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Where to stay in Nashville

Nashville's main areas sit close to the Cumberland River. Stay Downtown for the honky-tonks of Lower Broadway, the Ryman and the Country Music Hall of Fame; in the Gulch for stylish hotels and restaurants a short walk away; in Midtown for Music Row, Vanderbilt and busy bars; in Germantown for a quieter, foodie neighbourhood; in East Nashville for a local feel across the river; or in Music Valley for the Grand Ole Opry and the Gaylord Opryland resort. The airport is about 15 minutes' drive from downtown, and most visitors get around on foot, by rideshare or on WeGo buses.

Find your area, then your hotel

Tap one of our picks, or any area, to see its hotels on the map, what it costs, where we'd book and how long it takes to get around.

In short: our pick for each kind of trip. Tap one to see why.

Should you stay in

Downtown?

Lower Broadway, the Ryman & live music

What a night costs

Budget
$195
Mid-range
$230
Luxury
$600

4th cheapest of 6 areas, about $100 a night less than The Gulch.

Where we'd book

The verdict

The heart of Music City, with the honky-tonks of Lower Broadway, the Ryman Auditorium, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the arena and convention centre.

  • Stay here if
  • First-time visitors
  • Groups and bachelorette parties
  • Concert-goers
  • Look elsewhere if
  • You want quiet nights
  • You're on a tight budget
  • You want a neighbourhood feel

Minutes to the sights

  • Lower Broadway2 minwalk
  • Ryman Auditorium3 minwalk
  • Bridgestone Arena4 minwalk
  • Johnny Cash Museum5 minwalk
  • Country Music Hall of Fame6 minwalk
  • John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge8 minwalk

Stations and airports

5 min to Lower Broadway. WeGo buses from WeGo Central, and the pedestrian bridge across the river to Nissan Stadium and East Nashville.

  • From Nashville International Airport (BNA)WeGo bus 18 to WeGo Central, or a taxi in about 15 minutes30 min
Read the full Downtown guide →

Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Oct 2026 · How we rate areas · Minutes planned with the Transitous (MOTIS on published GTFS timetables and OpenStreetMap) for a weekday, including walking and waiting · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more

Nashville questions

What is the best area to stay in Nashville for first-timers?

Downtown puts the big sights within easy reach and is 5 minutes from Lower Broadway.

Which area of Nashville has the cheapest hotels?

Midtown and Music Valley, with budget hotels from around $110 and mid-range around $160–$165 a night.

Where should families stay in Nashville?

Music Valley has the best mix of parks, calm streets and sights for kids.

Where is the best nightlife in Nashville?

The Gulch has the most bars, restaurants and late nights. Downtown and Midtown are good alternatives.

Is it worth staying outside central Nashville?

It can save around $170 a night on a mid-range room compared with The Gulch, but adds travel time. Midtown is 20 minutes, Music Valley is 25 minutes and Germantown is 20 minutes from Lower Broadway.