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Nashville - consolidated city-county in Davidson County, Tennessee, United States, and the state capital of Tennessee

For other places with the same name, see Nashville (disambiguation).

Nashville skyline

Nashville is the capital of the American state of Tennessee. With 680,000 citizens, it is the state's largest city. Nashville is sometimes called the "Country Music Capital of the World" or more often "Music City, USA"; however, Nashville has done much to escape its country music image and become a regional center of culture and commerce. In fact, Dell, Nissan, and Saturn have all moved some operations to or near the city. The music is various; major rap artists and rock bands (Young Buck, Haystak, Kings of Leon, Paramore, and Ben Folds) claim Nashville as their hometown, and the city is also the epicenter of the contemporary Christian music industry. Nashville has been the home of the world-famous Grand Ole Opry since 1925. Nashville also has a great bar scene. If you like to drink, you can go "Honky-tonking," also known as "bar-hopping."

Understand

History

Nashville was founded in 1779 and it grew rapidly because of its excellent location on the Cumberland River. It was incorporated in 1806 and became the county seat of Davidson County. Nashville was named the capital of Tennessee in 1843.

Like many Southern cities, Nashville was not immune to the economic woes of the post-Civil War South but it quickly rebounded. It only took a few years for the city to reclaim its important shipping and trading position and to develop a solid manufacturing base. The post-Civil War years of the late 19th century brought a new-found prosperity to Nashville. These healthy economic times left the city with a legacy of grand classical-style buildings, which can still be seen around the downtown area.

Since the 1970s, the city has experienced tremendous growth, particularly during the economic boom of the 1990s under the leadership of Mayor (former Tennessee Governor) Phil Bredesen, who made urban renewal a priority, and fostered the construction or renovation of several city landmarks, including the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Nashville Public Library downtown, Bridgestone Arena, and Nissan Stadium.

Tourism office

Climate

Nashville sits in the middle of a geographic region known as the Nashville Basin. It is surrounded by the Cumberland Highlands and is bordered by the Cumberland Plateau to the east. The Nashville Basin is characterized by rich, fertile farm country and high natural wildlife diversity.

Nashville has cool, relatively short winters and hot, humid summers, with long spells of spring and autumn in between. Winter temperatures commonly hover slightly above freezing, and a fair amount of light snow generally falls throughout the months of December to February, though large storms of 6-plus inches in a day do occur every few years. Nashville can be prone to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes during the spring and fall months. Summers are hot, but no more than the rest of the southeastern U.S. with temperatures around 90°F (32°C) during the day.

Get in

By plane

  • Nashville International Airport (IATA: BNA), 36.126667°, -86.681944°, +1 615-275-1675. The most inexpensive way to travel to and from the Nashville International Airport and downtown Nashville is to ride the Nashville MTA's Route 18 Airport/Elm Hill bus, which serves the airport and downtown on an hourly basis, from about 7AM to about 10PM, seven days a week. Schedules are located at the Welcome Center located on the baggage claim level of the airport. BNA was the first major US airport to authorize ridesharing services with dedicated pickup and drop off areas. Passengers using these services may wait in a designated area on Level 1 outside of the main terminal. BNA is a hub for Southwest Airlines and serves numerous domestic destinations, as well as international service to Toronto and Calgary (Canada), Cancún, Punta Cana, Freeport Bahamas, Montego Bay Jamaica, Cozumel, London-Heathrow, and Frankfurt. 2018-11-06
  • John C. Tune Airport, 110 Tune Airport Dr, 36.182222°, -86.886667°, +1 615 350-5000. General aviation airport 8 miles from downtown Nashville. 2021-11-09
  • Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport, 278 Doug Warpoole Rd, Smyrna, 36.008889°, -86.52°, +1 615-459-2651. A reliever airport for BNA, 12 nautical miles (22 km) south of it.

By car

Nashville is a nexus of several interstate highways, including I-65 (north-south), I-40 (east-west), and I-24 (northwest-southeast). The various highways sometimes merge and split without the typical exit-offramp design, so travellers should consult maps before attempting to navigate the area. There is easy access to/from Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis and Louisville, among others.

By bus

By shuttle

Get around

By bus

  • Nashville MTA (WeGo Public Transit), +1 615-862-5969. Operates routes throughout downtown and the surrounding area. $2 for an adult 2-hour pass. An all-day pass for an adult is $4. Nashville's bus system is designed around a central station. The schedule accommodates a 9AM-5PM schedule with limited late night service. Route maps and schedules are subject to change but are available from the Nashville MTA website. 2022-09-02

By train

Music City Star car

  • The Music City Star, +1 615-862-8833. Commuter train runs Monday - Friday. The train runs from Lebanon to Downtown's Riverfront Station 📍. One-Way tickets purchased at the platform are $5 each. There are two shuttle services that transport people for no extra charge, passengers use their Music City Star ticket to board. Shuttle 93 goes up Broadway, West End, and around the Vanderbilt area. Shuttle 94 loops through Downtown. If you wish to go to any other place in the city, you can catch the Downtown Shuttle at the Riverfront Station and exit at the downtown bus mall then catch the bus that is going to your destination. 2015-03-28

By car

Car is always your best bet. The average speed on highways ranges from 55-70 mph, while city streets are generally 35 mph unless otherwise posted.

I-40, I-65, and I-24 are the major interstate highways that run through Nashville.

All major national car rental agencies operate in Nashville.

