Music City's Finest: 8 Amazing Tours For Your Nashville Vacation - Updated 2024

best tours in nashville
Trip101 Editorial
Trip101 Editorial 
Updated
| 4 min read

Nestled in the heart of Tennessee and situated alongside the scenic Cumberland River, the city of Nashville is world renowned for its rich history and vibrant music scene. Music City, USA, is home to some amazing sights and activities and the tours in this list are sure to help you experience all that Nashville has to offer.

1. Brush up on your history on the Battle of Franklin Civil War History Tour (from USD 93.5)

best tours in nashville | brush up on your history on the battle of franklin civil war history tour

Dandridge, founded in 1792, is one of the oldest towns in Tennessee and is the county seat of Jefferson County (named...

Posted by Hynds House on Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Tennessee is rich in history and the greater Nashville area is one of the best places to experience it. On this day tour, you’ll step back in time and explore Nashville’s early history and the Battle of Franklin, one of the Civil War’s bloodiest fights. During the day, you’ll visit three homes - the Carter House, Lotz House, and the Carnton Plantation - each of which offers a unique perspective on the people and tales of that epic battle. This tour is perfect for the history buff on your trip and is one you won’t want to miss.

Battle of Franklin Civil War History Tour

Price: from 65 USD

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Civil War History Tour – The Battle of Franklin, Tennessee

Duration: 7.0 hour

57 reviews

2. Go backstage on a guided tour of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry (from USD 46.0)


The Grand Ole Opry is Nashville’s world-renowned country music venue and a backstage tour is a must-do for the country music fanatic in your group. On this hour long backstage tour, you’ll be accompanied by a knowledgeable tour guide, who will captivate you with tales about the venue’s storied history. While at the Grand Ole Opry, you’ll get the chance to walk through the artists’ entrance, see some of the dressing rooms, watch an informative video starring Blake Shelton and Darius Rucker, and get the chance to walk on the Opry’s fabled stage. This tour is a great activity for the whole family.

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Grand Ole Opry Guided Backstage Concert Hall Tour in Nashville

Duration: 1 hour

1778 reviews

3. Sample Nashville’s finest cuisine on a food tour (from USD 114.0)

Nashville is home to some world-famous cuisine, rich with history, culture, and Southern hospitality. On this three-hour tour, you’ll join a guide and hop in a small-group van, where you’ll visit local eateries in Nashville’s quirkiest and quaintest neighborhoods. During the tour, you’ll get the chance to sample some authentic Southern eats, such as slow-roasted barbecue and authentic hot chicken, as well as Nashville’s famous frosty cocktail, the Bushwhacker. In between stops, you’ll do some sightseeing as you cruise past some Nashville landmarks, such as the capitol building, Nissan Stadium, and East Nashville’s Five Points. On this tour, you’ll come hungry but leave happy after you experience the best of Nashville’s famous cuisine.

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Taste of Nashville Food & Sightseeing Tour

Duration: 3 hours

1240 reviews

4. Fly high above Nashville on a hot air balloon tour! (from USD 399.0)


Perhaps the best way to experience the beauty of Nashville is by air and the most unique way to soar high above the ground is in a hot air balloon. During this unforgettable tour, you’ll join an experienced balloon pilot as you float above rolling hills and the beautiful estates of Tennessee. This half day hot air balloon tour is an interactive experience, as passengers are encouraged to help with the preparation, inflation, navigation, and deflation of the balloon. This once-in-a-lifetime experience ends with a traditional post-flight champagne ceremony and is one you won’t soon forget!

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Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Central Tennessee

Duration: 3 hours

4 reviews

5. Drink up on a downtown Nashville Pub Crawl (from USD 25.0)


If you’re looking to sample some of Nashville’s best downtown nighttime attractions in a lighthearted manner, then the Nashville Pub Crawl is the tour for you! This two hour tour introduces guests to the heart of downtown Nashville as you travel along historic Second Avenue and enjoy fresh eats and hearty drinks at 4-6 local pubs. Along the way, your tour guide will entertain you with trivia games and laughter as you soak up the best that Music City has to offer. This tour is one of Nashville’s most popular activities and is a great way to see downtown Nashville and its local hangouts.

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Nashville Pub Crawl with History, Games, and Drink Specials

Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes

571 reviews

6. See the best of Nashville on the Hop-on Hop-off Trolley (from USD 52.39)

see the best of nashville on the hop-on hop-off trolley

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Music City is a big place and trying to pack in all it has to offer into one vacation can be a daunting task. Instead of stressing yourself out with travel logistics, book a tour with the Hop-on Hop-off Trolley and you can discover the best of Nashville without the hassle. This great tour stops at 15 fantastic and iconic Nashville locations and gives you the chance to explore Music City at your own pace. As you cruise through the city, your conductor will narrate your journey, giving you fun facts and helpful tips before you embark on your next adventure. When you’re done exploring a particular area, you can simply hop on the next trolley. This tour is perfect for anyone looking to experience Nashville without the fuss of travel logistics!

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Nashville: Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour

Duration: 2.0 day

853 reviews

7. Cruise the Cumberland River on the General Jackson Showboat Dinner Cruise (from USD 138.0)

cruise the cumberland river on the general jackson showboat dinner cruise

The Cumberland River is the lifeline and center of Tennessee and there’s no better way to experience it than on a General Jackson Showboat Dinner Cruise. This tour is available for lunch or dinner and gives you a chance to enjoy world class entertainment, beautiful scenery, and a scrumptious meal while cruising aboard one of the largest paddlewheel riverboats in America! The lunch boat is perfect for families, who can enjoy a family-style meal and a child-friendly comedy variety show while the dinner cruise serves up a delicious dinner and an excellent post-dinner music show. Regardless of which cruise you choose, a trip down the Cumberland on the General Jackson Showboat is sure to be a highlight for your next trip to Nashville.

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Nashville: General Jackson Showboat Dinner Cruise

Duration: 4.0 hour

115 reviews

8. Stretch your legs and see the sights on a Nashville Bike Tour


A bike tour of downtown Nashville is a great active way to see and experience the best of Music City. On this half-day, small-group tour, your experienced guide will lead you along scenic bike trails around the city as you travel to Nashville’s famous sights. This tour maintains a casual pace to keep the ride comfortable for all participants and stops frequently to discuss Music City’s rich history and enjoy snacks from local eateries. This bike tour is the perfect activity for people looking for an active sightseeing adventure!

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Nashville Cycling Tour with Small Group

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

425 reviews

Music City’s best sights and activities

Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Source: Photo by user Derrick Brutel used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Whether you’re a history buff, music aficionado, foodie, or cyclist, the sights and sounds of Nashville, Tennessee await on these eight great tours. Before you head to Nashville, be sure to check out these tours to help you experience all that Music City has to offer.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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