Nashville at Christmas: Feeling Festive in Music City

When it comes to the holiday season, I don’t play around. As a self-proclaimed Christmas elf, I go all out for the holidays which often means travelling. I’ve been to dozens of Christmas markets in Europe over the years and I live in an area that is famous for being a filming destination for Hallmark holiday films. If it’s festive and magical, I’m there. However, I will admit that when I was invited to explore Nashville during the holidays I was slightly skeptical. The country music capital didn’t sound like the type of place that would make me feel holly jolly. But wow, was I ever wrong.

From holiday light displays to pop up festive bars. Christmas inspired drinks on menus and the most incredible Christmas hotel ever, Music City has so much to offer during the holiday season. So, if you are looking for a festive escape closer to home than the European Christmas markets, and significantly less crowded, then may I suggest Nashville at Christmas? It may seem like an odd suggestion but bear with me, because I promise it does not disappoint. 

As with any travel guide, I want to make sure to mention the importance of travel insurance. Travel insurance is an essential for any trip and while it may be annoying to spend the extra money on something you probably (hopefully) don’t need, it’s not something you want to be caught without. Especially somewhere so far away from home. So, as someone who has needed to use her own travel insurance multiple times throughout the years for a variety of different reasons including hospital visits and evacuation, please make sure that you do not leave home without it. If you are looking for a recommendation, I suggest SafetyWing. I’ve had fantastic experiences with them in the past, they have short term travel (essential insurance) & nomad (complete insurance) options, and their pricing is very affordable. Just make sure to read the terms and conditions of what is included and covered based on your travel itinerary, especially in terms of adventure sports and activities.

The Best Things to do in Nashville at Christmas

Stroll Through Cheekwood Estate for the Holiday Lights

Cheekwood is a historic estate known for its beautiful gardens. However, during the holiday season, they transform into a colourful, twinkling wonderland with thousands of lights and light tunnels decorating the trees, lawns, and buildings on the property. So, grab a cup of hot cocoa or cider and take a walk through the grounds. Make sure your ticket includes a visit to the mansion as well because the Christmas trees inside are what fairytale dreams are made of. It’s the perfect evening activity to do with friends, family, or a romantic partner.

Take a Christmas Cocktail Making Class at the Liquor Lab

The holiday season means holiday drinks so why not learn how to make a couple to impress your friends and family? The Liquor Lab offers fun, hands-on cocktail-making classes with professional mixologists. Over the course of an hour, we learned how to make two fancy Christmas cocktails that we got to sip while we learned some tricks of the trade. Learn more about this experience and various classes here.

Have a Drink or Two at a Pop-up Christmas Bar

One of the best ways to get in the holiday spirit in Nashville is to visit a Christmas pop-up bar! There are several around the city but we went to a secret hidden bar (appropriately called Hidden-ville) at the Noelle Hotel. After finding the space with some help from the doorman, we were whisked into a Grinch-themed winter wonderland with fuzzy decor, colourful trees, and fun Grinch-inspired cocktails. I would absolutely recommend this one but if you are looking for alternatives (or perhaps planning a Christmas bar crawl?) more pop-up Christmas bars can be found at the Bobby Hotel, The Grand Hyatt Nashville, and Pancake Pantry.

See the Christmas Show at the Grand Ole Opry

The Grand Ole Opry is a must-do when in Nashville and to stick with the festive theme I’m going to suggest you get tickets for the Opry Country Christmas Show. You’ll hear live performances of the Christmas classics (along with some new songs!) from various artists. For the full experience, get a backstage tour as well. It’s neat to get a quick behind the scenes look at the dressing room and stage and, if you’re lucky, one of the stars might even say “hi!”. We had Larry Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers come over and have a quick chat with our group when he saw us.

Note: The Opry Christmas Show only happens for 10 nights over the month of December and again, tickets will book up quickly so make your plans in advance. You can book tickets for the Christmas show here and backstage passes here.

