I’m a big fan of Dolly Parton. I remember her being one of my favorite characters from Hannah Montana, and that quirky nostalgia stuck with me longer than I’d like to admit. Then we ended up watching Walk the Line, the Johnny Cash biopic, and it hit differently. The raw honesty of country music, the stories behind every song, the way it doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not. We looked at each other halfway through and said, “We need to go to Nashville.”
So one fine weekend, we did. We booked tickets, packed light, and found ourselves strolling the neon-lit streets of Music City with no real plan except to soak it all in. We were in Nashville for the weekend as part of a bigger 5-day trip that covered Mammoth Cave, Huntsville, and Atlanta.
We flew into Nashville, drove south covering those stops along the way, and flew back from Atlanta. But Nashville was where the trip really began. This was the place we’d been waiting for. The honking honky-tonks, the distillery tours, the museums that actually tell you the why behind the music, and of course, the hot chicken that lives up to every bit of hype.
This guide covers exactly what we did in Nashville, the paid attractions that are worth the money, the distillery tastings, the food, and the few things we wish we’d known before we went. If you’re planning a weekend trip to Music City and want to make the most of it without breaking the bank (or your schedule), this is your starting point.
Big thanks to Nashville Tourism for sponsoring our museum tickets, it made a huge difference in what we could explore. ❤️
Getting There & Where To Stay
Since there aren’t a ton of direct flights from Seattle to Nashville, we booked Alaska Airlines at 5:42 PM and landed around midnight. We called it Day 0, basically just getting to the hotel and crashing before the real weekend started, and stayed at Country Inn and Suites by Radisson near the airport.
Hotels in downtown Nashville are expensive, especially for a weekend trip where we knew we’d barely be in the room. The airport hotel gave us a place to sleep, free hot breakfast every morning, and free airport shuttle service. That alone saved us around $100 in cab rides compared to staying downtown. We paid $329 for 3 nights, which worked out to about $110/night. Not the most glamorous option, but for a trip where the point was to be out exploring, it was perfect.
Top Paid Attractions in Nashville
Nashville has a lot of museums, and most of them charge admission. Even if you’re selective, you’ll easily spend $80–$100 per person on attractions alone. But here’s the thing, they’re worth it. These aren’t generic tourist traps. The Ryman, the Opry, the Hall of Fame, these places are where country music history actually happened. You’re not just looking at exhibits; you’re standing in the rooms where legends were made.
Ryman Auditorium Self-Guided Tour
The Ryman Auditorium is called the “Mother Church of Country Music,” and once you step inside, you understand why. The wooden pews, the stained glass, the stage where everyone from Hank Williams to Dolly Parton performed, it’s reverent in a way that doesn’t feel forced.
The self-guided tour lets you move at your own pace, and honestly, we spent way longer than expected just standing on that stage imagining what it must have felt like to perform there. We skipped the backstage tour here since we were doing it at the Grand Ole Opry, but if you’re only picking one, the Opry backstage is the better choice.
The Ryman self-guided tour is more about soaking in the history and the acoustics, which, by the way, are incredible even when it’s just you and a few other tourists shuffling around.
- Cost: $28 per person
- Where: 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North, Downtown Nashville
Grand Ole Opry Backstage Tour
This was one of our favorite things we did in Nashville. The Grand Ole Opry isn’t just a venue, it’s the venue. It’s where country music has been broadcast live every week since 1925. The backstage tour takes you through the dressing rooms, the green rooms, you get to stand on the Opry stage (they even take a photo of you), and you learn about the traditions that make the Opry what it is.
Like how new members get a circle of wood from the original Ryman stage installed in the Opry House stage, so they’re always performing on the same wood as the legends before them. Our guide was hilarious and knew the stories behind every corner of the place. It’s about 90 minutes, and honestly, we could’ve stayed longer. If you’re a fan of country music history, or even if you’re not, this tour makes you care.
- Cost: ~$43 per person (prices vary slightly based on day and availability)
- Where: 600 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville
- Tip: Book online in advance; tours do sell out, especially on weekends.
Country Music Hall of Fame & Hatch Show Print Tour
The Country Music Hall of Fame is massive. Like, you could spend an entire day here and still not see everything. We opted for the general admission plus the Hatch Show Print tour add-on, and it was absolutely worth it. Hatch is a working letterpress print shop that’s been making iconic posters for country music acts since 1879.
The tour takes you through their process, the massive wood blocks, the old presses, the smell of ink and paper. At the end, they actually print a poster for you on one of the vintage presses. It’s a small thing, but it’s one of those souvenirs that feels earned, not bought.
The Hall of Fame itself covers everything, the evolution of country music, the instruments, the costumes, the stories of artists you’ve heard of and plenty you haven’t. It’s well-organized by era, so you can follow the timeline from Appalachian folk to modern country. There’s a whole section on Taylor Swift’s early career, a rotating exhibit on current artists, and my favorite, a wall of handwritten lyrics from songwriters explaining how certain songs came together.
