Private Walking Tour Nashville: Johnny Cash Museum Included

Three hours on Nashville's music streets, from the Capitol to the Ernest Tubb Record Shop to Johnny Cash's story

A private three-hour walking tour of Nashville that traces how music shaped the city, with a guide who talks through the Bicentennial Capitol Mall, the Music City Walk of Fame, Honky Tonk Highway and the Ernest Tubb Record Shop, ending with admission to the Johnny Cash Museum. The tour includes a light taste of local cuisine and time to photograph the stops along the way. Moderate fitness is needed for the walking; the route is wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Nashville's music history

• Stroll Bicentennial Capital Mall and State Capitol
• Visit Music City Walk of Fame
• Walk down Honky Tonk Highway
• Visit Ernest Tubb Record Shop and live music spot
• Tour Johnny Cash Museum

The Experience

The tour starts at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall and the Tennessee State Capitol, where your guide sets the stage—how Nashville's role as the state capital shaped its growth, and how the music publishing boom in the 1800s drew artists like Louis Armstrong, John Philip Sousa and Nat King Cole to play the Ryman Auditorium. From there you walk to the Music City Walk of Fame, hearing stories about Grammy-winning country artists who've called Nashville home: Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban, Jack White, Sheryl Crow and others whose names are tied to the city's identity.

The route takes you down Honky Tonk Highway—the stretch of Broadway lined with live music venues, honky-tonk bars and souvenir shops—and stops at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop, where you get a sense of Nashville's deep catalog of country, bluegrass and gospel. Your guide will point you toward a spot with all-day live music and offer tips on where to find cowboy boots if line-dancing appeals to you. A light taste of local cuisine is built into the three hours, and there's time to photograph the places that catch your eye.

The tour ends at the Johnny Cash Museum, where your guide leaves you to explore at your own pace. The museum admission is included, so you walk in without a separate transaction. The whole route is walkable for anyone with moderate fitness; the Bicentennial Capitol Mall section is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are nearby if you need them.

What’s included

• A private guide speaking English throughout.
• entrance to the Johnny Cash Museum.
• a light taste of local cuisine.
• time to photograph the stops along the way.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearby

Operated by Travel Curious

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the guide's commentary in English and prefer a private group—the guide paces the walk around your interests and questions, and you have the flexibility to linger at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop or any of the live music venues along Honky Tonk Highway.

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Top questions

What's the route like on a three-hour Nashville walking tour?

The tour moves through four main stops: the Bicentennial Capitol Mall and Tennessee State Capitol, the Music City Walk of Fame, Honky Tonk Highway with the Ernest Tubb Record Shop, and ends at the Johnny Cash Museum. You'll walk past live music venues and have time to photograph along the way.

Does the Johnny Cash Museum admission cost extra?

No—the Johnny Cash Museum entrance is included in the tour price. Your guide walks you there and leaves you to explore the museum at your own pace after the walking portion ends.

What kind of guide commentary do I get on this tour?

A private guide speaks English throughout and talks about how music publishing growth in Nashville's 1800s led to the city becoming a destination for major artists, and about the music stars who've made Nashville their home, including Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban, Jack White and Sheryl Crow.

Is food included, or do I need to bring money for meals?

A light taste of local cuisine per person is included in the tour. Your guide will also recommend snacks and spots along the way if you want to eat or drink more.

Can I do this tour if I use a wheelchair or have mobility concerns?

The Bicentennial Capitol Mall section is wheelchair accessible. The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness for the full three-hour walk, and public transportation options are available nearby if you need an alternative for any part of the route.

What should I wear or bring for a three-hour walking tour in Nashville?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes suited to the weather. Bring a camera or phone for photos at the stops, and sunscreen or a hat if it's sunny. The tour includes time to photograph your favorite places, so plan for that.