I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve walked down Broadway at this point. Enough that I now automatically steer visiting friends toward the honky-tonks that aren’t on the corner everyone photographs.
Nashville gets pitched as one thing: bachelorette parties, cowboy boots, neon signs. That’s real, but it’s also a city where you can spend a quiet morning at a botanical garden, eat some of the best hot chicken of your life, and never once set foot on Lower Broadway if that’s not your scene.
Here’s everything worth doing in Music City, broken down so you can jump straight to what fits your trip.
Top Attractions & Must-See Spots in Nashville
These show up on every list for a reason. Here’s how to actually do them well.
Ryman Auditorium
Nicknamed the “Mother Church of Country Music.” The building used to be a religious tabernacle before it became a concert hall, and you can feel that history in the pews and the acoustics.
A tradition worth knowing about: after a show, walk the alley behind the Ryman to Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. It’s called the “17 steps,” the same path performers used to take between sets at the old Opry days. Willie Nelson even references it in one of his songs, and the footsteps are marked right into the pavement.
While you’re inside, don’t skip the Hatch Show Print Gallery on the Ryman’s second floor. It’s a working letterpress print shop turned museum, displaying decades of hand-designed concert posters.
Grand Ole Opry
Less a single venue, more a 100-year-old radio broadcast that happens to also be a live show. Legends and total newcomers share the same lineup on any given night.
A fun detail most first-timers don’t know: the Opry House has a backstage post office where active members, from Dolly Parton to Luke Combs, still receive fan mail. You can technically mail a letter to your favorite artist care of the Grand Ole Opry.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Give this more time than you think you need. Most people plan for a quick stop and end up staying two or three hours. Keep an eye out for Elvis’s car on display, complete with a genuinely odd built-in TV and antenna.
Add the Historic RCA Studio B tour onto your ticket if you can. It’s a still-working recording studio where Elvis recorded around 250 songs. The guides tell the story of Elvis insisting on red lighting only, and making his musicians work past midnight to get “Love Me Tender” right.
Broadway & Honky-Tonk Row
Free live music spilling out of open doors most of the day, no cover charge at most spots. Go early in the afternoon if you want to actually hear the band over the crowd.
The Parthenon
A full-scale replica of the Greek Parthenon, indoor Athena statue included, sitting inside Centennial Park.
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
Fifty-five acres of botanical gardens plus a 1930s Georgian mansion. This is the slow, pretty counterpoint to Broadway’s noise.
Johnny Cash Museum
Small but dense with detail. Worth it even for casual fans. Right next door is Johnny Cash’s Bar, a natural stop after the museum.
Best Live Music Venues & Honky-Tonks
- Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge — the classic, still worth the crowd
- Bluebird Cafe — intimate, songwriter-focused, book ahead. Ask specifically about an “In the Round” set if you can get one
- Station Inn — bluegrass, and there’s often a free jam night worth checking the schedule for
- Robert’s Western World — locals consistently point to this as the best spot for real traditional country music, and it’s smaller than the big-name bars, which means a more relaxed crowd
- 3rd & Lindsley — on a Monday, The Time Jumpers play here, a local institution
- Friends in Low Places — Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood’s three-level bar, with two stages and a private members lounge upstairs
- Ole Red — Blake Shelton’s bar, worth the elevator ride up to the rooftop stage for a more spread-out crowd
Morning Things to Do in Nashville
Nashville mornings hit differently than Nashville nights. Quieter, less neon, more coffee.
- Nashville Farmers’ Market + a stroll around Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Free, unhurried, no crowds
- A hill walk near downtown before the day heats up
- Centennial Park early, before it fills in, for the best light on the Parthenon
Fun Things to Do in Nashville with Kids & Family
For younger kids, roughly ages 4 to 10
- Nashville Zoo at Grassmere — the playground, lorikeet feeding, and a tour of the old Grassmere house on the property
- Adventure Science Center — over 175 hands-on exhibits plus the Sudekum Planetarium
- Cumberland Park’s splash pad — right on the riverfront, pairs well with a walk across the pedestrian bridge
- The Goo Goo Chocolate Co. class — where kids design and make their own candy bar
- Fannie Mae Dees Park — better known locally as Dragon Park, a playground built around a giant mosaic sea-serpent sculpture
With a baby or toddler
Centennial Park’s open lawns and the Nashville Public Library’s Main Branch are easier than the bigger attractions. The library’s children’s area has a climbing wall, puppet theater, and storytime programming that’s genuinely worth the stop.
