Looking for recommendations on how to spend two days in Nashville? Well, you’ve come to the right place, as I will give you a glimpse of my weekend in Nashville itinerary.

L.A. to me feels like music industry, and Nashville to me feels like music community.

                                                                                        Sheryl Crow, Wall Street Journal

Two days in Nashville was always going to be a priority on my #BussingUSA journey, as I grew up on country music. I remember that on our family road trips, we had a pile of cassettes in our car’s middle compartment. They were all country. When I was that age, I didn’t mind singing along to hits by Lee Kernaghan (Australian country), with some Trisha Yearwood and Neil Diamond thrown in for good measure. But then I hit the age of Backstreet Boys, Five and Spice Girls and could no longer handle the country crooners.

Fast forward just a few pubescent years and a show called Nashville premiered on ABC, and I was hooked. The cast makes the television series, and as I watched the episodes, I began to enjoy country music again. Here is a look at my favourite moments in Music City and how you should totally spend two days in Nashville.

For more inspiration, here’s my entire #BussingUSA itinerary: 3 months, 3 countries, all solo

The best things to do with two days in Nashville

1. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Going to Nashville and not visiting this establishment is like going to New York and not seeing the Statue of Liberty – you can’t miss it. During my visit, a Kenny Rogers exhibition was held, which I found interesting. He is currently focusing on his photography career and has had a few photos appear on the covers of prolific American magazines.

I loved looking at the costumes of past and present, particularly Dolly Parton’s, of course. I also learned a lot about performers I had heard of but didn’t know much about. This includes Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline and Hank Williams. The detail on display here is extraordinary and very informative. The Hall of Fame is very interactive. So, if you visit with the family, be assured there is plenty to keep the kids entertained while you take a closer look at the exhibits.

As I walked down the stairs to the exit, I had to hold onto the rail as I didn’t want to fall while looking at the records on display. It’s a magnificent wall of accomplishments by the best in the business.

2. Honky Tonk Row

Another place you have to visit with two days in Nashville is Honky Tonk Row. This is what my map named Broadway from the riverfront to 6^th Street. I thought the name suited the brightly coloured buildings with neon signs flashing outside. As I walked down the street during lunchtime, I had the hardest decision of my trip: choosing where to eat. Obviously, it had to be based not only on the menu but also on the best live music. After walking up and down each side, I chose Rippy’s, an excellent choice for a decent-priced burger and great music.

My fellow patrons and I were surprised when a producer from America’s Got Talent walked onto the stage to promote the program’s upcoming auditions in Nashville. He then introduced last year’s runner-up, who performed. As a celebrity stalker, this was a big deal for me. I googled her immediately and found that Emily West had her own website and Wikipedia page, so, of course, she must have been legitimate.

Broadway has plenty of live music venues to choose from day and night, plus just a few bootstores if you are looking. You can also continue down 2^nd Street into the historic district for even more food, drinks and music options. This city’s downtown is full of life, which I love. Everyone I met seemed happy to live in a place that breathes music.

3. Home of the Stars Tour

Okay, like I said, I have a slight celebrity issue. But this was too good to pass up. I thought our driver and guide could have had more personality, but I enjoyed this Home of the Stars Tour overall. Not only because we saw some fantastic houses/mansions/castles, but I also liked being able to visit the neighbourhoods outside of Nashville. We were focused primarily around Brentwood, which allowed me to see more of the city’s surroundings than I would have using public transit.

Some houses we saw belonged to Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, Reese Witherspoon, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.

4. Musician’s Hall of Fame and Museum

I actually didn’t know what to expect when I first walked in the door of this Hall of Fame. But I was immediately warmly welcomed into the facility and placed in a room to watch an introduction video. It explained that the museum is dedicated to the people behind the artists. This includes the bands, studio performers, backup singers and producers.

I thought it was a great initiative. I really enjoyed walking through the different areas and viewing all the fantastic displays. You learn all about what it takes to make a musician. I took lots of photos of guitars for my dad, and I particularly enjoyed this sign. I recommend visiting here to learn more about what happens behind the scenes.

5. Ryman Auditorium

The Ryman is the world-famous home of the Grand Ole Opry. It was broadcast from the auditorium between 1943 and 1974. I had honestly not heard of this country music institution until watching Nashville. But it was, and still is, an important milestone in a singer’s career to perform on this stage. You can also visit the new Grand Ole Opry on the city’s outskirts.

There are displays, an illustrated timeline of the auditorium’s history, and an educational video featuring some big country music stars. You can even take your photo on the stage, a big bonus for fans. The Ryman Auditorium is a National Historic Landmark nicknamed the Mother Church of Country Music. However, visiting here is probably only necessary if you’re a diehard country music fan, as tickets are $15.

I also wanted to mention that this Nashville TV show tour includes admission to the Ryman Auditorium. It also takes you past the houses used in filming and to the Bluebird Cafe on select days. Sounds right up my alley!

Check out the 11 other cities I recommend visiting along in the USA

6. Parthenon

Yep, Nashville has a Parthenon. It’s a full-sized replica of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. It was built in 1897 for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition and is the centrepiece of Centennial Park, just west of downtown Nashville. The best part of the structure is inside when you walk into the room and see this Athena Parthenos statue. Her golden presence towers 13 metres over you. It has to be seen to be believed. She is also gilt with over eight pounds of gold leaf, which I find incredible.

The park is well located just outside the city, and a public bus stop is close. I sat outside in a swinging bench chair for a moment, enjoying the lovely afternoon and lake views next to the Parthenon. Children were running around the water, people were feeding the local ducks, and teenagers were gossiping and giggling as they checked their smartphones. It seemed like an epicentre of Nashville life.

7. Nashville Ghost Tour

Did you know Nashville is Tennessee’s most haunted city? Learn why on the #1 Nashville Ghost Tour. You can also join the Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl (I mean, what a name). You get to visit Nashville’s most haunted watering holes while enjoying a drink of three!

P.S. They also do a Southern Comforts Food Tour, which is a MUST if you want to taste some of Nashville’s best Southern delicacies.

Where to stay for two days in Nashville

Music City Hostel

This is where I stayed during my two days in Nashville, which had positives and negatives. Firstly, the staff here are fantastic and friendly. There’s also a communal kitchen and lounge area where I regularly sat at the dinner table on my computer. I chatted with everyone about their day, their plans, and sometimes their music. The rooms are divided, so when you enter, there’s a little lounge area, one bathroom and three separate rooms housing usually four people each.

This was a little inconvenient in the morning as most people woke up around the same time. However, there was a spare bathroom in the communal area. I used this every morning without a problem. The room you sleep in is also relatively small, so it could prove difficult to move if you have a lot of luggage, and your roommates do too.

The hostel has a sister hostel a bit closer downtown, but it’s a little pricier. So I chose the cheaper option, as per usual. But I walked into the city both mornings, taking about 25 minutes. It was a pretty lovely way to start my day. Then I caught a bus back to the hostel in the evening, which took less than 5 minutes. Perfect!

If you’re not travelling solo or are looking for non-hostel options, check out The Russell (that decor 😍) and The Hermitage Hotel.

Overall, I really enjoyed my two days in Nashville.

I can see why so many people at the hostel were moving to the city. It’s young, exciting and musical – what more could you want?

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♥ In case you missed them, check out my entire North America itinerary, my budget travel guide to the US and other American cities I recommend visiting solo.

♥ You can also check out my Atlanta, Charleston and Wilmington guides.

Thank you to Visit Music City for supplying me with a complimentary pass to the listed attractions. However, all opinions are my own. Thank you to US Ghost Adventures for also partnering with me on this post.