If you’re thinking of spending a weekend in Nashville, then you’ll love this itinerary. Nashville is a beautiful city in Tennessee that is full of fun things to do and see! It’s probably best known for its country music scene. However, you don’t have to be a country music fan to enjoy a weekend getaway in Nashville. In Nashville, you’ll also find historic sites, beautiful green parks, cool museums, and lots more.
Planning your trip to Nashville last minute?
Make sure to book your hotels and tours in Nashville in advance to ensure availability! The longer your wait, the harder it gets. Here are our top picks for your trip:
Top Experiences And Tours In Nashville:
- Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour (Our top pick!)
- Grand Ole Opry Backstage Tour (Super unique)
- Country Music Hall Of Fame + Museum (A must-see)
- All-Inclusive Pub Crawl (Great for bachelorettes or groups)
Top Picks For Hotels In Nashville:
- Hayes Street Hotel Nashville (On Music Row! Our pick)
- Club Hotel Nashville Inn And Suites (Great budget option)
- Graduate Nashville (Chic and modern on Music Row)
- Dream Nashville (Luxe downtown location)
On this Nashville itinerary, we’ve made sure to include a little bit of everything the city has to offer. Whether you love bourbon, country music, unique museums, or even Greek architecture, there’s something on this Nashville itinerary for you. We’ve also made sure to give you some of our favorite tips to help plan a trip to Nashville.
Each day on this weekend trip to Nashville features some of the most popular attractions in Nashville. Of course, if there are things you want to skip, you can easily do that. One of the best things about Nashville is that there is always something to do or see. However, you can still explore Nashville in a weekend and leave feeling like you explored the city fully!
Getting To Nashville
Because Nashville is one of the major cities in Tennessee, it’s very easy to get there. If you are traveling from far away, you can fly in. In fact, Nashville even has an international airport. So, that means you get there directly from just about anywhere in the world.
Nashville is also a very car-friendly city, and you’ll be able to easily get there from a variety of major highways. If you don’t like to drive, or just don’t want to, there are also train and bus routes that you can use to get to Nashville. No matter what form of transportation you choose, it’s very easy to get to Nashville.
Getting Around During Your Nashville Weekend Getaway
One of the best things about larger cities is public transportation. Nashville has its own bus system and you can easily take them all over the city. You’ll also find rideshare programs like Lyft, Uber, and a city cab service. Because Nashville is pretty condensed, you can also very easily walk most of the city. But you don’t have to walk.
Scattered throughout the city you’ll find scooters and bikes that you can rent. You can rent them for a period of a few hours to even a few days. And if you want a really unique way of getting around, hail one of the pedicabs. Pedicabs are bicycle cabs that can usually fit up to three people. It’s a fun way to see the city on a beautiful day! There are tons of options for getting around during your weekend in Nashville.
The Ultimate 3 Day Weekend In Nashville Itinerary
Day 1: Explore The Country Music City
On your first day in Tennessee, you’ll want to see why they call it the Country Music City. We’ve included some of the most prominent country music attractions. They are all within walking distance of each other, with the longest walk being 4 minutes. So you won’t need a car to get to any of these destinations.
Stop 1: The Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum
The number one stop to make while spending 3 days in Nashville is the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Not only is it one of the best things to do in Nashville, but it’s also one of the most popular attractions. We’ve made it the first stop on our itinerary for Nashville for a few reasons. The first reason is so that you don’t miss it. The second reason is so that you have plenty of time to explore.
It’s a large museum, and you won’t want to rush through your visit. Inside, you’ll find the Country Music Hall of Fame inductees, dating back to 1961. Along with information about all of the inductees, you’ll find tons of artifacts as well. The museum has everything from iconic country musicians’ instruments, to groundbreaking records, and famous pieces of clothing. If you are going to see Nashville in a weekend, this has to be your first stop.
Book Your Entry Ticket Here: Getyourguide.com
Stop 2: The Johnny Cash Museum And Cafe
Your next stop is just a short 4-minute walk away. It’s the Johnny Cash Museum and Cafe! You may think that you have to be a fan of Johnny Cash to enjoy this museum. However, we think everyone can find something interesting to learn here. Even if you aren’t a big fan of country music or Johnny Cash. Inside, you’ll find the largest collection of Johnny Cash artifacts in the world.
Not only that, but it’s been frequently rated as the number one country music museum in the world by Conde Nast, Forbes, and National Geographic Traveler. So, if it’s your first time in Nashville or your 30th, we suggest visiting the Johnny Cash Museum. Attached to the museum you’ll also find a great cafe that is perfect for lunch. Their menu includes tons of southern classics like fried chicken, bbq, and banana pudding.
