Hotels near Ryman Auditorium

Built in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle and home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 until 1974, the Ryman Auditorium is the venue every touring musician talks about after they finally play it. The wooden pews, stained-glass windows, and famously live acoustics have hosted Johnny Cash's June Carter marriage proposal, Elvis Presley's only Opry appearance, and countless landmark recordings. The self-guided daytime tour ($34.95 adults, $29.95 kids 4 to 11 in 2026) lets you walk the stage, sit in the pews, and record a short souvenir single in the studio booth. Concert tickets vary wildly by act, but almost any show at the Ryman is worth the ticket for the room alone. Backstage guided tours cost $44.95 and include the dressing rooms named for Hank Williams and Loretta Lynn. Because it sits half a block behind Broadway, the Ryman is one of the easiest add-ons to a downtown morning; give yourself 45 to 75 minutes for the self-guided visit.

Pro Tip: Buy the self-guided tour ticket online the night before to lock in your entry window. The last daily entry is at 15:30, and walk-up availability disappears by early afternoon in spring and autumn.