How many days · Nashville · United States
How many days do you need in Nashville?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
3 days is the sweet spot for Nashville, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. 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.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 3 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 5
- Daylight
- 9.7 h (Dec) to 14.6 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Ryman Auditorium, Grand Ole Opry and Lower Broadway honky-tonks |
| 2 days | Good | Lower Broadway honky-tonks, Johnny Cash Museum and National Museum of African American Music |
| 3 days | Ideal | The Parthenon, The Hermitage and Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Franklin |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Franklin and Leiper's Fork and the Natchez Trace Parkway |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Nashville add up to roughly 19–26 hours of visiting time — about 3–4 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (2–3 hours), Lower Broadway honky-tonks (An afternoon or evening) and National Museum of African American Music (2–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum | 2–3 hours | Downtown and Lower Broadway |
| Ryman Auditorium | 1–1.5 hours | Downtown and Lower Broadway |
| Grand Ole Opry | 2–2.5 hours | Music Valley |
| Lower Broadway honky-tonks | An afternoon or evening | Downtown and Lower Broadway |
| Johnny Cash Museum | 1–1.5 hours | Downtown and Lower Broadway |
| National Museum of African American Music | 2–3 hours | Downtown and Lower Broadway |
| The Parthenon | 1–1.5 hours | Midtown and Music Row |
| The Hermitage | 2–3 hours | Hermitage |
| Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery | 2 hours | Belle Meade |
| Bluebird Cafe | 2–3 hours | Green Hills |
| John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge | 30 minutes | Downtown and Lower Broadway |
| Tennessee State Capitol | 1 hour | Downtown and Lower Broadway |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 3 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and Ryman Auditorium |
| With children | 4 days | Slower days and time for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum |
| With day trips | 5 days | Add Franklin and Leiper's Fork and the Natchez Trace Parkway |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 9.7 hours of daylight) than in June (about 14.6 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Nashville with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | About 346 km | 3 days |
| New Orleans | About 756 km | 4 days |
| Austin | About 1,211 km | 4 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Nashville?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 3 days is more comfortable. 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.
+Is a week too long in Nashville?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Franklin and Leiper's Fork and the Natchez Trace Parkway.