Nashville, TN is a vibrant city with a rich history and culture. Whether you’re a music lover, foodie, or history buff, there’s something for everyone in this southern gem. Listen to great music from the streets of Broadway, eat the BEST food, and even get your wings. From iconic music venues to delicious restaurants and museums, this guide to the best places to visit in Nashville will help you plan your perfect trip.
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Top Places To Visit In Nashville TN
This visit Nashville guide is family-friendly and is also sprinkled with fun places to visit for Taylor Swift fans.
1 – Broadway
Visit the vibrant and lively street filled with honky-tonks, live music venues, restaurants, and shops. It’s the heart of Nashville’s entertainment district and not to be missed.
5 celebrity-inspired must-see places on Broadway
- Tootsies – Tootsies is the most famous honky tonk on Broadway. Its purple orchid exterior can’t be missed!
- Ole Red – Intended and inspired by Blake Shelton’s “Ole Red” song, this four-level Nashville restaurant offers live music and “Lookout” views from the rooftop
- Casa Rosa – Tex-Mex food and entertainment brought to Broadway from Texas’ Miranda Lambert
- Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar – Where Jason’s theme is “come for the food, stay for the party”
- FGL House – Florida Georgia Line’s basement level to “Cruise” rooftop bar and restaurant is on 3rd Ave off Broadway
Tootsies is the most iconic honky tonk landmark on Broadway
2 – Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
No trip to Nashville is complete without a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. This iconic museum is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of country music, with exhibits featuring artifacts, instruments, and memorabilia from some of the genre’s biggest stars. Don’t miss interactive displays within the Taylor Swift Education Center, or featured exhibits such as Through Taylor Swift’s Eras Exhibit (thru May 2023) and Chris Stapleton Since 1978 (thru June 2023). Whether you’re a die-hard country fan or just appreciate great music, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a must-see attraction in Nashville. If you can’t get tickets, visit the first floor of the museum and shop area which is free to enter.
Visit part of the first floor for free at the Country Music Hall of Fame
3 – Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a world-famous country music venue that has been showcasing top talent since 1925. From classic country to modern hits, the Opry offers a diverse lineup of performers from Dolly Parton to Carrie Underwood. Each Opry show features 8 or more artists as they perform in the famed wooden circle. Be sure to book tickets in advance, take a backstage tour to learn more about the history and legends of the Opry – some of which are immediately after the last performance. If you can’t do either, catch a glimpse of this most popular place to visit in Nashville Tn by popping into The Grand Ole Opry Shop.
4 – The Gulch
The Gulch is a trendy neighborhood located just south of downtown Nashville. It’s known for its upscale restaurants, boutique shops, and vibrant nightlife. The area is also home to some of Nashville’s most colorful murals, including the famous “What Lifts You” wings mural. Arrive early because the queue for a wings photo can take an hour or more after 10 am.
A photo at this mural in The Gulch is a must!
You can spend hours just eating at Milk & Honey, shopping, and snapping photos of all the pretty things in The Gulch – including “you’re like, really pretty” at Kittenish.
MUST go to Milk & Honey Gulch for the BEST chicken biscuit breakfast!
This part of the city is my favorite place to visit in Nashville!
5 – The Parthenon
The Parthenon is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece, and is located in Centennial Park. It was built in 1897 as part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition and now serves as an art museum. Inside, you’ll find a 42-foot-tall statue of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war. The Parthenon is a must-visit for history buffs and art lovers alike.
Nearby The Parthenon in Centennial Park you’ll find The Taylor Swift Bench installed May 4, 2023, ahead of her record-breaking performance at Nissan Stadium.
6 – Ryman Auditorium
Another top place to visit in Nashville Tn is the Ryman Auditorium, known as the “Mother Church of Country Music.” Built in 1892, the Ryman has hosted countless legendary performers, including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Elvis Presley. Guided tours are available and if you’re lucky, you may even catch a live performance or celebrity during your visit.
Miley Cyrus was filming during my last Nashville visit so the Ryman was closed for shows and tours but check in advance for scheduled events.
If you can’t go to a show, it’s worth checking out the historical markers at the Ryman
7 – Johnny Cash Museum and Cafe
The best place to visit in Nashville Tn for fans of the Man in Black is the Johnny Cash Museum and Cafe, located in the heart of downtown Nashville. The museum features a vast collection of memorabilia, including Cash’s guitars, handwritten lyrics, and iconic stage costumes. You can also grab a bite to eat at the on-site cafe, which serves up Southern-style comfort food and live music.
8 – 12 South Nash
12 South Nashville is known for its vibrant food scene, boutique shopping, and colorful art scene including the famous “I Believe in Nashville” mural. Stop in Reese Witherspoon’s charming boutique, Draper James, for Southern-inspired fashion. And while in 12 South, Swifties must order a beverage from Nashville’s oldest coffee house, Frothy Monkey. This Nashville coffee house is a Taylor Swift favorite!
Buy something totally southern at Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James
9 – The Bluebird Cafe
There’s no Taylor Swift-owned venue yet in Nashville, but The Bluebird Cafe is where she, along with so many others got their famed start. You can find The Bluebird Cafe in a strip mall located in Nashville’s Green Hills neighborhood. Its 90-person venue is unassuming in location and appearance but totally famous! The Bluebird Cafe is hard to secure tickets so plan well in advance for your chance at securing a spot in this must-see place in Nashville.
10 – John Seigenthaler Bridge
The John Seigenthaler Bridge, formerly known as the Shelby Street Bridge, spans across the Cumberland River connecting the east and west sides of the city. This Nashville landmark is a truss bridge with a steel structure and has a dedicated pedestrian walkway. The John Seigenthaler Bridge offers the perfect spot to capture the city’s iconic skyline with its towering buildings and landmarks.
Crossing this iconic bridge is a must during your Nashville visit
11 – Frist Art Museum
Located in the former main post office of Nashville, this art deco-style building is home to the Frist Art Museum. Frist Art Museum is known for its interactive and educational gallery called Martin ArtQuest (MAC). MAC offers hands-on activities and interactive experiences for visitors to engage with the artistic process and create their own artworks. And if that’s not a cool enough reason for it being a top place to visit in Nashville Tn, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Frist Art Museum’s flower sculpture – free to visit outside
Where To Stay For Your Nashville Visit
While there are many hotel choices in Nashville, the Renaissance Nashville Hotel is close to all the downtown activity while being far enough away from Broadway and Ryman to not keep you awake. In addition to the hotel’s proximity to most places to visit in Nashville, the Renaissance is dog-friendly. This is a huge bonus for any road trip family!
All places in this Visit Nashville Guide can be accessed by walking with the following exceptions: The Grand Ole Opry, The Parthenon, 12 South Nash, and The Bluebird Cafe.
Final Tips On Places to Visit In Nashville TN
As my luck would have it, you can add something from the UK to this visit Nashville guide. I found a British red phone booth in Nashville. For a fun photo to send to your British friends and family, you can locate it on the corner of Commerce Street and 8th Ave.
British red phone booth on 8th & Commerce
And while there, look up and along Commerce Street for the Dolly Parton mural that honors her contributions towards children’s literacy. Personally, I think it’s Miley sitting on her lap.
If you love the “What Lifts You” mural and seeking your next country music place to visit, find its mini mural version and more on a visit to Houston Texas.
Find a smaller version of Nashville’s #whatliftsyou in Houston, Texas
Lastly, be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes (cowboy boots included) and grab your cutest western hat! Use this visit Nashville guide and let me know your favorite part of the trip! Mine: The Gulch