Stay at the Gaylord Opryland Resort

If you are looking for a Christmas Hotel that brings a full Christmas experience then the Gaylord Opryland Resort is the place to go. Located about 20 minutes from downtown, within walking distance from the Grand Ole Opry, this resort goes full out for the holiday season.

There are over 5 million twinkling lights across the resort, 15 miles of garlands and 10 miles of hand-tied ribbons, over 100 Christmas trees- the largest of which is decorated with 1000 ornaments. On top of the extravagant decorations, kids and kids-at-heart will love the festive events around the resort. From breakfast with Mrs Claus and photos with Santa to a snowman scavenger hunt and gingerbread house decorating. There’s ice skating and snow tubing, Christmas shows and more; all adding up to 17 hours of festive entertainment.

The highlight, in my opinion, is ICE! This incredible production has become a beloved annual tradition at the Gaylord Resorts. For 2024, the Nashville location’s theme was Frosty the Snowman. Ice carving artisans from Harbin China came in to carve out 11 scenes from the iconic winter tale as well as ice slides and a beautiful nativity scene at the end. ICE is kept at a chilly -13C/9F so bring your mittens and hats! But don’t worry, big parkas are provided for the tour.

Despite its 2888 rooms, the Gaylord Opryland Resort can book up quickly during the festive season, so make sure to plan in advance. Activities at the resort are separate from room pricing meaning even if you don’t stay, you can still get tickets for some of the events and visit during the day. That being said, it is magical to actually stay here if you can. You can book your stay here.

Christmas Shopping You Can Feel Good About

Nashville has tons of shopping opportunities if you are looking to pick up some Christmas gifts. Check out the gift shops at the museums and attractions for some fun Nashville-themed merch. Browse the shops downtown for cowboy boots and hats in every colour, visit a local distillery to pick up some Tennessee whiskey, or find your favourite stores at Opry Mills Mall. 

However, for something a little more special that gives back to the community, head to West Nashville where you will find Thistle Farms and Able. Thistle Farms is a social enterprise and non-profit that provides direct services and support to survivors of human trafficking and prostitution. It’s an impressive system and you can help support it by grabbing lunch at their café and shopping at their onsite boutique. Learn more about Thistle Farms here.

Another great spot to check out is Able, which also aims to empower and support female survivors. The leather goods are made in Ethiopia and the jewellery is made right here in Nashville. Some of the jewellery makers are graduates of the Thistle Farms program. It’s a great spot to do some holiday shopping for your loved ones or even yourself. As seen in the photo above, I got some new earrings. Learn more about Able here.

Classic Must-Do’s in Nashville

Nashville at Christmas has tons of fun seasonal activities as described above, but make sure to check out some of the year-round events and activities as well. Especially if it’s your first time. These were some of my favourite things to do in Nashville. 

• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: A must-do! I LOVED all the costumes on display.
• National Museum of African American Music: Super interactive and very visually stimulating which I really enjoyed.
• Ryman Theatre: The history behind this building is incredible and I’d love to catch a show here next time!
• Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery: The most incredible story spanning 100+ years, three generations, and the prohibition. I don’t want to ruin it but it is one of the more unique distillery stories I’ve ever heard. Great place to try Tennessee whiskey which, by the way, legally has to be filtered through sugar maple charcoal!
• Listening Room Café: Perhaps my favourite activity. You come here to listen to aspiring songwriters perform. It was super laid back and chill and just very fun banter between the four musicians we had on stage.
• Honky Tonk Bar Hopping: An essential! There are no cover fees on Lower Broadway so anyone can pop into a bar and listen. Just be sure to tip the musicians what you can, this is their livelihood. Recommendations from the locals include: Legends Corner, Robert’s, The Stage on Broadway, and Tootsies Orchid Lounge (the oldest Honky Tonk on Broadway). If you want to do some celebrity spotting a common go-to is Santa’s Pub, but I’ve been warned it can be pretty smokey inside!

Where to Eat in Nashville

I’ll admit, I expected Nashville to be all BBQ-type food (after all, it’s famous for hot chicken!) but the food scene here is incredibly diverse and worth exploring. Here are a few places I ate that really stood out to me.

