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    Hearst Castle

    4.2 (2k reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Hearst Castle Photos

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    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.

    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.

    Fruit plants around the castle.
    Brooke H.

    Beautiful and we loved our tour guide Ana. Beautiful property. You take a bus to the castle which is about 15 minutes from your check in. Our tour was $35 a person and 2 hours long. The castle has beautiful landscape and art. Well kept. Visitor center needs to reopen their public restrooms which were closed when we were there. Some stairs are in the tour-not sure if they offer handicap accessible tour. Beautiful and scenic ride to and from the castle.

    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!

    Outside
    Holly V.

    This place is definitely one you should think about exploring on the area if you have not already. What a great tour. It goes pretty quick and there are lots of tour options to choose from. We went with the grand room tour. My favorite were the outdoor swimming pool and the Roman pool. Just amazing architecture all around. There's something to see everywhere. It was also cool to learn that the original tapestries are displayed here and the ones at the Louvre in Paris are actually the replicas. Anything you see that you think is gold IS GOLD. Plan to go back and do a different tour the castle is so big hard to see everything in just 1 tour.

    Rudy N.

    Really enjoyed this tour, I went with the Julia Morgan tour. Spent over 2 hours inside and out. The details of Julia architect thinking left me in wow. I have my own personal opinion of Mr. Hearst, it totally reminds me of an era we live in now and how a big ego and things go in 2026. Overall i recommend this tour for everyone wanting to experience the castle on the hill.

    Matt G.

    I took three tours over a period of two days. I booked the Grand Rooms Tour on day one and the Cottages & Kitchen tour as well as the Upstairs Suites Tour on Day 2. Our tour guides were Kim and Tonya, respectively. Even though we had two tours on the same day, consecutively, you still have to take the bus back down to the visitor center to take the next bus back up the hill. Each tour is $35 per adult, per tour. This tour in a nutshell, showcased William Hearst's art collections and is basically a giant museum to showcase all of his art. This place took 28 years to build and is magnificent. The architect and engineer, Julia Morgan, was ahead of her time and had this place wired with electrical and running water. The upstairs areas get quite warm without air conditioning. I though both pools were amazing! We got to see deer on the hill and zebra in the grasslands while on the tour bus. This was one of my favorite things to on my trip up the central California coast. Five stars!

    Marion Davies window & bell tower
    Bobbie R.

    Highly recommend the Julia Morgan Tour. It is pricey at $110. Although, the tours are limited to 8 people and it is 2 hours. Our tour guide, Camille, took us to all the rooms we chose. Too many to remember. Highlights were private rooms of William Hearst & Marion Davies, suites in the bell tower, kitchen, wine cellar and so much more. I have taken many tours here through the years. This one being the pinnacle.

    Dari P.

    If you come here, I hope you're good at climbing stairs, cause she will see a lot of them. This is a beautiful place. There are gorgeous pictures on the walls and furnishing are amazing. Take a guided tour and you will learn a lot.

    Portable Bathrooms
    Suzette M.

    Connor at the ticket booth was awesome helping me get the ticket times squared away. I bought the tickets online but was not sure that the movie would overlap the bus time. Thank you! Our family enjoyed the tour very much. The down side is they STILL do not have the regular bathroom open! The portable bathrooms, while prolifically located in the front parking lot is not ideal. There was no water or soap in the portable washing station. This would not prevent me from coming back to see a different tour, but it might some people.

    Theater Sekmet Goddess statue
    Arya F.

    We did the Holiday Twilight Tour early in the season, and it was a great experience. These tours are only offered in the holiday evenings on select days. Tickets were $40 per person and include a bus ride to the castle (about 15 minutes), so definitely arrive early. We got there about an hour ahead of time and had plenty of time to check out the gift shop before it closed at 6pm. The tour felt similar to the Grand Rooms Tour but with fun holiday touches like Christmas trees and cookie displays. We were taken through several areas: the Neptune Pool, Casa Del Sol, Assembly Room, Refectory, Kitchen, Billiard Room, theater, and ended at the Roman Pool. Our tour guide was engaging and shared lots of interesting facts along the way. Overall, it was a great experience!

    Bob J.

    This was an unbelievable experience and I honestly can't believe we have such beautiful places like this in the US! Our tour guide, Anna, was so passionate and made the tour so interesting and engaging. We did the Grand Rooms tour and it really was grand. It was the perfect length as well. This is a MUST-do if you're passing through!

    Neptune Pool

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    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?

    About 1 1/2 hours.

    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… Read more

    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… Read more

    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… Read more

    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… Read more

    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)?

    I did the Upstairs Suite tour a few months ago and was glad I chose that instead of Grand Rooms. Unique, far less crowded tour group, and every tour includes the indoor pool. Highly recommend the Upstairs Suite tour.

