I had not visited the park since I was 11 years old but I wanted my teenager to experience its beauty. She brought her camera and we were treated to a fun tour on a beautiful day. Our tour guide was an engaging storyteller and helped us imagine what life might have been like during the castle's heydey. The views are exquisite and that includes the architecture and artwork indoors. As documented in previous posts, the bathrooms are under renovation so you have to use porta potties outside the center. You cannot bring any food or drink on the bus or walking tour other than bottled water so be prepared to eat before or after your visit. My daughter was so impressed she would like to return for different tours. read more

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I can easily say this castle was one of the most beautiful castles I have ever seen. Everything was amazing, pool, architecture and decoration. People in visitor center were very nice and friendly. They were very helpful in explaining how the tours work and what to expect. This castle has a gift shop too. Store employees were very nice and friendly. They have really nice merchandises to purchase and take home as souvenirs. I would highly recommend visiting the pool and taking pictures. It is very beautiful and out of this world. I agree with other reviewers California State has to do better job in providing restroom to the visitors. Parking is free and there is plenty of parking spaces. read more

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Great tours (we went on 2). Porta-potties? Food service terrible. Pack a lunch if you're planning a morning and afternoon tour. Overpriced food, small portions, bored or impatient servers. We are vegetarian, so very few choices.... AND they were out of two of them (mac and cheese and bean-potato-cheese breakfast burrito. Black bean burgers or garden salad... both seriously overpriced. Is it so hard to make tuna salad sandwiches? Egg salad? Fish burger? If it's too far to drive back to San Simeon or Cambria between tours, you're stuck eating there. If we'd known, we would have brought our own lunch. Be forewarned! read more

Nice and well maintained visitor center. We got there earlier than our tour time, so we had a chance to walk around the visitor center, there's a small museum, snacks bar and coffee, as well as souvenirs shop. Parking is free and lot of parking spaces read more

Hearst Castle Visitor Center - Visitor Centers Near Me - San Simeon, California

So may cool things to look and learn from the Hearst Castle visitors center. Informational books and lota of souvenirs to choose from. There's food and drinks but you cannot take it up to the actual tour. So there's plenty of time to shop but I'd wait until the end of the tour so you don't has to carry your stuff around on the tour. read more

Hearst Castle Visitor Center - Visitor Centers Near Me - San Simeon, California

Visitor center was nice, employees friendly. Can watch a movie about history while waiting for bus if you Come early or stay after. Renovating bathrooms so had to use porta potty's outside but overall nice I hope one day when I get to old to go camping I can make a castle too read more

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If I could rate this place a 0 I would. My sister requires an ADA tickets yet they were sold out. That is not the problem because that is out of the Visitor Centers control. My mother went on the phone with a lady who told us all the ways we could still go to the castle with me sister the day before we came. We got to the Visitor Center and immediately were told out because of "false information". So disappointing that ADA is still unavailable in 2026. read more

The Hearst Castle Visitor Center is the gateway to visit the castle, but is an attraction in its own right, having a lot of displays and things to do for free. Because we ended up coming about an hour before our scheduled tour, we had to opportunity to tour the center and take part in some activities. The visitor center is hard to miss from the PCH, and has a large, free parking lot, some of which is covered by solar panels (with charging station spots for EVs). It is well organized inside once you enter, with a door guide directing you to the ticket area to either purchase tickets or pick up your pre-purchased. You will then get a wristband for every member of your party, which contains a barcode that is scanned for the two activities that require a ticket (the castle tour and the movie). The center is operated by the California State Parks and consists of two parts, with an outdoor space in between. The main center has museums, display rooms, a large dining area with multiple casual restaurants and snack bars, and a large gift shop. Due to the water conservation efforts, all the internal bathrooms were closed with outdoor chemical porta potties taking their place. The second area houses the theater with its foyer having a large display area where this day, 3 of the intricate tapestries were shown. Helpful guides were all around, willing to answer any questions. We ended up visiting a large room with a full wall tapestry laid out for very close viewing. There is also a small museum, displaying more small pieces of art from the collection. (Saw a sign that said the following: "PLEASE TOUCH THE OBJECTS IN THIS ROOM Satisfy your curiosity about these materials and help preserve Hearst Castle by touching nothing but the handrails on your tour"... confusing). To actually visit the residence, you must be part of a guided tour, taking a bus up the 1,600 feet climb during a 10 minute ride on a non-public road. Note only drinking water is allowed up in the castle, no food or soft drinks/coffee. There are three gates queuing up tour takers, and your wristband will tell you which one. Because we were part of the ADA Grand Rooms tour, we got a special bus that took us up to a different starting area. After the tour, we were transported back by the same bus and were barely able to catch the 3:45 showing after our 2 pm tour. Donald Sutherland and Lydia Hearst (great-grand-daughter) narrated and it had great production value, better than most. It really made you feel how a guest must have felt being invited, and what their experience might have been like. The theater itself is very modern, with steep theater seating...every seat is good. I believe seeing the movie first before seeing the castle is more enlightening (and would save you asking questions to the guide), thus would recommend coming to the center about 60 to 90 minutes beforehand. For 2025, the movie plays every 45 minutes, starting at 9 am. It was definitely worth it, especially if one is not very familiar with the Hearst story. The center closes at 5:00 pm. read more

