Nashville is an amazing city! Filled with incredible country music, Southern hospitality, and hot chicken, it’s a hub for young people (and the young at heart!) looking for a great time.
There’s no doubt the first thing you’ll want to do in Music City is find your way to Broadway and bar hop until your cowgirl boots start to hurt. However, after a couple nights taking in everything the Nashville Main Street bars have to offer, you may be looking for more unique things to do in Nashville.
Here is a comprehensive list of unique attractions in Nashville that don’t include drinking beer and listening to country stars at Jason Aldean’s bar – not to say that isn’t an amazing way to spend an evening!
17 Unique Things To Do in Nashville
1. Go Mural Hunting
If you are exploring Nashville by foot, you are bound to come across at least one of the city’s beautiful murals. Nashville has tons of amazing art covering the sides of buildings, bridges, parking garages – literally everywhere!
Check out my recent post that gives a complete guide to all the murals in Nashville. Walking through each neighborhood and taking pictures with friends in front of iconic pieces of art is one of the most fun things to do in Nashville Tennessee.
Whether you are in 12 South or East Nashville (or any neighborhood!), you will see incredible murals – so keep your eyes peeled!
2. Go to the Johnny Cash Museum
Located right on Broadway, amidst some of the most famous saloons, you’ll find the Johnny Cash Museum. This is a great activity to do with a small or large group and won’t take up too much time of your day!
Inside, you’ll view real outfits Johnny Cash and June Carter wore, you’ll listen to some of his first hits and learn lots of super cool facts (like what kind of snacks Willie Nelson liked in his dressing room!).
There are tons of great photo ops, and it’s a fantastic way to get into the history of one of country music’s most influential artists! Be sure to stop in the gift shop on your way out to get some awesome Johnny Cash gear.
Tickets can be purchased at the door or online and they are $25.95 each. Check out the Johnny Cash Museum Website for more info!
Address: 119 3rd Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201
3. Go on a Taco Tour
It is said that the official food of Nashville is hot chicken, however, I have to throw in my two cents and argue that street tacos are a close second.
Nashville is chock full of Mexican restaurants and absolutely delicious, authentic tacos. Check out my post on The Complete Guide to the Best Taco Spots in Nashville.
One of the best kept secrets in Nashville is that tacos is actually the food of the. city, not hot chicken! 🤣
4. Go Shopping for Vintage Guitars
If you play music (or just really like guitars), a super unique thing to do in Nashville is to visit Carter’s Vintage Guitars. At Carter’s you’ll find a small warehouse of some of the coolest guitars I’ve ever seen.
You’ll find every kind of guitar in every style and color imaginable! Some have been designed by some pretty big country stars.
The store encourages that you give a guitar a try if you’re really serious about a purchasing. Make sure you stop by Carter’s if your in the market for a new six string. And be sure to take a pic in front of their epic mural!
This not-so hidden gem in Nashville is perfect for guitar lovers!
Address: 625 8th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
5. Go to the Parthenon in Centennial Park
Did you know there is a true-to-scale replica of the Parthenon right in the heart of Nashville? Well we sure didn’t! But after googling top things to do in Nashville, Jonnie’s Greek heritage was yearning to visit this place. And man, it did not disappoint.
This structure was built in 1897 as part of the Nashville Centennial Exposition. It was created alongside other replicas of famous structures to celebrate cultures from across the globe.
Originally built with plywood, the restructure was rebuilt in concrete in the mid to late 1920’s.
Today it stands as a true marvel in the Nashville Centennial Park complete with a replica of the Athena Parthenos statue inside.
I highly recommend taking the time to see the Parthenon in Nashville – seriously unlike anything you’ll find in Music City.
It’s one of the best Nashville places to go if you are looking for unique and immersive museums and historical sights!
Address: 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203
6. Take a Tour of the Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery
Another super unique attraction nearby Nashville is Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery.
Just a short drive from Downtown, this historic estate was previously owned by one of the richest families in Tennessee and owners of some of the most successful Kentucky Derby horses.
This plantation style mansion sits on vast acres of land that is now a thriving winery and distillery.
At the Belle Meade Estate you can opt to take a tour of the mansion and grounds, go for a wine tasting, enjoy a bourbon experience or do a self-guided tour.
