A Nashville Neighborhood Guide

If you're planning a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, you have a lot of options in terms of where to stay. There are many different neighborhoods in and around the central core area of Nashville, and there are also options that are further out but no less appealing like the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, with many onsite amenities.

The following is a general overview of the different areas of Nashville that might help you if you're planning a trip to the MusicCity.

Downtown

Downtown Nashville is where most people stay if they want the real Honky Tonk, country music experience. Downtown Nashville includes SoBro, which means South of Broadway.

Attractions in this part of the city include the country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman, and Bridgestone Arena. 

You can walk along Broadway and hear live music day and night, and it's very energetic. You'll also find a lot of touristy stores and other things that cater specifically to visitors. 

Along with Broadway and the tourist destinations named above, many of the things you probably think of as being quintessentially Nashville are downtown, such as the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge which goes over the Cumberland River. 

The District

The District is part of downtown, but it's a historic area including Broadway and 2^ndAvenue. This is the area where there's the most nightlife in all of Nashville, so if you're looking for a party, you might think about staying near The District. Along with honky-tonk bars, there are also restaurants and nightclubs. 

Sometimes downtown and The District are thought of as one neighborhood, but other people think of them separately. 

The Gulch

If you want to stay in a part of Nashville that's urban and trendy, but perhaps more upscale and less touristy, the Gulch might be right for you. There are dozens of restaurants, and the area has some of the city's best shopping. 

You can also walk to nearby neighborhoods in Midtown from most places in the Gulch. 

Midtown is adjacent to the Gulchbut is its own neighborhood. You'll find a pretty good mix of higher-end eateries, along with more low-key local bars and restaurants. It's not as touristy in Midtown, and there are a lot of young people who live in the area. 

Near Midtown are other areas, including Vanderbilt. Midtown is sometimes known as the West End. There's a lot of nightlife here too, thanks to the presence of Vanderbilt University. There are bars and clubs around Church Street. 

This is also where the replica of the Parthenon is found as well, in Centennial Park. 

Opryland/Music Valley

If you want to stay at the Opryland Hotel or stay near the Grand Ole Opry House, you're actually going to be around 10 miles east of downtown in what's called Opryland/Music Valley. 

This area isn't as walkable, but the tradeoff for a lot of visitors is how much the Opryland Hotel and surrounding shopping areas have to offer. The Opryland Hotel is somewhat like it's own little city, and it's one of the largest hotels in the world. 

You can find discount designer shopping at Opryland Mills, which is located near the hotel. 

Other tourist attractions in the Music Valley area include the General Jackson Showboat and the Nashville Palace entertainment complex. 

East Nashville

East Nashville is across the river, so it's less frequented by tourists, but it's becoming a very up-and-coming part of the city. You'll find hip, funky, and unique bars, restaurants, and shops. Many musicians live in East Nashville, and it has a bohemian, artistic atmosphere. 

Some of the city's most interesting and innovative restaurants are also in Nashville. 

Germantown

Germantown is northwest from downtown, and for a while, it was mostly rundown and abandoned buildings, but now it's vibrantly revitalized. 

There are loft apartment buildings, coffee shops and a lot of good restaurants in Germantown. 

Hillsboro Village

Hillsboro Village is between Vanderbilt University and Belmont University. It's where you'll find well-known restaurants like Pancake Pantry, and coffeehouses, salons, shops and more. There's an urban park, and there are a lot of apartments and single-family homes.

If you're going to be renting an Airbnb for your Nashville trip, you may find yourself in this neighborhood, also home to the Belcourt Theatre. 

Green Hills

Finally, one of the moreupscale areas of Nashville is Green Hills. Celebrities own properties in Green Hills, and there are luxury stores. It's also where you'll find the Bluebird Café. It's a fairly walkable neighborhood as well.