Nashville in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

In this article I'm going to give you some tips on how to organise your 3-day visit so that you can optimise your time and see the most interesting places in the city in a comfortable way. Among my suggestions you will find a general visit to the emblematic points of Nashville, a gastronomic tour, museums, an excursion to the outskirts and some ideas to get to know the most beautiful neighbourhoods.

For your first day in Nashville, my first recommendation is to get up early (it won't be difficult with jet lag), have a good breakfast and take a guided bus tour. This way you'll get an overview and get to know the main sights. As part of this tour, I suggest you visit one of Nashville' s most important museums, the Country Music Hall of Fame, go through Centennial Park and close the day by visiting the most iconic honky tonk bars. Here's how to do it.

Guided sightseeing bus tour

To start getting to know Nashville on your first day there, I suggest you get on the tour bus in the morning. It is a very comfortable and easy way to see the most emblematic areas of the city. It's very easy to get around downtown Nashville on foot and there are several attractions close to each other, but there are other attractions further out, such as Belmont Mansion and Centennial Park, so it's worth taking the tour bus. You'll also get commentary on each place of interest from your guide. An essential way to start your trip and start learning about the history and culture of the city.

If you like the option of having a guided bus tour of the city and its surroundings, there are other options for all tastes, by bike, on foot, by segway... Choose your favourite and get out and start touring Nashville.

This particular bus tour lasts 90 minutes if you do it in a row, but you have the option to hop on and off as many times as you like with the same ticket and stay longer in the areas you like. You can do it at any time between 9am and 6pm and there are 13 stops. You'll visit the central streets of downtown, Capitol Hill, Lower Broadway, Music Row, Centennial Park, Belmont Mansion and other interesting parts of the city.

See the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum

While you're on the tour bus, hop off at the Country Music Hall of Fame stop for a visit before you get back on the bus. This museum, active since 1961, is a great opportunity to learn about country music, which is what gives Nashville so much of its personality.

You can see through objects, instruments, costumes, videos and photos the evolution of the music from hillbilly, through other genres such as bluegrass and honky tonk to country. You'll be amazed by the record collection. Sometimes there is live music, and if you're lucky you'll be able to catch a performance. This museum contains the world's largest collection of country music memorabilia. A worthwhile, highly entertaining visit where you will learn a lot and have a lot of fun. It will perfectly complement your visit to the city's honky tonks.

From the Country Music Hall of Fame, take the opportunity to visit Nashville's Walk of Fame. It's located in a park just across the street and take pictures of your favourite artists' plaques. The National Museum of African American Music is also just a 5-minute walk away.

Visit Centennial Park

The tour bus makes a stop at Centennial Park, a perfect opportunity to visit it at this time before resuming your tour and visiting it, as it's a little further out of the city centre and may be a little further out of your way to visit at another time.

This is Nashville's most popular park, located just west of downtown. On sunny days it's not hard to see live music or events. There's a surprise here, a life-size replica of Greece 's Parthenon that's worth a photo to throw your Instagram followers off the scent. Inside you can see the huge golden statue of Athena and there is also an art museum. If you're a history buff, you'll love it. Take a stroll around and enjoy the views from this spectacular park.

Hang out in the bars of Printers Alley

If you've still got energy left and want a late night plan, you've got to get into a real honky tonk. The best place to do this is Printers Alley. This is the area where Nashville's most legendary bars are located and where, of course, there is a very lively atmosphere. You'll love the retro style and live music.

You'll know the street, located in the historic centre, for its popular archway of lights. The part bounded by Union Street and Commerce Street has been home to the entertainment district since 1940. It is one of the most important points where the city's defining musical character began to grow. Prior to this date, it was here, as the name suggests, that the city's most important printing presses were located.

Apart from Printers Alley there are other areas less frequented by tourists and full of curiosities. So that you know where to go and get the best experience of a night out Nashville style, I recommend you sign up for this pub crawl. You'll enjoy a guided tour of 5 bars, live music, local cocktails and craft beers. It's not just about partying, the person in charge of guiding you will tell you history and anecdotes about the area. Over 21s only, as this is the legal drinking age in the USA.

During your stay in Nashville, I recommend a trip to the suburbs to add more context to your American experience. The surroundings are very green and you'll enjoy the view and the history of the place. Here are some suggestions for organising your second day including this exclusion in the morning and including other activities in the city in the afternoon.

Excursion to Belle Meade

To occupy the morning of your second day in Nashville, I propose an excursion to a historic site that is also very practical because it will give you a lot and will not take you much time. Beyond the attractions of the city there are some very interesting spots in the outskirts like this one. Take the opportunity!

You can get to Belle Meade by bus number 3, which departs from 6th Ave & Deaderick St Sb, the stop is next to the Tennessee State Capitol and it only takes 27 minutes to get there. Another option is by car or taxi, if there is no traffic it takes about 13 minutes.

