Things to Do in Nashville: 2026 Guide

By Otsy · October 4, 2026

A couple shares fried chicken, biscuits and sides at a brick-walled Nashville restaurant while a server brings out more plates.

The best things to do in Nashville come down to three things: live music, Southern food and the history behind both. Spend one evening at a show, one meal on a guided food tour and one morning at the places where country music was made, and you have seen the city at its best. This guide groups the experiences by what you want from your trip, with what each one costs and how to plan around it.

Nashville is a compact city for a first visit. Downtown holds most of the music history, the food scene runs through a handful of walkable neighborhoods, and the one big venue outside the center is easy to reach with a ride. You can do a lot in a long weekend if you book the few things that sell out and leave the rest of each day open.

How to choose what to do in Nashville

Start with the reason you are going. Most visitors come for one of four things, and each points to a different kind of experience:

Live music: book a show first, then plan your days around it.
Food: a guided food tour covers the local dishes in one afternoon and shows you where to come back for dinner.
Music history: the museums and historic venues sit close together downtown, so they fit into a single morning.
A night out with friends: a guided pub crawl or party bus takes care of the route and the rides.

If you have only one full day, pick one experience from each of the first three groups. A day that works well for most first-time visitors looks like this:

Morning: the Ryman and the Country Music Hall of Fame, both downtown and close together.
Afternoon: a guided food tour, so lunch and sightseeing happen at the same time.
Evening: a show at the Grand Ole Opry, booked before you arrive.

If you have three days, add an evening out and a slower morning on a bike or a sightseeing tour. You can see every option in one place with things to do in Nashville on Otsy.

The best things to do in Nashville, by what you want

See a show at the Grand Ole Opry

The Grand Ole Opry started as a radio broadcast in 1925 and is still a live show today, with several artists sharing the stage on the same night. It is the experience most people plan a Nashville trip around, so book your seats before anything else. A Grand Ole Opry show ticket gets you into the show itself.

If you want to see how the show is made, the Grand Ole Opry House guided backstage tour takes you behind the stage during the day, so it pairs well with an evening ticket on another night.

Stand on the stage at the Ryman Auditorium

The Ryman opened in 1892 and is known as the Mother Church of Country Music. It was home to the Opry from 1943 to 1974, and it still hosts concerts today. The Ryman Auditorium self-guided tour lets you walk through at your own pace and includes a photo on the stage.

Learn the history at the Country Music Hall of Fame

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a short walk from the Ryman, so the two fit into one morning. You can book Country Music Hall of Fame admission on its own, or pair it with a visit to the historic RCA Studio B recording studio on the RCA Studio B and Hall of Fame combo.

If you would rather have a guide tell the stories as you walk, the Music City Legends walking tour covers the downtown landmarks on foot.

Book the music landmarks

Eat your way through the city on a food tour

Nashville's food is a big part of the trip, and a guided tasting tour is the easiest way to try the local dishes without guessing where to go. The Nashville authentic food tour with five tastings and the Taste of Nashville food and sightseeing tour both mix food stops with a look at the neighborhoods. For drinks as well as food, the walking food and drink tour of downtown is a good fit.

Book a food tour for early in your trip. You will come away with a list of places to return to for the rest of your stay.

Nashville food tours

Write a song with a Nashville songwriter

Nashville is a songwriting town as much as a performing one, and a few experiences let you take part rather than just listen. In the Nashville songwriter experience, you work with a local songwriter to write a song of your own. It is a good choice for a small group or a couple looking for something more personal than a show.

Plan a night out on Broadway

Lower Broadway is where most visitors go for live music in bars and honky-tonks, and it is busiest in the evening and on weekends. If you are with a group, a guided route saves you from deciding where to go next. The honky-tonk walking pub crawl mixes bar stops with stories about the street. Party bus and pub crawl experiences are usually for guests 21 and over, so check each listing before you book.

Explore the neighborhoods at your own pace

Some of the best parts of Nashville sit outside the main tourist blocks. A guided ride covers more ground than walking and still lets you stop along the way. The hidden gems e-bike tour of downtown and the golf cart sightseeing tour are both good options for a first morning, when you are still getting your bearings.

For a lower-effort overview, the double-decker sightseeing bus and the hop-on hop-off trolley loop past the main sights.

Ways to see the city

When to go and what it costs

Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit, with milder weather for walking between venues. Summer is hot and busy, and winter is quieter. Whenever you go, weekends fill up first, so book shows and popular tours a few weeks ahead for a Friday or Saturday.

Prices vary by date and group size. When we checked in October 2026, experiences on Otsy started from about:

$32 to $55 for museum admission, the Ryman tour and most sightseeing tours
$31 to $80 for guided walking tours, pub crawls and e-bike tours
$62 for a Grand Ole Opry show ticket
$98 to $179 for guided food and drink tours
$267 for the songwriter experience

Check each listing for the current price on your dates before you plan your budget.

Getting around Nashville

Downtown is walkable, and the Ryman, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Lower Broadway are close together. Plan to walk between them, and save rides for the evening or for places further out. The Grand Ole Opry House is outside downtown, so arrange a ride there and back, or choose an experience that includes transportation.

If you would rather not plan the route at all, a hop-on hop-off trolley or a guided bus tour takes care of the driving between the main sights.

Frequently asked questions

What is Nashville best known for?

Nashville is best known for country music. The Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame are its best-known music landmarks, and live music runs through the city's bars and venues most nights.

How many days do you need in Nashville?

Two or three days is enough for a first visit. That gives you time for a show, a food tour, the downtown music landmarks and an evening out, without rushing.

Is the Grand Ole Opry worth it?

For most first-time visitors, yes. The Opry is a live show with several artists on one night, and it is the experience most people remember from the trip. Book it early, because good seats go first on weekends.

Can you visit the Ryman without a concert ticket?

Yes. The Ryman runs daytime tours, so you can see the building and stand on the stage without booking an evening concert. The self-guided tour is the simplest way to do it.

Is Nashville a good trip for a group of friends?

Yes. Group-friendly options include food tours, pub crawls, party buses and private sightseeing rides, and many of them can be booked for a whole group at once. Check age limits first, since nightlife experiences are often for guests 21 and over.

What should I book in advance in Nashville?

Book shows, food tours and anything on a weekend evening in advance. Museums and self-guided tours are easier to book closer to your visit.

Ready to plan your trip? Find things to do in Nashville on Otsy and book the experiences that fit your days.