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Definitely a bucket list! It's a great experience, I've lived California my whole life and had never been here. Beautiful coastal towns surround the area. The history of Hearst Castle is very interesting very informative dip into his life, lifestyle and history of the land. Don't forget to check out the fresh Hearst Beef and the winery. Buy 2 bottles and get your tasting for Free. read more

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Don't get me wrong...the actual castle and the tour were certainly a 5. I'm rating the visitor center a 3 because they had no actual restrooms and only offered Porto-potties. They were asking for all these donations and honestly the tours were pretty expensive but yet didn't offer that to guests. I will say that I loved our bus driver and definitely recommend following his recommendation of visiting the Seal Beach area that's only a 5 minute drive away. read more

Hearst Castle Visitor Center - Visitor Center - Visitor Centers Near Me - San Simeon, California

Great tour and great hosts that were very helpful during our entire visit! Would strongly recommend if your in the area doing on of these tours! read more

Hearst Castle Visitor Center - Outdoor pool - Visitor Centers Near Me - San Simeon, California

One of the most beautiful and breathtaking places to visit, right here in California. It truly is a masterpiece that everyone should see in person. I highly recommend visiting their website for ticket prices and tour dates/times. I always plan to make an entire day visiting the castle. I recommend buying 2 separate tour tickets if you want to see the entire place. Here is a breakdown of a full day that has worked for me and pointers: *Parking on site at the Visitor Center. Parking is free. *All tours start at the Visitor Center. If you didn't buy tickets online you can buy them in person. *Restrooms have been out of service for a while now in the Visitor Center, but there are port-a potties outside before you enter. * Gift shop / restaurant inside. * If you have time to kill before or after your tour, check out the small museum inside. *Only way up and down to the castle is by shuttle buses that pick you up from the visitor center at your designated tour times. *Start your first tour with the bottom half of the castle. *Upon returning to the Visitor Center, grab a bite to eat and catch the movie inside the theater (on-site at the Visitor Center) , to watch the history behind how the castle was built and life story of William Hearst. *Start the second tour with the upstairs portion of the castle. *Take lots of pictures and wear comfy shoes because there is lots of stairs and walking. Enjoy!!! read more

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Indoor Bathrooms are out of order at the visitor center. They provide portable outhouses in front of the visitor center. On the tour there maybe one or two to use but it makes one look foolish to the rest of crowd. Besides the castle tour, there is a Hearst state beach with a dock you can visit on the opposite side of highway 1. But its bathroom is out too. It's not too long to drive from hearst castle to Morro bay where there is a little bit more to do when vacationing. read more

Hearst Castle is world class. The visitor center bathrooms, however, are apparently being run by the California Department of Excuses. Restrooms? Closed. Alternative? Dirty porta-potties that smell like failure, despair, and several poor decisions made by over paid politician I am sure And the explanation? Water conservation Yes, this tourist center is where California decided to draw the line. Not private jets, not million dollar lawns. My bladder is the real environmental threat. Let me get this straight: I'm supposed to believe that shutting down real bathrooms here is saving water, while Nancy Pelosi and Gavin Newsom are somehow living water-neutral lifestyles in their mansions? Be serious. Honestly, this one's on me. I should've arrived with rock bottom expectations knowing this is a state run tourist location. The castle is majestic. The policies are peak Sacramento logic. Nothing says "welcome" like being told to either suffer or hold it for the planet. Pro tip: Use the restroom before you arrive. California already has enough crap to deal with no need to add yours to a porta potty. read more

