Ryman Auditorium Reviews

This place was recommended so much I figured I had to visit. I honestly do not know why people keep going on about it. While I appreciate its sentimental, I do not understand why it would justify a $31 price tag to basically just see a venue - especially considering that you can attend actual concerts for that price. You also see a short video and some HRC-style memorabilia. I left this place confused and disappointed. If you have sentimental value attached to this venue, I suppose it is worth a visit. But objectively, the entry price is about triple that of its justification

F'n pews with no padding, no ga standing area to dance and obstructed views everywhere. Great history, I'm sure it's a treat too be on stage, but just a horrid experience in the audience.

I was excited to see a show here, but once it's enough, won't be back unless its my only option.

We bought tickets on September 14, 2024 for the Sawyer Brown performance scheduled for October 01, 2024. On September 27, 2024, we received a email from Ryman Auditorium that the show was rescheduled to February 15, 2025. No reason was given but it could have been because of Hurricane Helena, but the effects from that were not that severe from my research. We had to receive our tickets through AXS and also bought cancellation insurance from XCover which was offered by AXS. Each of these entities says the other is responsible for a refund, so were got nowhere and no refund after several HOURS on the phone and online! We also lost money from the hotel we paid to stay at in Goodlettsville. These people should be very ashamed of theirselves! But instead the are proud of their fraud!Lost a lot of money

What a great tour to do to learn about country music. The self tour was very good ,but if you want more information take the private tour.
The video in the beginning tells you the history and when you step inside the auditorium you feel the history.
Don’t forget to have your picture taken on stage. It’s free.

The Ryman is an amazing historical auditorium with so much interesting history. Part of our tour was self guided but we were also there on a day when backstage guided tours were available and it was a very interesting tour.

We went to see The Mavericks, they were nothing short of sensational. I say run don’t walk to a Mavericks concert.

From the second they came on stage people were on their feet dancing. Usually this doesn’t happen till the end of show, but not with the Mavericks., The energy they bring is off the charts. Of course this does have its drawbacks as some people wanted the folks in front of them to sit down. Well then you can’t see. It’s a good problem to be sure.

The show started at 8, but it had an opening act, although good Maggie Rose, she was onstage for 45 mins. Then the setting up of the stage took time and the Mavericks took the stage at almost 9:30. Their performance ended close 11:45. 3 hrs and 45 minutes is a very long time to be standing or worse sitting on those very hard pews.

I wish the website or tickets would indicate if there is an opening act.
Then you could decide if it’s worth being there for so long. We only go if it’s someone we just have to see. The Mavericks are on the top of that list.

We only go if it’s someone we really want to see. The Mavericks are definitely part of that list.

I went to see an act, to remain nameless as we greatly enjoyed the act, but I'm rating the venue. It may be the mother church of country music but it sucks as a venue to see an act there today. We were aware of the posts and avoided being blocked, but unless you were almost facing the stage (too far on either side), you may not see all the performers (a solo act or perhaps a very small band might be fully visible). The acoustics are OK however.
If I can't talk you out of going, spend the $ on the better seats - directly facing the performer, including the balcony.

This was a spectacular thing to see so much history to feel it when you walk the halls to know so many famous people got their start here

We enjoyed seeing a concert and this amazing, historic venue. The historic exhibits that were available before the show were very informative.

Very impressed. I read about the Ryman in a novel and since then wanted to see it for myself. Enjoyed learning about the history of the "church".

If you enjoy live performances of any genre — you’ll love the rich heritage of this place to experience your show. Recommend getting to the security check point on the outside of the main entrance to allow time to enjoy the scores of historical tributes and architectural design elements that make the Ryman so special. Don’t expect comfy padded theatre seating — only classic wooden church type pew benches adorn the auditorium.

This is a self-guided tour with an outstanding film at the beginning. You only need an hour to do this. It is great history. Look for the Hatch Show Prints. You don't need to be a country music fan to enjoy. It's an auditorium for all music.

Fun tour, Rick who took our tickets, retired from GM in MI, was super friendly and his enthusiasm for the Ryman contagious. I got goosebumps when I came out to the pews concert area and was able to set and imagine all its history. Bonus was Johnny cash tour bus was on display in December which we also were able to tour with our tour ticket. When we arrived at the bus location guess who was there ? Rick the friendly Ryman employee had now been rotated to cover this area. We were so happy he was there to give us a load of information on this bus and it was the perfect ending to a wonderful tour experience. Would do this tour again it’s totally a Nashville highlight and all the history of the Ryman well preserved and displayed.

Love the history of the Ryman and the acoustics are second to none!!
We’ve also been to shows and it’s awesome!!
Beautiful old church!!

Attended Amy Grant-Vince Gill Christmas Program
What s as n epic place for music was in the middle Sec 12 top balcony…. amazing view, sound and atmosphere
Will come back for a tour yo learn about the history

Beautiful auditorium! We did self guided so that we could spend as much time as we wanted. The displays are outstanding. Picture a bonus!

Well, had to walk out of a show at the Ryman. Purchased tickets for a show today that said 1pm. The show time was really noon. When I talked to the box office and management was told I could not get a refund without leaving immediately. I am extremely disappointed in the customer service at "Mother Church". Being a musician I have always held this room with great reverence. Unfortunately this experience has sullied my view of this historical venue #heartbroken

Very cool to check out the Ryman Auditorium! Was a pretty quick tour but very interesting. The historical architecture was really interesting. Glad we took the time to go check it out!

The ushers were great! We bought tickets for seats with obstructed views because they were the least expensive. The ushers said that the show was not sold out and offered to move people to better seats. The wooden pews are hard and not comfortable. The show we saw, Il Divo, was fantastic!

The history and cultural significance of this space is amazing. The self-guided tour exceeded my expectations. Park somewhere else if you can- the garage parking price was gouging.

Visited during a girls trip weekend. Interesting to see but felt it was a little overpriced considering it was a very short tour/experience. More artifacts to see would be great. Free photo is a nice touch. Staff were all very friendly. Worth going to see to get out of the rain and heat.

What an iconic and historically place. It was full of wonderful memorabilia and trivia. The stage is so small, getting a seat to watch any artist here would be a bucket list checkoff!

If you are a music fan (of any genre) this is a must & we very privileged to have been able to visit during the rehearsals for the Americana 2024 Awards - the Auditorium is steeped in so much musical history it just can't be described here - amazing place & would love to re-visit in the future

Attended the Sarah Evans Concert with surprise guests Lady A and Carly Pearce. Whispering Bill Anderson showed up unexpectedly and invited Sarah to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry! It doesn’t get much better than that.

Went for a concert recently and the usher who walked us to our seats managed to make a 30 second interaction completely racist. His name was Danny, an older gentlemen.

As he was showing us our way, he repetitively asked me "Where are you from", when I told him my answer, the answer wasn't good enough because he then said "No. no. no Where is your family from"... When I told him my answer, I asked him where he was from to be polite. He then said "My family is for North ***" followed by "I'm not a foreigner like you. You're a foreigner. You're an oriental Asian". I walked away with him calling me a foreigner. I was born and raised in Arkansas and have never had an interaction like this.

I understood his motives. I tried to chuckle it off as I am very clearly NOT oriental Asian (although they are all wonderful people). I know this location may not be bothered by this interaction, but it's not normal for a stranger to blatantly disrespect you without cause. It definitely made it hard for me to enjoy the concert I paid to attend.

If you are a lover of music, the Ryman is well worth the visit. It is an experience that can make you feel connected to the history of great music. The video prior to the tour is great at giving you the basic history of the Ryman, and then you are free to explore the main theatre. It is a must-do experience.

This was a quick fun tour that allows you to see the auditorium if you can’t get into a show (which we were not able to do). The video at the start of the tour gives a good overview and the displays of performers were all well done. We only needed about an hour to do the entire tour. They do give you a souvenir photo on stage which is a fun takeaway.

