Nashville Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Nashville tours and things to do in Music City: hear live country on the honky-tonks of Broadway, catch a show at the Grand Ole Opry, trace the legends at the Country Music Hall of Fame, tour Tennessee whiskey distilleries, and cruise the Cumberland River. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect Nashville trip.
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Explore Nashville by interest
Whatever brings you to Nashville — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Nashville
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Broadway
Honky-tonk strip.
Grand Ole Opry
Country stage.
Hall of Fame
Country museum.
Ryman
Mother Church.
Jack Daniel’s
Whiskey country.
Hot Chicken
Spicy Southern.
Party Tours
Buses & taverns.
Cumberland River
Skyline cruises.
Nashville in 3 days
- 1Day 1: music & Broadway
- 2Day 2: Grand Ole Opry
- 3Day 3: whiskey
- 4River cruise
Nashville whiskey trail
- 1In-city distillery tour & tasting
- 2Day trip to Jack Daniel's, Lynchburg
- 3Uncle Nearest & Tennessee whiskey
- 4Barrel-strength tasting flight
Nashville food & honky-tonk night
- 1Hot chicken & local-eats food tour
- 2Honky-tonk pub crawl on Broadway
- 3Party tractor or pedal tavern ride
- 4Late-night bar crawl with shots
~1.5 hrs awayJack Daniel’s
Whiskey distillery.
City awayGrand Ole Opry
Country stage.
Downtown awayHall of Fame
Country museum.
Downtown awayBroadway
Honky-tonk strip.
~3 hrs awayMemphis
Graceland & Elvis.
Downtown awayCumberland River
Skyline cruises.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Nashville visitor asks before booking.
Spring (Apr–May)
Warm, blooming and pleasant — one of the best times to visit.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Hot and humid, buzzing with festivals like CMA Fest.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Warm days, cooler nights and fewer crowds — ideal for touring.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Mild and quieter, with festive lights and indoor music.
CMA Fest
June brings the huge CMA Music Festival to downtown.
Best overall
April to May and September to October are ideal.
One day
Museums and Broadway.
Three days
Add the Opry and whiskey.
Five days
Add Memphis and more music.
For music
Opry and Hall of Fame.
For whiskey
Distillery day trips.
With kids
Cruises and museums.
On foot
Downtown, Broadway and the museums are easily walkable.
Tours & transfers
Guided tours with pickup are easiest for the Opry, whiskey and Memphis.
Ride-hailing
Apps and taxis are handy for the Opry and outlying areas.
Getting there
Nashville International Airport (BNA) is a short drive from downtown.
Where to stay
Downtown and The Gulch put you near Broadway.
By river
Cruises depart from the downtown riverfront.
US dollar
Nashville uses the US dollar; cards are accepted everywhere.
Book ahead
Opry shows, whiskey tours and Memphis trips fill up — reserve in advance.
Broadway is free
Live music on Broadway is free — tip the bands.
Try hot chicken
Don’t miss Nashville hot chicken and Southern barbecue.
CMA Fest
Visit in June for the CMA Music Festival — book early.
Dress for heat
Summers are hot and humid — bring light clothes and water.
Opry shows
Grand Ole Opry tickets sell out — book ahead.
Whiskey tours
Jack Daniel’s day tours fill up — reserve early.
Memphis trips
Graceland day trips book out — reserve ahead.
Party buses
Weekend party buses sell out — book early.
Dinner cruises
Showboat cruises fill up — reserve ahead.
CMA Fest
June is busiest — reserve everything well ahead.
Music tour
Around $30–60 for a city music sightseeing tour.
Opry show
About $50–110 for a Grand Ole Opry ticket.
Whiskey tour
Roughly $130–180 for a Jack Daniel’s day trip.
Party bus
Around $35–70 for a Broadway party bus or bar crawl.
River cruise
About $40–90 for a Cumberland River cruise.
How to save
Enjoy free Broadway music and join group tours.
Nashville through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Mild, blooming.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great time.
- Best for
- Festivals.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hot, humid.
- Best for
- Warm, quieter.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal.
- Best for
- Quiet, festive.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Mild.