Easy Nashville Itinerary: 3 Days in the Music City

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In 2022, I took a huge 2-month road-trip through the southern (and southern-adjacent) states in the USA. When I hit Tennessee, first on my stop was a long weekend in Memphis, where I was introduced to a lot of BBQ, civil activism, and music. Those themes were only amplified as I made my way over to Nashville. It was my first time visiting, but I had heard of Nashville as the epicenter for country music, so exploring that was obviously going to be on my Nashville itinerary, but I soon learned there was much more to “Music City” than what was just on the surface.

INCLUDING the music.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

In total, I spent 4 days and 3 nights in Nashville, and it feels like I only saw a small portion of what this great city had to offer. So, while this won’t be an “ULTIMATE NASHVILLE ITINERARY” by any means, I did want to share a few of the spots I found that made me want to revisit Nashville, and hopefully will give you an enjoyable experience as well!

Also, I am not a paid travel blogger or influencer. This was not a sponsored trip, I was not hosted by any of the listed businesses, and I will not be writing any of this trip off on my taxes haha. These are all my own honest recommendations! So with that in mind, I hope you enjoy my long weekend Nashville itinerary!

The Basics

• State: Tennessee
• Nearest “Big” Cities: Louisville, KY (2h30); Knoxville, TN (2h30); Birmingham, AL (2h45); Memphis, TN (3hrs); Atlanta, GA (3h45)
• Closest International Airport: Nashville International Airport (BNA)
• Ancestral Lands: Cherokee, Shawnee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Creek Nations
• Best season to visit (in my opinion): For weather: May, June, and October
• Transportation: I enjoyed having a car, though parking near downtown was challenging. It’s pretty easy to navigate the city with ubers and rideshares, but I hear the public transit is not great

Special Historical Shoutout

The home of President Andrew Jackson is located 10 miles east of downtown Nashville. For some reason, it is a popular tourist attraction. Since the mere thought of that vile man makes me want to vomit, the thought never even crossed my mind to visit his plantation home.

Along with personally owning at least 161 slaves (on record anyway) who he routinely and murderously beat, Jackson signed into law the “The Indian Removal Act,” which forcibly and violently herded at least 50,000 (on record anyway) Indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands in the southern states (where Jackson owned real estate investments) in a series of militarized removals called The Trail of Tears.

Word on the street is the dude couldn’t even read (no I’m not joking, yes he was somehow a lawyer, a state judge, and a general in the army).

Andrew Jackson deserves no accolades. Every “good” thing attributed to Jackson in office was a result of disgustingly unjust actions that only benefitted white people.

Alleged “accolades”

• Gained new lands for America: YEAH THROUGH GENOCIDE, CULTURAL AND ETHNIC CLEANSING AND ERASURE, AND TREATIES THAT WERE NEVER EVEN INTENDED TO BE UPHELD BY THE US GOVERNMENT.
• Strengthened relationships with foreign nations: Largely with *western European* nations, let’s be specific now, and the root of much of the relationships revolved around the slave trade. If you want to give Jackson “credit” for being the first US president to to actively promote trade with Asia, you should also know he green-lit the US navy to viciously punish Pacific Nations (like Fiji) for protecting their lands against American merchants, and his campaigns in China and Japan were unsuccessful.
• Paying off the national debt: Jackson was able to do this because he sold off federally owned land that he STOLE from Indigenous Nations. He also blocked infrastructure projects to save money…which resulted in the US falling further behind compared to other countries at the time. PLUS, zeroing out the national debt contributed to the Panic of 1837, one of the worst recessions in American history. THIS WAS HORRENDOUS IN METHODS AND EMBARRASSING IN OUTCOME!!!!

It’s all bad. And no, his plantation home “museum attraction” website does not elaborate on these points. So, in short…

Where to Stay

Whooopssss, I got a tad off topic for this Nashville itinerary haha. But yanno what, SOMEONE had to say it. ANYWAYS, back to helping you plan your own Nashville itinerary for your trip hahah.

The first step to planning your trip (well, after figuring out how you’re gonna get there) is to book your lodging. Personallyyyyy…I was on a multi-month long road-trip, so ya girl was prioritizing BUDGETTT. I stayed at some random Hilton Hampton Inn on the edge of town to get the cheapest rate. I had a car, so it wasn’t the biggest deal for me, but it was not cute or convenient at all.

Unless you’re in a similar situation to me, then I recommend paying a bit more for a better experience. For that, I’ve heard from countless people that the best hotel in Nashville is the Urban Cowboy Bed & Breakfast. First of all, we love a bed and breakfast (WITH free parking!!). Second, it’s an adults-only boutique hotel with just eight rooms, so every detail is carefully thought out. The hotel hosts with nightly live music performances by some of Nashville’s best local artists.

