If you have never been to Lower Broadway, the first thing to know is that it is loud, it is busy, and the music never really stops. This is the stretch of downtown Nashville where the honky-tonks line both sides of the street, neon signs run the length of the block, and live bands play from late morning until the early hours. Here is what to expect on your first visit and how to make the most of it.
Where Broadway actually is
Lower Broadway runs from around 1st Avenue up to 5th, with the heaviest concentration of bars between 2nd and 5th. Most people just call the whole area Broadway. Two side streets are worth knowing. 2nd Avenue runs off the lower end near the river, and Printers Alley sits a couple of blocks north, a narrow lane with its own set of bars. All three are an easy walk from each other.
The music is free, and it runs all day
Almost every honky-tonk on Broadway has live music, and almost none of them charge a cover. Bands play in shifts. A typical bar will run several acts across a day, starting late morning and going past midnight. You can walk in, listen for a song, and walk back out if it is not for you. Nobody minds. That freedom to wander is the whole point of Broadway.
The bands play for tips. You will see a bucket or a jar near the stage, and someone from the band will usually ask the room for support between songs. If you enjoyed the set, drop something in. Most musicians on Broadway are working players, and tips are how the gig pays.
Day or night
Daytime on Broadway is calmer. The bands are still good, the bars are easier to get into, and you can actually hear the person next to you. If you want photos, a relaxed drink, or you have a group that includes anyone who would rather not be shoulder to shoulder, go before about 5pm.
Nights are a different animal. From early evening onward the crowds build fast, especially Thursday through Saturday, and the bigger multi-floor bars can have a line at the door. If you want the full Broadway experience with a packed room and a loud band, that is the time to go. Just expect to wait at the popular spots.
What it costs
Getting in is free. Drinks are priced for a tourist district, so expect to pay more than you would at a neighborhood bar. There are no tickets and no reservations at the classic honky-tonks. A few of the newer multi-level bars have rooftop sections or restaurants where you can book a table, but the ground-floor music rooms are first come, first served.
Getting there and getting around
Driving yourself downtown is the hard way to do Broadway. Parking is limited and expensive, and you will probably want a drink. An Uber or Lyft drop-off is far simpler. Every venue page on this site has a one-tap ride link that drops you right at the door, which saves you working out an address while you are standing on a noisy sidewalk.
Once you are on Broadway, everything is on foot. The honky-tonks sit wall to wall, so getting from one bar to the next just means walking next door.
A simple plan for your first visit
Start in the afternoon while it is quiet. Pick a bar, listen to a full set, tip the band, then move on. Work your way down the strip, dip into 2nd Avenue and Printers Alley to see how they differ, and let the night build around you. Check the live schedule before you head out so you know who is playing where. After that, put your phone away and follow the music.