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I’ve been to Nashville a few times and loved every single visit, I never want to leave. Most recently I came with 5 other creators. There was one word or phrase which I heard a few times and stuck in my mind. Nashville is such a vibe!
Nashville didn’t earn the nickname “Music City” from a marketing campaign. A radio DJ said it out loud during a broadcast back in 1950, and it stuck so well that nobody ever changed it.
This list mixes the obvious stops like Broadway, the Grand Ole Opry, the big museums, with a few that take you somewhere stranger: a six-mile drive to walk through a mansion, a bus that drives past graveyards instead of celebrity homes.
I’ve spent a few days in Nashville a few times, and had a blast on each and every visit. This itinerary covers the 15 best things to do in Nashville as well as places to stay and more.
Activities and Itinerary for Nashville, TN – Overview
Most people stay in Nashville for 3 days. Having stayed in town a few times, here’s the perfect sample itinerary I recommend:
- Day 1: Broadway for live music, then the Country Music Hall of Fame before dinner.
- Day 2: National Museum of African American Music, Jefferson Street Sound, then a trolley tour to tie the day together.
- Day 3: Centennial Park and the Parthenon in the morning, then a helicopter tour or a whiskey tasting in the afternoon.
Of course, if you have more time available, you can add a few more, but I think this is a good itinerary you can follow. There’s more to know, so I’ll cover the essentials here below before jumping into the best activities in Nashville, TN. There’s a few ideas in the video below from my first visit:
Are 3 Days in Nashville Enough?
You’ll always want more, three days works well if you stay in or around the downtown area and pick a few things to do instead of rushing around. With three days, you can go to Broadway, see the most popular museums, and pick a couple of tours from Nashville (more information in this guide).
Add a fourth day if you want to enjoy Broadway at night without rushing back for an early start the next morning.
What’s the Best Way to Get Around Nashville?
Downtown Nashville is easy to walk around, especially near Broadway and the museums. The trolley is a good option if you want to rest your legs, and it doesn’t cost much even if you use it a few times a day.
For anything outside downtown, like Centennial Park or Jefferson Street, Uber is your best bet. You only really need a car if you’re staying outside the city centre or planning trips further out.
When’s the Best Time to Visit Nashville?
Spring and autumn have the best weather, not too hot and not too humid. Summer gets busy and hot, especially during festivals, so book your hotel early if you’re going then.
Winter is quieter and cheaper, though some outdoor places like Centennial Park aren’t as nice without the greenery, so do keep that in mind. Most people choose April to June or September to October for good weather without huge crowds.
Where to Stay in Nashville, TN
There are many hotels worth staying at in Memphis, but here below are the best ones you’ll want to consider for one night or more.
If you’d rather pick your own place to stay, you can browse all the hotels on Booking or Expedia and choose the one that suits you best.
Luxury: Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Downtown (Rated 9.8/10)
Mid-Range: DoubleTree by Hilton Memphis Downtown (Rated 8.2)
Budget: La Quinta by Wyndham Memphis (Rated 9.2/10)
For other options, check out this complete guide for hotels in Nashville.
15 Unique Things to Do in Nashville, TN
You could spend a month in Nashville and still find something new on Broadway alone. Fifteen stops won’t cover the whole city, but this list pulls together the ones worth building a trip around, the music history everyone expects plus a handful of spots most people skip without realising what they’re missing.
Enjoy Some Live Music Down Broadway
Broadway is located right in the heart of downtown Nashville, lined with honky-tonks (bars with a dance floor, common in the south) for several blocks between 1st and 5th Avenue. Most bars don’t charge a cover, and live bands play from early afternoon until well past midnight, so you can visit a few without committing to one spot.
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and Robert’s Western World are two of the original names on the strip, but the smaller bars often have just as much talent and fewer crowds. I recommend bringing cash for tips because bands rely on them.
Take it slow if you’re planning to hit more than a few bars in one night.
Catch a Show at Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry started as a radio show in 1925 and still runs today, making it one of the oldest radio programmes in the world. The Opry House sits a bit outside downtown near Opryland, so you’ll need a car or rideshare to get there.