TOP recommendation from both travelers and Nashville locals alike, and the best way to make your Nashville itinerary the most memorable!

What to Eat

Oh babyyyy!! If there’s one thing to put on your Nashville itinerary (or anywhere in the south really), you need to EATTTT. I pretty much had my fill on BBQ from Memphis, so I didn’t eat any in Nashville, but that’s coo because I made up for it in hot chicken (more on that later). And while the majority of the food we ate was great…we also came across some spots that I didn’t feel lived up to the hype (which happens in many big cities).

But I’m here to show you the restaurants in Nashville that I liked, not the ones I didn’t, so I won’t dwell. It did give me the impression though that the food scene was very different than Vegas, which I had heard lots of comparisons between. I also want to let y’all know that I don’t really drink, so this is also a sober gal’s guide to Nashville. BUT there are a lot of drinks as well – that part is similar to Vegas haha.

I didn’t eat everywhere in Nashville, but here are a few of my favorites to tack on to your Nashville itinerary!

Coffee & Juice

As a SoCal girl, bevs are NECESSARY. I will admit that I might even look up coffee shops before restaurants, that’s how dedicated I am. If I don’t hear the clink clink of ice cubes in my iced chai latte as I browse the aisles of a boutique shop, I WILL NOT HAVE A GOOD DAY. I did try out a lot of great cafes during my time in Nashville, but I know everyone is (thankfully) not as neurotic as me, so I’ve narrowed it down to two incredible suggestions to add to your Nashville itinerary!

• All People Coffee: Open DAILY (important) and they had my favorite iced chai in the city. They also have a great selection of small bites if you’re on the go and don’t have time for a full breakfast. Beautiful interior and super dope staff! Everyone was friendly and gave great recommendations that I ended up adding to my own Nashville itinerary!
• The Urban Juicer: They have a few locations, so your needs will be met no matter what part of Nashville you’re in. I believe they were actually voted Nashville’s best juice bar and for good reason! Their drinks are GOOD. Refreshing juices, delicious smoothies, invegorating shots, and even heartier options like robust salads and flatbreads.

Breakfast

Gotta start the day off fueled properly right? Out of all the mealtimes I had in Nashville, breakfast by far exceeded all expectations. Y’all got some amazing breakfast and brunch spots!! And…I think the people in Nashville know it because (with the exception of one place) there was always a wait! Keep that in mind and call ahead for wait times (or pack a little snack) if you are prone to hanger. ESPECIALLY if your Nashville itinerary falls over a holiday or event weekend.

• Milk & Honey: Starting with the most popular because I’m sure you’ve seen it on all the Nashville itinerary posts – and for good reason! It’s delicious! They have a large menu so there’s something for everybody, but babyyyy the line is usually around the BLOCK on weekends just to put your name on the list. Make sure to get there early.
• Sugga Hi Bakery and Cafe: I hadn’t seen this spot mentioned on too many Nashville itinerary posts, but imho it deserves top spot! It was nearby our hotel and the service was super friendly and welcoming. AND THE FOOD!! They are known for their waffles, but I really enjoyed my omelette as well! On Sundays they do a brunch buffet!
• Egg Hill: This was a place I randomly found because Milk & Honey had a 2 hour wait and I quickly looked up an alternative…and YALL IT WAS INCREDIBLE!! And there was only one other person dining in, so not sure if this is still somewhat of a “hidden gem,” but it definitely needs to be on your Nashville itinerary if you love egg sandwiches!
• The Loading Dock: Last but certainly not least, we had the pleasure of swinging by this spot on our way out of Nashville and it was the perfect send-off! Super cute space with the best outdoor seating and would also make for a great workplace cafe if you’re looking for one. Also love that they support so many local artists!

Lunch

Okay, the difference between lunch and dinner restaurants are pretty arbitrary, but when I travel I usually aim for something quick and easy to eat because I’m probably in the middle of running around. So while there are some fantastic sit-down-get-your-order-taken restaurants that are also open for lunch, the following spots offer a little faster of an eating experience if that’s what you’re looking for in your Nashville itinerary.

