Nashville At-a-Glance

How Long Should My Trip Be: 3–5 days
For me, Nashville is perfect as a long weekend. You can hit most of the main tourist attractions within a few days. If you wanted to add in an extra day or two to relax, recover from a night out, or enjoy Nashville’s amazing food and music scene, that will make your trip more special.

How to Get Around: Ride Share, Lime Scooter, Party Bus
Nashville is very much a driving city, with public transport limited to the public bus. I do not recommend renting a car unless you are driving outside of the city or relying on the public transit. Instead, I recommend walking, especially if you are staying in a central location. Otherwise, I recommend using ride share apps, especially after a night out, Lime scooters, or sharing one of the city’s fun party buses with friends.

(For perspective, you can walk from Music Row to Downtown Nashville in about an hour. The city is not that big compared to other American cities.)

Where to Stay: Downtown Nashville
I recommend staying in a hotel in Downtown, Nashville. This makes most of the main tourist attractions within walking distance and will save you money on ride share costs.

When to Visit: Spring/Fall or the Fourth of July
Nashville is best in spring or fall when you can beat the extreme heat and humidity of summer and the cold, rainy weather of winter. Despite the heat, if you wanted a fun trip for the Fourth of July, Nashville is an amazing destination.

What to Eat & Drink: Hot Chicken, Barbeque, Southern Food, Soul Food
Nashville has an exciting food scene, with Southern food, high-end restaurants, countless country bars, local barbeque. Whether you are craving a hot chicken sandwich or a boozy brunch, make reservations in advance and bring a healthy appetite.

Tennessee is famous for its whiskey. If you drink, ask a bartender for recommendations. They will be happy to tell you about this history and quality of the drinks.

What to Do: Live Music & Nightlife
Learn about the city’s music history through guided tours, attending live music performances, or listening to country music at the bars on Broadway.

If I had to do one thing in Nashville, it would be attending a performance at the Grand Ole Opry.

Itinerary

Day 1:

• Morning:
  • Arrive in the morning
  • Drop off your bags
• Mid-Day:
  • Have lunch Downtown
  • Try Hattie B’s Hot Chicken or Martin Bar-B-Que Joint
  • Walk around downtown Nashville:
    • Country Music Hall of Fame
    • Visit Boot Barn to look at more affordable cowboy boots
  • Tennessee State Capitol
  • Walk to Riverfront Park
• Evening:
  • Go out on Broadway
  • Visit the bars and honky tonks
    • Pick one based on your favorite genre of music or country music artist—for example, Miranda Lambert, Jelly Roll, Garth Brooks, and Eric Church all have bars downtown.
  • Alternative Idea: Take a party bus around the city with friends

Day 2

• Morning:
  • Have brunch in the Gulch
    • Milk & Honey
    • The Butter Milk Ranch
  • Go window shopping in the neighborhood
    • Check out Lucchese Bookmaker to see high-end cowboy boots
  • Take photos in front of the “What LiftsYou” angel wings @302 11th Ave S
• Mid-Day (I would take an Uber between the Gulch/Downtown and Midtown):
  • Visit Centennial Park
    • Stroll around the park
    • Visit the Parthenon to see a 42-foot statue of Athena (tickets needed, can be purchased in advance or on site)
  • Walk over to Vanderbilt’s beautiful campus
  • Walk down Music Row
    • See where Elvis and Dolly Parton got their starts
• Evening (I would also take an Uber to reach the Grand Ole Opry as it is all the way in Music Valley):
  • Attend a show at the Grand Ole Opry or the Ryman Auditorium
    • Make sure you book tickets in advance.

Day 3:

• Morning:
  • Take a guided tour of the city OR:
    • Ryman Auditorium
    • Country Music Hall of Fame
    • Grand Ole Opry tour
    • Make sure you book tickets in advance
• Mid-Day:
  • Attend a music-themed brunch
    • I loved attending a soul-music themed brunch
  • Check out of your hotel
• Evening:
  • Travel home

Related Posts:

My Guide to Nashville: Music, Hot Chicken, and Southern Hospitality