10 Incredible Things to Do in Nashville on a Weekend Trip (An Expert Guide!)

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Learn the best things to do and see during a weekend in Nashville.

Have you been hearing a lot of chirps about Nashville lately? Yeah, me too. That’s why when one of my besties wanted to meet up for a weekend in Nashville, I was 100% in.

Now that I’m back, I have say that Nashville is the perfect mini-vacay for couples or friends, whether or not you’re a diehard country music fan. (But it’s no bueno for kids – there’s too much grown-up fun you’d miss out on!)

As a professional travel writer with over 10 years of experience, I’ve explored incredible destinations across the United States. My mission is to help people plan unforgettable vacations. For a hassle-free trip, get my Nashville Weekend Itinerary Guide and have everything you need to book an awesome vacation!  

You might expect Nashville to be loaded with honky tonks and BBQ joints – and it is – but the home of country music is surprisingly hip, too. It has leafy neighborhoods, cute boutiques and eateries, and amazing street art. There are plenty of non-touristy things to do in Nashville too!

My husband and I met up in Nashville with two other couples from my college days. We drank, we explored and we laughed our asses off, which is my idea of a wonderful weekend in Nashville with friends.

For the record, none of us are big-time country music fans. But we certainly didn’t feel out of place – there were hardly any locals with cowboy hats or boots, only the tourists.

We easily hit all the city highlights in one weekend and although the weather was rainy in May, it was cool enough to make walking around all day pleasant.

Things to Do in Nashville If You Have 2 to 3 Days

Definitely do the classic country Southern things you’re supposed to do in Nashville, but don’t miss seeing some of the new hotspots too. Here’s my must-do list:

1. Go to a Concert at the Grand Ole Opry

First things first, the Grand Ole Opry is a must for everyone. It’s the longest-running radio show in U.S. history (started in 1925) and it put country music on the map.

It’s aired live from a concert-like setting and there’s simply no other music performance like it – you get to see eight or more performances in one show, one band after another so you never get bored (hello, musical ADD).

It’s usually a mix of famous and no-name performers with super-brief commercials spots in-between sets (and listening to the buttery smooth announcer do live commercials is kind of fun, too).

The night we went, there were 11 different acts including Rachel Wammack, Jimmy Wayne, Vince Gill and the Charlie Daniels Band.

2. Visit Country Music Museums

If you’re a country music fan, there’s a museum for you here. Take your pick or do all of them:

• Johnny Cash Museum
• Patsy Cline Museum
• Ryman Auditorium
• Country Music Hall of Fame (the first floor is free to enter, so even if you’re not into country it’s still worth popping in).

3. Eat Chocolate

Go to the Goo Goo Dessert Bar & Shop for a historical sugar rush. This company invented the first candy bar (the Goo Goo) in 1912. Pick up some of these clusters made from milk chocolate, peanuts, marshmallow and caramel to take home to your kids or pet sitter or just stuff in your face.

You can also sign up to take a candy-bar making class here on the weekends. But register in advance!

4. Walk Over the Cumberland River

The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, one of the longest of its kind in the world. It spans the Cumberland River and joins downtown Nashville with East Nashville. If it’s a sunny day, you can snap some good shots of Nashville from the bridge and get even better ones at night when the waterline buildings are all lit up. Located on 3rd Ave.

5. Grow Wings

Everyone and their mama want to pose with the city’s most famous mural: “What Lifts You.” It’s two sets of wings – one big and one tiny pair – that people can’t resist snapping a pic against (who hasn’t dreamed of having their own wings?). If you want a photo too head to downtown’s Gulch area, but prepare to stand in line. This mural is pop-u-lar!

Travel Hack: Instead of waiting in a long line (ain’t nobody got time for that!) we posed on the corner across from the mural. It’s like a faraway picture with the wings. I felt so clever until I realized that the wings look more like elf ears on me at that angle. But, whatevs.

6. Check Out Marathon Village

One of my favorite downtown stop was Marathon Village, a former auto factory converted into a cool industrial space. It’s a group of 100-year-old brick buildings with shops and a small (but free) museum where you can see the Marathon cars that were made here in the early 1900’s, before Ford ran them out of business.

Things to do in Marathon Village include:

• Pop into Antique Archaeology, the store made famous by the “American Pickers” show on the History Channel
• Sip beer, moonshine and whiskey at the three distillery tasting rooms (the bananas foster cream liqueur at Tennessee Legend Distillery is so good!)
• Pick up gorgeous scented candles (fruit tea is a Southern staple) and pillows that would make Joanna Gaines jealous at The Faded Farmhouse
• Sample flavored olive oils and vinegars with the super-nice ladies at Nashville Olive Oil Company
• Make your own wine slushie at Grinders Switch Winery, where you pick the slushie base and which wine you want to add to it.

7. Dress Like Reese Witherspoon

America’s sweetheart Reese Witherspoon opened up a clothing shop and the flagship store is in the cutest neighborhood in Nashville: 12 South. As soon as I found that out, I knew I had to make a pilgrimage there. And it didn’t disappoint.

It’s a gorgeous, organized store filled with preppy, but feminine clothes with southern detail – gingham, lace, ruffles. You can find wrap dresses, delicate blouses, and lots of blue and white (just like the store’s mural above).