Taxis are also very prevalent in Nashville, especially Downtown. Taxi companies that operate in Nashville are:

  • Allied Cab, +1 615-885-1499.
  • Music City Taxi, +1 615-262-0451.
  • Checker Cab, +1 615-256-7000.
  • Metro Cab, +1 615-365-3434. Transportation network companies Uber and Lyft operate in Nashville.

For executive transportation, sedan or limousine services are available; these often work like black cars in New York City, and offer executive sedans, SUVs, or even full limo transports to and from downtown or the airport.

Parking

If you are looking to park Downtown in a lot or garage, be sure to have a good idea of where to park. The Metro Owned Facilities managed by the Nashville Downtown Partnership (branded as ParkIt Downtown (dead link: January 2023)) seem to be the best deal. For example, the Metro Courthouse/Public Square Garage is $3 after 5PM and on weekends. This is much cheaper than nearby private lots.

By foot

The center of Nashville is not too big for an able-bodied person to traverse on foot in decent weather, and walking downtown can be quite pleasant.

See

Nashville is a very historic town and as such, many of its attractions are restorations or museums. Most attractions of interest to tourists are in the Downtown, Midtown, and Music Valley neighborhoods.

Downtown

General

  • AT&T Building, 36.1625°, -86.776944°. An instantly recognizable downtown Nashville landmark, the AT&T Building, built in 1994 at 333 Commerce Street, is the tallest building in the state of Tennessee and can be seen from quite some distance if the hills aren't in your way. Its two tall spires on the building have earned it the nickname, "The Batman Building."
  • Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge, 36.1619°, -86.7722°. Built between 1907 and 1909, the bridge was used for automobile traffic between East Nashville and Downtown. The bridge has been converted to a pedestrian bridge, and offers a spectacular view of the riverfront and downtown skyline. It is a very popular and convenient route to the Titans' football stadium.
  • Nashville's Second Avenue, 36.161891°, -86.775175°. Provides entertainment for many different styles of people. The street includes bars such as Hooters and the famous Wildhorse Saloon, dining destinations including the Old Spaghetti Factory, the Melting Pot and B.B. King's Restaurant and Blues Club, and locations for family-friendly fun such as Laser Quest. Due to the recent bombing on 2nd street in 2020, some restaurants and bars are damaged, and part of the street is off-limits. Research up on which places are still running.

Music

Museum of country music

History and government

Tennessee State Capitol

  • Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, 600 James Robertson Pkwy, 36.170329°, -86.787170°, +1 615-741-5280. A fascinating state park stretched out in front of the state capital building. Features a giant map of the state, monuments recounting the history of the state since prehistoric times, a carillon, and more. In the summer, the fountains are often filled with splashing kids. The park is next to the farmers market, which includes a food court, fish market, nursery, as well as the expected vendors hawking fruits and vegetables. The Nashville Business Journal's Book of Lists ranks Bicentennial Capital Mall State Park as Nashville's #1 Tourist Attraction. Free
  • Tennessee State Capitol (Union Fort Johnson), 600 Dr. M.L.K. Jr Blvd (use metered spaces around the Capitol complex or public parking lots), 36.165846°, -86.784291°. M–F 8AM–4PM. Closed all holidays. Guided tours of the Capitol are provided free of charge by staff of the Tennessee State Museum. Enter the Capitol using the West entrance. Visitors are required to pass through metal detectors and show photo identification. Free 2020-03-12
  • Tennessee State Museum, 505 Deadrick St, 36.164495°, -86.781748°, +1 615-741-2692, info@tnmuseum.org. Tu W F Sa 10AM–5PM, Th 10AM-8PM, Su 1–5PM. Closed 1 Jan, Easter, Thanksgiving, and 25 Dec. With over 70,000 square feet (6500 m²) of exhibit space, this is one of the nation's largest state museums. Its permanent exhibits are split into several categories, including: Prehistoric, Frontier, Age of Jackson, Antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction. Free (temporary exhibits may have an admission charge) 2020-03-12
  • Fort Negley, 1100 Fort Negley Blvd, 36.145097°, -86.774658°, + 615-862-8470, fortnegley@nashville.gov. Sep-May: Tu-F noon-4PM, Sa 9AM-4PM; Jun-Aug: Tu-Th noon-4PM, F-Sa 9AM-4PM. A Civil War-era fort partially reconstructed by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s. Taken by Union forces early in the war, Nashville quickly became the second most fortified city in the U.S. during the Civil War because it was seen as crucial to supplying troops engaged on the war's western front. The 1864 Battle of Nashville — a failed attempt by the Confederate army to retake the city — raged throughout what are now the residential and commercial districts on the fringes of the city. Much of the work on the fort was done by slaves and freed blacks who were rounded up and forced to work on the structure. The fort was closed for years (allegedly because it reminded many Nashvillians of the Union occupation), but reopened in 2004 with new boardwalks and interpretive signs. Free 2020-03-12

Midtown

Kirkland Hall, Vanderbilt University

  • Musica, 36.152090°, -86.791643°. Revealed in 2003, Musica is a tall sculpture featuring 9 nude dancing figures created by Alan Lequire and is in a roundabout in the heart of Music Row.
  • Belmont Mansion, 1900 Belmont Blvd, 36.135523°, -86.794776°, +1 615-460-5459. M–Sa 10AM–4PM, Su 11AM–4PM. Closed Memorial Day. An approximately​ one-hour guided tour of 16 rooms in the mansion. Also walk the grounds to examine the marble statues and cast iron ornaments in the gardens. $16, seniors $15, youth 13-18 $7, children 6–12 $5 2020-03-12
  • Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, 36.148776°, -86.803011°, +1 615-322-7311. Commonly referred to as the "Harvard of the South", Vanderbilt is one of the country's most prestigious universities. It is widely regarded as one of the most selective universities in the world, which means it is next to impossible to get admitted into Vanderbilt.

