Listen to Live Music at The Bluebird Cafe: It takes a lot of work to score tickets to one of Nashville’s most historic music venues, but if you get tickets online for a table or wait in line same-day for the exceptionally limited church pew seats, you will not be disappointed. This hole-in-the-wall joint, located in Nashville’s Green Hills neighborhood, is where many of country music’s most famous artists made their name known.

Visit the Ryman Auditorium: As the "Mother Church of Country Music," the Ryman Auditorium has hosted some of the biggest names in music since it opened in 1892. Catch a concert here for an authentic music experience or take a tour.

Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame: Another must-visit for any music lover looking for how to spend the perfect weekend in Nashville, The Country Music Hall of Fame is dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of country music.

Explore the Gulch: This trendy neighborhood is a modern development now home to some of Nashville's best upscale restaurants, bars, and boutique shopping. Here you will also discover the Instagram-famous "What Lifts You Up" mural with the iconic Nashville wings. If you want a photo here I recommend getting here very early so you can avoid the crazy long line, which typically includes many bachelorette parties!

Enjoy the Outdoors: For a leisurely walk or relaxing picnic, make your way over to Centennial Park. A highlight of Centennial Park is a Parthenon replica! For a longer walk or hike, head out to Percy Warner Park and Radnor Lake.

Visit the Belle Meade Plantation: Take a guided tour at Belle Meade Plantation, a well-preserved historic estate that invites guests to immerse themselves in Tennessee's history and hospitality. Belle Meade Plantation also has a winery where you can indulge in tastings alongside southern food pairings.

Catch a Game: Nashville is home to an NFL team, the Tennessee Titans and an NHL team, the Nashville Predators. More recently, the city welcomed Nashville SC, a Major League Soccer club. Attending a game is a really fun way to mix up your weekend and all three stadiums are located downtown or nearby!

Experience Broadway: Last, but certainly not least, the perfect weekend in Nashville involves honkey-tonkin’ on Broadway, Nashville’s famous strip of bars with endless live music. Arguably Nashville’s most popular thing to do, keep reading for the best honkey-tonks to visit on Broadway. This is truly a a must-do activity for any weekend in Nashville!

Day trips

Have an extra day in Music City? Just under 40 minutes from Nashville is the quaint town of Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee. With no stoplight in sight, Leiper’s Fork is the epitome of small-town USA with an inviting main street full off BBQ, art galleries and boutique shops, and a small-batch whiskey distillery, Leiper’s Fork Distillery.

EAT

Edley’s BBQ: You can’t come to Nashville and not try some hot chicken! There are a number of great places in Nashville to eat hot chicken, but I keep going back to Edley’s BBQ in 12 South (a must-visit neighborhood). It’s easy to make an afternoon out of lunch at Edley’s followed by shopping at the nearby boutique stores. Edley’s BBQ also has a bar so you can grab a cold one to accompany your BBQ.

Butcher & Bee: Head across the Cumberland River to East Nashville where you can find three of my favorite Nashville restaurants! In no particular order, the first East Nashville stop is Butcher & Bee, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant serving up unique cocktails alongside eclectic mezze and shared plates. If you only order one thing at Butcher & Bee, you must get the whipped feta dip.

Five Points Pizza: Stop #2 in East Nashville is Five Points Pizza, a favorite neighborhood joint with NY-style pizza and craft beers.

Lockeland Table: The third restaurant that is a must-visit in East Nashville is Lockeland Table. When the weather is nice, try to grab a patio table! Reservations are highly recommended at this very popular American restaurant.

Etch: Conveniently located Downtown, Etch knows how to set the stage for dinner with its upscale setting and globally-inspired dishes.

DRINK

Broadway Honkey-Tonks: No trip to Nashville is complete without a proper night out on Broadway, A few of my favorite honkey-tonks include Tootsies Orchid Lounge, The Stage, Honkey Tonk Central, and Rippy’s. Grab a beer from any bar and listen to some of Nashville’s top talent.

Mother’s Ruin: After success in NYC, Mother’s Ruin opened a second location in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood. You should get food here, too, but you should DEFINITELY get one of the creatively named cocktails (I’ll keep the name list a surprise).

The Patterson House: For a classy cocktail, head to The Patterson House. 1920s speakeasy vibes elevate the atmosphere, creating an intimate, warm setting in Nashville’s Midtown neighborhood.

No drink list is complete without highlighting a city’s best coffee shops! Some of my favorites include Frothy Monkey, Well Coffeehouse, Barista Parlor and Humphreys Street Coffee Shop.