17 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Nashville, TN

Nashville is Tennessee’s capital. It is located along the Cumberland River. It is a famous place where several institutions and colleges are located. It is sometimes referred to as the “Athens of the South.” So, let’s see 17 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Nashville, TN. You will surely visit there.

Nashville, founded in 1779. 100 years before it was introduced as a hub of country music, parallel to the the establishment of the Grand Ole Opry’s radio station. Both the Country Music Hall of Fame & Music Row are currently located in Nashville city. The Music City Walk of Fame, located on Nashville’s “Music Mile,” is one of the most popular music-themed pathways.

Continue going to one of Nashville’s greenway pathways, which feature Cumberland River bridges: John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge & Cumberland River Pedestrian Bridge. Bicentennial Capitol Mall is another roaming location.

The city serves as a starting point for exploring the remainder of Tennessee. Many historical sights, such as ancient plantations and Civil War battlefields, are within a half-hour drive away. There are several hiking paths in and around Nashville that will be a nice chance for ya’ll to have an exercise.

1. Grand Ole Opry

The Grand Ole Opry radio show is the country’s longest-running radio program. If we consider from 1925, more than 5,000 concerts have been presented in here. It greatly contributes to keep the name of Nashville as a music city.

The performance moved from the Ryman Auditorium to the Grand Ole Opry House. There are 4,000-seat facility northeast of downtown. Performers have captivated fans of country, bluegrass, gospel, and old-time music, as well as popular music and comedy, throughout the festival’s existence.

Attend one of the broadcasts to join in the fun. To guarantee your seat and free parking at the neighboring Opry Mills Mall, purchase your Grand Ole Opry Show Admission Ticket in Nashville in advance. Consider taking a backstage tour to get a new perspective on the dazzling lights of show business. Your VIP pass is the Grand Ole Opry House Guided Backstage Tour in Nashville.

Address: 2804 Opryland Drive, Nashville, Tennessee

Official site: www.opry.com

2. Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum

In the center of downtown sits the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The towering windows of this remarkable structure elegantly imitate piano keys.

A multi-media presentation featuring historical performances, costumes, instruments, gold records, and memorabilia may be seen at the museum. A Cadillac once owned by Elvis Presley, a gigantic 40-foot guitar, a tour van, and a recording studio are among the other features. There are also guided tours of the neighboring historic RCA Studio B.

Take a self-guided tour of the museum with audio support from celebrities like Dolly Parton. To record your own country music song, go to a replica of a tour bus.

Address: 222 5th Ave S, Nashville, Tennessee

Official site: https://countrymusichalloffame.org

3. Ryman Auditorium

The Grand Ole Opry’s home from 1943 until 1974 was the Ryman Auditorium, which is still used to host broadcasts of the famed radio show. The Ryman, which first opened its doors in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle, now hosts regular performances of classical and bluegrass music, musical theater, plus television events.

The Ryman is dubbed the “Carnegie Hall of the South” by many. The theater, which is right off Honky Tonk Row, has a museum with displays on the city’s rich musical history. There are both guided and self-directed tours available. In the Air Castle Studio, try your hand at making your own album. Backstage visits are possible, but they must be reserved in advance to prevent disappointment.

Address: 116 5th Ave N., Nashville, Tennessee

Official site: https://ryman.com

4. Create a buzz in downtown Nashville

Every city has regions that have become popular tourist destinations. Midtown is in Manhattan, Little Havana is in Miami, and Downtown Nashville is in Nashville.

The Ryman Auditorium, Honky Tonk Row, museums commemorating well-known country music musicians such as Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline, as well as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, are all located in Downtown Nashville. In this neon-lit zone, where live country music wafts out into the street, Broadway is the epicenter of nightlife.

You are walking in the footsteps of the city’s past while strolling around Downtown Nashville and visiting its modern tourist attractions. At Fort Nashborough, near the banks of the Cumberland River, evidence of the early settlers may be found. From the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, the views in Downtown Nashville include landmarks.

5. The Johnny Cash Museum is a great place to learn about the Man in Black

Johnny Cash, often known as the “Man in Black,” had a difficult existence that he overcame to win the Grammy Award 17 times and become one of country music’s most revered performers. In downtown Nashville, there is a museum dedicated to him.

The museum’s displays include handwritten lyrics for two of Cash’s most renowned songs, “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk the Line,” which are among the 1,500 songs he recorded. On exhibit are Johnny Cash’s outfits, instruments, letters, artwork, and songs. There’s also a museum store where you can buy souvenirs, as well as a café next door where you can get everything you need to keep you going for another hour of museum viewing.

Consider paying a visit to the Patsy Cline Museum, which is located upstairs. View this talented country music star’s videos, memorabilia, & personal belongings. Her career as a country music star came to a terrible end when she was just 30 years old, when she was killed in a vehicle accident.