Shows run several nights a week, and ticket prices range from around $40 for the cheapest seats up to $175 or more for premium spots near the stage.
You can also book one of the backstage tours, which normally run during the day and cost only about $40. These tours let you walk where the performers walk without needing a ticket for the show.
Try Some Tennessee Whiskey
Tennessee whiskey isn’t quite bourbon, even though people mix them all the time. The difference comes down to the Lincoln County Process, which is a charcoal filtering step that gives Tennessee whiskey its smoother finish.
If you want to see that process (and taste some amazing Whiskey), head over to Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, in Marathon Village. It’s just outside the downtown area and they offer guided tours most days of the week. They’re generally open from 11am to 6pm or 7pm depending on the day.
Tours last 45 minutes to an hour and finish with a tasting of four pours, and tickets only cost $25 per person for adults, which is a steal for the experience.
See Nashville on a Sightseeing Cruise
This paddlewheel riverboat departs from Riverfront Park at the foot of Broadway. It takes you to the Cumberland River for a relaxed cruise with live narration and music.
It lasts 90 minutes and you can sit inside the Victorian-style dining rooms or out on the promenade deck, with lunch and a full bar available to buy on board.
It’s a good option if you want a slower pace after a day of walking downtown, and it works well for families too. Tickets start at $50 per person which is very affordable, and the boat itself, the Steamer Nashville, is one of only three working steamboats of its kind left in the country.
Join Nashville’s Wildest Honky Tonk Party Bus (21+)
This open-air party bus turns into a rolling dance floor as it drives through downtown Nashville, complete with LED lights, a DJ, and an onboard bartender. That’s as fun as it sounds!
You’ll start and end at the Honky Tonk Hideaway, a private bar with a full menu of drinks, a mechanical bull, and walking tacos worth trying before you board.
The ride lasts nearly 2 hours, with a short stop at Ole Smoky Distillery for moonshine shots along the way. Tickets only cost $35 per person, and you’ll need a valid photo ID since the minimum age is 21. It’s a very popular tour, so I recommend booking as early as possible.
Get Healthy Snacks at Nashville Farmers’ Market
The Nashville Farmers’ Market traces back to the early 1800s, though it’s moved a few times since and you’ll now find it next to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, just north of downtown.
The open-air sheds and indoor Market House are open daily from 8 AM to 6 PM, with vendor hours varying a bit depending on the day.
Entry is free of course, and you only pay for whatever you buy, whether that’s fresh produce, baked goods, or a meal from one of the food stalls inside.
It’s a nice, relaxing stop if you need a break from sightseeing, especially paired with a walk through Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park next door.
Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame
The Country Music Hall of Fame is right in the downtown area, just a short walk from Broadway, and they open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, including weekends.
Inside, there are handwritten lyrics, stage outfits, and instruments tied to some of the genre’s biggest names, including Elvis Presley’s gold Cadillac and a piano covered in gold leaf.
Standard admission cost $32 for adults, with add-ons available for guided tours, a visit to RCA Studio B for another $23, or the historic Hatch Show Print shop for another $23.
Give yourself at least two hours here, but you’ll probably stay more if you want to read every plaque along the way.
Discover the National Museum of African American Music
This museum is inside the Fifth + Broadway development, right in the city centre, and covers more than 50 genres tracing back to African American artists. Gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, hip hop, and many more.
Opening hours run Tuesday to Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM, with shorter hours on Monday and Sunday (the opening times on Sundays and Mondays are 12 PM to 5 PM). General admission costs $33 for adults, though the museum offers free entry on the first Wednesday of every month (though that excludes access to Jubilation!).
Interactive exhibits let you mix beats or record a quick vocal track, and most people spend two to three hours getting through everything.
Visit The Parthenon and Centennial Park
One place you can’t miss on your Nashville itinerary is the Centennial Park, as it has a full-scale copy of the original Parthenon in Athens. That Parthenon was first built in 1897 and later rebuilt with permanent materials.
Inside, there’s a 42-foot statue of Athena, the tallest indoor statue in the country, covered in gold leaf. Standard admission only costs $15 for adults and $10 for children and seniors, with hours that vary by season, so it’s worth checking ahead.
