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Tennessee, United States

Downtown Nashville

Two nights downtown for Lower Broadway, the Ryman and the Music Note Drop. We have mapped 1 sight, 2 activities and 3 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Downtown Nashville with friendsBrowse 9 places
Downtown Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Places
9

1 See · 2 Do · 3 Eat · 2 Drink · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Nashville New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
August

32°C / 90°F avg high

Coolest month
January

8°C / 46°F avg high

Wettest month
February

about 129 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Nashville, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in Downtown Nashville

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

1 sight worth building a day around in SoBro.

  • John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in Downtown NashvillePhoto: dconvertini · CC BY-SA 2.0
    See

    John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge

    Lit 1909 truss bridge over the Cumberland, now pedestrian-only, with the best skyline view in the city.

    Tip Cross after dinner on Dec 30 for the skyline without the New Year's Eve crowds.

    • SoBro
    • Free
    • 40 min
    • After dark

Do

2 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Bicentennial Mall and Downtown.

  • Music City Midnight in Downtown NashvillePhoto: Thegreenj · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Do

    Music City Midnight

    Free New Year's Eve concert at Bicentennial Capitol Mall, ending with the Music Note Drop and fireworks at midnight.

    Tip Arrive by 8 p.m. for a spot with a view of the stage and the Capitol behind it.

    • Bicentennial Mall
    • Free
    • 4 hr
    • Evening to midnight
  • Do

    Ryman Auditorium

    The 1892 Mother Church of Country Music, home of the Opry for 31 years, with its own New Year's Eve concerts.

    Tip Old Crow Medicine Show played the Ryman on New Year's Eve 2023; check the December lineup early.

    • Downtown
    • $$$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Evening

Eat

Where we would book a table in Downtown Nashville across Rutledge Hill, The Gulch and Lower Broadway.

  • Eat

    Husk

    Southern restaurant in a Victorian house on Rutledge Hill, cooking only with ingredients from the South.

    • Rutledge Hill
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner
  • Eat

    Kayne Prime

    Steakhouse in the Gulch from the M Street group, known for wagyu and a long wine list.

    • The Gulch
    • $$$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner
  • Eat

    Jack's Bar-B-Que

    Counter-service barbecue on Broadway since the 1970s: pulled pork, brisket and Tennessee whole-hog.

    Tip A quick, cheap meal before heading up to Bicentennial Mall.

    • Lower Broadway
    • $
    • 40 min
    • Early evening

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Downtown Nashville in Lower Broadway.

  • Robert's Western World in Downtown NashvillePhoto: Mx. Granger · CC0
    Drink

    Robert's Western World

    Lower Broadway honky-tonk with traditional country bands from late morning to late night and no cover.

    Tip Order the fried bologna sandwich, the house classic.

    • Lower Broadway
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon
  • Tootsie's Orchid Lounge in Downtown NashvillePhoto: FaceMePLS · CC BY 2.0
    Drink

    Tootsie's Orchid Lounge

    Purple-fronted honky-tonk behind the Ryman, open since 1960, with three stages and a rooftop bar.

    • Lower Broadway
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Evening

Stay

1 place to stay we would book in Downtown.

  • Stay

    The Hermitage Hotel

    Beaux-Arts hotel from 1910 on Sixth Avenue, a 10-minute walk from both Broadway and Bicentennial Mall.

    • Downtown
    • $$$$

How to fit Downtown Nashville into a trip

Downtown Nashville is stop 1 of 2 on our Nashville New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift Downtown Nashville into your own plan.

Weather by month, based on Nashville

Our climate figures for Downtown Nashville come from Nashville, about 1 km (1 mi) away. Average daily highs run from 8°C / 46°F in January to 32°C / 90°F in August. February is the wettest month, with about 129 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Nashville. Nashville weather (covers Downtown Nashville) →

Near Downtown Nashville

8 other destinations from our guides within about 250 km (155 mi), measured in a straight line.

Downtown Nashville questions, answered

How many days do you need in Downtown Nashville?

Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Downtown Nashville. On our Nashville New Year's Eve route it is stop 1 of 2 in a 3-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 14 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Downtown Nashville best known for?

Two nights downtown for Lower Broadway, the Ryman and the Music Note Drop. Standouts on our list: John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge (Lit 1909 truss bridge over the Cumberland, now pedestrian-only, with the best skyline view in the city); Music City Midnight (Free New Year's Eve concert at Bicentennial Capitol Mall, ending with the Music Note Drop and fireworks at midnight); Ryman Auditorium (The 1892 Mother Church of Country Music, home of the Opry for 31 years, with its own New Year's Eve concerts).

When is the best time to visit Downtown Nashville?

Our Nashville New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby Nashville put the warmest highs in August (32°C / 90°F), the coolest in January (8°C / 46°F) and the most rain in February (about 129 mm).

What are the best things to do in Downtown Nashville?

Start with Music City Midnight, John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge and Ryman Auditorium. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 1 sight, 2 activities, 3 places to eat, 2 bars & cafés and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in Downtown Nashville?

Our picks: Husk (Rutledge Hill); Kayne Prime (The Gulch); Jack's Bar-B-Que (Lower Broadway). A quick, cheap meal before heading up to Bicentennial Mall (Jack's Bar-B-Que).

What is near Downtown Nashville?

The closest destinations in our guides are Lower Broadway (about 1 km / 1 mi), Nashville (about 1 km / 1 mi) and The Gulch (about 2 km / 1 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Downtown Nashville with your crew

Open the Nashville New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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