13 of the Best Free things to do in Nashville

Want to know all of the best free things to do in Nashville? Well, as a Nashville native, I’m giving you the full list!

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Are you looking for free things to do in Nashville? I can help!

While I love Nashville with my whole soul, it can be a pretty expensive city to go out in. And while you may want to do some of the pricier things while on vacation, you may want some good filler things to kill time in between. And I think this list has a pretty solid list of all kinds of things to do!

I was born and raised in Nashville, so I’ll tell you some of the best things locals love to do when they don’t want to have to spend a lot of money.

This post is all about the best free things to do in Nashville Tennessee!

The best free things to do in Nashville!

1. Visit the Parthenon in Centennial Park

Centennial Park is located right in the heart of Nashville and is a must-see if the weather is nice! There is a one-mile-long walking trail, gardens, and a little pond where you can watch ducks swimming by!

Probably the coolest part about Centennial Park is the full-scale replica of the Greek Parthenon. Walking around the park and checking out the outside of the Parthenon is all free. There is a museum inside the Parthenon though that costs just a small fee (and you’ll just need to buy tickets right at the door). It’s definitely worth it to check out the museum but it’s still a great experience seeing the Parthenon and just walking around if you want to stick to a free activity!

Also, if you’re a Taylor Swift fan make sure you search for the bench along the walking trail that is dedicated to her! It has a little plaque on it “a bench for you to read on in Centennial Park” as a tribute to one of the lyrics in her song “Invisible String.”

The best time of year to enjoy Centennial Park is usually the fall and spring – from the leaves changing to the beautiful flowers blooming in the spring!

2. Live Music on Broadway

Of course, you can’t visit Nashville and not see some live music along the way. While many venues require tickets or have a cover charge, almost every bar on Broadway is free to walk in and explore. More and more bars are popping up that are themed after various artists, so check to see if someone you love has their own bar! They are usually filled with some pretty cool memorabilia to see.

While pretty much every bar will have live music and have it on every single floor for “free,” just remember that these musicians are working mostly for their tips and this is often their full-time job. So come in and listen, but make sure to throw a little extra cash in their tip jar to help them pay their bills! (especially if you are requesting songs!!)

I’m also a full time musician, so if you’re in town come see me and say hello! I usually keep my schedule pretty up to date on my website!

3. Check Out All the Beautiful Murals Around Nashville!

There are tons of really cool murals around Nashville! So many are popular spots to go get your photo taken, and the best part is that it’s free to do! There are many staple item murals that have been around for a while, but there are always new ones popping up and changing. I suggest walking around some of the popular neighborhoods known for their murals to see what you stumble upon!

The Gulch, Wedgewood-Houston, Hillsboro, and 12 South are the most popular walkable neighborhoods, and you will spot tons of murals for the perfect photo op!

I would say the three most popular murals people want to take pictures with are The Wings Mural, The I Believe in Nashville Mural, and the Nashville Looks Good on You Mural. While there are SO many more to find, this is where you can find those:

“Nashville Looks Good on You” Mural (12 South Neighborhood –Address: 2511 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN, 37204)
“I Believe in Nashville” Mural (12 South Neighborhood – Address: 2702 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN, 37204)
Wings / “What Lifts You” Mural – (The Gulch – Address: 302 11th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203)

Although these are a few of the ones you probably have seen the most on social media, there are so many great murals around Nashville to stumble across and snap a pic of!

4. Walk Along the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge

Nashville has one of the most beautiful skylines in my opinion, and one of the best views of it is from The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. The pedestrian bridge goes from downtown Nashville to East Nashville, over the Cumberland River. It’s the perfect place to snap some photos with beautiful views of the skyline and water.

The best time to go is during sunrise or sunset for some breathtaking lighting. Also, there’s a little park located at the base of the bridge called Cumberland Park – it’s especially great to stop by if you have kids who may want to play a little!

5. Tour the Tennessee State Capitol & Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park

If you’re feeling like learning a little bit of history, the Tennessee State Capitol offers free tours Monday through Friday. Just a short walk away is the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. The 11 acre park offers a lot more history about Tennessee to learn about as well. While you’re welcome to explore the park yourself, they also offer in person tours as well as a digital tour that can be done through a webpage.