Note that the building has been closed for HVAC renovation work since March 2026, with reopening expected around June 2026, though the park and the exterior stay open the whole time.
Hop on a Trolley Tour
A trolley tour is one of the easiest ways to get around on your first day in Nashville, especially if that’s your first time in town.
The hop-on hop-off route runs through downtown, stopping at major spots like the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Parthenon, and the Tennessee State Capitol, with a guide narrating bits of history along the way. I know it’s touristy, but it’s 100% worth it regardless.
It’s not very cheap, as the tickets start at $54 per person, but they stay valid all day, so you can hop off, explore, and catch a later trolley without buying another ticket. Definitely cheaper than getting around on an Uber or taxi.
The full loop takes about 90 minutes if you stay on board the whole time.
Tour the Tennessee State Capitol
If you’ve seen state capitols in the USA before, Tennessee’s might not be the most impressive, but it’s nice to include as a stop, and you get a nice view of the downtown area.
Built between 1845 and 1859, it’s one of the older working state capitols in the country and still houses the governor’s office and the state legislature. Both admission and guided tours are completely free, with tours running Monday to Friday almost every hour from 9 AM to 3 PM, starting at the information desk.
James K. Polk, the only U.S. president buried on capitol grounds, is laid to rest right outside.
Stop by the Jefferson Street Sound Museum
If you plan to pass or spend a few hours in North Nashville, make sure to include the Jefferson Street Sound Museum.
It shows a side of the city’s music history that doesn’t get nearly enough attention. Long before Broadway became the centre of the music scene in Nashville, Jefferson Street was where Black artists like Jimi Hendrix, Etta James, and Little Richard built their early careers, often performing in clubs that don’t exist anymore.
The downside is that the museum opens only on Saturdays from 11 AM to 4 PM, with weekday visits by appointment. Admission runs $20 for adults and $15 for children, seniors, and military.
Learn About Plantations at the Belle Meade Historic Mansion
Belle Meade is about six miles from downtown Nashville and ranks among the best plantations in the state to visit, thanks to its 1853 Greek Revival mansion. It’s also very well maintained.
The guided tour runs about 45 minutes and covers the house and the family history behind it, followed by a complimentary wine tasting at the on-site winery.
You’re free to explore the arboretum, the historic outbuildings, and the thoroughbred horse farm at your own pace. Guided tours cost $33 per person, and it’s worth setting aside at least two hours total to see everything.
See Celebrity Homes in Nashville
This two-hour bus tour rides through some of Nashville’s most upscale neighbourhoods, with a guide pointing out the homes, past and present, of names like Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, and Reese Witherspoon.
Along the way, you’ll also pass the Second Avenue Historic District, the State Capitol, and the Ryman Auditorium. The bus departs from Riverfront Train Station, and tickets start around $70 per person. More expensive than other things to do in Nashville, but worth it if you’re into this type of stuff.
Note that some homes are located well back from the road behind trees, so it’s more about the stories and the neighbourhoods than close-up views of the houses themselves.
Take a Ghost Bus Tour
And finally, one of the most unique things to do in Nashville TN, a ghost bus tour! This two-hour tour mixes ghost stories with real true crime history. You’ll stay in the downtown areas on a themed bus, stopping at spots like the Union Station Hotel, Printer’s Alley, the Tennessee State Capitol, and Nashville City Cemetery.
You’ll check in at the Green Light Bar before boarding, where food and drinks are available to bring on board with you. It will be a little spooky at times, but that’s the fun part! Plus, it only costs $50 per person.
Final Thoughts
Fifteen stops give you plenty of options for a long weekend, but you don’t need to visit all of them. And make sure you leave some free time to just explore, soak up the Nashville vibes (and oh does it have vibes?) and grab a beer on Broadway. For the rest of the trip, pick a handful that match what you actually want out of it: maybe a few nights on Broadway, or a quieter run through museums and a mansion tour.
Build the rest of your schedule around those and skip the pressure to fit everything in. The sample itinerary above gives a solid starting point, and Nashville works just as well at a slow pace as it does packed end to end.
Let me just say this, Nashville Music City, what a vibe.