Nashville, also known as the Music City, is the capital of Tennessee. The city has a colorful history of country music and is the place to visit if you want to experience it. That’s exactly what made us take a trip to Nashville and we are so glad we did. In addition to the amazing music scene, sports fans, food lovers, and avid shoppers will find something to satisfy their cravings as well. Nashville is a great vacation destination and here are my recommendations for 14 great things to do in Nashville.
14 great things to do in Nashville
1. Listen to great music in a honky tonk
One of the great things to do in Nashville is to visit a honky tonk and listen to some great music. Honky tonks are bars that play country music and in Nashville they are a must. In fact, the bars that line up lower Broadway, also known as the Honky Tonk Highway, are several stories high and have a different band playing live music on each floor. The music scene in Nashville is amazing, so whichever venue you choose, you’re going to love it. We visited probably a dozen places and had a great time. The Stage was our favorite bar but you really can’t go wrong. The music is wonderful everywhere!
2. Visit the Grand Ole Opry
Going to the Grand Ole Opry was truly a great experience. We saw the Gatlin Borthers, Suzy Bogguss, and Loretta Lynn’s sister – Crystal Gayle. The show was really well done and we enjoyed every second of it. We bought tickets ahead of time as seats fill up pretty quickly. Even if you’re not a huge fan of country music going to the show is certainly an attraction. After all, there is so much history to it.
3. Tour the Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium often referred to as the Mother Church of Country Music is another must-see site while in Nashville. This iconic building was the original home of the Grand Ole Opry for over 30 years, from 1943 to 1974. The biggest bluegrass and country music stars performed here and concerts continue to this day. I highly recommend touring this revered venue, which is conveniently located right downtown. We were incredibly lucky to be right there when the statue of Charlie Pride was unveiled in front of the building, joining Loretta Lynn and Bill Monroe.
4. Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame
Another great thing to do in Nashville is to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame. The museum documents the rich history of country music and displays a variety of artifacts representing different artists and time periods. To enhance your visit, I recommend renting the audio guide to guide you on your tour. Set aside several hours as there is a lot to read and see in the museum.
5. Stroll around Vanderbilt University
Nashville is home to 16 institutions of higher education and Vanderbilt University is perhaps the most prestigious one. It was established 150 years ago in 1873 and has produced many notable alumni. The campus is quite extensive, with lots of trees and green areas, especially in the older part. While the grounds were not as lovely as at Belmont, we enjoyed our walk around the campus.
6. See the Nashville Parthenon and Centennial Park
Centennial Park flanks Vanderbilt University to the east, so you can easily combine a visit to both places. Nashville is sometimes referred to as the Athens of the South and the Parthenon is one of the reasons. It is an exact replica of the Greek temple but if you’ve been to Greece and have seen the real Parthenon, you’ll see the difference. Nevertheless, visiting Centennial Park should be on everyone’ agenda. This green area offers walking trails, a small lake, and plenty of space for a picnic.
7. Explore the Gulch
The Gulch is a cool little neighborhood right around downtown. It sits on land reclaimed from a railroad yard, a great example of urban renewal, in some ways similar to High Line in New York City. The area is popular with tourists and locals alike. Station Inn, the venue that caters to bluegrass music is located here. While we didn’t make it to the Station Inn, we did have some pretty tasty barbeque at the Peg Leg Poker. Also, don’t miss the amazing What Lifts You Wings mural at 302 11th Ave S. It’s certainly impressive.
8. Enjoy Nashville’s sport scene
Nashville is an attractive city for sports fans as well. The NHL’s Predators play right downtown at the Bridgestone Arena while the NFL Tennessee Titans play on the other side of downtown, right across the Cumberland River, at the Nisan Stadium. Even if you’re not going to catch a game, you can easily walk around both stadiums.
9. Visit the State Capitol and the Bicentennial Mall
Tennessee State Capitol Building is one of the oldest in the country. The building is located on the highest hill in Nashville and does not have a dome. President Polk and his wife are buried on the capitol grounds. North of the State Capitol is the Bicentennial Capitol Mall Park with monuments highlighting the state’s history, geography, and culture. You can easily walk to both places from downtown.
10. Walk the beautiful grounds of Belmont University
Belmont University absolutely deserves a visit and falls into the category of 10 great things to do in Nashville without a question. Both the buildings and the grounds are impressive and very well maintained. Don’t miss the charming Belmont Mansion with its lovely gardens and pergolas. We greatly enjoyed strolling through the campus and admiring the grounds. On your way back downtown, stop by Hillsboro Village. With a good variety of restaurants and cafes, the area is definitely popular with college students and another vibrant neighborhood.
11. Have a drink on 12th South
12th Street South is a vibrant area with coffee shops, restaurants, and small boutiques. It’s a great place to have a drink or grab a bite to eat. We walked there on Easter morning and were happy to find almost all businesses open. We returneda few days later for some delicious barbecue.
12. Visit Fisk University
Fisk University was established in 1866 and is the oldest university in Nashville. This historically black school has produced several well known alumni, among them W.E.B. Du Bois and Congressman John Lewis. We enjoyed a walk through the campus, a 3rd institution of higher education we visited in Nashville within 7 days.
13. East some fried chicken
There are many great options to enjoy southern food and fried chicken in Nashville. We really liked Hattie B’s Hot Chicken and ate several times there. The prices are very accessible and both the chicken and the sides tasted great. They also have desert and beer, and you can find them in several locations around town.
14. Visit Johnny Cash's and June Carter's grave
We definitely wanted to see Johnny Cash’s grave while in Nashville. Since we had a rental car, we drove to Hendersonville Memory Gardens, just a few miles outside of Nashville. Johnny Cash is buried next to his wife June Carter and several other members of the Carter family are buried nearby.
Looking for more great things to do in or around Nashville?
We decided to combine our visit to Nashville with a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We also stopped at Knoxville and enjoyed a walk around the University of Tennessee campus. Another option is to visit Mammoth Cave National Park. We were lucky to stop there as well.
