Nashville area
Around Nashville area
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Greater area · Tennessee · 2.4M people
Nashville area
Locals say Middle Tennessee · “Music City”, “Nashvegas”
The sound of the South
GoldNavy Blue
Welcome to Music City! Whether you're here for the tunes, the food, or the friendly folks, you'll find your rhythm. Get ready for hot chicken, live music on every corner, and a city that's always on the move.
Clubs for Nashville area
No clubs for Nashville area yet.
The room
Nashville area is big: its rooms are its areas'. This is Nashville's; the others are below.
One room for everyone around Nashville. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Nashville area. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Ryman Auditorium Historic 'Mother Church of Country Music'.
- Grand Ole Opry House Home of the weekly radio show and backstage tours.
- Broadway (Lower Broadway) Honky-tonk row with live music bars.
- Centennial Park and the Parthenon Full-scale replica of the Athens Parthenon.
- Nissan Stadium Home of the Tennessee Titans on the riverfront.
- Bridgestone Arena Home of the Nashville Predators and big concerts.
- Outdoors Hike at Radnor Lake
- Outdoors Bike the Stones River Greenway
- With kids Visit Nashville Zoo
- With kids Explore Adventure Science Center
- Evenings Bar-hop on Broadway
- Evenings Catch a show at the Ryman
- Locals love Honky-tonks
- Locals love Meat-and-three diners
Through the year
- CMA Fest June Four-day country music festival downtown in June.
- Music City Food + Wine Festival September Chef demos and tastings in September.
- Tennessee State Fair September Rides, livestock, and fair food at the fairgrounds.
- Iroquois Steeplechase May Horse racing and tailgating in May.
- Nashville Film Festival October Screenings and panels across the city in October.
Humid subtropical with hot summers and mild winters. Best times are spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal—mild temps and fewer storms.
Talk like a local
- “Music City”
- Nickname for Nashville, reflecting its music scene.
- “Nashvegas”
- Playful nickname blending Nashville and Las Vegas.
- “The Opry”
- Short for the Grand Ole Opry.
- “Broadway”
- The main honky-tonk strip downtown.
Getaways
- Clarksville, TN Historic downtown and Cumberland River walk.
- Bowling Green, KY Mammoth Cave tours and the Corvette Museum.
- Franklin, KY Small-town charm and antique shops.
- Shelbyville, TN Tennessee Walking Horse capital.
Local flavour
Teams
- Tennessee Titans NFL
- Nashville Predators NHL
- Nashville SC MLS
- Nashville Sounds MiLB Triple-A
- Vanderbilt Commodores NCAA Division I
- Tennessee State Tigers NCAA Division I
- Belmont Bruins NCAA Division I
- Lipscomb Bisons NCAA Division I
- Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders NCAA Division I
Eat and drink
- Nashville hot chicken Fiery fried chicken, a city signature.
- Meat-and-three Comfort food plate with a choice of meat and three sides.
- Biscuits and gravy Southern breakfast staple.
- Sweet tea The default drink.
- Goo Goo Cluster A Nashville-born candy.
Where people go
- Honky-tonks Bars on Broadway with live country music every night.
- Music halls Venues like the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry.
- Meat-and-three diners Casual spots serving Southern comfort plates.
- Recording studios Historic spaces like Music Row where hits are made.
Heritage and traditions
Nashville is proud of its Music City heritage, where country music and Southern hospitality blend, and of its resilient spirit shown through hot chicken, honky-tonks, and a thriving creative scene.
This time of year in Nashville area
- Nashville Oktoberfest October Brings German beer, food, and music to Germantown.
- Pumpkin patches Fall Pumpkin patches and harvest festivals pop up around the region.
- Nashville Oktoberfest October German beer, food, and music in the historic Germantown neighborhood.
Say it like a local: “Fixin' to” — About to do something, as in 'I'm fixin' to go.'
Festivals
- Tomato Art Fest August A quirky East Nashville street festival celebrating the tomato with art, music, and a tomato toss.
- Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival April Japanese cultural performances and food at Public Square Park, celebrating spring and the cherry blossoms.
- Nashville Greek Festival September Hosted by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, offering Greek food, music, and dancing.
- Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival April A week of intimate songwriters-in-the-round performances across Nashville venues.
- Nashville Pride June A celebration of the LGBTQ+ community with a festival, parade, and live music.