Eastern Nashville

Southeastern Nashville

  • The Hermitage, 4580 Rachel’s Lane, 36.214764°, -86.612969°, +1 615-889-2941, info@thehermitage.com. Nov–Feb: 9AM–5PM; Mar–Oct: 8:30AM–6PM. Closed Thanksgiving and 25 Dec.. The former home of U.S. President Andrew Jackson is full of his family's personal possessions, and is adorned with much of the furniture that they personally purchased. It was one of the first historic preservation projects in the state of Tennessee. This was accomplished by the Ladies' Hermitage Association which was modeled after the Mount Vernon Ladies Association that had restored George Washington's home. Plan for a two-hour tour with a moderate amount of walking. No cameras, video cameras, food, or drink are allowed within the Hermitage or the exhibit gallery. Security precautions are taken and the Hermitage asks that all backpacks or large bags be left in your vehicle. $22 adult, $19 seniors, $17 youth (13–18), $12 children (6–12), free children 5 and under. Family pass for 2 adults and 2 children, $62 2020-03-12
  • Lane Motor Museum, 702 Murfreesboro Pike, 36.1403°, -86.7342°, +1 615-742-7445, marketing@lanemotormuseum.org. Th-M 10AM-5PM. 150 cars and motorcycles from the 1920s up to modern day. Adult $12, senior $8, youth (6-17) $3 2020-03-12

Western Nashville

  • Belle Meade Plantation, 5025 Harding Rd, 36.104916°, -86.864728°, +1 615-356-0501. 9AM–5PM. Closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.. Featuring the mansion built in 1853 and restored, as well as the carriage house from 1890 and one of the oldest log cabins in Tennessee, built in 1790. There is a great deal of history associated with the plantation starting from before the American Civil War. Excellent, highly interesting guided tours of the plantation mansion are offered by the local heritage society. $24, Seniors $20, children 6–12 $13, children under 6 free 2020-03-12
  • Parthenon, 2500 West End Ave (In Centennial Park), 36.1496°, -86.8135°, +1 615-862-8431. Tu-Th 9AM-7PM, F Sa 9AM-4:30PM, Su 12:30PM-4:30PM (closed M). Full-size replica of the former temple in Greece. It is now an art museum. Adults $10, seniors (62+) and youth (4-17) $8, child (under 4) free 2022-09-02

Do

Downtown

General

  • Adventure Science Center (Formerly the Cumberland Science Museum​), 800 Fort Negley Blvd, 36.146765°, -86.775458°, +1 615-862-5160. 9AM-5PM except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day. It has been remodeled. Interesting exhibits which change every few weeks. Adult: $18, Youth (2-12) $14 2020-03-12
  • Yazoo Brewery, 910 Division St, 36.151209°, -86.782128°, +1 615-891-4649. W Th 5PM, 6PM; F 5PM, 6PM, 7PM; Sa noon-7PM. Yazoo Brewing Company is brewed and bottled in downtown Nashville. The Brewery offers tours only on Saturdays, when they're not brewing. You'll get to walk through all parts of the brewery and learn how the beers are made. With your admission you'll also receive a Yazoo pint glass and samples of beers during the tour. $10 2021-02-21
  • The Escape Game - Berry Hill, 162 3rd Ave. North (also at 510 East Iris Drive and 523 Opry Mills Drive), 36.163377°, -86.777069°, +1 615-647-8229, nashville@theescapegame.com. 10AM-Midnight. The Escape Game offers nine rooms in three locations with the same main objective - to escape within an hour! - but each game has a unique, immersive theme with different surprise elements and game components. Note that games are not private unless the maximum number of players are purchased by your group. $32.99-37.99 2020-03-12

Music

Ryman Auditorium

  • Ryman Auditorium, 116 5th Ave N, 36.16124°, -86.778473°, +1 615-889-3060. 9AM-4PM daily for tours. Closed 1 Jan, Thanksgiving, 24-25 Dec. Completed in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle as commissioned by riverboat Captain Thomas Green Ryman, a newly converted southern evangelist. The Ryman has earned its mark in history by hosting the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974 and is now a fantastically intimate setting for concerts of all genres. It was named Pollstar's "America's Theatre of the Year" for two years in a row, and one of CitySearch's top ten "Best Places to Hear Live Music.". $8.50 for the standard tour or $11.75 to add the backstage tour, Children (4-11) $4.25 or $7.50 respectively
  • Nashville Symphony, One Symphony Pl, +1 615-687-6500. The Nashville Symphony is in the Schermerhorn Symphony Center 📍 and offers a variety of concerts throughout the year. For those on a budget be sure to visit the Free Day of Music offered by the center in early October.

Sports

First Horizon Park

  • Nashville Sounds, 19 Junior Gilliam Way, +1 615-690-4487. The local Minor League Baseball team plays at First Horizon Park 📍 as the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. From $10 to $42 when purchased on game days
  • Nashville Predators. The local NHL hockey team plays their home games at Bridgestone Arena 📍 (previously Gaylord Entertainment Center and Sommet Center), which is on Broadway in the heart of downtown. From $19 and are available through Ticketmaster
  • Tennessee Titans. The local NFL football team plays their home games at Nissan Stadium 📍 (formerly Adelphia Coliseum and LP Field), which is across the river from downtown (it's big). Once the Houston Oilers, the team was relocated as the Tennessee Titans in 1999.

