Things to Do in Nashville: The Complete Music City Guide

Lower Broadway

Free · All Day · Open Container Allowed

The most fun street in America right now — live country music pouring out of every door, to-go cups, neon signs, and enough honky tonks to fill a week. Start at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge (the original, est. 1960), walk west, and let the music pull you in. Celebrity-owned venues — Blake Shelton’s Ole Red, Luke Bryan’s 32 Bridge, Jason Aldean’s — line the strip alongside the old-school honky tonks.

Nashville’s open container law means you can walk between bars with your drink in a plastic to-go cup. Get one at your first stop and carry it all night. See our complete Broadway bars guide and open container guide.

Nashville Hot Chicken

Prince’s · Hattie B’s · Bolton’s · Don’t Skip This

Nashville hot chicken is not just spicy fried chicken — it’s a specific dish invented here in the 1940s, fried then coated in a cayenne paste, served on white bread with pickles. You cannot come to Nashville and skip it. Prince’s is the original. Hattie B’s is the best introduction for first-timers. Bolton’s is the local favorite that tourists haven’t found yet. See our complete hot chicken guide.

Ryman Auditorium

116 5th Ave N · Tours from $35 · Shows from $53

The Mother Church of Country Music — the building where country music became a national phenomenon, where Dolly Parton performed for 57 years as a Grand Ole Opry member, where Hank Williams played, where Johnny Cash played, where the music that defined America was made. Daytime tours run daily. Evening shows happen almost every night. Standing in that room is worth every minute. See our Dolly Parton Ryman guide.

Country Music Hall of Fame

222 Rep. John Lewis Way S · Dolly Exhibit Closes Oct 4

The most comprehensive country music museum in the world — and right now, home to the Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker exhibit, which closes October 4, 2026. If you’re visiting before that date, this is non-negotiable. Even without the Dolly exhibit, the Hall of Fame is one of the best music museums in America. See our Country Music Hall of Fame guide.

Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel

211 Commerce St · Opens September 14, 2026

Dolly Parton’s own hotel on Broadway — 245 rooms, two live music venues (Parton’s Live and Jolene’s), and her Life of Many Colors Museum opening October 2026. Even if you’re not staying here, walk through the lobby, have a drink at Parton’s Live, and experience the most Nashville hotel ever built. See our SongTeller Hotel guide.

Grand Ole Opry

2804 Opryland Dr · Shows Tue/Fri/Sat · From $53

The most famous stage in country music — Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday nights starting at 7pm. The Opry moved from the Ryman to its current home in 1974 and has hosted every major country artist since. Dolly was a member for 57 years. A show here is a genuinely emotional experience for anyone who loves country music. See our Grand Ole Opry guide. Or go behind the scenes with the Opry Backstage Tour — Best Seller, 4.7 stars, $40.

Music City Walk of Fame

Demonbreun St · Free · Dolly’s Star Here

Nashville’s answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame — inductees include virtually every major country artist plus many who crossed over into other genres. Dolly Parton’s star has become a spontaneous memorial site since her passing on August 25, 2026 — flowers, handwritten notes, and fans from around the world paying their respects. Free to visit, steps from Broadway.

Dolly Parton Centennial Park Bench

Centennial Park · Near Sunken Garden · Free

A memorial bench dedicated August 29, 2026, near the Sunken Garden where Dolly was photographed in 1975. A few yards away sits the Taylor Swift bench. The plaque reads: “Turn a page, Sing a song, And imagine — For Dolly, We will always love you.” The most moving free stop in Nashville right now. See our bench guide.

Musicians Corner at Centennial Park

Free Outdoor Concerts · Centennial Park · Spring & Fall

Free outdoor concert series at Centennial Park in the Vanderbilt/West End neighborhood — spring and fall seasons bring Nashville’s best emerging artists to a beautiful outdoor stage. No tickets, no cover. One of the best free things to do in Nashville. See our Musicians Corner guide.

Nashville Rooftop Bars

White Limozeen · 32 Bridge · Jason Aldean’s · L27

Nashville’s rooftop bar scene is one of the best in the South — from the Dolly-inspired White Limozeen at Graduate Nashville to the 8-floor Broadway views at Luke Bryan’s 32 Bridge. See our complete Nashville rooftop bars guide.

White Limozeen

Graduate Nashville · 12th Floor Rooftop · Midtown

Nashville’s most Instagrammed rooftop bar — Dolly Parton-inspired, pink everything, 12th floor views of the skyline at Graduate Nashville in Midtown. Not owned by Dolly but named after her 1989 album and designed around her aesthetic. Make a reservation on weekends. See our White Limozeen guide.

Dolly Wines Bar

Assembly Food Hall · Fifth + Broadway · Dolly-Owned

Dolly Parton’s actual wine bar inside Assembly Food Hall at Fifth + Broadway — steps from the strip. Her own wine label, her own space. The best Broadway pre-game spot in Nashville and the most Dolly experience you can have for free. See our Dolly bars guide.

Parton’s Live & Jolene’s

SongTeller Hotel · 211 Commerce St · Opening Sept 2026

Two Dolly-owned live music venues inside the SongTeller Hotel — Parton’s Live for nightly country music, Jolene’s for an intimate cocktail bar experience. Open to non-hotel guests. The first Dolly Parton-owned live music venues in Nashville. See our Dolly bars guide.

Nashville Hot Chicken

Prince’s · Hattie B’s · Bolton’s · 400 Degrees

Already covered above — but worth repeating because it’s the most important food decision you’ll make in Nashville. See our complete hot chicken guide for where to go, what to order, and what the heat levels actually mean.

Nashville Restaurants

Henrietta Red · Biscuit Love · The Pharmacy · Arnold’s

Nashville’s restaurant scene goes far beyond hot chicken — James Beard-nominated fine dining, the best brunch in the South, meat-and-three institutions, and new openings like Sushi-San in 12South and Tacos El Terry coming to Broadway this fall. See our complete Nashville restaurants guide.

Tacos El Terry — Opening Fall 2026

111 4th Ave S · One Block from Broadway · Coming Soon

The most anticipated Nashville restaurant opening of fall 2026 — made-to-order tacos on handmade tortillas, frozen margaritas, palomas, and a Sing Bar inside the iconic red brick building one block south of Broadway. See our Tacos El Terry Nashville preview.

Best Coffee in Nashville

Frothy Monkey · Fido · Steadfast Coffee

Nashville’s independent coffee scene is excellent — Frothy Monkey (multiple locations, best all-day spot), Fido on Hillsboro Village (neighborhood institution), and Steadfast Coffee (specialty, serious coffee). See our Nashville coffee guide.