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National Geographic

Nashville is one of the hottest destinations in the U.S. Here's why you should go.

Nashville is seeing a surge in tourism as a major stop in the Americana Music Triangle. Plus, with the Grand Ole Opry's 100th anniversary, 2025 FIFA Club World Cup matches, and new flight routes from Vancouver, Orlando, Palm Beach, Indianapolis and beyond, 2025 is the year to visit Nashville. See a show at the Grand Ole Opry You don't have to be a country music fan to know (and love) the Grand Ole Opry. This iconic music venue is celebrating Opry 100 all year with special events and performances. Tour the museum during the day, and come back at night to be part of the iconic show, broadcast live on WSM radio. 'We're standing on the shoulders of the legends who got us here, honoring their legacy every night, while also swinging the doors wide open and inviting everyone in to be part of the next chapter,' says Dan Rogers, Grand Ole Opry's executive producer. 'We're unveiling Opry 100 Greatest Songs, a tribute to the music that's defined generations of country fans, and a new series, Opry 100 Honors, that recognizes the artists, songwriters, and industry trailblazers who've shaped the Opry's legacy.' (How to spend a day in Nashville, America's soulful southern city) Catch a game Nissan Stadium, home field of the Tennessee Titans, is close to downtown. Photograph by Zoonar GmbH, Alamy Stock Photo One surprising note is that the Music City is also becoming a big sports destination. Geodis Park, featuring FIFA World Cup matches this summer, has the largest soccer-specific stadium in the U.S. and Canada. The Nashville Predators hockey team is hugely popular with locals, as are the Tennessee Titans and the minor league baseball team, the Nashville Sounds, has a scoreboard appropriately shaped like a giant guitar. Hop on Taylor Swift's tour bus Called the 'Smithsonian of country music,' the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has three floors of musical artifacts like Elvis' gold-plated Cadillac, and rotating exhibits. The Taylor Swift Education Center features a replica of her tour bus, where visitors can go inside and step into a recording booth, just like the megastar. While you're there, don't miss the separately-ticketed tours of Historic RCA Studio B, where Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, and Waylon Jennings recorded, and the Hatch Show Print where visitors can make their own music posters. (Meet the female rappers carving out a home in Nashville, America's Music City) Cruise around the city General Jackson Showboat has been cruising down Nashville's Cumberland River since April 20, 1985. Photograph by Newcastle, Shutterstock There are multiple ways to tour Nashville, but newcomers looking to get their bearings should consider a guided tour. The narrated Old Town Trolley makes stops at 13 popular downtown locations and guests can hop on and off throughout the day. To see the city from a different perspective, take a cruise on the General Jackson Showboat for live performances, and a dinner cruise at night. The Victorian paddlewheel steamboat has been entertaining visitors on Nashville's Cumberland River since April 20, 1985. Tour the musical museums Located downtown, the Johnny Cash Museum takes about an hour to tour. Photograph by iStock Editorial, Getty Images The Ryman Auditorium is considered the "mother church of country music" and the city's most recognized landmark. Visitors can stand on the stage where musical legends performed before moving to the Grand Ole Opry's current location. Within blocks, visitors can also tour the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, National Museum of African American Music, and the Johnny Cash Museum, which has an expansion scheduled to be completed in late summer. Treat your senses Goo Goo Clusters is home of the namesake "goo goo cluster," which is the first combination candy bar, originally created in 1912. Guests can schedule a factory tour and make their own chocolate creation. After a sweet treat, stop by one of the city's many live music venues. The Bluebird Cafe is famous, and The Listening Room is where songwriters for country music stars perform original live music. Where to shop Check out Fifth + Broadway and the Food Assembly Hall. If you're looking for locally made products, check out the Nashville Farmers' Market or 12South, the trendy neighborhood a short drive from downtown. Scratch-made pastries from The Butter Milk Ranch are worth the drive alone, but plan to arrive early to beat the crowds before taking a stroll through the boutiques. What to eat Hot chicken is a Nashville staple and can be found all over the city. Photograph by Brent Hofacker, Alamy Stock Photo Hot chicken is synonymous with Nashville, and there is no shortage of places to find it. Prince's Hot Chicken proudly displays the legend of how hot chicken began, with Thornton Prince's scorned lover during the Great Depression. Another staple, Hattie B's, has a hot meter ranging from the mild "Southern style," all the way up to the hottest style, "shut the cluck up." (Where to find the best Nashville hot chicken) If you prefer barbecue, check out one of Martin's Bar-B-Que three Nashville locations for authentic West Tennessee whole hog. For those looking for a taste of the honky tonk nightlife, take a stroll along Lower Broadway. Here, you'll find numerous restaurants and bars named after some of the most popular country starts like Morgan Wallen's This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen and Lainey Wilson's Bell Bottoms Up Cookin' and Drinkin'. Where to stay If you need something a little stronger, try the "Whiskey and Vinyl" experience at the Thompson Nashville. This small group experience is led by local whiskey connoisseur, AJ Soldo, and explores the deep-rooted connection between Tennessee whiskey and the region's rich musical heritage. For 2025, the hotel partnered with country star Eric Church to create the ultimate fan package for country music lovers visiting Nashville featuring a carefully curated vinyl collection and in-room Victrola. Another new hotel addition to the city is The Printing House, at the crossroads of Third Avenue and Peabody Street, near the historical Printer's Alley. Trudy Haywood Saunders is a nationally syndicated freelance writer covering travel, history, Southern culture, food, lifestyle, and more. View her portfolio at