24 Hours in Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville Tennessee is known as the Music City because music has been at the heart of its culture since the beginning. An act from Nashville ran the first round-the-world music tour. It’s home to America’s longest-running radio show. It’s a city where songwriters through the ages and from across the world have come to produce work.

For any music fan, this is a must-visit in the USA. What’s more, with abundant bars and restaurants, sights and attractions, and buckets of southern charm, there’s never a dull minute in this lively, spirited city. Make sure you have a comfortable place to sleep by looking through the unique places to stay in Nashville. Then get ready to explore. Here’s what to do with your first 24 hours.

Morning: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

After a fuelling breakfast at your hotel, make your first stop in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. This is one of the city’s top sights and among the world’s best music museums, all housed in a truly stunning building.

Don’t miss the Historic RCA Studio B tours that run from the museum daily. This studio is where Elvis produced over 200 songs, and where Dolly Parton and Roy Orbison have also laid down tracks. Alternatively, stop off at the Johnny Cash Museum to look through a collection of his artefacts and memorabilia.

Midday: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Towards lunchtime, start making your way towards anywhere that sells hot chicken. This is Nashville’s speciality – a fiery fried chicken served with bread and pickles. Side dishes depend on the restaurant, but it’s common to find hot chicken next to some coleslaw, beans, or potato salad. Most joints that serve up hot chicken allow you to choose a level of spiciness, so don’t worry if you’re not keen on heat!

Afternoon: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Walk off all that food with a stroll in Nashville’s Centennial Park. This beautiful green space is a peaceful place to unwind for a while, and is home to the world’s only full-scale replica of Athens’ Parthenon. Wander around the building’s art gallery and museum and marvel up at the 42-foot Athena statue that stands pride of place inside.

If art is your thing, also don’t miss the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art. This place sees 100,000 tulips blooming in spring and houses a fascinating collection of paintings and sculptures.

Evening: 6 p.m. ’til Late

There are a few more iconic places to spend a night in Nashville than Honky Tonk Highway. This strip of honky-tonk establishments plays music 365 days a year and is one of the best places to connect with Nashville’s musical spirit. The Highway is not only a treat for the ears but the eyes too – neon lighting floods the street to create a spectacular show.

If you want something a little more low-key, swing by a show from Songwriters in the Round, where songwriters play their music on-stage with others. These are small shows in more relaxed settings, and you never know – at one of these you could stumble on a superstar or the next big thing in music.