Top 15 Must-Experience Attractions in Downtown Nashville

When seeking an exhilarating experience, Downtown Nashville is the premier destination. While Nashville is renowned as Music City and the quintessential hub of country music, it is Downtown where the vibrant activity flourishes both day and night.

In Downtown Nashville, one can encounter a higher concentration of aspiring musicians seeking acclaim than in any other city neighborhood across the United States, alongside numerous accomplished performers. The area boasts music-focused museums, live performance venues, concert halls, and streets lined with bars, all featuring live music. This lively atmosphere contributes to its appeal as an exceptional place to visit.

As the most dynamic entertainment district not only in Nashville but throughout Tennessee, Downtown Nashville offers much more than just the sounds of guitar melodies. Therefore, do not overlook these fifteen remarkable activities available while exploring the area. You might even encounter a unique musical experience if you are fortunate.

1. Segway Tour

The sights of Downtown Nashville are extensive, and if you prefer not to walk the streets, especially if your new cowboy boots cause discomfort, consider a Segway Tour.

After a brief instructional session, don your helmet, mount your device, and prepare to explore. The five-mile journey will lead you through Downtown Nashville, passing by key landmarks such as the iconic Tennessee State Capitol building, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Farmer’s Market, among others.

A Segway Tour offers an excellent opportunity to familiarize yourself with Downtown Nashville while effortlessly locating attractions.

2. Frist Art Museum

Despite music being Downtown Nashville’s primary passion, the Frist Art Museum highlights contemporary visual arts as its focal point. Located in the city’s former main post office—an art deco masterpiece from the 1930s—this museum does not maintain permanent collections, refreshing its exhibitions every four to six weeks.

With twenty-four thousand square feet of gallery space, the Frist Art Museum has displayed a diverse array of exhibitions, encompassing everything from photographic reflections on the Civil Rights Movement to black-and-white portrayals of African American life in Louisiana, alongside themed entertainment evenings.

Expect a vibrant array of artistic expressions during your visit to the Frist Art Museum—it consistently delivers.

3. Nashville Farmers Market

At the open-air Farmers Market located on Rosa L Parks Boulevard in Downtown Nashville, one can not only discover fresh local produce but also engage with the farmers who cultivate it. Stroll through over one hundred and fifty stands to appreciate the vast selection of food products available, ranging from vegetables to artisan cheeses, baked goods, crafts, and more.

Exceptional ingredients lead to flavorful meals. The Farmers Market features a dining area known as the Market House, where twenty restaurants serve an extraordinary variety of international cuisine. Additionally, there are daily pop-ups, an innovative Grow Local Kitchen, culinary workshops, and cooking classes led by esteemed chefs.

On the third Friday of every month, the market hosts a Night Market, accompanied by live music and DJs.

4. Pub Crawl

Downtown Nashville is home to a multitude of vibrant bars, making the selection process quite overwhelming. Wander along the famous Honky Tonk Highway, Lower Broadway, or 2nd Avenue, where over forty bars can be found within just a few blocks, all featuring live bands every night.

By participating in a guided bar tour, you will uncover the best venues while also learning about Downtown Nashville’s storied history. These pub crawls typically last around two and a half hours, during which participants visit four or five bars, enjoying special drinks at each establishment to maintain the festive spirit.

There are no cover charges at Downtown’s bars. If the music inspires you to dance, remember to contribute a few dollars to the performers’ tip buckets, as it will be greatly appreciated.

5. Bicentennial Capitol State Park

Bicentennial Capitol State Park encompasses an expansive nineteen acres in the heart of Downtown Nashville, providing a refreshing location for a leisurely stroll while showcasing impressive monuments.

The park features a two-thousand-seat amphitheater for outdoor events, a plaza displaying maps that detail Tennessee’s history, and thirty-one fountains that represent the state’s waterways.

Music resonates throughout the park, with fifty towers housing ninety-five carillon bells around the Court of Three Stars, which chime a delicate version of the Tennessee waltz every fifteen minutes and a full rendition on the hour—offering a rhythmic marker for your visit.

6. Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum

For anything pertaining to country music, the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum serves as an authoritative resource. The entirety of the museum’s three hundred and fifty thousand square feet is dedicated to this genre.

Visitors can explore a variety of unique artifacts, celebrity automobiles, costumes, and a permanent exhibition that chronicles the evolution of country music from its origins to the present. Additional offerings include rare audio recordings, films, photographs, and interactive media that educate attendees about the genre.

The museum also hosts live events featuring prominent artists, as well as live-streamed interviews and workshops.

7. Peg Leg Porker BBQ

Maintaining your energy levels is crucial while attending nightly celebrations. Embrace the Tennessee tradition by indulging in a hearty barbecue.

Peg Leg Porker BBQ, situated in the Gulch area of Downtown Nashville, is renowned for its numerous television appearances and numerous awards.