    View All 18 Questions

    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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    San Simeon Bay - Sam Simeon coastline

    San Simeon Bay

    4.7(15 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    A worthwhile stop after visiting the Castle…read more There's ample parking and plenty of things to do on this beach access site. A nice stroll along a pier, perhaps a walk along the beach and some small tide pool exploration, or if you're lucky a chance to visit their discovery center. So stop by and stretch your legs out a bit. Bathrooms - Yes

    San Simeon Bay is a picturesque sheltered beach along California's central coast. Just north of…read moreCayucos, Morro Bay, and San Luis Obispo, it is one of several sandy stretches along what becomes more and more a rocky shoreline as one heads northward. There are picnic facilities, restrooms, a small interpretive center, and a fishing pier. In the winter, you may see northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) resting on the sand. There are larger concentrations of them a bit farther north... No matter where you see these beasts, keep your distance and give these wild creatures space... Yes, that means you with the $149 camera fancying yourself a nature photographer. There is a payment booth, but I've never seen it open in the winter when we visit. The stands of eucalyptus trees occasionally serve as resting spots for migrating monarch butterflies. The pier is a great place to spot sea birds in the quiet waters of the bay. Anglers target anchovies, mackerel, smelt, and in season, surfperch, Sharks, and the occasional striped bass. It's not the best fishing pier, but it's usually a pretty good spot to jig up some baitfish. Look out to sea to spot migrating gray whales.

    Photos
    San Simeon Bay
    San Simeon Bay - Since when can you get a pier all to yourself?

    Since when can you get a pier all to yourself?

    San Simeon Bay - Beautiful San Simeon Bay as seen from San Simeon Point.

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    Beautiful San Simeon Bay as seen from San Simeon Point.

    Margarita Adventures - Three generations zipping.

    Margarita Adventures

    4.9(381 reviews)
    37.3 mi

    Such a fun experience at Santa Margarita Ranch Ziplining! The adventure honestly starts the minute…read moreyou arrive. You check in at the main office downtown, then hop on a tour bus to the ranch property. Our driver was super informative and entertaining along the way. The drive itself felt like part of the experience with bumpy ranch roads, multiple gates, gorgeous scenery, and a real behind the scenes feel of the property. Once you arrive, the staff gets you geared up with all the safety equipment and everyone was incredibly friendly, professional, and great with all ages. After gearing up, you take an old Army style jeep up the mountain and that ride alone was an adventure Super rickety, steep, and fun! We felt very safe the entire time because before every single zip line, the staff carefully checked everyone's safety gear and connections. There are 6 zip lines total and each one is different with spectacular views that change throughout the course. One thing to know is that you should be in reasonably good shape because there are mini hikes between some of the zip lines. There are lots of water stations along the course, which was great, but the experience is definitely active and you do not want to hold up the group. Totally worth it though and such a memorable Central Coast adventure for families, couples, teens, and adventurous kids!

    Super friendly. Super professional(s). 6 zip lines! And of…read morecourse, Super fun! Kids are welcome. Under 100 lbs, your little rider must go tandem on 3 (they can go alone on the other 3)

    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

    San Simeon State Park & Campground

    3.6(157 reviews)
    6.4 mi

    April 18, 2025 The…read morelocation of this state park can't be beat. Located on the coast, it is near many "must-see" attractions, such as Hearst Castle and the Elephant Seal viewpoints. This State Park has a day-use area and two campgrounds: Washburn Day Use Area, San Simeon Creek Campground and the more primitive Washburn Campground. San Simeon Creek Campground is closer to the ocean; Washburn Campground is about a mile or two inland, overlooking the Santa Lucia mountains. The day-use area is open from 8AM to sunset, and is easily accessed from Highway 1, has picnic sites, parking, restrooms, water faucets, barbecue grills, and easy beach access (unless you are a dog...) One star down from an excellent rating for two reasons: The beach, sadly, is NDA (no dogs allowed), and the day use picnic tables are located next to the highway.

    campground is reasonably priced because it is a "primitive" campground, meaning no hookups, no hot…read morespot access or wifi, no cell service and no tv. they have the weirdest generator hours (10 am to 4 pm only?) which means primitive coffee and a cold dinner! I don't get it! a trail leading from the upper campsites to the midsection is overgrown and needs to be cleaned up. it looked like the lawnmower they were using didn't have a sharp blade or no blade. as a californian, this place needs help! we were here years ago and it wasn't this bad. hearst castle and the elephant seal viewpoint are close. we stayed 8 days but recommend a weekend or shorter week.

    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

    San Simeon State Park

    San Simeon State Park & Campground

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    Hearst Castle - tours - Updated May 2026

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