6 Things to Know Before Visiting Nashville
Nashville has gone from a country music town to one of the busiest weekend destinations in the US. That’s great news for the food and music, but it also means a first trip can be confusing, crowded and more expensive than you planned.
In this guide
- 1. Broadway is fun, but it isn’t Nashville
- 2. Weekends are full of bachelorette parties
- 3. Downtown is walkable, but the city isn’t
- 4. Book the big shows ahead
- 5. Hot chicken really is hot
- 6. The best music is often away from Broadway
- Something to see beyond the music
- When to visit
- What a trip costs
- Where to stay
- Common questions
Here are six things to know before visiting Nashville, so you spend less time figuring it out and more time listening to music.
1. Broadway is fun, but it isn’t Nashville
Lower Broadway is the famous stretch of honky-tonks, neon signs and live bands that play from late morning to the early hours. There’s no cover at most bars, and the musicians are genuinely talented. You should go.
Just don’t make it your whole trip. By evening on weekends, it’s packed and loud, and many of the bars are now multi-story party venues. Go during the day, when the crowds are thinner and you can actually hear the band. Tip them, too. Most play for tips, not a paycheck.
2. Weekends are full of bachelorette parties
Nashville is one of the most popular bachelorette destinations in the country. On Friday and Saturday nights, you’ll see pedal taverns, party tractors and groups in matching cowboy boots everywhere downtown.
It’s mostly good fun, but it affects prices. Hotels on weekends cost a lot more and book up early. If you can, visit Sunday to Thursday instead. You’ll pay less, find tables more easily and still have music every single night.
3. Downtown is walkable, but the city isn’t
Downtown, the Gulch and SoBro are easy to walk between. Beyond that, Nashville is spread out, and some of the best neighborhoods, like East Nashville, 12 South and Germantown, are a few miles apart.
Public transit is limited, so most visitors use rideshares. They’re quick and fairly cheap for short hops. If you’re staying downtown, you won’t need a rental car, and parking there is expensive. Walk across the pedestrian bridge over the Cumberland River at least once for the skyline view.
4. Book the big shows ahead
The Ryman Auditorium is called the Mother Church of Country Music, and seeing any show inside it is special. The acoustics are famous, and the old wooden pews are still there. Daytime tours run if you can’t catch a concert.
The Grand Ole Opry is the longest-running radio show in the US, and each night features several artists, from legends to new names. It’s held at the Opry House, about 20 minutes from downtown, and moves to the Ryman for some winter shows. Both sell out, so buy tickets as soon as your dates are set.
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5. Hot chicken really is hot
Nashville hot chicken is fried chicken coated in a fiery cayenne paste, served on white bread with pickles. It’s delicious, and it’s no joke. Most places offer heat levels from plain to something with a warning label.
Start with mild or medium, even if you love spicy food. Prince’s Hot Chicken is the original, and Hattie B’s is the most famous, though the lines can be long. Bolton’s is a favorite with locals. Keep a cold drink nearby. Water won’t help much, but milk or sweet tea might.
6. The best music is often away from Broadway
Nashville is a songwriting town, and the most memorable nights are often quiet ones. At a writers’ round, a few songwriters sit in a circle and take turns playing their songs and telling the stories behind them. Some wrote hits you’ll recognize.
The Bluebird Cafe is the most famous spot, and reservations go fast. The Listening Room Cafe is easier to get into. For bluegrass, the Station Inn in the Gulch is a legend. In East Nashville, the Five Spot has a laid-back crowd and cheap covers.
Something to see beyond the music
Centennial Park, near Vanderbilt, has a full-size replica of the Parthenon in Athens, built for an 1897 exposition. Inside is a 42-foot statue of Athena covered in gold. It’s an unexpected sight, and the park around it is a nice break from the crowds downtown.
When to visit
Spring and fall are the best times, with mild weather and plenty of outdoor events. Summer is hot and humid, and CMA Fest in June brings huge crowds and higher prices. December is festive, with lights at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and holiday shows at the Ryman.
What a trip costs
Nashville isn’t the cheap getaway it once was. Downtown hotels on weekends often run well over $300 a night, and drinks on Broadway aren’t cheap either. Midweek rates can be half that. Food is more reasonable once you leave downtown, especially in East Nashville and along Nolensville Pike, where you’ll find great tacos and international spots.
The good news is that music, the thing you came for, can be close to free. Most honky-tonks don’t charge a cover, and many writers’ rounds are cheap or have a small minimum. Just budget for tips.
Where to stay
Downtown and SoBro put you within walking distance of Broadway, the Ryman and the river. The Gulch is a little quieter and full of good restaurants. If you’d rather avoid the party crowd at night, look at East Nashville or Midtown, which are a short rideshare away. Vacation rentals are popular here, but check the local rules and reviews carefully before you book.
Whatever you pick, a hotel with free parking is worth a lot if you’re driving in, since downtown garages charge heavily by the night.
Common questions
How many days do I need in Nashville?
Three days gives you time for Broadway, a big show and a couple of neighborhoods.
Is there a cover charge on Broadway?
Usually not. Most honky-tonks are free to enter, though the bands expect tips.
Do I need a car?
Not if you stay downtown. Rideshares are easy for trips farther out.
Where’s the best area to stay?
Downtown or the Gulch for first visits. East Nashville if you want something calmer.
Is Nashville expensive?
Weekends are. Visit midweek and you’ll save a lot on hotels.
