In this post, we will provide information about visiting the Ryman Auditorium.
We include details about how to get here, tour types, ticket prices, discounts, things to see and more.
TICKETS PRICES?
Visiting the "Mother Church of Country Music" is a must for any music lover's trip to Nashville, but its unique beginnings make it an enjoyable stop for any visitor.
There are three different ways to tour the Ryman Auditorium.
There are three different tours you can take: a self-guided tour, a guided backstage tour, and a post-show Opry at the Ryman tour.
Self-Guided Tour
The self-guided tour lets you explore the auditorium and its exhibits at your own pace and watch the introductory video.
The auditorium is open, usually 9 am - 4 pm, and you can enter at any time with a ticket.
- Ticket Prices: Adults (12+) $25.95 / Child (Under 5-11) $16.95 / Under 5 FREE
- Availability: Most days 9 am - 4 pm, some days end earlier due to performance setup.
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
NOTE: Ticket costs include taxes and other fees.
TIP: This tour is included at no extra cost with the Nashville Sightseeing Pass!
The Ryman is also a stop on our self-guided audio tour of downtown Nashville.
Backstage Tour
This guided tour backstage brings you to the dressing rooms for even more stories about well-known performers and members of the Opry like Johnny Cash and Hank Williams.
These tours are only available on select dates and times based on the performance schedule.
- Ticket Prices: Adults (12+) $34.95 / Child (Under 12) $26.95
- Availability: Select dates
- Duration: 40 minutes (plus approx. 45 minutes for the self-guided portion inside the Auditorium)
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
NOTE: Ticket costs include taxes and other fees.
PRO TIP: The intro video and self-guided tour of the auditorium are included in this ticket, so you're really only paying an extra $10 for the guided backstage portion.
When you get your ticket, try to time it to see the 7-minute video, Soul of Nashville, BEFORE joining the next timed guided tour.
Post-Show Opry at the Ryman Tour
The Grand Ole Opry show returns home to the Ryman every winter.
After these shows you can watch the introduction movie, Soul of Nashville, take a backstage tour to see behind the scenes, and take a peek at the dressing rooms.
These tours are only available only on nights with one Opry show scheduled.
Tickets to the Opry are not included.
- Ticket Prices: Adults (12+) $29.95 / Child (Under 12) $21.95
- Availability: Select dates
- Duration: 40 minutes (plus approx. 45 minutes for the self-guided portion
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
HOW TO WATCH THE OPRY AT THE RYMAN SHOW
It can get confusing - the Opry show, the Opry House, the Ryman Auditorium.
Every winter the Grand Ole Opry show returns home to the Ryman for a few months of residency.
This is a great option if you're in town. (If you're visiting at other times of the year, check out our guide to the Grand Ole Opry House.)
The show runs:
- Tuesdays 7 pm
- Fridays 7 pm & 9:30 pm
- Saturdays 7 pm & 9:30 pm
Ticket Prices: $40-$100
Purchase tickets or learn more.
These shows are popular so we recommend getting tickets in advance, especially if you're aiming for the lower price tickets.
This section will cover all of the best deals on tickets for visiting the Ryman, including Nashville tourist passes and ticket combo package discounts.
Combo Ticket Packages
If you’re planning to do a few other things while you’re in Nashville, there are several different combo packages you can purchase which include tickets.
Gray Line
This company is well known for offering a variety of tours all over the world, and they also provide several great combo packages, including this service.
In addition to covering admission to the Ryman Auditorium, this combo deal also includes tickets to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
You'll also receive a 3.5-hour guided tour of Nashville!
- $99.17/Adults | $50.13/Children
- Includes Ryman self-guided tour
- Includes Country Music Hall of Fame admission
- Includes a 3.5-hour guided tour of Nashville
- Purchase a combo package or learn more.
Old Town Trolley
This is one of the big hop-on-hop-off bus services in Nashville, and they offer combo tickets which include their trolley tour along with other activities including both the self-guided tour.
- Trolley + Ryman Self-Guided Tour
- Price: $60 per person
- Includes 24-hour trolley tour
- Includes Ryman self-guided tour
- Not currently available as of October 2022.
For more details about the services provided by Old Town Trolley, please read our post covering Nashville bus tours.
Nashville Sightseeing Pass
If you're planning to enjoy multiple activities and attractions while visiting Nashville, you might want to consider getting a tourist pass.
This service includes admission to multiple popular locations, including Ryman Auditorium, for one low price.
They have both a day pass and a flex pass.
