Tourist Attractions in Nashville, TN
Nashville is America's home of country music, but it offers so much more. This thriving city blends authentic Southern charm with modern flair. From its legendary live music to the thriving creative culinary scene, Music City hits all the right notes for an unforgettable trip.

The city began building its reputation as the capital of country music around 100 years ago with the creation of the radio station dedicated to the Grand Ole Opry. Today, it remains a hub for music lovers, home to the Country Music Hall of Fame and a variety of music-themed museums.
Nashville is a walkable city; all the downtown attractions are a short stroll from one another, and if you want great views of the city, walk over the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge spanning the Cumberland River.
The city is a jumping-off point to explore the rest of Tennessee. Many historical attractions, including old plantations and Civil War sites, are less than a half-hour drive away. Numerous hiking trails around Nashville offer a chance to get active.
Learn about the best places to visit with our list of attractions and things to do in Nashville.
- Grand Ole Opry
- Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum
- Ryman Auditorium
- Lower Broadway Avenue
- Learn about the Man in Black at the Johnny Cash Museum
- National Museum of African American Music
- Belle Meade Historic Site
- Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
- Dining
- Frist Art Museum
- Andrew Jackson's Hermitage
- Nashville Parthenon
- RCA Studio B
- Nashville Zoo
- Cheekwood Estate and Gardens
- Groove in Glorious Gardens at Gaylord Opryland Resort
- Belmont Mansion
- Tennessee State Museum
- View Vintage Cars at Lane Motor Museum
- Cruise on the General Jackson Showboat
- Carter Vintage Guitars
- Best Time of Year to Visit Nashville
Grand Ole Opry

The Grand Ole Opry radio show is the longest-running radio program in the United States. Since its first broadcast in 1925, the Opry has presented more than 5,000 shows. It continues to contribute to Nashville's identity as Music City.
In 1974, the venue for the show shifted from the Ryman Auditorium to the 4,000-seat Grand Ole Opry House northeast of downtown. Throughout its history, performers have entertained fans of country, bluegrass, gospel, and old-time music, along with popular music and comedy.
Address: 600 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville, Tennessee
Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is located in the heart of downtown. The tall windows of this striking building cleverly resemble the keys of a piano.
The museum features a multimedia display of historical performances, costumes, instruments, gold records, and memorabilia. Other highlights include a Cadillac that belonged to Elvis, a massive 40-foot guitar, a tour bus, and a recording booth.
Tour yourself through the museum and enhance the experience with the audio backup of stars such as Dolly Parton. Visit a replica of a tour bus to record your own country music song. And look for the gold record of your favorite bestselling country music album from the thousands on display along many walls.
Address: 222 Rep. John Lewis Way S., Nashville, Tennessee
Ryman Auditorium

Often hailed as the "Carnegie Hall of the South," the Ryman sits just steps from the neon glow of Lower Broadway. Inside, you'll find a museum brimming with artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of its legendary past. A visit here includes a fascinating multimedia movie, following which you can explore at your own pace or opt for a guided tour to dive deeper into its rich musical history.
Initially built in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle, this historic venue boasts world-class acoustics that make every note soar. The former home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974 now hosts an eclectic mix of performances, from bluegrass and classical concerts to musical theater and televised productions.
Address: 116 Rep. John Lewis Way N., Nashville, Tennessee
Lower Broadway Avenue

Neon lights, live music, and nonstop energy—Lower Broadway, aka Honky Tonk Row, is the pulsing heart of Nashville's nightlife. Lined with legendary venues, this iconic strip offers live music from morning to late night, with country, rock, and blues spilling onto the streets.
Famous spots like Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Robert's Western World, and The Stage have hosted country music legends and rising stars. Alongside the historic music venues are new spots owned by famous musicians, including Jon Bon Jovi, Jason Aldean, and Kid Rock.

