The Ultimate Weekend Getaway to Nashville
A trip to Nashville is a bucket list item for any music lover. The legendary music scene is reason enough to visit, but there’s far more to Nashville than the Honky Tonks of Lower Broadway. It may be called Music City, but the Tennessee capital is also home to a vibrant art scene, incredible food, and beautiful parks. This guide will cover all the essentials for planning your Nashville weekend getaway – including the best things to do, the best time to visit, and some of the best places to eat.
This is your guide for a weekend getaway to Nashville.
How to Get to Nashville
Nashville International Airport (BNA) is the most direct way to get to Nashville. If you aren’t renting a car, the most convenient way to get to your destination is via a rideshare app. Alternatively, the Line 18 bus runs from the airport to downtown Nashville, but it only departs approximately every 45 minutes starting from around 6:00 am until midnight.
How to Get Around Nashville
Downtown Nashville is very walkable, so if you’ll be spending the majority of your weekend getaway bouncing from Honky Tonks to country music museums, you won’t need a car. However, if you want your experience to be more “Nashville” and less “Nash-Vegas”, then you’ll need a set of wheels. A car rental is best if you want to cover a lot of the city or take any day trips. If you’ll be spending most of your time in one area and just venturing out occasionally, Uber or Lyft may be the way to go.
Listen: Nashville Spotify Playlist
Best Time to Visit Nashville
Summer
Summers are hot and humid in Nashville. Despite the stifling heat, June through August is also peak tourist season. Expect long lines and large crowds at the Honky Tonks on Lower Broadway, especially on weekends.
Autumn
Late September through November is a great time to visit Nashville. The city starts cooling to comfortable temps by October, and the summer crowds dissipate after Labor Day. Fall colors around the city usually peak sometime from late October to early November.
Winter
December through February can get downright chilly in Nashville. There may even be a small sprinkling of snow now and then. However, this is a great time to visit for budget travelers that also want to avoid crowds.
Spring
This is a good time to visit for comfortable weather and before the summer crowds set in. March can still be a bit chilly in Nashville, while late May can start to get toasty. The sweet spot is April through early May when the flowers are in bloom and temperatures are nearly perfect.
Where to Stay for a Weekend Getaway to Nashville
Lower Broadway
The majority of hotels are going to be found in downtown Nashville around Lower Broadway. This is the best place to stay if you’re coming for the “Nash-Vegas” experience and also don’t want to rent a car for your stay.
Music Row & The Gulch
For a quieter visit that’s still near the action, look for a place around the neighborhoods of either Music Row or The Gulch. These neighborhoods are walkable as well, but you’ll need Uber or Lyft to get downtown if you don’t have a car.
Brentwood
Hotels in Nashville can get pricey. For a more budget-friendly option, look for a place in the nearby suburb of Brentwood. It’s only about a 15-minute drive from downtown Nashville. However, you will need a car for your stay if you go this route.
Best Things to Do on a Weekend Getaway to Nashville
Honky Tonks on Lower Broadway
It wouldn’t be a trip to Music City without a visit to some of the Honky Tonks on Lower Broadway. As you walk down Lower Broadway, it’ll be clear why the city has earned the moniker “Nash-Vegas”. Flashing lights, swarms of bachelorette parties, and live music blaring from every direction.
There’s no cover charge to enter the Honky Tonks, so just take a stroll and pop in anywhere that catches your eye (or ear, rather).
When you need a break from bar hopping, there are plenty of shops, country music museums, and restaurants around Lower Broadway as well. I’ve gotta say, even as someone who generally dislikes crowds and country music, the Honky Tonks are a lot of fun. And not all of the bands play country – there were plenty of Blues and Rock musicians as well.
Printer’s Alley
Long before the days of Broadway’s Honky Tonks, there was Printer’s Alley. Formerly the site of Nashville’s largest newspapers and printers, the alley was also home to several speakeasies during the Prohibition era. By the 1940s, it transformed into a hub for nightclubs where the likes of Chet Atkins, Hank Williams, The Supremes, and even Jimi Hendrix played. These days, it pays homage to its early 1900s roots with speakeasy-style bars featuring live music nightly.
John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
While you’re downtown, be sure to make your way over to John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge for a great view. The bridge stretches across the Cumberland River to connect downtown Nashville to East Nashville. It’s the perfect spot for a panoramic view of the city skyline.