The restaurant offers a cozy interior and a patio where grilling takes place. Opt for a full rack of Memphis-style ribs—either wet or dry—or try their nachos topped with pulled pork. Complement your meal with coleslaw or smoked barbecue beans, preparing you for another energetic night out in Downtown Nashville. Indeed, the food at Peg Leg Porker is superb!

8. Nashville Ghost Tours

Every city possesses its share of supernatural stories. Discover the intriguing tales of Downtown Nashville on a ghost tour. Meet a costumed guide who will escort you through the historic Ryman Auditorium, a century-old venue known for its purported curses and haunted by former staff members and the legendary singer, Hank Williams Sr.

Next, explore Printer’s Alley, where the ghost of a colorful local figure, murdered in the area, is frequently reported accompanied by his dog. Whether or not you believe in the supernatural, these tours are entertaining and provide fascinating insights into Downtown Nashville’s history. For an added thrill, consider combining a ghost tour with a pub crawl, visiting iconic haunted locations while enjoying a drink or two.

If you seek an extra thrill, opt for a ghost tour through Downtown conducted in a hearse—a truly spine-chilling experience.

9. Tennessee Performing Arts Center

Attend a concert, ballet performance, or Broadway production at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. This cultural complex features three theaters named after former U.S. presidents from Tennessee and an auditorium.

War Memorial Auditorium stands as a historical, columned edifice, while its interior boasts cutting-edge technology and two-thousand seats, accommodating a variety of events from rock concerts to weddings.

James K. Polk Theater has a seating capacity exceeding one thousand, a spacious stage, and an orchestra pit, hosting many comedy, drama, and opera performances.

Andrew Jackson Hall serves as a versatile venue that can hold nearly two and a half thousand patrons. It frequently features Broadway hits, TV show recordings, and major music concerts.

The Andrew Johnson Theater, instead of a traditional stage, offers an open-floor design surrounded by tiered seating, making it ideal for intimate gatherings, unplugged concerts, or lectures with fewer than two hundred attendees.

10. Pontoon Saloon Party Cruise

Step aboard a floating saloon for a leisurely journey down the Cumberland River and take in Downtown Nashville from a unique aquatic perspective. The fifty-foot-long barge offers a two-hour public sailing, or if you are with a group, you may choose to charter the entire vessel.

Departing from the East Bank Docks on Victory Avenue, the cruise operates on a BYOB basis—so feel free to bring your own drinks and snacks. With lively music playing and an open area on the bow for dancing or enjoying the scenery, it’s a delightful way to experience Nashville.

If planning to embark on a Sunday cruise, remember to purchase your beverages in advance, as Tennessee law prohibits alcohol sales on Sundays. Alternatively, if you prefer a more subdued experience, morning sightseeing tours are also available.

11. Johnny Cash Museum

Johnny Cash, the legendary “man in black,” is celebrated as one of the most influential country stars and singer-songwriters in American music history, as well as a published author and actor.

The Johnny Cash Museum in Downtown Nashville houses the most extensive collection of memorabilia related to the artist than any other museum worldwide, surpassing even the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. The renowned musician, known for selling over ninety million records, actively advocated for prison reform and Native American rights.

While visiting, enjoy a coffee at the museum café as you listen to some of his incredible songs.

12. Fort Nashborough

Experience a glimpse into the life of the pioneers who established Nashville by visiting Fort Nashborough.

This timber fort, nestled within Riverfront Park in Downtown Nashville, is a reconstructed version of the original, built to safeguard the initial settlers against Native American hostilities.

Although smaller than the original, which housed twenty cabins, this replica effectively showcases the challenges faced by early settlers in surviving the demands of that era.

13. Meat and Three

Sampling a meat and three meal is an essential experience in Downtown Nashville, embodying a typical Tennessee tradition that originated in Nashville. A meat and three consists of a satisfying plate featuring your choice of meat and three side dishes.

Select your preferred meat from daily options and complement your choice with three delectable sides. Generally served with cornbread, these establishments range from traditional service to buffet-style dining, maintaining a warm and inviting country-kitchen ambiance.

Popular meat and three spots in Downtown Nashville include Arnold’s, Puckett’s, and Katie’s, all of which are well worth a visit.

14. Simply The Best $10 Boutique

Purchasing souvenirs need not be costly, especially when visiting Simply The Best $10 Boutique, a vintage storefront located on 2nd Avenue in Downtown Nashville.

This boutique offers a diverse selection of apparel and accessories, including Nashville-themed t-shirts, fashionable sunglasses, baseball caps, and more—all priced uniformly at $10, making budgeting effortless and straightforward.

15. Ascend Amphitheater

From an aerial perspective, the Ascend Amphitheater resembles an extraterrestrial vessel that has landed in Downtown Nashville’s Riverfront Park.

In actuality, this six thousand eight hundred seat venue hosts some of Nashville’s largest outdoor concerts and music festivals. The amphitheater features tiered seating and expansive lawns, providing ample space for attendees to relax while experiencing world-class performances on its renowned stage.

The Ascend Amphitheater is the ideal location for enjoying vibrant summer concerts and music festivals, showcasing everything that makes Downtown Nashville extraordinary.