Address: 119 3rd Ave. S. Nashville, Tennessee

Official site: www.cashmuseum.com

6. Belle Meade Historic Site

The Belle Meade Mansion was built in 1845 in the Greek-Revival style and is surrounded by the ruins of an antebellum plantation. Union and Confederate soldiers fought on the front lawn of the house during the two-day Civil War Battle of Nashville in 1864. The massive stone columns still bear the scars of gunfire.

There are guided tours available, including one that tells the history of the estate through the eyes of the slaves who were compelled to work and live here. At Belle Meade, you may participate in one of the culinary experiences or seasonal programs. The plantation’s stables, gardens, & grounds are all worth seeing. If time permits, stop by the on-site Harding House Restaurant, which is a popular lunch and supper destination. The Belle Meade Historic Site is located nine kilometers from the city center.

Address: 5025 Harding Pike, Nashville, Tennessee

Official site: https://bellemeadeplantation.com

7. At Gaylord Opryland Resort, groove in the Glorious Gardens

The Gaylord Opryland Resort’s most recognized asset is its collection of 50,000 tropical plants, many of which are rare worldwide types. You don’t have to be a guest to appreciate it. This amazing show, located on nine acres of indoor space and nurtured by 20 full-time horticulturists, is a visual and aromatic feast.

The Garden Conservatory houses one-fifth of the collection, which includes palm and banana trees that are 60 feet tall. Because these plants were so tall, they had to be put before the glass-topped atrium could be built.

More than 8,000 tropical ornamentals were chosen for the Cascades Atrium from Florida. There’s a 40-foot palm tree and ginger shrubs that are as tall as an average man.

The third huge garden, Delta Atrium, welcomes you into a subtropical plant zone that you may explore aboard a delta flatboat. Make a wish while passing beneath the Wishing Banyan tree. More than 100 palm trees, banana trees, gardenias, and camellias, as well as black olive trees and mahoganies draped with Spanish moss, are among the exotics on display. The entry to the Delta Mansion, which is graced by two 40-foot Southern magnolias, is a sight to behold.

Address: 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, Tennessee

Official site: www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/bnago-gaylord-opryland-resort-and-convention-center/overview

8. Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage

Andrew Jackson, America’s seventh president, lived at the Hermitage. The estate is one of Nashville’s most beautiful sites. The Hermitage, which is 16 miles outside downtown, was erected in 1819 and restored 25 years later following a terrible fire.

Visitors visiting the Hermitage get a sense of what it was like for Jackson to reside here from 1837 until 1845. A museum with exhibits about Jackson’s private & public lives is housed in the estate.

Take a tour of the property with a professional guide. Wagon rides and specialized events, such as ghost tours, are other entertaining pastimes. The grounds are well-kept and feature Jackson’s and his wife’s gravesites. Visit the neighboring Tulip Grove Mansion, which was formerly the home of Emily and Andrew Jackson Donelson’s family.

Address: 4580 Rachels Ln, Hermitage, Tennessee

Official site: www.thehermitage.com

9. Nashville Parthenon

See the renowned landmark of Nashville, a replica of the Parthenon in Athens, if you’re searching for one of the finest free things to do in Nashville. The original was made of wood in 1897 to mark the state’s first century and is located in Centennial Park, a short walk west of the city center. Cement is used to construct the current full-scale reproduction of the old Greek temple.

The Parthenon houses a permanent art collection of 63 pieces by American painters from the 19th and 20th centuries. Admire the gold-leafed figure of the goddess Athena Parthenos, which stands 42 feet tall. Replicas of the famous Parthenon Marbles from the 5th century BCE are also on show.

Address: 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, Tennessee

Official site: www.nashville.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Parthenon.aspx

10. RCA Studio B

Music Row includes RCA Studio B, which is located near Music Square. The heart and soul of the country’s music business is here, and RCA Studio B is the most well-protected historic site. Starting in 1957, the “house of 1,000 hits” lasted for roughly 15 years.

This studio is credited with giving rise to the distinctive “Nashville sound” that defined so many great successes in the 1950s and 1960s. While the studio closed in 1977, the location is now used as a training facility. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which owns RCA Studio B, organizes planned tours for visitors.

Address: 1611 Roy Acuff Place, Nashville, Tennessee

Official site: https://studiob.org/

11. Nashville Zoo

The Nashville Zoo is a fantastic location to take kids. Explore Africa’s plains, South America’s jungles, and Asia’s diverse wildlife. Clouded leopards, Baird tapirs, toucans, & Sumatran tigers are among the almost 3,000 creatures from 350 species on display. The animals at the Nashville Zoo live in habitats that are replicas of their natural habitats.

