26 Best Things to Do in Nashville

It’s not known as Music City for nothing. Nashville is home to many music venues as well as what’s known as the Honky Tonk Highway — a street with bars playing live music all day long!

Here are four entertainment attractions to check out in Nashville:

• Grand Ole Opry: The Grand Ole Opry is easily one of the most iconic music venues in all of Nashville. This venue hosts a live performance showcase of the same name (the Grand Ole Opry) that features some of the biggest names in country music such as Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. Check out the Opry’s calendar for showtimes, tickets, performing artists, and more.
• Honky Tonk Bars on Broadway: Rather than highlighting one in particular, we want to showcase all of the honky tonk bars you can find on Broadway in downtown Nashville. Grab a drink, listen to live music, or even hit the dance floor! Some of the most famous honky tonks on Broadway include Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, The Stage, and Legends Corner.
• Plaza Mariachi: Though best known for country music, Nashville is home to a diverse musical culture and range of artists. This can best be seen at Plaza Mariachi, a cultural center that focuses on Latin American food, music, fashion, and more. Best of all, you can enjoy live music from mariachi bands while you eat, shop, and enjoy the plaza.
• Music City Brew Hop: You can’t visit Nashville without doing at least one trolley tour. Music City Brew Hop is one such tour, taking you on a trolley ride to several breweries around the city. You can choose a one-day pass or two-day pass, whatever works best for you.

Though Broadway is often the main nightlife draw, Nashville is home to a fantastic collection of bars, dance clubs, and cocktail lounges for the night owls among us.

• House of Cards: For a truly memorable nightlife experience, schedule a reservation at House of Cards — a magic-themed dining experience complete with dinner and craft cocktails. Along with having magicians constantly performing on the dining room floor, House of Cards also features a nightly magic show hosted in the company’s Carter the Great showroom.
• Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge: Just a few minutes outside Nashville is Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge — a 90’s themed dive bar complete with live music. The lounge features a menu of tasty southern classics like Frito Pie, as well as iconic cocktails such as the old fashioned and margaritas.
• Tequila Cowboy’s WannaB Karaoke: Warm up your singing voice because we’re headed to karaoke! Tequila Cowboy is a bar and restaurant that features a karaoke event Thursdays through Sundays. This establishment is frequented by both established and up-and-coming musical stars alike, so you may even get to witness karaoke sung by true professionals.
• 16-Bit Bar + Arcade: Have you ever been to a barcade only to discover you’ll need to spend a lot of money to play all of the games? Not at 16-Bit Bar + Arcade in Nashville — as long as you have a drink in hand, you can play a wide range of classic arcade games entirely for free! Some of the games available include Street Fighter, Super Pac-Man, and Gauntlet.

What’s a visit to Nashville without enjoying the exceptional food and drinks that the city has to offer? As a southern city, Nashville has tasty restaurants and drinks galore to choose from. Here are five must-visits in the Nashville food and drink scene:

• Tennessee Brew Works: For an awesome brewery experience, make sure to check out Tennessee Brew Works during your trip to Nashville. The taproom at this brewery is spacious and features both an outdoor deck and an upper-level deck as well. Plus, you can catch live music or even plan your own private event at this brewery.
• Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery: Get a taste of true southern hospitality at Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery. The Belle Meade property is a historic estate dating back to the times of the U.S. Civil War. Today, you can visit and tour the estate to learn about its history before hopping over to the winery with more than 200 years of history in Nashville.
• Sun Diner: Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, Sun Diner is the place to be after a late night on the town. Taking the theme of an old-school diner, Sun Diner has many iconic dishes, including its well-known and well-loved Chicken & Waffles. Sun Diner was born out of The Sun Records company, which featured famous artists like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.
• Hattie B’s Hot Chicken: If we’re talking about the Nashville food scene, then you can absolutely not skip out on Hattie B’s Hot Chicken. Hattie B’s is easily Nashville’s most well-known chicken joint and is one of the most notable restaurant chains in the city, helping to drive the popularity of hot chicken within the region.
• Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery: If you didn’t visit a moonshine distillery, did you really visit Tennessee? Nashville has a long history of moonshine production that you can learn about and experience for yourself at Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery. Stop by the distillery’s Nashville location for a true taste of the southern spirit.
• Assembly Food Hall: Looking for a place in Nashville that combines diverse culinary delights with live entertainment? Look no further than the Assembly Food Hall! Located in the heart of downtown, this vibrant food hall offers a wide array of dining options, from juicy burgers and authentic tacos to delectable sushi and artisanal pizzas. They also feature a stage for live music performances for the Nashville flare.

