Nashville in 2 Days: everything you need to know

The capital of Tennessee is a city brimming with life and enthusiasm for music, dancing and entertainment. Lose yourself in the numerous pubs on Broadway, have fun in an original honky-tonk bar, stroll along the River Cumberland or marvel at the extraordinary Parthenon in Nashville. In this charming corner of the United States, you'll never be short of fun things to do.

So, if you don't have much time and want to enjoy everything this fantastic city has to offer, read on and I'll tell you all the secrets to seeing the most important places in Nashville in just two days.

To start your first day in the charming city of music, you'll visit the extensive gardens of Centennial Park, Nashville's most important park, and then you'll have the opportunity to enter the Ryman Auditorium, one of the city's most iconic buildings.

After the visit, you will head to the lively Farmer's Market, and after sampling the exquisite local cuisine, you can end your day with a stroll through the city centre and some of its most famous streets.

If you enjoy a day of long walks, you can tour Nashville on foot, as the distance between the different places of interest is not too long. However, if you prefer to visit the city in a more comfortable and faster way, you can travel by Uber, take a bus tour or go on a fun guided bike tour.

Start your day with a stroll through the green heart of Nashville

Centennial Park is the largest green space in the city. This majestic urban park not only stands out for its beautiful landscapes, but is also known for the exhibitions, festivals and other activities that take place there. If you are travelling to Nashville with children, this visit is ideal, as they are sure to have a great time running around the extensive lawns and playing in the facilities.

Be impressed by the imposing Nashville Parthenon

After a pleasant stroll through Centennial Park, a visit to the Nashville Parthenon, located inside the park, is a must. This amazing building is a full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens and was built in 1897 for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition.

The construction was so successful that it was decided to keep it permanently. However, as it was not built with materials designed to last over time, the building had to be demolished so that a new version could be built in concrete, which is the one we can see today. Inside, there is a sculpture of the goddess Athena, just like in the original monument. It now functions as a museum and houses four art galleries featuring paintings by American artists.

• Location: Centennial Park, 2500 West End Avenue, Nashville.
• Opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Price: general admission to the Nashville Parthenon is approximately €10.

Visit the Ryman Auditorium

Just over half an hour's walk away is one of Nashville's most iconic buildings, the Ryman Auditorium, a large concert and performance hall built in 1892 that is considered one of the city's landmarks.

The Ryman Auditorium is known as the Mother Church of Country Music, as it was the venue for the Grand Ole Opry, a weekly concert featuring new folk, country and gospel artists, which helped to popularise country music and turn it into a million-dollar industry.

Today, there are two options for visiting this sacred temple of Nashville's musical history. The first option is to purchase a ticket to one of the concerts that are still held there. The other is to take a tour of the interior of the building to learn about the history of this majestic place.

Discover the treasures hidden in the traditional Farmer's Market

The Farmer's Market is a traditional market that has been in operation since 1837. Here you will find a huge variety of products such as fruit and vegetables, curious antiques and local crafts.

Nowadays, you can also enjoy its wide range of cafés and restaurants serving both local food and cuisine from many other parts of the world. Once there, you will have the opportunity to visit one of Nashville's most legendary places, buy a souvenir or even have a beer or a glass of wine at one of its stalls. What's more, if you're lucky, you might come across one of the exhibitions and events that are often held there.

• Location: 900 Rosa L Parks Boulevard, Nashville.
• Opening hours: every day from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Price: Admission is free.

Enjoy the typical cuisine of the area

Although there is no shortage of restaurants in downtown Nashville where you can enjoy a fantastic meal, since your time in the city is limited, I am going to suggest a fun option that will give you the opportunity to sample the local cuisine in depth.

That's why I suggest you book a walking food tour of Nashville. Not only will you get to sample dishes from some of the best restaurants in the area, but you'll also be guided through the city centre while learning interesting facts about it. And if that weren't enough, you'll end the tour with a visit to a distillery where you can enjoy some of their delicious cocktails, among many other options.

Discover the famous Broadway and visit a honky-tonk bar

There's no better way to get to know a city than to lose yourself in its streets on a long walk. That's why the next plan I'm going to suggest is to explore its most famous area, Broadway. Visiting Broadway is an essential part of your evening itinerary during your stay in Nashville. However, this street is bustling with life at all hours of the day, as it is the most touristy area of the city, known as the mecca of country music.