The price for the self-guided tour is a bit expensive for what you get, but with that being said you do get a free photo (free copies for everyone in your group). The video at the beginning was very informative and helped set up the experience once you entered the auditorium. There’s steps and elevators and easily accessible restrooms. We didn’t spend time in the gift shop so I can’t speak to that. It was quite busy but we didn’t order ahead we just went to the box office. The Ryman is worth the trip if you are interested in history of the area and if interested in iconic venues. You’d be shocked at who all has played there. Nashville generally speaking is busy in the summer. Overall - we had a good experience at the Ryman.

I've been here before for a tour. Prices have gone way up over the years! Admission includes a professional photo in front of the stage that you pick up at the gift shop at the end.

We took the time to watch the introductory film (11 minutes) and read all of the postings on the walls. It's a great, concise review not only of the building but also what went on in history and showbiz throughout the 1900s.

The auditorium itself isn't too exciting although there are some exhibits of costumes and programs. There's a 5-minute film on how shows are set up and staged. Lots of signed posters from musicians and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exhibit where you can watch inductee speeches from many country stars. The gift shop had some interesting items for Ryman fans.

This was our first visit to the Ryman for a concert and I can't say enough about how great it was. So here is what you need to know....every seat is a good seat with the exception of a couple of supports throughout for the balcony, temperature is good and no need to adjust with sweaters and such, we saw Darius Rucker and he did great, but more than that the sound was NOT overwhelming for old ears, comfortable space in the seating areas (I'm not small and felt NO crowding). I'm keeping an eye on the future concerts because I WILL be back. Great experience.

We went to the Ryman as we're country music fans, but it felt very overpriced for what it was, especially as we did the self-guided tour. The venue itself is very small so it doesn't take very long to explore. It does include an interesting video on the history before you enter the Auditorium, though. It also includes a free printed photo on the stage.

I would only recommend this if you're really interested in country music and its history. If not, it is not really worth the cost, especially given it was the most expensive activity we did in Nashville. It is also worth noting that downloading the tickets on an app seemed completely unnecessary as I had to download the app just for this whereas every other place we visited simply emailed our tickets.

While the inside of the place itself was not impressive the history of the building cannot be denied. The outside architecture is intriguing

Glad I did it, once in a lifetime is enough

The sound is wonderful and I would avoid rows after M on the bottom floor but despite a pole view- we had a great time!

On this trip we went to the Ryman Auditorium and learned about the history of this venue. We had a leisurely self-guided tour and really enjoyed our time there.

Another deeply immersive Nashville experiences

It oozes history and musical magic

You honestly cannot visit Nashville with visiting the Ryman

Did the backstage tour, our guide was Cody and he was quite entertaining and informative. We learned so much about the Ryman and its rich history. A must do in Nashville.

I thought it was definitely not worth the money. It is small and we walked through it so quickly. Not much to see. Save your money!

We attended the Croce plays Croce at the Ryman and it was fantastic. AJ plays with energy and enthusiasm, rolling from one song into another and taking requests. Kudos to the band..just great! It was a full two hour show.. and unpadded pew benches were a bit rough to sit through, but concentrated on the music. The Ryman staff was great.. courteous and polite...which is a novelty these days. Thank you all for a great evening!

Came to town specifically to see a concert here and it may have been the best show i have ever seen. Venue is great and the staff is friendly

We enjoyed our visit to the Ryman and appreciated being able to do a self-guided tour. What a wonderful place with rich history. So glad it was preserved and cared for.

This is such a great tour to do while you are in town. I highly suggest the guided tour! There is so much history in this building you can feel the energy. They give you a souvenir picture and make sure you go to the selfie booth int he back to get an emailed picture.

Although I’m not a die hard country music fan, I found the self guided tour at Ryman Auditorium fascinating. I enjoyed the exhibits and learning about the history of the building.

We chose the backstage guided tour which was excellent. You get to sit in the dressing rooms a listen to very interesting stories facts and information about the theatre and acts who have performed there. Are guide was very knowledgeable and knew his stuff. You also get a chance to stand on the stage and walk on the original wood. Free photo and as long as you want in the building after the guided tour. Would thoroughly recommend this tour

My daughter and I went to see Mitski in concert here. Very nice place, with lots of history. Although it can seat a lot of people, it feels intimate. My only complaint was that the pews can get uncomfortable rather quickly and if you don’t get the right seats, you could have a pillar obstructing your view.

When entering the building, you are directed to an exhibit then on to a short film. The exhibit was impossible to get into; the film was interesting. It was enjoyable to see the Ryman, just expect crowds.

We took a guided tour. It was interesting to see the theater and hear the history, but it would have been a lot better to see a performance of some kind. There is really not much to see if you are not a die hard country music fan. Would be good for people who are really into the history of country music. .

We have seen shows at the Grand Ole Opry so very cool to finally get to see the Ryman. Tons of history and some excellent exhibits.

Great location if you are a fan of American history. Spring for the guided tour, worth every penny for the backstage talks by the excellent guides.

This is a wonderful place.the church of country music, everything you would expect. The stage and the lighting from the windows just makes it majestic

Finally made it to the Mother Church of Country Music!! This iconic stage has seen performances by all the early, now called Legends, of country music. My particular interest is in Hank Williams, Sr. and Patsy Cline. While sitting in my seat waiting for Keith and Kristen Getty's concert to start I just closed my eyes and felt the amazing vibe of this place. I didn't get to go back and take the tour so I could stand on that stage. Maybe next time.

Wonderful place to see a concert! I love the history and the staff was courteous and were eager to answer questions about the venue. The sounds was incredible!

My only concern was about seats - I love the old church pews but was jealous of the person in front of us that knew to bring a small lumbar support pillow! Also, my daughter and I were sitting in a pew with 5 seats in the section. 3 out of the 5 of the lovely concert goers were tall and slightly bigger and the 5 of us really were squished. The one couple sat basically sideways so we could all fit. Not sure if other pews are bigger.

Saw the band America perform, it was our first time at the venue. The history is magnificent, great intimate venue. Sound was great. Just don't buy seats in section 2 row z or you might get your view obstructed by a light.

What a great place to see a concert, especially a Vince Gill concert. The Ryman did not disappoint. Nice, historic , intimate place to see a fantastic performance.

I thought this might just be a walk around to see the auditorium, take some photos and out again...but no! This is a full on tour to learn of all the history and find out some of the people who have been on stage here (many of them are surprising non-musicians).
There is also a small museum section with stuff such as Ray Charles old suit and early Elvis contact. Best of all, there is an immersive video show that goes all around the room and is very cool to hear about the beginnings as a church building.
Make sure to go to the stage for the photo opportunity before leaving - you pick up your snap at the gift shop up the street.

Sometimes a song (or a whole show) can take us far away from the days’ grind or worries. A perfect example is this song this night this 2 hour two set show by Band Of Horses. It didn’t hurt that our own Nelson @clermont1 proposed to his lady April just moments before. But really music can be our connector, or equalizer or simply a way to drift into a little state of bliss. Who does it for you? For us -for me- it’s half our clients, it’s #bandofhorses at #theryman it’s #thenational or #boniver at #chastainpark amphitheater. #ClemSnide at #pinhook or any number of thoughtful #indiemusic stalwarts new and old. We’ve been privileged And I mean it truly is our privilege- to work with and see and hear some of the most talented creators artists and #songwriters ever. From #sigurros to #wilco to @jason Lytle (go get the new one! And the new” @grandaddymusic !) and continue to support hard working artists of all types. Also come to teamclermont.com to hear unknowns and popular peeps, tell us who moves you, tell us who our next signings and clients should be. Who isn’t being heard by enough people yet!? We are in this community together. Spread the word. That’s what we do. And go congratulate @clermont1 … but mostly share the music that moves you. 🥰🤙 @clemsnidemusic you’re next

If you get an opportunity to go to an event here, just go. The outside and inside are beautiful. It’s a special place to enjoy a concert. We were seated in Section 1, Row J, seats 9 and 10 on the floor. If it’s a concert, be prepared to stand if you’re in ge lower level. We would not have wanted to be on the first floor under the balcony because from what we could tell the view seemed obstructed. It was also dark under the balcony.

I didn’t realize the history of the ryman auditorium and I enjoyed the history behind it. It was a short and sweet tour that only took us about 30 minutes to walk through.