Visual and performing arts

  • Frist Art Museum (formerly Frist Center for the Visual Arts), 919 Broadway, 36.1578°, -86.7839°. M–Sa 10AM–5:30 PM, Su 1–5:30PM. Featuring 24,000 sq. feet (6500 m²) of gallery space with exhibits from local through to regional and all the way to international artists. The Frist strives to be a family friendly museum and as such has created ArtQuest, a colorful space with 30 interactive stations. 2020-12-26
  • Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC), 505 Deaderick St, 36.1649°, -86.7817°, +1 615 782-4000. TPAC is home to HCA/TriStar Broadway at TPAC, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, Tennessee Repertory Theatre, and other special engagements.
  • Hatch Show Print, 224 5th Ave S, 36.157744°, -86.776529°, +1 615-577-7710. Visit this traditional printing shop that uses letterpresses to create posters for entertainment events to see them prepare some posters. As the Hatch brothers allegedly put it, "Advertising without posters is like fishing without worms.". 2021-02-21

Midtown

  • Centennial Park, West End Ave at 25th Ave, 36.149°, -86.812°. Features a nice duck pond, where you can get up close with the ducks and feed them, as well as a real steam engine train, dating to the 1800s and a fighter jet on a large, metal stand, to give the appearance of flight.
    • The Parthenon, Centennial Park, 36.1496°, -86.8135°. Tu-Sa 9AM-4:30PM, and Jun-Aug: Su 12:30-4:30PM. Created for Tennessee's Centennial Exposition, this monument was such a well-received attraction that a permanent form was constructed. It maintains the dimensions of the original Athens Parthenon to within a quarter of an inch (at 2/3 the scale), though constructed mainly of concrete as opposed to marble. Inside stands a replica of the statue of the goddess Athena thought to have existed in the original Parthenon. Adult $6, senior $3.50, child 5-17 $3.50, child under 4 free
    • Centennial Sportsplex, 222 25th Ave N, 36.150278°, -86.808889°, +1 615-862-8480. Located in Centennial Park. Featuring two indoor ice skating rinks, two pools, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and a fitness room. Call or check online for the schedules, as they vary from month to month. The Sportsplex is also a practice location for the Nashville Predators professional hockey team. Ice skating $6 with skate rentals available for $2
  • Vanderbilt Commodores. The Vanderbilt Commodores represent Vanderbilt University, one of Nashville's larger sports attractions. As members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), they compete against many colleges and universities throughout the southeastern United States. Vanderbilt is the SEC's only private school and the conference's smallest school by enrollment. The best-known Vanderbilt sports venues are FirstBank Stadium 📍, home to the football team, and Memorial Gymnasium 📍, home to the men's and women's basketball teams and one of the most unique settings in the sport. The baseball team won the Men's College World Series in 2014 and 2019.
  • Belmont Bruins. The Bruins, representing Belmont University, are one of several less expensive alternatives to Vanderbilt for those wanting a college sports experience. The Bruins, which do not have a football team, compete mostly in the Missouri Valley Conference. The most popular sport by far is men's basketball, which has become a frequent NCAA tournament participant. Their rivalry with Lipscomb, a couple of miles down the road and outside the scope of this section, is one of the most intense (and under-the-radar) rivalries in the ranks of the so-called "mid-majors".

Eastern Nashville

  • General Jackson Showboat, 2800 Opryland Dr, 36.203411°, -86.695336°, +1 615 458-3900. Shows and schedules vary throughout the year. Get a meal and a show on this classically styled long paddlewheel boat. Midday cruises, including buffet and show. $38.95 plus tax for adults and $21.95 for kids 4-11. Dinner cruises range from $44.95 to $74.95 for adults and $27.95 to $42.95 for kids
  • Grand Ole Opry, 2812 Opryland Dr, 36.206809°, -86.692091°, +1 615-889-9490. The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music radio program and concert broadcast live on WSM radio in Nashville every Friday and Saturday night, and Tuesdays from March through December. It is the oldest continuous radio program in the United States, having been broadcast on WSM since 5 October 1925. The Opry has been located in the Grand Ole Opry House in eastern Nashville since 1974. From 1974 to 1997 the Opry House was part of a theme park called Opryland USA, which closed due to low attendance and was torn down and replaced by a mega-shopping mall called Opry Mills. Rumors that the Opry is haunted persist as more than 35 people closely associated with the Opry have been met with untimely deaths. These country stars have been burned to death, beaten, robbed, and shot, have been victims of car and plane crashes and have perished from alcohol and drugs.
  • Nashville Golf. Metro Parks offers seven golf courses. All courses are open seven days a week through Labor Day: 7AM-dark on week ends, and 8AM-dark on week days. After Labor Day, autumn hours go into effect. Check courses for details. Three of the seven golf courses are in eastern Nashville: 2022-05-19

Southeastern Nashville

  • Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, 3777 Nolensville Rd, 36.089860°, -86.733432°, +1 615-833-1534, pr@nashvillezoo.org. Apr-Oct 9AM-6PM, Nov-Mar 9AM-4PM. Closed 1 Jan, Thanksgiving Day, 25 Dec.. Displaying many animals and hosting activities for the family, including a large playground with two-story netting that you can swing onto (off a rope), or just jump and roll around on. The zoo is getting bigger and better every day. There is an aviary where you can feed lorikeets nectar by hand, and an amazing hand-carved wooden carousel. Adults $24, Seniors $22, Child (2-12) $20 (discounts may be available on select days) 2020-03-12

