Nashville Walking Tour with Local Musicians at Ryman & Broadway

Red brick landmarks, live music pouring from every doorway, and a guide who knows where the locals actually go

Nashville Unveiled is a 90-minute guided walking tour through downtown Music City led by local musicians who are also military veterans. The route covers the Ryman Auditorium, Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Printer's Alley, Broadway honky-tonks, Nashville Riverfront Park, and the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. You get bottled water, practical insider hacks to save money around the city, and photo opportunities throughout the walk. All fees and taxes are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Ryman Auditorium5m
2. Tootsies Orchid Lounge5m
3. Nashville Riverfront Park5m

Explore Nashville's music and landmarks

• Visit Ryman Auditorium
• Stop at Tootsies Orchid Lounge
• See First Presbyterian Church
• Walk through Printer's Alley
• Relax at Riverfront Park
• Cross John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
• Experience Broadway honky-tonks
• Pass by Nissan Arena
• Visit Bridgestone Arena

The experience

The tour starts at the Ryman Auditorium, the red brick "Mother Church of Country Music" that opened in 1892. Your guide walks you through its history (the wooden pews, stained glass windows, and the stage where country legends performed), then moves into the streets where the music actually lives now. Tootsies Orchid Lounge, with its purple exterior dating back to the 1960s, is where you hear live music and see the walls covered in photos of musicians who launched their careers there.

From there the route threads through Printer's Alley, a 19th-century publishing district turned entertainment hub with cobblestone streets and historic signage, then opens onto Lower Broadway where neon honky-tonks like Robert's Western World and The Stage line the street. You walk past the Nissan Arena and Bridgestone Arena, both major event venues, and cross the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge for views of the Cumberland River and the city skyline. The final stop is Nashville Riverfront Park, where you can see Nissan Stadium across the water and take in the quieter side of downtown.

What sets this tour apart is the guide. A local musician and military veteran who shares insider hacks: practical tips on where to eat, what to skip, and how to spend less while experiencing more of Nashville. You'll get a bottle of water and plenty of moments to take photos. The whole walk takes 90 minutes with travel time between stops already built in, so you're not waiting around or rushing between points.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• insider hacks and practical tips from your local musician guide on where to save money and experience Nashville like a local.
• photo opportunities throughout the walk.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00Last departure this season: 30 Nov

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (3 to 4 years): free · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Nashville Adventures

Is this one for you?At 90 minutes, this tour fits into a morning or afternoon without eating your whole day, leaving time to sit down at one of the honky-tonks you've just walked past or explore a neighborhood on your own. The guide is a working musician, not a history reciter, so you get the stories people who live here actually tell, not a script.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (3 to 4 years): free. Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Ryman Auditorium and why does the tour start there?

The Ryman Auditorium is the historic red brick venue that opened in 1892 and became the home of the Grand Ole Opry, earning it the nickname "Mother Church of Country Music." The tour begins there because it's the foundation of Nashville's musical identity, and your guide walks you through its history before moving into the live music venues and streets where that legacy continues today.

Will I hear live music during this walking tour?

Yes. The tour passes through Tootsies Orchid Lounge and the Broadway honky-tonks where live country music is performed throughout the day. You'll hear guitars and performances pouring out from the venues as you walk the street, though the tour itself is a walk past these landmarks rather than a sit-down performance.

What are the insider hacks the guide shares?

The guide, a local musician, shares practical tips designed to save you money and help you experience Nashville like a local: advice on where to eat, which venues are worth your time, and how to get more out of your visit without overspending. These are the kinds of recommendations you'd get from someone who actually lives and performs in the city.

How long is the tour and what's included in the price?

The tour is 90 minutes, and the price includes bottled water, all fees and taxes, and photo opportunities throughout the walk. Travel time between stops is already built into the 90 minutes, so there's no waiting around between landmarks.

What neighborhoods and landmarks does the tour cover?

The tour covers downtown Nashville, starting at the Ryman Auditorium and moving through Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Printer's Alley, Lower Broadway (with its honky-tonks), the Nissan Arena and Bridgestone Arena, the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, and Nashville Riverfront Park along the Cumberland River.