Excellent trip through the history of an iconic building! I had no idea that so many acts from different genres had performed there. The exhibits were great, but the building is the real draw. The pews, the stained glass, & the cast iron stairway make for an awe-inspiring look into history.

We LOVED touring the Ryman! Great way to see it and view so much memorabilia. My husband especially liked seeing the back door where he used to come in with his dad when he was young.

This was a great experience. When we got there since there were no live events, we were told we could update our tickets to get a backstage tour. Photography wasn’t allowed backstage but I learned so many interesting facts about the Ryman and its history. It was a fun experience.

We were lucky to catch that some few seats are behind the metal columns that hold up the ceiling / balcony. Other than that I don't think there is a bad seat in the house. We were on the floor just under the balcony. It was a loud rock show and the sound was fantastic. I didn't need earplugs like I often do. The Ryman is a very special place. No photos. I just drank it in.

Thank goodness performers of country music prevailed and this historic landmark was preserved.
Only wish we had had time to enjoy an event in this iconic and extremely well preserved landmark. Significant in the history of America music it’s easy to imagine an entertaining and engaging evening of music here.
A must see in Nashville.

It was really neat to go into the different dressing rooms and see the old photos. The stories were pretty cool too!

I’m not sure I would have done this tour if my sister hadn’t insisted on going. It was really fun though, and our guide was truly excellent. Seeing backstage was cool and I loved hearing all the stories.

The tour was very short and consisted only of a 10 minute movie and a chance to stand on the stage after wandering through memorabilia. A bit overpriced for what you get to see.

The Ryman has such history! We were humbled at being in a place where so many iconic country stars have performed on the stage.

The exhibits were very well done. The history of the Ryman was given by a short film. Staff was very knowledgeable. Brought many memories back to us.

This was someplace I always wanted to see. We had the opportunity so we took it. It was cool seeing the many artifacts from Country legends. I was surprised at how short Loretta Lynn was.

It was awesome to visit the "Mother Church" of country music! You could just feel the history oozing from the boards in this place! We did the self guided tour and took our time. After taking in a concert at the Grand Ol' Opry, I wish I had instead taken in a concert at the Ryman Auditorium instead. Mush more intimate and always great walk on unannounced guests. Next time we come to Nashville we will plan to take in more here at the Ryman! Dale & Marsha NY

Self guided tour is the way to go for young families. They have coloring activities for the kids to do which was a nice touch. Intro video gave a great history of the theater and Nashville in general. Nice that the picture onstage is included. They even take multiples for you. They don’t nickel and dime you quite as hard as the Grand Ole Opry tour.

Informative and entertaining. Friendly staff and an amazing experience. To be in the original venue of the Grand Ole Opry and learn about its history past and present icons, and legends is something that gives me an appreciation for music of all genres.

I loved the Ryman Auditorium. We were able to walk there from our hotel in Nashville. We did the self-guided tour, and it was great. You first sit and watch a short video that was VERY well done and then you go off and explore on your own. Lots of things to see and read about. Very interesting. I'd recommend.

Cool history. Was where the Grand Ole Opry was for many years. Also if you go to the back there is an alley way that connects the Ryman to Tootsie's where a lot of performers have used to get between the buildings. Check it out if you go.

As a country music fan, i loved the displays and video. Picture at the circle included in price (instead of 30 extra at new opry).

A little pricey for what it is, but it's a very historic place, more than I ever knew! Self guided tour, which is fine, plenty of volunteers around to help. Standing on the stage is something, to think who all has stood there and sat in those pews. Its about an hour to walk through it.

A must go if you are interested in the history of Nashvile. Make sure to see the Grand Ole Oprey too.

This was the first stop for us on or trip to Nashville and it did not disappoint. We did the self guided tour that starts with a timeline of the Ryman while waiting to see a fantastic 15 minute film about the history of the Ryman. Then you exit and walk in the balcony and the moment you see those wooden pews and that stage is a spiritual experience for music and history lovers. There are displays up at the top but we just sat and then took pictures. They were getting ready for a concert so we could see all the prep work getting ready. We then go downstairs and you can have a picture made up on stage which we did. A phenomenal piece of American history!

It was GREAT!!! We had such a Great Time! Also very Educational! The Staff was Great, very Friendly!
We just found out my Husband is now cancer free, he had bone marrow cancer, so this was a trip he wanted to go on.
SO MUCH FUN!!!

We actually saw a concert at the Ryman, which will remain a fabulous memory! We had planned to tour the venue on our vacation, but after watching their schedule we were thrilled to see a live performance. That being said, the Ryman hosts a wide spectrum of acts from all genres.

Love the history of the church of music. Loved seeing all different artists that had played there. Got a picture on stage free with purchase of tickets. Highly recommend this as a must see. If you love music then you will enjoy !

We did the self guided tour, and it was a walk-through history that was mesmerizing, captivating, and absolutely iconic!!! Go early to avoid the crowds and you will be blessed

A fun visit to a historic location. Lots of great exhibits. We also appreciated the free photo. I especially liked the introductory video.

It was so much fun to get a close look at this iconic venue and learn all about its history. We opted for a VIP Tour which included the possibility of seeing dressing rooms, receiving a free poster, and getting a photo at the microphone where so many famous people have stood....musicians of all types and genres, speakers like Martin Luther King Jr and Eleanor Roosevelt, entertainers like Harry Houdini and more. We were especially impressed with our tour guide Nicole. She was so knowledgeable and obviously has a passion for the Ryman and for what she does to share that with her tour groups. She had lots of great stories and was able to answer all of our questions. This was so much more and so much better than we had even expected.

I did the Ryman VIP tour and it was very much worth it. The tour guide took their time, explained everything, and was exceptionally knowledgable. The group was small (VIP) and, once the tour concluded, we had free reign of the place. The tour lasted 2-1/2 hours and included the dressing rooms.

Whether you're a country music fan or just want a better grasp of Nashville history, it's worth touring this beautifully restored theatre and taking in the museum-style exhibits scattered throughout. As others have mentioned, the short video at the beginning is very interesting and establishes a historical context for the restoration you're about to see.

Unfortunately, the person taking the complimentary photos on the stage seemed incredibly bored and also in a hurry, despite there being no one lined up behind us. When we went to the neighboring store to pick up our two photos (identical, due to the speed with which they were taken), my husband cheerily asked where we could pick up our photos (no signs), and one of the employees behind the counter said, "Right wall," in a bored tone without even looking at us. Then as we browsed the store, not one of the three employees there asked if they could help us. There did not appear to be a changeroom, and no one mentioned one. If it hadn't been for the photo and store experiences, I would have given five stars.

Never expected to get so up and close! Self guided; so interesting! Starts with a phenomenal AV presentation that really gave the history. Wished I had time to see Little Feat that night.

I was not expecting much BUT this was a nice tour and worth the money. There was a photo included in the price of the tour, so take the photo!

For the money it is lame as can be. You can see some guitars some clothes and a corny film and that is about it. I just could not get into this tour. It was so missing everything. Yay I saw a thirt worn by Ringo Starr.

Self guided tour was sparse of displays. No helpers. Charged an additional $10 at the box office from AXS. Total $40.
Don’t go. Very disappointing. I want my money back.

This was our 5th time in Nashville but usually go for CMA Fest in June and we took in all the festival events but never did the other attractions. We thoroughly enjoyed the Ryman tour. Would recommend for anyone who visits Nashville.

Great nostalgic part of Nashville history. If the walls could talk! Great tour, although some how we missed the Johnny Cash tour bus 🤷‍♀️

Definitely one of the highlights of our trip. I am going to go back and do the full tour next time I am there. The video they show at the beginning of the tour was fabulous, I have never seen anything like it!!! Whoever made it was genius.

The building and its history are very interesting. We were unable to book a guided tour, so were left to meander around the building on our own reading signs and labels on our own. There were several videos running on contiunuous loops, and you could also choose to view videos of various artists' induction into the Hall of Fame. However, one of the tour guides kept stopping her group right behind us while we were watching these films. Speaking loudly so that her group could hear her, she made it impossible for the rest of us to hear the audio. We gave up and moved on, only to have her follow with her group and do it again at the next video, and again at the next. She was either completely oblivious or incredibly rude and inconsiderate of the other visitors touring the Ryman.

