Nashville Self-Guided Walking Tour: Riddles & Landmarks

Solve riddles between landmarks and set your own pace through Music City's history

A self-guided walking tour of downtown Nashville using the Explorial app to navigate between the Tennessee State Capitol, Sam Davis statue and the Ryman Auditorium via riddles, trivia and photo challenges. You download the app, enter a game code by text, and start whenever you want with no guide or fixed departure time. The tour takes around 2 hours and works for any group size up to 15 people.

The experience

You start near the Tennessee State Capitol, download the Explorial app to your phone, enter the 6-digit code sent by text, and head downhill on your own schedule. The app feeds you riddles that point you toward each stop instead of a guide narrating the route. You solve the puzzle, find the landmark, and the app confirms you're there. This means no waiting for a group to assemble, no one pacing you, and no fixed start time: if your group wants to linger at one spot or take a break, the timer doesn't move.

The route threads through downtown's most recognizable sites. The Capitol Building opens the walk: a Greek Revival temple so prized its architect had himself buried inside its walls. The app serves up history through trivia rather than a monologue. Nearby stands the statue of Sam Davis, the young Confederate scout whose story Tennessee still debates. The app handles it with nuance. Then the Ryman Auditorium takes over: the tabernacle-turned-theatre where the Grand Ole Opry made country music a national religion. The whole arc from Capitol Hill to Broadway's neon takes around two hours if you move steadily, though you control the pace entirely.

The game layer keeps it engaging: your group competes on a leaderboard, earns points for solving riddles and completing photo tasks, and can try to beat the city's high score. The app is available in 24 languages, so you choose yours when you start. You'll need a fully charged smartphone with active mobile data (avoid VPNs and city Wi-Fi, which can disconnect the app), and comfortable walking shoes for light walking across downtown's pavement.

What’s included

• Free download of the Explorial app (iOS or Android).
• a 6-digit game code sent by text and booking-platform message.
• self-guided walking route with interactive riddles, trivia challenges and photo tasks.
• points and scoring system to compete within your group and against the city's high score.
• live location map so you always know where you are.
• stories and history about Nashville's landmarks and local legends.
• total flexibility to start anytime, walk at your own pace and take breaks whenever you need them.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (10 to 90 years) · Child (under 10): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Cantonese, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Swedish, Turkish and Ukrainian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Explorial

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to explore downtown Nashville's landmarks at your own pace using riddle-based navigation on your phone, rather than following a guide or fixed schedule.

Traveler reviews

4.27★★★★★★★★★★

11 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Romanian, Danish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Ukrainian, Czech, Norwegian, Hungarian, Cantonese, Greek, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Finnish, Swedish, Hindi and Turkish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 10): free.

Can I start the Nashville walking tour whenever I want, or is there a set departure time?

The tour is 100% self-guided with no fixed start time. You download the app, enter your game code, and begin whenever your group is ready. You walk at your own pace and take breaks as you need them.

What is the Ryman Auditorium and why does the tour include it?

The Ryman Auditorium is the tabernacle-turned-theatre where the Grand Ole Opry made country music a national religion. It's one of three major stops the app guides you to, and it's a landmark central to Nashville's music history.

Do I need to pay entrance fees to visit the sites on this tour?

No entrance fees are required. All the puzzles and photo tasks relate to public areas of the sights, so you can complete the tour without paying to enter any buildings.

What happens if bad weather or illness keeps me from starting the tour?

You can reschedule the tour for another day at no cost. You can also rebook to a different city or request a refund if you prefer.

How many people can be in my group for this self-guided tour?

Groups can be any size up to 15 people per booking. If your group is larger, you can make multiple bookings so everyone can play together.