7-Day Nashville Itinerary

Arrive at BNA and check in downtown

The airport is about 15-20 minutes from downtown; stay in Downtown, SoBro or the Gulch to walk to Broadway.

Nashville hot chicken lunch

Try the city's signature dish at a hot chicken joint like long-running Prince's Hot Chicken. Start at mild or medium; 'hot' is very hot.

Daytime music on Lower Broadway

Wander Broadway while it is calmer, duck into honky-tonks for afternoon sets and scope out where to return tonight.

Honky-tonk crawl and rooftop bars

Bar-hop for live country, rock and covers, catch the skyline from a rooftop and tip the bands generously.

Brunch and murals in 12 South

Have biscuits or a big brunch in walkable 12 South, then snap a photo at the neighborhood's famous murals and browse its boutiques.

Ryman Auditorium tour

Tour the Mother Church of Country Music, sit in the original pews and step onto the stage where legends played.

Printer's Alley and downtown wander

Explore historic Printer's Alley and the Arcade, then rest at your hotel before the evening.

Pedestrian bridge at sunset, then a Ryman show

Walk the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge for the skyline at sunset, then catch a concert at the Ryman if you booked ahead, or more music on Broadway.

Brunch in East Nashville

Head across the river for a relaxed brunch on the Five Points strip, then browse its record shops and vintage stores.

Walk back over the pedestrian bridge

Take a rideshare to the East Bank and walk the bridge back into downtown for daytime skyline views over the Cumberland River.

The Gulch murals and shopping

Find the famous wings mural, shop for boots and Western wear, and grab coffee in this sleek, walkable district.

Songwriter round and last Broadway nightcap

Book a songwriters-in-the-round night at a listening room to hear hits from the people who wrote them, then finish on Broadway.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Start at opening and follow the timeline exhibit from early string bands to modern stars.

RCA Studio B tour

Ride the museum shuttle to the historic studio where Elvis, Dolly Parton and the Everly Brothers recorded.

Meat-and-three lunch and Music Row

Have a classic meat-and-three plate, then walk Music Row's 16th and 17th Avenues, lined with labels and publishers.

Barbecue dinner

Dig into smoked brisket, pulled pork and sides at a downtown or Midtown barbecue spot.

Shelby Bottoms Greenway walk

Stretch your legs on this riverside greenway in East Nashville, with paved trails and wetlands.

Free time and lunch

Relax or revisit a favorite neighborhood before heading out to the Opry area.

Grand Ole Opry backstage tour

See the dressing rooms and stand in the wooden circle taken from the Ryman stage.

Dinner at Opryland and the Opry show

Eat near the Opry or stroll the indoor gardens at the Gaylord Opryland resort, then watch the live show.

Belle Meade mansion tour

Learn the history of this former horse farm, including the lives of the enslaved people who worked there.

Wine tasting and grounds

Sample wines at the on-site winery and explore the carriage house and outbuildings.

The Parthenon in Centennial Park

See the full-scale replica of the Athens Parthenon and its 42-foot Athena statue, then stroll the park.

Dinner in Midtown or Hillsboro Village

Choose from casual restaurants near Vanderbilt University, then catch an indie show if one is on.

Drive to Franklin

Head about 20 miles south on I-65, roughly 30-40 minutes depending on traffic.

Carnton and the Battle of Franklin

Tour Carnton and the Carter House, sites of the 1864 Battle of Franklin, with exhibits that include the stories of enslaved people.

Lunch and Main Street Franklin

Eat at a local cafe and browse the antique shops and boutiques along the historic downtown.

Southern dinner and drive back

Have dinner in Franklin or the nearby Factory complex, then return to Nashville.