Yes, the Ryman Auditorium is the best daytime stop in Nashville for music fans. The 1892 hall carried the Grand Ole Opry for 31 years, and it still hosts concerts most nights of the week. A self-guided tour costs $25 plus tax under the fall promo, about $36 at the regular price, and covers the Soul of Nashville theater, 20-plus exhibits, and a photo on the famous stage. Arrive at 9 am for the quietest visit.
Key Highlights
- The Ryman opened in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle, hosted the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, and has run as a concert hall and museum since its 1994 reopening.
- The self-guided tour includes the Soul of Nashville theater, 20-plus exhibits, the Opry 100 and Rock Hall installations, the Hatch Show Print gallery, and a souvenir photo on stage.
- Daytime tours cost $25 plus tax with the fall promo (through October 31, 2026); the guided backstage tour runs $42.52 plus tax and the VIP tour $62.02 plus tax.
- The Ryman sits one block off Broadway at 116 Rep. John Lewis Way N, and the Fifth + Broadway garage across the street is the easiest parking option.
- Book daytime tours online in advance, especially on weekends, and buy concert tickets early since popular shows sell out weeks ahead.
From Tabernacle to the Mother Church
The Ryman started with a riverboat captain and a revival sermon. Thomas Ryman, a wealthy captain who spent his money in downtown Nashville, was converted by the Reverend Sam Jones at a revival near Eighth Avenue and Broad Street. He dreamed of building a grand tabernacle for religious gatherings, and with community donations, the Union Gospel Tabernacle opened in 1892. Its first concert, the May Music Festival with the Theodore Thomas Orchestra, ran May 4 through May 7 of that year. When Ryman died on December 23, 1904, the building was unofficially renamed for him.
The building became a music landmark under manager Lula Naff, who leased the Ryman as an independent talent agent and filled it night after night. In 1943 she brought the Grand Ole Opry to the Ryman, and the show stayed for nearly 31 years, ending with its final broadcast on March 15, 1974. Along the way, Earl Scruggs made his Opry debut with Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in 1945, and the Ryman earned its reputation as the birthplace of bluegrass.
After the Opry moved to its new theater, the Ryman sat largely empty for almost 20 years, and rumors of demolition spread. Community members and lawmakers pushed back, and the building was saved. In 1989, Gaylord Entertainment Company began renovations: a new roof, repaired windows and woodwork, and rebuilt chimneys. The auditorium reopened in June 1994 as a premier performance hall and museum, and in 2001 it was declared a National Historic Landmark.
Recent decades brought Bob Dylan (2007), Harry Styles (2017), and the Wu-Tang Clan (2019), the first hip-hop headliners. The “Mother Church” nickname fits, but the room has outgrown any single genre.
What the Daytime Tour Is Like
The daytime tour is self-guided, so you move at your own pace. Most visitors spend one to two hours inside, flowing from the theater through the exhibits to the stage, with staff stationed throughout to answer questions.
Start at the Soul of Nashville Theater
Every self-guided tour begins in the Soul of Nashville, a 100-seat immersive theater that tells the Ryman’s story through archival footage, holograms, and special effects. The film runs about seven minutes and covers the building’s 134-year arc from tabernacle to Opry home to modern concert hall. Celebrity hosts narrate segments, and it sets the context for everything you will see upstairs.
Walk Through 20-Plus Exhibits
After the theater, you wander through more than 20 exhibits spread across the building’s historic spaces. Standouts include Opry 100, marking the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary with artifacts from Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash; the Rock Hall at the Ryman installation, with pieces from James Brown and Bob Dylan; and Unexpected Company, covering surprising guests like Harry Houdini and Clint Eastwood. Handwritten set lists, stage costumes, instruments, and rare photographs fill the rest, and the Hatch Show Print gallery displays the iconic letterpress posters that advertised Ryman shows for decades.
Take Your Photo on the Stage
The highlight for most visitors is stepping onto the actual Ryman stage for a professional souvenir photo. You stand where legends stood, with the church pews and stained glass behind you, and you collect the photo from the gift shop afterward. Stage photo availability can vary on show days, so if this is the main reason you are visiting, ask at the entrance when you arrive.
A Night at the Ryman: Concerts and Shows
The Ryman is a working venue first, and the best experience is a concert. The hall hosts hundreds of shows a year across nearly every genre, and the room’s acoustics live up to the legend: the original church pews and high ceilings carry sound so cleanly that performers call it the best-sounding room in America. Shows sell out fast, especially for big names, so check the calendar on ryman.com and buy the moment tickets go on sale.
Seating is in the original pews, which have no armrests and limited legroom. Balcony seats show off the full room; the floor puts you close to the stage. The music lover’s guide to Nashville pairs a Ryman show with the city’s other essential listening rooms for a full itinerary.
Tour Tickets and Prices
Book tour tickets through ryman.com for the most current prices. As of October 2026, the Ryman is running a fall promotion: self-guided tours cost $25 plus tax for tours taking place through October 31, 2026. The regular self-guided price runs about $36 per adult, and children 12 and under tour free with a paid adult ticket. Prices include fees but not tax, and they change with the season, so treat anything you read as a snapshot.
The guided backstage tour costs $42.52 plus tax and runs about 90 minutes. A Ryman historian leads you through dressing rooms and backstage areas you cannot see on the self-guided tour, sharing stories the exhibits do not cover. Tickets are limited and backstage access depends on the day’s production schedule. Children 3 and under are free.