This is a must see in Nashville! History, Architecture, the Posters from Hatch show print shop! Lonestar put on a fantastic show.

Very lovely experience. I will admit that we got our tickets on sale buy one get one so the tickets came out to 13 dollars this included a tour of Johnny Cash tour bus. I would it was worth 13 dollars a person but it doesn't seem to me worth the full price. Sorry I feel they should keep the price at 13 dollars

This was our favorite place to see for the history of country music. We just did the self guided tour and learned so much. Loved that they included a picture on the stage, unlike the backstage tour at the Grand Ole Opry where they charged extra for the photo in addition to the fee for the backstage tour.

Very interesting venue with lots of history and definitely worth your time. Very ignition the history of Nashville and music in general

Wonderful venue with great acoustics. You feel as if you are a part of everything.
It is the real deal and worth visiting for a concert.

The Ryman was very interesting and fun to tour. It presented good information without being over whelming! I recommend this attraction.

Convenient location to Broadway and great site to visit. Friends loved the tour. Would visit again for sure!

We took the 30 minute guided tour and it is worth it if there are no acts going on that day because you get an inside look backstage and several dressing rooms. Each dressing room has a different theme with old photos so it's worth the added price just for this.

The history is very cool and still between 250-300 shows go on each year here. It was voted one of the 11 venues to be certified from the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame so there is memorabilia throughout. Even the gift shop is cool.

We thoroughly enjoyed all parts of the tour, especially the intro movie. That was so well done. The amount of memorabilia is amazing

Waste of money. Buy a concert ticket and get there early. You see almost as much during a concert with great entertainment in one of the best venues in the world.

We did the quided tour of the ryman, our guide was Tori and we loved her, and the theater. Got to go into the dressing rooms and it included a free picture standing on the stage. The film they show about the story of the Ryman was really interesting. Would definitely recommend

It is a beautiful historic landmark you must see. If you love county music and want to learn about its origin, do this tour.

Very interesting. The introductory movie was great! One of our more memorable experiences, well worth the admission.

Wonderful to see and hear the history - where the grand ole Opry started. Our guides are so knowledgeable, many things to learn and see . Takes about 1.5 if you do it fast . Great to see before going to grand old Opry .

We enjoyed this tour, movie, and displays of such a historic place. The price is a bit steep but you do get an included photo on the microphone. The displays of outfits and memorabilia were good as was the movie presentation. Not a must do but nice if you have the time and money

I came a day earlier and closed early due to a music show they were having, it is about a 10 minute walk from my hotel, I couldn't leave Nashville without going in, went back the next day before I flew home, so glad I did, it was so worth it, the staff was friendly and informative and the short movie was wonderful, the mementos were great, a must see on a visit to Nashville

As a fan of music and history and live entertainment, this is a Can't miss. And if there is a show - GO!
Excellent Layout of Tour.
Excellent info.
Excellent Building.
Truly a Gem - that is alive and well.

Did the self-guided tour. Well worth the price of admission. It opens with a 10 minute movie, “The Soul of Nashville”, which was certainly one of the better venue related productions I’ve seen in some time. Tells a great story.
There’s also a short movie in a far corner which takes you through the day of a show, from load in to finish.
Tons of interesting memorabilia throughout as well. Really learned a lot about the Ryman’s history and it’s a fascinating story.
Also thought that even the gift shop was well worth the visit as there were some quality souvenirs there, albeit at a tourist price point.

Nice place to walk around, takes about 60 minutes if you really take your time. It would be better value if admission was less expensive. Felt like a tourist trap, getting gouged for $$$.

We were told by family and friends that a visit to the Ryman Auditorium was a must and they were right! It was a real treat to see how a very unassuming building has so much history with many of the greats. We enjoyed a short film about the history of the Ryman and we’re able to walk through the theater and enjoy the exhibits. The staff were even setting up for a performance that was scheduled for evening so it was cool to see the action and prep that goes into the preparation. Along the halls there are also posters from past shows, most of which are signed by the artists. Overall we spent about an hour and a half exploring at our own pace, it was a nice afternoon activity and saved us from the rain!

It was s great tour. Learned a lot about the history, which made a great “starter” before the tour of the Grand Ole Opry,

You cannot hit Nashville without spending time in this piece of history. Feel the magic, fall under its spell. Incredible and we'd do it again next time. Absolutely loved it. The history is amazing, and it was so informative. Thank you Nashville for preserving her!

The self-guided tour is excellent, especially if you take your time to look at all the exhibits. The evening's show was setting up, but I still managed to sneak my feet on the stage. The room is beautiful, and the collections of stories and artifacts -- think Johnny Cash's guitars, Minnie Pearl's hat, Loretta Lynn's dress, and a couple Nudie suits -- were impressive. There were special exhibits about Elvis's lone appearance and one from the Rock Hall of Fame. (Yes, if you're a rocker, there's plenty you'll love.)

I have to start out by saying while I love country music I'm not much interested in seeing clothes or instruments that famous people have worn, however we took the backstage tour of the Ryman and I really enjoyed it. Not because I got to see the couch that so and so sat on while waiting to go on but because our guide was engaging and gave great information on the building's history. You won't get that on a self guided tour. With that said I guess it depends on where your interests are. If you really want a bit more background then do the guided tour...If you really don't care and just wanna see the building and some exhibits of clothing etc do the self guided.

Such a great venue! Definitely watch the 10 minute video before you start your self-guided tour. It will provide you with some background information & historic details. Staff are friendly & knowledgeable. Since it is a very active concert venue, it’s neat to see the stage, sound system, etc being set up.

We went to the Auditorium but it was closed. We did get to see the beauty of the outside. Would love to return if I’m ever back in town.

This place is so nostalgic. You can feel the vibes all the great musicians that have been there. As fans of the Nashville show, we have seen the Ryman so many times on television but you really can’t explain what you experience when you’re there. The tour is very good and you’re able to take a picture on the stage. well worth the entrance fee.

I was thrilled as I walked through the hallowed halls of the Ryman auditorium. The sacred former church still holds the spirit of the original purpose: to bring people the love of God. As a pastor, I felt the present of its original purpose. My goal is to RETURN ASAP for a concert … to experience in person, the incredible acoustics that it is known for.
My only regret was that I took a self-guided tour and not a guided tour. That’s on me.
Oh, please! Visit Nashville’s strong and spectacular site!

I toured the Ryman before and it was very nice but this time they said the backstage tour wasn't available and they only had a self guided tour. they did let us each have a free photo on the stage and you could make another one at the rock hall. there were some singers instruments and clothes to view etc. it was ok but i did feel for 3 adults and $107 that ot should have had more. its still a good attraction.

We enjoyed our tour of the Ryman Theater. The staff there was VERY friendly and helpful, as we took our self-guided tour. We enjoyed the media presentation at the beginning, and learned a lot about the history of the venue. The Elvis Presley exhibit seemed a little misleading as there was not much in it about Elvis, but the exhibits were fun to look at. The theater itself has videos to explain the reason for each exhibit, and each was very good. We enjoyed them all and were surprised about some of the acts which have performed there. The Backstage video was really interesting and a glimpse into what we otherwise would not have seen. Some of the information was a little repetitive in the exhibits, of the history, but each tied in the information from a different angle. Getting our photo taken there was fun, and nice that it was included in our ticket price. The gift shop was also fun.

Enjoyed walking around at our own pace to explore. The opening video about the history was a unique immersive film. The location right on Broadway makes it an easy stop to combine with other tours or nearby bars.

Learning about the Ryman Auditorium and its history is a MUST DO if you go to Nashville. The short movie that starts your self guided tour off was one of the most well done tour movies I have ever watched. Once you see it you will have learned all about the history of how the Ryman came to be and why it still exists today. We liked seeing the cases of performers clothing and instruments too. A photographer takes your photo on the steps at the front of the stage and you pick it up in the gift shop after your tour. But…get this!!! The photo is included in the price of your ticket and you don’t have to pay more to get it! That has never been our experience before. We aren’t country music fans but we really enjoyed learning about the Ryman and experiencing what it means to so many.

