33 Best Things To Do In Nashville, Tennessee

Attend A Live Show At The Opry

There are few experiences that are more Nashville than attending a show at the Grand Ole Opry, which bears the distinction of being the longest-running radio broadcast in the world and has multiple shows a week year-round. Formatted like a variety show, the Opry puts musical royalty like the Oak Ridge Boys and Carrie Underwood on the lineup alongside newcomers, many taking the circle for the first time. It’s a great opportunity to see your favorites while learning about the next generation of country stars.

opry.com; 600 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville, TN 37214

Visit The Mother Church Of Country Music

Built in 1892 as the home of the Union Gospel Tabernacle, the Ryman Auditorium remains relatively unchanged in appearance and ambiance with its iconic pews holding as much history as the building itself. The home to the Opry in winter months, the Ryman also hosts shows from world-renowned acts like Foo Fighters and Harry Styles, comedians like Trevor Noah on tour, and live lectures and readings from visiting authors such as Michelle Obama. It’s also open to visitors daily.

ryman.com; 116 5th Ave North, Nashville, TN 37219

Cover The City By E-Bike

While public transportation in Nashville is hard to come by, if you don’t have access to a car, you can easily rent a pedal-assist BCycle bike at one of 30+ docking stations and use the city’s growing number of bike lanes and paths to see Nashville from a different angle.

nashville.bcycle.com

Go To A Dolly Parton-Themed Bar

White Limozeen, a Dolly Parton-inspired rooftop bar at the Graduate Nashville Hotel, is as fun and feminine as the icon herself. From the playful cocktail menu to the pink patio umbrellas and patio furniture to the city views, the bar is practically begging for you to put it on Instagram.

hilton.com; 101 20th Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37023

See A Full-Scale Replica Of The Parthenon

One of Nashville’s greatest architectural marvels, The Parthenon is a replica of the Athens original that was built for Tennessee's 1897 Centennial Exposition. It’s now the centerpiece of the 132-acre Centennial Park, which spans a walking trail, Lake Watauga, sports facilities, and gardens.

nashvilleparthenon.com; 2500 West End Ave., Nashville, TN 37203

Enjoy A Free Outdoor Show

Visitors to Nashville get a front-row seat of all manners of music—from country and Americana to pop and gospel—and among the many outdoor concert options is Musicians Corner, a series of free shows in Centennial Park in late spring and early fall.

musicianscornernashville.com; 2500 West End Ave., Nashville, TN 37203

Take A Selfie In Front Of The State Capitol

Perched on a hill overlooking the downtown core, Tennessee’s State Capitol opened in 1859 and bears the distinction of being one of the oldest working capitols in the country. It’s open for guided tours on weekdays. Equally impressive to architecture buffs is the Neoclassical War Memorial, a concert venue that sits adjacent to the capitol.

capitol.tn.gov/about/capitolvisit.html; 600 Dr. M.L.K. Jr Blvd., Nashville, TN 37243
nashvilledowntown.com/go/war-memorial-auditorium; 301 6th Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37243

Honor Civil Rights Heroes

Pivotal to the Civil Rights Movement, Nashville was the site of many sit-ins and protests. The stately downtown branch of the Nashville Public Library lays claim to a Civil Rights Room where you can read protestors’ Ten Rules of Conduct and learn more about the influence of key leaders like the late Congressman John Lewis.

library.nashville.org/locations/main-library; 615 Church St,, Nashville, TN 37219

See The Witness Walls

Art is a powerful storyteller, and the events that took place during the civil rights movement following the segregation of Davidson County Schools are visually depicted through the Witness Walls at Public Square Park beside the Historic Metro Courthouse.

metroartsnashville.com/witness-walls; 1 Public Square, Nashville, TN 37201

Learn About Local History At The Tennessee State Museum

The interactive Tennessee State Museum, next to the farmers’ market and just blocks away from the State Capitol, features permanent exhibits that tell the stories of the First Peoples and take viewers through times of conflict like the Civil War and Reconstruction. Take a stroll along Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park out back to unwind when you’re done at the museum.

tnmuseum.org; 1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208
tnstateparks.com/parks/bicentennial-mall; 600 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN, 37243

Sip Your Way Through The Tennessee Whiskey Trail

Linking the state’s deep distilling history to its modern-day whiskey culture, the 28-stop Tennessee Whiskey Trail weaves its way from Memphis in far West Tennessee to Bristol up at the Virginia border. There are a handful of stops in Nashville—including the largest and recently upgraded Nelson’s Greenbrier Distillery—that you can visit without ever leaving the city’s confines.

greenbrierdistillery.com;1414 Clinton St., Nashville, TN 37203
tnwhiskeytrail.com

Learn About African American Music Makers

Opened in 2021, the National Museum of African American Music offers a look at how African American trailblazers shaped and paved the way for more than 50 musical genres. The sprawling 56,000-square-foot museum sits right in downtown Nashville on Broadway.

