50+ Things to Do in Nashville: A Local's Guide

Nashville is more than a bachelorette party on Broadway. It's a city of hidden history, world-class music, incredible food, and genuinely beautiful country just outside of town. We run tours here every day, so this is the guide we'd hand a friend visiting for the first time — the real stuff, organized the way you'd actually plan a trip.

Downtown Nashville & Lower Broadway

Lower Broadway is the neon-lit heart of the city, and yes, you should see it at least once. Walk the honky-tonks (Tootsie's Orange Lounge, Robert's Western World for classic country), catch free live music that starts in the early afternoon, and look up — the murals and signs are half the fun. A block over, Printer's Alley is a historic nightlife strip with a much older, grittier story than most visitors realize. Downtown is also where you'll find the Ryman Auditorium, the Johnny Cash Museum, the National Museum of African American Music, and the Tennessee State Capitol.

If you want the story behind what you're looking at — not just the bars — a guided downtown walking tour is the fastest way to understand how this square mile became “Music City.”

Live Music Beyond Broadway

The honky-tonks are famous, but locals go deeper. The Grand Ole Opry (out at Music Valley) is the show that made Nashville. The Bluebird Cafe in Green Hills is the legendary songwriter's room where you hear hits performed by the people who actually wrote them. The Station Inn in the Gulch is the place for bluegrass. Book Opry and Bluebird tickets well ahead — they sell out.

History & Heritage

This is the Nashville most visitors never see, and it's our favorite to show.

• The Civil War & Battle of Nashville. Nashville saw one of the most decisive battles of the Civil War, with markers scattered across neighborhoods people drive through every day. Our tour connects the dots from downtown out to the battlefield.

• Civil rights history. Nashville's lunch-counter sit-ins helped shape the national movement, and we tell this story honestly as part of our history walks.

• Fort Negley, the State Capitol, and the Ryman. Each has a story most tours skip.

Haunted Nashville: Ghosts & True Crime

Nashville has a genuinely dark and fascinating past — from Printer's Alley to the old downtown. If you like your history with the lights low, our hosted ghost and true-crime walks are some of the best-kept secrets in the city. See them for yourself on our Nashville ghost tour.

Food & Drink

• Hot chicken. Nashville invented it. Hattie B's is the easy intro; Prince's is the original.

• Meat-and-three. The classic Southern lunch — a meat and three sides. Arnold's Country Kitchen is a James Beard favorite.

• Distilleries. Our Nashville distillery tour handles the logistics so you can actually enjoy the tastings of Tennessee whiskey.

• Coffee. Nashville's coffee culture is seriously good. Our morning coffee tour is a relaxed way to see a neighborhood wake up.

The Outdoors & Day Trips

You don't have to leave the city to find green space — Radnor Lake State Natural Area, Percy and Edwin Warner Parks, and Cheekwood Estate & Gardens are all close in. And middle Tennessee has some of the best waterfalls in the South. Our private hiking & waterfall day tours run out to Fall Creek Falls, Burgess Falls, Cummins Falls, and more, with round-trip transportation from Nashville.

Nashville Neighborhoods Worth Your Time

• The Gulch — walkable and modern, with great murals (the “What Lifts You” wings) and restaurants.

• 12 South — boutiques, coffee, and the famous “I Believe in Nashville” mural.

• Germantown — historic streets and some of the city's best dining.

• East Nashville — the creative, independent side of town.

• Music Valley — the Opry, the Gaylord Opryland resort, and more.

Free Things to Do in Nashville

You can have a great day without spending much: wander Lower Broadway for free live music, walk the John Seigenthaler pedestrian bridge for the skyline, visit the Tennessee State Museum, see the full-scale Parthenon replica in Centennial Park, and explore the public spaces around the Capitol.

Best Things to Do in Groups

• Bachelorette parties — Nashville is the bachelorette capital for a reason. Start with our bachelorette party options.

• Corporate events & team building — we design private group experiences for companies visiting or based in Nashville.

• Private tours — any of our tours can be run privately for your group, on your schedule.

Want one of these set up for your group? Get in touch with our team and we'll build an itinerary.

Getting Around & Seeing the City

Downtown is walkable, rideshare is everywhere, and guided tours are the most efficient way to see a lot in a little time. We're a veteran-owned local company with a Sprinter fleet, and we're expanding into sightseeing bus tours — so keep an eye out if you'd rather ride than walk.

When to Visit

Spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) are the sweet spots — mild weather and big events. Summer is hot and busy; winter is quieter with lower hotel rates and plenty to do indoors.

How to See It All

The honest truth: Nashville rewards people who go a little deeper than Broadway. Pick one history walk, one food or drink experience, and one night of real live music, and you'll leave understanding the city instead of just visiting it. We'd love to show you around.

Frequently Asked Questions