  • Nashville SC, Geodis Park, 625 Smith Ave., 36.130278°, -86.765556°, +1 615-780-8800, info@nashvillesc.com. The 2020 season began a new era for soccer in Nashville with the arrival of Nashville SC in Major League Soccer. The MLS team took over the name of a side that played the 2018 and 2019 seasons in the second-level USL Championship. The MLS team, which played its first two seasons at Nissan Stadium, opened the new Geodis Park in May 2022 at the former state fairgrounds just south of downtown. (It started that season on a long road trip to accommodate construction.) From $25 to $200

Western Nashville

  • Helistar Aviation, 210 Tune Airport Dr, 36.177613°, -86.882707°, +1 615-350-1222, info@flyhelistar.com. Open daily. Providing helicopter tours, charter services, and flight instruction in Nashville and the surrounding area. $65-$198 2020-03-12

  • Bluebird Cafe, 4104 Hillsboro Pike, 36.102043°, -86.816746°, +1 615-383-1461. With its unlikely location in a strip mall in Green Hills, has long been the destination of choice for local and national songwriters, fans of songwriters, and label scouts. Expect schmoozing, sets in-the-round, and lines around the block. Keep in mind, though, that quiet is requested at all times during a performance. This is where Taylor Swift first performed and got discovered by Scott Borchetta and Big Machine Records.

  • Nashville Golf. Metro Parks offers seven golf courses. All courses are open seven days a week through Labor Day: 7AM-dark on week ends, and 8AM-dark on week days. After Labor Day, autumn hours go into effect. Check courses for details. The golf courses within western Nashville are:

  • Radnor Lake, Otter Creek Rd, 36.0619°, -86.8075°, +1 615-373-3467. 6AM-sunset. Visitor Center Su-Th 9AM-5PM, F Sa 8AM-4:30PM. Often called "Nashville's Walden," Radnor Lake was formed when the railroad companies dammed up a small stream to provide a reliable water source for their railroad yards. Although it is in the heart of a residential suburb south of town, hikers on the miles of trails around the pond feel like they are in the heart of the wilderness.

  • Lipscomb Bisons. Lipscomb University is a private school that competes in the ASUN Conference. Best known for its longstanding rivalry with nearby Belmont; despite being in different conferences, the men's and women's basketball teams play twice each season (most nonconference basketball rivalries are played only once a year).

  • Tennessee State Tigers. Those interested in African-American culture may also be drawn to the Tigers (and Lady Tigers), representing Tennessee State University, the city's largest historically black school. Unlike most historically black schools, which compete in conferences that consist mostly or entirely of such schools, TSU is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (and has been since 1986). Most venues are on campus; the football team has an on-campus stadium, but uses Nissan Stadium for some games.

  • Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, 1200 Forrest Park Dr, 36.086667°, -86.873889°, +1 615-356-800. Tu-Sa 9:30AM-4:30PM, Su 11AM-4:30PM. Closed on every Monday except for Memorial Day and Labor Day. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's day, as well as the second Saturday in June. A estate built by the founders of Maxwell House coffee on the fringes of the city featuring an art museum and a beautiful botanical garden. The art museum features American and Europeans exhibits. Adults $10, Seniors $8, College Students $5, Children 3-13 $5, Children under 3 free. The most any family will pay is $30, thanks to an admission cap

Learn

Buy

Popular tourist souvenirs include cowboy paraphernalia (boots, hats, etc.) as well as any and all music themed items. Expect to find many local shops selling these items. Some downtown shops offer "buy 1, get 2 free" deals. Be sure to shop around.

Midtown

  • 12 South District, 36.130343°, -86.788724°. Several fun (though pricey) vintage stores, including Katy K's Ranch Dressing (awesome country-western outfits), Savant, and Local Honey (on a side street, also has clothing by local designers). Also home to the Art House gallery.
  • Hillsboro Village, 36.136971°, -86.800829°. Short section of 21st Ave. just south of Vanderbilt. Home of A Thousand Faces (jewelry and local art), Pangaea (quirky gifts), and a well-stocked kitchen goods and coffee store. 2017-05-09
  • Grimey's, 1604 8th Ave., South Nashville, 36.137062°, -86.778574°, +1 615-254-4801. M-F 11AM-8PM; Sa 10AM-8PM; Su 1-6PM. The best independent record store in town. Cramped, but has a good selection of vinyl, while its sister store Grimey's Too, at 1702 8th Ave., features "pre-loved" music, books, and even a small coffee shop. Hosts free in-store performances by both local and nationally-known bands, usually in the afternoon or early evening.

Eastern Nashville

Southeastern Nashville

  • 100 Oaks Mall, 36.1089°, -86.7641°. Formerly a mall, 100 Oaks's shopping options are the street level vendors. The building houses clinic facilities for Vanderbilt Medical Center, but shops remain open, too. 2015-03-28
  • Peabody Shoe Repair, 718 Thompson Ln, #105, 36.112800°, -86.765407°, +1 615-292-5214. Located in quaint Hillsboro Village, this shoe repair shop offers great deals on secondhand cowboy boots. Great place to find a bargain. 2015-03-28

Western Nashville

  • Mall at Green Hills, 36.1074°, -86.8154°. This mall contains several high-end vendors. Dillards and Macy's are the anchor department stores. Other stores include Betsy Johnson, Apple, Gap, Burberry, Sephora, BCBG Max Azria, bebe, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Tiffany, Benetton, and Swarovski.

