Nashville surprised me. I expected honky tonks and cowboy hats — and there are plenty of both — but what I actually found was a city with genuine heart. Live music spills from every doorway, the food is brilliant, and you don’t need a full week to feel like you’ve done it justice. Whether you’re a country music devotee or simply curious, Nashville earns its place on any American road trip. Here’s everything you actually need to know before you go.
🏨 Looking for where to stay? Compare Nashville hotels on Booking.com — I recommend basing yourself in The Gulch or downtown for easy access to Broadway.
📍 Planning a wider American road trip? Nashville pairs beautifully with a few days in Philadelphia or San Diego.”
The Top 10 Things to Do in Nashville
Table of Contents
1. Walk Broadway — Nashville’s Honky Tonk Highway
Broadway is the beating heart of the city: a stretch of neon-lit live music venues where bands play from mid-morning until the early hours. Most bars have free entry. Yes, free. Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and Robert’s Western World are the legends — get there early if you want a spot at the bar. Even if country music isn’t your usual playlist, the energy here is something else entirely.
💡 Tip: Go on a weekday afternoon if you want to actually have a conversation without shouting over the music. Weekend evenings are electric but packed.
2. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
This is not just for superfans. The exhibitions are beautifully curated — real instruments, original costumes, and stories that trace country music from its Appalachian roots to today’s stadium artists. Give it at least two hours. It’s genuinely one of the best music museums I’ve walked through.
🎟️ Book your Country Music Hall of Fame tickets via GetYourGuide to skip the queue. It fills up, especially in summer.
3. Ryman Auditorium — The Mother Church of Country Music
The Ryman is one of the most iconic music venues in the world. Even if you can’t catch a show, the self-guided tour is worth every penny. The acoustics are extraordinary, and the list of performers who’ve stood on that stage — from Hank Williams to Johnny Cash to Elvis — will give you goosebumps.
🎸 Check live show dates and book Ryman Auditorium tickets here via GetYourGuide. Evening shows sell out weeks ahead.
🎶 If you would like to do a backstage tour then you can book a backstage tour here before you arrive.
4. Grand Ole Opry
The world’s longest-running live radio broadcast and a true piece of American history. The show format — multiple artists, a few songs each — is uniquely Nashville and genuinely charming. Book well ahead, especially for weekend performances. If you love the idea of seeing Nashville legends alongside rising new talent on the same night, this is your evening sorted.
🎶 Book Grand Ole Opry tickets in advance. Backstage tours are also available if you want to go behind the curtain.
5. Johnny Cash Museum
Compact, beautifully presented, and quietly moving. Whether you grew up listening to Cash or only know “Ring of Fire,” this museum tells a story that goes far beyond country music. The curators have done this with obvious love. Don’t rush it — it’s smaller than you might expect, but dense with detail.
6. The Bluebird Cafe
This is where Nashville’s next big names get discovered — an intimate listening room where songwriters perform their own material in-the-round, seated, up close. The rule is simple: no talking during performances. The audience here comes to actually listen, and that makes all the difference. Reservations are essential and fill quickly.
7. Nashville Hot Chicken — Because You Have To
Hot chicken is a genuine Nashville institution. Hattie B’s is the most famous name and the queue moves fast; Prince’s Hot Chicken is the original, dating back to the 1940s. Order medium first unless you have a very high spice tolerance — the “hot” here is not a marketing exercise. Served on white bread with pickles. Simple, brilliant, and absolutely worth the effort.
8. The Gulch
Nashville’s trendiest neighbourhood is walkable, photogenic, and home to some of the city’s best restaurants and cocktail bars. The Instagram wings mural is here if you’re after content, but the neighbourhood itself is more interesting than any photo opportunity. While you’re here, pop into Rustler Hat Co. — they’ll steam and shape a cowboy hat to your exact head right on the spot (more on that in the bonuses below). Go for an evening out — the food scene here is genuinely excellent.
📍 If you love discovering a city through its food, you’ll enjoy my guide to San Diego’s food scene too.
9. Centennial Park and the Parthenon
Nashville has a full-scale replica of the Parthenon. Built in 1897 for Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition, it now houses an art museum and a 13-metre replica of the goddess Athena. The surrounding park is peaceful and beautiful — a genuine break from the bustle of Broadway. Worth half an hour, easily.
10. East Nashville
Cross the Cumberland River and you’re in a completely different city. East Nashville is where locals eat breakfast, drink excellent coffee, browse vintage shops, and live without an agenda. It’s unpretentious, creative, and the best place to go if you want to experience Nashville beyond the tourist trail. Wander, sit, stay longer than planned
Bonus Experiences: If You Have Extra Time
The top 10 will keep you busy, but if you have a spare day or simply want to go deeper, these four are worth every minute.
