Travel Guide
Lower Broadway Honky-Tonks
Everything you need to know — hours, tickets, tips, and how to make the most of your visit.
Overview
About Lower Broadway Honky-Tonks
The few blocks of Broadway between the Cumberland River and about 5th Avenue are lined with multi-level honky-tonks and rooftop bars where live bands play country, rock and covers from around 10 AM until late. Most charge no cover, so you can bar-hop to find the sound you like.
Nashville
Insider Knowledge
Travel Tips
Go in the afternoon for easier seating and surprisingly strong daytime musicians.
Bring cash or be ready to tip by app; bands rely on tips and requests.
Many venues become 21-and-over in the evening, so families should visit before about 6 PM.
Hop over to Printer's Alley a couple of blocks north for smaller blues and jazz clubs.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Most honky-tonks are free to enter; tip the band instead.
Opening Hours
Most honky-tonksApprox. 10:00 AM - 2:00 AM daily
Music usually runs continuously in shifts, with new bands every few hours.
Ticket Prices
Entry to most barsUsually free, no cover
DrinksApprox. USD 8-15 each
Some celebrity-branded bars run special events with paid entry, so check before you go.
AI Powered
Plan a Trip to Nashville
Lizza, our AI travel assistant, can build you a full Nashville itinerary — free, in seconds.
Looking for more? Browse travel guides & tips →
Nearby
Must See Attractions
nashvilleBelle Meade Historic Site
Once a sprawling thoroughbred horse farm, this 1850s Greek Revival mansion on the west side of town offers guided tours that include the stories of the enslaved people who lived and worked there. An on-site winery pours tastings after your tour.
View Details
nashvilleCountry Music Hall of Fame and Museum
This downtown museum traces country music from its folk and gospel roots to today's stars through instruments, costumes, handwritten lyrics and Elvis's gold Cadillac. Its Hall of Fame rotunda honors inductees, and combo tickets add a tour of historic RCA Studio B.
View Details
nashvilleGrand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry has broadcast country music on the radio since 1925, making it one of the longest-running shows in America. Each performance features several artists, from legends to rising stars, at the Opry House about 20 minutes from downtown; backstage tours run by day.
View Details
nashvilleJohn Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
This 1909 steel truss bridge, now open only to walkers and cyclists, spans the Cumberland River between downtown and East Bank. It offers the most photographed view of the Nashville skyline and the riverfront, and it is especially lovely at sunset.
View Details
nashvilleLower Broadway Honky-Tonks
The few blocks of Broadway between the Cumberland River and about 5th Avenue are lined with multi-level honky-tonks and rooftop bars where live bands play country, rock and covers from around 10 AM until late. Most charge no cover, so you can bar-hop to find the sound you like.
View Details
nashvilleRyman Auditorium
Built in 1892 as a gospel tabernacle and home of the Grand Ole Opry for decades, the Ryman is a National Historic Landmark known as the Mother Church of Country Music. Tour by day to stand on its stage, or come back at night for a concert in its famously warm acoustics.
View Details