Best 10 Nashville Itinerary options, from 1 to 4 days or more – for couples, families and friends looking for fun
In this guide you will find 10 Nashville itinerary options that are perfect for any breakaway in the city, doesn’t matter the length
In addition, they are designed to cater to different kinds of visitors, whether it’s a couple, a family with kids, or a group of friends having fun or organising a bachelor party.
In this city, no one plan suits everyone. You could easily stay more than a week and never get bored because there is so much to do, experiences to have, sights to see and activities to participate in.
For each Nashville itinerary, I have included an afternoon and morning action plan.
In addition to restaurant and cafe recommendations, I also suggested a few cocktail bars and music venues that you could check out in the evening/night.
Every Nashville itinerary can be easily customized to suit any specific needs.
But let’s get started
Table of Contents
Unsure of where to stay?
I wrote a few suggestions below. You can also check out my guide to the best areas of Nashville based on your type of trip (family, couples, nightlife, with or without car, etc)
One day in Nashville itinerary
This city has so many things to offer that you should at least spend a couple of days in Nashville.
Trying to accomplish this in 24 hours will feel rushed.
However, if one day is all you have, check out these are 3 itinerary plans to make the most of your time in Nashville.
I am confident you will fall in love with the city and surely you will be back for an extended stay.
The first plan is dedicated to couples looking for a charming 24 hours
- Morning: Visit the two most iconic places in Downtown, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Walk of Fame
- Lunch: Head to Pancho & Lefty’s Cantina, a Mexican restaurant hidden gem of Nashville, with great quality food and drinks at an affordable price
- Afternoon: Explore the National Museum of African American Music and discover North of Broadway
- Evening/Night: Take a Downtown Sunset Helicopter Tour and have a dinner with live country music
The second itinerary works very well with families
- Morning: Visit the two most iconic places in Downtown, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Walk of Fame. Already suggested to couples, and unmissable also for families with kids thanks to its interactive exhibits
- Lunch: The Assembly Food Hall is a great destination for some food, with many restaurants and eateries. Coco is a great family-friendly Italian place that works so well for kids.
- Afternoon: Take a ride to Music Valley to experience the Grand Ole Opry backstage, the amazing LEGO store and have some fun at Grand Old Golf & Go-Karts
- Evening/Night: Dinner at Puckett’s, a great kids-friendly restaurant with a vintage interior design.
The third option would be perfect for a group of friends, possibly travelling for a bachelor party
- Morning: Start off with a visit to the Johnny Cash Museum. Super interesting (don’t worry, no more museums with this itinerary). Then head to the Marathon Village to visit a couple of distilleries and take some photos of the murals
- Lunch: Stop by the Southern Engine Deli, in the Marathon Village, for a quick bite.
- Afternoon: Join a pub crawl around Broadway
- Evening/Night: Head to Printers Alley, the cool area of downtown, for dinner and a drink or two. Finish the night at the iconic and always fun Honky Tonk Central
Check my exhaustive guide to one day in Nashville, which includes all you need to know about the visited places, all the activities and handy maps
2 days in Nashville itinerary
With two days in Nashville, you will be amazed at just how much you can get done if you plan your breakaway in advance.
It’s essential also to buy the skip-the-line tickets whenever possible and avoid wasting time in the queues.
I have created three possible itineraries.
The first one is dedicated to couples looking for a romantic and unique getaway:
- Day 1: In the morning, visit the two most iconic places in Downtown, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Walk of Fame. Then, after lunch, explore North of Broadway and the Arts District. Finish the day in Printers Alley
- Day 2: Start the day with a visit to the amazing Museum of African American Music. In the afternoon join a Segway Tour to explore more of the city and book a 15-minutes helicopter tour at sunset time (it’s going to be magical). More live music for the evening/night
This itinerary below works great for families travelling with kids:
- Day 1: In the morning, visit the two most iconic places in Downtown, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Walk of Fame. Already suggested to couples, and unmissable also for families with kids thanks to its interactive exhibits. In the afternoon, take a ride to Music Valley to experience the Grand Ole Opry backstage, the amazing LEGO store and have some fun at Grand Old Golf & Go-Karts.
- Day 2: Take your kids in the morning to the interactive and hands-on Adventure Science Center, they will love it. In the afternoon, explore downtown with a fun Cart Tour.
A finally an itinerary that fits so well to a group of friends looking for some fun or planning a bachelor party:
- Day 1: Start off your weekend with a visit to the Johnny Cash Museum (promise, this is the only museum in this itinerary, and it’s a great fun one, believe me). Then head to a couple of distilleries in the Marathon Village. It’s time to party, with a city tractor! Close your night at the iconic Honky Tonk Central
- Day 2: The morning will be slow motion after such an intensive start in the previous day. Book a fun Segway tour in the early afternoon and join a pub crawl later in the day. Spend the night at Printers Alley, the coolest area in downtown.
You can read more about the three Nashville itinerary options above in my guide to 2 days in Nashville, with detailed morning and afternoon activities, and descriptions of all the visited places .
More photos from the Nashville itinerary below
3 days in Nashville itinerary
A trip to Nashville for 3 days will give you a full understanding of what the city is all about.
To make the most of your time once you arrive, organize your itinerary in advance
Here are three possible plans that I have drafted.