- Nashville Oktoberfest October German beer, food, and music in the historic Germantown neighborhood.
Landmarks with a story
- The Hermitage Home of President Andrew Jackson, a preserved plantation with museum exhibits.
- Belle Meade Plantation A Greek Revival mansion known for its thoroughbred horse history and grounds.
- Fort Negley The largest inland stone fort built during the Civil War, now a park and museum.
- Tennessee State Capitol A Greek Revival building completed in 1859, one of the oldest working capitols in the US.
- Downtown Presbyterian Church A Gothic Revival church built in 1849, known for its stained glass and history.
- The Temple (Congregation Ohabai Sholom) A Reform Jewish congregation with a historic building dating to the late 19th century.
Food traditions
- Nashville hot chicken A fiery fried chicken dish said to have originated in Nashville's Black community, often served with pickles and white bread.
- Meat-and-three A lunchtime tradition of choosing one meat and three vegetable sides at a Southern diner.
- Biscuits and gravy A hearty breakfast of flaky biscuits smothered in creamy sausage gravy.
- Sweet tea Iced tea sweetened with sugar, a staple of Southern hospitality.
- Goo Goo Cluster A chocolate candy invented in Nashville in 1912, combining caramel, marshmallow, and peanuts.
Music and arts
- Country music The heart of Nashville's identity, with a deep tradition of songwriting and performance.
- Bluegrass A string-band genre with roots in Appalachia, popular in Nashville's music scene.
- Gospel A powerful tradition in Nashville's African American churches and the broader music community.
- The Nashville Sound A polished country music style developed in the 1950s and 60s, using smooth vocals and orchestration.
A little history
- Fort Nashborough was established as a frontier settlement on the Cumberland River. 1779
- The Battle of Nashville was a decisive Union victory near the end of the Civil War. 1864
- The Grand Ole Opry began as a radio barn dance, launching Nashville's music legacy. 1925
- Nashville's lunch counter sit-ins were a key chapter in the civil rights movement. 1960
- The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was founded to honor country music's history. 1961
Rivalries
- Vanderbilt vs Tennessee In-state college football and basketball.
- Titans vs Colts AFC South NFL rivalry.
- Predators vs Blues NHL Central Division clashes.
- Nashville SC vs Atlanta United MLS Southern rivalry.
- Game day Tailgating at Titans games
- Game day Predators catfish toss
- Outdoors Float the Harpeth River
- Outdoors Walk across the Shelby Street Bridge
- With kids Nashville Children's Theatre
- With kids Cumberland Park playground
Nashvillians speak with a Southern accent, often using 'y'all' and 'fixin' to.' They may drop the 'g' in words like 'going' and use 'coke' for any soft drink.
Only here
- The Grand Ole Opry is the longest-running radio broadcast in US history.
- The Parthenon in Centennial Park is a full-scale replica of the original in Athens.
- Hot chicken is said to have been invented as a revenge dish by a scorned lover.
- Nashville is nicknamed 'Music City' thanks to its recording industry and live music scene.
New here? A few tips
- Try hot chicken, but start with a mild level to gauge the heat.
- Traffic on I-440 and I-24 can be heavy; plan extra time.
- Weather is unpredictable; dress in layers, especially in spring and fall.
- Embrace 'y'all' and other Southern phrases; they're friendly.
- For a classic lunch, try a meat-and-three diner.
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Areas in Nashville area
NashvilleTennesseeThe sound of the SouthTullahomaTennesseeWhere the highland meets the sky.ShelbyvilleTennesseeWhere the walking horse reignsLawrenceburgTennesseeSmall-town charm on the Natchez TraceWinchesterTennesseeWhere the mountain meets the valleyLewisburgTennesseeWhere the Duck River flows through the heart of Tennessee.
Nearby
Every areaPulaskiTennesseeWhere every road leads to a familiar face.FayettevilleTennesseeWhere the hills hold their storiesHohenwaldTennesseeWhere the Trace winds through the hillsGrundy CountyTennesseeMountain air, small-town heart.McMinnvilleTennesseeRooted in the hills, blooming with pride.FlorenceAlabamaWhere the river sings and the music flows.ScottsboroAlabamaA river town with mountain soulClarksvilleTennesseeWhere the Cumberland meets the Kentucky line.
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro, TN CSA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.