For the full experience, do a bit of musical window shopping. All the places have open fronts to stroll by and hear the bands. Like what you hear? Just walk right in—no cover charge required. Also, most places have multiple levels and even rooftop areas, each with its own stage and band. Be sure to bring your ID no matter how old you are, you won't get in without it.
Learn about the Man in Black at the Johnny Cash Museum

Johnny Cash, known as the "Man in Black," had a hardscrabble life that he surmounted to win the Grammy award 13 times (and earn an impressive 35 nominations!), becoming one of the most beloved stars of country music. Visit the museum in his honor in downtown Nashville.
Among the exhibits, the museum features handwritten lyrics for two of the most famous of the 1,500 songs Cash recorded: "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk the Line." Johnny Cash's costumes, instruments, letters, artwork, marriage licenses, and songs are on display. There's also a museum store, where you can buy souvenirs, and a café next door, where you can buy whatever you need to fuel an extra hour of touring the museum.
Consider a trip upstairs to visit the Patsy Cline Museum. View videos, memorabilia, and personal items of this gifted country music star. Her career as a country music star tragically ended in a plane crash when she was only 30.
Address: 119 3rd Ave. S. Nashville, Tennessee
National Museum of African American Music

The National Museum of African American Music in Nashville is a must-visit for music lovers and history buffs. Located in the heart of downtown, this new groundbreaking museum celebrates the profound influence of African American artists on nearly every genre of music, from gospel and blues to jazz, hip-hop, and R&B. The museum opened in January 2021.
Trace the evolution of African American music and its deep cultural impact through immersive exhibits, interactive displays, and rare artifacts. Step inside the "Roots Theater" for a journey through spirituals and early blues, or explore the "One Nation Under a Groove" gallery, highlighting the rise of funk, soul, and hip-hop.
More than just a trip to see stuff in a museum, a visit here is an experience that brings history to life through sound, storytelling, and innovation. Whether you're a casual listener or a die-hard music fan, this vibrant tribute to African American musical heritage is an essential stop in Music City.
Address: 510 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee
Belle Meade Historic Site

Constructed in the mid-19th century, the Belle Meade Mansion is designed in the Greek-Revival style and surrounded by what remains of the former antebellum plantation. During the two-day Civil War Battle of Nashville in 1864, Union and Confederate forces fought on the front yard of the mansion. Evidence of gunfire can still be seen in its tall stone columns.
Guided tours take you into the mansion or explore the plantation stables, gardens, and grounds on your own.
A must-do is lunch at the on-site Belle Meade Meat & Three restaurant. Meat and three is a Tennessee concept that means, just as it says: a piece of meat and three sides. Try the meatloaf with a side of sweet potatoes, if they are on offer during your visit. For a sweet snack, a scoop of ice cream at the Coop N' Scoop, located in a 160-year-old chicken coop, is a delight on a warm day.
Belle Meade Historic Site is nine miles from downtown.
Address: 110 Leake Ave., Nashville, Tennessee
Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum

Not to be confused with the Country Music Hall of Fame is the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, which honors the musical heroes who helped create the stars. These talented session artists worked in famous studios in Nashville, Motown, Muscle Shoals, New York, and Los Angeles. These people you've never heard of are responsible for the music that created thousands of number-one hits.
View the studio where Elvis recorded hits such as In the Ghetto. Behold the stage where young Jimi Hendrix performed, as well as one of his guitars. The museum has an extensive collection of instruments played by artists like Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, Elton John, Ringo Starr, and many others.
More modern highlights in the museum are the interactive displays on the far side of the museum (this area is easily missed). Learn the process that creates superstars of all musical stripes as you mix music, add vocals, and try out instrument assortments to make your own recording.
Address: 401 Gay Street, Nashville, Tennessee
Dining