Go mural hunting in 12 South
Nashville is a vibrant city with a thriving art community, and 12 South puts that on full display. Walk down 12th Ave South to find colorful murals and fun shops (including Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James). If you get hungry, stop at Five Daughters Bakery for delicious donuts or Edley’s for mouthwatering Nashville barbecue.
Centennial Park
Go for a stroll through Centennial Park to watch ducks in the pond and climb the steps of the park’s most interesting feature – The Parthenon. That’s right, Centennial Park is home to a full-scale replica of The Parthenon in Athens. Inside you’ll find art galleries and a museum dedicated to Greek history. The Parthenon’s most famous piece is a large statue of the Goddess Athena made by a local sculptor. It’s the largest statue in the western hemisphere! Tickets to the museum can be purchased on-site.
Tour Studios on Music Row
It’s not just the Honky Tonks that give Nashville its Music City moniker. Many of the most prominent and influential music studios can be found here, and you can tour these studios to discover a piece of music history. A fan favorite is RCA Studio B where the likes of Elvis, The Everly Brothers, and Dolly Parton came to record. Dolly Parton actually once ran her car into the building when she was running late, and she still has a scar from the mishap.
Visit Third Man Records
Jack White’s Third Man Records feels a little like the Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory of record stores. In it, you’ll find interactive curiosities such as a refurbished 1947 Voice-o-Graph, a Scopitone, a Mold-o-Rama, a record listening booth, and a photo booth. Not to mention plenty of records, merch, and musician goods for sale.
Next door is the famed Blue Room Bar – the world’s only live venue with direct-to-acetate recording capabilities. Visit the bar Thursday through Saturday and check the Event Calendar for live music.
GUIDED TOURS: You can tour the recording facilities and label offices on Friday afternoons at 2pm and 3pm. Tickets are very limited, so be sure to book ahead.
Sample some Tennessee whiskey
If there’s one thing Tennessee is known for other than music, it’s whiskey. You’ll find some of the world’s most famous whiskey distilleries all throughout the state, but you don’t even have to leave the city to find great whiskey. Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery in downtown Nashville serves up some of the state’s best whiskey, including one made from the founders’ great-great-great grandfather’s recipe from the 1800s. Head to the distillery to enjoy a whiskey flight at the bar or take one of their daily guided tours.
Eat your way through the city
I’d return to Nashville again and again just for the food. First things first, you definitely need to try the iconic hot chicken from Hattie B’s. Pro tip: there’s always an incredibly long line at each Hattie B’s location. To avoid it, just order online for pickup. You’ll get to walk past everyone in line and go straight up to the counter.
Beyond hot chicken, Nashville diners like Swett’s and Big Al’s Deli are famous for their classic southern “meat and three” (that’s one meat with three sides). East Nashville is a hotspot for the city’s trendiest restaurants such as Butcher & Bee, Folk, and Lyra. And definitely hit up Biscuit Love for brunch with a side of their famous bonuts.
Tour Cheekwood Estate
If you’re visiting anytime from spring through autumn, add a tour of the gardens at Cheekwood Estate to your list. You can pay an additional fee to tour the mansion as well, but I found it to be rather underwhelming. In my opinion, the Gardens Only ticket is the way to go.
PLANNING TIP: Cheekwood Estate is open Tuesday through Sunday, and weekends can be extremely busy. If you’re planning to visit on the weekend, get there early or buy your ticket in advance to guarantee entry.
Visit Belle Meade Plantation
Throughout the 1800s, Belle Meade Plantation was known primarily as one of the nation’s preeminent establishments for thoroughbred horse breeding. Today, it’s one of the few historic plantations in the country that acknowledges its history of slavery and the enslaved people who lived there.
JOURNEY TO JUBILEE: I highly recommend the Journey to Jubilee tour for an honest and informative insight into the lives of the enslaved people who lived here. Our guide had an astounding breadth of knowledge on Belle Meade and the history of slavery in our country. Even if you’re well-informed on the subject, I guarantee you’ll walk away having learned something new.
Take a day trip to Franklin
The historic town of Franklin is just a 30-minute drive from Nashville, so it makes the perfect day trip from the city. Discover Civil War historic sites, spend the afternoon visiting the adorable shops downtown, visit a distillery, and grab a bite at one of Franklin’s many incredible restaurants.
Overall
Nashville is so much more than the Country Music Capital of the World. Anyone with an appreciation for live music, excellent food, storied history, or top-notch whiskey will find something to love in this exciting city.
Have any questions about your upcoming trip to Nashville that I didn’t answer here? Let me know in the comments.
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