Family dinner tip: Caney Fork for solid Southern food near Music Valley.
Things to Do in Nashville with Teens
Teens are the trickiest group to plan for, because most “top attractions” lists skew younger or older. Here’s what actually lands with this age group:
- Adventure Park — night climbs available, a fun twist on a standard ropes course
- Lane Motor Museum — popular even with teens who aren’t car people, thanks to its microcars and amphibious vehicles
- National Museum of African American Music — interactive, well-reviewed for this age
- Puttshack, Pins Mechanical, and Game Terminal — good for mixed-interest groups
- A mural golf cart tour — great for the Instagram-minded teen
- Category 10 — line dancing, allows minors until 6 PM, and has a full sports bar on the third floor if the group wants to watch a game
- Third Man Records — the go-to stop for a teen into alt-rock or classic rock rather than country
- The Escape Game Nashville — includes a music-themed room built around a recording studio storyline
A trick worth stealing: have your teens scroll Instagram or TikTok for a few spots that look cool to them, then fill in the gaps with things you think they’ll enjoy.
Romantic Things to Do in Nashville for Couples
Quiet and scenic
- Love Circle — a scenic overlook above West End that most tourists never find, with a near-unobstructed view of the skyline for sunset
- Shelby Bottoms Greenway — for a quiet nature walk
- Cheekwood’s gardens — especially near sunset
- The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge at dusk — free, and one of the best skyline views in the city
Music and nightlife
- A songwriter round at The Listening Room Café, 3rd & Lindsley, or the Bluebird Cafe
- A smaller, less touristy honky-tonk like Layla’s or Teddy’s Tavern
- The Patterson House, a hidden speakeasy-style cocktail bar in The Gulch
- Rooftop drinks at L.A. Jackson in The Gulch or Harriet’s Rooftop in SoBro
A bigger night out
- Dinner at Drusie & Darr inside The Hermitage Hotel for a true occasion-restaurant feel
- A sunset dinner cruise on the General Jackson Showboat along the Cumberland River
- A spa day at a property like the Four Seasons Hotel Nashville
Not big drinkers as a couple? The Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery and a hop-on-hop-off tour are consistently recommended as non-party couple activities.
Free & Budget-Friendly Things to Do
- Nashville Farmers’ Market
- Tennessee State Museum (free admission)
- Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
- John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
- Centennial Park and the Parthenon grounds
- Free daytime live music along Lower Broadway
- Warner Parks
- Riverfront Park, with its amphitheater and Cumberland River views
- Free guided tours of the Tennessee State Capitol
- Big Band Dance at the Parthenon Ellipse — free swing lesson, a live big band, food trucks, most Saturday evenings in summer
Things to Do in Nashville Besides Broadway & Bars
Search “things to do in Nashville” enough, and you’ll notice the same complaint everywhere: it’s either “get blackout drunk” or “go hiking,” nothing in between. Here’s the actual in-between.
- Farmers Market plus the free Tennessee State Museum next door
- Songwriter rounds at the Bluebird Cafe, Listening Room, or 3rd & Lindsley
- Walking or driving food tours
- Country Music Hall of Fame’s Saturday morning songwriter sessions
- Frist Art Museum, housed in a converted Art Deco post office
- Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage or Arrington Vineyards for the views
- Shoppes at Fatherland in East Nashville for boutique shopping and coffee
- Tenx9 storytelling night at Jackalope Brewery, local storytellers, ticket price of a beer
- Dive Bar Choir group singing nights at Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge, sing three-part harmony with strangers, no talent required
- A guided ghost tour through downtown in the evening
Hidden Gems & Off-the-Beaten-Path Spots
- Belmont Mansion is smaller and often overlooked, but the guided tour covers Adelicia Acklen, one of the wealthiest women in 1800s America, and it’s a genuinely surprising story
- Nolensville Road: genuinely diverse, non-chain international restaurants most guides skip
- East Nashville’s Fatherland district and Five Points — local shops, less crowded
- 12 South up to Sevier Park — walkable, boutique-heavy, home to Draper James, Reese Witherspoon’s flagship store
- Midtown around Vanderbilt and Centennial Park — described by one visitor as “surprisingly naturey,” good for a quiet stroll
- GasLamp Antique and Decorating Mall in Berry Hill — a deep collection of antiques and mid-century modern furniture, worth a browse even if you’re not buying
- Lipstick Lounge in East Nashville — weekly drag trivia night, a packed room and a genuinely fun local scene
- Hurling and Camogie try-outs with the Nashville Gaelic Athletic Club — Ireland’s national sports, open to newcomers
- Percy Priest Lake — kayak or paddle-board rentals for a quieter water day than anything downtown offers
Best Things to Do in Downtown Nashville
Downtown is really Broadway plus its immediate surroundings: Fifth + Broadway for shopping and Assembly Food Hall’s 30-plus eateries, the honky-tonks themselves, and the walk out to the pedestrian bridge. Daytime is when Broadway is most manageable. Crowds and noise ramp up hard after dark, especially on weekends.
