71 Best Sights in Nashville, Tennessee

An exact copy of the Athenian original, Nashville's Parthenon was constructed for Tennessee's 1897 Centennial Exposition. Across the street from Vanderbilt University's campus in Centennial Park, it's a magnificent sight, perched on a gentle green slope beside a duck pond. Inside are the 63-piece Cowan Collection of American Art, temporary exhibits, and the 42-foot Athena Parthenos, the tallest indoor sculpture in the Western world.

This tribute to country music's finest is a full city block long, filled with plaques and exhibits highlighting performers from the old-time favorites to the latest generation of stars, a two-story wall with gold and platinum country records, a theater, and Elvis Presley's "solid-gold" 1960 Cadillac limo referred to as such because it has 24-karat gold-plated trim, 40 coats of a "diamond dust pearl" paint, and a gold-plated TV. Tours of the Historic RCA Studio B recording studio are also run by the museum. Their extensive collection of memorabilia and rotating exhibits make this an essential stop for any music fan or history buff.

Yes, this is a space designed with kids in mind, but there are also several elements that adults can enjoy, such as virtual reality stations, planetarium and laser shows, and the Max Flight: Full Motion simulator. Popular Way Late Play Dates are after-hours events exclusively for adults 21 and older. The Adventure Science Center sits on a bluff with good views of Downtown.

One of Nashville's best destinations for fine art is the campus of Fisk University, just north of Downtown. Visit the Carl Van Vechten Gallery to see works by Picasso, Cézanne, Renoir, and more. Elsewhere on campus, check out murals by Harlem Renaissance artist Aaron Douglas. For summer visitors, be mindful of limited hours.

Nashville has a unique and active arts community, and the city's main art museum reflects that. Instead of focusing on a beefy permanent collection like Atlanta's High Museum, The Frist, which opened in 2001, aims to expose the city's inhabitants and visitors to as many different and disparate artists, mediums, and movements as possible, with multiple rotating exhibitions from the masters of antiquity to modernists. Depending on when you're in town, you can catch anything from an extensive focus on a single artist to an exploration of Impressionism. Visitors can dine in The Frist's alfresco café after perusing thought-provoking exhibitions in the 1930s art deco building that once served as a post office. The historic building is a work of art in and of itself, so build in some time to linger or drop by on a Saturday for an architecture tour. 

Music lovers will revel in the behind-the-scenes peek into Music Row’s storied past at Historic RCA Studio B. Known as Nashville’s “Home of 1,000 Hits,” visitors are permitted into the studio space where hits like Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” Roy Orbison’s “Only the Lonely,” and many more were recorded; guides provide history, commentary, and priceless stories about the likes of Elvis Presley, who recorded more than 240 songs at the studio. Tours depart daily from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and are only available as an add-on to museum admission.

The Nashville Farmers' Market is the crown jewel of the Germantown area, bringing the community and surrounding neighborhood together with food, produce, and special events. Visit on a weekday to take advantage of the market's extensive restaurant offerings, which span myriad international cuisines. Come on the weekend for goods from local farmers and artisans.

Showcasing the contributions of Black musicians to just about every genre of American music from the Civil War era to today, this important museum dedicates more than 50,000 square feet of exhibit space to showcasing the evolution of African American music and performers. Galleries display instruments and performance costumes from the world of spirituals, blues, jazz, gospel, R&B, and hip-hop.

Tucked into a residential section of The Nations, Pennington Distilling Co. is known for its small-batch spirits—award-winning Tennessee whiskey, vodka, crafted cocktails, and boozy coffee—and the friendly experts who guide the distillery tours and tastings with care. Run by Nashville natives Jeff and Jenny Pennington, the distillery also offers immersive experiences like blend-your-own-bottle activities and craft cocktail classes. The hour-long tour does include a tasting, though tastings are offered separately.

