How to Spend a Perfect Weekend in Nashville

Weekend-getaway expert Caleb Thill (@calebthill) shares his tips for a fun-filled 48 hours in Music City.

When you hear Nashville, you might think of country music, bachelorette parties, biscuits and gravy, and cowboy hats. Sure, those things exist, but there’s so much more to Music City that makes it an incredible weekend getaway, from world-class art galleries to excellent restaurants and cocktail bars that’ll get any foodie excited. There are also, obviously, talented musicians and live music performances everywhere—and not just country music.

As someone from New York City who was not at a bachelorette party and who doesn’t really listen to country music, I had an incredible and surprising time exploring what Nashville has to offer.

Day Zero

A flight from NYC to Nashville is under two-and-a-half hours, so it’s the perfect two- or three-day escape. I basically had a full day in NYC before hopping on a flight and landing in Music City around 7 p.m.

I hit the ground running once I landed. I checked right into my hotel (more on that in a minute) and went straight to a concert at the iconic Ryman Auditorium—an absolute must-visit while you’re in Nashville. The Ryman—one of the city’s most historic music venues—was founded as a church in 1892. You can sit on the original oak pews as you catch a show.

I called the Hermitage Hotel home during my stay in Music City. It’s located in the heart of downtown, making it the perfect landing pad for maximizing a weekend getaway. The oldest hotel in the city, the Hermitage is also a Nashville icon. Opened in 1910, it was the city’s first five-star hotel—and today, it offers a great blend of historic charm and luxury amenities.

Day One

I started my first full day in Music City by heading to the up-and-coming Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood to do some shopping. The area is really known for its design stores; a few of my favorites were La Parisienne Home, recognized for its funky and unique home items, and Robin Rains, known for her incredible vintage furniture all sourced from Europe. (I truly needed EVERYTHING here.) If you’re looking for art, the David Lusk Gallery, which hosts an ever-evolving collection of work from contemporary artists, is also great. On the fashion front, Savas is an absolute must-visit: It specializes in bespoke leather jackets, and the flagship store is absolutely gorgeous. Beware, though—you might need to sell your left kidney for a jacket. But one can window-shop and dream!

For lunch, I swung into the newly opened Soho House, a private members’ club and hotel located in a beautifully restored former sock factory, with one of the most beautiful gyms I’ve seen. This alone made me want to pack my bags and move to Nashville.

After lunch, I headed to the 12 South neighborhood to do a bit more local shopping. Imogene + Willie and Ranger Station were two of my favorite stores in the area. Make sure to grab a candle or two at Ranger Station, and if you’re in town during the holidays, don’t sleep on the Cowboy Christmas candle!

For dinner, I was so excited to try Bad Idea, which was named one of the best restaurants in the United States by The New York Times. Everything about this spot was fun, vibrant, and creative. The wine list was unique, featuring hard-to-find natural wine producers, and the food was inventive while still having a few crowd-pleasers for the not-so-adventurous diners.

The day ended at the incredible Grand Ole Opry, a Nashville institution. It would be tragic to visit Nashville and not go to a show here! Make sure you get the backstage tour if you can—it was incredible seeing Dolly Parton’s dressing room and learning more about the wild history of the venue.

Day Two

Day two started with a quick coffee and breakfast at the Hermitage Hotel before a walk over to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Even if you’re not a country music fan, this museum is a must-visit. The way it has the galleries set up, along with the storytelling the curators have been able to do, is amazing! After the gallery, I jumped in a quick 15-minute Uber to the Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. This 55-acre property, with 13 distinct gardens, is so beautiful—the perfect place to spend an afternoon relaxing, walking around, and picnicking. It also has incredible lights for the holidays.

After that, I headed back into the city to check out the Parthenon. Originally built in 1897 for the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition, this replica is truly out of this world. Inside is a 42-foot-tall replica of Athena sculpted by Alan LeQuire, one of the most prolific contemporary sculptors in America. I highly recommend heading over to the LeQuire Gallery after visiting the Parthenon, to really round out the experience. LeQuire himself was at the gallery when I stopped in, and I was able to chat with him a bit. He built the Athena replica when he was in his twenties, which was absolutely mind-blowing to me.

Before heading to dinner at Henrietta Red—an amazing seafood restaurant with incredible service and an even better selection of oysters—I had a few drinks at the Listening Room, one of the best places to see live music in the city. The venue is known for giving songwriters a place to perform their songs, some of which are incredibly well-known. It’s crazy that so many songwriters don’t usually get the fame and recognition they deserve!

I finished my trip to Music City at the Fox Bar & Cocktail Club in East Nashville. The cocktails were so creative and delicious, and the space felt like a Prohibition-era speakeasy. (Pro tip: get the homemade chocolate chip cookies.) It was the perfect way to cap off an incredible weekend in Nashville!

This post was produced in partnership with Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.