Eat

The dominant local grocery chains in Nashville are Kroger, Publix, and Aldi. The city is also dotted with dozens of ethnic groceries, especially Hispanic, Kurdish, Indian and Vietnamese around Nolensville Pike. For organic and or specialty grocery stores both Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's, and Fresh Market also have locations throughout the city.

Budget

Downtown

  • The Arcade, 36.164444°, -86.77984°. An open-air 2-level arcade that runs between 4th Avenue North and 5th Avenue North. The Arcade primarily caters to the local downtown workers during the work week, but many great lunch restaurants can be found here, including Manny's House of Pizza, Phillip's Deli, and others. There are also several hairstylists, jewelers, florists, and other businesses. Be sure to visit the historic Peanut Shop.
  • Hermitage Cafe, 71 Hermitage Ave (just south of downtown on Hermitage Ave), 36.155963°, -86.767409°, +1 615-254-8871. Open 24 hours. This diner-coffeeshop is divey, friendly, cheap, greasy, and as southern as white gravy on fried chicken. Perfect if you're drunk or a night owl, which most of the other customers here are (except at breakfast, which draws a mix of polite older couples and hungover kids). An ancient cigarette machine and a well-stocked jukebox.
  • Monell's, 1235 6th Ave N, 36.175830°, -86.790258°, +1 615 248-4747. M-F 10:30AM-2PM, Tu-Sa 5PM-8:30PM; Country Breakfast Sa 8:30AM-1PM, Su 8:30AM-11AM; Sunday Meal 11AM-4PM. Located in historic Germantown, Monell's is a Nashville tradition. They serve different meals every day and the good ol' home cookin' is sure not to disappoint! Seating and serving are done family style, 13-14 per table. More than likely you will sit with people you don't know. First come, first serve. No reservations and no cell phones allowed.
  • Swagruha, 900 Rosa L Parks Ave (just north of the Capital Building in the Farmers' Market), 36.170438°, -86.788653°, +1 615-736-7001. Same hours as Farmers' Market. They have a basic menu that would satisfy almost any Indian food craving and at $7.50 for a plate full of food, you won't go wrong. 2017-07-02

Midtown

  • Las Palmas Mexican Restaurante. A pretty good local chain of Mexican restaurants. You can get a nice filling meal here for under ten bucks. There are five Nashville locations, listed below, and several more in the suburbs:

  • Las Paletas, 2907 12th Ave S (on Kirkwood, in the Cypress Bldg), 36.120570°, -86.790817°, +1 615-386-2101. Tu-Sa noon-7PM. Save room after your Mexican meal for Las Paletas' homemade popsicles in exotic flavors! The Paz sisters ate them often when growing up in Mexico and have now brought us their own take on the treats. Hibiscus, basil, chocolate jalapeno, and rose petal are all delicious; so are the tamer versions, like mango, raspberry, chai tea, chocolate chip cookie, and Mexican caramel.

  • Pizza Perfect, 36.138566°, -86.800440°, +1 615-329-2757 (21st Ave) and +1 615-646-7877 (Bellevue). Fabulous pizza. Nashville isn't much of a town for pizza, but this place more than makes up for it. The plain slices are great, but even the fancier ones (like the Fantasy) don't gild the lily. Free live jazz Thursday nights at the 21st Ave. location (between Vandy and Hillsboro Village).

  • Rotier's, 2413 Elliston Pl (near Rite Aid), 36.147781°, -86.807842°, +1 615-327-9892. M-F 10:30AM-10PM; Sa 9AM-10PM. An old, friendly neighborhood joint whose hamburger and milkshake are consistently voted the best in Nashville. Get the grilled version of the cheeseburger -- basically a grilled cheese with a hamburger in it.

Eastern

  • Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, 123 Ewing Dr, 36.2299°, -86.7608°, +1 615-226-9442. Tu–Th 11:30AM–10PM, F 11:30AM–4AM, Sa 2PM–4AM. Home of the original "hot chicken", a Nashville classic that adds cayenne pepper to fried chicken. $10 2018-03-31

Southeastern

  • La Hacienda Taqueria, 2615 Nolensville Pike, 36.116782°, -86.748111°, +1 615 256-6142. Su-Th 10AM-9PM, F Sa 10AM-10PM. Established in 1993, La Hacienda Taqueria has continually been making statements and catching the notoriety as Nashville's finest authentic Mexican restaurant.
  • Las Palmas - Nippers Corner, 15560 Old Hickory Blvd, 36.040999°, -86.742278°, +1 615-831-0432. Su-Th 11AM-9:30PM, F 11AM-10:30PM, Sa 11AM-10PM. A pretty good local chain of Mexican restaurants. You can get a nice filling meal here for under ten bucks. 2017-05-09

Western Loveless Cafe

  • Bobbie's Dairy Dip, 5301 Charlotte Ave, 36.151646°, -86.851284°, +1 615-292-2112. An endearingly dingy 1950s ice cream stand on Charlotte Ave., that has been revived into a popular summer mainstay that's popular with every demographic. Their hamburgers, hot dogs, and fries are some of Nashville's favorites, and the strawberry shortcake's great.