- Cost: $52.95 per person (includes general admission + Hatch Show Print tour)
- Where: 222 Rep. John Lewis Way South, Downtown Nashville
- How much time you need: At least 2–3 hours if you’re actually reading the exhibits. Longer if you’re a superfan.
Old Town Trolley Tour
We’re not usually trolley tour people, but we had a lot to cover in just one weekend and very little time. The Old Town Trolley Tour is a hop-on, hop-off service that hits all the major spots in Nashville, Broadway, Music Row, the Gulch, Centennial Park, the Parthenon. It runs about every 20 minutes, and the drivers double as tour guides, so you get the history and the local commentary as you ride.
The best part? You can bundle it with the Ryman or Madame Tussauds and save about $15–$20 total. We did the full loop once just to get oriented, then hopped off at a few key stops throughout the day. If you’re short on time or don’t want to deal with parking downtown, this is a solid option.
- Cost: Starting at $41.65 per person (prices vary by day of the week)
- Where: 13 stops across Nashville, including stops near the Ryman, Country Music Hall of Fame, and Centennial Park
Madame Tussauds Nashville
Madame Tussauds was a last-minute add-on because we had an hour to kill before our next stop. It’s smaller than the New York or London locations, but the wax figures are surprisingly well done. There’s a whole section dedicated to country music legends, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift, and a few pop culture figures mixed in. It’s cheesy, yes. But it’s also kind of fun, and if you’re traveling with kids or just want a quick, air-conditioned break from walking.
- Cost: ~$25 per person
- Where: 515 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville (near the Opry)
Bad Axe Throwing
We needed a break from museums, and throwing axes at a target turned out to be the perfect reset. Bad Axe Throwing is right near downtown Nashville (648 Fogg Street), within walking distance of Broadway. You book a lane for 60 minutes, they teach you how to throw, and then you just… throw axes. It’s way more satisfying than it sounds. The staff coached us through technique, we had a mini competition between the two of us, and by the end we were actually hitting the bullseye semi-consistently.
It’s also affiliated with the World Axe Throwing League, so if you’re into it, you can join leagues or come back for tournaments. We just did the walk-in session, and it was exactly what we needed.
- Cost: ~$32 per person for 60 minutes (walk-in pricing)
- Where: 648 Fogg Street, Downtown Nashville
- Tip: Book ahead if you’re going on a weekend evening, it gets busy.
Distillery & Tasting Tours
Nashville isn’t just about music. The whiskey and moonshine distillery scene is huge here, and honestly, we underestimated how fun (and educational) these tours would be.
Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery Tour
Nelson’s Green Brier is a Tennessee whiskey distillery with a fascinating backstory. It was originally founded in the 1860s, shut down during Prohibition, and then brought back to life in 2009 by descendants of the original founders. The tour takes you through the entire distilling process, from fermentation to barrel aging, and you get to taste several of their whiskeys at the end.
Our guide was passionate about the history of Tennessee whiskey and how it’s different from bourbon (it’s all about the charcoal filtering process, called the Lincoln County Process). The tasting room is beautiful, the whiskey is smooth, and the whole experience felt personal in a way that the bigger distilleries don’t.
- Cost: $25 per person
- Where: 1414 Clinton Street, Nashville
Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery Tasting
Ole Smoky is the moonshine distillery, and their Nashville location is right on Broadway, so it’s hard to miss. They have a tasting bar where you can sample different moonshine flavors, from classic white lightning to flavored options like apple pie, strawberry, and blackberry. The basic tasting lets you try a few flavors, and the premium tasting gets you access to their higher-proof and barrel-aged options.
Fair warning: moonshine hits different. Start slow. We did the premium tasting and walked out with a bottle of the apple pie moonshine, which became our go-to for the rest of the trip.
- Cost: $10 for basic tasting, $18 for premium tasting
- Where: 422 Broadway, Downtown Nashville
Jack Daniel’s Factory Tour
Jack Daniel’s distillery is about 75–80 miles south of Nashville in Lynchburg, Tennessee, not 15 miles, despite what we thought going in. It’s a solid 90-minute drive each way, so if you’re doing this, plan for it to be a half-day commitment.
We highly recommend taking a group tour with transportation if you’re planning to do the tasting afterward. The tour itself is fascinating, you see the charcoal mellowing process (the Lincoln County Process that makes Jack Daniel’s legally distinct from bourbon), the barrel houses, the bottling line. And the town of Lynchburg is tiny and charming in that “this is the only thing here” kind of way.
- Cost: Group tours with transportation start around $130 per person (includes tour + tasting)
- Where: Lynchburg, TN (about 75–80 miles south of Nashville)
- Tip: If you’re driving yourself, the distillery is in a dry county, so you can taste but you can’t buy bottles there. Plan accordingly.
Where to Eat
Let’s be real, you can’t go to Nashville and not try the hot chicken. It’s the city’s signature dish, and it’s everywhere. But not all hot chicken is created equal. Here are the spots we tried (and the one we’re told we should’ve tried but ran out of time for).
Prince’s Hot Chicken
Prince’s is the original. This is where Nashville hot chicken was born over 100 years ago, thanks to a scorned lover who tried to punish Thornton Prince by serving him chicken doused in hot spices. Joke was on her, he loved it, and the rest is history.
