3 days in Nashville itinerary: What to do beyond bar hopping

How I’d spend three days in Nashville, including the shows worth booking ahead and a day trip to nearby Franklin.

My first Nashville trip was mostly bar hopping. I had a perfectly fine time, but I didn’t leave loving the city or thinking about when I could come back.

This trip changed that. I spent more time listening to the people writing the songs, and their shows ended up being the highlight of my visit.

This was the Nashville Songwriter Awards, held on September 22, 2026. And tickets were available to the public. You didn’t need an industry connection to spend an evening like that at the Ryman.

The awards happened to line up with my visit, so they’re an example of what to look for rather than a standing stop on this itinerary. Move the days below around to fit the shows you book.

You can make beats and try the dance activities, and the museum gives you a wristband linked to your email so you can save content as you go. I made a few beats and songs during my visit. I don’t think I have a music career ahead of me, but I had a great time trying. (You can see this in my Nashville YouTube video!)

Allow at least an hour and a half. I’d give yourself longer to work through the interactive stations without rushing.

Prince’s Hot Chicken has a location inside, so this is a convenient place to try Nashville hot chicken. Now, don’t hate me, but hot chicken isn’t really my thing. Other people get much more excited about it than I do!

I still think it’s worth trying and deciding for yourself. Ask about the heat levels before ordering. I chose mild, and that was enough for me.

My tour included a photo onstage. I went the day after the awards show, so standing where I’d watched those performances the night before was especially cool.

The restaurant is on Fourth Avenue between Church and Union streets, a short walk from the Ryman and Chief’s. That makes it an easy dinner stop before a downtown show. Book an early table and leave yourself time to enjoy the meal.

The writers take turns performing and talking about their songs. During my visit, the lineup was Sam Palladio, Striking Matches, and Gina Venier. They were all fantastic, and Striking Matches’ guitar work was incredible.

Hearing the writers explain their songs gave me a connection to the music that I hadn’t found on my first Nashville trip. I’d make room for a show like this even with only a couple of nights in town. Check Chief’s for the lineup during your dates; the round I attended was a ticketed event with reserved seating.

The Bluebird Cafe is another option for songwriter shows. I haven’t been myself, but the songwriters I spoke with highly recommended it.

It’s in Green Hills, so it’s not another downtown stop. Check its ticket instructions for your specific show; reservations open close to the performance date, with different schedules depending on the day of the week.

And if you still want a honky-tonk, you’re already on Broadway. Give it an hour. It just doesn’t have to be the whole trip.

The coffee and pastries were great, and a couple of bags of beans made it into my suitcase.

I loved seeing Taylor Swift’s outfits. I’m not even a Swiftie, but they were something to see up close! The Dolly Parton exhibit on display during my visit was another favorite.

Plan on about two hours, with extra time to linger over the exhibits that interest you. Exhibits change, so check what’s on during your dates. There’s also a history-focused alternative farther down in this itinerary.

It’s the stuff dreams are made of. Be sure to leave room for a slice!

Nashville’s Parthenon is a full-scale replica of the one in Athens, set in Centennial Park near Vanderbilt. You can walk around the outside for a quick look or pay to go inside for the art galleries and 42-foot Athena statue.

I’d allow about an hour for the interior and check museum hours before heading over. Skip it when you’re short on time; the Opry is a drive from this part of town, and you don’t want to spend the afternoon watching the clock.

This works as an early dinner after the Parthenon.

It’s also a live radio show, which is fun to watch happen. There’s a different feel to the evening than going to a concert built around one headliner.

I wasn’t sure what to wear, so I went with a casual dress and a jean jacket, plus comfortable shoes and my travel purse. Some people were more casual than I was, while others were in full evening attire. There’s no formal dress code, so wear something you’ll feel good sitting in for the show.

You can still see bullet and shrapnel holes in the surviving outbuildings and visit the basement where the Carter family, their neighbors, and several enslaved people sheltered during the battle. Seeing those spaces was emotional. The history felt much less distant standing there.

I took the All Men Are Created Equal Tour, which looks at the country’s founding and the divisions over slavery that led to the Civil War. It’s a 90-minute guided tour of the house and grounds, currently offered at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

Book that specific tour ahead, and leave yourself time to look around afterward. Other tour options are available, including on Sundays, so check the schedule before deciding which day to visit Franklin.

The chickpeas were cooked to perfection. Everything I tried here was great.

It’s a bakery and café on East Main Street, and the Franklin location currently closes at 2:30 p.m. Plan it as lunch rather than saving it for later in the day.

Afterward, spend some time wandering downtown Franklin and going into the shops that catch your attention. It’s a very cute downtown, and I’d leave this part of the afternoon fairly open.

The deviled eggs were some of the best I’ve ever had. The birthday cake cheesecake was another favorite. Save room for dessert here.

During my visit, they also had whiskey roulette: the number the wheel lands on determines which whiskey you get to try. It was fun to do in between courses.

The restaurant accommodates vegan diners, too. Mention dietary requirements when you reserve so the team can plan for you.

The site also interprets the lives of the people enslaved on the property. It offers a dedicated In Their Footsteps tour focused on that history, which is part of understanding the plantation beyond the presidential home.

I’d use the Hermitage as a swap for the Country Music Hall of Fame or the Franklin day, depending on your interests. It’s outside downtown Nashville, so allow for the drive and check the timing of any tour you want to take.

There’s art throughout the hotel and its restaurant, Gray & Dudley, plus a listening lounge created with Third Man Records. I’d choose this one when walking to downtown attractions is the priority.

Breakfast at Masons at West End was fantastic. The cinnamon roll was the best I’ve ever had, and you can go for breakfast without staying at the hotel.

I’d think of this as a destination in itself, especially around the holidays. It’s near the Opry House, so it makes sense for a trip centered on the Opry, but you’ll have a drive to the downtown attractions.

There’s live music and a café, along with spaces that make it more than somewhere to sleep. I loved the rooms I toured, but construction was still underway during my visit. As of October 15, the hotel’s website still noted finishing work and possible construction noise, so I’d check its current status and recent reviews before booking.

I’ve shared more about the rooms and what to check before a stay in my look inside SongTeller.

I came home excited to visit Nashville again, and Jessi Alexander and Striking Matches have both made their way onto my Spotify playlist. Hearing the people behind the songs gave me a reason to keep listening after I left.

What’s one Nashville experience you’d tell someone to book? Let me know in the comments.

Disclosure: I visited Nashville on a hosted press trip. All opinions are my own.