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This was my third time coming to Hearst Castle and it's always a pleasure. Location: Its off the CA - 1 Highway, parking is onsite and free. I recommend coming 10-15 min before your scheduled tour to park and get in line for the bus. They leave promptly at your scheduled tour time. Venue: There is free parking as well the Tesla charging stations. We walked in and there's a little cafe on the left and the gift shop on the right. They also have a small restaurant that opens at 11. Tour: We lined up exactly at tour time and were shuffled onto the bus. They provide a little intro during the ride up. Plenty of cows on the rolling hills to pass along the way. The guide was fantastic and he also had a guide at the back herding the group. His name was Spencer. Spectacular. My friend had a headache and needed water. He escorted her to the nearest fountain. I love our main guide. He was informative and had dry hilarious jokes. We did the Grand Room tour. Like I said it was my third time and it never gets old. The history and architecture. Love it. read more

Hearst Castle Visitor Center - Visitor Centers Near Me - San Simeon, California

I haven't been to Hearst Castle in over 20 years so it was nice to bring my kids to visit this time around. We did the ADA tour and it was great! I booked the 2:00 pm tour in advance and they all seemed ready for our arrival - I kind of felt like a VIP! We brought lunch with us and had a picnic before our tour on one of the tables outside in the rear of the visitors center, with telescopes available to see Hearst Castle in the distance. We checked in at the ticket booth, and when we arrived to the boarding area, they were ready for us with a wheelchair accessible bus. Our bus driver was super nice, he apparently used to work at the Jungle Cruise ride at Disneyland when he went to college in S. CA. The bus plays a recording on the way up (and also on the ride down) that talks about Mr. Hearst and the history of the castle. When we arrived at the top about 10 minutes later, we met our awesome tour guide who was waiting for us with a wheelchair accessible golf cart type of little car. He drove us around to different parts of the home and told us all about it, and answered all our questions. We were able to get out to see the great room, the kitchen, the indoor and outdoor pools, a short film in the theatre. After the tour was over, we watched the video back at the visitor's center (included in the ticket price), which was interesting. I recommend it if you have time! This tour experience was way better than when I went the first time. Currently the bathrooms are not working so there are porta-potties in front of the visitor's center for your use - they even have wheelchair accessible ones, and one for diaper changes. read more

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This review is for Restroom specific. We visited Hearst Castle during the pandemic and the restrooms were closed. The outhouse were used which understandable. We went back again last week and the restrooms are still closed. The outhouse are still in used. Not sure if restrooms are ging to be opened for guests anytime soon. read more

Hearst Castle Visitor Center - Visitor Centers Near Me - San Simeon, California

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You have to be on a tour to see inside the castle. There are guides that tell you about all the history and bring you to different places on different levels, so you don't have to climb all the stairs at once. Yay. It is beautiful and has a lot of history. Go see the free movie below you leave. read more

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This is a nice visitor center with great natural light. It's really pretty inside. There is a lot of information about the castle and cute shops and food places where you can grab a tasty bite. We enjoyed a quick breakfast from one of multiple places serving food and had a pleasant walk and look around. The only negative is that there were no bathrooms available inside and they were directing people outside to porta-potties. To be fair, they were clean for porta-potties but it's just not ideal and we were there in the morning and it was already warm so I imagine it gets very unpleasant in the heat. read more

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Such a cool visitor center with so many things to see and buy. There are some interactive signs to read about the history of the Hearst Castle and the family who owns it. Definitely a great read and educational. There is also a movie/film you can pay for that shows you all about the history if you prefer watching than reading. Gift store is huge and has lots of great stuff to purchase. Lots of sale racks and other merchandise that is pretty reasonable. The lady at the front desk/information kiosk was great and gave us some tips for our visit. The lady who processed our tickets was also great and let us know some exclusive information and her experience working at the castle. Such a cool educational center with a bunch of information that will prep you for your tour. read more

So much to see, excellent guides Spencer and Susan, answered many questions. Easy to purchase tickets and with a free movie about William Randolph Hearst. The bus was quick withy the driver pointing out interesting spots and animals. read more

