Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour Nashville

Centennial Park and the Parthenon

Centennial Park is the large green park west of downtown, and its centrepiece is the Parthenon, a full-size replica of the Athens temple built for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897. Inside is a gilded statue of the goddess Athena and an art museum, and outside the lawns, a lake and old trees make a pleasant place for a break.

This is one of the most popular hop-off points, because the Parthenon is the city's best-known photograph. If you wonder whether the Parthenon is worth visiting, plan 60 to 90 minutes including the park, and use the trolley to continue once you are done. Entry tickets are not included in the pass.

Lower Broadway, the Ryman and the Country Music Hall of Fame

The heart of the route is the music district. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, a landmark building near the south end of downtown, is one of the best stops of any Nashville day, and the Ryman Auditorium, a historic concert hall once called the Mother Church of Country Music, is a short ride away. Lower Broadway is the neon street of live-music clubs.

Hop off here for a self-paced day: visit the museum in the morning, eat lunch on Broadway and walk to the Ryman. The trolley's live guide gives the background as you ride, and the 2-day option leaves time to do all of this without hurrying. Opening hours of the venues change by season, so check before you visit.

The Gulch, Union Station and the Frist Art Museum

The Gulch is a former railway district that has become one of Nashville's trendiest neighbourhoods, with murals, shops and restaurants in converted warehouses. Nearby, the old Union Station, a grand railway building with a stained-glass ceiling that now serves as a hotel, and the Frist Art Museum, set in a 1930s post office building, are favourites for photographs.

The Frist hosts changing art exhibitions, so what you see depends on the season. The trolley makes these stops easy to reach without parking, which is a real saving in a busy area. On a one-day pass, choose between the museum and the Gulch; on a two-day pass you can visit both.

The State Capitol, Farmers' Market and Belmont Mansion

The Tennessee State Capitol, completed in 1859, stands on a hill above downtown and is surrounded by the Legislative Plaza and the Bicentennial Capitol Mall. Close by are the Nashville Farmers' Market, a lively covered market with local produce and stalls, and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.

Further out are the Belmont Mansion, a nineteenth-century villa on a university campus, and Marathon Motor Works, the starting point of the tour, in a historic car factory building. The full loop is about 11 miles and takes around 1 hour 50 minutes, so even if you never get off, the ride gives you a complete overview of Nashville.

Planning your day: stops, times and the right pass

There are 13 stops, and trolleys leave each stop every 20 to 30 minutes. The first trolleys run in the morning and the last departures are in the afternoon, with hours changing on holidays. Seating is on a first come, first served basis, and the trolleys run in all weather. You receive a map with all the stops and the schedule when you redeem your voucher.

The 1-day pass covers one calendar day; the 2-day pass, the default option, lets you start at any stop and travel on two days, which is better if you want to see the museums. Pets, smoking and large luggage are not allowed. Paid parking is available at the first stop. Attractions, tips and hotel pickup are not included.