Weekend in Nashville – best things to do in the Music City

Last Updated on February 25, 2024

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Known as the capital of country music, mouth watering Southern food and vibrant nightlife, Nashville is one of the most popular destinations. While it was always the go-to place for musicians and country music lovers, the city’s popularity exploded over the last decade. The last couple of years Nashville welcomed a record breaking number of visitors. If you haven’t made it to Music City yet and are looking for a quick getaway, a weekend in Nashville is a great idea.

There is no denying, that Nashville is one of the top party destinations in the US. It was recently named the country’s leading bachelorette party destinations. After spending a weekend in Nashville, I can attest to that. While vibrant nightlife is a huge part of the city, there’s way more to it than just the party scene. If drinking is not your thing and you wonder if you can find other things to do in Nashville, the answer is absolutely. Between the history, culture and incredible restaurants, you don’t need to worry about staying busy in the city.

How to spend a weekend in Nashville

Bar hopping and live music

No trip to Nashville is complete without some bar hopping and listening to live music. After all, Nashville isn’t named the Music City for nothing. Lower Broadway, specifically the ” Honky Tonk Highway ” is where you want to go. This is a stretch of 4 blocks, that is packed with Honky tonks with live music playing every day from 10 am – 3 am. Not to mention, it has some of the best people watching in the city!

There’s usually no cover, so you can check out quite a few during your weekend in Nashville. The choices are endless, from the iconic Tootsies Orchid Lounge and Legends Corner to newer establishments like The Stage or Honky Tonk Central. Even though they’re free to get in, make sure to bring some cash to tip the bands!

Take the Hop on Hop Off Trolley Tour

A Hop on Hop Off Trolley Tour is a great way to easily get between the major attractions, which is especially helpful when you only have a weekend in Nashville. It’s also a great way to familiarize yourself with the city and get your bearings, before exploring on your own. On top of that you might discover spots in the city, that might not have necessarily been on your Nashville itinerary.

The trolley has 15 stops around the city, and you can hop on and off at the points that interest you. Completing the entire circuit takes about 1 hour, so if you are short on time, you can also use it as a guided tour. You can book your Hop On Hop Off Trolley tickets here.

Pedal Tavern

It won’t be long before you notice the party bikes going up and down the streets during your weekend in Nashville. The 15 passenger bikes pedaling through the city, with the music blaring and drinks flowing, are one of Nashville’s main attractions. Not surprisingly, they are especially popular with bachelorette parties.

A few companies offer this fun activity, with Nashville Pedal Tavern being the original tavern on wheels. There are a couple of different routes you can choose when you book it. My recommendation would be to pick the route, that goes through parts of Nashville you haven’t seen.

Things to know: You must be 21+ to ride, they provide a cooler, ice and cups, but you bring your own booze ( no glass bottles allowed ).

Have a drink a one of the roof top bars

You won’t have trouble finding a roof top bar in Nashville, as there are many of them. Acme Feed and Seed, Tootsies, the Stage, roof top lounge at Bobby Hotel are among the most popular ones, and a perfect hangout spot on a nice day. So grab a drink and enjoy it with the views around you.

Have a cocktail at the Patterson House

For a unique drinking experience in an intimate setting, stop by the Patterson House for a cocktail. This speakeasy place in Music Row has a great ambiance and serves incredible craft cocktails. Try to score a seat at the bar, so you can watch the bartenders at work. The cocktails are hand crafted with only high quality ingredients used. Some of them you’d never expect in a drink, yet the end results are amazing. Their main focus are the craft cocktails, but they do have a light menu, if you need a snack.

There are some rules to follow when you visit the Patterson House. For instance, you must be seated to order a drink, so standing around a bar is not an option. This really ensures an intimate and classy experience. If you have to wait for a seat, you do so in a waiting room, that is separated from the main room with a velvet curtain. Also, make sure to put that phone away, as cell phone use is not allowed at a bar.

Where: 1711 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203 / Open: Sunday – Wednesday 5 pm – 1 am / Thursday – Saturday 5 pm – 3 am

Go cowboy boots hopping

If you ever lusted after a pair of cowboy boots, it will be hard to resist purchasing one while in Nashville. There are countless cowboy boot stores in the city, trying to lure you in with the Buy 1, Get 2 Free offer. There’s no denying this is a great deal, as the boots are not the cheapest, costing on average $300 for a pair. The thing is, you probably don’t need 3 pairs, but if you can share this offer with friends, it ends up being a great deal.

Just around Broadway you can find stores like Boot Country, Boot Barn, French’s Boots & Shoes and Trail West. If you’re shopping in the Gulch neighborhood, there’s Nashville Boot Company right there. The choice of boots in all the stores is mind boggling, making it impossible not to find a pair you love.

Visit one of the Museums

The Music City is home to many museums, not just music related. One weekend in Nashville is surely not enough time to visit all of them, so pick one or two, that interest you the most.

• Johnny Cash Museum – even if you are not a huge country music fan, you’re probably familiar with Johnny Cash. The interactive museum pays a great tribute to this incredible artist. The museum is rather small, but the collection of memorabilia from the very beginnings till his last records is quite extensive.

