Nashville, Tennessee’s vibrant capital city, is well-known for its lively music scene, delicious southern cuisine, and warm southern hospitality. But beyond the honky-tonks and hot chicken, Nashville has a romantic side that makes it an ideal destination for couples. From scenic nature spots to cultural attractions, cooking classes to carriage rides, Nashville offers endless opportunities for romantic rendezvous.
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Romantic Picnic in the Park | Enjoy outdoor meals in scenic parks. |
| Stroll Across Pedestrian Bridge | Walk hand-in-hand with city and river views. |
| Sway to Live Music at Intimate Venue | Experience cozy music settings. |
| Take a Mixology Class for Couples | Learn cocktail crafting together. |
| Wander Through Cheekwood Gardens | Explore art and gardens. |
| Romantic Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride | Cozy up on a charming ride. |
| Float Along the Cumberland River | Enjoy scenic views by boat. |
| Master Classic Dance Steps | Take dance classes together. |
| Romantic Dinner on the Farm | Dine amidst a farm setting. |
| Romantic Movie Night | Cozy movie watching at home. |
| Couples Cooking Class | Cook together in a fun class. |
| Book a Couples Massage | Relax with a massage. |
For an unforgettable “I love you” getaway, here are the top 12 most romantic things to do in Nashville.
Enjoy a Romantic Picnic in the Park
Name and Location: Picnic in One of Nashville’s Beautiful Parks
History and Significance: Nashville’s city parks offer gorgeous green spaces perfect for an intimate picnic for two. Centennial Park, Shelby Park and East Park are renowned spots.
What to Expect: Grab a blanket, packed picnic basket from a local eatery, and soak up some private time together surrounded by nature’s peace and beauty.
Visitor Information: Parks open daily, sunrise to sunset. Public facilities available. Consider BYOB policies.
Pack a picnic basket full of tasty local treats and savor an intimate alfresco meal amid nature with your special someone. Nashville has several parks that make perfect picnic spots, like the lakeside Cumberland Park downtown, the sprawling Centennial Park with panoramic Parthenon views, or quaint and verdant Sevier Park with gorgeous roses in bloom. Spread out a blanket under a shade tree, pop open a bottle of wine, toast your love, and let conversation flow as you dine and take in lovely park vistas.
Stroll Hand-in-Hand Across Pedestrian Bridge
Name and Location: Pedestrian Bridge Over the Cumberland River
History and Significance: The iconic pedestrian bridge links Nashville’s downtown to the north shore. It makes for a romantic stroll taking in the sweeping river views.
What to Expect: A hand-in-hand walk across the bridge at sunset. Stop to enjoy seeing the city lights reflecting on the river below.
Visitor Information: Free access. Length is 1/3 mile. Open 24 hours a day.
One of Nashville’s most iconic landmarks, the impressive Pedestrian Bridge offers spectacular views of the city skyline and the Cumberland River. As the sun begins to set, head to the bridge with your sweetie to soak in the spectacular colors painting the evening sky. Stop at various points along the bridge to take in views of downtown or snap romantic selfies with the skyline behind you. As dusk falls, the lights of the city sparkle below creating a magical ambience.
Sway to Live Music at an Intimate Venue
Name and Location: Intimate Music Venues Around Nashville
History and Significance: Nashville is renowned as Music City, home to famous venues like the Bluebird Cafe along with many more intimate spots perfect for couples.
What to Expect: Sway closely on a dimly-lit dance floor while taking in promising local artists and songwriters sharing their hearts through music.
Visitor Information: Cover charges vary. Reserve tables ahead where possible. Prepare for inspiring, romantic nights.
Nashville is synonymous with music, and an evening out listening to talented musicians is a quintessential romantic date night activity. Skip the crowded clubs on Broadway, and instead opt for a more intimate music venue where you can cozy up with your partner. The Listening Room Café, City Winery, and 3rd and Lindsley all host acoustic shows in lounge-like settings perfect for couples. Sip craft cocktails or a glass of wine and let the romantic melodies set the mood.
Take a Mixology Class for Couples
Name and Location: Couples Mixology Classes, Main Street
History and Significance: Expert mixologists guide couples step-by-step through crafting delicious cocktails while you bond. It’s ideal for a fun date night.
What to Expect: Laugh together while learning to make martinis, mint juleps, negronis and other elixirs to stir the heart. Take your creations home or enjoy on site.