• Assembly Food Hall: Now I LOVE a good food hall, and this one is right in the middle of the action of downtown Nashville. There’s over 30 local eateries and bars, and even live entertainment so lowkey it could double as an activity as well! I ate at Prince’s Hot Chicken (BOMB!!) and some donuts from a little pop-up.
• Slim & Husky’s: If you want incredible fast casual pizza (one of my favorite food groups) the ONLY right answer is Slim & Husky’s! They’re so good even folks in Memphis were raving about them and recommended to add it to our Nashville itinerary. Absolutely delicious pizzas but omggg don’t get me started on the cinnamon rolls…
• Mas Tacos Por Favor: Now full disclosure, I didn’t get to this one, but it was recommended by my good friend Tara from Silly Little Kiwi and then double confirmed by a few other friends who visited Nashville so I need to put this spot on your radar!! Locals say they have the best tacos in Nashville!

Dinner

Now dinner was a time I was most excited for because there were so many James Beard nominated restaurants and chefs, and y’all know I like to get my award eating on!! But…errr…not all of them lived up to my expectations, unfortunately. Not naming names, because maybe it was just my taste buds or maybe they had an off night. So I have less personal recommendations that I would like, but you’ll definitely enjoy this spots for your Nashville itinerary!

• Sinema: This was (one of) our splurge meals in Nashville and wowww it was incredible. Definitely the spot to make a reservation for a special and memorable night out. You can opt for a tasting menu or order a la carte! Their scallops were literally to DIE for and their desserts, though seemingly “simple” (apple crisp for me, the skillet cookie for my bf), really blew me away. They also have a fantastic drink menu, and I appreciate that their non-alcoholic drinks were equally interesting and complex!
• Maiz De La Vida: This spot is way more casual than Sinema, but the quality is right on up there with it! We tried almost everything on the menu (we were hungry lol), and they were all knock outs. I especially enjoyed the birria and quesadillas, but honestly you can’t go wrong! AND they’re opening up a brick & mortar soon, and I just know that menu is going to be OBSCENELY good!!
• Edley’s Bar-B-Que: I know I said I didn’t eat any BBQ in Nashville, but if it’s your only stop in Tennessee, you GOTTA get some. The one, the only, Millette from The Next Somewhere recommends this spot, and I would literally trust my life with her food recommendations! Along with bangin BBQ, they also sell fried pickles. If you haven’t had fried pickles yet, CHANGE THAT.

Things to do in Nashville

Okay cute, now that we are sufficiently fed, we can get on with the fun things to do part of this Nashville itinerary. Yanno, everything in-between your meal times! My Nashville itinerary was pretty chill, and I didn’t go out partying or stay out late, so you’ll see that reflected in my suggestions.

Visit a Honky Tonk

Of course as Music City, there is a TON of live music, especially country, in practically every bar and lounge (or honky-tonks as the locals say) you pass in downtown Nashville along Broadway St, affectionately called the Honky Tonk Highway (you can use that nickname as a Google Maps location!)

Layla’s Honky Tonk had a great vibe, so if you wanted a place to start on your honky tonk crawl, start there! I’d recommend going earlier in the afternoon for your Nashville itinerary, when some allow children if the party vibes aren’t your thing!

The Parthenon/Centennial Park

This was actually the first stop on our Nashville itinerary as we drove in from Memphis, and we arrived about an hour before sunrise. Absolutely STUNNING. Highly recommend this spot for sunset/golden hour because the hues just hit. However…we pulled up on a weekend when they close at 4:00pm, so we couldn’t actually go in, but I digress.

The Parthenon in Nashville is the world’s only exact-size and detail replica of the original temple in Athens, Greece…probably because the rest of the world recognized that there was already one and that was probably sufficient. But Nashville was operating at a higher power. Nicknamed “the Athens of the South” because it was the first American city to establish a public school system and was home to numerous universities. So in 1897, to celebrate Tennessee’s 100th year of statehood (well, technically 101 years, but who’s counting), Nashville unveiled THE PARTHENON.

I’m sure it sounded absolutely fire in their head.

It…eventually needed to be rebuilt in sturdier materials when Nashville decided to keep it around, and now it acts as a huge art gallery for exhibiting the enormous collection of paintings and sculptures. Tickets for adults are $10 USD and $8 USD for children, though you can meander around outside and stroll the surrounding park for free!

Nashville Farmers Market

I’m not gonna lie, I do feel like the Nashville Farmers Market was….a little overhyped as a “MUST DO” on a Nashville itinerary. It’s…literally a farmers market, and not one with any super notable attributes. And I’m not saying that as a diss!! It’s quite a nice farmers market, which is why I’m still including it on my Nashville itinerary, but I just want you to have appropriate expectations.

Depending on when you visit, the outside market and stalls which are selling straight farm to table (well, your table) are most active on the weekends – Saturday and Sunday. On weekdays, the outside stalls are closed in the winter, and varies by booth in the summer. So basically, if you want the farm goodness, visit on the weekends.