Took the Ryman auditorium behind the scenes guided tour. Tour was very interesting going backstage and seeing the dressing rooms, all the wonderful pictures of stars that had been in those dressing rooms, and the history and some of the stories told by the guide was very interesting. After the guided tour we went upstairs and watched the 10 minute (approx) movie about the history of the theater. It was very enjoyable. Overall very interesting and well worth the time and cost.

Loved the Ryman ! Felt the history and dedication to all the singers and songwriters in country music.It was truly an awesome experience!

Finally got a chance to tour Ryman Auditorium and it did not disappoint!

We opted for the self-guided option, which begins with a well-made and entertaining short informational film/experience and ends with a souvenir photo on stage. I enjoyed taking my time to walk through the seats and browse the displays.

A concert at the Ryman is always memorable.
What a beautiful place. Seating is not comfy. You have to stand up every time anyone in your row wants out. But so worth it!!! We have been to quite a few concerts (and travel over 6 hours to get here!) and every single one was well worth it! It’s an experience! Personal and intimate. It’s a magical place to hear music! Highly recommend!

My wife and I took the tour and are very happy we did. As I entered this historical auditorium, I broke out in goosebumps. I suggest finding a spot and making whatever noise you like and just listen to the acoustics. The place is magical.

Staffers were very friendly and it was very nice to go at our own pace. The introductory movie was very well done. It was lovely to be in a place with so much magical musical history.

So much more than country music! Country is not my genre, but I loved all the history and architecture. This is one of the most refreshing things we done in Nashville!

My husband and I took the guided tour of Ryman Auditorium. This tour was awesome! I highly recommend this over the self guided tour. We learned all about the history. Then we visited the dressing rooms and went on stage. After the guided tour you can explore on your own and see the normal displays on the self guided tour. They also take your picture on stage and it’s free!

If you are in Nashville and don't visit the Ryman, what are you even there for? If you are able to see a concert there, it's highly recommended. The Ryman is one block of Broadway street so you can at least walk by it and admire the history of it all. It's a pretty special place and the people working inside, love their jobs. Spend a moment talking to someone and they are rich in it's history. I wish I had time for guided tour but the attendants there were happy to share their knowledge

We did not go into the auditorium. We were in the gift shop only. I personally am not a country music fan but my wife is, All we did was the gift shop. Actually went twice because there was a sparkly T Shirt my wife liked. The store was small but had things we had not seen elsewhere. Worth the stop.

Great movie to give the average person a background on the facility. I felt overlooked by the staff as a solo visitor. A few exhibits around the perimeter of the interior. Beautiful architecture.

We could not visit Nashville without visiting the 'Mother Church of Country Music'. It felt like walking on hallowed ground with all the posters displayed of previous concerts held there and I imagine it must be pretty special to attend a performance there. In fact, we had attended a Show out at the Grand Ole Opry the evening before and, while it was of course memorable, in many ways the Ryman Auditorium felt more authentic.

We took a private VIP tour with Emme as our tour guide and she was great. Lots of information, history and tidbits of insider information (ghosts!). And we recorded a song (albeit all off-key)! It was super fascinating and informative and definitely made our trip memorable. We're very grateful to Emme for her attentiveness, knowledge, humor and kindness.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Ryman Auditorium which included a wonderful cinematic history of the theatre and a visit to the stage of the original Grand Ole Opry, we were even allowed onto the famous stage and had a professional photograph taken behind the microphone (what a privilege). When I closed my eyes I could almost feel the atmosphere when all those famous country acts performed there. A very highly recommended visit.

TAKE EARPLUGS FOR CONCERTS

The bass at the auditorium is so loud it is physically painful. There is no one onsite to ask if it can be turned down. Noise rating is 99 which is considered very loud and dangerous. Beware, come with hearing protection or suffer as I did!!

Wow and wow!!!! Not a bad seat when listening to Vince Gill and Amy Grant! What a show and amazing sound quality. Totally didn’t notice the Pew bench seats because I was loving to see and hear them. The show didn’t disappoint, they are both funny and extremely talented musicians. Vince Gill even broke off in a Life in Fast Lane guitar run and said “whoops, wrong venue”. Totally love them and a first for me. Made up for a ho hum Grand Olde Opry show the night before. The history of the place is okay, but what’s on the stage matters to me and they rocked our socks no doubt. A must see if here for the holidays. Or……maybe a trip to Vegas for an Eagles concert…..hmmmmm

Nashville is about Music, This bluiding if the Histoty of Nashville Music development. It is a must in you visit. A huge part og city History is encapsulated in those walls. From Opera to Vallet, and then, being the Cathdral for country usic

What an incredible place steeped in do much history as one of the foremost country venues in Nashville history. Even if the Grand Ole Opry now resides elsewhere this is an absolute must and completes the unbroken circle of country music history

Amazing VIP Tour with back stage access, recording studio & history of the Ryman. Our tour guide Rich was very knowledgeable of the Ryman history and taking us through the beginning until today. We started with a short video before going into the theater. It was very cool because there was a band onstage setting up for a concert the next night and was advised that’s a very rare occurrence for a set up and sound check the day before. Once back stage we saw two dressing rooms along with more historic history. Then on to the recording studio where it’s just like the stars do. Cece made me feel so comfortable with the process and then she emailed the sound track to me. We finished the VIP tour outside with the historic architectural design and work. And the secret interest that stars use to enter the building. The VIP tour is a must do! There’s no better way to get a feel than though someone that knows the importance of Ryman. Thanks so much Rich!

Ryman has so much history. The pre-tour movie is very informative and gives you the detailed history of what the Ryman was used for from the first days to today. It is still considered an attractive venue to play at for all the artists and an honor to play there. The character of the theater seems to be very close to original. Good old wooden pews and all. We wanted to see Tom Jones but when we looked for tickets all it showed was resell tickets for 4 times the original ticket price.

Da wife and I have never been to Nashville before, let alone the Ryman. So we decided to try the Haunted Tour. Yes it was hokey as we expected. But our guide was fun and played into it. This is supposedly the only tour to take you under the stage (hint: dirt, rock, wood supports and a lot of electrical conduit). You can’t overstate the history of the place. It’s a shame it’s almost literally buried under the weight and oppressive sound of the multi-story “honky-tonk” bars on the sides.

I’m a huge Todd Snider fan. He’s a mainly folk artist that lives on the East Side of Nashville. He actually played the Ryman on his 50th birthday. His friend John Prine joined him for an encore of Illegal Smile. I wore Todd’s shirt to commemorate that.

It’s worth a visit!

Guided tour is very worthwhile prior to self guided. Lauren gave us a great backstage tour, could tell she enjoys what she does.

I was so excited to see two shows at the Ryman on our first visit to Nashville. The history of that building gives me goosebumps, and the sound is incredible. I'm sorry we didn't do the tour, but on our next visit I will make sure we do.

Outstanding tour, the film at the beginning was very cool. Also loved the exhibits outside of the auditorium. This should not be missed!

Great experience seeing where country music started. Lots of exhibits to see in regards to who has taken the stage. Tour starts with a short film on the history of the bldg and how it came to be. Self guided, or you can pay a little extra for a tour guide that includes backstage. Great gift shop as well.

My favorite part of the self-guided tour was just seeing the inside of the Ryman...out first time in there! The second part was the video they play you just before going in. I was not aware of most of it's history. We did the self-guided tour, now I wish I had done the guided. We did get a free photo of us at the WSM microphone. One thing I just learned recently, after our visit, is we could have made some kind of recording? Didn't know about that? Too bad we missed it. Oh well, gives a reason to go back. I'd probably do it again...the guided tour next time. There were so many interesting things and "artifacts" to see. Great part of Nashville, Music City, history.

Tour was terrific. We didn't know anything about the Ryman before the tour. What a history! The talk about its great acoustics convinced us to take in a concert. Simply fantastic.

Nice to do once. Doubt I’d ever go back. But if you’re a fan of the old legends (we are) you’ll enjoy it. On the web site for Ryman the tickets are $27. We live an hour and a half away but have family in Franklin so we do go into Nashville and such once a month. We’re more into the parks and falls here but like to do little excursions now and then.

The video presentation was amazing. It was really cool to get to go on stage and get our picture taken. Just experiencing the vibe was worth the trip.

