Planning a trip to Nashville? Four of the best things to do in Nashville are hearing live music at the honky-tonks on Lower Broadway, seeing a show at the Grand Ole Opry, trying Nashville hot chicken, and exploring the Gulch.
What are the best things to do in Nashville?
Nashville packs more into a weekend than almost any city its size. It’s live music first, but the food and the neighborhoods are just as much a part of the trip. Here are four things to do in Nashville that belong on every first-timer’s list, and all of them are walkable or a short ride from downtown.
Honky-tonk on Lower Broadway
Lower Broadway is the beating heart of Music City. Its honky-tonks run free live music from late morning until last call, with a different band on every floor. Bar-hopping the strip is the single most essential thing to do in Nashville, and it costs nothing to walk in.
Catch a show at the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is the broadcast that made country music famous, running live since 1925. A show is a rotating lineup of legends and rising stars, and it’s one of the most Nashville experiences you can have.
Dig into Nashville hot chicken
Nashville hot chicken is the city’s signature dish: spicy, cayenne-coated fried chicken served with pickles on white bread. Hattie B’s is where most visitors go to try it, and Prince’s is the original. Order it as hot as you dare.
Walk the Gulch
The Gulch is Nashville’s most walkable neighborhood, packed with murals, rooftops, shopping, and restaurants. It’s home to the famous “What Lifts You” angel wings mural, one of the most photographed spots in the city.
How should you plan your Nashville trip?
Spend a day and night downtown for Broadway and hot chicken, save an evening for the Grand Ole Opry, and work the Gulch in between. Most of it is walkable or a quick rideshare, so you can see a lot in a weekend.
Whatever you’ve got planned, Music City Weekend Co. can stock your Airbnb, VRBO, or hotel fridge before you arrive, so you skip the grocery and liquor store run on day one. We also offer 60+ amenity add-ons, delivered straight to your door.
Frequently asked questions
What are the top things to do in Nashville?
Honky-tonks on Lower Broadway, the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville hot chicken, and the Gulch.
What is Nashville best known for?
Live country music and its honky-tonks, the Grand Ole Opry, and its signature dish, Nashville hot chicken.
What is a free thing to do in Nashville?
Walking Lower Broadway for free live music and exploring the Gulch and its murals.
What is Nashville hot chicken?
Spicy, cayenne-coated fried chicken that’s the city’s signature dish. Hattie B’s and Prince’s are two of the best-known spots to try it.