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When visiting Nashville, an evening on Broadway—or, at the very least, an afternoon—is a must. The historic downtown corridor often referred to as “Honky Tonk Row” or “Lower Broad” reigns as the entertainment heart of Music City, a bustling row of restaurants, attractions, and live music joints that never seem to sleep. But there are a lot of different ways to do Broadway—so don’t write it off if burning the midnight oil is not your thing.

Broadway for Families

Make Your Own Premium Goo Goo

At the crossroads of Broadway and Third Avenue, Goo Goo Chocolate Co. brings a tasty bit of the city’s history with a brick-and-mortar that sells the legendary chocolate candy in various forms. Though the brand dates back to 1912, the store has state-of-the-art features like a make-your-own candy station where you can plug in your desired ingredients and take home a custom-made, four-ounce Premium Goo Goo. You also can stock up on the many limited-run flavors the shop sells pre-made.

Take a Walk Across the Bridge

Right next to the Goo Goo Shop is the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, one of Nashville’s architectural gems from the early 1900s that links downtown to the entrance of Nissan Stadium. It’s a lovely, albeit uphill, stroll for the more active families with a bonus on the South Bank side of the Cumberland River: the 6.5-acre Cumberland Park with climbing walls and playground equipment and an interactive splash pad activated in warmer months.

Tour the Frist

Frist Art Museum has been leveling up Nashville’s art offerings for more than 20 years, bringing in artists from around the world and exhibitions that range from vintage automobiles to visual displays integrating light, sound, and movement. The Art Deco post office the Frist is housed in is a work of art itself, and for the little ones, Martin ArtQuest has a room devoted to engaging and inspiring kids through hands-on activities—it’s also free to visit for youth 18 and younger.

Hop on the Downtown Trolley

For a deeper dive into the history of Broadway—which has lived many lives from housing hospitals during the Civil War to its gritty 80’s era of peep shows—buy an all-day pass for an Old Town Trolley Tour. The hop-on, hop-off bus will allow you to see downtown Nashville and beyond, all under the guidance and local expertise of a live narrator.

Broadway for Music Lovers

Tour the Country Music Hall of Fame

The larger Broadway neighborhood extends both north and south of the central thoroughfare, including Demonbreun Road where a large piano marks the entrance of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Nashville’s ultimate music museum is a must for fans of country music history or those who simply want to gawk at the costumes from some of their favorite artists, like Keith Urban or Taylor Swift. On the ground level, Hatch Show Print does live letterpress printing and sells the concert posters that have made it an industry staple for more than a century, while directly across the street, Music City Walk of Fame Park features Nashville’s own star walk.

Explore Music History

Opened in 2021, the National Museum of African American Music highlights the myriad African American trailblazers who shaped and paved the way for more than 50 musical genres, from roots and blues to jazz and gospel. The sprawling 56,000-square-foot museum occupies a prominent position on Broadway and offers even deeper context into music’s role in a post-slavery South and Nashville’s place in the civil rights movement, the sites of sit-ins and protests which can be experienced all throughout downtown.

Learn About Johnny Cash’s Legacy

No single musician is as synonymous with the sound of Nashville as Johnny Cash, and the Man in Black has an entire museum dedicated to his memory at the corner of Broadway and Third Avenue South. The Johnny Cash Museum boasts the largest and most comprehensive collection of the late artist’s artifacts, ranging from instruments and costumes to personal items.

Rock Out at Bridgestone Arena

With a capacity of 20,000, Nashville’s premier concert venue welcomes touring acts that range from Miley Cyrus to Kiss, Dierks Bentley to Billie Eilish, Disney on Ice to Monster Jam. If sports are more your thing, the Nashville Predators call Bridgestone Arena their home during hockey season, and the arena regularly hosts tournaments like NCAA March Madness every spring.

Sit in the Historic Pews of Ryman Auditorium

Few buildings hold the stories the Ryman Auditorium can tell. A landmark for more than 130 years, the building was first a church, opened as the Union Gospel Tabernacle in 1892. It routinely hosted notable acts like the Fisk Jubilee Singers and eventually became a full-time music venue with unparalleled acoustics. The Mother Church of Country Music, as it’s known—and one-time home of the Grand Ole Opry—is one of Nashville’s most intimate venues where you’ll still get to see top acts like Jason Isbell or Sigur Rós. The Ryman is open daily for tours, as well.

Broadway for Night Owls

Stay Up for Live Music at The Stage

If you want to continue your music adventures on Broadway after-hours, there’s no shortage of ways to see, hear, and dance to live music in Nashville no matter the hour of day (or night). While Broadway has seen the arrival of many newcomers in recent years, The Stage has been pumping out live music round the clock for decades, cementing its status as one of Nashville’s go-to honky tonks for an authentic Tennessee experience.

Stick around for Last Call at Robert’s Western Show

A little bit honk tonk, a whole lot country, Robert’s Western World is equally known for the fashion it sells as the raucous live music on stage each night (it first opened in the 1990s as a cowboy boot and western wear store). These days, this beloved Nashville bar also attracts a late-night crowd in search of grub, thanks to its now-famous fried bologna sandwich, washed down by a cold PBR.

Take the Tour of Country Music Star Bars

You could go out on Broadway every night for a week and have no need to repeat stops — there are that many bars and live music options in downtown Nashville. In recent years, country music star names have started to pop up all along Broadway, many with full-blown, multi-level entertainment venues like Blake Shelton’s Ole Red, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, Eric Church’s Chief’s, Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up, Jon Bon Jovi’s Live Music Rooftop Bar & Restaurant and Garth Brooks’ Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk.

Broadway for Foodies

Build Your Own Food Tour at Assembly Food Hall

The multi-purpose, multi-level behemoth Fifth + Broadway with a front-row view of the Ryman has become a veritable shopping and dining destination thanks to a bevy of high-end boutiques (think: Tecovas, Ariat, Apple), as well as the massive Assembly Food Hall. More than 30 eateries and bars—like Prince’s Hot Chicken, Honeyfire Barbeque Co., Thai Esane, Poke Nash Hawaiian Bowls—fill the Nashville food hall, as does music emanating from a trio of stages. For something a little bit fancier, make a reservation at the Twelve Thirty Club—which has a supper club, a rooftop bar, and a honky tonk—next door.

Have a Drink in an Old Train Terminal

Design lovers will inevitably find themselves drawn to the distinct façade of the Union Station, an iconic Gilded Era building at the edge of downtown Nashville that now functions as a hotel. While the hotel has undergone many renovations in recent years, the 65-foot, barrel-vaulted stained-glass ceiling remains intact. And with the development of Nashville Yards, there are now even more reasons to visit Union Station, like weekend brunch at the Finch or a dinner date at Stationary.