Best things to do in Nashville

Proudly bearing its nickname of Music City, Nashville is perhaps best known as the home of country music, a true pilgrimage for the genre’s millions of fans across the States and further afield. But this a city bristling with more than just the sound of distant (and nearby) guitars. While you’ll find venues big and small where you can catch the present and future of country music live here, there’s so much more to do besides. Tuck into some of the best food in the South, discover the city’s motor racing prowess or get out and find an alluring mix of bold architecture and natural beauty citywide.  

Ryman Auditorium

116 Rep. John Lewis Way North, Nashville, TN 37219

The Ryman boasts a long and storied past when it comes to musical heritage. Across its 130-year history, this beautiful setting has grown from a gospel tabernacle into one of the world’s most iconic music and arts venues. Today, visitors can enjoy some of the very best in contemporary music and comedy, with Lewis Capaldi, Lizzo and Sarah Silverman having graced its stage in recent times. But as well as embracing the future, guests can take a step into the past  as, the Ryman celebrates its musical roots with exhibits and a state-of-the-art theater experience. Don’t miss the film that walks you through the history of the building and the legendary performances that have taken place on the famous boards of the Ryman.

Plan your visit

Lane Motor Museum

702 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN, 37210

So many of the best things to do in Nashville focus on the city’s musical history. But there’s much more to see. If you enjoy the sound of screeching tires over somber country tones, then Lane Motor Museum is the place to see. The only music you’re likely to hear here is the note-perfect purr of a vintage engine as it heads off on yet another thrilling journey. Located just ten minutes from downtown Nashville, this amazing museum is a haven for car fans, with its focus on rare European models. This is like nothing you’ve experienced before. Expect to see the most unlikely collection of vehicles,  including the world’s smallest car, amphibious pickups and chunky military motors. If you visit on a weekend, you may even get to step inside the museum’s cavernous vault, which is home to more than 300 cars most people never get to see..

Find out more

Nashville Parthenon

2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203

Nashville is at its glorious best when it’s doing the unexpected. Nowhere is this more true than at its world-famous Nashville Parthenon. The world’s only full-scale replica of the ancient Grecian icon of the same name, the Parthenon is a vast, imposing tribute to one of the ancient world’s most enduring civilizations. Step back in time and experience the artistic flair and majesty of ancient Greece in Centennial Park, just a ten-minute drive east of the city. Built to celebrate Nashville’s reputation as the ‘Athens of the South’, the structure was originally only meant to be temporary, but its popularity means it now stands as a symbol of creativity in Nashville, hosting art and photography exhibits among a catalog of other events that make it well worth a visit.

Plan your visit

Drop into a listening room

Bluebird Cafe: 4104 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215

Listening Room Cafe: 618 4th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37210

No visit to Nashville is complete without throwing yourself into its unique music scene. One of the best ways to get to the heart of the beat is to head to one of a number of listening rooms dotted across the city. The most famous include the Listening Room Cafe and the Bluebird Café, but there are plenty more to choose from. This is country music at its best, in its rawest form. At these tiny venues, you’ll enjoy intimate sets where performers banish all the frills, lights and pomp of modern music. Here, it’s just a musician, a stool and their guitar. Grab a table, order a drink and sit back to enjoy music from stars of today and tomorrow in some of the most authentic settings around.

Listening Room Cafe

Bluebird Cafe

Cheekwood Estate and Gardens

1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37205

Once home to wealthy coffee entrepreneurs, Cheekwood Estate and Gardens has since thrown open its doors to allow visitors to see a little of the South throughout time. This luxurious home is now a museum, botanical garden and a gorgeous place to explore. As you wander through its ornate corridors and rooms, you can enjoy Cheek family’s vast art collection - along with ceramics, sculpture and an impressive silver collection amassed throughout the years. But the real beauty of this gem can be found hidden in the 55-acre grounds. The gardens are awash with color and bursting with life, home to  swathes of vibrant blooms, rare shrubs and native Southern species of plant. Take some time to look for the Japanese Garden, a truly peaceful zen space in which you can escape the pressures of the modern world and enjoy a spot of meditation. Alternatively, the arboretum is as thoughtfully curated as the art on the walls within the mansion. Cheekwood can be reached in around 30 minutes from Downtown Nashville.

Plan your visit

Grand Ole Opry House

600 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville, TN 37214

The sole reason many people choose to visit Nashville, there’s quite simply few places more synonymous with their setting than the Grand Ole Opry House and Music City. It may not look like much from the outside, but this iconic building has been the beating heart of music in Nashville for nearly a century. Starting life as a radio show in 1925, the venue has played host to the Grand Ole Opry musical performances multiple times a week, entertaining lovers of country and bluegrass in one of the most iconic venues around. If you visit during the day, you can also peek your head behind the curtain and explore backstage, including the green rooms and post office. You can even take the chance to stand on the famous stage – a sure fire bucket-list item for many country fans.   

Book tickets

Long Hunter State Park

2910 Hobson Pike, Hermitage, TN 37076

If you’ve enjoyed a few days of immersing yourself in the world of country music, get that ringing out of your ears and head out into the serenity of nature in Nashville. Hop in the car and take the Murfreesboro Pike out of Nashville to Long Hunter State Park. After a 30-minute drive, you’ll find yourself in 2,600 acres of parkland that offers everything from camping, fishing and boating to hiking, biking and swimming in some of the most peaceful settings around. Getting back to nature is one of the best things to do in Nashville and if you’re short on time - but really want to get out there, there’s also  a hiking trail that’s perfect for stretching your legs and exploring the best of what Tennessee has to offer. Take the 4-mile Volunteer Trail Day Loop for an accessible walk that comes with an optional swim in Percy Priest Lake. Or, if you want to make a day of it, take the longer 10-mile route.

Plan your route

Hungry for more things to do? When you’ve explored Nashville, head on out of the city for a road trip. You can be in Dollywood in under 4 hours, at the Mammoth Cave National Park in under 2 hours or exploring Knoxville in around 3 hours.

Learn more about Nashville

Music city is truly a setting like no other. Steeped in the swagger of country music and bristling with tunes, art and activities aplenty, it’s a must see for any visitors to Tennessee. Explore more of Nashville with our handy guides to where to stay, eat and drive to on your visit to the city. 

• Best hotels in Nashville
• Nashville Driving Guide
• Best restaurants in Nashville