7 Days in Nashville: A Music City Itinerary for Live Music, Hot Chicken, and Southern Culture
Nashville earned its “Music City” nickname long before neon lit up Broadway. From 19th-century printing presses at Hatch Show Print to the Mother Church of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium, the city’s soundtrack has shaped American culture. Today, you’ll find world-class studios, intimate listening rooms, and legends sharing the stage with rising songwriters.
This 7-day Nashville itinerary balances must-see sights—like the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Parthenon, and the Grand Ole Opry—with neighborhood flavor. Expect biscuits and barbecue, bluegrass and speakeasies, gardens and galleries, all woven into a trip paced for discovery. You’ll eat where locals eat, hear music where the musicians hang, and learn the stories behind the hits.
Practical notes: book popular restaurants and Opry tickets ahead, and expect lively weekend crowds on Lower Broadway. Spring and fall bring mild weather; summer is festive and hot. Rideshares are plentiful; a car helps for Cheekwood, Belle Meade, and Radnor Lake. Pack comfortable shoes—Nashville rewards wanderers.
Nashville
Nashville blends small-town neighborliness with big-stage talent. Downtown dazzles with honky-tonks and the riverfront; The Gulch and Germantown cook up inventive dining; East Nashville mixes murals, vintage shops, and craft cocktails; 12South and Hillsboro Village offer leafy strolls and boutique browsing.
- Top sights: Ryman Auditorium, Country Music Hall of Fame, Johnny Cash Museum, National Museum of African American Music, Frist Art Museum, The Parthenon at Centennial Park, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery.
- Live music staples: Robert’s Western World, The Bluebird Cafe, Station Inn, 3rd & Lindsley, The Basement East.
- What to eat: Nashville hot chicken (Prince’s, Hattie B’s), Tennessee barbecue (Peg Leg Porker, Martin’s), and chef-driven Southern plates (Rolf & Daughters, Audrey, Henrietta Red).
Where to stay: For walkable nights out, base near Downtown or The Gulch. For dining-forward nights, try Germantown or East Nashville. Browse stays on VRBO Nashville and compare hotels on Hotels.com Nashville.
Getting there: Fly into BNA (Nashville International). Nonstops from major U.S. hubs take ~1.5–4 hours and commonly range $150–$400 roundtrip. Search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. It’s ~20 minutes by rideshare to Downtown; WeGo bus Route 18 serves the airport.
Day 1: Arrival, Broadway Warm-Up, and Honky-Tonk Night
Afternoon: Land, check in, and shake off travel with coffee at Crema Coffee Roasters (river views, excellent pour-overs). Stroll the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge for skyline photos, then wander Broadway’s neon block to get your bearings.
Evening: Dinner at Merchants (a historic Broadway landmark serving steaks, shrimp & grits, and excellent deviled eggs) or Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint Downtown (whole-hog barbecue; grab a seat on the rooftop). For live music, start at Robert’s Western World—order a fried bologna sandwich and two-step to classic country—then pop into The Stage or Tootsies Orchid Lounge for a multi-band sampler. Nightcap at The Patterson House (reservations recommended) for a speakeasy-style cocktail and hush-hush vibes.
Day 2: Orientation Tour, Ryman, and The Gulch
Morning: Fuel up at Pancake Pantry (Hillsboro Village; known for sweet potato pancakes) or Proper Bagel (NY-style bagels, inventive schmears). Then get the lay of the land with the Discover Nashville City Tour with Entry to Ryman & Country Music Hall of Fame—a convenient way to hit highlights and go inside two icons.
Afternoon: After the tour, linger inside the Country Music Hall of Fame’s galleries and don’t miss Hatch Show Print’s vintage posters next door. Walk to The Gulch for boutique browsing and a latte at Barista Parlor Golden Sound.
Evening: Dinner in Germantown: Rolf & Daughters (house-made pastas, small plates; book ahead) or Henrietta Red (seafood-forward, stylish raw bar). If you want more music, swing by 3rd & Lindsley—excellent sound and a musician’s crowd—or The Station Inn for world-class bluegrass in an intimate room.
Day 3: 12South, Centennial Park, and Night at a Listening Room
Morning: Coffee and a breakfast sandwich at Frothy Monkey (12South), then a leisurely walk down 12South for mural snaps, White’s Mercantile, and Draper James. Grab an early lunch at Edley’s Bar-B-Que (pulled pork sandwich, banana pudding) or Locals-only tacos at Ladybird Taco (breakfast tacos until early afternoon).