The VIP tour costs $62.02 plus tax and runs two hours, with backstage access when available, a souvenir stage photo, a commemorative poster, and a VIP lanyard. Groups are capped at 10 guests. The Ryman also runs haunted history tours around Halloween, a private curator’s tour at $200 per person, and group tours for parties of 15 or more. Military members, first responders, and law enforcement get 10 percent off tours.
Getting There: Parking, Rideshare, and Walking
The Ryman sits at 116 Rep. John Lewis Way N, one block off Broadway in downtown Nashville. If you are already on Broadway, you can walk there in a few minutes. The building’s red-brick facade faces the street between Broadway and Commerce, and you will spot the crowds before you see the sign.
For drivers, the Fifth + Broadway garage at 179 Rep. John Lewis Way N sits directly across the street and is the simplest choice. Several other lots and garages ring the area, but they fill up on concert nights and event pricing kicks in, so arrive early for evening shows. If you are staying outside downtown, our guide to the best areas to stay in Nashville breaks down which neighborhoods put you within easy reach of the Ryman.
Rideshare is the easiest option from most hotels: set your drop-off at the Ryman entrance on Rep. John Lewis Way N. After a concert, walk a block off Broadway before requesting your ride to dodge the post-show traffic on 5th Avenue. The airport is about 8 miles east, a 15 to 20 minute drive.
Best Time to Visit
For the daytime tour, arrive at 9 am when the doors open. The Ryman is quietest in the first hour, and you will have the exhibits and the stage photo to yourself. Crowds build through the afternoon, and weekends are the busiest days to be in downtown Nashville. Tour hours generally run 9 am to 4 pm daily, with shorter Sunday hours ending at 12:15 pm, but show setups can cut tours short or cancel them entirely, so check the tour calendar on ryman.com before you go.
For concerts, the season runs year-round, and there is no real off-season anymore. Spring and fall bring the heaviest tourist traffic in Nashville, which means more competition for both tour slots and show tickets. The Opry also stages select performances at the Ryman through the year, which are worth catching if your dates line up.
What to Do Near the Ryman
The Ryman anchors one of the densest clusters of attractions in Nashville, so plan to spend a full day in the area. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a few blocks south and pairs perfectly with the Ryman tour, since the museum covers the artists whose artifacts you just saw. Together they make the definitive country music day.
Broadway’s honky-tonks sit one block away, and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge has fed performers to the Ryman stage since the Opry days. The top things to do in Nashville include the Johnny Cash Museum, the Music City Walk of Fame, and Bridgestone Arena, all within easy walking distance. If you want the full Opry experience, pair a Ryman daytime tour with an evening show at the Grand Ole Opry House across town.
If you are building a full first-timer itinerary, our guide to the top things to do in Nashville ranks the essential stops beyond the music attractions.
Practical Tips
Book daytime tours online in advance, especially on weekends and during spring and fall. Backstage tour tickets are limited and sell out. Check the tour calendar the morning of your visit, because show setups can close the building to tours without much notice.
Photography is welcome on tours, and the stage photo is the keepsake most people want. During concerts, camera rules are set by the artist, and professional cameras are generally not allowed, so travel light.
The building is old, which is the point, but it means narrow hallways, steep stairs to the balcony, and original pews with no cushions. Wheelchair-accessible seating and escorts are available. Wear comfortable shoes, and budget 30 minutes for the gift shop, which stocks vinyl, books, and Hatch Show Print posters you will not find elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are Ryman Auditorium tour tickets?
Self-guided tours cost $25 plus tax under the fall promo running through October 31, 2026; the regular price is about $36 per adult. Children 12 and under tour free with a paid adult. The guided backstage tour is $42.52 plus tax, and the VIP tour is $62.02 plus tax. Confirm current rates on ryman.com before you visit.
What are the tour hours at the Ryman?
Daytime tours generally run daily from 9 am to 4 pm, with shorter Sunday hours ending at 12:15 pm. Show setups and sound checks can shorten hours or cancel tours entirely, so always check the tour calendar on ryman.com before visiting. Evening hours are reserved for concerts and private events, which follow their own schedules.
How long does a Ryman Auditorium tour take?
Plan one to two hours for the self-guided tour, depending on how long you linger in the 20-plus exhibits. The guided backstage tour adds about 90 minutes of guided and self-guided time combined. Add 30 minutes for the gift shop and the Hatch Show Print gallery.
Can I take photos inside the Ryman?
Yes, personal cameras and phones are welcome on daytime tours, and a professional souvenir photo on stage is included with your visit. Professional and video cameras are not allowed on tours. During concerts, camera and recording policies are set by the performing artist, so check the rules for your specific show.
Is the Ryman Auditorium wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the tour areas are wheelchair and stroller accessible, and the venue provides wheelchair escorts during nighttime events for guests who need them. Only service animals are permitted inside. If you need accessible seating for a concert, review the accessibility options when you purchase your show tickets.
Where do I park for the Ryman?
The Fifth + Broadway garage at 179 Rep. John Lewis Way N sits directly across the street and is the simplest parking choice. Several other lots and garages serve downtown Nashville. On concert nights, arrive early and expect event pricing, and request rideshare pickups a block off Broadway to avoid post-show traffic.
The Bottom Line
Tour the Ryman by day and see a show there at night if your schedule allows. Check the tour calendar on ryman.com first, then lock in your tickets.