Top 35 Nashville Attractions You'll Absolutely Love

The Grand Ole Opry has been famous in Nashville pretty much since its inception.

It started out in 1925 as a radio show and is virtually responsible for putting the city on the map to begin with. Thanks to the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville is known as the world's capital of country music.

Throughout its life, the Grand Ole Opry has served as a host for numerous country music legends, like Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Loretta Lynn, and Keith Urban.

It's called many different places home, and it now sits in a gorgeous former church building just northeast of downtown Nashville.

There are tours of the stunning structure 7 days a week, including views of the 18 interesting dressing rooms and a chance to stand on stage.

And, of course, if you have the cash and time, you absolutely should watch a show in this location.

There are great musical performances many nights a week, from a mix of popular acts to newbies to the scene. The seats are all old church pews, too, which is a charming and historic touch.

Pro Tip: Buy Grand Ole Opry Show Ticket in advance to reserve your seat.

It's a no-brainer than something like the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum would be among the top Nashville attractions.

Fans of music and history alike will appreciate the exhibits dedicated to the very best country artists that America has ever known. The well-organized space is a delight to explore, with a mix of permanent and rotating exhibits.

Among the artifacts of note at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum are the solid gold Cadillac of Elvis Presley and the genuine guitar of Jimmie Rodgers.

You'll see exhibits featuring Reba McEntire, Patsy Cline, Alan Jackson, and more. The "Sing Me Back Home" exhibit offers two floors of documentation and education on the evolution and origins of the country music genre via interactive showcases. 

There are more than 2 million items on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

You might need two visits to see everything that it has to offer, especially if you want to catch a specific workshop or presentation, which the museum also offers regularly.

Pro Tip: Buy Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Ticket in advance to skip the line.

The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is one of the very best Nashville attractions for animal enthusiasts, families, and those looking for a good fun day out.

The zoo is home to 3,000 animals across 350 different species, each displayed in a particular area. It's just about 6 miles from the downtown area and is well worth the trip.

This zoo is one of the country's biggest. You'll get to see white rhinos, clouded leopards, meerkats, anacondas, giraffes, red pandas, alligators, and a mix of birds and fish.

You can even get up close and personal with lots of them! At Kangaroo Kickabout, you'll be able to pet a kangaroo. At Lorikeet Landing, you can feed parrots. And, of course, at Critter Encounters, you can pet and interact with tons of different species and take pictures with them.

The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere was initially a farm home built in the 1800s. As part of your trip here, you can actually visit the original historic home and its beautiful gardens, belonging formerly to the Croft family.

If that's not up to your alley, try touring the zoo on the Wilderness Express Train or riding on the zoo's zip line.

You can also sign your kids up for a fun weekend experience, such as the Zoo Tots young zookeeper class or the Night Owls overnight stay.

Those seeking things to do in Nashville to bask in its nightlife will meet all their needs at Broadway.

This downtown location is packed with clubs, bars, and all sorts of live music acts across numerous blocks.

Under the neon lights, you'll find plenty of locations with no entrance or cover charge, so you can get your fill of the very best performances.

There are plenty of different establishments on Broadway to explore. Lower Broadway, also named Honky Tonk Highway, is one of the prime spots for the very best nightlife offerings.

You can also check out popular establishments like Layla's, Legends Corner, and Honky Tonk Central!

Not much for nightlife? Throughout the day, there are great shopping and dining locations available to visit, as well as various saloons to get done up!

Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery is set in a historic green revival mansion built in 1853. It is set on 30 acres of land and is filled with bullet holes that were inflicted upon it during the Civil War.

This is one of the best things to do in Nashville if you want an authentic look into what life was like for locals in the 1800s.

Guides at the Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery don period outfits as they provide 45-minute tours of the main house.

This was once a horse plantation, so you can expect to learn about what that sort of estate was like.

You should also take the one-hour Journey to Jubilee tour, which offers an in-depth look at the lives of the plantation's enslaved people and their eventual emancipation.

In 2009, the historic site added a nonprofit winery to its expanse to finance the location's preservation.

If you tour the main site, you'll get to sample various wines as part of the experience. Sign up for a wine tasting and lunch for a more luxurious experience!

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, as its name suggests, was created for President Andrew Jackson.

It was built in 1821 and is a National Historic Landmark, making it one of the most storied Nashville attractions.

The mansion has gorgeous Greek Revival architecture and offers a unique look into the seventh US president's life.

Inside the building, you'll tour the main house, the Old Hermitage Church, the kitchen, and even Jackson's own tomb.

