Between the honky-tonks, colorful signs, and streets lined with old buildings, you won’t even need an Instagram filter when you take a photo down on Broadway. On any given day, the bustling street is full of cowboy boot-donning tourists; galloping, carriage-pulling horses; and the sounds of live music blasting from the many bars and restaurants.
You haven’t seen grandeur until you’ve laid eyes on the Opryland Hotel. With nine acres of indoor gardens and waterfalls, people from all across the world make sure to check out the hotel and convention center when they visit Nashville. During the holidays, the hotel displays exquisite seasonal décor that includes over two million Christmas lights. No matter what time of year you come to see the hotel, the background is a stunning sight for sore eyes.
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN, USA, +1 615 889 1000
Whether you’re a Nashville native or just passing through, the I Believe in Nashville mural, located in the 12 South neighborhood, is a shot worth snapping. With classic American colors and the Tennessee flag logo, this symbol is the perfect backdrop for any photograph.
I Believe in Nashville Mural, 2702 12th Avenue S., Nashville, TN, USA
The deep-rooted history of music has made Nashville what it is today. One of the most renowned live music venues in the city is the Ryman Auditorium. Its gorgeous architecture stands out among other buildings downtown, making it easy to identify, and even if you aren’t able to tour the venue, it’s worth getting a photo of yourself outside of it. Even without a hashtag, people are likely to know where you are.
Ryman Auditorium, 116 5th Avenue N., Nashville, TN, USA
There are plenty of stunning places in Centennial Park to take photos, but the spot that stands out the most is where the Parthenon replica stands. Inside, there is a full-scale recreation of the 42-foot (12.8-meter) Athena Parthenos statue once found in ancient Athens, Greece, and an art gallery. The scenic Nashville sky, greenery, and pond surrounding the Parthenon make this a prime spot for the perfect Instagram shot. And no matter what angle you choose, you are guaranteed to be posed against the beauty that is Nashville.
The Parthenon at Centennial Park, 2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN, USA
Located in the trendy 12 South neighborhood, Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James boutique is a great place to take photos. The store even encourages shoppers to take a photograph in front of the powder blue and white striped building and tag @draperjames in their Instagram post. The window is just as charming, and a white bench under the awning provides seating so that your snap shows off the pretty background in full.
Draper James, 2608 12th Avenue S., Nashville, TN, USA, +1 615 997 3601
Formerly called the Shelby Street Bridge, this truss bridge is one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world, at 3,150 feet (960 meters). It spans the Cumberland River and connects downtown’s 2nd Avenue to Nissan Stadium. At night, the bridge lights up, offering a gorgeous view of the downtown Nashville skyline. You can snap a photo at any of the four pedestrian overlooks, each of which has artistic renderings of the history of the Cumberland River in the metal of the railing.
John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, Nashville, TN, USA