Planning a Trip to Nashville: An Insider’s Guide to Music City

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Article written by: Rebecca
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A must-visit for music fans, Nashville draws visitors from all around the world. But as a touristy city, it can be hard to figure out what to do – and what not to do when you plan your trip to Nashville. Here, travel blogger and graphic designer Joshua Luck shares his tips on what you must do when you visit Nashville for the first time, as well as some local insider knowledge to get you off the beaten path.

Over to you, Joshua!

This blog post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you).

Why plan a trip to Nashville?

Nashville, the capital of Tennessee, is a bucket list USA destination. Known as the birthplace of country music, Nashville is bustling with excitement and a unique culture.

Over the years, Nashville has grown rapidly. This means plenty of great things to do, but also plenty of difficult decisions to be made about where to go and what to do during your visit to Nashville. Lucky for you, this insider’s guide is sourced straight from the locals. Get a behind-the-scenes look at what to add to your Nashville itinerary.

Many musical legends have stopped by Nashville to play music - this mural shows just a few of them
Image by Paul Brennan on Pixabay

What all visitors must do on a trip to Nashville

As a tourist, there are a few things that simply must be done to truly feel the heart of the city. Here are the things you need to do when planning a trip to Nashville.

Country Music Hall of Fame

Everyone who visits Nashville needs to go to the Country Music Hall of Fame at least once. See the rich history of what made Nashville famous as you take a tour through history and experience the greats in country music.

Centennial Park

Centennial Park is home to the Parthenon, an exact replica of the Parthenon in Greece. This park is great for a photo opp and many couples go here just to take pictures. The scenery is like no other and the Parthenon makes for an interesting backdrop against the city.

Be sure to also check out Centennial Park on the weekends for the occasional outdoor festival.

Nashville murals

Did you really go to Nashville if you didn’t take a picture in front of one of its many murals? This is probably the most touristy thing to do in Nashville, but there is just something so satisfying about it! If you see one, be sure to stop by and snap a few pics.  However, be prepared for a line in the peak seasons.

Nashville is famous for its artwork, and when planning a trip to Nashville you must schedule in time to check out some of the murals
Photo by Katy Anne on Unsplash

Gaylord Opryland Resort

Once an amusement park called Opryland is now a mall and vast hotel named the Opryland Resort. Take walk through the resort’s massive indoor sanctuary complete with an indoor river, shops, and lush plants. This is a can’t-miss sight and once you’re done walking through the resort, be sure to check out Opry Mills, a mall next door.

What the locals do in Nashville

For those who have time to spare, or those who have been to Nashville before, here are some things to do in Nashville that only the locals know about!

Radnor Lake

Radnor Lake is a free park that is an excellent location for any nature enthusiast. With a huge lake, biking trails, and beautiful scenery, Radnor Lake is a relaxing oasis away from the chaos of the city. Take a picnic and enjoy the sun.

Five Points

Five Points is the conversion of five roads in East Nashville. Here, you can find independently owned restaurants and shops as well as the occasional festival. Five Points is a great place to feel the vibe of Nashville away from the tourist crowds.

The Belcourt

Open since 1925, the Belcourt is Nashville’s oldest movie theatre. They play independent movies from festivals such as the Sundance Film Festival.

Topgolf

Topgolf is a roaring great time! It’s actually a chain and has locations in Dallas and Miami, and Nashville recently got its own slice of the action. This is an excellent place for large groups. Topgolf is essentially a three-story driving range where visitors rent a pod and hit golf balls at targets similar to ski-ball.

Pro tip: order some tableside snacks and drinks to really get the party going!

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Where to eat on your trip to Nashville

Nashville has some of the best food in the United States, and any tourist visiting needs to make it a priority to eat at as many places as possible during their stay. Although known for Nashville hot chicken, this city is jammed to the brim with independently owned restaurants putting their own spin on things. Here are some of the can’t-miss places to eat in Nashville, broken down by neighbourhood.

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The Gulch

  • Sambuca – New American food $$
  • Biscuit Love Gulch – Southern $$
  • Otaku Ramen – Japanese $$

12 South

  • Burger Up – American $$
  • Edley’s Bar-B-Que – Barbecue $
  • 12 South Taproom and Grill – Grill $$

Downtown

  • ACME Feed & Seed – Southern $$
  • Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant – Family $$

Edgehill

  • Bella Napoli – Italian $
  • Mamacita – Mexican $$

East Nashville

  • The Pharmacy – Hamburgers $$
  • 5 Points Pizza – Pizza $$
  • Lockeland Table – American $$

Nashville nightlife

If you look at any Nashville tourist website, it will say time and time again to live up your nightlife on Broadway. Broadway is a large street running through the centre of Nashville, lined with bars.