Visitor Information: Classes held weekly. Advance booking essential with min age requirements.
Whether you’re both connoisseur cocktailians or looking to pick up a new hobby together, a mixology class makes for lively date night fun. Several Nashville bars and restaurants like Patterson House, Zeppelin, and Tennessee Brew Works offer themed couple’s mixology classes. Learn insider tricks and classic techniques from top bartenders while getting hands-on experience crafting delicious elixirs like old fashioneds and margaritas. The whole experience promises flirty entertainment plus new skills to show off at your next dinner party.
Wander Through Cheekwood Gardens and Museum of Art
Name and Location: Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, Nashville
History and Significance: Originally the Cheek Family estate, these 55-acres of gardens have offered a gorgeous backdrop for romantic getaways since 1960.
What to Expect: Meander through gardens hand-in-hand stopping to appreciate flowers, public art installations and the Museum of Art.
Visitor Information: Open year-round excluding major holidays. Check seasonal hours. Admission fees apply.
For a cultural experience made for two, meander through the exquisite permanent collections and rotating exhibits at art museum Cheekwood. The on-site drinkery Pineapple Room offers craft libations to enjoy as you browse. Then head outdoors to the sprawling 55-acre estate gardens originally designed by Bryant Fleming. Several intimate garden spaces filled with vibrant flowers, trickling fountains, and sculptures provide plenty of secluded nooks perfect for stealing a kiss as you take in the horticultural beauty.
Take a Romantic Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride
Name and Location: Horse and Carriage Rides Along Downtown Streets
History and Significance: Leisurely carriage rides allow couples to embrace the romance of Nashville’s past. Drivers narrate the city’s special sights along the way.
What to Expect: Cozy under a blanket, steal a kiss while clip-clopping through lit up streets,feeling as if you’ve stepped back in time together.
Visitor Information: Several tour operators available. Prices start around $50 per couple. Reserve ahead.
Snuggle up under a blanket next to your sweetheart aboard an elegant horse-drawn Victorian carriage for a cozy ride through Nashville’s most romantic spots. Companies like Southern Rose Carriages and Nashville Carriage Company provide intimate tours through areas like downtown, Music Row, Vanderbilt University, and more. Rides typically last between 30 to 60 minutes and come compete with bubbly to toast the evening. As you clip-clop along quiet neighborhood streets or past the glowing Ryman Auditorium, you’ll feel like you’re in a real-life fairy tale.
Float along the Cumberland River
Name and Location: Float Trips Down the Cumberland River
History and Significance: The Cumberland River offers a unique way to admire Nashville’s natural scenery combined with city views floating upon the water.
What to Expect: Couples can relax together on a raft or in a kayak taking in the peaceful riparian sights. Stop for a romantic riverside picnic along the way!
Visitor Information: Outfitters offer rentals and trips. Check river conditions. All skill levels welcome.
For an entirely unique date perspective on Nashville’s natural splendor and downtown skyline, book a couples cruise along the Cumberland River. Boards and Bites offers leisurely 90-minutes sightseeing cruises aboard the concluding Princess riverboat – think cocktail service, light bites, and live music. Or for a more active excursion, rent a two-passenger kayak or paddleboard from companies like Nashville Paddle Company, tipple 12South, or Nashville Pedal Tavern and take your own self-guided journey down the waterway. Wave to fellow paddlers and take in riverside views of Nissan Stadium, the Johnny money pedestrian bridge, and riverfront Park for an adventurous take on romance.
Master Classic Dance Steps
Name and Location: Dance Lessons, Downtown Nashville
History and Significance: From the rhythms of country western to the waltz, dance studios downtown have welcomed romantic couples wishing to brush up on their footwork for decades.
What to Expect: Expert teachers guide you through classic ballroom and country dancing so you can float across the floor cheek-to-cheek with your sweetheart.
Visitor Information: Drop-in and multi-class packages available from $15 per person. All ages and skill levels welcome.
Reconnect while mastering timeless dance skills at a couples’ ballroom, swing, salsa, or tango class. Mr. fun guy’s Studio, dance Tonight Nashville, or Nashville Dance offer beginner-friendly group workshops guaranteed to have you gracefully gliding around the hardwood in no time. Aside from picking up impressive date-night talent, you’ll enjoy laughing through missteps together and finding your rhythmic flow as a couple. After class, hit the dance floor at a venue like rooftop lounge L. A. Jackson for a lively night out putting your new moves into practice.