You may visit an aviary and be surrounded by more than 50 Australian parrots at Lorikeet Landing. Ride the Wild Animal Carousel and the Wilderness Express Train at the zoo. On the zoo’s big Jungle Gym, where they slide, swing, climb, crawl, and explore, kids intuitively know what to do. The Soaring Eagle Zip Line will elevate your zoo experience to new heights.

Address: 3777 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, Tennessee

Official site: www.nashvillezoo.org

12. Cheekwood Estate and Gardens

The exquisite 55-acre Cheekwood Estate and Gardens is a refuge of tranquility and grace. On a bright day, this lovely park-like environment is a relaxing location to visit. The Cheekwood’s devotion to the arts and arts preservation is exemplified through modern art galleries in the historic home.

Step onto the Sculpture Trail after your tour of the estate and the Cheekwood collection interior to see artfully designed sculptures like “The Glass Bridge for Nashville.” Admire the variety of garden designs and inspirations, as well as the variety of plants and shrubs, especially when they are in bloom.

Address: 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville, Tennessee

Official site: https://cheekwood.org

13. At the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, make a recording

The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, which commemorates the musical heroes who helped create the stars, is not to be confused with the Country Music Hall of Fame. Nashville, Motown, Muscle Shoals, New York, Los Angeles, & recording studios are all represented by these skilled session musicians. These are the guys that made the hits happen, along with their instruments. That’s why the display of studios, stages, and guitars is so important at this 30,000-square-foot museum.

Take a look around the studio where Elvis Presley recorded singles like In the Ghetto. At the Hendrix exhibit, see the stage where young Jimi Hendrix performed, as well as one of his guitars. See Glen Campbell’s guitars, which he used as a session musician before becoming a star. Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, and Elton John performed other instruments on exhibit.

If you’re interested in the process that produces superstars of all kinds of music, this interactive museum is a great place to learn and experiment. You may test out everything here, from mixing music to trying out different instruments to creating your own recording.

Address: 401 Gay Street, Nashville, Tennessee

Official site: https://www.musicianshalloffame.com/

14. Belmont Mansion

The Belmont Mansion is Tennessee’s biggest antebellum home, dating from the 1850s. It is regarded as one of the most opulent residences in the United States. Several of the original décor and furnishings have been kept in many of the rooms. The residence is designed in the manner of an Italian villa, with lavish gardens and outbuildings. Permanent art shows are also available at Belmont.

The historic magnificence of Belmont Mansion is complemented by furnishings, paintings, and unique statues by American artists as you enter. After a guided tour, you are free to wander about the mansion on your own.

Address: 1700 Acklen Ave, Nashville, Tennessee

Official site: www.belmontmansion.com

15. Tennessee State Museum

The Tennessee State Museum has a wealth of information on Tennessee’s social and natural past. This huge state-of-the-art museum, located adjacent to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, encompasses an area of 137,000 square feet and conveniently handles the large collection of original antiques, interactive exhibitions, and multi-media displays.

Artifacts connected to Tennessee’s involvement in the Civil War, such as period weaponry and furniture, are among the museum’s broad holdings. There’s also a sizable collection of artworks & paintings, as well as exhibits about musicians and music. A theater, a learning and educational center, and an on-site gift store are among the notable elements that bring the state’s past to life.

Address: 1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, Tennessee

Official site: https://tnmuseum.org

16. At the Lane Motor Museum, you may see vintage automobiles

The Lane Motor Museum has a significant collection of automobiles, the most of which are from Europe, but there are also displays from Japan and the United States. The tiniest French-made minicar, with capacity for only one passenger and no need for a driver’s license, is included in the collection. Streamlined Adler coupes from the 1930s are among the historic automobiles on display. A 1964 foldable scooter is among the motorcycles in the collection.

The museum is more than simply a place to see cars. It’s a showcase for automobiles that have been restored to their original state as precisely as feasible. For the last eight years, the museum has also been working on a reproduction of one of the most bizarre automobiles ever made–a 1933 Dymaxion. Buckminster Fuller, the inventor of the geodesic dome, came up with this streamlined vehicle that appears like it might power an extraterrestrial.

Address: 702 Murfreesboro, Nashville, Tennessee

Official site: www.lanemotormuseum.org

17. The General Jackson Showboat is available for a cruise

The General Jackson Showboat is a contemporary take on a traditional four-deck paddle-wheel steamship from the 1800s. While sailing down the Cumberland River, this showboat is a terrific way to get your country music fix.

If you’re seeking for entertaining things to do in Nashville at night, this relaxing adventure gives a unique perspective of the metropolis from the water. Passing beneath the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge is a highlight.

Book the General Jackson Showboat Lunch or Dinner Cruise in Nashville to make your planning easier. Southern food during a lunch or dinner cruise, onboard entertainment, and unrivaled vistas of Nashville and the Cumberland River are all included.

Address: 2812 Opryland Drive, Nashville, Tennessee

Official site: http://generaljackson.com