Neighborhood Guides
East Nashville
Spread out, residential, full of local shops and restaurants rather than tourist-facing ones. Grimey’s record store and The Bookshop are both worth the detour.
Germantown
Walkable, a mix of historic brick homes and trendy new spots, with a strong brunch and bar scene. It sits right next to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park and the Farmers’ Market, so it pairs naturally with a morning there.
12 South
Boutique shopping, ice cream, and the famous “I Believe In Nashville” mural. Charming, but leans expensive if boutique shopping isn’t your thing. Look behind the Frothy Monkey coffee shop for a second, less-crowded mural: “Nashville Looks Good on You.”
The Gulch
Trendy, art galleries, murals (including the “What Lifts You” wings), and home to some of the city’s better hidden cocktail bars.
Green Hills
Home to Parnassus Books, the independent bookstore owned by author Ann Patchett, worth a stop if you’re into author events and a well-curated shelf.
Museums & Culture
- Tennessee State Museum (free)
- Frist Art Museum
- National Museum of African American Music
- Lane Motor Museum
- Historic RCA Studio B
- Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, focused on the session players behind the hits rather than the headline names
Indoor & Rainy Day Activities
- Any of the museums above
- Adventure Science Center
- Assembly Food Hall
- Pins Mechanical and Puttshack
- The Escape Game Nashville
Outdoor Activities & Parks
- Centennial Park
- Radnor Lake State Park
- Warner Parks
- Shelby Bottoms Nature Center and Greenway
- Cumberland Park
- Fort Negley Historic Park, which combines open green space with a real Civil War-era story and elevated city views
- Percy Priest Lake for kayaking and paddle boating
Nashville Nightlife: 21+ and Under-21 Options
For 21+: Broadway’s honky-tonks, rooftop bars in The Gulch and SoBro, and Printers Alley’s neon-lit cocktail lounges.
For under-21 or mixed-age groups: Category 10 and Pins Mechanical both allow minors until early evening, generally 6 PM, which makes them useful bridge options for groups spanning ages.
Best Things to Do for a Bachelorette or Bachelor Party
Nashville is one of the biggest bachelorette destinations in the country, and locals know it. A request that keeps showing up: “we want to be respectful and not just do the typical bar crawl.”
- Johnny Cash Museum for anyone into music history
- Lean into a specific interest. One bride-to-be built her whole trip around an oddities-and-the-macabre theme plus good coffee and spicy food, and it stood out from a generic itinerary
- A pedal tavern or private party bus tour for a group that wants to move between spots together
- Book one songwriter round for a low-key evening among the louder nights
Seasonal Guide and Nashville’s Festival Calendar
Fall brings cooler, more comfortable weather. Widely considered the best season to visit, alongside spring.
Christmas in Nashville leans into it hard, with holiday lights and events downtown. Broadway is still mostly bars during the day, so plan around it if you’re bringing kids.
Summer is hot and humid. Plan outdoor time for morning or evening, and lean into indoor attractions or shaded rooftop bars during peak afternoon heat.
A few recurring festivals worth timing a trip around:
- CMA Fest — a four-day country music takeover of downtown every June
- Tomato Art Fest — art, music, food, and genuinely strange costumes in East Nashville every August
- Nashville Oktoberfest — German beer, live polka, and food in Germantown every October
- AmericanaFest — showcases and industry panels for discovering new artists
- Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival — a spring celebration of Japanese culture, food, and dance
Where to Eat & Drink in Nashville
Hot chicken is the dish you have to try. Prince’s is considered the original, and their fries hold up just as well as the chicken. Hattie B’s is the more consistent, tourist-friendly version, and the pimento mac and cheese on the side is worth ordering regardless of your heat level.