A country music shrine, the Ryman Auditorium and Museum was home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The auditorium seats 2,000 for live performances of classical, jazz, pop, gospel, and, of course, country. Self-guided tours include photo ops on the legendary stage and a stroll through the museum, with its photographs and memorabilia of past Ryman Auditorium performances. Visitors can also take a backstage tour of the dressing rooms and even record their own version of a legendary song at the in-house recording studio.

A much-loved 20-acre site at one end of the 12South neighborhood, Sevier Park is the site of festivals and a weekly farmers' market on Tuesdays from May through late October. The park opened in 1948 and features trails, a creek, two playgrounds, a shelter, picnic tables, and a historic mansion (currently undergoing renovation). The updated community center was opened in 2014 and offers $3 drop-in fitness classes, including yoga. There are also tennis and basketball courts, as well as bike rentals. It's open from 6 am until dark.

Serious Jack White fans won't want to miss his lauded label's Nashville outpost. Drop by to record your own two-minute song on a 1945 Voice-o-Graph machine, pop into the photo booth, dig through the stacks, or grab some exclusive merch. Check their social media and special events pages if you're looking to catch a live performance in the now-legendary Blue Room. Tours of the full operation are available on Fridays at 2 and 3 pm, but book online to snag a spot.

The enormously popular radio show, the Grand Ole Opry, has been performed in the Opry House since 1925. You can see superstars, legends, and up-and-coming stars on this stage. The Opry has been in its current location since 1974, when then-President Richard Nixon played a song on the house piano on opening night, and as such it’s the epicenter around which the rest of Music Valley has rippled out over the years. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of country music, it’s definitely worth a visit for the spectacle of it all. And if attending a live show isn’t enough to satisfy your love of country music, you can take a backstage tour seven days a week to hear more about the history, stars, and stories that make the Grand Ole Opry truly grand.

Take a treetop tour through the old-growth forests north of Nashville. There are nine steel cable ziplines on this course, and each one lets you safely soar above the wooded ravines and blossoming valleys along the Harpeth River. The longest line is about 700 feet long, the highest is about 85 feet high, and the whole journey takes about 90 minutes to complete.

This 1850s Italian-style villa was the home of Adelicia Acklen, a wealthy plantation owner who married "once for money, once for love, and once for the hell of it." On Belmont University's campus, it's rich with historical and architectural details, with guided tours suited to varying interests. The property now also features Freedom Plaza, a monument built in 2021 honoring the many enslaved people who lived and worked on the property. The last tour of the day starts at 3:30.

Built to celebrate Tennessee's bicentennial, this beautifully landscaped 19-acre park includes a 2,000-seat amphitheater, a scaled map of the state in granite, a World War II memorial, a wall etched with a time line of state events, and fountains representing each of Tennessee's rivers (you'll see both kids and adults splashing in them April–October). The park has a number of picnic tables and there are several dining options at the nearby Nashville Farmers' Market.

Home to the Nashville Predators, the city's NHL team since 1998, visitors can catch a home game from October to April (tickets may be hard to get) and then hit the honky-tonks right outside the arena to celebrate the win. The arena also plays host to numerous concerts and other large-format events. The Nashville Visitor Center, also known as the Music City Shop at Bridgestone, is located by the main entrance. If you make it inside, head to the elevator lobby outside of Section 109 on the building's main concourse to see the Brad Paisley–Rob Hendon mural.

Tucked behind an apartment complex, the Browns Creek Greenway is a 0.65-mile trail in Battlemont Park. Occupying a space that was cleared of houses after the 2010 Nashville Flood, the repurposed area features a dog-friendly paved loop that is shaded by mature trees. The Battle of Nashville Monument stands nearby in Battlemont Park to commemorate soldiers from both sides of the Civil War who fought in an important battle in this portion of the city in 1864.

