Nashville: travel tips and best time to visit

Nashville is the world capital of country music, and you feel it on every corner. From the open doors of the honky-tonks on Lower Broadway, live music blares from midday until deep into the night, free of charge and in one bar after another. But Music City is more than country: a young, lively city with good food, smart neighborhoods and a warmth that is contagious.

Neon and live music on every corner, that is Nashville.

Lower Broadway

The heart is Lower Broadway, a street full of honky-tonks where live bands play around the clock. Loud and full of life, this is where many a musician hopes for their big break. Just walk in and let yourself drift.

The temples of country music

The Grand Ole Opry, the most famous stage of the genre, and the Country Music Hall of Fame tell the story of the sound that made this city famous. A must for every fan, rewarding for everyone else too.

Food and neighborhoods

Nashville is known for its hot chicken, spicy fried chicken. Add smart neighborhoods like The Gulch or hip East Nashville, full of cafes, boutiques and murals.

Easy to combine

Nashville sits conveniently for a Southern loop, from the Great Smoky Mountains in the east to Memphis and the Mississippi in the west.

Die wichtigsten Sehenswürdigkeiten

What you shouldn't miss.

1

Lower Broadway

A street full of honky-tonks with live music around the clock, free of charge and in one bar after another.

Directions with Google Maps

2

Grand Ole Opry

The most famous stage in country music. A live show is an experience, even for non-fans.

Directions with Google Maps

3

Country Music Hall of Fame

The impressive museum tells the whole story of the sound that made this city famous.

Directions with Google Maps

4

The Gulch and East Nashville

Smart and hip neighborhoods with cafes, boutiques, murals and the young, creative side of the city.

Directions with Google Maps

Practical tips from the forum

Concrete advice from travellers who were there.

If you're into live music, go to The Stage on Broadway. It's the best country bar around, the setting, the crowd and the atmosphere are fantastic, and the bands often start playing in the afternoon. The Wild Horse Saloon is best on Saturday nights.
from the USA-TALK.DE forum

Tickets for the Grand Ole Opry aren't shipped internationally, they run through Will Call. That means you pay by credit card and the tickets are held for you at the box office. It works without a hitch, so nobody needs to worry about it.
from the USA-TALK.DE forum

Staying at the Gaylord Opryland Resort is an experience in itself. It's one of the biggest hotels for miles around, and the atrium areas alone, with their glass roof, are worth seeing. The Grand Ole Opry itself is right nearby.
from the USA-TALK.DE forum

Plan a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame if you give country music even the slightest thought. And there's also a big outlet near Nashville.
from the USA-TALK.DE forum

You're very central and within walking distance of almost all the sights on Broadway in Downtown, about three blocks from the party zone. Central hotels come at a price, though, without points you'll quickly pay over 200 dollars a night.
from the USA-TALK.DE forum

Voices from the community

What travellers experienced on the spot.

As we drove into Nashville across the Cumberland River, it was raining only very lightly, a really pleasant mood. Music City won us over right away.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

For me Nashville was the Country Music Hall of Fame and a drive through Music Row, where all the famous recording studios sit on the hills.
from personal experience

In my opinion Memphis and Nashville are absolutely worth it, and if you are even a little bit of a music fan, all the more so.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

In Nashville be sure to stay at Opryland, probably the biggest hotel far and wide and surely an experience.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

We travelled the South in 2009, including Nashville and Memphis. In terms of the cityscape we honestly did not find either city particularly impressive. Even so, you should not miss Nashville, especially if you are even a little bit of a music fan.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

Music City is exactly the right place if you are after live music. There is live music not just on weekends but every single day and in almost every pub and bar in town. We had assumed a Monday night would be dead, but you should not apply your German life experience to Nashville.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

Even someone who is not a die-hard country or blues fan quickly notices that in the cozy bars and saloons in the evening, where live music plays almost everywhere, the music really carries you away. On top of that comes this wonderful atmosphere on the famous Broadway.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

We deliberately extended our stay by a day to catch the Grand Ole Opry on a Tuesday evening. Beforehand we were so fixated on it, and in the end it was exactly the right decision.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

In the evening we sat in the Wild Horse Saloon, which I can only recommend. The drive to Nashville is gorgeous anyway.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

I loved Memphis, Chattanooga and Nashville, but also gems like Little Rock in Arkansas or Montgomery in Alabama were fantastic. This whole Southern loop was a great trip.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

Have you been here? Share your impression

Your experience helps other travellers more than any glossy brochure. Every post is briefly reviewed before publication.