8. Dive Into Tacos (With a Side of Guac, Naturally)

By far, Bartaco was the best restaurant that we ate at the entire trip. It helps that I’m a huge fan of Mexican food. But this modern taqueria gets bonus points for its beachy vibe and margaritas and mezcal drinks with fresh-squeezed lime juice. So good!

Order tacos by checking off which ones you want on a sheet of paper – like how you order sushi – along with sides. Everything was tasty, but the rock shrimp taco and guacamole were off the hook. This place is popular with locals, too, so expect a wait on the weekends.

9. Party on the Honky Tonk Highway

No weekend in Nashville is complete without spending a night on Broadway (aka The Honkytonk Highway) hopping from one bar to another. It’s the coolest street in America for throwing back a few, dancing (or at least foot stomping) and people watching.

Every other door is a bar with a neon sign, which is why this street is also called Nash Vegas. And every bar has at least one band jamming in there, but sometimes two or three bands (one for each level or room of the bar!).

There are no cover charges to get into the bars, so you check out as many as you want. The most famous bars – the ones every Nashville guide tells you to go to – are Robert’s Western World and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, which are next to each other.

But my favorite was Layla’s Honky Tonk. It’s smack dab between the two more famous bars and had better music, a down-home atmosphere and fast bartending service. It seemed like a place that locals might actually go, rather than a room packed full of tourists.

10. Go on a Trashy Bus Tour

The first time I went to Nashville, I tried to get tickets to the Nash Trash Tour but they were sold out. The second time I visited the city, I was able to reserve seats on one of their infamous pink buses.

What’s so great about this tour? If you have a sense of humor, you’ll be cracking up the whole time as the tour guides tell raunchy jokes about the city’s celebrity-studded history.

There are no stops so it’s great for people who don’t or can’t do a lot of walking. The bus drives around town while the tour guides give you all the town’s gossip and tease the audience. Our group was the target of several of their jokes and our stomachs were sore afterward from laughing so hard.

When selecting a tour, you can choose what tour guide you want. We went on the original tour with The Jugg Sisters who founded the company.

Where to Stay

Nashville has become a popular destination and accommodation prices reflect that. Staying downtown, in the thick of the action near Broadway Street, is the most convenient because it’s within walking distance to the honky tonks and many of the sites you’ll want to see. But it’s also more costly to stay there.

Nearby neighborhoods like Music Row and Mid-Town, near Vanderbilt University, have numerous hotels for less and are great places to stay if you’re willing to drive or get a ride to places.

When searching for where to stay in Nashville, keep in mind that a hotel’s rates vary wildly depending on the time of year and the day of the week. Booking a stay Sunday through Wednesday will be the cheapest.

In addition to hotels, there are plenty of vacation rentals in Nashville to check out too. This can be a great option, especially if you’re traveling with a group of friends or family. Sitting around the kitchen table over coffee and a big breakfast is an excellent way to start a vacation day!

Here are my picks for where to stay at various price points:

Budget Option

📍Hampton Inn Nashville Vanderbilt

You get a heck of a lot of value when you stay at the Hampton Inn Nashville Vanderbilt. Rates start at $120 a night and include a hot breakfast buffet and free coffee and cookies all day.

The hotel is located in the safe Midtown neighborhood and within walking distance of Vanderbilt University. But to get to downtown, you’ll need a ride. The hotel offers free on-site parking if you have a car. (Parking at other hotels can range from $25 to $60/night). But if not, the hotel offers a free shuttle bus to take you downtown.

✅Check prices and book your stay at Hampton Inn Nashville Vanderbilt by clicking here!

Mid-Range Option

📍Drury Plaza Hotel

The Drury Plaza Hotel has a sweet downtown location, walkable to many main attractions. Rooms are large, updated, and clean with comfy beds.

Rates range wildly between about $170 to more than $300, depending on your dates, but come with breakfast and a free happy hour with hearty appetizers and drinks every evening from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

✅Check prices and book your stay at Drury Plaza Hotel by clicking here!

Luxury Option

📍The Noelle

A boutique hotel in a 1930s building, The Noelle has rooms that start at $350. You can’t beat its location within the heart of downtown but far enough off Broadway Street to be quiet at night.

Soak up the sophisticated marble-and-iron vibe of the place with art from local artists. Enjoy plenty of dining and drinking options onsite, from a first-floor coffee shop to an underground speakeasy and a killer rooftop bar. Their restaurant serves whiskey flights too.

After indulging, you can hit up the hotel’s light and airy gym, which includes Peloton bikes.

✅Check prices and book your stay at The Noelle by clicking here!

The Takeaway

So, there you have it – a whirlwind of the best things to do on a weekend trip to Nashville that’s sure to leave you with a ton of amazing memories.

From iconic music spots like the Grand Ole Opry to quirky local gems like the Goo Goo Dessert Bar, Nashville is brimming with experiences that cater to every taste.

So pack your bags, grab your besties, and get ready for a Nashville adventure you won’t soon forget!

PSST! If you have more time to explore, there are plenty of road trips from Nashville that you could take too. You can check off places like Memphis, Asheville, the Smokies, and more.

Ready for a Weekend in Nashville?

Get my Nashville Weekend Itinerary Guide for an easy-to-follow plan with a mapped-out route and activities to do each day in Nashville along with the best places to stay and eat.

It’s designed to make the most of your vacay days!

Because why make it harder for yourself?

Happy travels,

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