Getting around Nashville

Public transport

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) (tel: +1 615 862 5950; www.nashvillemta.org) operates bus services in the greater Nashville area. The main bus terminal, Music City Central, is found downtown at 400 Charlotte Avenue. Daily and weekly passes are available.

Nashville's commuter rail service, the Music City Star (tel: +1 615 862 8833; www.musiccitystar.org), runs between Lebanon and Riverfront Park. You can save money by buying 10-ride tickets.

Taxis

There are several taxi services in Nashville and it is easier to book one by telephone. Main firms include Allied Cab and Nashville Cab (tel: +1 615 333 3333), Checker Cab (tel: +1 615 256 7000) and Music City Taxi (tel: +1 615 865 4100).

Uber (uber.com) and Lyft (lyft.com) car services offer a quick, reliable and cheap alternative to taxis via your handheld device.

Driving

Driving is similar to any other mid-size American city, although rush hours (0700-0900 and 1600-1800) are best avoided. Right turns on red lights are legal, unless stated otherwise. Many of the parking meter lanes in the city are inactive during rush hours - cars left there during these periods will be towed away. On-street parking after business hours is usually free, but spaces fill up quickly.

Car hire

Car rental firms include Alamo (tel: +1 888 826 6893; www.alamo.com), Avis (tel: +1 615 361 1212; www.avis.com), Budget (tel: +1 615 366 0822; www.budget.com) and Thrifty (tel: +1 877 283 0898; www.thrifty.com). You must have a valid driving licence, be at least 25 years old and have a major credit card.

Bicycle hire

GreenBikes (tel: +1 615 625 2153; www.nashvillebikeshare.org) offer free bicycle hire (with valid ID) that allow you to explore 151km (94 miles) of Nashville greenways. Stations are based at are five community centres.

Nashville B-cycle (+1 615 625 2153; www.nashville.bcycle.com) runs a fee-based, bike share scheme that allows users to pick up and drop off wheels at more than 30 stations across central Nashville.

Cumberland Transit (tel: +1 615 321 4069; www.cumberlandtransit.com), at 2807 West End Avenue, is the place to hire high-end road bikes.

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Book Accommodation

Featured Hotels

The Hermitage Hotel

Built in 1910 in the beaux-arts style, this city institution is the grande dame of local hotels. Smiling after an $18million refurbishment, the lobby is gilded plaster and stained glass windows, and the all-suite guest rooms boast Florentine marble bathrooms. Dining at the hotel’s Capitol Grille evokes an elegant wine cellar, and the Oak Bar has ornate woods and plasterwork.

Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel

Boasting one of the most modern looks on the Nashville hotel scene, Loews Vanderbilt Plaza has bedded many celebrities and country music stars. Artwork is a heavy motif, from the tapestries of the lobby to the in-house branch of the Kraus art gallery. The angular guest rooms are softened by plush curtains, and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse is well regarded among local carnivores.

Days Inn Vanderbilt/Music Row

The rooms here are at least refurbished every few years to keep this good value motel at least comfortable. The property dates back to the 1960s, giving it kind of a retro cool, and the free local calls and internet don’t hurt the budget. The location is convenient, with Music Row and Vanderbilt University both within easy walking distance.

The Hutton Hotel

Opened in 2009, this property blends traditional southern touched with Manhattan-esque chic, the lobby a mix of luxuriant woods, abstract sculptures and oversized lampshades. It’s a bold attempt to steer away from the more laboured aspects of the city, and you won’t find country music being piped on repeat. The rooms are trendy but not pretentious, and the 1808 Grille brings a modern twist to down-home cooking.

Union Station

A former railway terminal is the home for this hotel, which dates back to 1900. The architecture is Romanesque-Gothic, and the property enjoyed a $10million facelift in 2007. The station’s main hall becomes a striking lobby, with vaulted stained glass ceilings. While the exterior is a National Historic Landmark, the rooms are contemporary, though light sleepers may want to avoid those that overlook the tracks.

Hilton Downtown Nashville

Another all-suite offering, this new Downtown hotel has plenty of room, with 330 units. The palm-lined atrium lobby lends a touch of sophistication to the hotel, but its main appeal is the location, within walking distance of LP Field and the Country Music Hall of Fame. The suites lend themselves to self-catered living, though there are also 3 restaurants on site.

Introducing Nashville

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