Home to the Parthenon, this 132-acre park has a 1-mile walking trail, Lake Watauga, the Centennial Art Center, Musicians Corner, sunken gardens, and a bandshell. It's home to the bench that was famously dedicated to Taylor Swift by the city of Nashville in 2023 to honor the park's mention in Swift's song “Invisible String.” It's also a great place to explore an outdoor festival or hear live music.

Occupying multiple floors in two adjoining historic buildings, this vibrant gallery features artworks from local and regional artists to showcase the unique styles that characterize the South. Prices range from premium to affordable enough for tourists to pick up a fine art souvenir of their vacation in Nashville. The atmosphere is particularly lively during the monthly First Saturday Downtown Art Crawl where CHAUVET is an anchor destination of the route.

A small urban block originally earmarked for yet another Downtown skyscraper has been repurposed into a delightful little pocket park that offers organized arts, music, and fitness programs for children and adults throughout the week.

Nashville’s role in the civil rights movement comes alive in this interactive display inside the library’s main branch. Explore the ways Black Nashvillians protested segregation, challenged racist laws, and contributed to the nationwide fight for equality through the library’s time lines, archival materials, and photos.

A must-visit for fans of the early '80s TV sitcom The Dukes of Hazzard, Cooter's offers a plethora of collectibles and Duke Boys ephemera. After seven seasons portraying the amiable mechanic Cooter on the show, Ben Jones served four years as a U.S. congressman representing Georgia's 4th District. After retiring from public service, Jones opened this museum and gift shop filled with memorabilia, props, and autographed items from the show. Some are for sale and others are too rare for Jones to part with, but they all tell the story of the fictional Hazzard County. Visitors can even get a photo in the General Lee for an added cost.

This park on the east bank of the Cumberland River at the foot of the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge was designed with kids and families in mind. Sandboxes, a playground, an obstacle course, a climbing wall, and trails (one designed to attract butterflies) are among the offerings for kids; there's also a picnic area and 1,200-seat amphitheater. You can also enjoy great views of the river with the Nashville skyline just beyond the bank.

David Lusk’s Memphis gallery has been around since 1995; the Nashville location opened in 2014 and features paintings, photography, and sculpture by regional and national artists. The gallery takes part in the Wedgewood-Houston art crawls and also hosts receptions and other events.

The 8,000-square-foot facility includes a tasting room and patio with a menu that features ciders (all gluten-free and hand-pressed), cocktails, and food provided by Cabin Attic. Regular events include pregame parties on Nashville SC game days, outdoor movie screenings, and a monthly drag brunch (18+). The large patio has multiple firepits, and dogs are welcome.

Capping one of Nashville’s highest points, the Dyer Observatory rises above Radnor Lake State Park with its imposing steel dome. Inside the dome is the Seyfert Telescope, used for viewing the rings of Saturn and other astral wonders. On the second Friday of each month (March through November), the observatory hosts telescope nights for guests to stargaze and mingle with astronomers. Or, for a daytime visit, you can attend an open house between 9 am and noon on the first Tuesday of each month (March through November) to view the sun through a solar telescope and receive a tour from an astronomer. These are both ticketed events, but the cost is minimal (sometimes even free). Simply preregister online.

This art gallery and studio space in the Buchanan Arts District of North Nashville is irreverent, colorful, weird, and brilliant. The gallery presents both group and solo exhibitions in any style— even Garfield-themed or clown-themed styles. If you get the chance to attend a show here, you’ll notice a distinct house-party vibe, complete with box wine in the kitchen and bowls of chips. Recent shows have featured face painting and a pie bake-off.

A place to play for humans and dogs, this green space has paved walking paths, sports fields, restrooms, and a dog park. The Bransford Avenue and Craighead Street entrance is a good spot to enter the park.

While Hillsboro Village itself offers plenty of charming outdoor walking space, the nearby Fannie Mae Dees Park is the perfect place to stop for a picnic with your Fido goodies. Take the little ones to play on the playground, and check out the large dragon statue. Kids can play on it, but, with its bright colors and funky design, it's just as fun for adults who love a good photo op.