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The bus driver was great (funny and great driving). The tour guide was great. The tour was about an hour and a half including the bus ride up and down. The guide was funny and informative and patient. We did the grand rooms tour and cant wait to go back and do other ones. Purchasing the tickets online and checking in in person was easy. The gift shop was cute. Had some weird stuff but also a lot of really applicable souvenirs too. Not too expensive. There are also places for snacks and drinks in the visitor center. Oh and pressed Pennys! read more

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Before visiting Hearst Castle, you have to go through the Visitor Center. After checking on the prices and schedule, I decided to walk around the visitor center first. I actually didn't have time to go. Because I have to drive back to San Jose before sunset. I thought it was a self-guided tour. But no. It takes 30 minutes to ride up to the castle and take an hour for one tour in one part of the building. Then, take another half hour to ride down the hill. Yeah, not for afternoon crowds. I spent half hour contemplating while window shopping at the gift shop and spent another 20 minutes watching the introductory movie, where I fell asleep most parts. Thanks for sharing the story though. Hearst Castle is not for me. If I want to visit rich people's houses, I don't need to come all the way to this remote town. I have been thinking about coming here as my hubby mentioned so many times when we lived in San Jose. I'm glad I came here on my own. I might be back but it has to be a morning tour when I can stay in a nearby town. read more

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Be sure to arrive early to check out the visitor center. There's a museum to check out and so much information to read. I arrived 30mins early before my tour and I didn't have enough time to check out everything so arrive earlier or stay later after your tour if you're going on any of the tours. read more

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This review is for the gift shop. We had a horrible experience with the sales associate Jennifer and her manager. We bought a snow globe first, but want to change to a new one. The manager came out and helped us "return" the old one and then charged us with the new one. When we got to the parking lot, some fellow visitors chased us down and told us that "the two ladies were laughing after you guys left". Because they charged us TWICE for the old globe and charged again for the new one. We went back right away to ask the manager about what happened. And this is her words -"we were expecting you will come back to fix this". We can't believe this - it's scum 101 but we never expected this from a gift store at Hearst castle. We still enjoyed our trip since our guide was very knowledgeable and lovely. And we appreciate the fellow visitors to let us know before we drove off. I can't say anything positive about the gift store management team though. read more

Hearst Castle Visitor Center - Manager expected us to go back to fix that she charged us several times more. - Visitor Centers Near Me - San Simeon, California

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FYI, be advised restrooms currently closed. Porta-potties in front of building and in parking lot.

TOUR WAS TO BE EXPECTED! We had a great time! BUT, what I want to touch base on what was the HEIGHT of our visit! I can sum it up in 3 words.... HEARST. RANCH. CHEESEBURGER. Our grill cook ASHER set the tone for our entire time at the castle with what could be described as one of THE BEST BURGER EVER; HANDS DOWN! The attention to detail was dearly noted .... THANK YOU ASHER! You are a TRUE grill cook! read more

It was quite a long time ago since we toured the Hearst Castle so we signed up for the Grand Rooms Tour. This was the tour they recommended for all first time visitors but we decided we needed a refresher. While waiting for the bus to depart from the visitor center, they have a gift shop and small cafe to visit. The bathrooms were temporarily closed so porta potties were deployed outside. We sat on the right side of bus and had some nice views as it drove to/from Hearst Castle. The Grand Tour lasted around 70 minutes. Our guide made it enjoyable by sharing a lot of detail about every stop. The first visit was to the outdoor terrace with an expansive view towards the Pacific Ocean and up to Casa Del Sol, one of the "smaller" guest houses. Next visit was the huge outdoor Neptune Pool. We proceed through the well cultivated gardens and then stood in front of the main entrance, which was now closed to preserve the floor mosaic. After entering through a side entrance our guide took us through five rooms that Los included the dining room with a table that ran almost the entire length of the room. Check out the mustard and ketchup bottles which were an everyday day staple! The final stop was the indoor pool which was quite beautiful and ornate. Next time we will visit the upstairs rooms or take one of the other tour options. read more

