Nashville, Tennessee best things and places to see in the music capital
Nashville, the capital of the state of Tennessee in the USA, is particularly known as the “Music City”. This makes it a very unique place and highly visited by music lovers from all over the world.
Every nook and cranny of Nashville is dotted with its rich musical history, especially country styles and secondarily blues and jazz. It is a city that offers a lot of entertainment and is ideal to visit with friends.
Tennessee, like every southern state, is marked by the sad African slavery and the civil war, so you will also find extremely interesting sites and museums to visit here.
Want to visit Nashville but don't know where to start? Well then, here are the best things to do and visit in Nashville, Tennessee.
COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME, NASHVILLE
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is one of the most important and representative sites of the city's culture. This huge complex is the world's largest museum of popular music and one of the most recommended places to visit in Nashville.
Here you can learn about the history of country music, since Nashville is the birthplace of great world stars such as Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton or Roy Orbison. The museum has a collection of all the country music recorded in the first half of the XNUMXth century, film and television footage, photos, replica recording studios and musical instruments that are a true treasure.
- Address: 222 Rep. John Lewis Way S. Nashville, Tennessee 37203. The museum uses a timed entry system to ensure a positive visitor experience, especially on busy days.
- Opening Hours: Open every day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Ticket Prices:
- Admission for Adults (Over 13 years): $ 29.95.
- Ticket for Youth (From 6 to 12 years old): $19.95. Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance and can be purchased online or by calling 615-416-2001.
Additionally, it offers a combined ticket which includes admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame, RCA Studio B, and the Hatch Show Print tour. The prices for this package are:
- Ticket for Adults (16 years and older): US $ 72.
- Ticket for Children (from 5 to 15 years old): US$57.
Tips for Visiting:
- Advance Purchase: It is recommended to buy tickets in advance because entry is scheduled by time, which helps avoid long lines and ensures entry.
- Plan your arrival: Make sure you arrive on time according to your entry time to make the most of your visit without any setbacks.
- Explore Current Exhibitions: The museum features annual exhibits, such as "American Currents: State of the Music," which offers a broad look at country music and its place in American culture over the past year, running through February 2025.
This site is a must-see for country music fans and offers an in-depth look at the history and culture of this music genre.
CENTENNIAL PARK, NASHVILLE
Centennial Park in Nashville is one of the most prominent and visited parks in the city. Here is a summary with the relevant information about the park:
- Address: Located at West End and 25th Avenue North, this 132-acre park features significant attractions such as the iconic full-scale replica of the Parthenon, a one-mile walking trail, Watauga Lake, the Centennial Art Center, historical monuments, a of arts activities, a beautiful sunken garden, an outdoor amphitheater, an event shelter, sand volleyball courts, a dog park and an exercise trail.
Tips for Visiting Centennial Park:
- Explore the Parthenon: Don’t miss visiting the full-scale replica of the Parthenon, which is the centerpiece of the park and an iconic Nashville landmark. Inside, you’ll find an art museum and a 42-foot statue of Athena.
- Enjoy nature: Take advantage of the mile-long walking trail, sunken garden, and Watauga Lake for a relaxing, connected to nature experience.
- Family activities: The park has a children's play area surrounded by trees, providing a large, shaded space ideal for family exploration and play.
- Cultural and Educational Visits: The Centennial Art Center and various historical monuments offer a rich cultural and educational experience.
The entrance to Centennial Park is free, making it an accessible destination to enjoy outdoor activities, history and culture in Nashville.
LOWER BROADWAY AND LIVELY HILLSBORO VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOODS OF NASHVILLE
Lower Broadway, Nashville
Lower Broadway, affectionately known as Lower Broad, is the vibrant heart of Nashville, especially known for its honky-tonk bars and live country music. This district, under the shadow of the famous Ryman Auditorium, is steeped in history and home to music-related businesses and tourism. For decades, it has been a hotspot for country music fans, offering an authentic Nashville experience. Highlights include the Ernest Tubb Record Shop and the former Merchants Hotel, now a restaurant. With live music from noon to night, Lower Broadway offers a total immersion in Nashville’s music culture with no cover charges at many of its establishments.
Hillsboro Village, Nashville
Hillsboro Village is a charming, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood located three miles southwest of downtown Nashville, near Vanderbilt University and Belmont University. The area is characterized by independent clothing boutiques, coffee shops, and restaurants, making it a popular gathering spot for college students. Top attractions include the Belcourt Theatre, a nonprofit movie theater that opened in 1925, and the Pancake Pantry, which has been popular since 1961. Hillsboro Village is also known for its vibrant murals, including the Hillsboro Village Dragon Mural, and its historic connection to the Adelicia Acklen Estate, which now houses the Belmont Mansion-turned-museum.
These two neighborhoods offer a unique vision of Nashville, from the lively music scene of Lower Broadway to the quiet bohemian atmosphere of Hillsboro Village, reflecting the city's cultural diversity and richness.
