Things to Do in Nashville Beyond the Honky Tonks (2-Day Itinerary)
When most people think about things to do in Nashville, they picture Broadway, neon signs, crowded honky tonks, and bachelorette parties rolling through downtown on pedal taverns. But that’s only one side of the city. And not a very good one, if you ask me.
I recently spent two days in Nashville and never stepped inside a bar. Instead, I focused on the places that helped earn Nashville its nickname as Music City: the Country Music Hall of Fame, RCA Studio B, the Grand Ole Opry, and a few other experiences that had nothing to do with bar hopping.
If you’re looking for things to do in Nashville beyond the honky tonks, this Nashville itinerary covers exactly how to budget your time, where to stay, and the attractions worth prioritizing.
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How to Plan Your Nashville Trip
Time Needed: 2 Days
Where I Stayed: Noelle Nashville or Omni Nashville
Best For: First-time visitors and country music fans who’d rather skip the bar scene.
Highlights:
Book Ahead
The Country Music Hall of Fame, RCA Studio B, and Grand Ole Opry were the highlights of my trip, and I’d recommend booking them in advance, especially if you’re visiting during peak season or on a weekend.
Nashville Itinerary Day 1
Day 1 takes you from one of Nashville’s most iconic music venues to a side of the city that most visitors miss entirely.
Grand Ole Opry Backstage Tour
If you’re flying into Nashville, the Grand Ole Opry is worth considering as your first stop before heading downtown. The Opry is located about 15 minutes from the airport and roughly 20 minutes from downtown Nashville, so it can be more convenient to visit on arrival than to make a separate trip later.
The backstage tour lasts about an hour and takes you behind the scenes of one of the most iconic venues in country music.
For a full breakdown of what the backstage tour includes and whether it’s worth booking, check out my complete Grand Ole Opry review.
One thing worth knowing: the Opry is not walkable from downtown Nashville. You’ll need a car, rideshare, or other transportation to get there. If you’re staying downtown without a car and don’t want to deal with the logistics, the Ryman Auditorium is a good alternative located right in the heart of downtown.
Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour
If you’re only in Nashville for a couple of days, the hop-on hop-off trolley tour is an easy way to see more of the city without renting a car or dealing with downtown parking. After paying more than $60 to park for less than 24 hours at my hotel, I was more than happy to let someone else do the driving.
The route covers 13 stops, including Centennial Park, The Gulch, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Nashville Farmers’ Market. Even if you don’t hop off, it’s a good overview of the city’s major neighborhoods and attractions.
Tours depart approximately every 30 minutes from 9 AM to 4 PM daily. The main check-in location is at 128 4th Ave S downtown, but you can board at any of the 13 stops. The full loop takes about two hours.
Nashville Ghost Tour
Most Nashville itineraries end with a bar crawl on Broadway. This one ends with a ghost tour, which I think is a lot interesting.
The tour lasts about 90 minutes and takes you through parts of downtown you probably wouldn’t explore on your own. One of the highlights for me was seeing the Tennessee State Capitol at night, which is creepy in the best possible way.
One thing worth knowing: Nashville has plenty of ghost tours that lean heavily into the paranormal, complete with EMF readers and ghost-hunting equipment. This isn’t one of them. Instead, it’s a walking tour focused on Nashville’s darker history, which is more my style and, frankly, more interesting than watching someone wave a gadget around and declare the building haunted.
If you prefer boos over booze, this is your kind of evening.
Nashville Itinerary Day 2
Day 2 is where Nashville earns its nickname as Music City, with a morning dedicated to the people, places, and recordings that shaped country music.
Country Music Hall of Fame & RCA Studio B
If you’re like me, and don’t like crowds, the early access guided tour at the Country Music Hall of Fame is the move.
It starts before the museum opens to the general public, which means you’re walking through exhibits without the crowds that build up later in the day. The museum is big and the exhibits are dense, so the extra breathing room matters.
We started at 8:30 AM and headed over to RCA Studio B at 10 to see where Elvis, Dolly Parton, and about half of country music history was recorded. We were back at the museum by 11 for another pass through what we hadn’t finished yet.
You can only visit Studio B with a tour. So if it’s on your list (and I think it should be), you’ll need to book a ticket.
For everything you need to know before you go, check out my full Country Music Hall of Fame and Studio B review.
Assembly Food Hall
Nashville is known for hot chicken and barbecue, not exactly the most vegan-friendly reputation. If you’re vegan and worried you’ll starve in Nashville, consider the Assembly Food Hall your safe haven.
Located just up the street from the Country Music Hall of Fame, it has enough variety that you won’t be stuck piecing together a meal from side dishes.
I ate at Han’s Banh Mi & Pho and ordered the tofu banh mi. Just ask them to hold the aioli. There are a few other vegan-friendly options throughout the food hall as well.
Where to Stay in Nashville
While this itinerary isn’t about the honky tonks, I still recommend staying near the Honky Tonk Highway (Broadway). It puts you within walking distance of all but one attraction on this list. I’ve stayed at both of the hotels below and would happily book either one again.
Noelle Nashville
Noelle is located on 4th Street, about a 10-minute walk from the Country Music Hall of Fame and several of the attractions featured in this itinerary. You’ll cross right over Broadway to get there, but you’re far enough away that you won’t hear any of the hootin’ or hollerin’ once you’re back at the hotel.
It’s a boutique hotel and what I’d consider a luxury stay. The rooms are bright, modern, and generously sized. I had a room with two queen beds that was so large my mom couldn’t even see me in mine from across the room.
The on-site restaurant, Lona, is also worth mentioning. As someone from California who is deeply skeptical of Mexican food outside state borders, I was impressed.
Omni Nashville
The Omni Nashville is located directly behind the Country Music Hall of Fame, making it one of the most convenient hotels in Nashville if visiting the museum is high on your list.
I’ve stayed here as well and had a good experience, but if you’re trying to decide between the two, I’d choose the Noelle. The Omni is a great hotel. The Noelle is the more memorable stay.
Experience the Real Music City
I’ve been coming to Tennessee my entire life, but only started really experiencing it as an adult in the past five years. While Broadway gets most of the attention, it’s not what the city is about.
Broadway is one street. One very loud, very commercialized street that gives off Las Vegas vibes, and not in a way I find particularly compelling.
What makes Nashville worth visiting is the music history. Your favorite artist has probably recorded something at RCA Studio B, and there’s a good chance you don’t even know it. That alone is worth the trip.
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