On this busy street, music can be found on every corner, and it is full of young people, lively bars and shops selling typical southern products such as cowboy boots. The establishments on Broadway are illuminated with colourful neon signs, and inside you can listen to country , rock, blues, soul, or live music shows.

However, the main attraction of this unique street is its honky-tonk bars. These establishments are typical of the southern United States and are characterised by their country music theme. Some of the most notable honky-tonk bars in the area are Robert's Western World and Tootsies Orchid Lounge, although if you want to get to know the city's most legendary pubs in depth, a fantastic option would be to book a tour of Nashville's most famous pubs.

Enjoy dinner at Nashville's popular Hard Rock Café

If you've limited yourself to a few beers during your stroll down Broadway and your visit to the original honky-tonk pubs, a great option for dinner would be the Hard Rock Café, which is just a few minutes away. The Hard Rock Café is a symbol of typical American food and is appreciated both for its delicious cuisine and its fun and eye-catching music-themed décor.

For your second and final day in the fascinating city of Nashville, I have prepared a tour that begins with a delicious typical American breakfast in one of the city's most famous cafés.

After fuelling up with a stack of pancakes, you will visit some of the city's most special neighbourhoods, such as Music Row and The Gulch, and enter one of Nashville's most important museums, the Country Music Museum. Finally, you'll discover the Cumberland River, which runs through the city, on a fun cruise.

Start the day with a delicious breakfast

You won't want to leave the United States without trying a typical American breakfast, which is why I encourage you to start your second day with a visit to The Pancake Pantry, one of Nashville's most famous cafés.

Tall stacks of fluffy pancakes topped with syrup, cream, bacon, eggs or any oftheir many other toppings will get your day off to an energetic start and fill you up.

• Location: 1796 21st Ave S, Nashville.
• Opening hours: every day, from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Price: approximately €15 to €25 per person.

Discover one of the city's most legendary neighbourhoods

After a hearty breakfast, I suggest you take a stroll to the Music Row area. This neighbourhood is known for being the epicentre of the country music industry, home to numerous record labels, recording studios, radio stations and other music-related businesses.

Despite its appearance as a typical American residential neighbourhood with perfectly aligned houses and immaculate lawns, this corner of the city is home to such iconic places as the famous Historic RCA Studio B, where artists such as Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley have recorded their songs.

Discover the history of country music in a very special museum

To continue your tour, the next place to visit is the legendary Country Music Museum and Hall of Fame. As its name suggests, this museum is entirely dedicated to country music, and here you can learn about the history of this musical genre and its importance in the United States.

Today, it is one of Nashville's main attractions, as the city is particularly well known for its musical history. In addition, the museum has a series of interactive exhibits that will make the experience entertaining and interesting, even if you are not a big fan of country music.

Visit the innovative The Gulch

The Gulch is an exclusive industrial-style neighbourhood that has undergone a resurgence in recent years to become one of the liveliest areas of the city. The Gulch is also home to hundreds of modern luxury boutiques and innovative cutting-edge restaurants.

Once there, I encourage you to take the opportunity to sample the cuisine of its acclaimed restaurants, as well as stroll through its streets and visit some of its most famous live music venues, such as the well-known The Station Inn. Another interesting place to visit in The Gulch is the Frist Museum of Art, which is located in a beautiful Art Deco building where numerous exhibitions, talks and film screenings are held.

Say goodbye to Nashville with a pleasant walk along the Cumberland River

One of the best places to enjoy the views of the Cumberland River is from the John Seigenthaler Bridge. From there, you can admire the Nashville skyline and see some of its most iconic buildings, such as the Batman Building.

Another option for enjoying the long river would be to relax in one of the grassy parks along its banks. However, the plan I suggest for saying goodbye to this fantastic city is to take a dinner cruise on the Cumberland River, especially if you are travelling to Nashville during the summer months.

The boat on which you will take this tour is the General Jackson Showboat, an impressive vessel designed to recreate the exhibition boats that plied the waters of the United States' rivers during the 19th century. During the trip, you can admire the views of the city while enjoying a delicious dinner and listening to a live orchestra.