Stand on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge at dusk and you get the whole city in one frame: the Cumberland River below, the downtown skyline ahead, and the AT&T Building's two spires rising over it all. Nashville rewards travellers who plan around a few anchors rather than trying to cover everything.
The city suits music fans, history buffs and anyone happy to spend a day moving between a museum, a mansion and a riverfront walk. This guide covers the sights worth building a trip around, followed by a one-day plan and practical answers.
Top things to do in Nashville
1. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Regularly changing exhibits and live performances make this Nashville landmark worth returning to, and the Hall of Fame moved to this site in 2000. Ticket packages for guided or audio tours are available.
You can combine your visit with a tour of RCA Studio B and the Ryman Auditorium. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, so check the calendar before you commit to a date.
2. The Hermitage
The former home of U.S. President Andrew Jackson is full of his family's personal possessions and much of the furniture they personally purchased. It was one of the first historic preservation projects in Tennessee.
Plan for a two-hour tour with a moderate amount of walking. No cameras, video cameras, food or drink are allowed inside the Hermitage or the exhibit gallery, and backpacks or large bags should be left in your vehicle.
3. Belle Meade Plantation
This site features the mansion built in 1853 and restored, the carriage house from 1890, and one of the oldest log cabins in Tennessee, built in 1790. There is a great deal of history associated with the plantation from before the American Civil War.
Guided tours of the mansion are offered by the local heritage society and are highly interesting. It is closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
4. John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
Built between 1907 and 1909, the bridge once carried automobile traffic between East Nashville and Downtown. It has since been converted for pedestrians and offers a spectacular view of the riverfront and downtown skyline.
It is a very popular and convenient route to the Titans' football stadium, so combine a crossing with a walk along the riverfront.
5. Parthenon
Created for Tennessee's Centennial Exposition, this monument was so well received that a permanent form was constructed. Inside stands a replica of the statue of the goddess Athena thought to have existed in the original Parthenon.
It sits in Centennial Park on West End Avenue and is closed on Mondays, so plan this one for the middle of the week or a weekend.
6. Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
This state park stretches out in front of the state capitol building and features a giant map of the state, monuments recounting the history of the state since prehistoric times, and a carillon. In the summer, the fountains are often filled with splashing kids.
The park is next to the farmers market, which includes a food court, fish market and nursery alongside the expected vendors selling fruits and vegetables. Entry is free.
7. Tennessee State Capitol
The Capitol offers guided tours provided free of charge by staff of the Tennessee State Museum. Enter using the West entrance.
Visitors are required to pass through metal detectors and show photo identification. It is closed on all holidays, and metered spaces around the Capitol complex or public parking lots are your options for parking.
8. Tennessee State Museum
With over 70,000 square feet of exhibit space, this is one of the nation's largest state museums. Its permanent exhibits are split into categories including Prehistoric, Frontier, Age of Jackson, Antebellum, Civil War and Reconstruction.
Admission is free, though temporary exhibits may carry a charge. It is closed on 1 January, Easter, Thanksgiving and 25 December.
9. Fort Negley
A Civil War-era fort partially reconstructed by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s, it reopened in 2004 with new boardwalks and interpretive signs. Much of the work on the fort was done by slaves and freed blacks who were rounded up and forced to work on the structure.
It is free to enter. Hours shift with the season, so check before setting out.
10. National Museum of African American Music
This museum on Broadway covers the history and influence of African American music. It opens at noon on Sundays and Mondays and at 10AM Tuesday through Saturday.
Adult, senior, youth and child tickets are priced separately, with children under 7 free. Pair it with the other music museums downtown.
11. Belmont Mansion
An approximately one-hour guided tour takes in 16 rooms of the mansion. You can also walk the grounds to examine the marble statues and cast iron ornaments in the gardens.
It is closed on Memorial Day. Tickets are priced by age, with reductions for seniors and children.
12. The Johnny Cash Museum & Cafe
A museum featuring pictures and memorabilia of the icon Johnny Cash, located on 3rd Avenue South.
It sits close to the other downtown music attractions, so it fits neatly into a walking route through the district.
13. Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum
This museum on Gay Street covers the wider craft of music-making beyond the country genre.
It is a straightforward addition to a downtown music-themed day, and you can call ahead if you want to confirm details before visiting.
14. Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center
This hotel is worth seeing even if you are not staying there. It is built around three enormous atria, the largest of which has an artificial river with boat rides around an island.
It sits in the Music Valley area, so treat it as a separate outing rather than something to squeeze between downtown sights.
15. Nashville's Second Avenue
The street provides entertainment for many different styles of people, with bars, dining destinations and family-friendly options along its length.
It is an easy place to end an evening after a day of museums and monuments downtown.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, then walk to the Johnny Cash Museum & Cafe and the National Museum of African American Music, all within the downtown core. If time allows, add the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum on Gay Street.
Afternoon: Head to Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park and the Tennessee State Capitol, then cross the river on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge for the skyline view. Finish the afternoon at the Tennessee State Museum or Fort Negley if you still have energy.
Evening: Return downtown for Nashville's Second Avenue, where bars and dining destinations cover a range of tastes. If you have a second day, save The Hermitage, Belle Meade Plantation, the Parthenon and Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center for it.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the outdoor sights?
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park is at its liveliest in summer, when the fountains fill with splashing kids. The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge is a popular route to the Titans' football stadium, so expect company on game days.
Which attractions are free?
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, the Tennessee State Capitol and Fort Negley are free, and the Tennessee State Museum is free apart from temporary exhibits that may carry a charge.
What should I know before touring The Hermitage?
Plan for a two-hour tour with a moderate amount of walking. Cameras, video cameras, food and drink are not allowed within the Hermitage or the exhibit gallery, and backpacks or large bags should be left in your vehicle.
Can I combine several music attractions in one visit?
Yes. Ticket packages at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum can be combined with a tour of RCA Studio B and the Ryman Auditorium, and the Johnny Cash Museum & Cafe and the National Museum of African American Music are both downtown.
Pick your dates, check the closures that affect your shortlist, and start building your Nashville itinerary around the sights that matter most to you.