Is it rude to call Nashville "South, Lite"? You won't find cowboys, just cowboy boots. Honky tonks, but the ones where they don't expect you to know the line dances. Southern food, but the James-Beard-award-winning kind. Get a taste over a long weekend and you might just want to move to this growing city that somehow still feels like a small town.
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Nashville Travel Guide
Plan Your Nashville Trip
Featured
Inside Nashville’s Long-Awaited National Museum of African American Music
The Music City institution is a testament to the global influence of Black artists.
Currently Obsessed With: Skipping the Small Talk at Nashville's Vandyke Bed & Beverage
A grumpy introvert's dream come true.
How I Travel: Why Ann Patchett Is Her “Best Spiritual Self in an Airport”
We peek into the airport routines and bizarre quirks of the world's most well-traveled people.
15 Best Hotels in Nashville
Where to find that Music City hospitality.
Editor Hotel Recommendations
- The Union Station Nashville Yards, Autograph Collection$$$ | United States, Nashville, 1001 BroadwayRead full reviewNashville's original train station is now a grandiose hotel with live music performances.
Readers Choice Awards - Virgin Hotels Nashville$$ | United States, Nashville, 1 Music Square WRead full reviewA cool hotel in a part of town that didn't have one.Readers Choice Awards
- The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nashville$$ | United States, Nashville, 401 Korean Veterans BlvdRead full reviewA refined hotel for refined people.Readers Choice Awards
- Thompson Nashville$$ | United States, Nashville, 401 11th Ave. SRead full reviewThe hippest design hotel in Nashville's already hip Gulch neighborhood.Readers Choice Awards
Hot List - 21c Museum Hotel Nashville$$ | United States, Nashville, 221 2nd Ave. NRead full reviewHotel as modern art museum.Readers Choice Awards
- Kimpton Aertson Hotel$$ | United States, Nashville, 2021 BroadwayRead full reviewA breath of fresh air to Midtown's hotel scene.Readers Choice Awards
- Hutton Hotel$$ | United States, Nashville, 1808 West End Ave.Read full reviewNashville's original boutique hotel.Readers Choice Awards
- The Hermitage Hotel$$$ | United States, Nashville, 231 6th Ave. N.Read full reviewHistory and opulence abound at this spacious downtown property that's remained a Nashville mainstay since 1910.Readers Choice Awards
- Conrad Nashville$$ | Nashville, 1620 West End AvenueRead full reviewA Nashville gem that manages to feel like a sleek, big-city hotel.
- W Nashville$$ | United States, Nashville, 300 12th Ave SRead full reviewIf there's a see-and-be-seen hotel among Nashville’s hotels, it’s this
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The Best Things to Do in Nashville
- 13 Best Things to Do in NashvilleAll you need is three chords—and this list.
- 11 Best Shops in NashvilleGone are the days when Anthropologie was the only game in town. Here are our picks for the city's best places to shop.
- 12 Best Places for Live Music in NashvilleMusic City's best dive bars, jazz clubs, and symphony halls—because Tennessee's capital is so much more than just country music.
- 3 Best Day Trips from NashvilleOur favorite quick getaways from Music City.
Editor Recommendations
- The CountrypolitanUnited States, Nashville, 315 Union Street
- The Blue RoomUnited States, Nashville, 623 7th Avenue South
- Nashville PalaceUnited States, Nashville, 2611 McGavock Pike
- Brooklyn Bowl NashvilleUnited States, Nashville, 925 Third Avenue North
- Backstage Nashville at 3rd & LindsleyUnited States, Nashville, 818 3rd AveRead full reviewIf you want to understand the essence of Nashville's, Backstage's focus on the singer-songwriter is the place.
- Jefferson Street Sound MuseumUnited States, Nashville, 2004 Jefferson StreetRead full reviewA labor of music love, neither professionally curated nor displayed.
- National Museum of African American MusicUnited States, Nashville, 510 Broadway, NashvilleRead full reviewCovering the whole of the Black music experience, the interactive collection includes audio and video, costumes, posters, instruments, and more.