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My family and I had an excellent experience at the Hearst Castle - Twilight Tour on 12/26/24. My Mom recently had knee replacement surgery and was using a cane. She thought she could do the stairs on the tour. Once we got the tour, we were asked if she would like to avoid the stairs and while she was willing, Mom was glad to skip the stairs. We were introduced to Phillip who carted us through out the tour and made our tour a 5 Star experience. He drove us to meet up with our tour and provided fun facts and made it personalized to us. I was delighted to learn there were chairs through out the tour my Mom could sit in as well. Phillip offered to take pictures of us and made us feel like VIP's. We are so thankful for the experience and look forward to returning soon. read more

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You will need to go to Hearst castle visitor center to book a tour. They will take you on a shuttle to the Hearst castle itself, once you book your tour. There are plenty of EV charging stations here. And wineries nearby that are dog friendly. read more

Hearst Castle Visitor Center - Outside Entrance to Hearst Castle Visitor Center - Visitor Centers Near Me - San Simeon, California

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Visitors center is the gateway to touring the famous Hearst Castle. It includes a gift shop, restaurant, the museum, and a theater which features "Building the Dream", a 40min depiction of the history of the castle and WRH himself. The museum was fun as we could get up close and personal with some of the architecture of the castle. Was fun to see the various ventures he was involved in and the Hollywood crowd he liked to hang out with. The theater is huge - 5 stories IMAX style. We were the only ones in there to watch the biopic, so I'm not sure if it is a popular spot or not. Some frustrations. Several signs advertising fresh fudge as well as Hearst beef, but there was none, and no employees at the station to ask about it. Bathrooms are closed so you're needing to use the portable toilets outside. Hopefully they're doing some amazing remodeling of the lavatories. read more

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Worth the visit, I did the grand rooms tour and it was great! Pros: - This is a pretty stunning place to visit, not only for the buildings and architecture but also the history! - Bus ride up had a nice informational introduction to the site - Plenty of parking in the lot - Lots of great history to learn - Loved the free movie that really delved into Heart's history - I was late to my allotted tour time, but it was easy enough to change to the next available time - Tour guides were very knowledgeable and friendly - Visitor center had a very large gift shop as well as food, though it was closed when I visited in the afternoon - The views alone are worth the visit! Cons: - The bathroom were under construction when I visited, leaving only a few stinky porta potties in front of the visitor center entrance - Since it was a state park, to purchase a tour ticket you had to create an account with the state park website, which was a bit of a clunky process - There isn't so much walking that you want to die, BUT if you have difficulty standing for at least an hour, this may not be the place for you to visit. Depending on your tour there is quite a bit of walking, stairs, etc. - Museum hands. If you are bringing children, it's important to emphasize not to touch anything! Even the floors are protected, so be aware of where you are standing, stepping, touching. Would I come again? Sure, maybe for another tour read more

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A rich source of history and architectural wonder. We highly recommend the dream tour to see the intricate architectural design and to hear the beginnings of this magnificent historical castle. read more

Hearst Castle Visitor Center - Visitor Centers Near Me - San Simeon, California

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Christmas Lights at the Hearst Castle, wow. Twilight Tour about an 35 minutes outside the house and an 45 minutes inside, not timed -estimated. We parked with relative ease but it wasn't clear where to go next so we asked folks coming out...the Visitor center of course. Okay got it...once inside you walk to the line to get your wrist band which is later scanned to get onto the bus. I was glad it was an evening tour this wait could have been kinda long so arriver a good 30 minutes ahead if your on a daytime tour. I saw a place to get some coffee or beverage, they are very strict and you are reminded several times of the rules for the tour, water only. Good tour, historical highlights and explanations, questions are encouraged. This was an evening "Holiday" tour, I've been several times. The huge Christmas trees and sparse decorations create a theme of opulence and technology of the time, Electric Christmas lights were a new thing then. I enjoyed seeing the kitchen and swimming pools and before I knew it we were at the bus pick up point. It all was just enough for me, so I was pleased. If you're going for the first time I recommend two tours with resting time between. Its a walking tour and stairs are included but not too many for this older guy. Enjoy. foodguy-Martin read more

We did the great rooms and grounds tour. As my friends had booked the tour, I didn't really have any expectations. You park at the visitor center and are bussed up this steep, windy road to the top where the "castle" is at. The whole tour is guided and there are lots of handlers making sure you stay with the group and don't stand or touch anything you aren't supposed to. The tour itself was interesting and the architecture and grounds and history are pretty interesting. I would definitely recommend doing it at least once, but I wouldn't feel the need to go back for another visit. read more

