Nashville, the Music City, is a fun and funky city with a lot to offer the casual visitor. From the vibrancy of Broadway to the atmosphere of the Gulch, it’s a city that rocks from morning to late late late at night.
Country (and regular music) stars like Taylor Swift, the Allman Brothers, and Johnny Cash have all gotten their start in Nashville. Celebrities also converge in Nashville for various events or to hit the streets. You’re likely to see a familiar face on Broadway or in Printers Alley if you keep your eyes open.
This city is more than just music, though, and is often called the Athens of the South for the number of educational institutions and the number of leading industries with centers here. It’s a delight to spend two days in Nashville. Here are some of the best things to do while you’re exploring Nashville.
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Table of Contents
Two Days in Nashville, Where to stay?
There are many amazing hotels in Nashville. Whether you want a luxury hotel or a more relaxed boutique hotel, the city has a plethora to offer. Here are some of my favorites.
Virgin Hotel Nashville: It is a new hotel just south of the entertainment district on Broadway and just north of Vanderbilt University. It’s the ideal spot for people who have been to Nashville before and want to sleep away from Broadway but still have easy access to the party.
With a rooftop pool bar and a lobby coffee shop, the hotel is also a hot spot for locals and students who want a chic place to relax. Rooms are designed with savvy travelers in mind and are modern and spacious, with all sorts of nods to the music industry. After all, it is Richard Branson’s hotel.
Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
Hutton Hotel: This boutique hotel is steps from Broadway and packs a punch. Rooms are spacious, modern, and right in the heart of the city. Don’t miss their intimate music venue, Analog, where you’re likely to spot some up-and-coming acts.
Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
Graduate Nashville: Graduate hotels – often situated near college campuses – are a funky blend of modern and historic. Located in an old midtown building near Vanderbilt, the hotel is in the perfect place for travelers who want to be close to the action but are removed from the crush of Broadway. The rooms are modern and comfortable.
Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
How to Spend Two Days in Nashville, A Detailed Itinerary
Nashville in 2 Days: Day One
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly American country music stage concert. It’s one of the most beloved music venues in the US and one of the oldest and longest-running radio programs in the country.
Each show consists of five to seven singers and it changes every time. The grounds are free to walk around in but you’ll need to buy a ticket for the show.
Music Row
Music Row is considered the heart of the Nashville music scene. It is located at 16th and 17th Avenues South and is known as Music Row East and Music Row West. Here you’ll find radio stations, music labels offices, and recording studios.
Some are open for tours, like the famed RCA Studio B, where Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton recorded. Streets around here are named for various stars and there are statues in the nearby park.
Country Music Hall of Fame
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum “seeks to collect, preserve, and interpret the evolving history and traditions of country music,” according to its mission statement.
It’s one of the world’s largest halls of fame and museums dedicated to the research of traditional American music, with 142 inductees. Through interactive and informative exhibits, visitors are introduced to the history and growth of vernacular music in the USA.
Click here to book your tickets for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Printers Alley
Printers Alley is the heart of the Nashville nightlife scene. In Nashville’s history, Printers Alley was where men hitched their horses on the way to the courthouse, and by the early twentieth century was where twenty-three publishers and printers had offices.
During Prohibition, many of the restaurants and bars that serviced the offices became speakeasies. In the 1940s, nightclubs opened here; today’s restaurants and nightclubs are descendants of the original speakeasies and clubs of the 40s.
Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium is a premier music venue and is most well known for being the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943-1974. It has some of the best acoustics in the city and sometimes is still used for smaller Opry shows. If you can snag seats for a show here, it is well worth it.
The building was originally built as a tabernacle for indoor tent revivals, and the stained glass and church pews still exist today. It was later bought and managed by a woman who made her living booking events at the venue. In 1943, when the Opry needed a new home, they began hosting their show from here and it became known as the music venue it is today.
Lower Broadway
Lower Broadway is one of the busiest and most popular thoroughfares in the city but is also the most popular entertainment district in the city.
Perpendicular to Printers Alley, Lower Broadway is where you’ll find the honky tonk bars and clubs owned by celebrities like John Rich (of Big and Rich), Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, and Kid Rock, among others. These bars have live music, cold drinks, and loud crowds from 10 am to 3 am.
Tip: Discover Nashville’s top attractions with this Hop-on, Hop-off Trolley Tour.
Nashville in 2 Days: Day Two
On your second day in Nashville, spend some time exploring some of the non-music attractions.
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame
The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame chronicles the history of Tennessee sports from inception to modern-day and honors the athletes, coaches, and others for their contributions to Tennessee sports.
There are over 500 honorees and inductees. Displays include highlights on Peyton Manning, the Nashville Predators, Tennessee Titans, and local Olympians.
Tennessee State Prison
The Tennessee State Prison opened in 1898 and closed in 1992 because of overcrowding concerns. The prison is located outside of downtown Nashville and is the perfect place for a spooky ghost tour this Halloween.
The Hermitage
President Andrew Jackson’s home, The Hermitage, is located just east of Nashville. The historic mansion and the surrounding complex were built in the early 1800s; the Jacksons lived here only periodically until he retired in 1837. The mansion is also where the former president is buried.
The Jackson family left in 1898, and the Ladies Hermitage Association restored it to its former 1837 appearance and opened it as a museum. Visitors to the museum can explore the history of Andrew Jackson’s life and story, as well as see stories of the antebellum South. The property escaped damage in the 1998 tornado but lost a number of trees on the plantation.
Belle Meade Plantation
The Belle Meade Plantation is a former antebellum plantation turned event space, attraction, winery, and restaurant. The new visitors center features stories of the slaves who worked here and has transformed into an interactive and thought-provoking exhibit over the years.
Belle Meade Plantation started as a horse breeding farm and grew into a famed racing and training facility. Visitors can explore the 30 acres and the various buildings, dine at the on-site restaurant or do a wine tasting.
What to Eat in Nashville
Nashville is known for some various dishes like hot chicken, southern barbecue, and fried pickles. Here are some of the places you can try these iconic dishes.
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
This family-run restaurant is a popular casual food spot for locals and tourists alike. There are seven locations, so wherever you are staying, you’re likely to be near Hattie B’s. It’s not fine dining, so walk in, give your order, and grab a seat. They’ll deliver your food and you can enjoy it.
Puckett’s Grocery
Puckett’s Grocery goes back to a small family shop in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee. They serve authentic food and drink with true Southern hospitality. Large, sturdy tables seat families or large groups of people, all there for meat and three specials, delicious biscuits, and live music. Many up-and-coming acts perform at Nashville’s Church Street location.
Practical Information for Your 2-Day Nashville Itinerary
When is the Best time to visit Nashville?
Nashville is at its best in the spring and fall, when you can wander the streets, drink at the rooftop bars, and enjoy the nice weather. The most popular times to visit are April through October. Christmas in Nashville, and especially at Belle Meade, is a delight but winter is generally a low season (and lower prices).
How to Get to and from the Airport
The easiest way to get from the airport into the city is by Uber. The airport is only about 20 minutes from the city on a good day. When traffic is heavy, the ride can be closer to 45 minutes. Still, there are few buses in the city so taxis or Uber is the best option.
How to Get Around Nashville
Nashville is small enough that most of the city center sites are within walking distance. For anyone wishing to go further afield, there are Ubers and Lyfts available.