Although music takes center stage in Nashville, the backup band could be considered the city's restaurant scene. Figuring out where to go might be your most challenging daily task.
You'll find it all here, from the iconic Nashville Hot Chicken at Prince's or Hattie B's fine dining in a beautiful setting at 5th & Taylor, to the exceptional sharing plates of Brooklyn-style Italian food at Pelato in the hip and upcoming Germantown district.
If you want to combine a bit of history with your meal, make the short journey out to Belle Mead Historic Site. Here you can tour the property, learn a bit of Nashville horse history, and chow down on an iconic Meat & Three meal. Downtown, you'll find famous biscuit places for an early morning carb hit. A hot biscuit and a strong coffee will get you well-fueled for your day of adventure.
Frist Art Museum

Housed in a stunning Art Deco building dating from the early 1930s, the Frist Art Gallery is a hotspot in town for all things cultural. Unlike traditional museums with permanent collections, the Frist focuses entirely on temporary exhibitions, showcasing everything from classic European masterpieces to cutting-edge contemporary works. This ever-changing lineup ensures there's always something new to discover.
Traveling as a family? Take the youngsters to the Martin ArtQuest Gallery, an interactive space where kids and adults can create their own art.
Admission is always free for those under 18, so don't be surprised to see plenty of earnest young attendees studying the artwork on the walls. Paid admission gets you access to galleries located on two floors and a free exhibit is located in the main hallway. At the end, you'll find the excellent Cafe Cheeserie, a perfect spot for a coffee or a light snack.
Address: 919 Broadway, Nashville, TN
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage

The Hermitage was the home of America's seventh president, Andrew Jackson. The estate is one of the most picturesque spots in Nashville. Located 14 miles from downtown, the Hermitage was originally constructed in 1819 and rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1834.
Visitors to the Hermitage experience the place as it would have looked when Jackson lived here from 1837 to 1845. The mansion includes a museum with exhibits of Jackson's private and public lives.
Participate in a formal guided tour of the property. Other fun activities include draft horse-powered wagon rides and themed events such as ghost tours. The grounds are well-maintained and include the burial site of Jackson and his wife. Visit the nearby Tulip Grove mansion, the one-time home of family members Emily and Andrew Jackson Donelson.
Address: 4580 Rachel's Ln., Hermitage, Tennessee
Nashville Parthenon

If you're looking for one of the best free things to do in Nashville, see the iconic landmark of Nashville, a reproduction of the Parthenon in Athens. Located in Centennial Park and a short walk west of the city center, the original Parthenon replica was built of wood, plaster, and brick in 1897 to commemorate the state's first century. The current full-scale replica of the original Greek temple is made of concrete.
Inside the Parthenon is a permanent art collection of 63 works by 19th- and 20th-century American painters. Admire the 42-foot-high model of the statue of the goddess Athena Parthenos covered with gold leaf. Replicas of the famed 5th century BCE Parthenon Marbles are also on display.
This beautiful park inspired Taylor Swift to write a few lyrics for her Invisible String song. The city installed a bench dedicated to the singer-songwriter. It's located near Lake Watauga in the Sunken Gardens.
Address: 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, Tennessee
RCA Studio B

RCA Studio B is near Music Square in the area known as Music Row. This is the heart and soul of the nation's music industry, and RCA Studio B is its most protected historic landmark. The "home of 1,000 hits" thrived for about 15 years starting in 1957.
This recording facility is credited as the birthplace of the unique "Nashville sound" that defined so many big hits of the 1950s and 1960s. While the site closed as a recording studio in 1977, it has become a teaching facility. To visit, you need to sign up for a scheduled tour at the main desk in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Address: 1611 Roy Acuff Place, Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville Zoo

The Nashville Zoo is a great place for tourists to visit with children. Explore the plains of Africa, delve into the rainforests of South America, and discover the many animals of Asia. More than 3,000 animals from 350 species can be viewed, including clouded leopards, Baird's tapirs, toucans, and Sumatran tigers. Animals at Nashville Zoo reside in habitats that represent their natural environments.
Lorikeet Landing allows you to enter an aviary and be surrounded by around 85 Australian parrots. Come to the zoo to ride the Wild Animal Carousel and Wilderness Express Train. Kids naturally know what to do on the zoo's large Jungle Gym, where they slide, swing, climb, crawl, and explore. The Soaring Eagle Zip Line takes your visit to the zoo to new heights.
Cheekwood Estate and Gardens