The extremely grandiose expanse of the home, set on a thousand acres of land, contains much of Jackson's rooms as they were when he lived in them. You'll get an in-depth look into both his strengths and his weaknesses.

There's a morbid side to Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, too. The luxury of the estate was maintained by 150 enslaved individuals, and you can visit their quarters today.

Small little cabins with tight spaces are all they had when they lived here from 1804 to 1865.

Tours educate guests about these persons, bringing you through the cotton fields where they toiled and granting insight into what their world was like.

The Parthenon is a full-scale replica of the actual Parthenon of Athens, built in 1897 for the year's Tennessee Centennial Exposition.

The majestic site is an absolute must-see in Nashville, part of the reason that the city is called the Athens of the South.

Nashville's Parthenon was supposed to be a temporary structure, but people loved it and it stayed.

The 130-acre grounds are beautifully kept and promote a calming, tranquil environment.

Inside the building, there's a fairly impressive showcase of art. The permanent collection contains American art from the 19 and 20th-centuries. 

The star of the show of the Parthenon is the huge statue of Athena, spanning 42 feet in height, situated inside the structure. It is the western world's biggest indoor sculpture and is definitely worth visiting!

Ryman Auditorium was once the home of the Grand Ole Opry, and it's one of the attractions in Nashville so crucial to the city's musical heritage.

The auditorium was built in 1892, originally named the Union Gospel Tabernacle. The historic venue is renowned for hosting a mix of classic and contemporary performances.

Despite the Grand Ole Opry leaving Ryman Auditorium in 1974, the latter continues to attract a ton of guests and has even been featured in movies.

Linked closely to country music, some even call the auditorium the "Mother Church" of the genre. 

Behind-the-scenes tours of Ryman Auditorium are particularly engaging. You'll get to watch an interesting video about the history of the location and its connection to Nashville's musical soul.

You'll find out a lot about Ryman's background and construction, and you can even test out its recording studio for yourself!

The Tennessee State Museum sits beside the Nashville Farmers' Market in downtown Nashville.

It's an important showcase and preserve for the storied history of Tennessee. It encompasses numerous topics and is one of the key Nashville attractions for history buffs. 

Here, you'll learn about facts dating back to the First Peoples of Tennessee and Native American history.

You'll also get to view exhibits about the state's natural history, sporting history, military history, and Civil War history.

Permanent exhibits of the Tennessee State Museum are informative and well-organized, supplemented by rotating art and cultural showcases.

If you're looking for things to do in Nashville with children, try the Adventure Science Center.

This is a great site for educational, hands-on entertainment that helps your kids learn about various scientific topics.

Regular demonstrations, classes, and all sorts of exercises keep the experience fresh and exciting.

Among the things that kids can learn about at the Adventure Science Center are astronauts and space, beekeepers, bones and muscles, technology, and more interesting topics.

Children will love building things at the Tinker Lab and sliding down the hilarious Farting Slide.

There's also a structure that you can climb in the center of the museum that offers cool views of Nashville.

If you visit Nashville as an art enthusiast, the Frist Art Museum should be one of your top stops. It opened in 2001 inside a stunning art deco building that dates back to the 1930s.

This was once the main post office of Nashville, and now it's packed with constantly changing exhibits that range from photos to paintings and from sculptures to interactive, hands-on galleries.

Frist Art Museum boasts a lovely, well-lit space for galleries. It also puts on a monthly music show for free in its own cafe, which serves good salads and sandwiches for quick bites.

It's easy to see why this museum is award-winning in the city. If you're especially interested in the building's design, there's an architecture tour each Saturday that teaches guests about the origins of the structure.

Cumberland Park is one of the loveliest places to visit in Nashville. It is named after the 700-mile Cumberland River that passes through it on its way from Tennessee to Kentucky. This is a haven for families with kids, providing a mix of water and land activities.

The riverfront play space that is Cumberland Park boasts a huge splash pad, several structures to climb, a selection of bike paths, and beautiful butterfly gardens.

An outdoor amphitheater onsite hosts concerts regularly. This is just a great recreational site for those who need to unwind!

Tootsie's Orchid Lounge is among the prime places to go in Nashville to truly experience the fun of Music City. Located on Broadway, this historic 1960s location has featured a mix of rising and famous stars.

Its iconic lavender appearance was a mistake of the original painter but is now exactly what makes this music lounge recognizable!

Constantly busy, it can get a bit cramped at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, but the charming environment and cozy ambiance make for a good time.

The walls are filled with memorabilia, photos, and other bits and bobs that add to the atmosphere.

Expect to be there till the early hours of the morning as you listen to live music and enjoy the offerings of the rooftop bar.