- Frist Art MuseumUnited States, Nashville, 919 BroadwayRead full reviewOpened in 2001, the Frist helped add some needed weight to Nashville's museum scene.
- Carl Van Vechten GalleryUnited States, Nashville, 1000 17th Avenue NorthRead full reviewWorld class art from the collection of Alfred Stieglitz.
- Plaza Mariachi Music CityUnited States, Nashville, 955 Nolensville PikeRead full reviewGood music, good times, guaranteed.
- First Horizon ParkUnited States, Nashville, 401 Jackson St.Read full reviewHome to the AAA Nashville Sounds, First Horizon Park is prime for an all-American afternoon or night out with friends and family.
- Columbia Arts BuildingUnited States, Columbia, 307 W 11th St.Read full reviewIf it's part of Columbia's art world, it's here.
- James K. Polk Home and MuseumUnited States, Columbia, 301 W 7th St.Read full reviewA deep dive into one of America's lesser known presidents.
- Double Arch BridgeUnited States, Franklin, Natchez Trace PkwyRead full reviewA perfect pitstop on a beautiful bike ride.
An Ethical Guide to Plantation Tours
Plantation tours range widely, from those that do nothing more than celebrate the slave-owners’ opulent house to those that center Black voices. This guide will help travelers find the tours that combat racism through education.
The Best Places to Eat and Drink in Nashville
- 21 Best Restaurants in NashvilleMusic here might be food for the soul, but the cuisine is just as good.
- 9 Best BBQ Places in NashvilleBecause not all Tennessee barbecue is created equal.
- 14 Best Bars in NashvilleAs sweet as Tennessee whiskey.
- 10 Best Places for Brunch in NashvilleThe city's restaurant explosion was bound to bolster our favorite weekend meal.
- 10 Best Places for Hot Chicken in NashvilleIn Nashville, hot chicken is a way of life—a rite of passage whether you're headed to the city for the first time or the tenth.
- 12 Best Places for Live Music in NashvilleMusic City's best dive bars, jazz clubs, and symphony halls—because Tennessee's capital is so much more than just country music.
Editor Recommendations
- The Bluebird CafeUnited States, Nashville, 4104 Hillsboro PikeA pioneering club space where many artists have launched their careers and singer-songwriters perform in the round.
- St. Vito Focacceria$ | United States, Nashville, 605 Mansion StreetSmall on the number of seats, but big on taste.
- Drusie & Darr$$ | United States, Nashville, 231 6th Avenue NorthDon't miss dinner at the Hermitage Hotel's signature restaurant.
- Thai Ni Yom$ | United States, Nashville, 3820 Charlotte AvenueA good everyday dining option in Nashville.
- The Continental$$ | United States, Nashville, 1000 Broadway Suite 101An updated homage to haute cuisine.
- International Market$ | United State, Nashville, 2013 Belmont Boulevard
- Yolan$$ | United States, Nashville, 403 4th Ave STony Mantuano's Nashville debut is upscale perfection.
- Locust$$ | United States, Nashville, 2305 12th Ave SCome for the dumplings and shaved ice. Stay for more dumplings and shaved ice.
- The Twelve Thirty ClubNashville, 550 BroadwayA sleek new Broadway opening that already feels iconic.
- Once Upon a Time in France$$ | United States, Nashville, 1102 Gallatin AveAs the name suggests this is a piece of Paris plopped down in East Nashville.
- Assembly Food Hall$$ | United States, Nashville, 5055 Broadway Pl
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Johnny Cash’s Tennessee Farm Has Reopened as the Storytellers Museum
Johnny Cash’s beloved home and personal concert venue have been transformed into the ultimate tribute to the Man in Black.
More from Nashville
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Destination Weddings
How to Throw the Perfect Nashville Bachelorette Party
A local's recommendations on what to do, where to eat, and places to stay.
