Free Things To Do in Nashville

Experience Nashville on a budget with free things to do around the city.

Art | Attractions | Kid-Friendly Activities | Music | Parks

You already know we’re home to free music 365 days a year, but music isn’t the only free attraction in Nashville. Read on to find out which parks, attractions, and venues are free to visit in Music City.

Free Live Music in Nashville

Nashville is nicknamed Music City for good reason. It’s home to historic venues, a major arena, and numerous music artists and industry professionals. If you want to hear live music in Nashville, just pick where to go! Our Guide to Free Live Music in Nashville can help you plan the perfect visit.

Pro Tip: Most places don’t charge a cover fee, but remember to tip the band!

Free Nashville Parks
Parthenon and Centennial Park

If you want free things to do in Nashville for families, visit one of the city’s many parks. Enjoy hiking, fishing, picnicking, and more. Use the interactive Parks Finder from Metro Parks Nashville to search for parks by activity, location, or name.

  • Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
    Tour Tennessee via a 200-foot granite map of the state, a walkway featuring the state’s 95 counties, 31 fountains representing the major rivers of Tennessee, and an extraordinary wall depicting the state’s history.
  • Music City Walk of Fame Park
    The Music City Walk of Fame Park on Nashville's Music Mile is a landmark tribute to those with a connection to Music City from all genres of music who have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration and made a significant contribution to the music industry.
  • Centennial Park
    Centennial Park is Nashville's premier park. Located at West End and 25th Avenue North, the 132-acre park features the iconic Parthenon, a 1-mile walking trail, Lake Watauga, the Centennial Art Center, historical monuments, an arts activity center, a beautiful sunken garden, a bandshell, an events shelter, sand volleyball courts, a dog park, and an exercise trail.
Experience the Arts in Nashville

For a city known for music, Nashville has many art galleries, art studios, and museums. Take a break from the sounds of Music City and absorb the culture of Nashville’s Art Scene.

  • The Bankers Alley Hotel
    The Bankers Alley Hotel Nashville is an art-filled hotel in the bustle of downtown that has re-imagined a historic building to showcase more than 10,500 square feet of exhibition space. Galleries are open free to the public every day of the year with rotating exhibitions. Free guided docent tours are offered on Thursday evenings at 5:30pm.
  • First Saturday Art Crawl
    Every first Saturday of the month, art galleries open their doors from 6-9pm for special events and exhibit openings. Admission is free, and most galleries offer free wine and refreshments.
  • Hatch Show Print
    One of the oldest working letterpress print shops in America, Hatch Show Print is open to art lovers, music lovers, collectors, and everyone in between. Step inside the print shop and see how these legendary posters are made. Shop for prints and posters in the print store or peruse Hatch Show Print’s Haley Gallery of historic ad blocks and artwork. Part of the Total Access Pass.
  • Nashville's Murals
    Looking for a fun and unique photo opportunity? Discover the impressive murals that can be found throughout Nashville. Created by local and internationally known artists, murals can be seen on the side of restaurants, shops, garage doors, water tanks, and even old silos.
  • Nashville Shakespeare Festival — Shakespeare in the Park
    For 30 years, the Nashville Shakespeare Festival has educated and entertained. During the summer months, the Nashville Shakes offer free performances (with a suggested $10 donation) in Centennial Park Thursday through Sunday and Labor Day Monday.
  • Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery
    The Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery hosts rotating exhibits throughout the year. The hours are 11am-4pm Monday-Friday, and 1-5pm Saturday-Sunday. The gallery will close for breaks and installations during the academic year. Please call ahead to verify the schedule at 615-322-0605.
  • WeHo Art Crawl
    On the first Saturday of the month, join art lovers in visiting a dozen Art Galleries within walking distance in Nashville's Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood. Admission is free and open to the public.
  • Zeitgeist Gallery
    Zeitgeist Gallery, located in Wedgewood-Houston spotlights both local and regional artists. It is a contemporary art gallery with rotating exhibits that provide viewers with an enriching in-depth look into art, artists, and the creative process.
Free Nashville Attractions

Interesting landmarks, educational museums, and free attractions abound in Nashville. Take a guided tour, enjoy free offers, and learn more about the city’s history at these unique places.

