Visiting Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry: Things To Know Before You Go

No trip to the renowned musical city of Nashville is complete without a visit to the crown jewel of country music venues, the Grand Ole Opry. Being one of the top tourist attractions in Nashville, the Opry hosts hundreds of thousands of patrons every year, meaning that no matter what show you attend, you can expect a full, energy-filled, house.

While Nashville may be the country music capital, the stage at the Grand Ole Opry has seen acts ranging from country to pop to americana, gospel, and even comedy. So, whatever your taste, a visit to the “home of American music” is a must.

Visiting Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry: Things To Know Before You Go

About The Opry

The Grand Ole Opry is a 4400 seat venue and broadcasting studio that is known for its spectacular history as well as its current musical offerings.

The history of the Grand Ole Opry dates back to 1925 when fiddle player Uncle Jimmy Thompson was announced as the first performer on a new radio show called WSM Barn Dance. A few years later, the phrase “Grand Ole Opry” was uttered on that show, and the name stuck. Ninety years on, the show is the longest running radio broadcast ever, and has hosted countless talented performers.

Since its beginnings, the Grand Ole Opry has seen a couple changes in location to accommodate its growing live audiences, most notably its move to the Ryman Auditorium in 1934, and later to its current home at Grand Ole Opry House as of 1974.

How To Visit The Grand Ole Opry

Experience a Live Show

Experience what The Grand Ole Opry House does best and purchase tickets to a live show. An array of talented musicians and other performers are always scheduled to play here, so whether you head to the Opry for your favorite act or purchase tickets on a whim, you can guarantee you’ll have a great experience.

Plus, with ticket prices varying widely, there is a seat here for every budget.

Take a Tour

In our opinion, no trip to the Grand Ole Opry is complete without a tour through its story-rich halls. The Opry provides passionate, knowledgeable guides who will tell you stories about country music greats and walk you through the history of the building.

The Grand Ole Opry provides many different tour packages depending on your schedule and interests, including daytime tours, post-show tours, and even an Acuff House Tour, which will take you through the house of country legend Roy Acuff.

Book a VIP Visit

Have you ever dreamed about watching a concert at the Opry from backstage? Well this is your chance! A “Behind The Opry Curtain VIP Tour” will take you behind the scenes and show you the inner workings of a show. You’ll even be able to be onstage when the big red curtain goes up and the show begins.

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When To Book

When it comes to a venue as popular as the Grand Ole Opry House, booking your tour or purchasing your tickets in advance is a good idea. Regardless of the day of week, concerts and tours have been known to sell out at the Opry, so if taking a tour or seeing a show here is an unshakable item from your Nashville bucket list, or you don’t want to risk standing room-only tickets, then book as far in advance as you can.

To purchase tickets or book a tour, visit the Opry’s website, visit their box office, or give them a call.

How To Get There

The Grand Ole Opry is located roughly 13 miles from downtown Nashville, and while we personally recommend using Lyft if you want a personal ride to the venue, it should be noted that many hotels in the area, as well as the airport (to Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center), provide shuttle service.

Additionally, the public bus will drop you off at the venue from downtown, and the trip takes a little over an hour each way.

This post and our trip to Nashville was sponsored by Grand Ole Opry. As always, all opinions are 100% our own.