Plan trips like this one. Open by request.Request access
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
Destinations / United States

Nashville

Honky tonks, hot chicken and country music history

musicnightlifefoodfirst-timers
Plan your trip to NashvilleSee the top 10
704,963Population
2.2 millionMetro area
English, SpanishLanguage
USDCurrency
3 daysIdeal stay
$220-340Typical day

Nashville is the capital of country music, with live bands playing from late morning to late night on Broadway. It suits groups, music fans and food lovers.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. Lower Broadway is the strip of honky tonks downtown where live country music plays from late morning until late at night. Most bars have no cover and bands play for tips.

    EveningTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free entry at most bars.

    Tip. Bring cash to tip the bands, and walk a few blocks off Broadway for quieter bars with serious musicians.
    See on the map

  2. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum traces the genre from its roots to today with costumes, instruments and recordings. Its rotunda holds plaques for every inductee.

    2 to 3 hoursTime needed
    about $32Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    2026 adult admission is 31.95 USD.

    Tip. Combine your visit with the guided tour of the historic RCA Studio B, which is sold through the museum.
    Official siteSee on the map

  3. The Ryman Auditorium was built as a tabernacle in 1892 and later hosted the Grand Ole Opry for decades. Its wooden pews and acoustics make it one of America's most loved concert halls.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $25-30Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    Daytime self guided tour is 25 USD plus tax through October 2026.

    Tip. Seeing a show here is the best way to experience it; daytime tours are a good second option.
    Official siteSee on the map

  4. The Grand Ole Opry is the long running radio show that made Nashville the center of country music. Shows mix legends and newer artists in short sets at the Opry House east of downtown.

    2.5 hoursTime needed
    about $50-150Cost
    yesBook ahead

    Price by seat.

    Tip. Plan for a taxi or shuttle, as the Opry House is near Opryland, a fair drive from downtown.
    Official siteSee on the map

  5. Nashville's Parthenon is a full scale replica of the Athenian temple in Centennial Park, built for an exposition in 1897. Inside is an art museum and a towering gilded statue of Athena.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $10-15Cost
    noBook ahead

    Adult ticket.

    Tip. Walk around Centennial Park and the lake afterwards; the area is near Vanderbilt and the West End.
    See on the map

  6. The Johnny Cash Museum displays costumes, instruments and personal items from the singer's life. It is compact and close to Lower Broadway.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $25-30Cost
    noBook ahead

    Adult ticket.

    Tip. Go first thing in the day, as it fills up quickly in the afternoon.
    See on the map

  7. Music Row is the district of studios, labels and publishing houses where much country music is recorded and written. Many of its offices are in converted houses.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Most buildings are working businesses, so view from outside, and look for the historic RCA Studio B tour from the museum.
    See on the map

  8. The Bluebird Cafe is a small strip mall venue known for intimate songwriter rounds. Many hit songwriters and stars played here early on.

    2 hoursTime needed
    about $10-40Cost
    yesBook ahead

    Price varies.

    Tip. Reservations are released online and go quickly; keep quiet during sets, as the club enforces a listening room rule.
    See on the map

  9. The National Museum of African American Music tells the story of Black American music from spirituals to hip hop. Interactive exhibits let you sing, produce and dance.

    2 hoursTime needed
    about $25-30Cost
    noBook ahead

    Adult ticket.

    Tip. Allow two hours for the interactive galleries; it sits downtown near Broadway.
    See on the map

  10. The Hermitage was the plantation home of President Andrew Jackson, now a museum. Tours cover his life and the enslaved people who worked the land.

    2 to 3 hoursTime needed
    about $25-35Cost
    noBook ahead

    Adult ticket.

    Tip. It is about 20 minutes east of downtown; plan half a day to see the house and grounds.
    Official siteSee on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access
Make it yours

Turn Nashville into your plan

Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.

Plan day by dayAdd any place here to a day of your trip, with times and costs.
Bookings from emailForward flight and hotel confirmations. They land in your trip.
Weather for your datesForecast and usual weather for your exact days, in your units.
Share with your peopleInvite family or friends, split costs, keep one plan.
Request access
Hodolog is open by request for now. Each request is reviewed.
Short on time?

Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Nashville in three days

Add the Opry, Parthenon and East Nashville.

  1. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum2 to 3 hours · about $32
  2. Ryman Auditorium1 hour · about $25-30
  3. Lower BroadwayEvening · Free
  4. Johnny Cash Museum1 hour · about $25-30
  5. Grand Ole Opry2.5 hours · about $50-150
  6. The Parthenon1 hour · about $10-15
  7. Music Row1 hour · Free
  8. Bluebird Cafe2 hours · about $10-40
  9. National Museum of African American Music2 hours · about $25-30
  10. The Hermitage2 to 3 hours · about $25-35
Beyond the city

Day trips

Franklin

A pretty historic main street.

19 mi · Car about 30 minutes

Lynchburg

The Jack Daniel Distillery.

75 mi · Car about 1.5 hours

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: April to June and September to October. Warm days and outdoor festivals.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.5JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

45°F
Typical daily high
Average36°F
Rain4.0 in
About13 rainy days
Sun strength2.2 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Jun

CMA Fest

June 10 to 13, 2027

Four days of country music concerts downtown.

Dec

New Year's Eve Music City Midnight

December 31

A big free downtown concert.

Going on specific dates? A Hodolog trip shows the forecast and the usual weather for your exact days. Request access
Know before you go

At a glance

4/5
Safety

It is a domestic US destination with no State Department travel advisory; downtown is busy and generally safe; watch drinks and belongings in crowded bars.

3/5
Walkability

Downtown is walkable; most other areas need a car.

2/5
Public transport

WeGo buses exist, but visitors rely on ride apps.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
123

1. Downtown

$$$

Best for: first-timers, nightlife

Steps from Broadway.

2. The Gulch

$$$

Best for: couples

Trendy restaurants.

3. East Nashville

$$

Best for: music lovers

Local bars and vintage shops.

Getting there and around

Main airportNashville International Airport (BNA), 8 mi from the center
To the centerA ride app takes about 15 to 20 minutes; an express bus runs downtown.
Around townWalk downtown and use ride apps elsewhere.
Ride appsUber, Lyft
Taste it

What to eat

Nashville hot chicken

Fried chicken with fiery spice.

Meat and three

A plate of one meat and three sides.

Biscuits

Fluffy Southern biscuits.

Good to know

PlugsType A and B, 120 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingTip 18 to 20 percent in sit down restaurants, 1 to 2 dollars per drink in bars and about 15 percent for taxis.
PaymentsCards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for small vendors.
EtiquetteSouthern courtesy is valued: say please, thank you and ma'am or sir. Tip musicians and bar staff, and avoid talking loudly during songwriter performances.
  • Bachelorette parties and party wagons crowd Broadway on weekends; visit on weekdays for a calmer experience.
  • The city is spread out and public transport is limited, so plan on ride shares or a car.
  • Summers are hot and humid, and spring brings thunderstorms.
  • Hot chicken is the signature dish; spicy levels at local spots are serious.

A short history

Founded in 1779 on the Cumberland River, Nashville became Tennessee's capital in 1843. The Grand Ole Opry radio show began in 1925 and made it the center of country music. Music Row later grew into a hub for songwriting and recording.

Found your base? Add it to a trip with Hodolog.
Request access

Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Nashville