Voices of Music City Walking Tour
Explore downtown Nashville from riverfront roots to honky-tonk lights.
What to Expect
Discover how Nashville became “Music City” on a self-guided audio walk through its historic downtown. Starting near Fort Nashborough and the riverfront, you’ll trace the city’s early frontier days before winding into Printer’s Alley, the Tennessee State Capitol, and Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Along the way, the tour highlights the Musicians Hall of Fame, Frist Art Museum, Customs House, and the Birthplace of Country Music Broadcasting. You’ll step inside the stories behind the Country Music Hall of Fame, Hatch Show Print, and the Johnny Cash Museum before ending amid the neon glow of Honky Tonk Highway, the Ryman Auditorium, and Bridgestone Arena.
Explore at your own pace with GPS-triggered audio in the Drives & Detours app.
Ready to go? Book below or download our app and purchase directly from your phone.
📍 Location: Nashville, TN
🚶♂️ Type: Walking tour
⏱ Duration: Approx. 3 hours (flexible)
✅ Includes: App download, GPS-triggered audio, No expiration
📶 Works Offline: Download ahead of time - no cell service required
🎧 Multiple Languages: English, Spanish
Get Ready for Your Nashville Walking Tour
Explore the heart of downtown Nashville on a self-guided walking tour that connects the city’s past with its legendary music scene.
From the Cumberland River waterfront to the bright lights of Broadway, follow the story of how a small frontier settlement grew into world-renowned Music City.
Pass key locations that helped define Nashville—places linked to Indigenous heritage, pioneer days, wartime chapters, and the breakthrough moments of major performers.
Along the route, you’ll hear how river commerce, bold cultural ideas, and musical innovation shaped the city’s character.
Whether your interests lean toward historic buildings, local lore, or the origins of country, gospel, and blues, this flexible tour lets you explore on your schedule.
It’s a story-rich walk through the crossroads of Nashville’s history, culture, and sound.
What You’ll See on Your Nashville Walking Tour
Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
This museum spotlights the session players, producers, and songwriters who powered countless hit records. Interactive exhibits celebrate behind-the-scenes talent across many musical styles.
Honky Tonk Highway / Lower Broadway
Lower Broadway’s neon corridor is packed with live music venues operating day and night. A walk here delivers a nonstop blend of bands, crowds, and classic Nashville energy.
Johnny Cash Museum
Home to an extensive archive of Johnny Cash artifacts, recordings, and personal items, this museum traces his remarkable career. The displays explore both his artistry and his lasting influence on American music.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
This major institution preserves the history of country music through artifacts, recordings, and multimedia exhibits. Its bold contemporary design has become a downtown landmark in its own right.
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
Set below the State Capitol, this expansive park presents Tennessee history through monuments, maps, and symbolic features. Walking its paths offers both scenic views and a timeline of the state’s story.
Bridgestone Arena
A centerpiece of downtown entertainment, this arena hosts top touring acts and professional hockey. Its central location keeps it buzzing with activity year-round.
Frist Art Museum
Located in a restored Art Deco post office, the Frist presents rotating exhibitions from national and international collections. The building itself is as much a draw as the art inside.
Hatch Show Print
Operating since the 19th century, this working letterpress shop produces bold posters using traditional techniques. Its designs are closely tied to Nashville’s concert and performance history.
Printer’s Alley
This narrow historic lane once housed print shops and later became a hub for clubs and late-night culture. Today, it retains a tucked-away, old-school nightlife atmosphere.
Ryman Auditorium
Famed for its acoustics and history, the Ryman hosted the Grand Ole Opry and generations of major artists. Its church-like interior makes every performance feel intimate and memorable.
Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Inspired by classical European halls, this venue serves as the home of the Nashville Symphony. Its grand façade and public spaces add a formal cultural note to downtown.
Tennessee State Capitol
Completed in the mid-19th century, this Greek Revival Capitol remains an active seat of government. It stands prominently above the city as a symbol of Tennessee’s civic history.