Loveless Cafe, about 25 minutes outside downtown, is a legendary Southern breakfast spot worth the drive, smoker running out back and all. For something different, Nolensville Road has a genuinely diverse international food scene most guides overlook. In East Nashville, Turkey and the Wolf’s fried bologna sandwich has earned a real cult following, and Five Points Pizza’s weekday lunch special is one of the better deals in the city.
1-Day, 3-Day & Weekend Itinerary for Nashville
1 Day: Morning at the Farmers Market, midday at the Country Music Hall of Fame, afternoon at the Parthenon and Centennial Park, evening on Broadway for live music and hot chicken.
Weekend (2 to 3 days): Add a neighborhood day (East Nashville or 12 South), a museum you actually care about, and one “besides Broadway” evening, a songwriter round or food tour.
3+ Days: Layer in a day trip. Loveless Cafe, Belle Meade Winery, the Hermitage, or Franklin, a boutique-and-whiskey town about 30 minutes south. Add more time in Cheekwood’s gardens for a slower pace.
What’s Happening in Nashville Right Now
Nashville’s live music and events calendar changes weekly, so your best source for what’s on this specific week isn’t a static list, it’s a live calendar.
- Do615 and Nashville Guru post current listings
- Local Reddit communities post weekly roundups of concerts, comedy shows, and festivals
- If your trip lands on a Saturday, check for a Big Band Dance at Centennial Park first. It’s free, and it’s the kind of night visitors don’t plan on but end up loving
Nashville for Solo Travelers
Solo trips to Nashville come up constantly, both from people worried about safety and from people simply wondering if it’s fun to visit alone.
General consensus from people who’ve done it:
- East Nashville, Midtown, and 12 South are considered comfortable to explore on foot during the day
- Downtown at night is busy enough that solo travelers, especially women, generally recommend sticking to well-lit, crowded areas and using rideshare after dark rather than walking long stretches alone
- Museums, food tours, and daytime neighborhood walks are consistently recommended as easy, low-pressure solo activities
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you not miss in Nashville?
Broadway’s live music strip, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and at least one show at the Ryman Auditorium or Grand Ole Opry are the three most commonly cited must-dos.
What is the number one attraction in Nashville?
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Grand Ole Opry are consistently the two most-mentioned top attractions, with Broadway’s honky-tonks close behind.
Is Nashville worth visiting with kids?
Yes. The Nashville Zoo, Adventure Science Center, and several parks make it workable for families, though downtown Broadway itself is more of an adult scene after dark.
Can kids go into bars with parents in Nashville?
Many honky-tonks on Broadway allow families in during the day, functioning as restaurants with live music before the evening crowd shifts the vibe. Category 10 and Pins Mechanical specifically welcome minors until early evening, generally 6 PM.
What are fun things to do in Nashville with a baby?
Stick to open, low-stimulation spaces. Centennial Park’s lawns and the Nashville Public Library’s kid programming are easier than crowded attractions like the zoo or Broadway.
Is Nashville safe to visit alone?
Generally yes, especially during the day and in neighborhoods like East Nashville, Midtown, and 12 South. Most solo-travel advice centers on extra caution downtown late at night.
What are the best morning activities in Nashville?
The Farmers Market paired with a walk around Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park is the most repeated recommendation. Free, quiet, and ahead of the afternoon crowds.
Is Nashville worth visiting for first-timers?
Yes. Most first-timer advice centers on covering the big three, Broadway, Country Music Hall of Fame, and a Ryman or Opry show, then picking one neighborhood to explore more slowly rather than trying to see everything in one trip.
Best things to do in Nashville besides drinking?
Songwriter rounds, museum visits, the Farmers Market, food tours, and Cheekwood’s gardens all come up repeatedly as the go-to non-drinking alternatives to the Broadway bar scene.
This is a sensitive topic for some visitors. If you’re planning a trip during a difficult personal time, it’s worth building in quieter, less crowded activities like museums or gardens rather than the busier bar-heavy parts of downtown.
About the Author
Carlo Dibello is a travel writer who explores destinations the way locals live them — on foot, hungry, and always curious. Every guide he writes grows out of trips actually taken and places personally visited and tested: the headline attractions and live-music institutions, yes, but also the neighbourhood corners, family favourites, morning markets and free hidden gems most visitors rush past. Carlo specialises in practical, experience-first travel guides — things to do, itineraries, food worth travelling for, and how to do more of a city for less — so readers can plan trips that feel first-hand from day one. You can reach Carlo at carlodebello@gmail.com.
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