Nashville is one of America’s fastest-growing and most exciting cities — the undisputed capital of country music, home to one of the world’s greatest live music scenes, a booming food culture, and a hospitality industry that earned it the nickname “Music City.” But Nashville is also a city of world-class healthcare, higher education, and a creative energy that extends far beyond the honky-tonks of Broadway.
Top Attractions
1. Lower Broadway & Honky-Tonks
Lower Broadway is Nashville’s legendary entertainment strip — a row of multi-story honky-tonk bars where live country music plays from noon until 3am, seven days a week, free of charge. Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Robert’s Western World, and Legends Corner have launched thousands of careers. The Ryman Auditorium — the “Mother Church of Country Music” — is just steps away, hosting legendary performances since 1892.
2. Country Music Hall of Fame
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a world-class institution celebrating the history and cultural impact of country music from its Appalachian roots to contemporary pop crossovers. Elvis Presley’s “Gold Car,” Hank Williams’s stage outfits, and Taylor Swift’s awards are among the extraordinary artifacts. Studio B, where Elvis, Dolly Parton, and hundreds of others recorded, offers guided tours.
3. The Gulch & East Nashville
Beyond Broadway, Nashville’s neighborhoods reveal the city’s creative evolution. The Gulch, once an industrial district, is now home to upscale restaurants, boutique hotels, and Nashville’s most Instagrammable street art. East Nashville’s Five Points area is the city’s most eclectic neighborhood — independent restaurants, vintage shops, and a thriving arts scene that feels like the Nashville of tomorrow.
4. Food Scene
Nashville’s food scene has exploded alongside its population growth. Nashville Hot Chicken — at Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, the original since the 1940s — is the city’s iconic dish and a national food phenomenon. Beyond hot chicken, the city offers extraordinary barbecue (Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint), Southern comfort food, innovative farm-to-table cuisine, and one of America’s most exciting brunch cultures.
Best Time to Visit
- Spring (Apr–Jun): CMA Fest in June draws hundreds of thousands of country music fans
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Perfect temperatures, fall colors, less crowded than summer
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Quiet season, great deals, Christmas in Nashville is charming
- Summer (Jul–Aug): Hot and busy — bachelorette parties and music festivals in full swing
Travel Tips
Downtown Nashville is walkable, but a car or rideshare is needed for neighborhoods farther out. The honky-tonks on Broadway have no cover charge — the musicians work for tips, so tip generously. Reservations are essential at popular restaurants. Nashville is a major bachelorette party destination — expect lively crowds on weekends.