  • Arrington Vineyards
    Visiting Tennessee’s premier vineyard is free. Bring a picnic lunch or enjoy dinner year-round. On Saturdays and Sundays, April through October, Arrington Vineyards hosts Music in the Vines. Each concert is free and the perfect opportunity to taste amazing wine.
  • Cooter's Place
    "Cooter," Ben Jones himself, operates this "Dukes of Hazzard" museum that features pictures; props; costumes; memorabilia; and classic Dukes cars, including Cooter's two trucks, Daisy's Jeep, Rosco's Patrol Car, and a General Lee. Admission is always free.
  • Nashville Flea Market
    On the fourth weekend of each month, the Tennessee State Fairgrounds hosts the Nashville Flea Market, where dealers and vendors from 30 states offer their wares to the buying public. Visitors will find a variety of gifts, antiques, collectibles, jewelry, arts and crafts, tools, housewares, handmade clothing, and more.
  • Downtown Presbyterian Church
    This Presbyterian Church is a national landmark. Guests in Nashville have marveled over its Egyptian revival interior and the organ. Tours are available Tuesday and Thursday at 2pm. Reservations are required.
  • Fort Donelson National Battlefield
    Discover the history behind Fort Donelson and the Union victory, which elated the North and stunned the South during the American Civil War. Within days of the Confederate surrender at Fort Donelson, Clarksville, and Nashville would fall into Union hands. General Ulysses S. Grant and his troops created a pathway to victory for the Union after this great victory.
  • Fort Nashborough Interpretive Center
    Nashville was founded when James Robertson led his group of pioneers across the frozen Cumberland River to a place called The Cedar Bluffs. It was here that these men built a fort called Nashborough, which would be the shelter for the first families of the city. Today, a replica of the fort is located at the end of Lower Broadway and is open for self-guided tours. The site also holds a Native American Plaza that honors the tribes and people that populated the area before the arrival of James Robertson.
  • Fort Negley
    Explore the largest inland masonry fort built during the Civil War. Fort Negley offers interactive exhibits and two 20-minute educational videos on the 1862 surrender of Nashville and the building of the fort. Self-guided walking tours are available year-round from dawn until dusk.
  • Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
    Take a walk around the resort's nine acres, complete with indoor gardens, pathways, and waterfalls, any day of the week.
  • Isha Institute of Inner-sciences
    One day each month, the Isha Institute of Inner-sciences offers a Free Yoga Day. The Institute also offers lessons on vegetarian cooking and other classes. Day visits are free of charge.
  • Nashville Public Library
    The Nashville Public Library offers free year-round fun, events, and classes, including weekly Story Time, puppet shows, music in the courtyard, book clubs, craft days, and more.
  • Tennessee Agricultural Museum
    The Tennessee Agricultural Museum features an extensive collection of home and farm artifacts from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Also included on the property is a log cabin community with a wooded trail and heirloom gardens.
  • Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame
    The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, located at Bridgestone Arena, honors the athletes, coaches, sportswriters, and sports administrators who have made an impact on the history of sports in Tennessee.
  • Tennessee State Capitol
    The Tennessee State Capitol is one of the oldest operating capitols in the country. Guided tours of the Capitol are provided free of charge by the staff of the Tennessee State Museum.
  • Tennessee State Museum
    From Tennessee's early beginnings to the present day, the Tennessee State Museum tells the entire story of Tennessee's rich history, including Music City. Free highlight tours are offered daily at 2pm.
Free Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Nashville

Nashville is family-friendly, and many museums, attractions, and destinations in the city offer free admission for kids of certain ages. No matter what your family likes doing together, there are plenty of kid-friendly activities in Nashville to enjoy.

  • Adventure Science Center
    Free for Toddlers Under 2

    From the biggest celestial bodies to the tiniest molecules on Earth, Adventure Science Center showcases innovative, dynamic learning experiences that open minds of all ages to the wonders of science and technology. Part of the Total Access Pass.
  • Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery
    Free for Ages 5 and Under

    The Belle Meade Plantation is a 30-acre historic site 6 miles west of Nashville where guests can enjoy history, horses, and hospitality. The mansion, built in 1853, is the estate’s centerpiece. The plantation grounds feature an art gallery; guided tours; and rotating Living History activities, such as storytelling, period dance, and demonstrations. Part of the Total Access Pass.
  • Belmont Mansion
    Free for Ages 5 and Under