Cheekwood Estate and Gardens is a sumptuous 55-acre haven of peace and grace. This elegant park-like setting is a tranquil place to visit on a sunny day. Galleries of contemporary art in the historic mansion exemplify the Cheekwood's commitment to the arts and arts preservation.
After your tour of the mansion and the Cheekwood's indoor collection, step onto the Sculpture Trail to experience creatively landscaped installations, including "The Glass Bridge for Nashville." Marvel at the diversity of garden designs and influences and range of trees and shrubs, especially when flowering in season.

This historic attraction has an event calendar for spring, summer, and fall catering to all interests and ages. The site also hosts regular festivals, including Cheekwood in Bloom, Summertime at Cheekwood, Cheekwood Harvest, and a Holiday Lights event in late November/December.
Address: 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville, Tennessee
Groove in Glorious Gardens at Gaylord Opryland Resort

Address: 3777 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, Tennessee
You don't need to be staying at the Gaylord Opryland Resort to enjoy its most famous asset: its collection of 50,000 tropical plants, many of which are rare international specimens. This magnificent exhibition is a visual and olfactory feast, housed on nine acres of indoor space and tended by 20 full-time horticulturalists.
One-fifth of the collection is in the Garden Conservatory, which features palms and banana trees 60 feet tall. These plants were so tall, they had to be installed in the glass-topped atrium before its construction.
Florida was the source of more than 8,000 tropical ornamentals chosen for the Cascades Atrium. You'll find a 40-foot palm tree, and ginger bushes as tall as the average man.
Delta Atrium, the third large garden, ushers you into a zone of subtropical plants that you can explore in a delta flatboat. Pass beneath the Wishing Banyan tree and make a wish. Admire exotics such as black olive trees and mahoganies dripping with Spanish moss, more than 100 palm trees, banana trees, gardenias, and camellias. Marvel at the entrance to the Delta Mansion, glorified by two 40-foot Southern magnolias.
Address: 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, Tennessee
Belmont Mansion

Built in the 1850s, the Belmont Mansion is the largest antebellum house in Tennessee. It is considered one of the finest mansions of its kind in the United States. Many rooms have been preserved with much of their original décor and furnishings. Designed in the style of an Italian villa, the mansion features elaborate gardens with outbuildings. Belmont also has permanent art exhibits.
Entering Belmont Mansion, the historic splendor of the building is enhanced by furniture, paintings, and original statues by American artists. Following a guided introduction, you are free to explore the mansion on your own.
During the holidays, one of the top things to do at Belmont is attending its Christmas Tour. You'll get to see the mansion dressed up in Victorian decorations and learn about 19th-century holiday traditions.
Address: Belmont Blvd. & Acklen Ave., Nashville, Tennessee
Tennessee State Museum

Learn more about the rich history of Tennessee's social and natural history at the Tennessee State Museum. Located adjacent to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, this spacious state-of-the-art museum covers an area of 137,000 square feet that efficiently accommodates the large collection of original items, interactive exhibits, and multimedia displays.
The museum's diverse collections are considered the "Smithsonian of Tennessee" and are filled with artifacts relating to the state's role in the Civil War, including period weapons and furniture. There's also a vast collection of artworks and paintings, in addition to displays related to music and musicians. Notable features that bring the state's past to life include a theater, an education and learning center, and an on-site gift shop.
Address: 1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, Tennessee
View Vintage Cars at Lane Motor Museum

