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Tennessee, United States

Nashville

Music City in Christmas mode; 3 nights for Opryland, the Ryman and Broadway. We have mapped 2 sights, 4 activities and 1 place to eat here, each with a reason to go.

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

2 See · 4 Do · 1 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Nashville & Franklin

Best season
Late Nov – Dec

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.

Things to do in 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

The landmarks we would not skip in Nashville across Downtown and Belmont-Hillsboro.

  • Ryman Auditorium in NashvillePhoto: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Ryman Auditorium

    1892 tabernacle known as the Mother Church of Country Music, hosting Christmas concerts and New Year's Eve shows.

    Tip Daytime self-guided tours are a good backup if evening shows are sold out.

    • Downtown
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Evening
  • Belmont Mansion in NashvillePhoto: Warren LeMay · CC BY-SA 2.0
    See

    Belmont Mansion

    1850s Italianate villa on the Belmont University campus, decorated in period style for the Christmas season.

    Tip Guided tours run through the house; check holiday hours before you go.

    • Belmont-Hillsboro
    • $
    • 75 min
    • Afternoon

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in Nashville across Music Valley, Downtown and Belle Meade.

  • Gaylord Opryland Resort in NashvillePhoto: Patrick Pelletier · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Do

    Gaylord Opryland Resort

    Huge glass-roofed resort whose indoor gardens are strung with lights for A Country Christmas, with the ICE sculpture exhibit.

    Tip The atriums are free to walk; ICE and the dinner shows need tickets.

    • Music Valley
    • $$
    • 3 hr
    • Evening
  • Grand Ole Opry House in NashvillePhoto: Antony-22 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Do

    Grand Ole Opry House

    Home of the Grand Ole Opry, the long-running country music radio show; December brings Opry Country Christmas shows.

    Tip Backstage tours run most days and include the stage circle cut from the Ryman's floor.

    • Music Valley
    • $$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Evening
  • Lower Broadway in NashvillePhoto: dconvertini · CC BY-SA 2.0
    Do

    Lower Broadway

    Strip of neon-lit honky-tonks with live bands playing from late morning until late at night, no cover at most bars.

    Tip Afternoons are calmer and the musicians are just as good.

    • Downtown
    • $
    • 2.5 hr
    • After dark
  • Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS in NashvillePhoto: Vandore · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Do

    Cheekwood Holiday LIGHTS

    Cheekwood's botanical garden and 1930s mansion lit with about a million lights on a mile-long winter walk.

    Tip There are fire pits and s'mores along the path; bring gloves.

    • Belle Meade
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • After dark

Eat

1 place to eat in Bellevue, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Loveless Cafe in NashvillePhoto: Gourneau · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Eat

    Loveless Cafe

    Roadside cafe at the start of the Natchez Trace, serving biscuits, country ham and fried chicken since 1951.

    Tip Weekend waits are long; go on a weekday morning.

    • Bellevue
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Breakfast

Drink

1 bar or café in Downtown for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • Drink

    Robert's Western World

    Classic Broadway honky-tonk with traditional country bands, cold beer and a fried bologna sandwich.

    • Downtown
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Late afternoon

Stay

Places to stay in Nashville in Downtown.

  • The Hermitage Hotel in NashvillePhoto: Warren LeMay · CC BY-SA 2.0
    Stay

    The Hermitage Hotel

    Beaux-Arts hotel from 1910 near the State Capitol, with a marble lobby that is trimmed for the holidays.

    • Downtown
    • $$$$

How to fit Nashville into a trip

Nashville is stop 1 of 2 on our Nashville & Franklin route. Follow it as-is or lift Nashville into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Nashville month by month

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. Nashville weather and the best time to visit →

Near Nashville

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

Nashville questions, answered

How many days do you need in Nashville?

Our route notes suggest 3 nights in Nashville. On our Nashville & Franklin route it is stop 1 of 2 in a 4-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 16 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Nashville best known for?

Music City in Christmas mode; 3 nights for Opryland, the Ryman and Broadway. Standouts on our list: Ryman Auditorium (1892 tabernacle known as the Mother Church of Country Music, hosting Christmas concerts and New Year's Eve shows); Belmont Mansion (1850s Italianate villa on the Belmont University campus, decorated in period style for the Christmas season); Gaylord Opryland Resort (Huge glass-roofed resort whose indoor gardens are strung with lights for A Country Christmas, with the ICE sculpture exhibit).

When is the best time to visit Nashville?

Our Nashville & Franklin route is best Late Nov – Dec. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages 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 Nashville?

Start with Gaylord Opryland Resort, Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium, Lower Broadway and Belmont Mansion. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 2 sights, 4 activities, 1 place to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 place to stay.

What is near Nashville?

The closest destinations in our guides are Lower Broadway (about 0 km / 0 mi), Downtown Nashville (about 1 km / 1 mi) and The Gulch (about 1 km / 1 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Nashville with your crew

Open the Nashville & Franklin 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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