The Nashville Farmers' Market has been around since the early 1800s. This is among the best things to do in Nashville for shoppers wanting to get in touch with the local scene.

Central to the city's life, it sits in two big farm sheds filled with seasonal produce, sixteen restaurants, and all sorts of local crafts.

Perusing the Nashville Farmers' Market will certainly tempt your wallet! There are dairy products, farm-fresh vegetables and fruits, craft brews, freshly baked bread, upcycled and vintage items, and many souvenirs.

Etch Restaurant is one of the yummiest things to do in Nashville for food. The fine-dining location is situated downtown inside the majestic Encore Tower.

The contemporary ambiance, open kitchen, and elegance make it a great spot to treat yourself to something delicious.

Popular dishes here are the octopus and shrimp bruschetta, the tempura oyster mushrooms, the prime-cut steak, and the cobia.

Things like catfish, lamb, smoked fig yogurt, and strawberry chipotle jam really showcase the skill of the chef. A large cocktail and wine selection ensure you have something nice to accompany your fancy meals.

The Johnny Cash Museum is a stunning tribute to one of the biggest legends in recent musical history. Fans of the late Johnny Cash should absolutely add this to their list of must-visit Nashville attractions.

You'll gain a unique insight into the enigma of the brilliant musician, singer, and songwriter, all endorsed by the Cash family.

The award-winning museum contains many bits of memorabilia and artifacts that you won't find elsewhere, such as personal mementos and a stone wall from Cash's lake house.

There are handwritten letters and notes, old films, costumes, awards, records, and photographs. You'll find out more about his headline-making prison concert tour, his marriage to wife June Carter, and even his early military years.

The Johnny Cash Museum is relatively small. It was opened in 2013 and takes just a couple of hours to fully explore. Even if you're not a huge fan, it's still an impressive museum!

If you love bourbon and whiskey, one of the best Nashville attractions for you is probably Nelson's Green Brier Distillery.

It's set in an open, large warehouse and boasts an impressive U-shaped bar and tons of decorations related to distillery culture. 

Nelson's Green Brier Distillery was started in the 1800s when a German immigrant named Charles Nelson decided to start making whiskey in Tennessee.

His passing and the rise of Prohibition threatened to completely shut the business down permanently, and they almost succeeded. But now, his great-great-great-grandsons are running Nelson's Green Brier Distillery right here in Nashville, reviving the company!

Tastings at Nelson's Green Brier Distillery are informational and delicious, with expert staff and brilliant spirit samples. You'll also get to learn more about whiskey culture in Nashville as you go.

The National Museum of African American Music spans 56,000 square feet and is among the newer attractions in Nashville, opening in 2020.

The museum's goal is simple: to educate guests on the history and influence of African American people and their music on over 50 different music genres.

Across several galleries, the National Museum of African American Music focuses on the various ways that African American music changed and grew over different parts of history.

For example, you'll learn about the beginnings of blues, the 1600s call-and-response spirituals, the Harlem Renaissance, and R&B.

You'll also get to know about youth culture, rap, hip-hop, and the music of the civil rights era. Interactive touch screens in certain parts of the museum offer even more ways to engage with the material.

The kinds of artifacts at the National Museum of African American Music vary. There are costumes, sheet music, recording equipment, instruments, and much more.

The overall collection is quite impressive, and tours are wonderfully educational.

Radnor Lake State Park is a delightful escape from the bustle of the city of Nashville.

Spanning 1,368 acres, the tranquil location is filled with flora and fauna of all sorts. It's so serene that you might think this is one of the most beautiful places in the US!

There are a total of six trails that are great for hiking, jogging, biking, and all manner of meandering. Each one gives you plenty of chances to see wildlife like herons, owls, and waterfowl.

If you really love these aviary creatures, you can visit the onsite Barbara J. Mapp Aviary Education Center. It's packed with programs, beautiful views, and hands-on showcases.

RCA Studio B is one of the most historic spots in Nashville when it comes to musical significance.

In its operational days, this was a recording studio used by greats like Willie Nelson, the Everly Brothers, Waylon Jennings, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, and Chet Atkins.

It's also been used by modern-day marvels like Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, and Chris Stapleton!

Today, it's technically a part of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, operating as a non-profit museum.

Tours of RCA Studio B are packed with exciting information, which makes the relatively small space feel larger than life.

The interior has been renovated to accurately reflect its 1970s appearance, giving you a great look into the local music scene.

Need some things to do in Nashville for good food? In downtown Nashville, you can find The Farm House, which serves a great fusion of Southern and Italian farm-to-table meals.

Wooden tables, sliding barn doors, and a lively wide dining area set a homey tone.