Hearst Castle Visitor Center - Visitor Center - Visitor Centers Near Me - San Simeon, California

This is where you'll stop driving...and it's not the 'castle' either. No pools here. All those pictures are of the actual community up top. Porta potties out in the parking lot- use them if need be. The indoor restrooms have been closed since what appears to be at least 2016 based upon other Yelp reviews and they do not look to open soon. (Drought) This seems to be a gathering point to keep people out of the 'castle'/community up the hill. No loitering up top but relax and chill at the visitor center. That being said, it's not the set of buildings Hearst had built. The California State Park system has taken over and you gather in groups of paid tours to hop on buses and listen to Alex Trebek recordings about William Randolph Hearst's life here. We ended up doing that twice a day for a couple days and towards the end could recite what Alex was about to say just before it came over the speakers. Food and drink also stops right here. One can purchase a Hearst beef burger or some (relatively) local Firestone brew. Only bottled water is allowed beyond the gates to where you'd jump on one of three buses based upon the tour you purchased. There's also a movie theater showing a ~45 min flick about the place. read more

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One of the most beautiful properties I have ever seen. The castle will take you back in time. Opulence and luxury were the focus of architectural plans and not necessarily driven by budgets. In fact, budgets were non-existent when it came to the finest art purchased for the property or the craftsmen hired to build. It would be best to visit this castle on a clear day. We had the misfortune of going when it was cloudy and rainy and you could not see the ocean from the property. I'm sure the view would have been spectacular. read more

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Our visit to Hearst Castle was nothing short of spectacular. The castle itself is a magnificent testament to the grandeur of the 20th century, with every room more breathtaking than the last. The architecture, the views, and the historical significance of the place are awe-inspiring, and we left feeling as though we had just scratched the surface. We'd love to come back to explore more rooms by taking one of the other tours they offer, as it seems there's so much more to discover! Our guide for the day, V, was fantastic. She was knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about the history of Hearst Castle. She took the time to answer questions and provided us with interesting anecdotes about the rooms, the art, and the people who once inhabited the estate. Her storytelling made the experience feel more personal and immersive. However, there was a bit of drama during our tour that was hard to ignore. Our group, which was made up of about 50+ people, was moving through the rooms at a relaxed pace. V was doing a great job sharing the history and details of each space when, unexpectedly, another tour guide -- who was leading a small private group -- barged into the room, talking loudly over V. She didn't just interrupt; she started making comments about how "long" V was taking, implying we were behind schedule. As visitors, we honestly didn't feel like we were delayed at all. If we were behind, it might have been 2-5 minutes at most, which is hardly worth drawing attention to. But this other guide continued to speak over V, seemingly trying to take control of the space, and it just felt rude. It disrupted the experience for our entire group. If her goal was to make V look bad, she didn't achieve it -- if anything, it made her come across as unprofessional and petty, while V handled the situation with grace and kept her composure. In the end, it was an unfortunate moment in what would otherwise have been a perfect experience. But despite the distraction, Hearst Castle remains one of the most incredible places we've visited, and V was an outstanding guide. We'd definitely come back to see more and hopefully experience a little less drama next time! read more

Time for some history and this star park was interesting. You catch a bus to the top of hill where we took your one. Such opulence and crazy money spent on frivolous things! Found the tour very interesting and the guide, Camille knew her stuff. Yes, we will return for the kitchen tour. read more

Hearst Castle Visitor Center - Heading up to the castle - Visitor Centers Near Me - San Simeon, California

FYI This review is for the visitor center - not the castle itself or the tour. The visitor center isn't great. When we visited last week, they were working on the bathrooms, so the only bathrooms were porta potties outside (they were also really gross - I thought about using one only to change my mind when I saw the condition inside the one I opened. They have a cafe with very basic options. It needs an update for sure - for such a fancy, cool, amazing spot, I wish their visitor center matched just a little of the grandeur of the castle! Three stars just because everyone was nice, it had a view of the castle all the way up on the hill, and it had some information about the history of the castle you can read while you wait for your shuttle. read more

Hearst Castle Visitor Center - Visitor Centers Near Me - San Simeon, California