I've been to Hearst Castle a couple of times before, but this was my first time doing the Julia Morgan Tour, and it ended up being my favorite experience yet. The smaller group size made it felt much more personal, and there were plenty of opportunities to ask questions and interact with our guide. Our guide was knowledgeable, engaging, and shared so many interesting stories that I hadn't heard on previous tours. One of the best parts was getting to see areas of the castle that weren't included on the standard tours, which made the visit feel fresh even after multiple trips. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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I was expecting a real "wow" experience, but unfortunately, that never happened. We drove almost four hours just to see what turned out to be an overrated mansion. The one thing I genuinely appreciated was the free parking. After that, the experience went downhill. First, the restrooms at the visitor center were portable toilets rather than permanent facilities. At least they had running water and soap, but on a hot summer day, it wasn't exactly the level of comfort I expected from such a famous attraction. Second, tours leave every 10 minutes, so everything felt rushed. There was barely enough time to look around, admire the architecture, or take photos before we had to move on. Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable, but the staff member walking behind the group to make sure nobody wandered off came across as cold and unfriendly. I'm used to meeting smiling, welcoming people in the U.S., so her attitude really stood out in a negative way. Third, for $35 per person, I expected much more. Places like Winchester Mystery House or Filoli let you experience much more of the property and grounds. Here, I left feeling like I had only seen a small portion of what I had paid for. We also declined the souvenir photo before boarding the bus after seeing the price: $45 for a single photo felt excessive. Finally, the café prices were another disappointment. After a long drive and a walking tour, you at least want to buy a bottle of water without feeling overcharged. Before visiting, I thought I'd probably come back to take another tour and explore more of the estate. After this experience, I have no desire to return. read more

Hearst Castle - Tours Near Me - San Simeon, California

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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. read more

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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! read more

Hearst Castle - Grand entrance - Tours Near Me - San Simeon, California

This review has two parts. For background, this was my fifth visit. Every other one would have been a 5 star. First the tour itself was great, were the prior 4. I've always enjoyed them and the place is simply amazing. I adore the two pools and the outdoor one is spectacular! Now for the second part. In the past 4 tours at the end I've been told that you can wander the grounds at your leisure and take any bus you want to go back to the center. I'm a serious amateur photographer and have ways wandered taking lots of photos. This tour I deliberately didn't take many photos because i ASSUMED I'd have lots of time after the tour. NOT THIS TIME! As soon as the tour was over we were hustled directly on the bus and taken back to the center. There was no opportunity to stay. As serious photographer there's no time on the tour to really take serious photos. I doubt I'll ever go back. read more

Hearst Castle - 2026 View of the outdoor pool. - Tours Near Me - San Simeon, California

Beautiful artwork and the place was beautiful especially the outdoor pool but it was kind of boring and let's not forget all the steps you half to climb it was a struggle and it was so hot no restrooms there and the bus ride took 15mins and it was scary read more

I have been DYING to come here! I tried two years ago, but sadly missed the bus to the top! Finally came back in May of 2026, it was beautiful! Like WOAH! Stupid money, incredible views, history, and sites to see. However, my complaints.. and I don't mean to be this way... but the bathrooms were shut down and there was only porter potties and that was so disappointing and very disgusting. Second, not sure if it was because we had the last tour of the day or what but our tour guide was so sarcastic it felt like he didn't want to be there. His name was Chris or went by Greece, one or the other. Just his vibes were very funky. Anyways, beautiful place! Would love to see the other places on property. We saw the grand rooms! read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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The Castle & land were absolutely beautiful. The ride was nice, smooth & helpful with introducing parts of the vast estate that we passed on our ride up. You have to buy tickets ahead of time or at the entrance. We did the Upstairs Tour, there is only 3 floors accessible to guests so there was a few stair cases but nothing too crazy. Our tour guide was ok at best, she wouldn't really finish her sentences, almost as if she couldn't remember some information. But she was kind. It was pretty quick so we didn't get a chance to look at the gardens more to take pictures. I would suggest taking your time if you can and make the guide wait for you/others because the photoshopped pictures they take prior to your entrance are pretty pricey. $45 for 4 physical prints & 6 digital copies which you can only view after your tour is over since they develop & print them while on your tour. read more

