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There’s a lot to see in Nashville, but the heart of the city echoes with the soul of country music. Fans of all the greats, from Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash to Garth Brooks and Chet Akins, will find plenty to love right in downtown.
As we walk across Pedestrian Bridge and through Walk of Fame Park, we’ll hear all about the surprising Civil War origins of country music and have a chance to stop by the Johnny Cash Museum. We’ll pass the Country Music Hall of Fame and Music City Center before taking a colorful trip through Printer’s Alley, the historic church-turned-performance hall Ryman Auditorium, Legends Corner Mural, and even Wildhorse Saloon, where line dancing made a comeback. Finishing up our Music City loop back near the river, we’ll get the chance to stop at Honky Tonk Highway, where live music fills the streets each night.
If arriving by plane, most travelers fly into Metropolitan Nashville International Airport (BNA), which is only 8 miles east of Downtown Nashville.
By car, the main highways to enter Nashville are I-24 from the east, I-65 North-South, and I-40 from the West. I-65 and I-40 connect directly to Broadway in downtown Nashville, but keep in mind that downtown is primarily composed of one-way streets, so you may want to park at your hotel and take public transport or rideshare downtown.
There is no cost to walk along the public streets of Nashville’s downtown along our tour route. There are a few metered street parking and paid lots if you need to park a car before beginning your walk. The Country Music Hall of Fame is the most popular attraction along our route, and it charges admission. The two museums on our route, Johnny Cash Museum and the National Museum of African American History, charge admission. If you would like to see a show at the Ryman Auditorium or the Symphony Center while you’re here, you will need a ticket to the specific show. Walking through the Music City Center or the Walk of Fame Park is free.
With in the city
If you want to stay within the city proper, within an easy walk or rideshare to Downtown attractions, there are several good neighborhoods.
Downtown itself has several boutique and luxury hotels that put visitors right in the middle of the nightlife scene.
Midtown is where Vanderbilt is located, so there are a lot of students here, along with plenty of accommodation options, including music-themed hotels. Note that it may be harder to find a room near big home games or university move-in and move-out weeks.
The West End has budget-friendly options that are still within easy distance of Downtown. It’s typically less crowded here than in Midtown or Downtown.
City Suburbs
Music Valley is a popular choice for families or folks who want to enjoy the nearby massive indoor mall. It’s a 20-minute drive from Downtown, and close to the Grand Ole Opry House.
East Nashville is just on the other side of the Cumberland River, with plenty of chain and independent hotels and easy local transit or rideshare connections.
Nolensville is a historic suburb about 30 minutes away from downtown. It’s a great place to find short-term rentals and boutique hotels.
The best time to visit Nashville for our walking tour is during the spring or fall. Warm air and low humidity make walking around the city easier, and there are plenty of live shows and concerts to enjoy. The summer is peak festival season, with a lively crowd and party atmosphere. The wintertime is colder and occasionally icy, but not usually frigid, making it a good time to find deals on accommodations. Plus, there’s plenty of live music playing year-round.
Two streets known for great food and drink, and plenty of music! Visitors can stop in with no cover charge to hear live music most nights. We’ll share Prohibition-era tales that haunt Printer’s Alley and explain why Broadway is better known as “Honky Tonk Highway.”
The most historic building in Nashville, this one-time church became the home of the Grand Ole Opry, the most famous show in all of country music. Hear how the “Nashville Sound” evolved over time or buy tickets to experience a modern show at the Birthplace of Bluegrass.
A top destination for any country fan, or really any music aficionado. Visitors will see superstar relics like Elvis’s golden Cadillac and Patsy Cline’s cowgirl costume. Try out the interactive singalong or purchase your own music poster at the print shop.
All the greats of country music are memorialized here, from Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash to Garth Brooks and Loretta Lynn. Don’t forget to tip a hat or sing a few lyrics when you find your favorite’s star. Lucky visitors might even happen upon live events happening in the green space here.
This massive mural is a testament to how we’re all linked across space and time through the music we love. Take a selfie with the life-sized paintings of stars like Brad Paisley, Loretta Lynn, Tim McGraw and Miranda Lambert – the artist updates it from time to time, too.