Here's why I recommend this tour: Belle Meade is a very typical southern mansion-winery dating back to 1807 in a very green and peaceful setting that forms a historic ensemble with its surroundings. It is a large manor house, now a wine cellar-museum, and its well-maintained gardens, which were once plantations.

To get to know all the details and make the most of the visit, I suggest a guided tour where the guide will tell you about the most important events that took place there. The most important thing is the raw history of slavery on the plantations, the subsequent struggle for rights and finally the liberation. It's an experience that will impress you! The guided tour lasts one hour and of course includes a wine tasting from the wine cellar.

Visit the Ryman Auditorium

Once back from the tour, my suggestion is to visit the Ryman Auditorium. It is one of the most renowned places in the city. It was originally a church where Gospel masses were held. This was only the beginning of its musical evolution. Later the building housed one of the best known country radio stations, the Grand Ole Opry.

Its interior and history will surprise you. There are many anecdotes to learn about the singers and celebrities who have passed through it. It's best to visit with a guided tour where you'll learn all about one of the most important places in Nashville's music scene.

The Ryman Auditorium is located in the heart of downtown Nashville. From here you can also walk to other major attractions in the city such as Fort Nashboro and the historic Tennessee Capitol building, both just a 10 minute walk away.

Watch a game at the Bridgestone Arena

The Bridgestone Arena is next door to the Ryman Auditorium and this is where I suggest the following activity. One thing I firmly believe you can't miss in the United States is watching a basketball or hockey game. Whether you're a fan of the sport or not, the stadium experience is super fun, just like you've seen in movies countless times. Now that you have the chance, I encourage you to do it from the stands of the Bridgestone Arena with a big foam finger and some hot dogs - you'll love the atmosphere!

The Bridgestone Arena not only hosts sporting events, but also concerts. Check out their website ahead of time and you're sure to find a sporting or musical event you like.

To make the most of the third day, I suggest a full day dedicated exclusively to getting into the most beautiful streets of Nashville and its neighbourhoods to discover and enjoy its southern food, lifestyle and take pictures of its streets decorated with murals.

Get a taste of Southern food

You can't leave Nashville without trying some of the traditional Southern food, which is another must-try. It's simple but super tasty food: Mac 'n Cheese, empanadas, barbecue, spicy fried chicken... These are just some of the most typical dishes, but there's much more to discover. This food is available in many places. Some of the most famous are Edley's Bar-B-Que, Arnold's Country Kitchen, Hattie B's Hot Chicken... The list goes on and there's plenty to choose from. Don't be spoilt for choice. To make sure you visit a selection of the top rated places I recommend a tour with an expert guide.

This tour I propose is very complete. It's done in a van, as it covers a lot of ground and combines food stops with cultural stops such as a walk through Centennial Park to East Nashville, where the funkiest and funkiest area is. You'll get to see more of the city with your guide, and you'll get to taste both sweet and savoury as you explore the neighbourhoods from the inside. This tour lasts 3 hours, so you'll have the middle part of the day taken care of.

Guided tour of the city's murals

After the food tour, I suggest you get out your camera and take a stroll through the streets to see the street art, another of Nashville's great icons. These murals can be found in various places such as 12th South, Charlotte Corridor, Downtown... But there are other more hidden ones that are worth seeing or recent ones that are still undocumented. They are constantly changing. And each one has a story to tell. These have been made by both local and international artists. To get to know the most spectacular ones and get to know all the details, it is best to do it with a guide and cover the city without wasting time.

To complete your trip with some spectacular photos, I recommend you take a guided tour of the murals. This way you'll get to know the neighbourhoods and streets of Nashville better with an expert guide who will show you the most photogenic spots in the city. This tour lasts between an hour and a half and two hours and takes place aboard a golf cart - it's fun and you won't get tired of it!

Night tour of the city

You're at the end of your last day. If you still don't want to say goodbye to the city, you can still take a night tour - gather your strength and do it! The good thing is that Nashville has a lot to offer even when the sun goes down. That's why I suggest you end your trip on a high note: with a night tour focused on showing you the night-time music scene, where the real heart of the city lies.

This tour starts at the city's most famous distilleries, Ole Smoky Distillery & Yee-Haw Brewery and passes through the Hall of Fame and Museum, passing through and explaining other legendary spots in the city, including Music Row, 16th/17th Ave South - Division Street and Music Square. You'll learn about the history and evolution of the musical genres that have passed through the city for nearly 100 years. You'll also enjoy the illuminated city, a spectacle in itself.

Here's my guide to spending 3 very full days in Nashville, seeing some of the most important attractions. If you want to learn more about the city and swap one of these activities for another or visit them with more time in the future, take a look at this article where you will find no less than 63 ideas and activities to do in Nashville. If you plan to visit several museums, consider buying the citypass.