USA · Destination Guide
Nashville
Tennessee, USA
Nashville announces itself the moment you step outside. The neon glow of Broadway, the sound of live music spilling from every doorway, the smell of hot chicken and barbecue in the air. Music City is one of the most alive cities in the United States, and it has been reinventing itself so successfully over the past decade that it now attracts visitors from around the world who would never have considered Tennessee a destination a few years ago.
But Nashville is not just Broadway. It has brilliant food, genuine culture, a thriving arts scene and enough history to fill a week. Three days gives you a solid taste. Five days lets you go deeper and find the neighbourhoods that the locals love.
Downtown and SoBro (South of Broadway) is the classic first-timer base, putting you walking distance from the honky tonks, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Ryman Auditorium. For something a little more refined and away from the bustle, The Gulch just south of downtown is Nashville's most stylish neighbourhood, with boutique hotels, excellent restaurants and a more grown-up atmosphere. Midtown, next to Vanderbilt University, is quieter and residential, with beautiful Centennial Park nearby. For those who want to feel like a local rather than a tourist, East Nashville across the river has brilliant independent restaurants, coffee shops and bars with a genuinely creative energy.
Broadway itself is unmissable, not because of the tourist bars but because of what it represents. The Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry, is one of the great music venues in the world and tours run daily. The Country Music Hall of Fame is genuinely superb, one of the best music museums anywhere. The Johnny Cash Museum is smaller but deeply moving.
For something beyond the music, the 132-acre Centennial Park is a beautiful green space in the middle of the city and home to a full-scale replica of the Parthenon. The neighbourhood of 12South is a wonderful wander, with independent boutiques, excellent coffee shops and some of Nashville's most photographed murals. The food scene is extraordinary, from iconic hot chicken at Prince's Hot Chicken to superb fine dining in The Gulch.
Nashville is one of the great American city experiences. Loud, warm, proud and full of music. It gets under your skin.
A day trip to Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg, about 90 minutes south, is one of the finest distillery tours in the USA. Alternatively, the nearby Belle Meade Historic Site and winery makes for a beautiful afternoon combining Tennessee history with excellent wine tastings.
Spring from April to early June and autumn from September to early November are the finest times to visit. The weather is mild, the city is lively and the music scene is in full swing. Summer is hot and humid but buzzing with energy. Winter is quieter and good value, with the Christmas period bringing a festive atmosphere to the city.
Direct flights from several UK airports serve Nashville International Airport, typically with one stop, in around ten to eleven hours total travel time. From the airport, a rideshare or taxi to downtown takes around twenty minutes.
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