preloaddefault-post-thumbnail

America’s Music City is bursting with country tunes and lore of musicians past, all mixed with a rich history that blends to create one of America’s must-visit cities. If you need to keep your trip to Nashville budget-friendly, don’t worry: Here are five free things you can enjoy in Nashville.

Music City Circuit

Transportation around Nashville is easy on the wallet thanks to the Music City Circuit, a free bus service that will take you to most of downtown’s most notable attractions and landmarks. Three routes transport passengers throughout downtown Nashville, offering easy access to attractions like the Farmers’ Market, Country Music Hall of Fame and Historic Second Avenue.

Bicentennial Mall

Hop on the Music City Circuit bus and head for the Bicentennial Mall – an outdoor park in Nashville. The Bicentennial Mall offers 19 acres of green space that celebrates Tennessee’s history with statues, inscriptions, monuments and fountains, as well as displays of Tennessee’s native flowers, trees and shrubs.

Jack Daniel’s Distillery

See where one of America’s most favored whiskeys comes from with a day trip to the Jack Daniel’s Distillery, less than an hour and a half from Nashville. Free tours last a little more than an hour and you’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation for how whiskey goes from barrels to a store shelf near you.

Nashville Flea Market

One of the country’s top flea markets, the Nashville Flea Market is sure to impress. Vendors from more than 30 states descend upon Music City to sell new and vintage treasures, such as antiques, clothing, jewelry, art and furnishings. The market is held on the fourth weekend of each month (except December, when it’s held the third weekend). It’s free to enter, but keep in mind parking is $5.

Free music

You can’t visit Music City without checking out the live performances held at bars, cafes and parks throughout the year. Head to Historic Lower Broadway and pop into one of the local honky tonks – many don’t charge a cover – to check out the latest and greatest musicians of Nashville.

(Main image: pepsiline used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)

About the author

Marissa WillmanMarissa Willman earned a bachelor's degree in journalism before downsizing her life into two suitcases for a teaching gig in South Korea. Seoul was her home base for two years of wanderlusting throughout six countries in Asia. In 2011, Marissa swapped teaching for travel writing and now calls Southern California home.

Explore more articles