Everything you eat at The Farm House is undeniably fresh, with seasonal offerings creating a highly original seasonal menu.

Enjoy house-made cornbread, bacon, and sauces alongside unique meals like pimento cheese beignets, pork belly pop tarts, pickled jalapeno deviled eggs, and pig ears. There are also plenty of great cocktails and beers available!

Shelby Bottoms Nature Center & Greenway is situated alongside the Cumberland River, a large, wide-open green space that is as educational as it is relaxing.

Its goal is to provide outdoor recreational space while offering an opportunity to learn about the local environment and landscape. This is one of the best places to visit in Nashville if you need to unwind.

Shelby Bottoms Nature Center & Greenway showcases tons of artwork and exhibits that teach you about local cultural history.

There's also a spot where you can rent a bicycle and explore the 950-acre expanse of the greenway with.

There are 10 miles of great pathways that you can use, winding through fields, streams, forests, and wetlands. Better yet, the entire place is free to enter.

Robert’s Western World is a welcoming, warm bar on Broadway that attracts a mix of visitors and locals.

As its name suggests, it attempts to recreate the style of a cowboy bar, making it one of the coolest things to do around Nashville!

No matter what time of the day you arrive at Robert’s Western World, you'll be able to listen to some great country and bluegrass music.

Acts start performing as early as 11 in the morning and keep going well until the bar's 3 in the morning closure.

Robert’s Western World isn't exactly fancy, but what it does offer is pretty good. The fried bologna sandwich is especially famous, but even the grilled cheese, burgers, and hot dogs make for great bar fare.

There are a couple of premium brews, but most patrons order the more common beers to keep their tab low.

Party Fowl is yet another one of the Nashville attractions on this list that has to do with good food.

With garage-style roll-up doors, a big open space, and an industrial, hip vibe, this is a laidback but classy joint. You'll see quite a few students spending their cash on the affordable menu here.

Party Bowl is most famous for the unique, much-loved local delight of Nashville Hot Chicken, a dish made with fried chicken and a secret hot spice blend.

It also has another signature dish: beer butt chicken! Those who prefer other offerings can enjoy tacos, burgers, nachos, chicken poutine, sandwiches, andouille sausage po-boys, and Nashville Hot catfish.

There are also over 20 different brews and a ton of craft cocktails to try!

The Lane Motor Museum opened in 2003 and is located in a refurbished 1930s bread factory, with 132,000 square feet of space to its name.

It is built upon the personal donation from the automobile collection of Jeff Lane in 2003, hence its name. Automobile enthusiasts should add this to their list of attractions in Nashville to visit!

Over 560 different vehicles are a part of the rotating exhibit of Lane Motor Museum. It holds 150 rare vehicles and has the title of the biggest American collection of European automobiles.

There are plenty of automobiles here that you may recognize, such as the stunning cars of Grand Prix racers, several decades-old rare vehicles, and a DeLorean. 

But amidst the grandeur of the famous, iconic cars, there are the quiet ones that have faded into history.

The more interesting parts of the museum are arguably the parts of the automotive past that have become obscure due to unconventional methods that just didn't take.

For example, there's a replica of a 1915 Aero-Sled, meant as winter transportation. There is the rocket-powered 1948 Berger, the 200-pound wooden 1948 Carabe, and the world's narrowest car of the 1948 Lamar.

There's even a 1933 Dymaxion replica, which was supposed to be the first prototype of a vehicle that could one day fly. Don't forget the 1959 LARC-LX, the biggest military vehicle in US history, and the collection of microcars.

Pinewood Social is one of the most chill spots in Nashville, a nice little gathering location and hangout space.

It is situated inside what was once a trolley barn and has become a very cool, hip site for people from all walks of life.

With a swimming pool, a bowling alley, several couches, a retro dining space, and a cocktail bar, there are plenty of ways to kick back and relax here.

For food, enjoy homey Americana fare, ranging from mushroom pot pies to tahini avocado toast and from smoked trout casserole to friend broccoli.

Meatloaf, cheeseburgers, and other classic foods provide even more comfort. Craft beers, handcrafted cocktails, and great wines are also served. Coffee is always a good option, too

Art lovers, nature enthusiasts, and fans of the beautiful who wonder what to do in Nashville must check out this site.

The Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art boasts a stunning set of greenhouses, a chromatic display of flowers, and a trail flanked by sculptures across 55 acres of land. 

Of course, the botanical garden is more than just its outdoor space, with a museum of art indoors.

The museum is situated inside the titular family mansion of the Cheeks, which is a stunning Georgian building.

You can peruse various American artworks from the 19th- and 20th-centuries set on antique furniture and international artifacts.