  • Loveless Cafe, 8400 TN-100, 36.0353°, -86.972°, +1 615-646-9700. Known for its Southern cooking: biscuits, fruit preserves, country ham, and red-eye gravy. 2017-06-18

  • Las Palmas Mexican Restaurante. A pretty good local chain of Mexican restaurants. You can get a nice filling meal here for under ten bucks. The western Nashville locations are: 2022-05-19

Mid-range

  • Cafe Nonna, 4427 Murphy Rd, 36.140816°, -86.840146°, +1 615-463-0133. Another well-liked Italian restaurant, this intimate neighborhood place keeps its menu small and its dishes impeccably prepared. With the fresh ingredients and simple preparation, you might as easily be in some Tuscan hill town. Located in Sylvan Park.
  • Rosepepper Grille and Cantina, 1907 Eastland Ave, 36.182722°, -86.735280°, +1 615-227-4777. A neighborhood favorite for several years now, this popular and upbeat nouveau Mexican place is in East Nashville, a bit off the tourist's beaten path.

Downtown

B.B. King’s Blues Club

Midtown

  • Maggiano's Little Italy, 3106 West End Ave (a few blocks south of Vanderbilt University), 36.142410°, -86.816745°, +1 615-514-0270. A busy Italian restaurant, serving Southern Italian meals, most famously in "family style", portions that are more than large enough to share. Reservations recommended for parties of any size. Open for lunch and dinner, seven days.
  • Pancake Pantry, 1796 21st Ave S, 36.136958°, -86.800638°, +1 615-383-9333. A Nashville landmark and a great place for breakfast, anytime before 3PM. The frosted haired waitresses will call you "honey," and the pancakes will be better than you'd ever realized pancakes could be. Don't be daunted by the line snaking around the block on weekends; it moves quickly, and you get free coffee while you wait.
  • San Antonio Taco Company (SATCO), 416 21st Ave S, 36.146196°, -86.799237°, +1 615-327-4322. This place is always a favorite with Vandy kids, offering reliably so-so Tex-Mex food (very little meat on the tacos, and the guacamole has tons of pepper) and cheap buckets of beer. Right off the Vanderbilt campus. Stop by Ben & Jerry's next door for dessert. Caveat: towing in this area can be ruthless. Check the signs wherever you park. If you go, get the queso and chips for around $3. It's the best thing on the menu and is enough for 2. 2015-03-28

Southeastern

  • Stay Golden, 36.11°, -86.755°. Southern-style breakfast with a shorter line on weekends than most of the places in the city center. Okay coffee, good brunch options, great biscuits. – 2022-09-14

Splurge

  • Catbird Seat, 1711 Division Street, 36.151291°, -86.794138°. W–Sa 5:30PM–9PM. 32 seats surround a U-shaped kitchen, where chefs Josh Habiger and Erik Anderson prepare a multi-course tasting menu ($100 per person) with drink pairings ($20, $40, or $75 per person). Discussions with the chefs are encouraged as part of the experience. Reservations required, available one month in advance on the restaurant's website. 2017-05-09

  • Margot Café & Bar, 1017 Woodland Street, 36.177544°, -86.750393°, +1 615-227-4668. Bar: Tu-Sa 5PM-10PM; dinner: Tu-Sa 6-10PM; Sunday brunch: 11AM-2PM. This quirky local restaurant at Five Points in East Nashville is considered by many to be Nashville best local chef-owned restaurant. It features a seasonal menu that is changed daily. Don't miss the seasonal hot chocolate topped with a homemade marshmallow for an after-dinner treat. 2015-03-28

Drink

Coffee and tea

  • Ugly Mugs Coffee & Tea, 1886 Eastland Ave, 36.182183°, -86.735506°, +1 615-915-0675. A locally-owned coffee house residing in historic East Nashville, Ugly Mugs brews the local roast Drew's Brews and displays artwork by local artists as well as live music on Saturday nights. Known for serving coffee in a vast collection of quirky and non-cosmetic coffee mugs. Toys available for children. Wifi friendly.

  • Barista Parlor, 519 Gallatin Ave, 36.182328°, -86.748559°, +1 615-712-9766. The first in a chain of serious-minded coffee shops, the original is based in East Nashville, Barista Parlor is already a staple for local coffee lovers and has attained a reputation of style and quality.

  • CREMA, 15 Hermitage Ave, 36.156845°, -86.769717°, +1 615-824-3855. Popular coffee shop about a mile south of downtown. Known for its hand-crafted coffee creations and their selection of baked goods. Wifi friendly.

  • Bongo Java, 2007 Belmont Blvd and 107 S 11th St, 36.132178°, -86.795755°, +1 615-385-JAVA and +1 615-777-EAST. The first and most relaxed in a very successful local mini-chain of quirky coffeehouses, Bongo Java is a meeting place for the young, the arty, and the students at Belmont University just across the street. Linger for hours on the huge porch over several cups of their incredibly strong, flavorful coffee, and take advantage of the free computer, Wi-Fi, and chess set use.

  • Fido, 1812 21st Avenue South (across from The Belcourt Theatre), 36.136354°, -86.800758°, +1 615-777-FIDO. A sister-cafe to Bongo Java, Fido offers the same brew as the other Bongo Java locations while also offering an array of breakfast/brunch options. You may even be able to snag discounted day-old bagels to pair with your espresso.

  • Roast, Inc. (8th and Roast), 2108 8th Ave S (south on Eighth Ave S from Broadway, go two miles. Shop is on the left across from Zanie's), 36.13172°, -86.77882°, +1 615-730-8074. 8AM-5PM. Service is very courteous, coffee is delicious, and baristas are very knowledgeable.