My fiancé and I opted for the wine tasting and mansion tour combo and learned so much about the rich history of the estate.
You’ll walk the the very old and creaky halls of the mansion, learn how the family fits in the history of Tennessee, and get to finish it off with a tasting of their delicious wines.
Belle Meade Estate is one of the most exciting places to see in Nashville and I highly recommend adding to your Tennessee itinerary!
Address: 5025 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205
7. Go Hat Shopping
After our audition in Nashville, Jonnie and I were ready to have some fun! And with that we just started walking and came upon this adorable hat shop – HatWrks! Inside there were plenty of cowboy hats, wide brimmed hats, hats with feathers.. SO many!
They even had lots of great western shirts to peruse as well. If you are ready to get into the true Nashville style, pick out a great new hat for your vacation.
Jonnie picked out this one – it was very fitting for the trip 🙂
Address: 1027 8th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
8. Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
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Located in the center of town is one of the must-see attractions in Nashville. The Country Music Hall of Fame is filled with memorabilia, artifacts, instruments, and rare recordings from the best country stars of all time! Learn how the Nashville music scene came to be at one of the best museums in town.
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Be sure to grab tickets and peruse some of your favorite artists’ clothes and instruments, as well as which new stars were inducted into the Hall of Fame!
Tickets start at $27.95 for the museum only but you can tack on access to the Hatch Show Print Tour and the Historic RCA Studio B Tour for a total of $49.95 each. Definitely worth spending an afternoon exploring these historic exhibits in Nashville! Learn more at their website here!
Address: 222 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN 37203
9. Tour the Grand Ole Opry
When you think of country music, it’s likely the Grand Ole Opry also comes to mind! For over 100 years, the Grand Ole Opry has been the true home to country music, debuting the biggest stars in the genre.
From Johnny Cash to Carrie Underwood… if you’ve played at the Opry, you’ve certainly made it!
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The Opry offers backstage tours, a special Women of Country Tour, and a post-show backstage tour. They also offer packages where you can add a visit to Ryman Auditorium!
Each experience gives you access to see behind the curtain of country’s most influential stage as well as unique stories about your favorite country stars! Check out all information on tours here!
You can also book tickets for a show at the Grand Ole Opry. Check out their calendar; your favorite artist just might be passing through!
Address: 600 Opry Mills Drive Nashville, TN 37214
10. Visit Ryman Auditorium
Over 130 years ago, Ryman Auditorium was built to be a grand church for the community of Nashville to gather and worship in.
Over the course of many decades, it eventually became one of Music City’s most established music venues booking the likes of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and even more recently Harry Styles (and sooo many more!).
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Today, Ryman Auditorium is a place for concerts and tours. There are many experiences to choose from: a self-guided tour (that includes a visit to Johnny Cash’s tour bus), a Haunted History Tour, a guided backstage tour, as well as VIP Tours!
Check out all the info on their unique tours here!
Ryman also hosts concerts constantly – some of country’s biggest stars come through as well as up and coming artists and comedy shows! Check out the Ryman Auditorium calendar to see if your favorite artist will be town the same time you are.
It’s definitely one of the top cool things to do Nashville for music lovers.
Address: 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North, Nashville, TN 37219
11. Visit the National Museum of African American Music
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Another great museum you must check out while walking the streets of Nashville is the National Museum of African American Music. NMAAM is home to exhibits that are dedicated to preserving the history of African American influence on country music.
At NMAAM, you’ll find exquisite exhibits telling the history of religious music, blues, jazz and R&B and how the African American influence was ever so present.
Be sure to stop here on your stroll on Broadway. General admission adult tickets are $26.95. Find out more info here!
Address: 510 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
12. Record a Song in a Real Recording Studio!
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Ready to make it big while in Nashville? Well at NashVox Recording Studio, your dreams of becoming the next Taylor Swift could come true!
One of the most unique things an aspiring singer (or anyone!) can do while visiting Nashville is go to a professional recording studio and record a song.
Whether you can play an instrument or just want to take your singing skills beyond your shower, the knowledgable sound engineers at NashVox can record a professional song for you and/or a group of friends.
They have lots of different experiences available: 2 hour songwriting sessions, group song recording sessions, and more!
Check out everything they offer on their booking page here. This is one of the best things to do in Nashville TN for a bachelorette weekend activity.
