Nashville attractions

Nashville might be best known for its country music, but the Schermerhorn Symphony Center holds its own against iconic venues such as the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry. Home to the Grammy-winning Nashville Symphony, it’s proof that Nashville’s musical legacy covers all genres.

Located just west of downtown Nashville, the Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery is a 19th-century thoroughbred horse farm that now functions as a museum and culinary destination. Visit the Greek Revival mansion, which is filled with original furnishings and period antiques, to learn about its history and the Antebellum and Reconstruction eras, or stop by the on-site winery, the oldest in Nashville.

Situated in Nashville’s Riverfront Park, Fort Nashborough was where James Robertson and his band of settlers founded the city back in 1780. While the original fort—built to defend the first families from Native American attacks—is gone, the site currently has a smaller replica of what the original might have looked like.

With a history dating back to 1879, Hatch Show Print is one of the oldest continually working letterpress print shops in the country. A Nashville icon, Hatch Show Print is known for its distinctive use of bold colors, hand-carved type, and eye-catching imagery, and has produced show and concert posters for performers of all types.

Go behind the scenes at the oldest registered distillery in the United States, Jack Daniel’s, which was founded in 1866. Learn the history behind the distillery that’s emblematic of Southern culture and find out how the legendary old No. 7 whiskey is made, right at the source.

For views of the Nashville skyline, it's hard to beat a cruise down the Cumberland River aboard the General Jackson Showboat. This Victorian-style paddlewheel riverboat features a 2-story Victorian theater that hosts live performances and dinner shows. For a full Southern experience, the menu features dishes like bourbon-glazed chicken and hickory-smoked pork shoulder. It's a memorable way to combine sightseeing, entertainment, and authentic Nashville specialties.

If you've not had any luck when it comes to meeting your favorite musician, a visit to Madame Tussauds Nashville might be the next best thing. Marvel at true-to-life wax likenesses of music legends, interact with the figures, and snap great selfies with celebs such as Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus, and Keith Urban.

The Ernest Tubb Record Store has been in business since 1947, when it was founded by Grand Ole Opry star, Ernest Tubb. Visit the one-stop shop to browse or purchase country, bluegrass, and gospel music, records, and memorabilia. The shop in historic downtown Nashville also offers works by contemporary and classic artists.

Located on bustling Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville, live music destination Honky Tonk Central offers visitors a rootin' tootin' good time. With three stories of performance space, down home food, and stiff drinks, this popular joint epitomizes the city’s nickname, “NashVegas.” Live acts typically play music to meet all tastes to a packed house.

It makes sense that Nashville, often called Music City, is home to a Hard Rock Cafe. Opened in 1994, Hard Rock Cafe Nashville boasts a 378-seat restaurant, open-air terrace, signature Hard Rock shop, and concert venue. Like the other franchise locations, it features loads of music memorabilia and serves up classic American fare.

For a rejuvenating stroll through manicured gardens, head to Cheekwood Estate and Gardens, a 1930s estate just a stone's throw from downtown Nashville. Enjoy the extensive gardens, and visit the exhibition galleries and contemporary sculptures at this art hub.

The Gaylord Opryland Resort, known to many as the Opryland Hotel, is practically a destination all on its own. The grounds of this resort and convention center in the heart of Nashville include nine acres of indoor gardens, climate-controlled glass atriums, and even an indoor river that visitors can navigate on a Delta flatboat.

Standing at the epicenter of the Battle of Franklin, the Lotz House bore witness to one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Today, the historic house is a museum chronicling the fateful events of Nov. 30, 1864 and providing a fascinating insight into Tennessee’s Civil War history.

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage is the historic home and plantation of Andrew Jackson, the seventh US president. Visiting gives you a sense of Jackson’s everyday life—original furnishings make the mansion homey—and also of 19th-century life in the South for everyone, from aristocrats to enslaved persons. Plus, it’s a great Nashville day trip.

A grand historic house–turned–Civil War field hospital, Carnton is a must-see for history buffs visiting the Nashville area. The house, now a top area attraction, once served as the grounds of the Battle of Franklin, one of the deadliest battles of the Civil War.

The permanent collection at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville tells the story of this part of the American South—from prehistoric times to the present day. The main space is split into seven exhibitions, including First Peoples and The Civil War and Reconstruction. Rotating exhibitions have included artwork from Japanese museums, the original Emancipation Proclamation, and photos of Memphis-born Elvis Presley.

Located in Nashville, the Patsy Cline Museum celebrates the life and career of the country music legend. The museum holds the largest collection of items related to the singer and includes hundreds of never-before-seen artifacts, personal belongings, costumes, furniture, and memorabilia, along with rare video footage.

Uncover a treasure trove at Historic Travellers Rest Plantation & Museum, a storied property with origins as a Native American village and a role in the Civil War. The 1799 home and historic buildings are open for you to stroll the lush grounds and take a guided tour that's rich in Tennessee history.

Fun for all ages, the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is home to thousands of animals from all over the world—as well as a large community-built playground featuring a 35-foot-tall (10.6-meter-tall) tree house. You can also visit the grand on-site Grassmere Historic Home.

Set along the picturesque Cumberland River waterfront, Nashville’s Cumberland Park offers visitors 6.5 acres (2.6 hectares) of outdoor fun and activities, especially for travelers with small children. You can spend an afternoon enjoying the green space and cooling off at the splash pad, or see it as part of a sightseeing tour that covers Nashville monuments and attractions.

Almost as impressive as the original Parthenon in Greece, the Nashville Parthenon is a full-scale replica of the former temple in the center of Centennial Park. Not only is it a Music City hot spot, but inside lies a 42-foot (13-meter) sculpture of the goddess Athena, plus the James M. Cowan Collection of American Art paintings and original Parthenon Marbles from the 1920s.

The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) is dedicated to celebrating and preserving the legacy of the musical genres—including blues, jazz, gospel, R&B, and hip-hop—created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans. The museum’s six galleries feature artifacts, objects, memorabilia, clothing, and technology that combine to offer visitors a look at how African-American music set the tone for the country’s soundtrack.

In a city filled with large concert venues, it’s the unassuming Bluebird Cafe that best captures Nashville’s true spirit. For more than 40 years, it has showcased some of Music City’s biggest names—including Garth Brooks, LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban, and Taylor Swift—alongside the songwriters who made them famous. Visit to see intimate performances, watch country music legends, and discover stars of the future.

Located inside the Johnny Cash Museum in downtown Nashville, the Johnny Cash Museum Store features memorabilia and souvenirs dedicated to the legendary musician and his career. The store sells a vast array of guaranteed-authentic collectibles and merchandise officially licensed by Johnny Cash’s estate.

The former home of Country Music Hall of Famer Barbara Mandrell, Fontanel mansion is a luxe log home in Nashville, Tennessee. The home, nestled in the woods and fronting a vast lawn, comprises 33,000 square feet (10,058 square meters) of living space including more than 20 rooms, 13 baths, five fireplaces, and an indoor shooting range.