    Completed in 1853 by Adelicia Acklen, Belmont was recognized as one of the most elaborate and unusual homes in the South. Adelicia secretly conspired with both the Confederate and Union forces to emerge from the Civil War with her fortune intact. Part of the Total Access Pass.
  • Carnton
    Free for Ages 5 and Under

    Carnton, home of Carrie and John McGavock, served as the largest Confederate field hospital following the Battle of Franklin, fought in 1864. The McGavock Confederate Cemetery is on the site, as well as a fully restored garden and slave quarters.
  • Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
    Free for Ages 2 and Under

    Experience Cheekwood, the 55-acre estate built by the Maxwell House Coffee fortune in Nashville, Tennessee, and one of the finest examples of an American Country Place Era estate in the United States. The Botanical Garden is a spectacular showcase of color and horticultural diversity with 11 specialty display gardens and a stunning natural landscape. Part of the Total Access Pass.
  • Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
    Free for Ages 5 and Under

    The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville is home to priceless artifacts, photographs, recorded sound clips, dynamic exhibitions, Nashville’s legendary recording studio, and more. Its permanent exhibition, “Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music,” reveals the origins, traditions, and honored architects of the country music genre. Part of the Total Access Pass.
  • Frist Art Museum
    Free for Ages 18 and Under

    The Frist Art Museum presents rotating exhibitions throughout the year. The award-winning Martin ArtQuest Gallery hosts events, such as Free Family Days and Family Mondays, for kids to discover, explore, and create art. The Frist is always free for ages 18 and younger. Part of the Total Access Pass.
  • Historic Travellers Rest
    Free for Ages 5 and Under

    Historic Travellers Rest is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the Overton home and serving as a gateway for learners of all ages to explore and experience Nashville's historic past. Built by Judge John Overton in 1799, Travellers Rest is the oldest historic home in Nashville open to the public.
  • Lane Motor Museum
    Free for Ages 5 and Under

    Lane Motor Museum is home to the largest European automobile collection in the United States and features 150 extraordinary cars and motorcycles from around the world. Visitors will discover oddities like propeller-driven vehicles, microcars, amphibious vehicles, one-of-a-kind prototypes, military vehicles, competition cars, and more.
  • Lotz House Museum
    Free for Children 6 and Under

    In 1855, German immigrant Johann Lotz built Lotz House, using it as a showroom to sell his carpentry work. In 1864, Lotz House was at the epicenter of the Battle of Franklin and still bears several battle wounds.
  • Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
    Free for Ages 5 and Under

    The Musicians Hall of Fame honors musicians from all genres who have played on thousands of iconic recordings, and the Museum exhibits take visitors on a tour of cities that greatly influenced music culture. Part of the Total Access Pass.
  • Nashville Zoo
    Free for Ages 2 and Under

    See animals from around the world, including spider monkeys, a white rhinoceros, a Masai giraffe, clouded leopards, and much more at the Nashville Zoo, ranked in the top 10 best zoos and aquariums by Charity Navigator. Part of the Total Access Pass.
  • National Corvette Museum
    Free for Ages 4 and Under

    The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, showcases America's sports car. The museum features more than 70 Corvettes displayed in period settings, including at a mid-century barbershop, a service station, and a historic racetrack.
  • Storytellers Hideaway Farm & Museum
    Free for Ages 10 and Under

    Storytellers Hideaway Farm & Museum brings to life the history of the property, which was once owned by Johnny Cash. Tours allow you to see the Little Stage, which once hosted "Saturday Night in Hickman County"; view memorabilia from the Man in Black; learn about the house, which was built before the Civil War; and more.
  • Wave Country
    Free for Ages 2 and Under

    Dive into this wave action, freshwater pool, and water slide complex. Packing your own picnic is acceptable. Floats are available to rent, and there's plenty of shade.
Nashville Total Access Pass

Nashville has so much to do, and many attractions are free! Enhance your Nashville experience and save on places where admission is charged with a Total Access Pass. The Total Access Pass is Nashville’s official combo ticket that lets you create your own experience at a discount. Enjoy the freedom — and the savings — of writing your own ticket to entertainment.

Call 800-657-6910 to purchase a Total Access Pass through Nashville Customer Services or buy online.