Things To Do In Nashville
Planning a visit to campus this spring? We hope you’ll allow some time to explore our hometown, Nashville. Vanderbilt is located in the heart of Nashville, close to museums, historic sites, live music venues, award-winning restaurants, and other great destinations. To help you get started, we’ve created a list of things to do in Nashville. While this list includes some of Nashville’s most beloved places, there are many more locations that are worth a visit. We hope you’ll enjoy your time in Nashville!
To the best of our knowledge, this info is accurate as of the time of posting. Before you finalize your plans, we recommend checking hours, entry fees, and other details with the individual locations.
Attractions
- 1200 Forrest Park Dr, Nashville, TN 37205
- Built in 1932, the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens encompasses 55 acres. The gardens are divided into 12 sections, each with a distinct horticultural style.
- $20 admission fee; $5 parking fee
- 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Tues-Sun
- (Closed Monday)
- 3777 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211
- Zoo includes white rhinos, giraffes, kangaroos, zebras, monkeys, cougars, Galapagos tortoises, and komodo dragons
- $18 admission fee; $7 parking fee
- Open 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; 7-days/week
- 2812 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
- Built in 1985, the General Jackson is one of the largest river-showboats in the world and encompasses a two-story, Victorian-style theater. It docks next to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.
- Show prices vary
- Boat runs March – August; show dates/times vary
- 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
- Four massive indoor arboretums, totaling 9 acres of indoor garden space. Hotel itself includes 2,882 rooms, 220 suites, 100 conference rooms (ranging from 300-to-5,700 square feet), and 15 restaurants.
- Arboretums are free and open 24/7
- Only for Gaylord Hotel Guests: SoundWaves, a 4-acre, 3-level luxury indoor/outdoor waterpark open year-round
“I Believe in Nashville” Mural / 12th South
- 2702 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
- Iconic Nashville mural depicting the Tennessee state flag. Famous tourist picture spot.
- The mural’s surrounding neighborhood, 12th South, encompasses eclectic shopping, boutiques, coffee shops, and restaurants.
Culture
- 919 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
- Art museum housed in Nashville’s former post office building (built in 1934). As a non-collecting museum, the Frist does not have a permanent art exhibit. Rather, the museum hosts traveling art exhibits from around the world.
- 1 Symphony Pl, Nashville, TN 37201
- An 1,800-seat theater with seating distributed over three levels
- Home of the Nashville Symphony
- Founded in 1964, the Nashville Symphony holds 170 concerts annually, with a focus on contemporary American Orchestral music.
Tennessee Performing Arts Center
- 505 Deaderick St, Nashville, TN 37219
- Contains three theaters:
- Andrew Jackson Theater: seats 2,500
- James K. Polk Theater: seats 1,000
- Andrew Johnson Theater: seats 250
- Home to the Nashville Ballet
- Home to the Nashville Opera
Sports
- 1 Titans Way, Nashville, TN 37213
- 69,000-seat stadium home to the NFL’s Tennessee Titans and college football’s annual Music City Bowl (SEC vs. ACC). The stadium also hosts select events and concerts throughout the year.
- Titans game tickets/times vary
- Concert tickets/times vary
- 19 Jr Gilliam Way, Nashville, TN 37219
- 8,500 seat baseball stadium built in 2015. Stadium includes unique guitar shaped scoreboard and a large outdoor bar complete with ping pong tables and cornhole.
- Home of the Nashville Sounds, a Triple-A baseball team affiliated with the Oakland A’s.
- Temporary home of Nashville Soccer Club, a professional United Soccer League team founded in 2018. (The Nashville Soccer Club is currently constructing their own stadium.)
- 501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
- A 17,000-seat arena home to the NHL’s Nashville Predators and the annual Country Music Awards, the arena also hosts numerous concerts and events throughout the year.
- Predators game tickets/times vary
- Concert tickets/times vary
History
- 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203
- Built in 1897, the Parthenon in Nashville is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens. Just as it was in ancient Greece, the Parthenon’s main focus is a 42-foot high statue of Athena, gilt with more than 8 pounds of gold leaf. The basement serves as an art gallery.
- $6 admission fee
- 9:00 am — 4:30 pm, Tuesday to Saturday
- 12:30 pm — 4:30 pm, Sunday
- Closed Monday
- 2 Victory Ave, Nashville, TN 37213
- The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge links Broadway to Nissan Stadium. It was listed on the National Register of Historic places in 1998.
- 5600 Dr. M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Nashville, TN 37243
- Tennessee State Capitol: Built in 1845, the Tennessee State Capitol houses the governor’s office and state legislature
- 1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208
- Museum depicts the history of Tennessee. Spotlight exhibits are dedicated to Andrew Jackson and the American Civil War.
- Free admission
- 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Tues-Sat
- 1:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sunday
- (Closed Monday)
- 636 Farrell Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37220
- Built in 1799; Traveler’s Rest was the home of Tennessee Supreme Court Judge John Overton, close confidant of Andrew Jackson and founder of Memphis, TN. The house was added to the National Register of historic places in 1969.