6. See if any Free Festivals or Events are Going On!

There are so many free events that take place in Nashville. It’s pretty normal for big artists to randomly announce they are doing a free show somewhere around the city. I’ve linked the Music City Event Page, where you can often find any events being put on. Some regularly occurring events you should check out if you’re in town at the same time they take place are:

-Live on the Green: Although they had to cancel last year, they said in their announcement that they do plan to come back next year if possible, so check and see if they’ve announced any shows! The shows usually take place throughout August and/or September. Live on the Green is a completely free concert series that is put on by a local radio station, Lightning 100. There are usually tons of food trucks and vendors lining the streets as well. The concert typically takes place in Public Square Park.

–CMA Fest: CMA Fest is a country music festival that takes place every year in June in Nashville, Tennessee. They do a huge show at Nissan Stadium with all the biggest country artists, but they also set up several stages all around downtown Nashville that are completely free to go to. Check out their website for a lineup of who is playing at which stage and at what time. I have several friends that come to town specifically for the festival each year and spend all their time only going to the free shows and always have an absolute blast. It’s such a great way to see tons of up-and-coming country artists that are starting to gain success.

-Musicians Corner: Musicians Corner is a free outdoor concert series that usually takes place on Fridays in both the spring and fall in Centennial Park. There are tons of great up-and-coming musicians from several different genres. There are also always vendors lining up around the festival that sell beer, wine, food, art, and more.

–First Saturday Art Crawl: Each first Saturday of the month there’s a free art crawl that takes place around Nashville. You can find a complete list of art galleries you can walk to and from to see tons of art displays by some of Nashville’s most talented.

7. Take a Self Guided Tour of Music Row

Music Row is a strip in Nashville that has and still does play a major role in the music industry. The street is filled with recording studios, publishing companies, record companies, and all things entertainment industry-related.

You can find Music Row by strolling down both 16th and 17th Avenue. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you start seeing several banners celebrating #1 songs by the artists on their roster. It’s fun to walk up and down and see all you’re favorite artists’ and writers’ accomplishments. At the end of Music Row, you’ll also find Belmont University, where I went to college! While they offer several majors, it is known for its music department and several well-known musicians have attended school there such as Josh Turner, Trisha Yearwood, Brad Paisley, Lee Ann Womack, and several more.

8. Hike or Bike at Percy Warner Park

Percy Warner Park is a gorgeous park that has tons of trails you can hike or bike around. It’s known for its stone staircase entrance – which is great for photo ops! In fall the trees are beautiful!

9. Visit the Nashville Farmers’ Market

The Nashville Farmers’ Market is one of my favorite places to go in Nashville! While of course there are tons of shopping opportunities, it really is fun to walk around just checking out all the local vendors who have not only produce but art and other products as well. It’s completely free to just walk around! If you go on a Saturday they also typically have live music!

10. Walk Down the Music City Walk of Fame

Right near the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Music City Walk of Fame features many legendary musicians from all different genres. Walk along and see if you can find any of your favorites!

11.) Watch the Sunset at Love Circle

Love Circle is really just a stretch of grass, but locals go all the time to get the best view of the Nashville Skyline. It’s been referred to as Love Circle for a long time, so if you just put Love Circle into your GPS it will come up. Bring a blanket to lay on and maybe a little picnic and enjoy the beautiful views!

12.) Cooter’s Place Museum

If you love Duke’s of Hazzard, you’ve got to check out Cooter’s Place. The Museum is operated by Ben Jones, who played Cooter Davenport in the television series. The museum has free admission and has tons of memorabilia from the show. There are a couple of cars from the TV show you can take pictures with, although that costs a small fee.

13.) Gaylord Opryland Hotel

It might seem a little weird to suggest visiting a hotel that you aren’t staying at, but trust me tons of even locals do it every year. The Gaylor Opryland Hotel is a MASSIVE hotel that has several restaurants and shops throughout it. It has a river flowing through it you can take a boat ride on and there are plants and trees and waterfalls everywhere inside. Although some of the activities cost money, many locals go every year for Christmas. They go all out with Christmas decorations and you’ll find live music in some of the various rooms of the hotel. If you plan to go during Christmas make sure you double check on their website because they have started charging on certain dates close to the holiday for admission – but most of the time it’s totally free!