THE NASHVILLE PARTHENON
Outside of country music, something that draws a lot of attention in Nashville is the Parthenon, an exact replica and the same size as the mythical building found in Athens, Greece. It is one of the most popular sites in Nashville that shines for its incredible architecture and similarity.
It was built in 1897 on the occasion of the centennial of the creation of the city of Tennessee and is located in the Centennial Park "Centennial Park". Inside it has a large art museum and outside it is surrounded by beautiful gardens that invite you to enjoy a picnic.
The Nashville Parthenon The Parthenon Museum is located in Centennial Park and is an exact replica of the Parthenon in Athens. Admission is $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for seniors (62+) and youth (4-17), while children under 4 and SNAP/EBT participants (up to 4 people per card) are admitted free. Admission is purchased on-site. The museum operates Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Friday and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and Sunday from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
BROADWAY STREET, NASHVILLE
Broadway Street is the most famous and important street that you should not miss in Nashville. It is a road that gathers thousands of tourists in every corner because it houses hotels, bars with live music, shops and entertainment.
Throughout its blocks, "Honky tonks" abound, places where you can dance line dancing or listen to live music twenty-four hours a day. Here you can enjoy the best country, blues and jazz in the world. Don't forget that Nashville is synonymous with music and Broadway Street is ground zero for the city.
THE TENNESSEE CAPITOL
The Capitol is the seat of the Tennessee state legislature and a must-see for anyone interested in learning about the rich history of Nashville and the entire region. Its design is inspired by the monument to Lysicrates in Greece.
It was built in 1859 and is a National Monument of the USA. Its incredible architecture makes it an extremely attractive and recommended place to visit. The building is open to the public on weekends and you can take free guided tours.
RYMAN AUDITORIUM
It's clear that Nashville is a city that lives and breathes music everywhere. That's why music-related sites are very relevant here, as is the case with the Ryman Auditorium, another essential place to visit in Nashville.
With its 100-year history, this auditorium is known worldwide for having received the best exponents of country and blues throughout its years of life. Legendary artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash or Bob Dylan forged the Ryman Auditorium.
The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, known as the "Mother Church" of country music, offers tours daily from 9 AM to 4 PM. You can explore this iconic location for $25.95 for adults and $16.95 for children on self-guided tours, or $34.95 for adults and $26.95 for children on guided tours. It is recommended to buy tickets on their website to avoid long lines. For more details, visit their official website
NASHVILLE RIVERFRONT PARK
Riverfront Park, located on the banks of the Cumberland River, is an ideal place to walk or enjoy the great concerts and music festivals that take place throughout the year in Nashville. Depending on the time you visit, you can find activities for all types of audiences.
Riverfont is the epicenter for Independence Day celebrations every July 4th. It's more than two days of celebration where fireworks and joy invade Nashville.
BELLE MEADE PLANTATION
Belle Meade is a large plantation located in Nashville that preserves the history of slavery in the USA. This huge Greek-style mansion was built in 1853. It has farms, horse breeding and forests that perfectly describe the way of life before the abolition of slavery in the USA.
The Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville offers an immersion into the history and hospitality of the American South. You can take the Mansion Tour from $28, which includes a tour of the Greek Revival-style mansion, access to more than 30 acres of grounds, and a complimentary wine tasting. The plantation is committed to preserving Tennessee's history, architecture and equestrian heritage. For more details on tours and experiences, visit their official website at visitbellemeade.com
PARK ESTATAL OF LAKE RADNOR
Outside the city, there are also some very interesting activities to do. One example of this is Radnor Lake State Park, in Oak Hill, about 20 minutes from the urban heart of Nashville.
This vast nature reserve is home to a rich ecosystem of animals and plants that you can explore along its extensive trails. Its rest areas with incredible views of Radnor Lake are ideal for a picnic or taking the best panoramic photos. Nashville is music and also outdoor life.
DOCUMENTATION TO TRAVEL TO THE USA
If you are going to travel to USA for tourism or business, remember that you must have a visa ESTA or a tourist visa to enter the country, in addition to your current passport.
If you are a citizen of a member country of the Visa Waiver Program, how to be Spain, Chile o Andorra, you can enter United States filling in the form ESTA and without the need to process an American Visa. This way you will not waste as much time and money as when processing the Visa in an embassy of USA.
On the other hand, if you do not belong to a member country of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), you must apply for a conventional type B1/B2 visa at the embassy of United States from your country.
TRAVEL INSURANCE TO VISIT USA
health in United States It is very expensive so it is extremely necessary to travel with a travel insurance contracted in advance.
Travel insurance will cover you from possible health misfortunes, as well as insure a large part of your belongings. Remember that the idea is to travel calmly, therefore, insuring your health and your belongings with medical insurance is the best thing you can do.