One day is typically enough to explore the top sights around Nashville’s downtown music center, including an hour or so to explore the Country Music Hall of Fame. Most visitors like to take in the live music along Honky Tonk Highway or Printer’s Alley in the evening, when more venues are open and the humidity drops. The museums along the route are usually only open during business hours, while the nightlife options open up in the late afternoon and evening, so time the walk around your priorities.
An optional second day gives visitors the chance to enjoy some of the optional, ticketed experiences downtown. We recommend the Johnny Cash Museum or National Museum of African American History for fans wanting a deep dive, or backstage tours of Ryman Auditorium. There’s something going on all times of day in downtown Nashville. Keep in mind that these added experiences are not included in the purchase of the audio walking tour and will need advance registration at each venue’s website.
Visitors can enjoy downtown Nashville at their own pace. This flexible tour can be completed in one day or spread over multiple days. Make sure to download the app and the tour inside it before starting to walk.
Visitors can complete this walking tour through Nashville’s downtown in a single morning or afternoon or spread it out over a full day or even two. This gives plenty of time to linger at favorite spots or fill up time if you have tickets to a show. Pro tip: The nightlife scene picks up along Broadway in the late afternoon, so plan a little extra travel time to get through the crowds.
Set out in the morning with a stroll through country music’s history as we share tales of all the famous stars. Find the stars honoring your favorite singers at the Walk of Fame Park, then explore all the iconic artifacts at the Country Music Hall of Fame – keep an eye out for Elvis’s golden Cadillac.
Next, head over to the Music City Center where you can take a breather and refill your water bottle or take a free tour of the destination. Make time for a selfie at the Legends Corner Mural and see if any of the life-sized figures have been changed by the artist recently. Stroll past Ryman Auditorium, the imposing church and one-time home of the Grand Ole Opry, and the birthplace of Bluegrass! Finish up with a drink at Printer’s Alley or finish the loop to end up back on Honky Tonk Highway – don’t miss the chance to hear up-and-coming country singers perform live here!
Two Day Itinerary
Begin our tour at the Plymouth Visitor Center on Water Street, then stroll along the waterfront. Purchase tickets at the Mayflower II for the 30-minute docent-led tour, then continue on to see the Mayflower Society House and of course, the iconic Plymouth Rock. After that, we’ll see statues commemorating famous Plymouth figures and tour the Brewster Gardens, where we’ll hear more about daily life in a 17th-century village.
Next, take a short uphill climb to Burial Hill Cemetery and search for famous names among the tombstones, or continue on to hear the tales behind the Sparrow House. Finish up by seeing a working recreation of the 1636 Grist Mill, where you can spend up to an hour here if you want to try grinding your own grain. By now, you’ll be ready for either lunch or dinner, depending on when you started the tour. Enjoy one of the many seafood restaurants in town, then either head back to accommodations or head back towards the Visitor Center for the Town Wharf to catch a whale-watching or deep-sea fishing boat.
Comfortable Walking Shoes: As with any city walking tour, pack shoes that can handle a full day of sightseeing without creating blisters. Closed-toed tennis shoes are appropriate in the fall and winter, when there is occasional snow and ice. Walking sandals are a good pick for the warmer spring and summer.
Phone Charger and Battery Pack: Using the GPS on a smartphone will drain the battery a little more quickly than usual, so pack a charger and a backup battery just in case.
Phone Charger and Battery Pack: This tour doesn’t require a cell signal or Wi-Fi, but it does use a GPS signal, which can drain a phone’s battery a little more quickly than usual. Bring a charger or battery pack along with you just in case.
Jacket: The air from the Cumberland River can bring in chilly air, especially in the fall and winter. Bring a lightweight, packable jacket that can keep you comfortable if the temperature drops in the evenings of if you grab dinner in an over-air conditioned bar or restaurant.
Rain Gear: Sudden rainstorms are common in the spring and summer across Nashville. Bring a compact umbrella that’s easy to fit in your bag and consider a lightweight, packable rain jacket, just in case you get caught in the rain.
Cash: Bring some small bills for tipping your bartender, servers, and artists along the way. Many singers and musicians are just getting started out and depend on the tips, so it’s expected at spots along The District.
Water Bottle: Bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day. It can get hot and humid in the summer in Nashville. There are free water bottle refilling stations in the restroom areas in the Music City Center.