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This post is all about how to spend 3 days in Nashville and details a complete Nashville itinerary.
Exploring Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is such a unique place to visit and once you arrive you’ll quickly realize how it earned the nickname Music City. The last time I was in Nashville was for Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” and the excited buzz in the city was something I’d never experienced before! On top of the amazing music scene, Nashville has so much to offer including incredible food and interesting history.
When is the best time to visit Nashville?
The shoulder seasons are great times to visit Nashville. Spring (May-June) and Fall (September-October) are the seasons with the least crowds, enjoyable weather and great events. Overall, there is something to experience in Nashville at every season with beautiful Christmas decor in December and fantastic outdoor adventures in the summer months. If you’re travelling on a budget, try booking from January to March as these tend to be the most affordable seasons.
Is 3 days in Nashville enough?
Yes, 3 days is an excellent amount of time to explore Nashville! I’d definitely recommend 3 days as the perfect introduction to Nashville! If you have more time, it would allow you to explore a little more and adventure to some of the sights outside of the city such as the cute town of Franklin, Tennessee.
What food is Nashville known for?
Nashville is known for it’s hot chicken. There are so many delicious restaurants to choose from, and many different levels of spice, so it’s a fun and tasty food to try with the whole family! Of course, Nashville has many other unique food and drink options such as trying the delicious Nashville barbecue and biscuits, the unique Five Daughters Bakery donuts, and sampling Tennessee Whiskey.
Is Nashville a walkable city?
Yes, Nashville was recently ranked the second most walkable city in the United States for tourists. The Downtown area is very walkable making it easy to see all of the best sights! If you’re interested in exploring more city neighbourhoods then renting a car, taking public transit or a taxi are great options. You can learn more about Nashville’s transportation options here.
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Nashville Itinerary
This 3-day Nashville itinerary is in no particular order. Feel free to switch days around and pick out the activities or restaurants that you will enjoy the most. To make your trip planning easier, I recommend you check out the Nashville Itinerary map which is available in the Free Resource Library. It will have each of the locations below labelled and saved in one place!
Day 1
Start your first full day in Nashville in the Gulch. My recommendation is to grab brunch at Biscuit Love. Enjoy a delicious biscuit-centred breakfast to fuel your day of activities! Spend a slow morning wandering the Gulch ensuring to check out the WhatLiftsYou Wings Mural, Grace’s Alley, and Noble Park. There are also lots of great shops to explore! Lastly, don’t forget to stop by Sundae Club for some tasty ice cream!
Next, take transit or a short drive over to the Nashville Farmers Market. It is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. but each vendor has their own hours. You can read more and see the most up to date hours of operation here. Grab some lunch at the market and enjoy exploring the shops. I highly recommend you check out Made in TN.
From the market, it’s a close 12 minute walk over to the Musicians Hall of Fame. Ensure you walk through the beautiful Bicentennial Park along the way. The museum closes at 5:00 p.m. so if time allows, and you’re a music fan, definitely stop in to explore before it closes.
End the night by heading to the Honky Tonk Highway for dinner, drinks, and possibly some dancing. This street of country bars and restaurants will keep you entertained all evening long! There is no cover charge so it’s recommended to hop from bar to bar to find one that you like. We loved the food we had at Jason Aldean’s so definitely stop in there for dinner! You can read more about must-visit honky-tonks here.

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Day 2
Start day 2 by enjoying a delicious breakfast or brunch at the Frothy Monkey. Then, enjoy the 15 minute walk over to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Don’t forget to walk through the Walk of Fame Park on the way there! You can learn more about ticket prices and museum hours here. Plan to spend about 2 hours here especially if you opt for the audio tour, which is recommended as it provides so much more detail.
After your journey through the museum, walk over to Assembly Food Hall for lunch. This spot has a variety of food options with 30+ eateries and bars to choose from. There are often events going on as well such as seasonal markets, trivia and karaoke! Make sure to save some room for dessert and treat yourself with a delicious donut from the famous Five Daughters Bakery.
For the next stop of the day, walk across the street to the Ryman Auditorium. You can book a tour of this iconic and historic music venue on the Ryman Auditorium site. They have both self-guided and VIP tour options. Plan to spend no longer than 1-2 hours exploring this spot.
When you’re ready for dinner, head over to Hattie B’s to try the local speciality, hot chicken. Choose from a variety of different heat levels and enjoy the multitude of savory sides offered.
End the day by sitting down for a performance at the iconic BlueBird Cafe. Regardless of who is performing, it’s an incredible environment to be in. You can learn more about BlueBird Cafe showtimes and tickets here. Definitely ensure you get your tickets in advance! The BlueBird Cafe is a little outside of Nashville’s downtown core. You can take a 15 minute taxi to the cafe or a 32 minute ride on the #7 bus.
Day 3
To begin your last day in Nashville, try breakfast at the Pancake Pantry. This spot has been in business for over 50 years and serves 23+ varieties of pancakes! It is extremely popular, typically with visitors lining up outside to try these iconic pancakes. I recommend going early for a delicious start to your day!
Next, take the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge over the Cumberland River and enjoy a stroll along the East Bank Greenway. This is also an excellent location for a beautiful sunset walk!
In the early afternoon, book a distillery and/or brewery tour. There are so many local tastings to explore in the Nashville area, specifically the famous Tennessee Whiskey. Be sure to book your tour in advance of your trip!
Explore my favourite Nashville tastings on Viator ⬇️
To end an amazing trip in Nashville, book tickets for a show at the Grand Ole Opry. The Grand Ole Opry also offers a backstage tour where you can learn about the almost 100-year history of this incredible country music venue. There are daytime tours, and post-show tours. If you’re following this itinerary, I recommend you book a post-show tour. Most shows start at 7:00 p.m. You can book tour tickets and show tickets directly on their website.
Getting Out of The City
If you have some extra time in your Nashville itinerary, I highly recommend that you explore Franklin, Tennessee and make a trip to the Arrington Vineyards. From downtown Nashville, Franklin is only a 35 minute drive and Arrington is about a 50 minute drive. You can read more about both locations in this guide.
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