However, the indoor market house, which houses the more permanent businesses and booths, is open daily 8am-6pm, though the individual businesses might vary slightly. For best results, I’d aim for around lunchtime when most of the businesses are open. Inside are lots of food and beverage booths, as well as cute artisan gift shops.

If you have a car during your visit, there’s free parking!

Hot Chicken Taste Test

Hot chicken was created in Nashville, so best believe I created a whole Nashville itinerary activity around it. One day for lunch, I literally just went around ordering a hot chicken sandwich from all the top spots in the city. A self-guided tour if you will! If you’re a curious foodie like me, it’ll be one of the best things to do in Nashville hahah.

Y’all know I love a good food lore (ie “who invented sloppy joes“), so maybe one day I’ll have to do a deep dive into the intricate details of the hot chicken origin story. But for now – hot chicken has been around in Nashville’s Black community for generations. Legend has it that the creator of hot chicken is the family of Andre Prince Jeffries, the now owner of Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, and it’s the most widely accepted theory.

No, not PRINCE the music artist.

Andre Prince Jeffries’ late great-uncle, Thornton Prince III, was a player. In the most respectful way possible, the guy got AROUND. One morning, his girlfriend at the time decided to punish Thornton’s cheating ways by serving him chicken laced with super spicy peppers. The devil works hard, but Thornton works harder. He actually REALLY LIKED IT. In fact, he liked it so much that he and his brothers decided to create their own recipe inspired by it and opened up a restaurant, BBQ Chicken Shack café, and the rest is history.

For some of the more popular places (Prince’s and Hattie B’s), there will probably be a line, so I’d recommend saving those for last so you can use the wait time to digest haha. I kind of already spoiled which was my favorite, but some fun places to check out on your own hot chicken crawl are:

• Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack
• Helen’s Hot Chicken (a close second!!! 21st ave location)
• 400 Degrees
• The Southern V (100% vegan!)
• Hattie B’s
• Lilly’s Hot Chicken (at the Nashville Farmers Market!)
• Mack’s Hot Chicken (farther away, but worth the drive!)

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Of course, it’s my humble opinion that you can’t go to Nashville without learning a lil bit about country music, and you will get all of that and WAY more at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. It’s MASSIVE. There is no free parking and I do recommend buying your tickets online as it’s cheaper. Even with pre-bought tickets, they stagger entry with a line by entry time because there is just THAT many people trying to visit.

It’s worth it though.

The museum starts allllll the way from the beginning – from the genres and influences that created country music. To my surprise, YES the museum acknowledged that Black people made country music as we know it today. Which, I knew, but was pleasantly impressed that such a big attraction in Tennessee said the quiet part out loud. Good. More of that everywhere please.

From the beginning, it takes you through all the musical progression of the genre, including touching on the musicians, producers, writers, and even audiences of country music. It’s very well done and thorough, and with all of the memorabilia, it’s fun too! Then you’ll go through the country hall of fame as well as an exhibition of the current wave makers in the industry – I was soooo sad that I had JUST missed Lil Nas X’s piece, but got a heads up on a lot of new rising stars in country music. I’m hoping to see Tanner Adell and my friend Brijon Lanae up there soon!

It’s a huge museum, with a lot of great content inside. Definitely a must for your Nashville itinerary. I’d recommend budgeting for at least 2 hours.

National Museum of African American Music

ANOTHER absolute MUST for your Nashville itinerary, and the hands down favorite activity from my trip, is the National Museum of African American Music. I was sooo lucky with the timing of my trip because it had literally just opened the year prior in 2021.

America was built by Black people.

It should be no surprise that its music was too.

The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), the only museum of its kind dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of Black music in America – can I get a woop woop!?! Not only is it one of the best things to do on your Nashville itinerary, but ALSO one of the best Black history museums in the USA.

Through multiple exhibitions, the museum walks you through the roots of each American genre and how *spoiler* they all tie back to Black people and their contributions to music in America. The NMAAM is also highly interactive, with listening booths, record mixing games, and even a dance studio!

It’s open daily and I’d also recommend budgeting at least two hours for this museum. If you can only pick ONE music museum, I’d vote this one over the Country Music Museum because the NMAAM is so beautifully well done and offers a lot of novel and specific information to a ton of genres – including country!

While I didn’t have time for it, someone in the museum mentioned a sightseeing tour called Soul of America, which explores the influences of African Americans on Nashville’s past, present, and future. Let me know in the comments below if you’ve done it. I’m definitely putting it on my Nashville itinerary for next time!

