American football arena beside building and roadway during daytime

Nashville

Nashville is Tennessee's capital and a center of country music, with Broadway honky-tonks, the Grand Ole Opry and live bands that play late into the night.

Find a room in Nashville Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Nashville

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Nashville is the capital of Tennessee, set in the middle of the state on the Cumberland River. People come for country music: the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and Music Row, where record labels have offices. On Broadway downtown, honky-tonk bars host live bands and stay open late. Hot chicken, a spicy fried chicken dish, is the local food to try.

This suits music fans, friends traveling together, and anyone who wants live music at night. Most trips cover one night for the Opry, one on Broadway, and a day for the Hall of Fame and a meal of hot chicken. Where you stay sets the feel: downtown and Broadway are busy and loud after dark, while The Gulch, a district of restaurants and hotels near downtown, and East Nashville, across the river with independent shops and bars, feel different. Spring and fall bring mild weather. Plan at least three nights to see the main areas without rushing.

Nashville in five

Pick a base before you pick the showsDowntown puts you near Broadway but also near the noise. The Gulch, East Nashville and 12 South are calmer, with a short rideshare to music.
Book the Opry or Ryman aheadThe Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium sell tickets for popular nights well in advance. Check the official sites for dates, and buy only from them.
Walk Broadway at the right timeLower Broadway has live music from late morning. It is busiest at night and on weekends, so go earlier if you prefer to hear the bands.
Rideshare instead of renting a carParking downtown is costly and drinking is part of many plans. Use rideshares or the bus, and rent a car only for day trips.
Pair it with Memphis or the SmokiesMemphis is about 3 hours west and the Great Smoky Mountains are about 3.5 hours east. Both work as a second stop.Memphis

Things to do in Nashville

See all attractions in Nashville

Museum · NashvilleAdventure Science CenterCheck the calendar before your visit for special events and holiday schedules.

Museum · NashvilleJefferson Street SoundBook a tour with Lorenzo Washington before arriving, especially if you plan to visit outside Saturday opening hours.

Park · NashvilleBicentennial Capitol Mall State ParkWalk to the park’s lower end, then turn around for a view toward the Capitol.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to NashvillePut the places you like in Nashville on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Nashville International (BNA), about 15 to 25 min from downtown
Getting there: Fly to BNA; drive Interstate 40, 65 or 24 from the surrounding cities
Getting around: Rideshare, walking downtown, and local buses
Best base: Downtown, the Gulch, East Nashville or 12 South
Time needed: 3 days for music and food; 4 with day trips

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low0°Cold, quiet
FebruaryRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh12°Low3°Cool, quiet
MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Mild, spring
AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh20°Low10°Mild, spring
MayRain15 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Warm, festivals
JuneRain14 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low20°Hot, festival season
JulyRain17 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low22°Hot, humid
AugustRain15 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low21°Hot, humid
SeptemberRain10 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Warm, fewer
OctoberRain8 rainy daysHigh23°Low12°Fall, mild
NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Cool, mild
DecemberRain11 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Cold, holiday

Average daily high and low in Nashville, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Nashville

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 17°
Humidity: 55%
Wind: 17 km/h
Chance of rain: 15%

Nashville

02:37 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-6

Today23°12°15%Monday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 15%.
Tue24°14°26%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 26%.
Wed22°15°95%Wednesday: Rain. High 22°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 95%.
Thu21°13°3%Thursday: Clear. High 21°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 3%.
Fri18°10°5%Friday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 5%.
Sat15°8°3%Saturday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 3%.
Sun16°9°10%Sunday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 10%.

Updated 11:18 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Nashville

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Day trips by train

Before you go to Nashville

Downtown, Gulch and East NashvilleCompare the areas by noise and priceCheck availability

Music and food toursHonky-tonk crawls, hot chicken, OpryCompare tours

eSIM for the USAData on landing, no SIM swapRead the guide

Travel insurance for the USMedical cover for visitorsRead the guide

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Rules for Nashville, checked

Most visitors from visa-waiver countries need an ESTA before flying to the US. Check current entry rules on travel.state.gov before you book.Source
Liquids in hand luggage must follow the TSA 3-1-1 rule: containers of 3.4 ounces or less, all in one quart-size bag.Source
The legal drinking age in Tennessee is 21. Bars and shops ask for photo ID, so carry your passport or driver's license.
Drive on the right side of the road. Rental companies ask for a valid license and a credit card in the main driver's name.

Plan around Nashville

Memphis

Blues and Graceland, 3 hours west

Read the guide Great Smoky Mountains

A national park, 3.5 hours east

Read the guide Chattanooga

Mountains and a river city, 2 hours south-east

Read the guide Louisville

Bourbon country, 2.5 hours north

Read the guide All of the USA

States, parks and cities in one planning hub

Read the guide ESTA, explained

Who needs it, the fee and how to apply

Read the guide

Nashville FAQ

How many days do you need in Nashville?

Three days covers Broadway, a show at the Opry or Ryman and a food day. Four days lets you add a day trip or a slower pace.

Where should I stay in Nashville?

Downtown if you want honky-tonks on foot, the Gulch for dining with less noise, and East Nashville for a local feel. Rideshares make any base work.

Is Nashville worth visiting if you do not like country music?

Yes. The food, bars, museums and variety of live music are strong, and many venues play rock, blues or Americana. Skip Broadway if it is not your style.

When is the best time to visit Nashville?

April to May and September to October for mild weather. Summer is hot and humid, and winter is cold with fewer crowds and lower prices.

Do you need a car in Nashville?

Not for most visits. Rideshares and walking cover downtown and nearby neighborhoods. Rent one only for day trips to the Smokies or Memphis.