The first option is ideal for couples seeking an unforgettable experience:
- Day 1: Start off your breakaway by visiting the iconic Country Music Hall of Fame and Walk of Fame. Discover North of Broadway and the Arts District in the afternoon. Spend the night in Printers Alley
- Day 2: Fresh in the morning, have a check at the outstanding Museum of African American Music. After lunch, have some fun exploring the city on a Segway and book a romantic 15-minutes helicopter flight at sunset time. Finish off the day with some live music
- Day 3: The morning is dedicated to a visit of the famous Ryman Auditorium meanwhile in the afternoon take a Street Art tour over a cart
This itinerary is ideal for families with young children:
- Day 1: You may want to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Walk of Fame first thing in the morning. This was already suggested to couples, and with its interactive exhibits it is also unmissable for families with children. After lunch, you can visit Music Valley to see the Grand Ole Opry backstage, the LEGO store, and Grand Old Golf & Go-Karts.
- Day 2: Your kids will love the hands-on, interactive Adventure Science Center in the morning. Explore the city with a cart tour in the afternoon.
- Day 3: In the morning , a visit to the Lane Motor Museum will be enjoyed by the kids and they will have so much fun at the Nashville Children’s Theatre in the afternoon
Finally, an itinerary that is so appealing to a group of friends visiting the city for some fun or organising a bachelor party
- Day 1: Get the weekend started with a visit to the Johnny Cash Museum (you will only see one museum in this itinerary, but it is a fantastic one). You can then visit a few distilleries in Marathon Village. The party starts with a tractor (yes, no mistake)! Finally, spend the night at Honky Tonk Central.
- Day 2: It would be a pity to be in Nashville and not visit the Jack Daniel’s Distillery on a day tour. Spend the evening/night in Broadway. Check out bars like The Valentine or the Nudie’s Honky Tonk.
- Day 3: After such an intense couple of days, the morning will be more relaxed. Join an early afternoon Segway tour and a pub crawl later in the day. Enjoy the night at Printers Alley, downtown’s coolest area.
I have written a detailed guide to a Nashville 3 days itinerary that you should read.
It includes all you need to know for the trip, with morning and afternoon activities for the above drafted itineraries, a description of all the destinations and also tips on bars, restaurants and hotels.
More photos from the Nashville itinerary below
4 days or more in Nashville
With 4 days in Nashville, or even more, you will have plenty of time to explore beyond the known destinations and attractions.
Here is a Google map I have organised with the many things to do and places to visit in Nashville, including bars and restaurants.
I keep updating this map, so do not be surprised to see more places in the interactive map than in the picture above.
If you are traveling with kids, I suggest taking inspiration from my 3 days in Nashville for families
- Day 1: Country Music Hall of Fame & Music Valley
- Day 2: Adventure Science Center & Cart Tour
- Day 3: Lane Motor Museum & Nashville Children’s Theatre
and add the following day:
- Day 4: History day with a walk to the State Capitol, the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park and the Tennessee State Museum, where through Native American artifacts, replica pioneer buildings, and Civil War artifacts, you can discover the state’s rich history.
Alternatively, you can also think of spending a day at the Nashville Zoo in Grassmere (6 miles from the city), covering over 200 acres of land.
The Parthenon and Centennial Park is also another great destination in the city, where you can find one of the very few playgrounds around.
Finally, for some fun and a few photos, check out the Madame Tussauds “Museum”
For an adult trip, I would recommend starting from my itineraries for 3 days in Nashville for couples or for friends looking for fun and parties.
Then add one of the following activities:
- a day trip to the Cheekwood Estate, with its art museum and a great botanical garden
- a day trip to the Hermitage of Andrew Jackson, home of the 7th President of the United States
- a visit to the historic RCA Studio B, where Elvis Presley recorded some of the most amazing hits
- half-day at the Frist Art Museum, with rotating visual exhibitions
- a full day Hop-on Hop-off Trolley to visit Nashville inside and outside the downtown area. Always a great fun and convenient way to explore the city
- a Guided Ghost-Themed Walking Tour
- a shopping and bar cart tour, great if traveling with a few friends
- go karting in Music Valley after a visit to the backstage of the famous Grand Ole Opry
Best accommodations for a Nashville itinerary
You can see below a few recommended accommodations to make your stay in Nashville as comfortable as possible
To make things easier, I have also added the neighborhood for every suggested hotel or Airbnb/apartment (read more about the best areas to stay in Nashville)
For couples:
- Best Hotels: Virgin Hotel (lux with amazing rooftop pool, in Midtown), Courtyard by Marriott (value for money in Downtown)
- Stylish Hotels: Graduate Nashville (unique interior design with a great rooftop bar, in Midtown), Union Station Hotel (iconic, in The Gulch)
- Hostels & Cheap: The Lee Apartment (the bargain, in Midtown)
For families with kids
- Best Hotels: JW Marriot (lux in The Gulch), Moxy (Budget in SoBro/Downtown), Hyatt Place (Mid-Range in SoBro/Downtown)
- Best Airbnb/Apt: Sonder Elliston (value for money 2BR in Midtown), Sonder at The Saddlery (up to 6 people, in Downtown), Mint House at the Reserve (up to 6 people, in Downtown)
For a stay with friends
- Best Hotels: Hayes Street (budget-conscious, in Midtown), Studio 154 Luxury Hotel (great for groups), Courtyard by Marriott (value for money)
- Best Airbnb/Apt: Sonder at The Saddlery (up to 6 people, in Downtown), Mint House at the Reserve (up to 6 people, in Downtown)
Photos from the Nashville Itinerary