However, every local knows that Broadway – while fun – is a tourist trap. Save yourself the headache and have some class with your nightlife. Here are some of the best bars and clubs that you need to visit during your stay in Nashville.

Nashville's nightlife is legendary, and you can always catch live music
Photo by Hari Nandakumar on Unsplash

Pinewood Social

Downtown

Pinewood Social has a buzzing nightlife! As one of the most popular places to visit, almost every tourist finds their way to Pinewood Social before the end of their trip.  Pinewood Social offers great food, a fun atmosphere, a pool and even a bowling alley!

Sambuca

The Gulch

Located in the Gulch, this is an excellent place to hear some authentic Nashville live music. Though Sambuca is more of a restaurant than a bar or club, it still offers excellent live music which creates a roaring nightlife scene. This destination is perfect for large groups because of its upscale vibe and excellent food.

Wildhorse Saloon

7th Street

To really get into the country spirit, the Wildhorse Saloon is the place to go. With a large interior and high ceilings, the music rings throughout the venue all night long. This club is located in a renovated warehouse and contains three levels of excitement. It also has nightly dancing lessons so everyone can get out on the dancefloor before the night is up.

Mercy Lounge

The Gulch

The Mercy Lounge is one of the most popular places to hear live music and the atmosphere is perfect for it. No matter what kind of nightlife you’re interested in, Mercy Lounge has it. From top-tier bars to vintage pinball machines and pool tables, this is the perfect venue to dance the night away.

Where to stay in Nashville

Nashville is broken up into subsections around the city: the Gulch, 12 South, Hillsborough Village, East Nashville, Music Row, Edgehill and Downtown.  Of those options, Downtown and the Gulch are the best places to stay in Nashville. These two locations are the main hub for hotels and most anything worth going to will be within walking distance.

However, if you are looking to stay at an Airbnb or a VRBO, then East Nashville and 12 South are the best options. These locations are more residential and are bustling with shops and restaurants. Staying at one of these locations will still put you in the heart of the action, but you can have some room to breathe.

Check out hotels in Nashville on Booking.com or Expedia.

Nashville is always busy and has a fun atmosphere
Photo by Calvin Craig on Unsplash

How to get around Nashville

Most visitors don’t drive their own cars when visiting Nashville. Uber and Lyft are among the most popular methods to get around to avoid the traffic and paying parking fees.

Nashville also recently introduced an electric scooter system. There are scooters scattered around the streets, and all you need to do is scan the QR code on it and ride wherever you need to go. Once you get to your destination, simply get off and leave it for the next person. It only costs a dollar to start it up!

About the author

The writer behind this guide to planning a trip to Nashville is Joshua Luck, a content creator and graphic designer from Tennessee. When he isn’t writing, Josh spends his time travelling, creating art and hiking with his dog. As a travel enthusiast, he currently runs the blog Vacation Lion. You can also find him on Twitter.

USA TRIP ESSENTIALS

  • Book flights to and around the USA online with Skyscanner. I like this site because it shows me which dates are cheaper.
  • Find a great hotel in the USA. Check prices on Booking.com and Expedia online.
  • Check out the huge range of day tours throughout the USA on GetYourGuide or Viator. There’s something for everyone.
  • A copy of the Lonely Planet guide to the USA will be handy.
  • One thing I always purchase is travel insurance! Travel Insurance Master allows you to compare across multiple policy providers, while SafetyWing is great for long-term travellers and digital nomads.

This post was published in May 2019, and was updated in June 2020, September 2021 and January 2023.

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About REBECCA

I'm a travel junkie who started dreaming about seeing the world from a very young age. I've visited more than 40 countries and have a Master of International Sustainable Tourism Management. A former expat, I've lived in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Argentina and the United States. I share travel resources, tips and stories based on my personal experiences, and my goal is to make travel planning just that bit easier.

2 thoughts on “Planning a Trip to Nashville: An Insider’s Guide to Music City”

  1. I really like that you talked about visiting the music museums at least once if you are a fan of country music. My family and I are going on a trip to TN this year and we want to do some fun activities. It would be great if we could try something that is less touristy as well.

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