOT count your travel time on the bus to/from the station at the bottom of the hill where you park.… 

    Which tour did you enjoy best? Which tour allows you to see both pools indoor/outdoor?

    We took all 5 tours over 2 days - they all begin with the outdoor "neptune" pool & end with the indoor pool

    How much are tickets?

    The tours vary slightly in price. The Grand Rooms tour is $30/person. The web site has the pricing for each tour.

    Can you take strollers?

    I think strollers stayed at the "Visitor's Center" before boarding the bus to the Castle.

    Are dogs allowed in the tour?

    Service animals only

    Are there renovations currently being done?

    There are currently no major restoration projects being done at the Castle. There are almost always some smaller restorations being done on some of the art objects in the many rooms but nothing major as of this moment.

    I would like to go with my family on 2 tours the same day - the Grand Room and the Upstairs Suite. If I book them back-to-back, is there a chance one will run overtime and we'll miss the second tour? Which tour should we take first to avoid that?

    Each tour has a specific start and end time. When booking more than one tour we ask that you leave at least one hour and 20 minutes between the start of the first tour and the start of the second tour. This will allow just enough time to finish the… 

    Are the tours stroller friendly?

    They are state operated and handicap (ie wheelchair) accessible with ramps, at least to the great rooms tour on the first floor. May be tough doing some of the upstairs tours though, not sure about those. I think the handicap accessible tours… 

    How long do the tours take and do you have to buy tickets in advance or can you buy them at the door? We are trying to plan our trip up the coastal highway. Also, which of the tours is the best? Thanks!

    Hi! The tours vary in length but most of the daytime tours are 60 minutes long (not including the 10+ minute bus ride to the Castle). We recommend advanced reservations if possible as waiting until the day of can cause you to not get the exact tour… 

    Does anyone know when Neptune pool's renovation is expected to be done?

    I went on a tour at the end of October '17 and the guide said the Neptune pool renovation should be done by the end of 2018. However, it sounded like the planned completion date has changed a few times.

    Which tour would be best for a 10 year old?

    The Grand room tour was very much enjoyed by my 10yr old and myself. =)

    I have two 4year old kids, and upon reading the tour descriptions, it seems like a lot of work for them (and eventually us since we'll end up carrying them). Is it possible to see some areas without buying any guided tours? Thanks in advance!

    I don't think you can go up to the castle without buying tickets. I have been twice in the past year and didn't see any way for you to get up there free. I honestly don't think your children would like it enough for the cost of admission ($25) Plus… 

    I'm trying to choose between the Grand Rooms and Upstairs Suite tour. Which one is better and why? Is it possible to see the indoor pool on the Upstairs Suite tour (which I'm leaning more towards bc of the library)?

    You can see the indoor pool on all tours! The tours had been switched around since I'd gone in years past. I chose the grand rooms tour a few months ago and was slightly disappointed. I felt like I didn't see enough of the property.... But if you… 

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    Review Highlights - Hearst Castle

    “g. We also got a quick glimpse and view of the Neptune Pool, which other reviewers have already said much abou”

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    Margarita Adventures - Three generations zipping.

    Margarita Adventures

    4.9(390 reviews)
    37.3 mi

    What an amazing surprise to find such elaborate and well-designed escape rooms. We did all four…read moreover the course of a week during a two-week drive around central California. Everyone at Margarita was super nice, and you could tell that everyone involved with the escape room were hardcore enthusiasts. Rita's is their stand-alone, which was a lot of fun and was challenging but not frustratingly so. Definitely can do it with two people with minimal to no hints. Renegade is where they really bring it in terms of design and puzzles. We escaped Retrofit but needed help, and Episodes 2 and 3 were very challenging (we did not escape). Having a third or fourth person would have helped. I can't say much without spoiling anything, but they definitely put their love into this one. It is the same set for all three chapters, but certain elements are only active depending on which episode you're playing. But if you hate lock heavy rooms then this one is for you. I think just about every puzzle you solve leads to the next one without ever having to spin numbers or letters on a lock. If you're in the area, I highly recommend stopping off here. Plenty of parking and there's Ancient Peaks wine tasting room with a menu across the street. Or The Range or The Porch not too far up the road.

    We had such an amazing experience with Margarita Adventures! Every single tour guide was fantastic,…read morefriendly, and made our group feel comfortable and taken care of throughout the entire zip lining tour. The course itself was so much fun, and everything felt organized and safe from beginning to end. A special shoutout to Logan because he absolutely crushed it! He brought such great energy and made the experience so fun for our entire group. He was hilarious, helpful, and really added to the overall experience. We had an awesome time and would definitely recommend Margarita Adventures to anyone looking for a fun adventure while visiting the area!