Stop 3: National Museum Of African American Music
After learning about Nashville’s country music scene and Johnny Cash, you’ll walk another 4 minutes to your next stop. The National Museum of African American Music highlights music genres that were either created or influenced by Black people in the United States. It’s especially important that this museum was placed in the Country Music City. That’s because the roots of country music can be traced back to the Blues.
The Blues is a distinctly Black music genre that was influenced by the traditional songs sung by enslaved Black people. From there, it evolved into the country music we know today. It’s these unique and important influences on music history by Black Americans that you’ll learn about at this particular museum. It’s a fairly new museum that only opened in 2020, and it’s absolutely worth a visit. We suggest planning to spend at least 90 minutes exploring this new museum in Nashville.
Book Your Entry Ticket Here: Getyourguide.com
Stop 4: Robert’s Western World
Your last stop of the day is right down the road from the National Museum of African American Music. It’s also a great place to have a light dinner or afternoon snack. Robert’s Western World is a traditional Honky-Tonk. It’s easily one of the best things to do during your first time in Nashville. Robert’s Western World is a perfect stop on your itinerary for Nashville if you want to explore the local nightlife.
It’s a popular Honky-Tonk bar that also has a full grille. So you can enjoy an iced cold beer, live country music, and southern food. They serve things like fried bologna sandwiches, cheeseburgers, and more. You can also just stop by and enjoy the atmosphere. When there isn’t a live band playing, they have a running playlist of country classics and new hits. If you’re planning a bachelorette weekend in Nashville, this is a must-stop!
Day 2: Explore Historic Nashville
For your second day on this weekend guide to Nashville, you’ll get to explore the historic side of the city. While all of these attractions are in the city, they are a bit farther apart. So you’ll want to use your car or grab a ride from a rideshare program.
Stop 1: The Grand Ole Opry
Start your day by exploring The Grand Ole Opry. Performing at The Grand Ole Opry is an honor for country musicians. Many musicians dream of the day they can step foot on that stage. That’s because it’s a historic stage where all of the best country musicians have performed. The performing venue has a pretty packed schedule of events. So you’ll almost always have a chance to catch a show at this iconic performance hall.
If you aren’t able to catch one of the shows, don’t worry. Throughout the day, the venue hosts tours. The pre-show backstage tour is a super unique way to experience The Grand Ole Opry. You’ll get to see where the artists get ready in one of the 18 dressing rooms, see the stage from the backstage area, and more. You don’t need to have tickets to see a show to get tickets for the backstage tour either. So if you don’t stick around for a show, you’ll still have a good time.
Book Your Tour Here: Getyourguide.com
Stop 2: Riverfront Park
After visiting the iconic Grand Ole Opry, hop in the car and drive over to Riverfront Park. It’s a short drive that’s just under 20 minutes away. While the park itself isn’t historic, it was built in the 1980s to honor the unique history of the river. Within the park, you’ll find a few different interesting things to explore. To commemorate the first European settlers to the area, the city built a replica village.
Along with that, there is also plenty of street art and beautiful gardens. There are sculptures scattered throughout the park. At night, the park lights up with different colored lights. It’s also where the city hosts all of its open-air concerts. We suggest going during the day so you can see everything without running out of daylight. However, it’s a great place to walk around anytime during the day.
Stop 3: The Parthenon
From the Riverfront Park, take a short 8-minute drive to The Parthenon. The Parthenon is a full-size replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece. You’ll find it in Centennial Park, which is the premier urban park in Nashville. It may seem odd to find a full-scale replica of The Parthenon in Tennessee. However, at the time it was built, in 1897, it made sense. Nashville was nicknamed the “Athens of the South”, and to celebrate 100 years of Tennessee being a state, the Parthenon was built.
Today, it is an art gallery and museum that is open Tuesday through Sunday. Inside, you’ll find exhibits about the original Parthenon, the building of the replica, and Tennessee in general. The gallery often exhibits works by world-renowned Black artists. While it’s not a massive gallery and museum, you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to explore.
Stop 4: Historic Horse And Carriage Ride And Guided Tour Through The City
By now, your feet are probably pretty tired. So what’s better than a carriage ride through the city? There are a few options when it comes to booking your tour. All the tours are private for your group. However, you can choose between a 2-hour ride with up to 9 people or an hour ride with up to 4 people. So, it really just depends on the size and needs of your group.
While you ride in your private carriage, your tour guide will tell you all about the varied history of Nashville. You’ll pass by historic landmarks, beautiful historic homes, and of course, all of the big country music landmarks. It’s a great way to learn all about the history of the city when you only have time to explore Nashville in 3 days. It also makes for a great activity if you’re on a couples trip to Nashville. It can be pretty romantic to ride through the city in a carriage.