Gorgeous old auditorium, with so much history. We saw Sierra Ferrell with some friends, and those old wood benches and floors just make the place come alive. You could see how much the musicians respected the venue, and it gave the concert are really fun sort of community feel.

It’s a must to visit Ryman Auditorium when visiting Nashville. The video near the entrance gives you a great introduction to the history of the Ryman. The Ryman still has shows, but you can wander around the Auditorium, we watched the the stage being set up for a show that night. It was pretty special standing in such a revered building. There were displays of various artists who have preformed there, We bought our ticket while on the sightseeing trolley and saved 10%.

The historical value of this place is well preserved. We were able to go inside the actual auditorium where the Grand Ole Opry first began. I was with a singing group and we sang some of our songs just for ourselves.

We prepurchased this tour by accident thinking it was the Grand Ole Opry tour location. We tried to cancel too late so we went. It was ok but certainly not worth the price.

The Ryman auditorium tour provides history on Nashville as well as music. We were given three complementary pictures of us on the stage.

Horrible performance by Skeeze! And then 30 minutes for main performance. Total disrespect for the audience! I don’t get why they are so disrespectful!!!!

Great to see the old building. Small show took place. It was great looking around and sitting there where many of famous people had made their names.

We did the self guided tour. There is a lot to see: so many posters from the artists that performed, articles of clothing, guitars, and so much more. It came with a picture of us on stage. We went through at an easy pace and looked at everything.

We came to town to see Amy Grant And Vince Gill do one of their Christmas shows and enjoyed the heck out of it. Once we got the tickets that we wanted (which was tricky) everything was great. The singing, musicianship and acoustics was top notch. Seating in this beautiful historic theater is pew style curved benches with a large balcony above. Enjoy!

I was hesitant to do this tour. I wasn’t familiar with the Ryman, but wow was I in for a treat. I couldn’t recommend it more, especially if you want to see how amazing the Ryman fits into the country music scene in Nashville. You even a picture included in your ticket. So awesome!

Great please to visit, we did the self guided tour. Lots to see, history and a beautiful theater. Would recommend to see when you are in Nashville.

Seemed a bit pricey for what you got, though glad we went. Wish there were more stories from a tour guide.

We had heard about the Ryman and vowed we would go one day to see a show (we did not do a tour). Fantastic sound and site lines and not a bad seat in the house. You're sitting in church pews, so don't expect to be super comfortable, but we were prepared for that.

Beautiful building. The film at the beginning was very informative regarding the history of the building itself. The majority of the exhibits focus on the Grand Old Opry and related musicians. Not a lot of information on the actual building outside of the film, but very beautiful. The self-guided tour allowed us to sit in on a warm up for a show being performed that evening, which was a little treat we didn't expect. A little pricey for what you actually get, but it's Nashville, so that's expected. Worth a visit.

Was in Nashville and had to head to the Ryman Theatre for its history. Not really a huge country music fan but wanted to see where Patsy Cline got her start
Very interesting place

I was unaware of the significance of the Ryman, a beautiful story.
The opening movie is the best, walking around the hallways, sitting in a pew and a surprise photo capped off our visit.

Initially I thought the admission for the self-tour of the Ryman was a bit expensive. However, after looking around, I realized that touring the Ryman was definitely near the top of our Nashville list because of the lasting impression it leaves. The self tour starts off with an 11-minute video. During your tour, you get to stand on the stage where so many famous artists have stood. A photographer takes a couple of snapshots which you pick up with no additional charge in the gift shop. They printed 2-5x7 photographs which both turned out well. There was a lot of memorabilia from past to present artists in cases around the Auditorium. Next time we visit Nashville, I definitely want to see a show at the Ryman to see how it compares with the show we saw at the Grand Ole Opry.

This is an incredible venue. Go see a show here. Hardly a bad seat in the house. So worth it while you are here. I think they also do tours here.

... the Carnegie Hall, I cannot judge, because I was not here for an evening concert, but only for sightseeing as a tourist.

It is ultimately a concert hall still in use, which has a long and eventful history. Originally, it was once a church, built by Thomas Ryman in ca 1892, to provide an adequate backdrop for revivalist preacher Sam Jones to preach.

Nicknamed "Church of Country Music," the Ryman Auditorium hosted the station's "Grand Ole Opry" show from 1943-1974.

After that, the building stood almost 20
Years of breaking and demolition.

Elvis appeared here once in the 1950s; Johnny Cash more often.

Performances to date have included Bruce Springsteen, John Cougar Mellencamp, ZZ Top, Roger Daltrey, Tom Jones, R.E.M and many others.

Whether the entry of nearly $38 is justified is doubtful.

For this there is - as so often in museums in the USA - a video for tuning in, admittedly well done here with a 3D impression. But the fact that you have to squat on beer garden wooden benches without backrest during the performance is just sucking - isn't the money missing for a few chairs with backrests?? Is that the claim to yourself?

Then you can enter the concert hall itself : a wooden amphitheatre, simple coloured Gothic windows and the smell of old wood
create a special atmosphere. During the tour there is a small video about concert setup and show preparations at current events.

Below you can stand briefly on stage and get photographed - the print of the photo is included in the price. But also here a taste: the print is only issued in the shop - and so you have brought people to the shop before and provided for potential further sales.

The absolute must go to spot is the Ryman, the original home of the Grand Old Opry. There are tours available as well as an excellent video of the history of the theatre.

Went to the Grand Ole Opry at night and visited the Ryman the next day. Almost wrote the visit off and glad I did not. So much history there, to not visit there would be missing what the opry is about .I whole heatedly support and suggest a visit to the Ryman.

We recently saw the Happy Together Tour and Louis CK. We love the old groups and to see Little Anthony still performing into his 80's was quite special. Everyone else, the Cowsills, Jay and the Americans, The Vogues, Gary Puckett and the Turtles put on a great show. Mark Vollman of the Turtles was ill and did not appear, he recently passed away.

Louis CK who is one of our favorite comediennes did not disappoint. He had 3 other comics with him, all very good. The only thing odd was "No Photos allowed". The ushers were all walking around with big signs stating, no video, no photos etc. We have never seen that before and have been to The Ryman many, many times.

We like the Ryman, the pews are pretty uncomfortable, but besides that it is a great venue.

We attended a concert and it was worth every penny. Before you go, be sure to read up on the historic significance of the venue, so you can really appreciate it while you’re there.

A Nashville must. You hear so much about it. Interesting story of its origin and evolution. The facility is well staffed and organized. No hassle getting in and around. You're basically touring a music hall with a few exhibits with placards to read. Not too deep and you can get in and out in an hour.

We took the self-guided tour of the Ryman Auditorium in March 2024. It was very interesting as I didn't know much about it. We were there to attend a concert and added the tour for fun. This place is beautiful! While waiting for the opening movie to start there are photos and information on the walls outside the theater. The movie was really well done and informational. We then were able to walk around the auditorium and even found our seats for the show that night. We had our photo taken by the microphone at the edge of the stage and received the photos for no extra charge.

The video at the beginning was so near. Seeing the place where the stars stood is a great experience. It’s a must see when you are in Nashville.

So this was our first visit to the Ryman for an actual concert -- we had done the tour many years ago and enjoyed it. We saw Turnpike Troubadors on Aug 12th. The show was sold out and packed as we expected it would be. What we didn't expect was that the crowd stood up in our section for the entire show. Now we go to MANY concerts in many different sizes and types of venues around the southeast, and we do not have a problem with standing during a whole show. But we did not expect it at the Ryman because there is essentially no room to stand and be able to move at all -- you have to stand almost as a statue. The reason is because the seating is all church pews that obviously don't fold up out of the way when you stand. And these pews are crammed together tighter than any church I've attended. If you take a break and decide to sit for a bit, then you cant' see anything and it is hot and stuffy because again you are packed in and everyone is standing all around you. The floors were so sticky around us that if we tried move our feet a little we had to break them free literally with pretty much each step. I guess they don't have the time or staffing to clean the floors between shows, and there is obviously alot of beer spilled, and it's hot in there, and that is just a bad combination (kinda stinks like musty beer because of that too). Love the history of the Ryman and it is a special place for music history no doubt. But once is enough for us!