Bonus 1. Day Trip to the Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Lynchburg
About 90 minutes south of Nashville, the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg is one of the most visited distilleries in the world — and for good reason. The tour takes you through the original cave spring, the barrel warehouses, and the charcoal mellowing process that makes Tennessee whiskey distinct from bourbon. It’s genuinely fascinating even if you’re not a big whiskey drinker. Book ahead; the popular tasting tours sell out.
🥃 Book your Jack Daniel’s Distillery tour via GetYourGuide to secure your spot. You’ wont need a car for this one if you decide to go one a tour.
Bonus 2. Have Your Cowboy Hat Steamed and Shaped at Rustler Hat Co.
This is one of those experiences that sounds like a tourist gimmick until you’re actually sitting in the chair. Rustler Hat Co. in The Gulch is the real deal — they steam your hat and mould it to your exact head shape, brim angle, and crown preference right in front of you. You can walk in or book a session, and they also do private group bookings if you’re travelling with friends. The result is something that fits properly and looks like yours, not like a souvenir. Pair it with a stop at one of The Gulch’s bars afterwards and you’ll feel very Nashville about the whole thing.
Bonus 3. Buy a Proper Pair of Boots
If there’s one purchase to make in Nashville, it’s boots. The city has some of the best boot shops in the country, from heritage brands to bespoke makers. Boot Barn is the accessible crowd-pleaser with a huge range; if you want something more considered, Katy K’s Ranch Dressing in East Nashville has a brilliant vintage and custom selection. Budget more time than you think — trying boots is unexpectedly absorbing.
Bonus 4. Walk Music Row
Music Row — 16th and 17th Avenue South — is where the business of country music actually happens. Sony Music, Universal Music Group, RCA Studio B, and dozens of smaller labels and recording studios are clustered along these two streets. From the outside it looks deceptively ordinary, but knowing what goes on behind those doors makes it genuinely interesting to walk. RCA Studio B is open for tours and is where Elvis, Dolly Parton, and Roy Orbison recorded — that one is worth booking in advance.
🎙️ Book the RCA Studio B tour via GetYourGuide — one of the most atmospheric music history experiences in Nashville.
Before You Go: Practical Essentials
🚗 Nashville is most enjoyable with a car, especially for getting to the Opry and East Nashville. Compare car rental prices with DiscoverCars — I use them for every US trip.
🩺 Travel insurance is non-negotiable in the US, where medical costs are significant. I use SafetyWing — affordable, reliable, and designed for travellers.
✈️ Visiting from outside the US? Check your visa or ESTA requirements at iVisa — straightforward and quick to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nashville worth visiting if I don’t listen to country music?
Genuinely, yes. Nashville’s food scene, neighbourhoods, street art, and warmth as a city make it worth visiting regardless of your music taste. Broadway is fun even without a single country song in your playlist. Think of it as a city that happens to also have extraordinary music.
How do you get around Nashville without a car?
Downtown and The Gulch are very walkable. For Broadway to the Opry, you’ll want a ride-share (Uber and Lyft both operate well here). Renting a car is worth it if you want to explore East Nashville or reach the Opry at your own pace — DiscoverCars is my go-to for comparing prices.
What time does Broadway actually come alive?
Bands start playing from around 10am and the bars stay open until 3am. Midday is surprisingly lively; evenings are packed. If you want the full atmosphere without fighting for a spot, aim for early evening on a weekday. Weekends from 8pm onwards are a proper crowd.
Can you do Nashville on a tight budget?
More easily than most US cities. Most bars on Broadway have free live music — you’re just paying for your drinks. The Centennial Park and Parthenon are free. Hot chicken at Prince’s is affordable. Where the budget stretches is accommodation, which has become pricier in recent years — book early and look slightly outside downtown for better value.
What’s the one thing most visitors miss in Nashville?
East Nashville. Most visitors never cross the river, which means they miss the most interesting, local side of the city. If you only add one thing to your list that isn’t already on every “top 10,” make it a morning in East Nashville with breakfast at a local café and a wander through the neighbourhood. You’ll thank yourself.
Nashville: Go With an Open Mind, Leave Wanting More
I went to Nashville thinking it would be fun for a day or two. I left already planning a return trip. The city has a warmth and an energy that’s difficult to describe until you’re standing on Broadway at 11pm with live music pouring from every doorway and a plate of hot chicken in your hand. It’s one of those cities that earns its reputation — and then surprises you on top of it.
Book your accommodation, sort your car rental, and go with at least three days to spare. You won’t regret a minute of it.
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