nmaam.org; 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Peruse Art Exhibits At The Frist

In a city more dominated by music than visual art, the Frist Art Museum filled a much-needed void when it opened in 2001 and started bringing world-class exhibits—from vintage automobiles to the works of greats like Pablo Picasso and Frida Kahlo—to Nashville. Housed in the opulent old Art Deco post office, the art on the walls isn’t the only star of the show here.

fristartmuseum.org; 919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Stroll Across The Pedestrian Bridge

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge connects downtown Nashville to Nissan Stadium on the east side of the Cumberland River. For those attending a concert, a Titans game or the annual CMA Fest each June, the footpath is a convenient way to reach the stadium while avoiding traffic. Visiting during the day? The bridge offers one of the best perspectives of the city skyline.

nashvilledowntown.com/go/shelby-street-pedestrian-bridge

Soak Up The Sun In The City’s Many Green Spaces

Nashville may be a big city, but it still has green space in spades. In Davidson and adjoining Williamson County, you’ll find parks aplenty; among them, Harpeth River State Park, Edwin and Percy Warner Parks, Centennial Park, Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary, Bells Bend Nature Park, Montgomery Bell State Park, and Radnor Lake. Traveling with kids and stuck downtown? You can walk over to the other side of the river to the 6.5-acre Cumberland Park with playground equipment and water features.

nashvilledowntown.com/go/cumberland-park; 592 South First St., Nashville, TN 37213

Check Out The City’s Mural Scene

Nashville’s public art has come a long way since the famed “I Believe in Nashville” in 12South was the only mural in town. Now, the city brims with public art from international artists like Guido van Helten (check out his 160-foot-tall Silo mural in the Nations) and hometown favorites like Mobe, who painted the city’s longest mural for the Tennessee Titans right across from the Music City Center on Korean Veterans Boulevard. 

See The Seasonal Exhibits At Cheekwood

Nashville’s botanical garden, Cheekwood, is situated among the leafy lawns of Belle Meade, one of Nashville’s oldest and most stately neighborhoods. Among the 55 acres of garden, you’ll find a model train, a permanent art museum, and rotating seasonal exhibits, like tulips every spring and pumpkins in the fall.

cheekwood.org; 200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37205

Take Home A Concert Poster From Hatch Show Print

Nashville’s ultimate souvenir? A letterpress concert post from Hatch Show Print, a Nashville icon for more than 140 years. The shop that was originally a Broadway staple moved into the Country Music Hall of Fame a handful of years ago and now has a much larger studio space that can accommodate both shoppers and those who want to take a letterpress class.

hatchshowprint.com; 224 Rep. John Lewis Way South, Nashville, TN 37203

Make Your Own Goo Goo

Nashville’s century-old candy brand, Goo Goo Chocolate Co. has a storefront right off Broadway that has undergone a major renovation in recent years. In addition to buying Goo Goo-themed merch like the popular “What a Cluster!” Tees, you can pick up treats only available at the store and even make your own Premium four-ounce candy at electronic stations that allow you to choose what ingredients you sandwich among the chocolate and nougat. 

googoo.com; 116 3rd Ave. South, Nashville, TN 37201

Catch A Bluegrass Jam At Station Inn

While many of Nashville’s storied haunts have shuttered as the city’s growth explodes, Station Inn has remained untouched and true to its roots. Go for the weekly Sunday night Bluegrass Jam, in which a mishmash of pickers and players take the stage for the ultimate jam session; all are welcome to bring an instrument and participate. Bonus: It’s free to attend, and you never know who might show up.

stationinn.com; 402 12th Ave. South, Nashville, TN 37203

Time-Travel Back Through Country Music History

Whether you consider yourself a country music scholar or are merely an enthusiast, you’re guaranteed to learn something—or maybe simply gawk at costumes and memorabilia from your favorite artists—at the Country Music Hall of Fame. The CMHOF also manages RCA Studio B—known as the birthplace of the Nashville sound and where Elvis Presley once recorded—and Hatch Show Print and offers a combo tour pass to all three attractions.

countrymusichallofffame.org; 222 Rep. John Lewis Way South, Nashville, TN 37203

Visit The Nashville Farmers’ Market

For a taste of everything the city has to offer under one roof, the Market House at the Nashville Farmers’ Market is open seven days a week and features a variety of food from bulgogi bibimbap at Bowl & Roll to Chicago-Style Gyros to Bubble Love tea. Be sure and check out the outdoor farm sheds where more than 150 farmers, bakers, and makers from all walks set up shop several days a week.

nashvillefarmersmarket.org; 900 Rosa L Parks Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208

