Two days in Nashville forces real choices. You can cover the essential cultural attractions or spend more time in a specific neighborhood, but you cannot do both thoroughly. The itinerary below is built around what delivers the most Nashville in 48 hours, not what fills the most boxes on a generic list.
Day 1: Music, Food, Broadway
Morning (9 AM – noon)
Start at Biscuit Love in The Gulch for breakfast. Arrive by 9:15 AM to get ahead of the weekend crowds. Their East Nasty sandwich (fried chicken, cheddar biscuit, white gravy) is the practical order. Bonuts are worth adding.
After breakfast, walk or take a rideshare to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (222 Rep. John Lewis Way S). Admission is $31.95 for adults. Budget 2.5 to 3 hours. The CMHOF is the right anchor for day one: three floors of country music history from Jimmie Rodgers through Taylor Swift, with rotating temporary exhibits that consistently add depth. The Hall of Fame Rotunda and the Sing Me Back Home exhibit are the core. Don’t rush.
Afternoon (noon – 4 PM)
Exit the CMHOF and walk to Hattie B’s (downtown location at 112 19th Ave S, or the SoBro location at 222 4th Ave N, closer to the museum). Order mild or medium on your first hot chicken experience. The “hot” and above levels build painfully after you’re done eating.
After lunch, walk down to Music Row. It’s a cluster of recording studios, publishing offices, and music industry buildings along 16th and 17th Avenues South. The buildings are not open to random visitors, but the area has historical markers and walking it takes 30-40 minutes. RCA Studio B is at the north end of Music Row. If you want the full guided tour, it’s included in the CMHOF combo ticket ($54.95). The studio holds about 50 people and tours last around 75 minutes. Elvis recorded more than 200 songs there.
Evening (5 PM – late)
Dinner in The Gulch or SoBro. The Stillery on Broadway is one of the few downtown options locals actually recommend for pub food. Merchants Restaurant on Broadway has been operating since 1988 and takes reservations.
Hit Broadway by 7-8 PM. Start at Robert’s Western World, the most authentic honky-tonk format on the street, no cover, real country music, cheap beer and hot dogs. Walk through Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, which has the most history (Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson). End the evening at one live music venue with intention: the Listening Room Cafe runs songwriter shows at 7:30 and 9:30 PM most nights. Book in advance.
Day 2: Neighborhood + One Major Attraction
Morning (9 AM – noon)
Pick one: Ryman Auditorium or East Nashville. Not both.
The Ryman self-guided tour ($25 adult) takes about 1.5 hours and covers the building’s history from its origins as a tabernacle through its role as the home of the Grand Ole Opry. The acoustic quality of the room is experienced even on a tour. If a concert is happening that night, attending is better than the daytime tour.
East Nashville instead: Rideshare to Five Points. Get coffee at Barista Parlor (the original on Gallatin Pike in East Nashville). Walk the Five Points intersection, browse the vintage stores, and eat at The Pharmacy (Farm Burger, $14, with house root beer) for lunch. This version of day two gives you a completely different Nashville experience than the museum version.
Afternoon (noon – 4 PM)
If you did the Ryman in the morning, the afternoon is for a neighborhood. The Gulch has concentrated shopping and a walkable block. 12 South is a half-mile stretch south of downtown with Biscuit Love (already visited), boutiques, and the “I Believe in Nashville” mural.
If you did East Nashville in the morning, the Johnny Cash Museum ($22 adult, 119 3rd Ave S, downtown) in the afternoon is the right call. The museum is 18,000 square feet and covers Cash’s career, humanitarian work, and influence on American music with genuine depth. Allow 1.5-2 hours.
Evening
The Grand Ole Opry is the right second-night option if you haven’t used it. Shows run Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday; tickets are $35-60. The show format is a two-hour variety program with 5-8 artists performing multiple songs each. It requires a rideshare to the Opry House (the venue is in Music Valley, six miles from downtown). Book tickets in advance.
If the Opry doesn’t appeal, Station Inn in The Gulch runs bluegrass shows most nights starting around 9 PM. No reservation required, low cover charge, small room, serious music.
What Gets Cut
Two days cannot include: Cheekwood, the Parthenon, any day trips, 12 South thoroughly, and both East Nashville and the Ryman. Make peace with this. Nashville rewards return visits.
Sources:
- Nomadic Matt, “The Perfect 3-4 Day Nashville Itinerary for 2025”: nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/nashville-itinerary
- Avant Stay, “Nashville Itinerary: 2-10 Days Guide” (January 2026): avantstay.com/blog/nashville-itinerary
- Country Music Hall of Fame official site, admission and hours: countrymusichalloffame.org
- Grand Ole Opry official ticket pricing: opry.com
- Johnny Cash Museum admission: johnnycashmuseum.com
- Ryman Auditorium tour prices: ryman.com