As a musical hub, Nashville is a patron city of the arts. From museums to cultural centers, Nashville has a vibrant history to explore and learn about during your stay.

Here are five arts and culture venues you don’t want to miss in Nashville:

• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: To get the most out of your trip to Music City, stop by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to learn about the many musical stars born in Nashville, as well as those whom Nashville helped raise to stardom.
• The Parthenon: The Parthenon is the centerpiece of Centennial Park in Nashville and is constructed to be an exact, full-scale replica of the famous Athens Parthenon in Greece. This sightseeing location even features a replica of the Athena statue found in the original Parthenon.
• Nashville Zoo at Grassmere: The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is home to more than 6,200 animals and includes both a zoological garden and a historic farmhouse.
• National Museum of African American Music: For as big as country music is in Nashville, the city is also home to a vibrant African American music scene. This is showcased at the National Museum of African American Music, where you can learn all about the black musicians that made waves in the Nashville music scene and even enjoy live performances.
• Frist Art Museum: The Frist Art Museum features a diverse range of exhibitions of art made from all different types of mediums. Housed in Nashville’s historic U.S. post office building, the Frist Art Museum gives visitors the chance to explore the city’s artistic expression while also learning more about the city’s history.

Have you truly been to Nashville if you haven’t participated in at least one sports event? Home to several major sports teams and several stunning arenas, Nashville is a haven for sports lovers.

Here are five awesome sports and recreation activities to check out:

• Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and Museum: Find out all about the sports teams that brought honor to the city of Nashville at the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. The Hall of Fame strives to connect athletes, coaches, fans, and everyone in between, uniting all in their love for sports and driving the sports culture of Nashville forward.
• Music City Bowl: The Music City Bowl is an annual NCAA football game played in Nashville since 1998. This game is a post-season game and is sponsored by TransPerfect. From a business standpoint, the Music City Bowl strives to help drive economic growth, tourism, and quality of life within the city. The bowl also has several initiatives to help youth and collegiate athletes.
• NHL Nashville Predators: Easily one of Nashville’s most well-known and beloved sports teams is the NHL Nashville Predators. The team’s home arena is the Bridgestone Arena, where you can catch the Nashville Predators playing throughout the hockey season. The Predators put on quite the show at their home arena, making hockey games one of Nashville’s top sporting events.
• Hermitage Golf Course: For golf lovers visiting Nashville, it is paramount to visit Hermitage Golf Course, the city’s top-rated public golf course. The stunning greens and features of the course paired with the beautiful clubhouse and landscaping make this golf course one to remember. Plus, the course even has sheep you can visit!
• Bad Axe Throwing Nashville: If you want to get a good workout in while in Nashville, stop by Bad Axe Throwing, Nashville’s largest axe-throwing venue. As a top recreational attraction in Nashville, Bad Axe Throwing also features a bar and is open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The venue can be rented out for private events as well.
• NFL Tennessee Titans: One of Nashville's premier sports teams, the NFL Tennessee Titans, bring excitement and energy to the city. Playing their home games at Nissan Stadium, the Titans deliver thrilling football action throughout the NFL season. Fans can experience the electric atmosphere of a live Titans game, with passionate supporters and heart-pounding plays making it a must-see sporting event in Nashville.
• MLS Nashville SC: Nashville SC has quickly become a beloved team in the city's sports scene. Playing at GEODIS Park, the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States, Nashville SC matches are a thrilling experience for soccer enthusiasts. The team's dynamic play and dedicated fan base make attending a game an unforgettable experience, showcasing the growing popularity of soccer in Music City.