Indulge in a Romantic Dinner on the Farm
Name and Location: Farm-to-Table Dinner Experiences
History and Significance: Intimate dinner experiences on nearby farms, many with spectacular views, offer a chance to connect while feasting on locavore cuisine.
What to Expect: Hold hands over a shared candlelit meal underneath the stars featuring seasonal dishes artfully prepared just for the two of you.
Visitor Information: Options available within driving distance from Nashville. Prices vary. Advance reservations required.
For an exceptionally unique fine dining experience unlike anywhere else in Nashville, book an evening at The Chef And I On the Farm. Situated on a working farm just minutes from downtown, this progressive seasonal cuisine hot spot sources ingredients straight from their five-acre plot, livestock paddocks, and greenhouse. Intimate two-tops offer picturesque views of the bucolic country landscaping and farm life happening around you. Watch the sunset while indulging in a mouthwatering multi-course meal featuring items like freshly baked bread with house cultured butter, roasted half chicken with foraged mushrooms, and seasonal fruit cobbler accented by herbs grown on-site. This cozy pastoral dinner date feels worlds away yet oh so close.
Cozy up for a Romantic Movie Night
Name and Location: Movie Nights In Nashville
History and Significance: From drive-ins to indie theaters to screening under the stars events, Nashville offers many chances for snuggling up at a great film.
What to Expect: Share popcorn, candy and sweet whispers during romantic comedies, nostalgic favorites or cult classics around town.
Visitor Information: Year-round options. Check individual theater schedules and pricing. Arrive early for best loveseat selection!
When you’re both relaxed and wanting a low-key night in together, make some popcorn and queue up a swoon-worthy film. For an extra atmospheric at-home movie date, build a pillow-and-blanket fort or bring your sofa bed outdoors for an al fresco screening. Stream romantic classics like Casablanca and Breakfast at Tiffany’s or enjoy lighter contemporary favorites such as Crazy Rich Asians and La La Land. Dim the lights, cuddle close under a soft throw, and let an enchanting Hollywood love story set the mood for romance.
Take a Couples Cooking Class
Name and Location: Couples Cooking Classes
History and Significance: Local chefs guide duos through preparing tasty recipes—from southern specialties to savory mains to dreamy desserts—while making priceless memories cooking together.
What to Expect: Have fun learning new culinary skills side-by-side as you chop, stir, sizzle and saute creations you can enjoy on the spot and replicate at home for more romantic meals. Yum!
Visitor Information: Classes held weekly around town. Fees start about $100 per couple. Check individual class schedules online for pricing and menus.
Another tasty way to spark together time while expanding your Nashville date night horizons is through a culinary class for two. Both seasoned Foods and Nashville Cooking School provide small-group courses focused on staples of Tennessee cuisine, while The pasta Queen offers reserved pasta-making sessions covering favorites like ravioli and gnocchi. Get hands-on experience preparing regionally inspired dishes side-by-side before indulging in the fruits of your labor over a delicious meal.
Book a Couples Massage
Name and Location: Couples Massage Experiences
History and Significance: Nothing says romance like experiential massages designed for two people to relax in tandem from soothing touches, aromas and oils.
What to Expect: Bliss out together while skilled massage therapists melt muscle tension and anxiety away, leaving you both renewed. Side-by-side soaks, scrubs and other spa luxury treatments also available.
Visitor Information: Offered at Nashville spas/wellness centers. Pricing starts around $200. Schedule appointments in advance online or by phone.
Treat yourselves to some pampering and deep relaxation by scheduling massages for you and your sweetie at one of Nashville’s many spas. For a particularly romantic experience, check out couples-oriented venues like Woodhouse Day Spa’s Serenity Suite with a massive fireplace or the Healing Waters sanctuary at the opulent Spa at the Hermitage Hotel. Sink into plush robes and slippers with your beloved before indulging in soothing facials, body scrubs or Expert massages – some even in the same room so you can gaze at each other blissfully. After, lounge in the hot tub or steam room to cap off an afternoon of luxury and togetherness.
I hope this article has provided lots of romantic inspiration for visiting one of America’s hottest new destinations for couples. From picturesque natural settings to cultural attractions to hands-on activities to relaxation, Nashville truly offers endless options for intimate date ideas. So the next time you’re looking for romantic trip, put Music City at the top of your list. Its winning combination of southern charm, passion for creativity, and variety of experiences for two is sure kindle the flame and bring you closer than ever.