Climate through the year

Average temperatures, day and night. Large value °C, small value °F.

8°46°F-2°28°F

Jan

11°52°F0°32°F

Feb

16°61°F4°39°F

Mar

22°72°F9°48°F

Apr

26°79°F14°57°F

May

31°88°F19°66°F

Jun

32°90°F21°70°F

Jul

32°90°F20°68°F

Aug

28°82°F16°61°F

Sep

22°72°F9°48°F

Oct

15°59°F4°39°F

Nov

9°48°F0°32°F

Dec

Map with viewpoints

Park, entrances and the best viewpoints at a glance.

Loading the map transfers data (including your IP address) to OpenStreetMap.

Distances and driving times

How far it is to the key places nearby.

From	Distance	Drive time
Great Smoky Mountains	200 mi (320 km)	approx. 3.5 hrs
Atlanta	250 mi (400 km)	approx. 3.5 hrs
Memphis	210 mi (340 km)	approx. 3 hrs
Savannah	545 mi (880 km)	approx. 8 hrs

Where to stay

Right in the middle of things, or cheaper a bit further out.

Downtown and Broadway

right in the middle

Live music on your doorstep, everything on foot. Loud and lively, expensive on weekends.

The Gulch

near the center

Smart neighborhood with hotels and restaurants, quieter than Broadway.

East Nashville

across the river

Hip and relaxed, often cheaper, with its own cafe and bar scene.

Insider tips and common mistakes

What was worth it and what to skip.

Insider tips

In the evening stroll along Lower Broadway and listen in at the honky-tonks, admission is free.
Drive through Music Row, where the famous recording studios sit on the hills.
Catch a show at the Grand Ole Opry, a real piece of Americana.
Try Nashville hot chicken, the spicy hallmark of the city's cuisine.

Common mistakes

Seeing Nashville only as a party strip. The music history and the neighborhoods are just as appealing.
Arriving on a weekend without a reservation, when hotels are expensive and full.
Underestimating the heat and humidity at the height of summer.

Photos

Click to enlarge.

Videos

The video loads from YouTube only when you click. No data flows before that.

Frequently asked questions

How much time should I plan?

About two days, for Broadway, a music museum and a neighborhood off the tourist strip.

Does the live music on Broadway charge admission?

No, in the honky-tonks the music is free. A tip for the band is customary.

Do I have to like country?

No. Even without a love of country, Nashville is a lively, likeable city with good food.

When is the best time to travel?

Spring and autumn. Summer is hot and humid, winter mild.

Nearby

Easy to combine on a road trip.

Blue haze

Tennessee und North Carolina

Great Smoky Mountains

Misty ridges, deep forests and America's most visited national park.

Atlanta

A buzzing metropolis, civil rights history and the home of Coca-Cola.

Savannah

Moss-draped oak avenues, historic squares and Southern charm.

Head to head

Hard to decide? This comparison helps.

New Orleans or Nashville ›

Share

All destinations Next: Great Smoky Mountains

Nashville

Lower Broadway

The temples of country music

Food and neighborhoods

Easy to combine

Die wichtigsten Sehenswürdigkeiten

Lower Broadway

Grand Ole Opry

Country Music Hall of Fame

The Gulch and East Nashville

Practical tips from the forum

Voices from the community

Have you been here? Share your impression

Climate through the year

Map with viewpoints

Distances and driving times

Where to stay

Downtown and Broadway

The Gulch

East Nashville

Insider tips and common mistakes

Insider tips

Common mistakes

Photos

Videos

Nashville, Broadway on Foot

Nashville, Broadway and the Opry

The Best Things to Do in Nashville

Broadway, the Entertainment District

Frequently asked questions

Nearby

Great Smoky Mountains

Atlanta

Savannah

Head to head