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We did the Grand Rooms Tour, which lasted about 90 minutes and gave us a really good feel for the property. Pro tip #1: Check in right away at the ticket window inside the Visitors Center. You'll get your wristband and instructions on where to board the bus that takes you up to the castle. The 15 bus ride up the mountain to the castle is entertaining and informative in itself. Pro tip #2: Arrive about an hour before your tour time so you can watch the short film about the history of Hearst Castle. It adds context and makes the experience much more meaningful once you're actually walking through the estate. The visitor center itself is comfortable and easy to navigate. There's a coffee stand with snacks, a gift shop, and clean bathrooms. Nice place to cruise while waiting for your allotted time. But don't miss the bus !! The castle tour was entertaining and enjoyable, covering both the exterior grounds and interior rooms, giving us a glimpse into how the ultra-wealthy lived during America's Gilded Age. Built between 1919 and the late 1940s by publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, the estate officially called La Cuesta Encantada ("The Enchanted Hill") was designed with pioneering architect Julia Morgan, the first licensed female architect in California. Hearst filled the property with art and architectural pieces collected from Europe. Apparently Europe made a huge impression on him when he visited as a child. Our tour guide was super chill with a relaxed sense of humor, which made the experience even more enjoyable. He gave us a lot of background and history as the tour went along. Don't forget to tip. Definitely worth a visit and another excuse to visit the beautiful central California coast. Happy Travels!! 19 read more

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. read more

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Nothing can be said that any other reviewer has not already said. It is definitely a destination to behold. One thing I have to stress though. Midway through the tour, when the guide mentions the water fountain, do take a drink. It is the most refreshing water I have ever tasted. When water is described as being crisp, that is what I think of when drinking the Hearst water. read more

Hearst Castle is an amazing experience! Such an epic educational experience. Our tour guide Molly Garner was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. Although you won't find moats or knights or princesses, this is every bit a castle. Highly recommended! read more

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! read more

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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. read more

Hearst Castle - Portable Bathrooms - Tours Near Me - San Simeon, California

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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Come here if you enjoy history and want to experience what it was like in the 1950s to be one of the world's wealthiest elites. Each tour requires a two hour time frame between each, where you must ride the bus up to the castle grounds and back down to the visitor center. Pools are included with each tour. I'd recommend taking a tour in the morning, head to town for lunch, come back for the remaining tour(s). read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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First time 1.5 hr isn't enough Staffs are fast, well informed and friendly Coming once isn't enough Will need to come again If you're afraid of heights, think again though, the bus ride up was crazy and the location is very elevated read more

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I am glad I was able to take my family to this place. It felt like a home they continuously got bigger and bigger as time went by. It felt like it had something from everywhere around the world. I enjoyed our historical tour around the place. They pool itself was an amazing site to see especially the indoor pool where it had some gold on the floor. A lot of good history. We went on a day where it was cloudy and it felt like a castle in the sky was we made it up to the castle. read more

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Beautiful setting. Very fairly priced. Great little outing to take a family. Would highly suggest this if you're looking for an inexpensive yet memorable place to visit. Would return in a pinch. read more

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! read more

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A long overdue review. Went there for 2 tours back in December 2024 and it ended up being an amazing experience at end the year! The tours were Grand Rooms & Upstairs Suites. Both guides were very knowledgeable and the castle itself was breathtaking. I can't believe I have not heard about it & been there before. The most beautiful part was the pool room & the highest room, the "starry" room. The only downside is that maybe the tours need to have a limit on the age of the kids? I understand that it's a family oriented tour, too, but hearing a crying newborn for an hour, while inside the castle and trying to admire the architecture & designs and trying to hear the tour guide, is not the best thing. The crying echoes. read more

