Yes, and not just by Nashville’s low standards. Germantown is one of the actually walkable neighborhoods in a city that built itself almost entirely around cars and parking. Walk Score rates it as “very walkable,” which in Nashville is a meaningful distinction: most of the city scores poorly.
The Historic Germantown Neighborhood Association describes the neighborhood as just over one mile north of downtown. A brisk walk from the heart of Germantown to the lower Broadway honky-tonk strip takes roughly 20 to 25 minutes. The walk itself is pleasant, running past the Tennessee State Museum, through Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, and along streets that have not been entirely given over to car traffic.
Within the 18-block historic district, everything is accessible on foot. The Nashville Farmers Market is at the neighborhood’s southern edge at 900 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard. The Tennessee State Museum is adjacent. First Horizon Park, home to the Nashville Sounds, is a few blocks from the restaurants on 5th Avenue. Bearded Iris Brewing at 101 Van Buren Street is on the neighborhood’s eastern edge, near the Cumberland River Greenway. Germantown Cafe, Rolf and Daughters, Butchertown Hall, City House, Henrietta Red, Steadfast Coffee, Barista Parlor all of these are walkable from one another without crossing a major highway or navigating a parking lot.
The brick sidewalks that run through the historic core are intact and maintained, which matters more than it sounds. Most of Nashville’s neighborhoods have sidewalks that end arbitrarily or are in poor condition. Germantown’s pedestrian infrastructure was part of the revitalization effort and reflects the neighborhood association’s commitment to making the area pleasant on foot.
The caveats
The walkability argument is strongest within Germantown’s 18-block historic core. The neighborhood is bounded by Interstate 65, which cuts it off from further western walkability, and Jefferson Street, which has a different character. Getting from Germantown to East Nashville on foot requires crossing the Cumberland River, which is doable via the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge but is a longer walk than most people will want to do casually.
Parking within Germantown can be tight on weekend evenings when the restaurants are full. The neighborhood is not parking-obsessed the way Broadway is, but street parking near the popular blocks fills up by 7pm on a Friday or Saturday. The practical implication is that many people drive to Germantown, park on one of the less busy residential streets (street parking is generally free and metered parking is limited), and walk everywhere from there which is exactly what the neighborhood is designed for.
The Music City Bikeway runs through the neighborhood, connecting it to the broader city by bike. Bearded Iris Brewing’s taproom explicitly markets itself as a reward destination for people finishing a run or bike ride on the Greenway. The trail infrastructure adds an active transportation layer that most Nashville neighborhoods do not have.
For a city visit, Germantown rewards the decision to arrive by rideshare or bus rather than a rental car. Bus Line 9 serves the neighborhood. If you are staying downtown, a walk or short bike ride gets you there.
Sources
- Historic Germantown Neighborhood Association, “Around Town”: http://www.historicgermantown.org/around-town
- NASHtoday, “Your guide to Germantown in Nashville, TN”: https://nashtoday.6amcity.com/city-guide/live/neighborhood-guide-germantown
- Acrestate, “Guide to Germantown Neighborhood in Nashville, TN”: https://www.acrestate.com/guide/guide-to-germantown-neighborhood-in-nashville-tn/
- Bearded Iris Brewing Germantown taproom: https://beardedirisbrewing.com/location/germantown/