The best neighborhoods in Nashville

Nashville is a dynamic place, and if you stick to one neighborhood, you’re only getting part of the story.

When it comes to navigating Music City’s neighborhoods, think of Nashville as a flower – downtown sits at its center, and each of its adjacent neighborhoods blooms out like a petal. Downtown, the Gulch and 12 South make up much of the town’s tourism core, with tons of eating, shopping and partying opportunities.

Germantown and Wedgewood Houston appeal to those who are looking for a more relaxed vibe but with plenty of cultural flair, while East Nashville serves as the city’s rock ‘n’ roll hub.

Here are the Nashville neighborhoods you can’t miss.

Downtown

Best for partying hard

Nashville’s downtown is a raucous place packed with folks flocking to famous Broadway watering holes, events at Bridgestone Arena, and concerts at the Ryman Auditorium and Ascend Amphitheater. Its frenetic energy isn’t for everyone, but it’s the place to be if you’re looking to down some (okay, lots of) drinks and catch some country tunes all within a walkable radius.

On Broadway itself, we recommend hitting up Robert’s Western World for a true honky tonk experience complete with boot scootin’. If you’re looking to sample a little bit of what Nashville has to offer in the culinary sphere, head to the sparkling 5th & Broadway complex – downtown’s new food hall and an excellent place to grab a bite before heading to a show.

Set slightly away from the main drag you’ll find historic Printer’s Alley, home to gems like the long-running burlesque bar Skull’s Rainbow Room and the electric Bourbon Street Blues Bar.

This is also where you’ll find several of Nashville’s boutique hotels, which have become attractions in their own right thanks to thoughtfully curated bars and gorgeous rooftops. Downtown is home to the highest concentration of hotels – boutique and chain – in Nashville, but also some of the highest room prices. You pay a premium for location, but it lands you right in the middle of the action.

Germantown

Best for foodies

Located just north of downtown, Germantown is a cozy corner of Nashville that packs a big cultural punch. The neighborhood itself makes for an aesthetically pleasing walk thanks to a large number…