The Best Things To Do In Nashville
Main image: Hatch Show Print
There’s a heck of a lot of things to do in Nashville, Tennessee’s ‘Music City’.
And you don’t want to miss a beat.
Which is why we’ve rounded up for you only the best of what’s on in the city, from historic spots in the world of country music, to hyper-futuristic virtual reality arcades; art deco art museums; an entire festival devoted to tomatoes; a concert in a 300-foot deep cave; wine-fuelled art crawls; midnight movies; and a full-size recreation of an Ancient Greek monument.
So, please welcome to the stage – the very best things to do in Nashville.
PS You can explore all of our favourite restaurants, bars, hotels, and things to do in our full Nashville City Guide
TOUR THE HISTORIC RYMAN AUDITORIUM | Downtown
Then record your own song in the official studio. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Tours daily, 9am-4.30pm | 116 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219 | Tour $21.95, recording $30-40
TOUR THE STUDIO WHERE ELVIS RECORDED 200+ SONGS | Downtown
Take a look around the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, then hop on the shuttle bus here. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Tours daily | 1611 Roy Acuff Pl, Nashville, TN 37203 | $41
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HEAR SONGWRITERS SING AT THE LISTENING ROOM | SoBro
They do a cracking brunch here, too. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Mon-Sat 11am-3pm, 4-11pm (from 10am Sat) | 618 4th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37210 | $$
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TOUR THE CITY’S BEST BARS
Here’s where you can find them… VIEW MORE INFO
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ZIPWIRE OVER THE SAVANNAH AT NASHVILLE ZOO | Grassmere Park
Then check out their lates schedule; from open air cinema to craft beer parties with roaming animals. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Open 9am-6pm daily (4pm in winter) | 3777 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211 | From $17
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VISIT… THE PARTHENON | West End
Mobilus in Mobili/Flickr
It’s a full size replica, complete with 42-foot gilded statue of Athena. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Tues-Sat 9am-4.30pm, Sun 12.30pm-4.30pm | 2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203 | $6
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STROLL THROUGH THE MUSEUM AND GARDENS AT CHEEKWOOD | West Nashville
Then stick around for their Lates, with silent discos and craft cocktails. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Tues-Sun 10am-5pm (Thurs/Fri lates 5-10pm) | 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37205 | $20
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WATCH A GIG IN A 333-FOOT DEEP CAVE | McMinnville
Eli Christman/Flickr
And follow it up with some nocturnal potholing. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Regular dates | 1437 Cumberland Caverns Road, McMinnville, TN 37110 | From $30
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ORDER THE FRIED BOLOGNA SANDWICH AT ROBERT’S WESTERN WORLD | Downtown
Wash it down with an ice cold PBR beer, and soak up the live country music. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Open 11am-2am daily (from noon Sunday) | 416B Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 | No cover charge
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HEAD TO THE TOMATO ART FEST | Five Points
This August festival sees Nashvillians paint the town red with all manner of tomato-based activities; including art classes, parades, Bloody Mary contests, tomato story time, a redhead contest, a tomato beauty pageant, and regular attempts to best the world record for “Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Fruit/Vegetables”. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Every August | Woodland, Five Points | $
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PEDAL THROUGH SOBRO ON A GIANT PARTY BIKE | SoBro
With your own private bartender and DJ, obv. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Any time, any where | 516 5th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203 | From $39 individual, $360 private hire
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WALK THROUGH THE GEORGE JONES MUSEUM | Downtown
Learn about one of Country Music’s most successful artists, before hearing the stuff live on their rooftop bar overlooking the river. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Museum open daily 10am-8pm, rooftop 11am-10pm Sun-Wed, 11am-1am Thur-Sat | 128 2nd Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201 | $17 entry
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TRY THE XXX HOT CHICKEN AT PRINCE’S | Goodlettsville
It’s not for the faint-hearted. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Open 11.30am-10pm Tue-Thur, 11.30am-4am Fri, 2pm-4am Sat | 123 Ewing Drive, Nashville, TN 37207 | $
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SWIM, BOWL, AND PLAY PING PONG AT PINEWOOD SOCIAL | Downtown
Oh, and get cocktails for each activity. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Open M-F 7am-1am, S-S 9am-1am | 33 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210 | $$
ATTEND A LIVE BROADCAST AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY | Opryland
Then snoop round the dressing rooms on a backstage tour. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Recorded shows almost daily | 2804 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN 37214 | From $40
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VISIT ONE OF NASHVILLE’S HIGH-END EATERIES
We have a few suggestions here… VIEW MORE INFO
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EXPLORE THE SHOPS AND CAFES IN HILLSBORO VILLAGE | Hillsboro Village
Make sure you stop for a coffee at Fido and brunch at Biscuit Love. VIEW MORE INFO
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THEN CATCH A FILM AT THE BELCOURT | Hillsboro Village
They have midnight screenings of everything from cult classics to niche documentaries. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Daily screenings | 2102 Belcourt Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212 | $10
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GO ON A FREE EVENING ART CRAWL | Downtown
25 galleries, with a side of free wine. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: First Saturday of every month | Across Downtown | Free Entry
LISTEN TO FREE CONCERTS IN A VINEYARD | Arrington
Pack a picnic, and settle in for some jazz or bluegrass. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Every weekend April-October | 6211 Patton Rd, Arrington, TN 37014 | Free Entry
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DRINK STEINS OF MIMOSAS AT THE VON ELROD’S SAUSAGE BRUNCH | Germantown
Then attempt to play Hammerschlagen; hitting a nail into a tree trunk. Using the wrong end of a hammer. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Brunch served weekends, 10am-2pm | 1004 4th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219 | $$
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BROWSE THE POSTERS AT HATCH SHOW PRINT | Downtown
It’s one of America’s oldest letterpress print shops. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Open daily 9.30am-6pm | 224 5thAvenue South, Nashville, TN 37203 | Free
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HIT THE NASHVILLE NIGHT MARKET | Fisk/Meharry
There’s vintage shops, record stalls, live music, street food, and fire breathers. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: First Friday of every month | 808 19th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208 | $5
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GO DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE | Midtown
AKA, the city’s first VR arcade. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Open 12-9pm Tues-Thurs, Sun; 12-10pm Fri/Sat | 1807B Church Street, Nashville, TN 37203 | From $15
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SIP BEERS IN A VINTAGE TROLLEY CAR | Germantown
Then play a game of cornhole on the outdoor patio. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Open daily 11am-3am | 1318 6th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208 | $
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CHECK OUT NASHVILLE’S FINEST ART COLLECTION | Downtown
The Frist Art Museum showcases everything from contemporary local art to political photography; plus a packed schedule of workshops and classes. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Open 10am-5.30pm daily (until 9pm Th/Fri, and from 1pm Sun) | 919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 | $12
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THEN HEAD TO THE JOHNNY CASH MUSEUM | Downtown
If you forget how to navigate this corridor, just Walk The Line. VIEW MORE INFO
Details: Open 9am-6pm daily | 119 3rd Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37201 | $19.95
PS Need somewhere to stay while you’re checking this all off? Peruse our guide to the Best Hotels In Nashville…