The chicken at Prince’s is no joke. It’s spicy, it’s juicy, the breading is thick and craggy and holds onto all that heat. We got the medium (which is already pretty hot) with a side of crinkle-cut fries and white bread to soak up the grease. The pickles on top cut through the heat just enough to keep you going back for more. It’s served on humble paper-lined trays, and the whole vibe is no-frills, just-good-food. Exactly what hot chicken should be.
- Where: Prince’s Hot Chicken, South location at 5814 Nolensville Pike, Nashville (also at Assembly Food Hall and BNA Airport)
- What to order: Medium or Hot chicken (quarter, half, or whole bird), pickles, white bread, fries
- Cost: ~$12–$18 per person depending on what you order
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Hattie B’s is the more polished, slightly more accessible version of hot chicken. They have multiple locations around Nashville, the lines move faster, and the space is a bit more modern. But don’t let that fool you, the chicken is still damn good. Hattie B’s also has a great patio, so if the weather’s nice, grab a table outside and just lean into the experience.
We tried the “Damn Hot” level (they have Southern, Mild, Medium, Hot, Damn Hot, and Shut the Cluck Up). Damn Hot was our sweet spot, enough heat to make your lips tingle and your nose run, but not so much that you can’t enjoy the flavor. The chicken is tender, the batter is crispy, and the sides (we got mac and cheese and baked beans) are comforting and necessary after all that spice.
- Where: Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, multiple locations (Midtown at 112 19th Ave S, West Nashville, and more)
- What to order: Damn Hot chicken tenders or dark meat, mac and cheese, pimento cheese, baked beans
Cost: ~$13–$20 per person
Pepperfire Hot Chicken
We didn’t make it to Pepperfire this trip, but it came highly recommended from every local we talked to. It’s known for being less touristy than Prince’s or Hattie B’s, and the locals swear the chicken is just as good, if not better. They’re in East Nashville, which is a bit more off the beaten path, but if you have time, it’s worth the detour.
- Where: Pepperfire Hot Chicken, 1000 Gallatin Ave, East Nashville
- What to order: Hot chicken tenders, pimento mac and cheese
- Cost: ~$12–$16 per person
Beyond the Main Attractions
If you’ve got extra time (or you’re planning a longer trip), here are a few other spots worth hitting:
Johnny Cash Museum
We didn’t get to this one, but if you loved Walk the Line as much as we did, this is a must. It’s a privately-owned museum dedicated entirely to Johnny Cash’s life and career, his music, his relationship with June Carter, his struggles, his redemption. The exhibits include handwritten lyrics, stage costumes, and rare recordings. It’s smaller than the Country Music Hall of Fame, but it’s focused and personal.
- Where: 119 3rd Ave South, Downtown Nashville
- Cost: ~$23 per person
Gibson Garage
Gibson Garage is part museum, part guitar showroom, part live music venue. You can see how Gibson guitars are made, check out rare vintage guitars, and sometimes catch live performances. If you’re a guitar nerd (or traveling with one), this is the spot.
- Where: 1204 Division Street, Nashville
- Cost: Free to browse; tours are extra
Gaylord Opryland Resort
Even if you’re not staying here, the Gaylord Opryland is worth a visit just to walk through. It’s a massive resort with indoor gardens, waterfalls, a river you can take a boat ride on, and restaurants scattered throughout. It feels like a small botanical garden mixed with a shopping mall. We stopped by for an hour just to walk around, and it was a nice change of pace from the busy downtown streets.
- Where: 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville
- Cost: Free to walk around; dining and activities cost extra
The Parthenon at Centennial Park
Nashville has a full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Greece, sitting in the middle of Centennial Park. It was built for the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition and is now an art museum. Inside, there’s a 42-foot-tall statue of Athena, the tallest indoor sculpture in the Western world. It’s one of those “wait, why is this here?” moments that makes Nashville even more interesting.
- Where: 2500 West End Ave, Centennial Park, Nashville
- Cost: ~$10 per person; the park itself is free
Trip Planning Tips
If you ask me for tips, here’s what I’d recommend:
- Skip Madame Tussauds and use that hour for the Johnny Cash Museum instead.
- Plan the Jack Daniel’s tour earlier in the trip so we’re not rushing to fit it in.
- Allocate more time for the Country Music Hall of Fame, we felt rushed.
- Try Pepperfire instead of going to two of the bigger hot chicken spots.
Final Thoughts
Nashville is one of those cities that delivers exactly what it promises. It’s loud, it’s unapologetically country, and it wears its history proudly without turning it into a sanitized theme park. The music is everywhere, spilling out of honky-tonks, echoing through museum halls, humming in the background of every distillery tour. And the hot chicken? Worth every bead of sweat.
If you’re a fan of country music, American music history, or just a good weekend trip with great food and a lot of personality, Nashville should be on your list. We left wishing we had one more day, which is always a good sign.
Have you been to Nashville? What did we miss? Drop your favorite spots in the comments, we’re already planning a return trip.