- $12 tour fee
- Open 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Mon-Sat
- (Closed Sunday)
- 1700 Acklen Ave, Nashville, TN 37212
- Built in 1849, the Belmont Mansion is one of the few remaining “mega mansions” from America’s antebellum period, as it went mostly undamaged during the Civil War. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1971.
- $15 tour fee
- 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Mon-Sat
- 11:00 am – 4:00 pm, Sun
- 5025 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205
- Built in 1807, Belle Meade is a restored antebellum plantation. Belle Meade includes original stables, carriage houses, and mausoleums. In its post-Civil War years (specifically between 1875 and 1903), Bell Meade was one of the most prestigious horse farms in the world.
- $24 tour fee
- 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, 7-days/week
- 600 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243
- Park bordering the Tennessee State Capitol
- Includes:
- 200-foot wide granite map of the state.
- Rivers of Tennessee Fountains: 31 water fountains representing the major rivers and waterways of the state.
- 95-bell carillon, representing the state’s 95 counties and its musical legacy.
- 2,000-seat terraced amphitheater used for special events.
- Includes:
- 1001 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
- Former railroad terminal built in 1900 (now a Marriott hotel). Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969 and given National Historic Landmark status in 2003.
Music
- 2804 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN 37214
- Known as “the show that made country music famous” and “country music’s most famous stage”, the Grand Ole Opry is a country-music concert and radio show founded in 1925. It is Nashville’s most popular attraction.
- Backstage tours occur numerous times per day, 7-days/week
- $27 tour fee
- Dates and times vary
- Concert times, ticket prices, and headlining country music stars vary.
- Backstage tours occur numerous times per day, 7-days/week
- 116 5th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219
- Built in 1885, Ryman Auditorium was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974. The Ryman is considered the birthplace of country music and became a designated National Historic Landmark in 2001.
- $22 to $32 tour fee (depending on day)
- 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, 7-days/week
- The Ryman continues to host concerts. Concert times, ticket prices, and singers/bands vary.
Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum
- 222 5th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
- World’s epicenter of country music
- $26 admission fee
- 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, 7-days/week
- Studio B: Nashville’s oldest recording studio and a favorite of Elvis Presley.
- + $15 extra
- 4104 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215
- Built in 1982, the Bluebird Café is a 90-seat music club/restaurant. It is famous for showcasing new country artists, and is where Taylor Swift was discovered. The Café served as featured location on ABC’s “Nashville” television series.
- 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm, Sun-Thurs
- 5:30 pm – 12:00 am, Fri & Sat
Broadway Strip
- 320 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37201
- Four blocks of honky-tonks and restaurants, located between Bridgestone Arena and Nissan Stadium. Visitors are treated to a plethora of bands and live music (primarily country).
Cumberland Park / Ascend Amphitheater
- 592 S 1st St, Nashville, TN
- Cumberland Park: 6.5 acre park along the Cumberland River. Designed primarily for families; numerous outdoor play areas for children.
- Ascend Amphitheater: 6,800 seat amphitheater (2,300 fixed and 4,500 lawn) within the park. Hosts concerts and various events.
- Concert times, ticket prices, and singers/bands vary.
- 119 3rd Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201
- Museum dedicated to country music legend Johnny Cash.
- $20 admission fee
- 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, 7-days/week
- 119 3rd Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201
- Museum dedicated to country music legend Patsy Cline.
- $20 admission fee
- 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, 7-days/week
Restaurants – Nashville Classics
- 8400 TN-100, Nashville, TN 37221
- Built in 1951, the Loveless Café is Nashville’s most famous restaurant. It has appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show; Late Night with Conan O’Brien; The Martha Stewart Show; The Today Show; and the Food Network’s Throwdown with Bobby Flay. USA Today includes the café on its list of the “Top 10 Great Places to get a Southern-style Biscuit.”
- 7:00 am – 9:00 pm, 7-days a week
- 410 4th Ave South, Nashville, TN 37201
- Nashville’s most famous barbecue restaurant. Martin’s has been featured on the Food Network, Travel Channel, and The Today Show. Serves classic Tennessee BBQ.
- 11:00 am – 10:00 pm, 7-days/week
- 1796 21st Ave South, Nashville, TN 37212
- Iconic Hillsboro Village breakfast and lunch spot, where lines extend out the door. A favorite Vanderbilt neighborhood restaurant.
- 6:00 am – 3 pm, Sunday-Friday
- 6:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturday
- 123 Ewing Drive, Nashville, TN 37207 (this location is temporarily closed)
- The original home of Nashville hot-chicken. Be careful, because they don’t mess around with the heat!
- 11:00 am – 10:00 pm, Monday-Thursday
- 11:00 am – 12:00 am, Friday
- 11:30 am – 12:00 am, Saturday
- Closed Sunday
Bobby’s Dairy Dip
- 5301 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209
- A classic 1950’s ice-cream and burger stand, complete with the neon lights and outdoor seating.
- 11:00 am – 10:00 pm, 7-days a week
- Closed during winter months