Travel secrets

The 10 Best Free Things to Do in Nashville

Nashville is a city immensely popular among budget travelers. It boasts a seemingly endless list of affordable and free things to see and do. From fun events to popular tourist attractions, the Birthplace of Country Music has it all. Here is the list of the 10 most incredible attractions and activities you can enjoy in Nashville without spending anything.

Explore Downtown

Downtown Nashville is the hub for all the fun things to see and do in the city. Almost always bustling with tourists and locals, the lively district is dotted with cool cafes and eateries that cater to people of all tastes and budgets. Wandering around this easily walkable part of the city doesn’t cost anything and you can enjoy free sampling at some restaurants and visit various Victorian Gothic architecture. Downtown Nashville is also home to the Frist Art Museum.

Visit Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens

Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens, spreading over nine acres, houses 50,000 tropical plants. Many of them are rare and exotic specimens. Those not into gardening can visit this resort garden to marvel at its blooms. The garden also boasts many palm trees as high as 60 feet. At the entrance, you can find over 40 feet tall southern magnolias. 30 varieties of camellias is another attraction of Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens.

See the Parthenon at Centennial Park

This 132 acre park can easily fill you up for a day. Built-in 1897, the iconic Parthenon of Nashville is a replica of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. A mile-long walking trail to the Parthenon at Centennial Park is filled with volleyball courts, parks for families and pets and an exercise trail. Lake Watuga in summers offers water sports.

Stroll on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge

This more than half a mile-long pedestrian bridge is one of the longest pedestrian bridges. The bridge connects the historic district and Riverside Park with East Nashville and East Bank Greenway. It also has an elevator, ramps, stairways, and a lane for cycling. You can also enjoy the views of the Cumberland River and Nashville skyline from the bridge.

Explore The District

The District, alongside the Cumberland River, is a historical district of downtown. Consisting of the entertainment district of Printers Alley and 2nd Avenue North, it features multiple entertainment venues and restaurants. You can find many popular Nashville attractions dotted across this hip neighborhood. Honky Tonk Row, Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame are some of the most popular sites here.

Stroll along the Tennessee State Capitol

The Tennessee State Capitol and Wander Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in Nashville is one of the best places and you don’t have to pay a dime for that. You can take a self-guided tour of this Greek Revival building perched on a hill above the city. Bicentennial Capitol Mall just below the Tennessee State is another must-visit site in Nashville.  

Go hiking in Warner Parks

Edwin and Percy Warner Parks, popularly known as Warner Parks is one of the most-visited tourist sites in Nashville. Over a million visitors walk the trails of this park annually. Along with hiking the beautiful trails, tourists can also enjoy mountain biking and picnicking in at its urban parks. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Warners Park is free to visit.

Enjoy views from the Cumberland River Pedestrian Bridge

This 745-foot long pedestrian bridge connects Shelby Bottoms Greenway to Two Rivers Park. On either side of the bridge (East and West), you will be exposed to panoramic views of green spaces. You can cross this bridge to reach a skate park and disc golf that don’t charge any entrance fee. There is also a water park which you may like to include in your bucket list.

Drive along Music Row

The heart and soul of Nashville’s music scene, the Music Row houses recording studios, radio stations and record companies. RCA Studio B, which once recorded Elvis Presley, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Owen Bradley Park is another famous site in this part of the city. A bronze bench near a bronze statue playing a grand piano is a great selfie point in the park.

Enjoy a concert at Live on the Green and Symphony Under the Stars

Nashville isn’t called the Birthplace of the Country Music for no reason. There are various venues that feature live music shows and concerts throughout the year. Live on the Green and Symphony Under the Stars is a great place to enjoy a concert that too without paying any fee. Check the venue’s calender – they often feature popular national and local musicians.

Tips to Book Cheap Flights to Nashville

Tennessee’s capital Nashville has been a darling of travel magazines for a long time and a traveler’s delight. The city has been adjudged as the “Best Place to Travel” and one of the “Top Places to Go” by top travel magazines in the recent past. The city offers a range of attractions starting from electrifying music to world-class art and award-winning cuisine to unique shopping makes making it a top draw for a number of visitors. The Grand Ole Opry, Parthenon, Broadway and the Country Music Hall of Fame are the city’s most popular musical attractions. The Museum of Art houses a brilliant art collection while the Hillsboro village offers a variety of shopping and dining opportunities.

So if a visit to Nashville is on your mind, here are some tips to book plane tickets to the city and make your trip more enjoyable.

Start looking for cheap Nashville flights and cheap Nashville airline tickets early

Making your travel reservations early will help you immensely in grabbing cheap airplane tickets andcheap airlines tickets to Nashville. Start searching for flights at least a month in advance for popular destinations like Nashville. Booking Nashville flights closer to the travelling date can turn out to be a costly affair.

Avoid last-minute flights to Nashville

Try and avoid booking flight tickets to Nashville at the last moment. As it is a popular travel destination, flight tickets to Nashville are always in demand. So planning early would really help you in grabbing cheap flights to Tennessee’s capital.

Cheap Last minute flights would are always costlier no matter where you are travelling.

Be Flexible with your Nashville schedule

Try and avoid booking Plane tickets during the busy summer season in Nashville. For example early spring can be a good time to grab cheap flight tickets to Nashville while travelling during Summers to the same city can set you back considerably. The situation would be similar in case you are planning to visit Nashville around Fall.

Book from alternate airports

Reserving flight tickets from an alternate airport in your city or opting to land at an alternate airport in Nashville can be really helpful in savings on Nashville flights. For example, flying to Huntsville (HSV) from NYC and then reaching Nashville via a cab can be a lot cheaper than a direct flight to Nashville from NYC. Another way of doing this is by booking a flight from LaGuardia Airport to Nashville instead of the busier Newark Liberty International Airport if you live in NYC and want to save money on your Nashville flights.

Always be on the hunt for special Nashville flight deals

Airlines and online travel agencies regularly offer discounted flight deals on Nashville flights on their websites. Keep a tab on their newsletters to know more about special offers on Nashville Flights. This can be a guaranteed way to book cheap airplane tickets to Nashville.

Fly with low-cost air carriers

Budget airlines like Southwest and Delta Airlines service the Nashville International Airport. Budget Carriers offer a decent flying experience these days at very pocket-friendly prices. You can ensure healthy savings on your Nashville flights by opting to fly with a budget airline.

Set Nashville fare alert

This can be a cool way to book flight tickets at a lower price. You can set price alerts on travel portals that will notify you when the Nashville flight tickets are available at a discount. But make sure you grab them quickly once you receive a notification on your phone!

Make use of your airline points and travel miles

Last but not the least, don’t forget to use your travel miles or Credit Card points to grab cool discounts on Nashville flights if you are a regular traveler and have a mile’s account.

Shahd Austin

Zeek Eager