Fort Nashborough
This reconstructed stockade marks the site of Nashville’s original frontier settlement. The replica structures illustrate the conditions faced by the city’s earliest settlers.
Customs House Nashville
Dating to the 1870s, this Gothic Revival building features elaborate stonework and dramatic arches. It remains one of the most visually distinctive historic structures downtown.
Meeting Point
Your Nashville walking tour begins at Fort Nashborough.
Fort Nashborough is a series of log cabins on 1st Avenue North beside the Cumberland River. 1st Avenue North can be accessed from Broadway and Church Street.
FAQs About Our Nashville Audio Tour
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General Admission to the Johnny Cash Museum costs the following:
General Admission: $27.95 + tax
AAA, Military, Seniors, Students (With ID): $26.95 + tax
Youth (6–15): $23.95 + tax
Children (5 and Under): Free
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Entrance to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum costs the following:
Adult (13+): $31.95
Youth (6–12): $21.95
Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum website for more information.
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Entrance to the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum costs the following:
Adult (18+): $30.00
Child (6–17): $16.50
Students, Teachers, Seniors (65+), Firefighters, Police, Military: $28.00
Visit the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum website for more information.
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Tickets to a show at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center depend on the performance and the seats you choose. Visit the Nashville Symphony website for more information.
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Entrance to the Ryman Auditorium starts at $36.39 for a visit. Tickets to a show depend on the performance and the seats you choose. Visit the Ryman Auditorium website for more information.
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Entrance to Hatch Show Print costs the following:
Hatch Show Print
Adult: $23.00
Youth (6–12): $18.00
Museum Admission
Adult: $31.95
Youth (6–12): $21.95
RCA Studio B
Adult: $23.00
Youth (6–12): $23.00
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Entrance to the Frist Art Museum costs the following:
Adults: $20
Seniors (65+): $16
Military (With ID): $16
College Students (With ID): $16
Guests 18 and Younger: Free
EBT / SNAP / WIC Card: $0 per adult with photo ID for up to 4 adults
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Tickets to the Bridgestone Arena depend on the game or performance and the seats you choose. Visit the Bridgestone Arena website for more information.
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Tours are fully refundable up to 24 hours in advance.
If it’s within 24 hours or you had an issue during your tour, email support@drivesanddetours.com. We review all requests individually and will always do our best to make things right.
Our goal is to ensure every traveler has a great experience exploring with Drives & Detours.
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The Drives & Detours Nashville tour has some hills and is about three miles round-trip. You'll want to allow two to three hours to give yourself time at some of the stops.
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Yes, downloading the Drives & Detours app will give you full access to the tour you have purchased, as well as many other self-guided tours.
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Download the tour before you go. Some areas have poor signal, which can make downloading the tour difficult. Once the tour is downloaded, it will work without any cell signal
The tour audio plays automatically as you approach each stop
Want to see more? Tap “View Stop” to see photos and bonus content
To return to the map, tap the small down arrow between the “previous” and “next” buttons
Follow the blue line and audio directions to stay on route
Use audio controls to pause, rewind, or skip—just like a podcast
Safety first: Keep your eyes on the road or sidewalk, follow traffic laws, and stay aware of your surroundings
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No—download your Nashville tour before you go, and you won't need a cell signal. Drives & Detours’ tours work without any cell signal once they are downloaded to your device.
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Once you have purchased your Nashville walking tour from Drives & Detours, you can use it whenever you want. You can always take the tour another day if the weather is bad on the day you plan to take it.
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Unfortunately, Dives & Detours cannot guarantee that the Nashville self-guided tour is accessible. People with wheelchairs, strollers, or mobility impairments are very welcome, but we recommend checking the Visit Music City website for detailed information.
Pro Tips for Your Drives & Detours Nashville Self-Guided Tour
Download before you go.
Enable location services—GPS triggers the audio.
Use earbuds, headphones, or your car speakers.
Pause and resume anytime. If you take a break, just reopen the app and head back toward your last stop.
Lost your way? Tap any pin on the map, then tap the right-turn-arrow icon to open your default maps app for turn-by-turn directions to that spot.
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