The day pass allows you to get access to all of the included activities for a specific number of days, while the flex pass lets you pay for only the specific tickets you want.
Here are a few of the other tours, museums, and historical locations included with the Nashville Sightseeing Pass:
- Gray Line Nashville Bus Tour
- Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
- Musician's Hall of Fame and Museum
- Andrew Jackson's Hermitage
- Belle Meade Mansion Tour
- Lotz House Cellar Tour
- iRide Nashville Segway Tour
- Crawl of Fame Drinking Game
- Madame Tussauds
- And more!
This pass also includes additional discounts on things like luggage storage, car rentals, and more.
Purchase the Nashville Sightseeing Pass or learn more.
Music City Total Access Pass
This discount pass includes admission to four different attractions of your choice in addition to tickets for both the Parthenon and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
They also offer a discount of 25% off select Gray Line sightseeing tours.
As you may have guessed, one of the four attractions you can choose from is the Ryman Auditorium self-guided Tour.
In total, they have over 30 different activities to choose from, including popular destinations like the Grand Ole Opry House, Historic RCA Studio B, Country Music Hall of Fame, and more.
The Music City Total Access Pass is $75.
If you consider that the Ryman Tour alone pays for almost half of that, it’s not hard to see how you could save money with this service.
For more details, make sure to read our post covering Nashville tourist attraction discount passes.
Discount Sites
If you’re looking for an easy way to save money on tickets that don’t require you to pay for other activities, make sure to check sites like Groupon and Living Social.
Both of these services will sometimes offer discounts on either the tours or a live show.
On top of that, each company also offers discounts of between 10-20% off local activities like this when you use a coupon code.
Make sure to check for additional coupons before making your purchase in order to get the best possible deal
Military Discount
Members of the military can receive a discount on self-guided and backstage tours.
Make sure to present your military ID when purchasing tickets in order to receive this deal.
AAA Discount
If you’re a AAA member, you are eligible for a discount on self-guided and backstage tours.
All you have to do is present your AAA card when purchasing your tickets to take advantage of this opportunity.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE RYMAN AUDITORIUM
The following section will cover what you will see while taking a tour at the Ryman.
The self-guided tour is included with backstage tour tickets as well. You can do it before or after your timed backstage tour.
We recommend trying to watch the intro video first before taking the backstage tour.
Soul of Nashville Introduction Video
This 100-seat theatre welcomes you to the Ryman with a state-of-the-art movie experience. With surrounding screens, you will feel like you are in the center of the show.
It is recommended to visit this first but it is easy to skip if you'd rather (though we don't recommend doing that)
Hatch Print Gallery
See a collection of historic Hatch Print posters.
Exhibits on the Sefl Guided Tour
- “Workin’ on a Building”
- “Showplace of the South”
- “Mother Church of Country Music”
- “Ryman Stage to Screen”
- “Ryman Renaissance”
They suggest you start on the upper level of the auditorium. There is an elevator if needed.
You can walk around at your own pace and there is a docent or two who can handle questions.
The exhibits are at the back of the auditorium but you can also go down and sit in the seats or take a closer look at the controls for the lights and sounds.
You also get the chance to go down to the bottom level and even stand on stage behind a historic Ryman-labelled mic for a professional souvenir photo.
Souvenir Photo
These are FREE! You will need your ticket to pick them up, however.
Make a Record
By far the coolest souvenir gift ... you have a chance to record a song in the recording studio! They'll even give you a copy to take home.
Choose from a set list of songs or bring your own sheet music for their accompanist. It is an extra $15 but well worth it.
A couple of things to note...
- This is a working concert venue so things may be closed depending on the needs of a performance.
- Photographs are welcome on the self-guided tour but not on the backstage tour.
- Both tours are wheelchair and stroller friendly.
PLAN YOUR VISIT TO THE RYMAN
The Ryman Auditorium is located downtown, just off Broadway (Honky Tonk Highway) at 116 5th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219
It is a stop on our self-guided downtown Nashville walking tour and easily accessible by foot or public transportation.
Best Times to Visit
There really isn’t a bad time to visit the Ryman and the self-guided tour option is available most days.
If you're a big fan of the history of Grand Ole Opry, then try to visit November-January during Opry at the Ryman so you can take in the show and do the Post Show Backstage Tour.
If you're just planning on taking the self-guided tour, try to go in the morning. It tends to get busy afternoon even on weekdays.
Ryman Auditorium Security
All visitors go through a metal detector upon entering and may be subject to secondary screening if they set off the alarm or cannot pass through the metal detector.
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