- Our verdict: yes, if you like food, history, parks or a good walk. No, if you mostly want quiet, nightlife without live music, or big outdoor adventure.
- Music is hard to avoid on Lower Broadway, but you can plan around it.
- Several of our best-scored stops have nothing to do with country music, and three of them are free.
- Skip the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Opry unless you are curious.
You do not have to like country music to enjoy Nashville. But it helps to know what you are getting into, because music is part of the city’s identity.
Our verdict
Worth it, with a plan. If you like food, history, parks, museums and walkable neighborhoods, there is plenty here. If you want a quiet getaway or big outdoor adventure, another city may fit better.
What you will run into anyway
Lower Broadway is the loudest part of Nashville. The honky-tonks play live music, and much of it is country. Many have no regular cover, but the area is crowded, especially at night and on weekends. If that sounds unpleasant, go on a Sunday to Thursday in the afternoon or early evening, or skip it. See our Lower Broadway verdict.
What to do instead
Free and low cost
- The Tennessee State Museum is free and a strong pick for history fans.
- The Tennessee State Capitol is free on weekdays, with guided tours.
- The Pedestrian Bridge is free and gives a skyline view.
- The Nashville Farmers’ Market is free to enter.
Museums and gardens
- Centennial Park and the Parthenon is a full-size replica of the Greek Parthenon in a park.
- The Frist Art Museum is a good rainy day stop.
- Cheekwood is a 55-acre estate with gardens and a mansion.
- Belle Meade is a historic home with guided tours.
- With kids, the Nashville Zoo is our pick.
Food Nashville hot chicken is worth trying: Hattie B’s and Prince’s are our two entries. For barbecue, try Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, and for brunch, Biscuit Love.
Neighborhoods to wander East Nashville, Germantown and 12 South are good places to walk and eat without a music-first focus.
Day trips Franklin is a walkable small-town day. Burgess Falls has four waterfalls, about 90 minutes away.
What to skip
- The Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry are best for people who already like country music. Our own verdicts say so.
- Nightlife on Lower Broadway, if live country music is not your thing.
Who should pick another city
- You want a quiet, nature-heavy trip. Nashville is a city, and the best nature is a drive away.
- You want a low-noise nightlife scene.
- You are visiting for only one day and want something that feels like a postcard. A one-day plan will lean on downtown.
The honest bottom line
You can have a good trip here without a single country song, but you will hear some. Plan your days around food, free museums and neighborhoods, and treat Broadway as optional.