Book Your Tour Here: Getyourguide.com
Editorial Credit: F11photo/Shutterstock.com
Stop 5: Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge
End your day back in downtown Nashville with a stop at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge is one of the best places to visit when you’re in Nashville. Your last stop is a world-famous Honky-Tonk bar. It’s been open and running since 1960, and since then, it’s become an iconic Nashville attraction. If you want to have a really fun weekend trip to Nashville, you’ll want to stop at Tootsie’s.
You can enjoy a nightcap at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge while you listen to live music. This iconic bar has hosted plenty of famous country musicians when they were just up and coming. In the bar, you’ll find ‘Tootsie’s Wall of Fame, where there are pictures of all the musicians Tootsie helped support, like Willie Nelson! If you only have 3 days in Nashville, you’ll want to make sure to stop by Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge.
Day 3: Experience The Spirited Side Of Nashville
For your last day on your weekend in Nashville trip, you’ll get to explore the more spirited side of the city. That includes bourbon and some of Nashville’s haunted offerings as well.
Stop 1: Breakfast At Five Daughters Bakery
While Five Daughters Bakery isn’t exactly on the theme for the day, it’s a great place to grab a quick breakfast. All of their donuts are made from scratch daily and they are incredible. There are several shops scattered around Nashville.
So just pick the one closest to wherever you are staying! They are known for their donuts, but they’ve got great coffee too. It’s a great way to kick off the last day of your weekend getaway in Nashville.
Stop 2: The Ryman Auditorium
After you’ve enjoyed your donuts and coffee, head to your first attraction of the day! The Ryman Auditorium is considered ‘the Mother Church of Country Music. From 1943 to 1974, it was the home of the Grand Ole Opry. It played a pivotal role in the popularization of country music and is now a historic landmark.
It’s also said to be extremely haunted. Part of that is because it was used as the site of memorial services for several prominent country musicians. Many of them performed in the auditorium when it hosted the Grand Ole Opry. They include Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, and Chet Atkins. You can take a self-guided tour of the historic venue, and maybe you’ll see a ghost or two!
Book Your Tour Here: Getyourguide.com
Stop 3: Take A Whiskey And Bourbon Tour
You can’t visit Nashville without taking a bourbon tour. Tennessee is known for its whiskey and bourbon, and you’ll want to sample it. This is a great activity when you spend your bachelorette weekend in Nashville, or if you’re on a couples trip to Nashville. The city has a variety of different tour options, so just pick the one that works best for you. There are even day trips to the Jack Daniels distillery!
There are also tons and tons of bars and pubs in Nashville. If you want to explore them, there are themed pub crawls you can do. They have ghost and moonshine tours, true crime pub crawls, and just a normal pub crawl. No matter how you want to explore the city while you sample whiskey and bourbon, there’s a tour that’s perfect for you.
Book Your Tour Here: Getyourguide.com
Stop 4: Belle Meade Historic Site And Winery
If you don’t like bourbon and whiskey, don’t worry. There are other ways to sample the local spirits. In fact, one of the best things to do in Nashville on a weekend is to visit the Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery. The Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery is a pretty popular Nashville attraction. It is a Greek-revival Plantation Home that was built in the 1840s. Now, there is also a winery on site. Along with the winery, there is an excellent restaurant and an ice cream shop.
You can tour the Belle Meade Historic Site, and there are a few different options. On the main mansion tour, you’ll learn all about the history of the house itself. It’s been beautifully renovated to look like it would have during its prime. After your tour of the mansion, we suggest taking the Jubilee Tour. The Jubilee Tour focuses on the history of the enslaved Black people who lived and worked in the home. You’ll hear their stories and learn what life would have been like for them.
Stop 5: Go On A Ghost Tour
For your last night during your weekend in Nashville, we suggest taking a ghost tour! The Music City has such a long and unique history. Many think that this history makes it super haunted. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, it’s a fun way to learn about the city’s more lurid history.
Make sure to check out our epic list of the Best Things To Do In Nashville At Night for nightlife and more!
You’ll walk through Broadway, Nashville’s historic nightlife area. While you walk through, you’ll hear about the darker side of Nashville. It’s all based on historic accounts and eye-witnesses. So, while you may not see an actual ghost, you will learn something new about this unique city!
Book Your Tour Here: Getyourguide.com
Where To Stay For A Weekend In Nashville
Dream Nashville
If you’re looking for upscale elegance, then Dream Nashville is a great option. Dream Nashville is located in two historic buildings that are connected in the center, where the hotel lobby is now located. The rooms are decorated with art-deco elegance and most of them have great views of the city. But that’s not all this beautiful Nashville hotel has to offer.