Lane Motor Museum showcases a large collection of vehicles, most of which are from Europe, but also includes exhibits from Japan and the United States. The collection includes the tiniest French-made minicar, with room for only one person and requiring no driver's license. Among vintage cars, there are streamlined Adler coupes dating back to the 1930s. The motorcycle collection includes a 1964 folding scooter.
The museum is not just a space for displaying vehicles. It's a showplace for vehicles that have been restored, as closely as possible, to their original condition. The museum also put its engineering expertise into creating a replica of one of the most unusual cars ever made–a 1933 Dymaxion. The brainchild of Buckminster Fuller, designer of the geodesic dome, this streamlined vehicle is so unusual, it looks like it could power an extra-terrestrial. Only three prototypes were ever produced.
The museum displays about 150 vehicles from its collection of more than 580. To view some of the other cars, consider hopping on one of the guided vault tours on the weekends.
Address: 702 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, Tennessee
Cruise on the General Jackson Showboat

The General Jackson Showboat is the modern version of the 1800s classic four-deck paddle-wheel steamship. This showboat is a great way to get your country music fix while cruising on the Cumberland River.
If you're looking for fun things to do in Nashville at night, this pleasant outing offers a unique view of the cityscape from the water. A highlight is passing under the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge.
Address: 2812 Opryland Drive, Nashville, Tennessee
Carter Vintage Guitars

If you love playing guitar, this temple of stringed musical instruments is a must-visit for you. Much of the music you hear in Nashville is played on an acoustic or electric guitar, and many of the more famous instruments you see on stage have probably passed through the doors at Carter Vintage Guitars.
This Nashville institution is world-renowned for its exceptional collection of special and unique guitars. You may think all these guitars have giant "do not touch" signs, but that's not the case here. Anyone is welcome to pick up even the most valuable guitars and play a song or two.

Located in The Gulch area of town, Carter's is easily found owing to the spectacular murals on the building painted by the artist Brian Law.
606 8th Ave S #201, Nashville, Tennessee
Best Time of Year to Visit Nashville

The spring and fall are the best times of the year to visit Nashville, when the weather is pleasant and the temperatures are comfortable. You will also encounter slightly fewer tourists on either side of the booming summer season, which can be a relief for those who want to avoid crowds.
Fewer tourists also means more availability for tickets to high-demand places like the Grand Ole Opry, and easier access to other music venues. Hotel rates will be slightly lower in the spring and fall than they are in the summer when prices are inflated.
During the spring and fall, the weather is nice enough to go to the many outdoor concerts around the city and enjoy patio dining at local restaurants. Spring is the start of fun free outdoor events, like Musicians Corner with live music at Centennial Park, and outdoor concert dates continue into the fall.
If you cannot decide between spring and fall, it is best to scout out the Nashville festival scene and pick dates based on what strikes your interest.
While summer has some exciting events in Nashville like the CMA Fest, if you are not going for a specific reason during this window of time then it is best not to. Summers in Nashville are sweltering. In contrast, the spring and fall temperatures average in the 70s.
Even in the more comfortable months, there can be occasional unpredictable storms and high humidity, so it's a good idea to pack for a range of weather conditions.
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Popular Nashville Day Trips: When you're done exploring Nashville, be sure to spend at least a little time exploring the surrounding area. day trips within an easy drive include a visit to the Carter House and Carnton Plantation, as well as the Historic Sam Davis Home and Plantation, both of which became famous as battlegrounds during the Civil War.
Another great destination with a rich musical history, Memphis is perhaps most famous as the home of Elvis Presley's Graceland. Memphis is also famous for its fun Beale Street Entertainment District, as well as the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum.

The Great Outdoors: For a fun back-to-nature experience, head to the Smoky Mountains, home to the country's most visited national park. Popular outdoor activities include hiking, biking, camping and white water rafting. And if fishing's your thing, Tennessee is famous for its superlative fly fishing, boasting an impressive 22,000 miles of streams and some 29 reservoirs in which to cast a line.