• Country Music Hall of Fame – often called the “Smithsonian of country music” , Country Music Hall of Fame is one of the largest museums in the world. Book your ticket here to skip the line.

• Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum – a great thing about this museum is, that it’s not only limited to country music. It honors musicians from all music genre.

• The Parthenon – the full size replica of the Parthenon in Athens is located in Centennial Park, a 132 acre park a couple of miles west of Downtown Nashville. Built in 1897, the Parthenon is now an art museum, that holds an impressive collection of paintings from 19th and 20th century. Spending some time in Centennial Park itself is also a great break from all the hustle and bustle of Downtown. The museum is closed on Mondays, so plan ahead, if you plan on visiting.

• Tennessee State Museum – if you are into history, this museum is a must visit. A lot of exhibits covering the Tennessee and US history. The admission is free, and the museum is open daily except for Mondays.

Tour Ryman Auditorium

Ryman Auditorium is one of the most legendary places in Nashville, and for that reason a must visit, even if you are not a country fan. Built in 1892, it first started as a church and later became a home of the country show ” The Grand Ole Opry “. Even when the show moved after 31 years to The Grand Ole Opry House at Opryland, Ryman Auditorium continues to be one of the most beloved music venues. The important role the Auditorium played in making country music popular is undeniable, for which it was recognized and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2001.

Ryman Auditorium is open to visitors daily from 9 am – 4 pm. You can choose from a self guided tour or a guided tour. Then guided tour also gives you access to backstage to see the dressing rooms. You’ll get a chance to see the changing rooms, as well as stand on the same stage as many great performers before.

Walk across the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge

One of my favorite things to do in Nashville was taking a walk across John Seigenthaler Bridge, which is one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world. Once you get across Cumberland River, you get some of the best views of Nashville skyline.

Check out Nashville’s Street Art

Nashville has some of the most vibrant street art. Amazing murals can be seen throughout the city, with the most popular one being ” What Lifts You “. If snapping a picture with the famous wings is on your Nashville itinerary, prepare to wait in line, unless you go very early.

Eat your way through Nashville

One of the best ways to experience a new destination is through local food, and Nashville has some of the best in the country. You could easily spend the entire weekend in Nashville just indulging in some of the best Southern food. I don’t think we had one bad meal during the entire stay. With so many amazing restaurants and so little time, it’s not possible to try them all, so a great way to sample a few places is taking a food tour. You can book a walking food tour here.

• Puckett’s Grocery – this is one of the iconic places to eat in Nashville. It started as a grocery store ( hence the name ) back in the 50s, and eventually turned into a restaurant and a music venue, which later expanded to 5 locations. The original one is located in Leipers Fork ( about 45 minute drive from Nashville ), but they also have a more convenient Downtown location at 500 Church Street.

• Acme Feed and Seed – this multilevel restaurant, located near Cumberland River, is a must stop during your Nashville trip. From the Sushi bar, sports lounge, rooftop bar and live music, you will find something you like.

• Hattie B’s – one of Nashville’s institutions, famous for their hot chicken. It currently has 3 locations in Nashville, with their Broadway restaurant being the most popular. Most days, there’s a line to get in, so be prepared for a wait.

• Loveless Cafe – this iconic eatery, known for its biscuits, requires a bit of an effort to get to, as it’s located about 30 minutes away from Downtown. Anyone who got a chance to eat there, claims the trek to Loveless Cafe is well worth it.

Where to stay in Nashville

While scoring a cheap flight to Nashville is not hard, finding affordable accommodations can be challenging. The fact is, that hotels in Nashville tend to be quite pricey. Especially if you want to stay near Broadway, where all the action is. As it’s usually the case, being in the prime location comes with a hefty price tag.

If your trip coincides with a popular concert or an event in the city ( which happens quite often ), hotels do sell out quickly. That’s something to keep in mind, when making your plans. If that’s the case, don’t wait too long and book your accommodations early.

Downtown hotels

Bobby Hotel – it’s a trendy, boutique hotel with a roof top bar offering great views of Nashville. The location is great with just a short walk to Broadway.

Stay Alfred at 505 – an apartment rather than a hotel, in the prime location, just a short walk to many of the city’s main attractions. It features a kitchenette, perfect for making small meals and access to the pool.

The Hermitage – staying at this 5 star, a 100 years old hotel will be experience on its own. That of course comes with a hefty price tag, but if you don’t mind splurging a bit, you’re guaranteed an exceptional stay.

Other neighborhoods

If you can’t find accommodations Downtown, or the hotels are out of your price range, consider other neighborhoods like The Gulch or even Music Row. It’s close enough to Downtown and easy to get there via Lyft / Uber, which is relatively inexpensive. We stayed at Best Western Plus Downtown / Music Row and were quite happy with our choice. It’s a simple, but very comfortable and clean hotel, that met our needs during the trip. Plus, the meeting point for the Nashville Pedal Tavern is just down the street from the hotel.

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