A very interesting history, well done self-guided tour, and the auditorium is located just a block off the main drag in the heart of the Nashville scene. We spent about an hour at our own pace. If you've not been before you should take the time to tour Ryman even if you're not a country music fan because the auditorium has been used for many purposes and all sorts of music, lecture, civic and other events that are of interest. Lots of history here.

I was disappointed in the place, I no it is an old building but there wasn’t much to see and the cost was to much for what you see

What an amazing experience! A must-see for everyone! I'm now a big fan of The Brothers Osborne! Get there at least 30 minutes before the show starts or you may miss the beginning. The line to get in is around the block, and that's WITH tickets!

Lovely place! We enjoyed the whole experience from the film, to the props, and the pictures on the stage. We'll done!

Really enjoyed this tour- I usually don’t enjoy the videos before a tour but this one was excellent. Told the history well without being boring. The auditorium itself is beautiful.

Take your time and soak it all in! So much to see. We loved the slow pace that we were able to set for ourselves. The souvenir photo at the end was a nice perk. Since there were 2 of us, we were able to get 2 separate ones together.

We experienced the joy of hearing the orchestra rehearse for their performance that night, which made up for there not being staff in the display areas to add more anecdotal information (as I experienced the first time I came). The video at the start is fantastic!

Loved the history of this auditorium. The building was beautiful and loved to hear that it was built by a believer for the glory of God.

Booked to see Reclas Kelly and supporting artistes. Really good songs and sound. Lovely theatre but! The hooping and a hollorin grounded out the bands, plus when6it took them (sorry Americans) despite the requests to keep seated they jumped up and obscured any view from those behind. Disappointed that the theatre staff did very little. So the concert could have been great for everyone not just a few who got over exited. The Opry was totally the opposite with great entertainment and respectful audience. Avoid the Ryman and go to the Opry.

Make the splurge and get the backstage tour! Our endearing tour guide, Annabelle, shared history, interesting stories and highlighted the contributions of women to this iconic venue. You get to go on stage, snap photos and visit the exhibits of costumes some
Of the greats (Dolly, Taylor, and Cash) and memorabilia. It’s a feel good tour and your learn lots about bluegrass and country music! Also don’t miss the movie-it’s a really cool and immersive and will have you toe tappin’ as you head into the hall. If you take the self guided tour, your access is very limited to a few exhibits and a short movie.

We did the VIP tour. This was a smaller group than usual tours (max 10 people) and we got to see a lot of backstage areas such as the dressing rooms that aren’t part of the regular tour. The guide made it special because she had a lot more information and fun facts than we would’ve gotten from the regular self-guided tour.

We are not country music fans, but we very very much enjoyed this tour, and we recommend it to everyone.

If music (all kinds - just well done) is your love, this tour is for you!
My husband and I made time to do the guided back stage tour. WOW! JT, our guide was FULL of information and definitely loves giving the tours.
We saw the dressing rooms where all the wonderful legendary musicians prepared for their concerts.
We learned how this building was once a tabernacle that was built by someone who previously didn’t even believe in God.
We also learned that Nashville had a red light district and was pretty rowdy!
Original benches and parts of the stage.
When you go in the building you can appreciate the love, care and excitement it has had over the decades.

Ticket included: guided tour back stage access (worth it!), self guided tour, professional photo, Johnny Cash’s bus.

PS we attended- Ledisi R&B -concert the night before… amazing acoustics!

A well orchestrated show and felt as though I was going to be baptized at the end. Would have loved to hear a bit more of Vince Gill classics, mixed with the holiday music. No need to go again

Went to a concert at the Ryman. Left after 20 minutes. Could not tolerate the vibration of the "act." Simply THE WORST acoustics of ANY venue I have ever been in. The Ryman has soured my impression of Nashville even beyond the expense of the honky tonks of Broadway.

This is one of the BEST tours we had in the Nashville area. Learned so much on this self guided tour. There were 10 of us ranging from age 33 to 75 and everyone enjoyed it.

Went with a senior citizen group. Beautiful, well kept and preserved icon of music
history. Self guided tour looking at all the exhibits of costumes, instruments, music, play bills, info. Videos by various stars explaining things. Many levels to check. They have great concerts there. Check the listings if you are in town. I especially loved that they take your picture for free at the infamous microphone on stage and have it ready for you when you visit the gift shop (which is amazing). May not be great for children unless they are music pros.

Great place to visit. So much to see and read about on the self tour. Price of admission includes a photo in front of the stage. Definitely check it out!

An enjoyable tour, with lots of history and a fantastic old restored building, it was great to be able to wonder around and spend time in the auditorium and to stand on stage and have a picture taken that was free….that doesn’t happen very often.
Would highly recommend

While the historical value of the Ryman is such an important part of country music, the tour was just average. I would put this at the bottom of my must see list. Writing this review is difficult because I remember very little about this place other than what the outside looks like. If you have extra time and money, definitely go see it, but if not, there are other attractions that are more memorable.

We go to the Ryman every time we go to Nashville. This week we went to a show Friday night and Saturday night.... Boz Skaggs and Tanya Tucker! Both shows were great. We sat in the balcony which we think is the best location. We will go back!!

Wonderful experience u must do the stage tour it’s so worth it and George the tour guide is fabulous ur brought back in time and u feel the energy of the great musicians who have performed here I’m going back when my family visits me here in nashville

Not Pierce Brosnan, but 34 year old, 6 foot 4 inch tall Vance Joy sang ABBA to us in the 2,200 seat venue Friday night. Many fans stood the whole time, everyone was moving with the beat. We got to meet them afterwards at Robert's Western World next door where they spent their off duty time, mostly talking music (what else) and enjoying the local band until they closed at 2am. Regular celebrities. He even wrote a nice Happy 30th Birthday autograph on a menu for my daughter. Wishing him years of success!

We did the VIP tour and it was totally worth it. Our tour guide, Drake, showed us all of the behind the scenes dressing rooms and production spaces. We were able to take our time and ask a ton of questions and really enjoy this amazing, historic venue.

Beautiful auditorium with rich history; however, had to leave the tour and could not approach the stage. Reeked of weed and just walked out. Notified security and the greeter. Visited on 13 Feb 2025.

Very interesting. Loved the short movie clip that you watch before starting your tour. We did the self-guided tour and it was sufficient for us.

Don’t waste your money. All it is is walking around the auditorium looking at pictures and souvenirs. There is a brief film but not worth almost $80 for two people ( if you buy tickets at the window), much more on-line.
Buy tickets for a show and see the same stuff.

What a great venue for a concert. Parking nearby was easy. Getting into the venue and to our seats was a breeze. The show was amazing. Highly recommend to see your favorite artists in this venue!

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and take in a show there.
I paid for the musical event which “included” a VIP meet and greet and I also purchased 2 – tickets for the Ford Lounge which is listed as a “ VIP setting with food and drink before the show”.
Let me address the visit to the Ryman Auditorium and the Ford Lounge in 2 parts.

The Ryman Auditorium - The Ryman was a beautiful old building rich in musical history.
I love the semi-circle style seating which are benches, and the acoustics and lighting of the show was great
Our entrance into the Ryman only took a few minutes and the crowds moved quickly. There was a great presence of security and Nashville Police on hand to provide a safe and worry free environment.

The Ford Lounge – We were greeted upon entering by Crystal who checked us in and gave us our wristbands. We also received a Ryman poster of the group we were there to see.
The Ford lounge is a rather small area, just a few actual tables to eat/drink from and a few couches to sit on as well. The "VIP" experience in the Ford Lounge is advertised as food, drink, private VIP restrooms and entrance to the auditorium.
The food or lack of it was NOT what I expected for $100 per person.
There were 3 – pans setup on a side table, 1 pan had shredded BBQ pork with a small cup of BBQ sauce on the side, another pan had mashed potatoes and the 3rd/final pan had a mixed salad with a small container of house made dressing. There was a tray with rolls, butter, cookies and brownies.
NO WAY this is worth $100 per person.... smh
There is a bar setup inside this area that was manned by “Matt” who was a great bartender for the 2-Pepsi’s that we had.
My 2- tickets for this event were # 51 and #52 which meant there were 52 tickets for $100 each purchased to eat BBQ pork, salad and mashed potatoes… smh
There WAS NOT $5,200 dollars’ worth of food catered in this event, so where does this money go?
I guess I could understand if it was for those that rather drink and consumed $100 worth of liquor before/during this event, but this was just a poor selection and very limited selection for the price of $100 per person.
My daughter and I had looked forward to this VIP experience but were left VERY disappointed with the food offering and lack of.
The Ryman and Ford Lounge need to A) expand the size of their lounge area and B) offer MORE varieties of food for the price they charge.
We could have eaten a VERY nice dinner at any of the Downtown restaurants in Nashville for less than the $200 we spent for this .