Go To Space Via The Adventure Science Center

The Adventure Science Center is not just for kids (though, of course, it’s got plenty for them, too!). The museum’s Sudekum Planetarium soars with laser shows, skies that change with the seasons, and educational films lighting up its 63-foot dome theater.

adventuresci.org; 800 Fort Negley Blvd., Nashville, TN 37203

Test Your Taste Buds With Nashville Hot Chicken

A deep-fried bird, smothered in spices and served on white bread, Nashville hot chicken has become a global sensation, spotted on menus in cities around the world. While Prince’s is oft-credited with making Nashville Hot Chicken a household name, Bolton’s and 400 Degrees also are worthy contenders.

princeshotchicken.com; 5814 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211
boltonsfamous.com; 624 Main St., Nashville, TN 37206
400degreeshotchicken.com; 3704 Clarksville Pike, Nashville, TN 37218

Find Your New Favorite Barbecue Spot

Chicken not your jam? There’s no shortage of barbecue in Nashville either. If you love brisket, ribs, and pulled pork, you’ll likely have decision paralysis when deciding where to go. Peg Leg Porker is a perennial favorite, Edley’s, Martin’s, Jack’s, Whitt’s, and Central BBQ are just a few that consistently get top marks from visitors and locals alike.

peglegporker.com; 903 Gleaves St., Nashville, TN 37203
eatcbq.com; 1601 21st. Ave. South, Nashville, TN 37212
martinsbbqjoint.com; multiple locations
jacksbarbque.com; multiple locations
whittsbarbecue.com; multiple locations

Indulge In Nashville’s Ultimate Tasting Experience

BBQ and hot chicken are great and all, but the ultimate foodie adventure can’t arrive in Nashville without having booked a table at Tailor, Chef Vivek Surti’s supper club-turned-restaurant. Four nights a week, the first-generation American guides diners through Indian dishes he grew up on—with his own spin. The result is one unforgettable and intimate journey through culture and cuisine via a dozen or so courses.

tailornashville.com; 620 Taylor St., Nashville, TN 37208

Check Out The Vintage Cars At Lane Motor Museum

Boasting 150 cars and motorcycles on its showroom floor, Lane Motor Museum is home to the United States’ largest collection of European cars. This working museum aims to keep all its cars in running condition, and a daily demonstration at 11 am is included in the price of admission.

lanemotormuseum.org; 702 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37210

Explore Nashville’s International Corridor

Head down Nolensville Road, and you’ll find international restaurants galore, as well as the largest Kurdish population in America. Start your culinary adventure with fresh-baked goods from Azadi International Food Market, then craft a taco crawl among the many stands and trucks that pepper the neighborhood.

facebook.com.com; 391 Elysian Fields Court, Nashville, TN 37211

Sample Nashville’s Craft Beer Scene

Nashville’s beer scene has long been on the rise thanks to the OGs like Yazoo, established way back in 2003, and the many others who followed like Fat Bottom, Southern Grist, and Jackalope, which was named one of the South's best breweries.

yazoobrew.com; 900 River Bluff Drive, Madison, TN 37115
jackalopebrew.com; 429B Houston St., Nashville, TN 37203
southerngristbrewing.com; multiple locations
fatbottombrewing.com; 800 44th Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37209

Take A Day Trip Along The Natchez Trace Parkway

Nashville is the northern terminus of the 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway that ends in Natchez, Miss. Even if you don’t have the time to make the multi-day trip, it’s less than 10 miles from the start to one of the parkway’s most photographed scenes: the double-arch Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge. While you’re already in Williamson County, you might as well browse the art galleries of Leiper’s Fork and explore Franklin’s historic Main Street.

scenictrace.com

Try The Biscuits At Loveless Café

Right next to the start of the Natchez Trace Parkway, the Loveless Café has been slinging up steamy plates of country ham and the very best buttered biscuits since it first opened in 1951. Even if you don’t have time for a full sit-down breakfast—and the line is often long, especially on weekends—stop by the on-site country market and take some goodies to go.

lovelesscafe.com; 8400 TN-100, Nashville, TN 37221

Rent A Paddleboard On Percy Priest Lake

Nashville’s a rare big city that’s flanked by both rivers and lakes, Percy Priest being one of the most popular recreational spots for water sports during warmer months. For more than a decade, Nashville Paddle Company has been getting people out on the water, both via board and kayak rentals, as well as classes like SUP Yoga and guided group paddles.

nashvillepaddle.com; 2901 Bell Road, Nashville, TN 37217

See A Professional Sporting Event

No matter the time of year, Nashville has a pro team taking the turf, pitch or field. The Tennessee Titans play at Nissan Stadium during football season, the Nashville Predators take the ice at Bridgestone Arena during hockey months, and Nashville SC breaks out the cleats at GEODIS Park. Spring months also see the Triple-AAA Nashville Sounds step up to the plate at First Horizon Park right in the heart of downtown.