When it comes to picking a city for a short three-day adventure, there are few better than Nashville, Tennessee. Being America’s Music City, Nashville has an unrivaled live music scene and a storied country music past. 

In combination with a plethora of excellent restaurants, rooftop bars, parks and museums, you will have plenty to keep yourself busy. There’s no doubt, however, that the big attraction for many is the fun to be had on Nashville’s Honky Tonk Highway. 

Our three days in Nashville guide will take you all around the city and show you the spots to hit as you venture down the city’s iconic lower Broadway. Let’s get started!

Where to Stay

If you plan on experiencing the action on lower Broadway to the fullest, then you can’t go wrong staying within the downtown district. Hotels and hostels aren’t the cheapest, but you will have everything within walking distance. Airbnb also presents as a great alternative.

For a bit more space from the noise and a stronger community vibe, place yourself within the Gulch or 12South. East Nashville has a lot going on with galleries and a burgeoning dining scene. Staying here will put many attractions out of walking distance, but will allow you to explore a part of Nashville few travelers see.

When to Go

Being in the south, Nashville can get pretty hot during the summer and crowds flock to the happening city. But this is also when many of the top festivals come to town. Broadway goes to another level, and the atmosphere reaches its peak.

If you want to do more exploration, especially on foot, you can’t go wrong coming in the spring and fall. Both are beautiful times of the year. With Nashville being a year-round destination, the fun downtown barely dissipates, so along with the mild winters, there’s never a bad time to visit.

Country Music Hall of Fame. 4kclips/Shutterstock

Day 1: Museums, the Bluebird & Broadway

Depending on your reasons for traveling to Nashville, you may want to simply take in the music and scenes on Broadway. Not that we’d blame you, but before Nashville really heats up, check off some of the city’s popular attractions, starting with the Country Music Hall of Fame. Just steps away from Broadway, this is the perfect place to brush up on your music knowledge before boot-scootin your way down the Honky Tonk Highway.

After opening in 1964, the Hall of Fame has become more than just hallowed ground for iconic musicians. They also preserve and promote the history of country, bluegrass and other genres in one of the largest music museums in the world. 

Inside, you will find anything from guitars once held by Carrie Underwood, to the famous Elvis Presley Cadillac limousine. All up, there are more than 800 stage costumes, hundreds of instruments, along with artifacts and displays that tell the story of country music through time. When in Nashville, there’s no better place to start.