Address: 634 4th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37210
13. Go Zip Lining
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Not only is Tennessee home to Music City, it’s also home to rolling hills and gorgeous views – a perfect setting for zip lining!
If you’re looking to spend some thrilling time outdoors, be sure to check out AdventureWorks Zip Lining in White Creeks. Just 11 miles from Downtown Nashville across the Cumberland River, you’ll be faced with some of the most thrilling zip lining in the South.
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Nestled in the treetops of North Nashville, you’ll embark on a 90 minute tour across 9 different zip lines! Tickets are $65.90 per person. Check out more information on the AdventureWorks website.
Address: 4129 Whites Creek Pike, Whites Creek, TN 37189
14. Take a Line Dancing Class
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Ready to own the dance floor while you bar hop Broadway? Well, taking a line dancing class will certainly help with that! At Wildhorse Saloon, they offer FREE line dancing classes on one of the biggest dance floors in Nashville.
This is one of the most exciting free things to do in Nashville so I highly recommend dancing your way over to Wildhorse Saloon.
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This is one of the most unique things to do in Nashville for couples! You’ll have a blast and leave with some pretty authentic line dancing moves you can try out at the next bar.
They also offer ticketed events with live music – be sure to check that out the show calendar on their website.
Address: 120 2nd Ave N Nashville, TN 37201
15. Stroll Through the Nashville Farmers Market
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If you want to feel like a local in Nashville, be sure to stop at the Nashville Farmers Market. Located in Downtown Nashville (right across from the Capitol building) you’ll find a sanctuary for local farmers, artisans, and restaurants.
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The Nashville Farmers Market has 2 outdoor areas, a 27,000 square foot indoor garden center, and an international food hall home to over 20 vendors!
Here you’ll have access to Nashville’s freshest foods, unique eats, and hand crafted souvenirs. You may even find some delicious Nashville desserts, made fresh and locally!
Be sure to check out their hours for the dates you’re visiting – although the food hall and garden center are open year round! This is one of the best things to do in Nashville TN if you want to feel like a local.
16. Visit Cheekwood Estate and Gardens
Cheekwood Estate is a 55-acre garden complete with mansions, art museums, botanical wonders, and rich Nashville history.
Originally built in the 1800s, this estate is a foundation of American history and now serves as a destination for tourists and locals alike.
Spend a day exploring the luscious gardens, grand mansions, and unique museums. Cheekwood is complete with art exhibits, live music events, and daily experiences for guests.
It’s one of the best sites to visit in Nashville on a relaxing afternoon. Learn more at Cheekwood Estate’s official website here – it’s one of best hidden gems in Nashville!
Address: 1200 Forrest Park Drive Nashville, TN 37205
17. Go to the Gaylord Opryland Resort
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Last on my list of unique things to do in Nashville is to visit the amazing Gaylord Opryland Resort! This amazing resort complex is home to unique activities that can be enjoyed by guests of the hotel or even just visitors!
If you are able to splurge and stay the night at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, I highly recommend purchasing their SoundWaves Experience Overnight Package.
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SoundWaves is an incredible 111,000 square foot indoor waterpark complete with upscale water attractions, cabanas, and experiences for the whole family.
The only guaranteed way to have access to the SoundWaves waterpark experience is to purchase the overnight package, so be sure to reserve this if you are interested!
There are plenty of activities you can do if you are just visiting the Gaylord Opryland Hotel – golf, dine at restaurants, shop, or even enjoy their spa services.
If you are looking to have an indulgent night out (or overnight!) the Gaylord Opryland Hotel is the spot for you! Check out everything they offer at their website here.
Address: 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
And that’s my wrap on the 17 most unique things to see and do in Nashville Tennessee! Music City has so many amazing experiences beyond bar crawling on Broadway. I hope you take the time to check out at least one of these awesome attractions on your next trip to Nashville!
Planning a Nashville Vacation? Check out these Nashville blog posts:
🌮 All The Best Taco Spots in Nashville – Delicious and Authentic!
🍪 Best Places to Get Dessert in Nashville, TN
🖼️ Where to Find ALL the Most Instagrammable Nashville Murals
🤠 Every Bar on Broadway in Nashville You Must Visit for an EPIC Night Out!
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