Travel guide · United States
Nashville travel guide
Honky-tonks, the Ryman and Grand Ole Opry, and fiery hot chicken
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Nashville, Tennessee's capital on the Cumberland River, is the centre of the country-music industry, earning it the nickname Music City. Lower Broadway's honky-tonks play live music from late morning until late at night, while the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame tell the story of the genre. Beyond downtown, neighbourhoods such as East Nashville, 12 South and Germantown have strong restaurant scenes, and the city is the home of hot chicken and the meat-and-three. It is also a hugely popular weekend and bachelorette-party destination, so downtown is busiest from Thursday to Sunday. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are April–May and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- April–May and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- BNA
- Mid-range daily budget
- $220–$360 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Country music, Honky-tonks on Broadway, Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium
Why visit Nashville
- Live music plays free in the honky-tonks of Lower Broadway most of the day and night, and songwriters perform their own hits in small listening rooms.
- The Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry, the long-running country radio show, are among the most storied stages in American music.
- The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Johnny Cash Museum and the National Museum of African American Music cover music history in depth.
- Hot chicken, meat-and-three lunches and biscuits are local food traditions worth planning around.
- Historic homes such as the Hermitage and Belle Meade, and towns like Franklin, are within 30 minutes.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 17 things to do.
Museum · Downtown and Lower Broadway
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The largest museum dedicated to a single genre traces country music from its folk roots to today, with instruments, costumes, Elvis Presley's gold Cadillac and the Hall of Fame rotunda of inductees' plaques.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
Historic site · Downtown and Lower Broadway
Ryman Auditorium
Built in 1892 as a gospel tabernacle, the Ryman was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974 and is known as the 'Mother Church of Country Music'.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- After dark
- Architecture
Experience · Music Valley
Grand Ole Opry
Broadcast on radio since 1925, the Opry is a live show of several country artists, from legends to newcomers, each playing a few songs.
- Time needed
- 2–2.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- After dark
- History
Street · Downtown and Lower Broadway
Lower Broadway honky-tonks
Honky-tonks such as Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Robert's Western World and the Stage line Broadway with live bands on every floor from late morning, mostly with no cover charge.
- Time needed
- An afternoon or evening
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
Museum · Downtown and Lower Broadway
Johnny Cash Museum
A compact museum of Johnny Cash's life and career, with costumes, instruments, handwritten letters and a stone wall from his Hendersonville home.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Downtown and Lower Broadway
National Museum of African American Music
Opened in 2021 at Fifth and Broadway, this museum traces more than 50 genres shaped by African American musicians, from spirituals and the blues to jazz, gospel, R&B and hip-hop, with interactive booths where you can sing, dance or produce a beat.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Art
Where to stay
Downtown and Lower Broadway is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and solo travellers
Downtown and Lower Broadway
Neon honky-tonks, the Ryman and the big music museums
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, food lovers and shopping
The Gulch
Glass towers, boutique hotels, restaurants and the angel-wings mural
$$$ · Best for culture, nightlife and first-timers
Midtown and Music Row
Record labels, studios, Vanderbilt and the Parthenon
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, budget and solo travellers
East Nashville
Bungalows, bars and independent restaurants around Five Points
What to eat
- Nashville hot chicken — Fried chicken coated in a cayenne-laced paste, served on white bread with pickle chips.
- Meat-and-three — A cafeteria-style Southern lunch: one meat such as fried chicken, meatloaf or catfish, plus three sides from macaroni and cheese, greens, fried okra, mashed potatoes and stewed tomatoes, with cornbread.
- Biscuits — Fluffy buttermilk biscuits served with country ham, gravy, preserves or fried chicken, a breakfast staple across the South.
- Whole-hog barbecue — Tennessee barbecue often means pulled pork from whole hogs smoked over wood, served on sandwiches with slaw or by the plate.
- Goo Goo Cluster — A round candy of marshmallow nougat, caramel and peanuts covered in milk chocolate, made in Nashville since 1912 and long advertised on the Opry.
- Tennessee whiskey — Tennessee whiskey is filtered through sugar-maple charcoal before ageing, known as the Lincoln County Process.
When to go
The best times to visit Nashville are April to May and September to October, when the weather is warm but not oppressive and the city's outdoor patios and venues are at their best. June brings CMA Fest and peak prices, July and August are hot and humid, and winter is quieter and cheaper apart from the holidays.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Mild and green with blossoms and tulips; severe thunderstorms and occasional tornado warnings are possible. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot and humid with CMA Fest, Fourth of July fireworks and afternoon thunderstorms. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm September, crisp October and cooler November with autumn colour; weekends are busy. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold with occasional snow and ice, holiday lights and lower prices outside New Year. |
Getting there and around
Nashville International Airport (BNA) is about 13 km southeast of downtown, about 15–20 minutes by taxi or rideshare outside rush hour. WeGo buses link the airport with downtown's WeGo Central station.
Downtown, the Gulch and SoBro are walkable, but Nashville is spread out and car-oriented, so rideshare is the usual way to reach East Nashville, 12 South, the Opry and historic homes. WeGo buses cover the main corridors.
Plan your days
Two days covers Lower Broadway, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman and a night at the Opry. A third day adds East Nashville or 12 South, the Parthenon, a songwriter night and a historic home such as the Hermitage or Belle Meade.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink, and cash in the tip jar for bands; 15–20% for taxis and rideshares.
Downtown is heavily policed but crowded and alcohol-fuelled on weekend nights, so watch your drinks and belongings. Car break-ins happen in downtown parking lots. Spring storms can bring tornado warnings; follow local alerts.
Flights to Nashville
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Nashville?
Two days covers Lower Broadway, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman and a night at the Opry. A third day adds East Nashville or 12 South, the Parthenon, a songwriter night and a historic home such as the Hermitage or Belle Meade. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Nashville?
The best times to visit Nashville are April to May and September to October, when the weather is warm but not oppressive and the city's outdoor patios and venues are at their best. June brings CMA Fest and peak prices, July and August are hot and humid, and winter is quieter and cheaper apart from the holidays.
+What is Nashville known for?
Country music, Honky-tonks on Broadway, Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, Hot chicken, Songwriters and Bachelorette parties. Live music plays free in the honky-tonks of Lower Broadway most of the day and night, and songwriters perform their own hits in small listening rooms.
+Is Nashville expensive?
Nashville is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $220–$360 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Nashville?
Not for a downtown-focused stay, where walking and rideshare work. Rent a car for the Hermitage, Franklin, Leiper's Fork, the Natchez Trace or distillery day trips.