Ryman Auditorium and a Honky Tonk Night in Nashville

Booking choice: The Ryman Auditorium tour, from $38 per person. Check dates Compare the options below

The Ryman began in 1892 as a church and became the home of the Grand Ole Opry. Visitors tour it by day, then spend the night in the honky tonks a few minutes away.

History and hours here come from Ryman's history page, Ryman's guided tour page and the Opry history page. Check the official pages for show days, because tours follow the event calendar.

The quick answer

The Ryman self-guided tour at $38 is a daytime visit with a film, exhibits and a stage photo. Pair it with the Hall of Fame and RCA Studio B combo at $55 for a full history day, then take the walking crawl in the evening.

The stage of a historic auditorium seen from the upper level across rows of wooden pews — The Ryman stage seen from the balcony.

What is the Ryman and why does it matter?

It opened in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle and became known as the Mother Church of Country Music.

The Ryman's history page says it was built by riverboat captain Thomas Ryman, renamed in 1904 and home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974. It was saved from demolition and restored from the early 1990s. The 1945 performance by Earl Scruggs with Bill Monroe's band is cited as the birth of bluegrass.

Rows of wooden church pews facing tall arched windows with red, blue and amber glass — The pews and stained glass, a reminder of the building's church origins.

How does the self-guided tour work?

You walk the building at your own pace. The self-guided tour lists an introduction film, exhibits, the Hatch Show Print gallery and a souvenir photo on stage.

It is $38, rated 4.7 from 972 guests, with about 2 hours on the listing. The operator is Opry Entertainment Group. Daytime tours are listed at 9 am to 4 pm on the official site.

A glass display case holding sequined stage costumes in red, orange and pale blue — Stage costumes in a display case.

Is there a guided backstage tour?

Yes. Official guided backstage tours run on non-show days and include dressing rooms, depending on availability.

Ryman's guided tour page describes about 45 minutes guided plus 45 minutes self-guided. Hours are listed as 10 am to 4 pm on non-show days. Dates and hours change, so check the page for your day.

A daytime history stop that fits before an evening on Broadway.

Check dates for the Ryman Auditorium tour

How far is the Ryman from the honky tonks?

Close. Robert's sits on Honky Tonk Row near the Ryman, per the bar's own FAQ.

The Ryman is at 116 5th Ave N and Robert's is at 416 Broadway. The two make a natural pair: the history by day and the bands by night. Plan the order around show nights at the Ryman.

A band with guitars and drums playing on a small stage in front of neon beer signs — A band on a Broadway stage in the evening.

What does the Hall of Fame combo add?

The Hall of Fame and RCA Studio B combo covers the Country Music Hall of Fame and a guided hour in RCA Studio B, with transport between them.

It is $55, rated 4.9 from 1,720 guests, and takes about 5 hours. The museum is at 222 5th Ave S. It suits a full daytime plan before a night out.

A bronze Country Music Hall of Fame plaque for Dolly Parton with a relief portrait — A Hall of Fame plaque in the museum.

Country Music Hall of Fame and RCA Studio B

The Hall of Fame plus a guided hour in RCA Studio B.

★ 4.9 1,720 reviews · 5 hours · from $55

Explore the Hall of Fame and RCA Studio B combo

What about the Grand Ole Opry backstage tours?

They are a separate experience at the Opry House, and the Opry runs its own calendar.

The Opry calendar lists the shows. The Opry moved out of the Ryman in 1974 to its own house, and it returns to the Ryman in the colder months. Dates vary, so check the calendar before booking. If you have time, add a backstage tour to your plan.

A long museum wall lined with framed gold records and a few visitors looking at them — A museum wall of framed gold records.

What does a sample day look like?

Ryman in the morning, a lunch stop, an afternoon of history, then the bars after dark.

Morning: the Ryman tour at opening.
Afternoon: the Hall of Fame combo or a rest.
Evening: the walking crawl, or go bigger with the VIP bar crawl.

The Hall of Fame combo takes about five hours, so choose one big daytime plan, not two.

What should you book first?

Book the Ryman or the combo first, since they run on fixed times, then choose the evening.

Every tour here carries a full refund up to 24 hours before, so you can hold a day at low risk. The cover charges guide explains what the bars will cost on top. The bars themselves need no booking.