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Definitely worth a visit, if you're in the area! Tickets are available online - you should arrive 5-10 minutes before your designed time slot as the bus from the visitor center to the castle leaves at your time slot. We arrived at 9:19 for our 9:20 slot, and got bumped to the 9:40 group. Most people recommend the Grand Rooms tour for your first time - we got to see 3 rooms inside, as well as some of the grounds (Neptune pool, terrace, outside of the cottages). read more

Every time we come to Hearst Castle it's like a different place in time. We've taken a couple tours of different sections of the castle, but my favorite was the kitchen/cottages tour. It's funny they name them cottages when they're literally mini mansions! Lots of photo op spots, and hopefully you get a great tour guide. We got a lady name Janette this time around and she was super knowledgeable. I just wish we had more time to linger and get more pictures. read more

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Took the kids to Hearst Castle. Such a beautiful clear late fall day to come here. The state park is immaculately maintained. The mansion itself is a sight to behold. Really loved the room that was a setting for Harry Potter. The pools are stunning. Apparently you can pay $1k to swim! Really enjoyed the tour of the interior and learning about the history of the Hearst family. read more

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Came to a friend's wedding at Paso Robles. The wedding would be in the evening and we had all day to explore. My partner had never been to the Hearst castle which now a state managed property and it's about 45 min from our hotel, I persuaded him to pay a visit and he thanked me afterwards. The Hearst castle is well known among both the local and international tourist and I was surprised that he had never visited before. His favorite part of the tour was the movie about the history of the castle. The former owner of the castle, Mr. William Rudolph Hearst once owned a movie studio in addition to the nation largest newspaper/radio company, and the castle is equipped with an indoor movie theater; thus, it's well suited to have a high quality film to tell his story. Besides the wealth and fame, Mr. Hearst also had a political career following the foot steps of his father and was once a presidential candidate. Besides the movie, the second best part of the tour was the tour guides who are master storytellers and they could easily transport the visitors back to the time when the castle hosted many socialites including politicians and celebrities with well known names such as Charlie Chaplin and Winston Churchill. I enjoyed the bus rides from the visitor center to the castle and the gorgeous outdoor and indoor swimming pool. The heavy wall hanging tapestries and the church themed decors did not resonate with me; but, standing at the garden, at the top of the hill, surrounded by trees, more hills, and nature; looking far, you could see the coastline and the ocean, that would draw me back. The tour is about 2 hrs; you could plan your visit and the biography movie which is on a repeated schedule. The foods from the cafe are ok. I don't know why it takes so long for them to fix the indoor restrooms; it was under maintenance the last time I visited and still remained closed, so be prepared to use the outside portable potties. If you have more time to spare, do stop by Cambria or the beach on your way back. read more

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It gets 5 stars just for the magnitude of it and what it takes to keep this place tour worthy! It's absolutely massive, everything about it from the sprawling buildings to the huge decor. Columns everywhere, giant statues, church pews, fire places, pools, everything is over the top! We did the Grand Rooms tour, the one suggested for first time visitors and it was wonderful. Our tour guide was amazing, funny and very engaging. We knew very little about William Randolph Hearst before we arrived and we left knowing more than we should!! I highly recommend visiting if you get the chance, it's definitely a bucket list item and we'll probably go back some day for another tour! read more

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I enjoyed. Stunning residence. I lowkey felt the envy of living in such a stunning place. The tour was lovely. Long but so worth it. I was able to get on a tour that was earlier than the tickets I got which was nice. Overall I enjoyed this tour and highly recommend read more

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Absolutely a must see Parking: plenty, some shaded and easy access to entrance Restrooms: poor they are porta potties at the visitor center and non in the castle Visitor center: large area, plenty of places to sit, food options, Souvenirs shop: plenty of options, great items, but pricey. We did find some clearance items. Ticket window: easy to access and print wrist bands. Majority of people order tickets ahead online. Bus: great, our bus driver engaged with is showing us animals and adding facts to the recorded cometary Castle: outstanding. Just make sure to stay on the carpet and to not straggle. I did feel like they rushed us. But the castle is beautiful read more

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