• Etch: Southern at heart but all meals, cocktails, and the wine selection are globally inspired.
• Butcher & Bee: Creative Middle-Easten inspired dishes. The gazoz, whipped feta, and bacon-wrapped dates are to die for.
• Edley’s Bar-B-Q: Classic southern BBQ. Get banana pudding as a side. Yes, it seems weird but trust me! Also, boozy milkshakes. Need I say more?
• The Farm House: Real farm-to-table menu. I will forever dream of that cornbread starter so please order it for me.

Final Tips for Nashville at Christmas

Nashville at Christmas was so magical and not nearly as busy and crowded as other holiday destinations during the festive season. That being said, I visited in early December and mid-week which also played a role. The closer you get to Christmas, especially on weekends, things will get a bit more crowded so make sure to plan in advance and book tickets/hotel rooms early if applicable. You don’t want to miss out!

FAQ

Is Christmas a good time to go to Nashville?

Absolutely! There are so many fun and festive things to do around the city to get you into the holiday spirit. Plus, it’s a quieter time of year for visitors which means fewer crowds.

How cold does it get in Nashville in December?

I visited the first week of December and there was a surprise cold snap. Being Canadian, it didn’t bother me but it was abnormal. The temperatures hovered around freezing (0C or 32F) but did get a bit colder at night. Just make sure to check the weather before you go and pack accordingly.

Is Nashville Crowded in December?

While Nashville is a year-round destination, the winter months are definitely quieter meaning it’s a great time to enjoy the most popular attractions and activities of the city without all the crowds.

Do you need a car in Nashville?

This depends on your plans. Downtown Nashville is very walkable but if you want to explore some of the outlying neighbourhoods then having a car might come in handy. Also, note the Grand Ole Opry is a good 15 to 20-minute drive outside of the city centre as well. However, you can use taxis or Uber in Nashville.

Where to stay in Nashville?

Nashville is a big city with lots of neighbourhoods to explore, so consider what you want to see and do. Most people choose to stay downtown, near the Honky Tonks of Lower Broadway and the museums so it’s easy to walk around. The downtown area is perfect for exploring by foot which is super handy if you don’t have a vehicle. 

How long to spend in Nashville?

I suggest at least 4 days- especially if you are a first-timer. That being said, I was here for four days on a jam-packed press trip itinerary that had me leaving the hotel at 8:30am and back at 10pm (or later) and I still think there was more to see! So if you have more time, you can stick around a little longer.

Ready to Book Your Trip?

Don’t forget travel insurance!

Please do not travel without travel insurance! I’ve had to use it multiple times throughout my travels and it has saved me thousands of dollars. You can learn more about travel insurance here. If you are looking for a provider I love and recommend SafetyWing. For Canadian readers, take a look at SoNomad.

Book your accommodation

I love and recommend booking.com for accommodation. They have a range of hostels, guesthouses, hotels, and resorts. Plus, the platform has a great loyalty program that means the more you book, the more you can save. 

Book your tours

My go-to tour provider that I love to recommend is GetYourGuide. They have options all over the world and partner with local companies for everything from day trips to food experiences and even airport transfers. 

Get connected

If you want to have data while travelling for online maps or any other needs, an esim is one of the easiest solutions. I have used esims around the world from Brazil to Uzbekistan, Greece to the USA- they are super easy and you don’t risk losing your home sim! There are two brands I have used and recommend so I suggest comparing both. 

Airalo: download the app, pick what country you want an esim for, and after you purchase it follow the installation instructions. You can use promo code HANNAH3326 to save $3USD on your next esim purchase.

Truely: This one is easier in that it’s a one-time download instead of downloading an esim for each country. It also allows you to hotspot and tether- which not all esims do. Check out options here.

Not sure what to pack?

I have destination-specific guides for some countries but you can also check my travel essentials and camera gear if you are looking for some ideas. 

Looking for a travel buddy?

Check out my group trips!