Destination guide
Nashville
United States
Nashville is the capital of the American state of Tennessee. With 716,000 residents in 2022, it is the state's largest city.
AI insights
AI-written from the Wikivoyage listings, transport section and the video stats on this page
Combine your visit to the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park with a trip to the adjacent farmers market; the park offers a deep dive into state history through its monuments and maps, while the market provides a convenient food court and local vendor experience.
When dining at Monell's, prepare for a communal experience where you will be seated with strangers at shared tables; since they operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations and a strict no-cell-phone policy, focus on the family-style dining rather than your screen.
Avoid relying on public transit or walking outside of the immediate downtown core, as the city is geographically sprawling and frequently lacks sidewalks; if you are venturing beyond the city center, a private vehicle is necessary.
For the best skyline photography and a quiet break from the downtown noise, walk across the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, which offers the most consistent views of the riverfront and serves as a direct path to the stadium.
Visit The Arcade downtown during the work week to eat where the local city workers go; this historic two-level open-air space offers a variety of lunch options and unique businesses away from the main entertainment strips.
How we vet these picks
Every pick is drawn from real sources — YouTube creators, Wikivoyage, and Wikipedia. We only surface sources that actually exist and that we've checked for authenticity — no filler, no dead-end searches.Watch first
Ranked by views and how well each landed with the people who watched it, judged against the other coverage of this place — plus a local creator where we found one.
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Top 10 Best Things to Do in Nashville, Tennessee [Nashville Travel Guide 2025]
Best time to go
Best window: April–May and October–November
August is the month to avoid — very heavy rain. The window below is when it is genuinely pleasant.
Rated from ten years of daily temperature and rainfall recorded at this destination, via Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Hover a month for its real numbers.
Getting around
By car
The primary mode of transportation is by private car in Nashville. The average speed on highways ranges from 55 to 70 mph, but are usually much slower due to traffic congestion. City streets are generally 25-45 mph unless otherwise posted.
Parking
If you are looking to park Downtown in a lot or garage, be sure to have a good idea of where to park. The Metro Owned Facilities managed by the Nashville Downtown Partnership (branded as ParkIt Downtown) seem to be the best deal.
By foot
The center of Nashville is not too big for an able-bodied person to traverse on foot in decent weather, and walking downtown can be quite pleasant. Outside downtown, Nashville is sprawling and lacks sidewalks.
Transport notes from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What to see
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
600 James Robertson Pkwy· Free
A fascinating state park stretched out in front of the state capital building. Features a giant map of the state, monuments recounting the history of the state since prehistoric times, a carillon, and more.
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Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
222 Fifth Ave S· Moderate
Regularly changing exhibits and live performances make this Nashville landmark someplace to visit often. The Hall of Fame moved here in 2000. Ticket packages for guided or audio tours also available, and can be combined with a tour with…
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The Johnny Cash Museum & Cafe
119 3rd Ave S
A museum featuring pictures and memorabilia of icon Johnny Cash.
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AT&T Building
An instantly recognizable downtown Nashville landmark, the AT&T Building, built in 1994 at 333 Commerce Street, is the tallest building in the state of Tennessee and can be seen from quite some distance if the hills aren't in your way.
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John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
Built between 1907 and 1909, the bridge was used for automobile traffic between East Nashville and Downtown. The bridge has been converted to a pedestrian bridge, and offers a spectacular view of the riverfront and downtown skyline.
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Nashville's Second Avenue
Provides entertainment for many different styles of people. The street includes bars such as Hooters and the famous Wildhorse Saloon, dining destinations including the Old Spaghetti Factory, the Melting Pot and B.B.
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What to do
Places are listed from Wikivoyage and our own sourced research. Worth it means a second, independent source names the place too; “3 sources agree” means three or more do — and each card names them, so you can check.
Broadway Honky-Tonks
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet
A strip of live country music bars including Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, running nearly nonstop.
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Ryman Auditorium
116 5th Ave N· Cheap
Completed in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle as commissioned by riverboat Captain Thomas Green Ryman, a newly converted southern evangelist. The Ryman has earned its mark in history by hosting the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974 and…
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Yazoo Brewery
910 Division St· Moderate
Yazoo Brewing Company is brewed and bottled in downtown Nashville. The Brewery offers tours only on Saturdays, when they're not brewing. You'll get to walk through all parts of the brewery and learn how the beers are made.
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Adventure Science Center
800 Fort Negley Blvd· Moderate
It has been remodeled. Interesting exhibits which change every few weeks.
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The Escape Game - Berry Hill
also at 510 East Iris Drive and 523 Opry Mills Drive· Pricey
The Escape Game offers nine rooms in three locations with the same main objective - to escape within an hour! - but each game has a unique, immersive theme with different surprise elements and game components.
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Nashville Sounds
19 Junior Gilliam Way· Moderate
The local Minor League Baseball team plays at marker type=do name=First Horizon Park lat=36.173031 long=-86.785803
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Nashville Symphony
One Symphony Pl
The Nashville Symphony is in the marker type=do name=Schermerhorn Symphony Center lat=36.159666 long=-86.775570
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What to eat
Husk Nashville
Worth itAlso recommended by James Beard Foundation and 1 other
Sean Brock's Southern-ingredient-driven menu in a restored Victorian mansion.
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Prince's Hot Chicken Shack
Worth itAlso recommended by James Beard Foundation
The originator of Nashville hot chicken, family-run since the 1930s.
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Pizza Perfect
Fabulous pizza. Nashville isn't much of a town for pizza, but this place more than makes up for it. The plain slices are great, but even the fancier ones (like the Fantasy) don't gild the lily.
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Las Palmas Mexican Restaurante
A pretty good local chain of Mexican restaurants. You can get a nice filling meal here for under ten bucks. There are five Nashville locations, listed below, and several more in the suburbs:
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The Arcade
An open-air 2-level arcade that runs between 4th Avenue North and 5th Avenue North. The Arcade primarily caters to the local downtown workers during the work week, but many great lunch restaurants can be found here.
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Monell's
1235 6th Ave N
Located in historic Germantown, Monell's is a Nashville tradition. They serve different meals every day and the good ol' home cookin' is sure not to disappoint! Seating and serving are done family style, 13-14 per table.
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Swagruha
just north of the Capital Building in the Farmers' Market
They have a basic menu that would satisfy almost any Indian food craving and for a plate full of food, you won't go wrong.
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Where to stay
Club-Hotel Nashville Inn & Suites
2435 Atrium Way· Expensive
Hot breakfast, free high-speed Internet, airport shuttle, fitness center, great outdoor pool and evening manager's cocktail reception. Meeting rooms available for meetings and training. Fully smoke-free hotel and facility.
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Holiday Inn Express Nashville Airport
1111 Airport Center Dr· Expensive
Great amenities, including an outdoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, free 24-hour shuttle service to the BNA Airport. You can start the day with the free, hot Express Start Breakfast Bar.
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Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Nashville, TN
210 Rudy Circle· Expensive
Clean and quiet hotel across the road from Percy Priest lake. Free breakfast, pool, fitness center.
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Alexis Inn & Suites Nashville Airport-Opryland
600 Ermac Dr· Expensive
Free hot breakfast, free high-speed Internet, airport shuttle. All non-smoking hotel.
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Scarritt-Bennett Center
1008 19th Ave S· Expensive
Bath is shared with one other room. Locks off. Near Vanderbilt and Music Row.
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Best Western Plus Music Row
1407 Division St· Expensive
Located in the heart of "Music Row." Pet friendly, free breakfast.
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Travel content from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Encyclopedic context from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Videos via the YouTube Data API.