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Nashville
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5 Days · in Nashville

Five Days in Nashville: Music, Museums & Neighborhoods

Five days is enough to see Nashville's music landmarks and still explore the neighborhoods locals love. The first three days mirror a strong long-weekend plan: downtown and Lower Broadway, the museums and Centennial Park, and the creative East Side. Days four and five then push west to Cheekwood, Belle Meade, and the Warner Parks, and back through Music Row and 12 South to a Grand Ole Opry finale. Along the way you'll sample Nashville hot chicken, a classic meat-and-three, Southern barbecue, and celebrated independent restaurants. Each day stays geographically focused to limit transit time, and the variety, museums, parks, history, live music, and food, captures the full breadth of the city.

5 days
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Day 01

Broadway, the Ryman & the River

Downtown museums, the Ryman, an architecture-rich skyline walk, and honky-tonks.

  1. Morning

    Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

    Start at the Country Music Hall of Fame while galleries are quiet, tracing the genre from the Carter Family to today. It's the ideal orientation point for a first full day downtown.

  2. Late Morning

    Ryman Auditorium

    Take a self-guided or backstage tour of the Ryman, the 1892 tabernacle that became the Mother Church of Country Music and the original home of the Grand Ole Opry, an easy walk from the museum.

  3. Lunch

    Lower Broadway

    Lunch along Lower Broadway with live music spilling from every door, a lively pause before an afternoon of downtown sights.

  4. Afternoon

    Johnny Cash Museum

    Spend an hour at the Johnny Cash Museum on Third Avenue, whose intimate galleries hold handwritten lyrics, stage costumes, and rare recordings from the Man in Black.

  5. Late Afternoon

    John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge

    Cross the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge over the Cumberland River for the definitive skyline vantage. Late-day light rewards you with sweeping views back over downtown and Nissan Stadium.

  6. Evening

    Nashville hot chicken dinner

    Close the day with Nashville's iconic hot chicken at Hattie B's or Prince's Hot Chicken, choosing your heat level carefully before diving in.

Day 02

Centennial Park & the Museum District

The Parthenon, the Frist, and the State Museum along the Capitol Mall.

  1. Morning

    The Parthenon

    Begin at the full-scale Parthenon replica in Centennial Park, home to the towering statue of Athena and an art gallery inside. Arriving at opening helps you beat the crowds.

  2. Late Morning

    Frist Art Museum

    Move downtown to the Frist, a rotating exhibition space set inside a grand Art Deco former post office. Its changing shows range from Old Masters to contemporary design.

  3. Lunch

    Centennial Park lawns

    Enjoy a casual or picnic lunch on the park greens near the Parthenon, or grab a bite along West End before heading to the next stop.

  4. Afternoon

    Tennessee State Museum

    Walk or drive to the free Tennessee State Museum at Bicentennial Mall, tracing the state's story from prehistory through music, Civil War, and civil rights galleries.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park

    Stroll the Bicentennial Mall's granite map, fountains, and 95-bell carillon, with the Tennessee State Capitol rising on the hill above.

  6. Evening

    The Gulch dinner

    Dine in The Gulch, whose restaurants and rooftop bars cover everything from Southern small plates to modern American cuisine, with the "What Lifts You" wings mural nearby.

Day 03

East Nashville & Five Points

Greenway trails, murals, boutiques, and celebrated independent dining on the East Side.

  1. Morning

    Shelby Bottoms Greenway

    Walk or bike the Shelby Bottoms Greenway along the Cumberland, a green ribbon of woods and wetlands linked to leafy Shelby Park.

  2. Late Morning

    Five Points boutiques

    Explore the independent shops, record stores, and vintage boutiques around Five Points and Eastland, plus the murals tucked down nearby side streets.

  3. Lunch

    Mas Tacos Por Favor

    Settle in at Mas Tacos Por Favor for beloved tacos and tortilla soup, or choose from the neighborhood's many acclaimed casual eateries.

  4. Afternoon

    Eastwood & Lockeland Springs

    Wander the tree-lined streets of Eastwood and Lockeland Springs past restored bungalows, cafes, and design shops, a stylish, unhurried afternoon of browsing.

  5. Evening

    East Nashville dinner

    Head back toward Main Street and Riverside for dinner, home to some of Nashville's most lauded independent restaurants like Lockeland Table and Butcher & Bee.

  6. Evening

    Cocktail bar nightcap

    Finish with a drink at one of the East Side's inventive cocktail bars, such as Pearl Diver or No. 308, soaking up the neighborhood's easygoing creative vibe.

Day 04

Cheekwood, Belle Meade & the Warner Parks

A grand estate garden, a historic mansion and winery, and forested hills to the west.

  1. Morning

    Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

    Spend the morning at this 55-acre estate, exploring the 1930s Georgian mansion, sculpture trail, and seasonal botanical gardens, a highlight for all ages.

  2. Lunch

    Belle Meade cafes

    Grab lunch in the Belle Meade area, where neighborhood cafes and delis line the blocks along Harding Pike near your afternoon stops.

  3. Afternoon

    Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery

    Tour the 1850s Greek Revival mansion and grounds of this former Thoroughbred farm, then sample Tennessee wines at the on-site tasting room.

  4. Late Afternoon

    Percy Warner Park

    Drive to Percy Warner Park for the grand limestone allee steps and a short hike or scenic loop drive through the wooded hills.

  5. Evening

    Radnor Lake State Park

    Walk out to Radnor Lake State Park for a peaceful lakeside trail and wildlife spotting, herons, deer, and turtles, before heading back into town.

  6. Evening

    West Side dinner

    Have dinner in the Belle Meade or Sylvan Park area, or return toward Midtown for a wider choice of tables before the evening winds down.

Day 05

Music Row, 12 South & the Grand Ole Opry

Studio history, boutique shopping, and a live Opry show to close the trip.

  1. Morning

    RCA Studio B

    Visit historic RCA Studio B on Music Row, where Elvis, Dolly Parton, and Roy Orbison recorded. Book the guided tour through the Country Music Hall of Fame in advance.

  2. Late Morning

    Belmont Mansion

    Tour the opulent 1850s Belmont Mansion on the Belmont University campus, an Italianate villa filled with period art, marble, and garden statuary.

  3. Lunch

    12 South eats

    Lunch in the lively blocks of 12 South, from Josephine to Five Daughters Bakery, that fill the strip with easygoing patios and coffee stops.

  4. Afternoon

    12 South shopping & murals

    Browse the boutiques along 12 South, including Draper James, and snap the famous "I Believe in Nashville" mural, an easy, walkable afternoon.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Marathon Village

    Detour to Marathon Village, a restored 1880s auto factory now filled with makers, a distillery, and the Antique Archaeology shop before the show.

  6. Evening

    Grand Ole Opry

    End your trip at the Grand Ole Opry House in Music Valley for a live radio broadcast, the definitive Nashville night; reserve seats well ahead for the best sections.