The Downtown Presbyterian Church, nicknamed the Karnak on the Cumberland, is one of the most unique sites in Nashville.

Despite its name and current religious use, it barely resembles a traditional church building. 

The architecture of the Downtown Presbyterian Church is inspired by Ancient Egyptian architecture.

Stained glass windows, instead of typical Christian motifs, have depictions of the Nile, deserts, lotus flowers, and palm trees.

Outside, the perimeter is lined by beautifully painted columns, and winged disks of the sun god Ra are painted throughout.

The Downtown Presbyterian Church is a National Historic Landmark with its Egyptian Revival appearance and its historic importance.

Tours are given frequently and you can attend a typical church service here, too, if you so desire.

The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge has had many names, but what matters today is that it's on the National Register of Historic Places.

It took two years to build and was finished in 1909, constructed to connect East Nashville to the downtown area. It stretches 48 spans, with two concrete trusses and four steel trusses.

In 1998, the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge was officially closed to vehicles. In 2003, after restoration, it was reopened as a strictly pedestrian walkway with a 15-foot central lane for bikers.

The bridge is now one of the most idyllic Nashville tourist attractions, offering stunning panoramas of the city.

Visit at night to really get the most out of this trip, backed by the city lights under the moon!

Tennessee has been the home state of numerous different famous, award-winning athletes.

If you're a sports fan seeking vacation ideas in Nashville, then the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is for you. Located in the downtown area, this site honors the very best of those athletes. 

At the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, you'll learn all about the finest in the field of sports and their history.

If you're here with kids, try out a couple of the available rides after the one-hour tour of the museum!

The Station Inn is one of the key destinations in Nashville for bluegrass music, renowned throughout the country for the incredible musicians that grace its stage.

The small little cinderblock building seems unassuming compared to the rest of the glitzy surrounding neighborhood of Gulch. But don't let that fool you!

The small joint has little decor and contains just a simple room. There's a decent space for standing, several large communal tables, and not a single bad seat in the whole club.

Each night is a hit, even on Open Mic nights, and you'll really get to hear some real, authentic bluegrass of the kind you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

First Horizon Park is easily one of the best sites in Nashville for sports fans. The relatively new stadium is the home of the Nashville Sounds, but it feels like it came right out of an old-timey 1950s flick.

A mix of modern amenities and nostalgia make this a delightful place to watch a game or event.

Baseball games are played at First Horizon Park from April to September. At other times of the year, other events and concerts are held at the small park.

There are also lots of other features here: ping-pong tables and a bar with food, a nine-hole course for mini-golf, and a laid-back, relaxed environment.

If you're wondering what to do in Nashville for fine dining, you must check out Husk Nashville!

This is the creation of an award-winning chef, Chef Sean Brock, and is a haven of Southern cuisine, reinvented.

Each dish is made with locally sourced ingredients and traditional cooking techniques are used for a scrumptious taste.

Husk Nashville is set inside a late-1800s Victorian house that has been renovated to perfection.

This sets the tone for a lovely evening of good food, hand-delivered by chefs, and a selection of bourbon or wine on the restaurant's huge drink menu!

Fannie Mae Dees Park is commonly known as Dragon Park because of its unique sculpture. Measuring 150 feet long, a sea serpent was built here in 1980.

It is depicted in segmented arches as if the floor is water and the dragon is swimming in it. It's the reason that this park has become quite popular among Nashville attractions. 

Ironically, Fannie Mae Dees Park is named after a woman who completely opposed the urban renewal efforts that eventually created the public space.

At the very least, the dragon sculpture came of it. The creature, after being made, was decorated by locals with colorful tiles. Among these tiles is a portrait of the titular Fanny Mae Dees herself.

The Saint Mary of the Seven Sorrows Catholic Church is situated in downtown Nashville, where it holds the title of being the oldest church that remains in the city.

This is why it's one of the most interesting historic attractions in Nashville. But what's become well-known about it is a little more sobering than that.

The church was founded by Tenneessee's first Catholic Bishop, Bishop Richard Pius Miles, in 1844. He passed away in 1860 and was buried under the altar of the church, as is tradition.

Then more than a century later, in 1972, renovations on the church forced Bishop Miles' casket to be exhumed.

The exhumation revealed something incredible, according to witnesses. Bishop Miles' corpse was completely "incorrupt", meaning it had not experienced decomposition.

In Catholic tradition, this is supposedly a sign of saintliness. This spawned several urban legends and has caused some advocates to ask for sainthood recognition for the bishop.

Today, you can visit the Saint Mary of the Seven Sorrows Catholic Church most days of the week. Tours are offered to guests regularly.