71 Best Sights in Nashville, Tennessee

The State Capitol was designed by noted Philadelphia architect William Strickland (1788–1854), who was so impressed with his Greek Revival creation that he requested—and received—entombment behind one of the building's walls. On the grounds you'll also find the graves of the 11th U.S. president, James K. Polk, and his wife.

In 2018, the Tennessee State Museum relocated from Downtown to its own building in Germantown, right next to the popular Nashville Farmers' Market. Visitors to the museum will find thousands of artifacts and pieces of art in the museum's permanent collection, as well as periodic rotating exhibitions, all telling the story of Tennessee and its people. Admission to the museum is always free.

Helmed by owner Susan Tinney, Tinney Contemporary displays contemporary paintings, photography, drawings, and beyond in a stylish space on 5th Avenue. The gallery offers full-service art consultation, from purchasing to installation, and participates in the First Saturday Downtown Art Crawl on the first Saturday of each month.

This 374-acre park along the Cumberland River has more recreational activities than any other park in Nashville. To name just a few, there’s a skate park, golf course, and small water park called Wave Country, featuring a wave pool and several slides. The Two Rivers Dog Park is one of the largest in the city, and there’s a walking track around the perimeter so you can jog or walk while your dog frolics. The Stones River Greenway is a 10.2-mile paved trail that runs straight through Two Rivers Park, ending in the Cumberland River Pedestrian Bridge that leads east across the river to Shelby Bottoms Park. In addition to the natural sights provided by leafy green Tennessee, you may pass a beautiful Italianate mansion on your walk. That’s Two Rivers Mansion, an 1859 plantation home that’s now used as a private venue for weddings and events.

More than 300 acres of Vanderbilt University's campus is a designated arboretum, with more than 6,000 trees, that can be explored using self-guided tours available via smartphone. Numerous trees have plaques that tell visitors the story of their ecological and historical significance, while others have QR codes that visitors can scan with their phones to learn more about a specific species. Visit the website for specific tour information and start locations.

This rare patch of green in Nashville's urban core features a walkway of stars commemorating many of the people who turned the city into Music City, USA. Visitors will find plaques with the names of iconic country stars like Johnny Cash, Reba McEntire, Loretta Lynn, Alan Jackson, and Dolly Parton alongside surprising names of stars with connections to Nashville from other genres such as Little Richard, Jimi Hendrix, Kid Rock, Steve Winwood, Peter Frampton, and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. It's "Music City," not just "Country Music City." 

For those who want the quintessential Gulch photo op, head to artist Kelsey Montague's Instagram-famous mural right off 11th Avenue South. The sprawling 20-foot white wings are filled with little design nods to the Music City like guitars, along with dreamy abstractions that add to the ethereal feeling. There's even a smaller set of wings that are perfect for kids or pets, so everyone can get their perfect shot. The line can get long, especially during the weekends, so this is a great way to kill some time while you're waiting for a restaurant table nearby. 

All the Nashville classics are amassed here at the Willie Nelson and Friends Museum and General Store: fringe leather goods, zebra print flasks, cowboy hats, fudge, Goo Goo Clusters, and Donald Trump voodoo dolls. At the back of the general store, buy a ticket and go through the door on your right into the 5,000-square-foot museum. There you’ll find instruments, awards, photos, costumes, and other Willie Nelson memorabilia on display. Even if you’re not a huge Willie Nelson fan, the “and Friends” part of the Willie Nelson and Friends Museum may entice you. There's also memorabilia from the likes of Waylon Jennings, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner, and dozens of other country music superstars.

The 133 lush green acres of Woodlawn Memorial Park have served as the final resting space for generations of Nashvillians, including many major country music stars whose grave sites are open for visits from tour groups or individuals. Among those buried in Woodlawn are George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, Little Jimmy Dickens, Jerry Reed, Webb Pierce, Johnny Paycheck, Marty Robbins, and Porter Wagoner. The beautiful Lynn Anderson Rose Garden pays homage to the late-great songstress and her greatest hit.

The anchor of the Wedgewood-Houston art scene, this gallery shares space with an architectural studio responsible for designing several of Nashville’s most stylish popular spaces. Zeitgeist shows artists who explore daring concepts through intelligent sophisticated work. The gallery's receptions draw a large knowledgeable crowd of local art insiders.