    Photos
    Margarita Adventures - Margarita Adventures Fun!

    Margarita Adventures Fun!

    Margarita Adventures
    Margarita Adventures - Wildlife at the vineyard where zip lining is located.

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    Wildlife at the vineyard where zip lining is located.

    Hiking Trails at San Simeon Bay

    Hiking Trails at San Simeon Bay

    4.2(6 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    2020 review (8/21/2020) - The is the best family-friendly trail in the area. They've done extensive…read morecleanup since my last visit and many of the downed trees have been removed. It's mostly flat and the only risk to small kids are the Cliffs. The yelp address is misleading (this is not located in Pittsburgh). To get here you must park in the Hearst Memorial Beach parking lot. Walk down to the beach and walk north about 200 yards. Look for the trail that goes up to the cliff area ( just past the Hearst Winery Barn).. Many people just hike to the San Simeon point and the benches. BUT I highly recommend you continue your adventure through the tall tree path all the way to the cove with a sea cave. There are several openings along the tree trail that give exclusive and private views of the coastline. - When you start this hike keep a look out on the right hand side for a very short path that leads to a huge climbing tree.. The kids will love playing on that.. - The farther you go the fewer people you will see.

    I read about this area via a SLO county travel site:…read morehttps://highway1discoveryroute.com/activities/hiking-san-simeon-ragged-point/ where it's also referred as the San Simeon Point Trail. Access to these trails are from William Randolph Hearst State Beach. Gates to the park open at 8 a.m. and there's no fee to enter. The trail is about 2 miles round trip and can be accessed if you walk along the beach (on the right side of the pier if you're facing it. You'll see a trail that leads up to the bluff, about 1/2 way down the beach. Once along the bluffs, you'll wind through the trees and catch views of the beach and pier. Not too far in, there are a few fallen trees and the path, at first seems to have disappeared-it hasn't. Look to the right and there's a small opening in the fence that allows day hikers to continue on (it's marked private property with allowance for passage of day use hikers.) It's a quiet trail that's partially shaded and very quiet. For a short while I was a bit unnerved being alone but soon enough I came across some locals walking their dogs. The hike out to the point is the big payoff and plan to spend a little while admiring the views, including a small cove to the north. It was the perfect short morning adventure and definitely a less known gem in the area.

    Photos
    Hiking Trails at San Simeon Bay - View from top of trail

    View from top of trail

    Hiking Trails at San Simeon Bay - Pelicans

    Pelicans

    Hiking Trails at San Simeon Bay - Ducks!

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    Ducks!

    San Simeon State Park & Campground - Hearst beach

    San Simeon State Park & Campground

    3.6(162 reviews)
    6.4 mi

    I've stayed here a couple times when I'm in the area. The campground is well taken care of…read more Bathrooms are cleaned daily and the cleaning people do a great job. The Rangers in the kiosk and law enforcement are professional and helpful with answers to questions we had about the area. The $10 extra car fee is per night. When you reserve the site 1 car is included. Cars after that are $10 each night. 2 cars allowed at a site. 1 extra car in over flow is allowed. They also free parking on the road. It is clear on the kiosk and online reservations. 10 days stay/30 day max and they do track your stays. No WiFi in park. They have free WiFi if an emergency at kiosk and you're able to check your email or look online there. Be prepared for no internet or cell service within the park. Campfire wood is sold at camphost. They are super friendly and helpful. We appreciate the water & dump station. All dry camping. No electric available. Generator hours is 10am to 8pm. At night you can hear the ocean from Washburn. No dogs allowed on the beach, but there are places nearby. Ask for a list. We saw whales, dolphins, turrens, an owl and the zebras.

    Nice as far as it had friendly host, regularly cleaned bathrooms, and shower availability. But be…read morecareful about getting campsites closer to the water - it gets windy during the day and can be a little miserable. The upper campground - Washburn is further from the water but with nice views of the mountains. In between is nice too, just avoid the high hundreds numbers - 131. 132,133 for wind. Beach access was cool. Lots of green rocks and driftwood for kids to build with. They also had an amphitheater and we saw a ranger talk on great white sharks. Also a nice home base to go your Hearst castle or do wine tasting. Cambria and Harmony are cute nearby towns to see.

    Photos
    San Simeon State Park & Campground - April 18, 2025 - Washburn Day Use Area picnic tables are next to Highway 1.

    April 18, 2025 - Washburn Day Use Area picnic tables are next to Highway 1.

    San Simeon State Park & Campground
    San Simeon State Park & Campground

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    Hearst Castle - tours - Updated September 2026

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