Alcohol

  • 3 Crow Bar, 1024 Woodland St, 36.177341°, -86.750103°, +1 615-262-3345. Located in the Five Points area of East Nashville is the linchpin in a cluster of bars all within a stone's throw of one another: Red Door Saloon, which also has an outpost in midtown; The 5 Spot, a pleasant nonsmoking spot that often books local bands; Beyond the Edge, a large sports bar; the Alley Cat, a popular neighborhood hangout with good food selection; and more.

  • Lipstick Lounge, 1400 Woodland St, 36.177003°, -86.745755°, +1 615-226-6343. Opened as a lesbian bar, the lipstick lounge now considers itself "a bar for humans."

  • Cafe Coco, 210 Louise Ave, 36.15186°, -86.804938°, +1 615-329-0024, office@cafecoco.com. It isn't a bar, per se, but it does serve beer and remains open 24 hours every day. Expect to find studious Vandy kids, scene-making hipsters, and drunk everybody at night. Located just off Elliston behind the Exit/In. 2021-02-22

  • Douglas Corner Cafe, 2106 8th Avenue South, 36.131876°, -86.778852°, +1 615-298-1688. Another major venue for songwriters hoping to be discovered as well as established songwriters revisiting their old haunts. Open mic nights every week.

  • Exit/In, 2208 Elliston Pl, 36.151329°, -86.804345°, +1 615-321-3340. A standby for mid-level touring bands of all varieties for decades. Check out the names of past performers over the bar.

  • Springwater, 115 27th Avenue North, 36.146455°, -86.812267°, +1 615-320-0345. Located next to Centennial Park, this is one of Nashville's most reliable dive bars and often hosts underground and noisy local and touring bands. Once a speakeasy, later a hangout for Jimmy Hoffa, now host to a strange mix of local drunks, slumming Vandy kids, and musicians. Pool table, arcade games, good jukebox, good booker, a cheap beer-only bar, and a large screened-in cement block porch. Don't miss its regular Working Stiffs Jamboree.

  • The Basement, 1604 8th Avenue South, 36.137081°, -86.778561°, +1 615-254-8006. Intimate (read: cramped); owner and man-around-town Mike Grimes books everything from country singer-songwriters to young noise bands. Above the venue is Grimey's, his record store that consistently is voted best independent record store in Nashville. A non-smoking, 21+ club.

  • The End, 2219 Elliston Pl, 36.151126°, -86.803873°, +1 615-321-4457. Located just across from Exit/In, it regularly books reliable indie rock bands, both local and nationally known.

Downtown

Tootsies and Second Fiddle, Broad St. Robert's Western World Many bars can be found in Printer's Alley in Lower Broadway.

Sleep

Hostels

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Stay safe

Avoid walking in North Nashville, especially the Bordeaux and MetroCenter districts, and use caution when driving through the district at night.

Use caution when walking around Downtown Nashville at night, especially along the avenues south of Broadway. Use designated parking and avoid leaving valuables in your vehicle. Panhandlers do exist around these areas as well.

Connect

By phone

Most telephone numbers in Nashville consist of +1 615 plus a seven-digit number, but the region is now served by an overlay complex of two area codes, with +1 629 being the second. A local or in-state telephone call now requires all 10 digits of the local number be dialed (omitting just the leading +1 from a local landline call).

Signage on many established businesses may still display the original seven-digit numbers; dial 615 before these if no area code is indicated.

Cope

Unlike the more conservative suburbs surrounding it, the city of Nashville is more accepting of alternative sexualities and lifestyles.

In Nashville there is a growing gay entertainment district featuring a number of gay clubs, dance halls, lounges, restaurants and sex clubs on Church Street between 12th and 22nd Avenues with very chic spots offering lively, classy entertainment. LGBT individuals are mostly accepted in the areas of Downtown, West Nashville, Hillsboro, and East Nashville, with South Nashville and North Nashville being less friendly.

Newspapers

  • The Tennessean. The main daily newspaper.
  • Nashville Scene. Nashville's oldest and largest weekly, now run by the Village Voice. Excellent entertainment news and reliable features, plus useful special issues (Annual Manual, Dining Guide, You're So Nashville If..., College Guide, Best of Nashville, etc.)

Consulates

Go next

  • Fall Creek Falls. A spectacular waterfall located on the rim of the Cumberland Plateau, several hours outside of Nashville.
  • Franklin. Fifteen miles south of Nashville. A historic Civil War town.
  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an International Biosphere Reserve that straddles the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. The park is about a 3⅓-hour drive east of Nashville, so it would be more than you could do in a day, but certainly worth a weekend trip!
  • Lynchburg Located 1½ hour's drive to the southeast, this small town is home to the Jack Daniels Distillery.
  • Natchez Trace Parkway. The long parkway follows the same path used by travelers from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi during the early 19th century. It begins in the southwest part of Nashville along Highway 100 about 10 miles outside of the city. south from the parkway entrance in Williamson County is the nation's first segmentally constructed concrete arch bridge. The parkway provides spectacular views of the rolling hills in Tennessee.
  • Tullahoma Located about an hour southeast of Nashville, this town is home to the George A. Dickel distillery and a thriving aerospace industry based around Arnold Air Force Base.

Nashville

nashville.gov
Postal code:37201–37250372013720237205372083721037214372183722037222372283722937231372333723537242372443724837249Date Time:Please wait...Timezone:America/ChicagoPopulation:689,447Coordinates:36.16, -86.77

Davidson County

2nd-order administrative division

Tennessee

Primary administrative division

United States

usa.gov
Population:327.2 MDial code:+1Currency:Dollar (USD)Voltage:120 V, 240 V, 60 Hz
NEMA 14-30NEMA 14-50