Nashville

Hot chicken, honky-tonks, and hushed songwriter rooms — the local picks for eating, exploring, and staying in Music City.

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Nashville is one of the most rewarding US cities to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include the honky-tonks of Lower Broadway, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the historic Ryman Auditorium, with hot chicken and live music around almost every corner. Below you will find a set of hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Nashville at a glance

Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
Best time to visit: spring and fall
Highlights: Lower Broadway and the Country Music Hall of Fame
Where to stay: Downtown or The Gulch
Local picks: hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: walkable downtown, plus rideshare

Where to stay in Nashville

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Downtown

A Little Local Flavor

This locally run walking food tour is a smart first-day move, pairing bites at independent spots with genuinely useful context on Nashville’s food and music history. Small groups and knowledgeable gui

Wedgewood-Houston

Arnold’s Country Kitchen

This cafeteria-line meat-and-three is the platonic ideal of Southern comfort cooking, and it earned a James Beard America’s Classic award for it. You grab a tray, point at roast beef, fried catfish, t

Downtown

Bobby Hotel

Bobby is a design-forward downtown boutique hotel best known for its rooftop bar, where a vintage 1956 Greyhound tour bus is parked as a lounge with skyline views. Rooms are stylish and playful, and y

Germantown

Butchertown Hall

Set in a soaring brick-and-tile room in historic Germantown, Butchertown Hall smokes and wood-fires its way through a menu that blends German-butcher heritage with Texas barbecue and Tex-Mex. Think br

East Nashville

Cafe Roze

Why it matters: Cafe Roze is a woman-owned neighborhood cafe led by chef Julia Jaksic, serving thoughtful, produce-forward food from morning coffee through evening cocktails. It’s the kind of light-fi

SoBro

Cambria Hotel Nashville Downtown

A modern SoBro hotel with a rooftop bar and pool, the Cambria puts you within a few blocks of Broadway, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Music City Center. Rooms are contemporary

West End

Centennial Park & The Parthenon Grounds

Nashville’s signature green space wraps around a full-scale replica of the Athenian Parthenon, so a simple walk here feels a little surreal. Locals come to picnic by Lake Watauga, catch a free summer

Midtown

Conrad Nashville

Conrad Nashville delivers sleek, contemporary luxury in Midtown near Vanderbilt, a quieter counterpoint to the downtown towers. It pairs elevated restaurants and a refined lobby sc

SoBro / Downtown

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

This is the definitive institution for country music history, packed with rhinestone Nudie suits, Elvis’s gold Cadillac, handwritten lyrics and listening stations. Even if you’re only a casual fan, th

Printers Alley

Dream Nashville

Dream Nashville folds two restored historic buildings into a design-led boutique hotel in Printers Alley, the city’s old nightlife strip. Rooftop and street-level bars keep it live

Downtown

Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Downtown

Set inside the restored Cordell Hull Building, the Drury Plaza is a dependable-value downtown base with a rooftop pool and skyline views. The rate includes a hot breakfast and the

SoBro

Four Seasons Hotel Nashville

The Four Seasons brings riverside high-rise luxury to SoBro, a block from Broadway, with a full spa, an outdoor pool deck and the southern-Italian restaurant Mimo. It’s the polishe

Downtown

Free Tours by Foot Nashville

These pay-what-you-wish walking tours are the budget-friendly way to get an entertaining, story-rich introduction to downtown and its music history. You decide what the tour was worth and tip your gui

Downtown

Frist Art Museum

Housed in a gorgeous Art Deco former post office, the Frist has no permanent collection and instead rotates ambitious exhibitions spanning old masters to contemporary and local art. Because the shows

East Nashville

Grimey’s New & Preloved Music

Grimey’s is the record store musicians actually shop at, a deep, well-loved bin-diving spot for new and used vinyl in East Nashville. Staff know their stuff, the in-store performances have hosted surp

West End

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nashville West End

A reliable, free-breakfast pick on the West End side of town, this Holiday Inn Express trades the Broadway price premium for solid value near Vanderbilt and Midtown, with easy ride

West End

Home2 Suites by Hilton Nashville West End Avenue

An all-suite Hilton on West End near Vanderbilt and Centennial Park, Home2 Suites gives you a kitchenette and more room to spread out, which suits longer stays and families. It’s a

Downtown

Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville

A polished downtown Hyatt within walking distance of Broadway, the Hyatt Centric is known for a strong breakfast and an easy, central location. It hits the mid-range sweet spot for

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Book your trip to Nashville

Find the best hotels and book tours and experiences, all in one place.

Find hotels in Nashville Book tours and experiences

Nashville travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Nashville?

Two to three days is enough to see Nashville’s highlights at a relaxed pace, with time for live music most evenings.

Where is the best area to stay in Nashville?

Downtown and The Gulch keep you within walking distance of Broadway, the honky-tonks and the main sights.

What are the best things to do in Nashville?

Browse the local picks above, from live-music venues and the Country Music Hall of Fame to where to eat and stay.

What is the best time to visit Nashville?

Spring and fall usually bring the most comfortable weather and thinner crowds, though Nashville is worth visiting year-round.