Afternoon: Head to Centennial Park to see The Parthenon, Nashville’s full-scale ode to ancient Athens, then detour to Three Brothers Coffee for a cappuccino. Art lovers can add the Frist Art Museum—rotating exhibitions housed in a sleek Art Deco former post office.
Evening: Early dinner at The Optimist (seafood, wood-fired oysters) or DeSano Pizzeria (Neapolitan pies, casual). Cap the night with a songwriter round at The Bluebird Cafe (tiny, iconic; book in advance) or a set at The Basement East in East Nashville for indie and Americana.
Day 4: Day Trip to Jack Daniel’s Distillery (Lynchburg)
Reserve a full-day outing on the Nashville to Jack Daniel's Distillery Bus Tour + Whiskey Tastings. You’ll ride through rolling Tennessee hills to Lynchburg, tour the historic cave spring hollow, and taste where Old No. 7 is born. It’s a relaxed, informative way to see the countryside without driving.
Pro tip: Grab a biscuit and coffee at Proper Bagel before departure. In Lynchburg, classic Southern lunch at Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House is a tradition (family-style, reservations recommended). Back in Nashville, celebrate the day with ribs and dry rub wings at Peg Leg Porker or wood-fired American fare at 5th & Taylor in Germantown.
Day 5: East Nashville Foodie Crawl and Hidden Bars
Morning: Start at Barista Parlor (airy space, single-origin coffees) and pastry. Browse vinyl at Grimey’s and vintage at Hip Zipper. Early lunch at Mas Tacos Por Favor (fried avocado tacos, pozole) or Five Points Pizza (NY-style slices and garlic knots).
Afternoon: Explore murals around Five Points and Fatherland District, then cross the river for the National Museum of African American Music—dynamic exhibits linking gospel, blues, and hip-hop to today’s hits. Sweet stop: Dozen Bakery for cookies and seasonal tarts.
Evening: Dine at Lockeland Table (wood-fired Southern, beloved neighborhood spot) or Lyra (bright, modern Middle Eastern—don’t skip the wood-fired pita). After dinner, uncover the city’s clandestine past on the Nashville's Speakeasy Secrets: Murder True Crime Cocktail Crawl—a guided walk through hidden doors, true crime lore, and excellent cocktails.
Day 6: Museums, Hatch Show Print, and the Grand Ole Opry
Morning: Breakfast downtown at Frothy Monkey (5th Ave N) or cafe fare at Pinewood Social. Dive into the Johnny Cash Museum to trace the Man in Black’s life and legacy.
Afternoon: Lunch at The Southern Steak & Oyster (gumbo, oysters, and a solid burger) or Etch (inventive global plates by chef Deb Paquette). Stop into Hatch Show Print to see presses still churning out bold posters, then stroll Riverfront Park before resting up.
Evening: Make a pilgrimage to the Grand Ole Opry. Book the Grand Ole Opry Show Admission Ticket in Nashville for a lineup that often blends veterans with new voices. Arrive early to explore Opry Mills or grab a pre-show bite at nearby Bavarian Bierhaus.
Day 7: Gardens, Mansions, and Farewell Flavors
Morning: If you’re an early riser, take an easy loop around Radnor Lake State Park—herons and quiet coves just 20 minutes from town. Brunch at Biscuit Love (Hillsboro Village; “bonuts” are famous) or Josephine on 12South for refined Southern plates.
Afternoon: Stroll Cheekwood Estate & Gardens—seasonal blooms, sculpture trails, and a handsome Georgian mansion. Quick lunch at Cafe 29 on-site, or swing by Hattie B’s for one last hot chicken fix (choose your heat level wisely). Pack up and depart in the afternoon with Nashville’s soundtrack still in your head.
Optional Add-Ons (If You Have Extra Time)
- Parthenon art gallery: Explore the gallery beneath the Athena statue for rotating exhibitions.
- Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery: A Gilded Age estate tour plus Tennessee wine tastings.
- Listening session at RCA Studio B: Book via the Country Music Hall of Fame—hear how a hit is made where Elvis recorded.
Booking Shortcuts
- Flights: Search the best fares to BNA on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.
- Stays: Compare neighborhoods and prices on VRBO Nashville and Hotels.com Nashville.
- Top tours used in this plan:
One week in Nashville lets you hear the city’s heart from church-pew stages to neon-lit honky-tonks, taste the South from biscuits to barbecue, and walk the line between history and modern creativity. You’ll depart with playlists, recipes, and stories you’ll tell for years—plus a plan to come back for an encore.