Nashville travel guide
United States
Music City lives up to its name, with live bands playing from late morning to the small hours. Beyond the neon of Broadway, Nashville has relaxed neighbourhoods, Southern cooking and a strong songwriting scene.
Essentials
- Language
- English
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Plugs
- Type A and B, 120 V
- Emergency number
- 911
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: around 18 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants and a dollar or two per drink, and it is customary to put something in the tip jar for bands playing for free.
Rough daily budget
Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:
- Backpacker: $75-120, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
- Mid-range: $200-330, with a private room and restaurant meals.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Where to stay in Nashville
- East Nashville: across the river, with dive bars, small venues and some of the city's best restaurants.
- The Gulch: a walkable district of new restaurants and bars just south of downtown.
- 12 South: a short street of boutiques, cafés and murals in a residential setting.
Getting around Nashville
Downtown is walkable, and WeGo buses cover the main corridors, but there is no metro rail. Most visitors use rideshares to reach neighbourhoods further out.
Best time to visit Nashville
April to May and September to October, avoiding the humid peak of summer.
Top things to do in Nashville
- Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum downtown
- See a show or take a daytime tour at the Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry
- Walk Lower Broadway's honky-tonks, where most bars have free live music all day
- Catch a Grand Ole Opry show at the Opry House out by the river
- See the full-size replica of the Parthenon in Centennial Park
What to eat in Nashville
- Hot chicken: fried chicken coated in a cayenne paste, served on white bread with pickles
- Meat-and-three: a canteen plate of one meat and three Southern side dishes
- Biscuits: soft, flaky scones, often served with gravy, country ham or jam at breakfast
- Banana pudding: layers of custard, sliced banana and vanilla wafers
Day trips from Nashville
- Franklin: a restored historic main street and Civil War sites, about 30 minutes by car
- Mammoth Cave National Park: the longest known cave system in the world, about 90 minutes by car
- Chattanooga: river views, Lookout Mountain and a large aquarium, about two hours by car
Local etiquette
Southern manners are common: people say hello, hold doors and often use 'sir' and 'ma'am'. In listening rooms, stay quiet while songwriters perform.
Staying connected
Prepaid SIMs and eSIMs from the major US carriers are easy to buy, and free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, hotels and the downtown public library.
Staying safe
Lower Broadway gets crowded and boisterous late at night, so watch your drink and your belongings. Severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings are possible in spring; follow alerts on your phone if one is issued.
A local tip
Book well ahead for a writers' round at a listening room such as the Bluebird Cafe, where songwriters play their own songs.
Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.
Meet people in Nashville on Waypacker
Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Nashville for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Nashville, you could be one of the first hosts.
Questions about Nashville
- What currency is used in Nashville?
- Nashville uses the US dollar (USD).
- What is the emergency number in Nashville?
- In Nashville, call 911.
- When is the best time to visit Nashville?
- April to May and September to October, avoiding the humid peak of summer.
- How much does a day in Nashville cost?
- Roughly $75-120 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $200-330 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
- Is Waypacker free to use in Nashville?
- Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
- Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?
- Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
- Can I meet locals in Nashville without staying with anyone?
- Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
- Will anyone see my exact location?
- No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.