Mural Hopping

Nashville is nicknamed Music City, but honestly it might need to consider switching to Mural City because boy there are A LOTTTT. If you’re a fan of street art, or even if you aren’t and just want a cool backdrop for your photos, then grab your comfiest walking shoes and get ready to add mural hopping to your Nashville itinerary!

I found a few of the most popular ones, like Draper James (Reese Witherspoon’s clothing and home store) and the ‘I Believe in Nashville,’ but I have to admit that I only hopped around to like four because it had started to rain. If you want a comprehensive list of great street art, check out my friend Tara’s post on where to find the coolest murals in Nashville. See, told y’all she knew her Nashville! Go give her a follow too!

Shopping

Anddd of course, one of my favorite things to do in any city is to shop and check out all the little boutiques. I mean, there’s not too much to say about this section, other than supporting small business owners is dope and fun, but here are my favs to add to your Nashville itinerary!

• L&L Market: okay, technicallyyy this one is more of a shopping destination, as there’s food (including a charcuterie conveyor belt bar!!!), salons, fitness studios, and a coworking space. Super cute!
• Sylven Supply Shopping: Again, its a whole destination with office, retail, and dining spaces. Nashville loves to repurpose (good for them)!
• The Trenches Gallery: Cute streetwear
• Alkebu-Lan Images: Bookstore centering Black stories

Nashville FAQs

Just a few other random questions I got about my trip to round out this Nashville itinerary!

Is Nashville safe?

Personally, I felt sufficiently safe in Nashville.

The areas I went to were very well trafficked and at times felt more like Disney Springs or Universal City Walk than an actual city. It didn’t feel like I stuck out or feel uncomfortable as a Black woman, and in general Nashville felt diverse enough where we were never the only brown faces in a room.

That said…there were a lot of intoxicated folks. While there were security and police supervising the rowdier bar areas, unfortunate escalations CAN happen when alcohol is involved. Thankfully, all was gucci on my trip and the only mishap was the person waiting in line in front of me (on my hot chicken run lol) threw up all over the floor.

I don’t have experience navigating Nashville’s nightlife as a solo female traveler though, so sorry I have no insight on for your Nashville itinerary, but check my other post for general safety tips for solo female travelers.

Is Nashville good for a bachelor/bachelorette party?

OMG YES!! Fantastic in fact – according to the numbers anyway. Like I said, there was a reason I had compared it to Las Vegas in my mind, and that was because I’ve heard of so many people going for their pre-wedding parties.

Of course, I wasn’t there for that, but I did see a ton of party buses and pedal beer tours during our trip. All of the bars playing live music and offering karaoke make for a great time as well.

What time do bars close in Nashville?

We didn’t stay out that late, but most of the bars in Nashville close at 3am.

Where does the name “Nashville” come from?

Well…this is all Indigenous land, right? A lot of times, if you see the name of something, but don’t recognize its meaning (in English), then there’s a good chance that the name stems from an Indigenous name or word.

So, to start, “Tennessee” is derived from a Cherokee village named “Tanasi,” located in what is now Monroe County (between Knoxville and Chattanooga). However, unlike Chattanooga (which is derived from its Cherokee name Chado-na-ugsa), the name Nashville does not have Indigenous roots.

BOOOOO!!! TOMATO TOMATO!!!

Nashville was named after Fort Nashborough which was used by colonists to invade Middle Tennessee and steal its resources. The name Fort Nashborough comes from American Revolution veteran Francis Nash….who owned slaves.

BOOOOO!!! TOMATO TOMATO!!!

While I couldn’t find much on what Nashville was called before Nashville, back in 1300 AD, it WAS the largest Native American city in what we now call the United States of America. In fact, it was one of the largest cities in the world.

Yes, THE WORLD.

Archaeologist estimate the population of “Nashville” was about 400,000 people. For reference, that made it larger than both Paris (200,000) and Mexico City Tenochtitlan (300,000), while London was about 500,000 people. The largest cities around that time were Hangzhou, China and Cairo, Egypt estimated to have populations between 600,000-800,00 people.

So even on the global scale, “Nashville” was big yall. And yet…I still can’t find its name…

Until then, I am patiently waiting on my Libby library to stock a copy of “Native American Wisdom” by Cherokee activist, journalist, and author Albert Bender of Nashville. There is still an ongoing battle today to protect, research, and preserve its Indigenous history.

Nashville Itinerary: Conclusion

Hey, I don’t want to toot my own horn, but as far as city travel guides go, I’d say this Nashville itinerary was way more on topic than usual hahah.

YOU’RE WELCOME!!

Anyways, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading and as always, let me know in the comments below if you have any suggestions to add to my Nashville itinerary. It’s a big city so I’m sure I’m missing at least some gems! Have a good one friends 🙂

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