Along with the beautiful decor, Dream Nashville has some great amenities. Spend your nights relaxing in plush bathrobes while you order from the 24-hour room service menu. Or, you can go down to one of the 6 hotel restaurants and bars. Plus, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Ryman Auditorium, and so many other attractions are within walking distance.
Check Rates Here: Booking.com
Music Row Bungalow
The Music Row Bungalow is a cute 1911 resorted building right by the heart of downtown Nashville. While you stay at this Nashville VRBO, you’ll be within walking distance of some of the best attractions the city has to offer.
You’ll find it’s close to Belmont, Vanderbilt, the Bluebird Cafe, the Music Studios, and plenty more. This is truly one of the Best Places To Stay In Nashville!
This Nashville vacation rental is one bedroom with one full bathroom. It’s also very budget-friendly! So, it’s great for the solo traveler or couple looking to explore Nashville. If you’re planning on driving to Nashville or renting a car, this vacation rental also has plenty of parking options.
Check Rates Here: VRBO.com
Bode Nashville
When you want to stay in the heart of downtown Nashville, you’ll want to check out the Bode Nashville. The Bode Nashville is truly in the heart of the city. So you won’t have to walk very far from the hotel to find something fun to do! They also have a few different room layouts. You can choose from rooms with a king-sized bed or a full two-bedroom apartment. That makes it a great option if you’re traveling with a larger group.
Make sure to check out our list of the Best Resorts In Tennessee!
The hotel amenities also include a beautiful bar and terrace. On the terrace, you’ll find an outdoor fireplace with plenty of outdoor seating. The rooms are simply, but beautifully decorated and very comfortable. You will have to pay a bit more to enjoy being in the heart of downtown. But if you can swing it, a stay at Bode Nashville is totally worth it.
Check Rates Here: Booking.com
Stylish Loft In The Gulch
Located in the Gulch, a popular district in downtown Nashville, you’ll find the Stylish Loft. The Stylish Loft features huge ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and plenty of space. You may think of small spaces when you think of lofts, but the Stylish Loft is anything but small. There are two queen-sized beds, a fully equipped kitchen, a full bathroom, a dining area, and a living room. In the living room, you’ll find a couch that converts to another queen-sized bed.
That means there is plenty of room for up to 6 people to comfortably stay here. You can choose to cook in the loft’s kitchen or take a short walk to one of the many nearby restaurants and bars. Attached to the loft there is a shared patio space that you’ll have full access to. If you’re planning to spend the weekend in Nashville with a group or your family, then consider staying at the Stylish Loft in the Gulch.
Check Rates Here: VRBO.com
Where to Eat During Your 3 Days In Nashville
Sinema
One of the best restaurants in Nashville is Sinema. Sinema is worth a visit just for the atmosphere alone. You’ll find it in the old 1942 Melrose theater, and much of the original theater can be found in the restaurant still. It’s an incredibly charming atmosphere, which is just made better by the delicious food!
At Sinema, you’ll find classic American cuisine with a contemporary approach. That means you’ll find menu items like burgers, ribs with buttermilk horseradish, or pork chops topped with roasted peaches. The menu is definitely a unique and upscale take on American cuisine that you’ll want to experience.
Big Al’s Deli
If you’re looking for southern comfort food, then head to Big Al’s Deli. Big Al’s Deli is popular with locals and visitors. That’s how you know it’s good! Part of the reason Big Al’s is so popular is because of Big Al himself. You’ll frequently find Big Al chatting with customers while he works on creating the delicous dishes you’ll find on the menu.
Big Al aims to responsibly source all of the ingredients he uses while cooking. On the menu, you’ll find classics like shrimp and grits, fried catfish, and hot chicken. Everything is made to order. So you won’t be eating fried catfish that has been sitting under a heat lamp for hours. Instead, you’ll get to enjoy freshly made delicious dishes every time you visit Big Al’s Deli.
Butcher And Bee
When you’re traveling with a large group, Butcher and Bee is a great restaurant in Nashville to try. That’s because everything on the menu is served family style. So, instead of getting individual plates with your menu items, you’ll get large portions that you can share with the group. It’s a great way to get to try a variety of different dishes. Plus, it’s great for making sure everyone can easily find something they like on the menu.
The menu at Butcher and Bee is a mixture of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes. Because of this, a lot of the menu items are actually served seasonally. So if you visit multiple times, you might not always have the same menu. Typically, you’ll find dishes like whole Morrocan cooked chickens, whipped feta hummus, and avocado crispy rice.
This weekend guide to Nashville is full of some of the top attractions, packed into just three days! We hope you’ve found these Nashville tips useful when you’re wondering how to plan a trip to Nashville. Whether you’re looking for a romantic weekend getaway or simply wanting to explore the city with friends, a weekend in Nashville is always a great idea!
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