Style & Culture
Beyond Music Row, Revisiting the Legacy of Nashville’s Black Musicians
The city's Black musicians have long been overshadowed by their white country counterparts, but a new museum is drawing fresh attention to their lasting impact.
News & Advice
Inside the Women Who Travel Meetups: Nashville
We're visiting cities around the world to celebrate Women Who Travel—here's the scoop from this month's meetup.
Places to Stay
Airbnb, Niido Open First Branded Apartment Complex in Nashville
"Niido Powered by Airbnb" will mix Nashville residents with Airbnb guests.
Places to Stay
Nashville's Hutton Hotel Launches Analog, a New Music Venue
You won’t even need to head to Broadway to find some of the best musicians in Music City.
Sponsored Content
A First-Timer's Guide to Nashville
Every question answered for your first (and most definitely second) trip to Music City
Sponsored Content
We’re Calling It! Germantown is Nashville’s Hottest Neighborhood
Beyond the bachelorette parties and honky-tonks, find a neighborhood you'll want to spend some time in.
Places to Stay
Why Nashville's Hotel Scene Is Hotter Than Ever
Nashville's latest round of hotel openings show why the city is a force to be reckoned with.
Destinations
The Everything Guide to Nashville
What should I do when I visit Nashville? The simplest questions are often the hardest to answer—everyone has different tastes, and your perfect weekend might include a shopping tour of the Gulch, while another's might be based around a three-hour dinner at Husk. So consider this your go-to guide, approved by locals, to navigating Music City: the classics that aren't cliched, the up-and-coming neighborhoods, and the restaurants, bars, and museums you need to visit.
Inspiration
Pinewood Social Owners on Where to Eat and Drink in Nashville
The duo that helped put Nashville's food scene on the map tells us where to get a great after-work cocktail and which lines are worth waiting in.
Inspiration
Anthony Bourdain in Nashville: Hellfire-Hot Chicken and Hard Rock
Bourdain took a deep dive into Music City's rock scene and its hottest (literally) eats—and he even managed to score a new tattoo along the way.
Places to Stay
The Thompson Nashville Is Now Taking Reservations
The long-awaited hotel will welcome its first guests next month.
Places to Stay
The Purpose Hotel: Inside the Kickstarter Hotel of the Future
Celeb photographer Jeremy Cowart dreams of a do-gooder hotel where you can "change the world in your sleep."
Inspiration
Anthony Bourdain on the Most Dangerous Places He's Been
The former fry cook turned international TV star is no stranger to Parts Unknown. At SXSW, he tells a sold-out show about some of his latest trips.
News & Advice
Carvana Launches World's First Car Vending Machine
At least this machine will be safer with your car than most are with our soda.
More Destinations
- Phoenix Travel GuideAbundant sunshine, potent summer monsoon storms, and the Suessian cactuses and ancient petroglyphs of the Sonoran Desert.
- Miami Travel GuideWarm temperatures—and hotter beaches
- Chicago Travel GuideSecond City? Not by our count.
- Charleston Travel GuideWhere Lowcountry meets high charm
- Key West Travel GuideWarm temperatures—and hotter beaches
- Los Angeles Travel GuideWelcome to the West Coast's cultural epicenter
- Yellowstone National Park at 150Wonderland: The early nickname of America’s first national park is as apt today as when Yellowstone was founded, in March of 1872. On its sesquicentennial, we celebrate this miraculous place—while exploring a history that has too often excluded its original stewards—and consider how to ensure its survival for generations to come.
- Boston Travel GuideCharming and legitimately historic
- San Francisco Travel GuideDon't forget to pack an extra layer
- Dallas Travel GuideHard to crack. Easy to love.
- Washington, D.C. Travel GuideIt all starts at the Capitol.
- Seattle Travel GuideOysters and craft beer so good you won’t notice it’s drizzling
- Savannah Travel GuideFamous for its ghosts, but plenty full of life
- Portland, Oregon Travel GuideBeverly Cleary, Matt Groening, and James Beard are all from here. Enough said.
- Portland, Maine Travel GuideCome for the lobster, stay for literally everything else
