A Nashville weekend itinerary for music lovers
A Nashville weekend is built around music, and the city makes it easy: live bands play from midday on Broadway, the Ryman hosts shows most nights, and songwriters trade tunes in tiny rooms. This plan mixes the famous stops with the neighborhoods where locals actually eat.
Before you go
Best time to visit
Spring and fall are ideal, with comfortable temperatures and lots of outdoor music. April through June and September through October are the sweet spots. Summer is hot and humid, and June brings the big CMA Fest crowds. Winter is quieter, and the music never stops.
Getting around
Downtown is compact and walkable. Broadway, the Ryman, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Johnny Cash Museum are all within a few blocks. For 12 South, East Nashville or the Opry House near Opryland, use rideshare. You do not need a car unless you plan day trips.
Where to stay
- Downtown and SoBro: walk to Broadway, the Ryman and the river.
- The Gulch: stylish, with restaurants and the well known wings mural.
- Midtown and Music Row: near Vanderbilt and the old recording studios.
- East Nashville: relaxed, creative, and full of good food, just across the river.
Day 1: Downtown and Broadway
Morning
Start at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, a huge collection of instruments, costumes and recordings that tells the story of the genre. A combination tour can add Historic RCA Studio B on Music Row, where Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton and the Everly Brothers recorded. Book that ahead.
Afternoon
Walk to the Ryman Auditorium, the Mother Church of Country Music and the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. The daytime tour lets you stand on the stage. Then visit the Johnny Cash Museum nearby. Grab hot chicken for lunch: Prince's Hot Chicken Shack is credited with the original, and Hattie B's is the name most visitors know. Order a mild heat level if you are new to it.
Evening
Walk Lower Broadway after dark. Honky tonks like Tootsie's Orchid Lounge and Robert's Western World have live bands playing classic country for no cover in most cases, though tipping the band is expected. If you have tickets, catch a concert at the Ryman instead and save Broadway for a late stroll.
Day 2: The Opry and the neighborhoods
Morning
Start with brunch, then head to Centennial Park to see the Parthenon, a full scale replica of the original in Athens. Inside is a towering statue of Athena and an art museum. The park around it is a good place for a walk.
Afternoon
Take a ride to 12 South, a walkable strip of boutiques, coffee shops and murals, including the famous I Believe in Nashville wall nearby. Then head to The Gulch for more shopping and the popular wings mural. If you prefer history, visit the Frist Art Museum downtown, housed in a beautiful Art Deco former post office.
Evening
Spend the night at the Grand Ole Opry, the long running country music radio show. Each show features several artists, from legends to new names. Most shows are at the Grand Ole Opry House near Opryland, with some seasons at the Ryman. Arrive early to see the circle of wood from the original stage. Check current schedules and book ahead.
Day 3: Songwriters and East Nashville
Morning
Cross the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge for a view of the skyline over the Cumberland River. Walk to East Nashville for breakfast and coffee. The neighborhood is full of local spots and good record shops.
Afternoon
Choose your style. History lovers can head to The Hermitage, the home of Andrew Jackson, or Belle Meade Historic Site, a former plantation and thoroughbred farm with a winery today. Music lovers can visit the National Museum of African American Music downtown, which covers gospel, blues, jazz, R&B and hip hop.
Evening
End the weekend at the Bluebird Cafe, a small listening room where songwriters perform the songs they wrote for big stars. It is quiet and intimate, and seats are hard to get, so plan ahead. If you cannot get in, look for writers' rounds elsewhere in town, or visit Printers Alley for historic clubs and live music.
Where to eat beyond hot chicken
Hot chicken gets the headlines, but Nashville cooking goes deeper. Look for a meat and three, a Southern lunch tradition where you pick one main and three sides from the day's lineup. Arnold's Country Kitchen is one of the best known. For breakfast, the Loveless Cafe on the edge of town has served biscuits and country ham for decades, and the Pancake Pantry near Vanderbilt has been a local institution for generations.
Sweet tooth? Nashville is the home of the Goo Goo Cluster, a candy bar first made in the city in 1912, and you can find it at a shop downtown. Barbecue, Tennessee whiskey bars and Southern fine dining round out the list, and Germantown and East Nashville are good neighborhoods for a relaxed dinner away from Broadway.
If you have one more day, drive south to Franklin, a historic small town with a charming Main Street, antique shops and Civil War sites, or follow the Natchez Trace Parkway, a scenic road that begins just outside the city.
Tips for a great weekend
- Book the Opry, the Bluebird and Studio B as early as you can.
- Bring cash for tips. Bands on Broadway are usually playing for tips.
- Wear comfortable boots or shoes; you will walk a lot downtown.
- If you are in a big group, settle on one ticketed show per night so plans do not fall apart. Our group trip planner guide shows how to do that with a vote.
Planning it in Wander Off
Create a Nashville adventure and add each stop to the Plan tab by day, from the Hall of Fame on Day 1 to the Bluebird on Day 3. Invite your friends so everyone can vote on the shows and restaurants. Book flights and your hotel in the Tickets tab, and ask the AI Travel Concierge to find things to do near where you are staying. Photos and videos from every honky tonk land on the right day and place automatically, and when you get home you can make the adventure public so friends can copy it. For another music city, see our New Orleans 3 day itinerary.