I will be glad to come back to the Ryman for shows but will not return to the Ford Lounge.

Beautiful venue! We were able to take our time and fully enjoy the atmosphere and experience with hardly anyone else in the building. We were able to see a show that evening that enhanced the whole experience. One of our favorite moments in Nashville! A must see! The Mother Church of Country Music!!

We actually took a guided tour of the Roman. Our tour leader was really knowledgeable and knew her stuff! We learned the history and got to see memorabilia from many stars. We also got our picture taken on the stage! Well worth your time and $$.

Tour has a great movie describing the history. When we walked up a lady behind the glass told us to see a guy two seats away from her. They were both very curt and we couldn’t ask a question. He rolled his eyes.

This is an amazing tour if you like music ! So many exibits, stories and items to see ! The waiting rooms where the performers wait in, clothing they wore and going backstage and onstage. Lots of music history and a photo of us on stage to keep.

I came to the Ryman a few years before the Opry moved and had dear memories of that visit with family and friends. When I entered the building almost 50 years later, it brought tears to my eyes. Just like I remembered; so thankful the auditorium had been kept the same! Rich, our tour guide was phenomenal and made the tour even better - enjoyed the stories he shared so much. Ken and all the other staff were so helpful and kind as well. The movie at the beginning was wonderful! Before we left, we sat on the pew in the area where we were years ago and reflected on happy times then and now. Thank you all for all you do to keep this gem alive and well!

We took the unguided tour Which was fine. They have someone taking pictures of you on stage. Free of charge. Pick up your photos in the gift shop on your way out.

Fun and historic and beautiful old theatre.
Really nice to see all the photos of the performers who have played here and the outfits they wore during their concerts.

We very much enjoyed the self guided tour of the Ryman Auditorium starting with the excellent video and including the on-stage photograph. We have been to many places around the world and I struggle to remember any that provide free photos of the experience. The original Auditorium for the Grand Ole Opry provided a great insight to those new to this experience and event.

The guided tour was perfect. Well worth it.This was our first visit to the Ryman, the tour guide explained a lot about the history and the uniqueness of the building. The guided tour is worth the few extra dollars.

Being a senior citizen, the memories came flooding back. What a wonderful experience! Had a great time.

Visited in the afternoon for the film and tour. Well worth it. Then returned in the evening for a concert - again, very enjoyable.. Highly recommend doing the tour before attending a concert so that you fully appreciate the history of the venue.

If you're a Country Music fan then a visit to the 'Mother Church' is a must. The short introductory film at the beginning is very helpful to learn more about this place and then the self guided tour. Plenty of interesting exhibits to see, as well as standing at the microphone on the stage. The acoustics in here must be amazing and would love to go to a concert. One thing to bear in mind if doing so is the amount of leg room on the wooden seats; not a lot, but of course the Ryman was built at a time when the average height of a person was quite a bit less. A wonderful building and a great experience.

What a great venue! I had been to the Ryman for a concert, but didn’t take the tour. The history of the Ryman, it’s growth and decline, and the way the community rallied to save it. Loved seeing the fantastic opening video, the Hatch prints, the gorgeous outfits and items from the celebrities, as well as the auditorium itself! The Mother Church is awesome!

The venue is amazing! The concert with Blackberry Smoke was incredible! The entire staff that we encountered at the Ryman was rude! They directed everyone to their seats and constantly contradicted one another. Even when confronted with the fact that another staff member had just directed us to move in this direction, one staff person stated, “Well, she just misspoke. She was well trained because I trained her.” The disrespectful nature and tone is unbecoming of true Tennesseans. It was a very unwelcoming experience.

This was so amazing place of history!!! Time well spent to hear and see!! To walk on the stage were so many great performers have entertained people over years!!

This was a great history learning tour. We knew more about Grand ole Opry than the Ryman. I recommend doing both tours as the history really starts here at the Ryman. The windows are wonderful! We learned a lot about the early days of music.

We took the VIP and loved it. Two years ago, we were there for the Vince Gill/Amy Grant Christmas Special and took the self-guided tour, so this time, we took the VIP tour and were very impressed. We saw the same concert this year and thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend it if you can get tickets.

Well worth a trip to the Ryman, we enjoyed it so much booked to see the show on Friday "Nitty Gritty Dirt Band". Really interesting. Getting the picture (included in the charge) was brilliant, and a lovely picture too.

The Ryman Auditorium is a MUST SEE if you're in Nashville. Sooooo much history!

Take the GUIDED tour! Worth the little bit extra! We learned so much more than if we had just gone with the self-guided.

A marvelous piece of history. The story of the Ryman is extremely interesting. The tour is a self guided tour with many stations of fascinating history. You walk thru the public parts of the building and end up on stage where your picture is taken. The picture is included in the tour price. That was a surprise!

Don’t waste your money on a self guided tour. Aside from the ten minute movie at the beginning of the tour about the history of the Ryman, you can see everything included in the “tour” if you’re ever there for a show, because you don’t get to see backstage areas on a self guided tour. I thought I would see something I hadn’t seen before when I had been there for a concert but I didn’t. If you want to see the areas not open to the public you need to pay more and get the guided tour.

Intro video was well done. They took a group photo on the stage that was free in the gift shop. Got to roam around freely. Saw some people doing a music recording (that must have been part of some paid tour). Overall meet my expectations.

We attended a concert at the ryman Theatre. We saw Brandon Lake. The venue is fantastic with excellent seating and unbelievable sound quality. The building itself is a historic landmark. It does resemble a church which is the intention.

Disappointing to see that it now costs $30 for a self-guided tour. Our party of 4 decided it wasn’t worth it. We’d seen it for much less several years ago. I guess if you’re a huge Grand Old Oprey fan, it would have more significance. Some very cool concert posters lined the hallways. You can see them all..for free..at the Hatch Show Print shop at the Country Music Hall of Fame building. Just a way to save $30/person and a very cool working print shop that also offers a guided tour and a lot of history and you even get to print a sample poster yo take with you.

We thought the entire experience was great. The movie clip was well done and informative. The 100 year + building is very cool.

Terrific venue. The history is fabulous.
So many talented artist have played here.
Great to visit.
Taking your picture by the stage is a lovely touch.

Buy your ticket at hop on/ off bus much cheaper.

Great video at the beginning. Nice having the free time to see the auditorium. You might want to skip the tour of the Johnny Cash tour bus.

Loved the venue. Really enjoyed the show. (Tracy Lawrence).

Was really overwhelmed to be in such an historic place. Very intimate setting for a concert. Wish I lived close enough to see shows here on a regular basis.

Saw Kid Rock’s comedy show there a few weeks ago. What a gorgeous piece of history! The pews are a little hard to seat in for an entire show, but well worth it to be in such an historic place.

So nice to see a piece of country music history! Good value, especially since it includes a photo for everyone. I wish we sound have seen a show here - very intimate!

Went to the Old Dominion concert Monday night and as sick as I was, I still enjoyed the show. The venue is old and quaint which is what made it fun. I commented a couple of times that I thought the loudness of the concert was just right. It's not a play for gods sake and people that says it's too loud well maybe you should stick to that. It was just enough to make you feel like you were at a concert but you could still talk to the person next to you. And Old Dominion is not by any means a quiet group so I thought it was perfect. Only thing I really despised as there really is no organization on getting in. We stood at the top of the steps but apparently they had a line going off to the side and up the block for quite a ways. So we had to wait for the entire line pretty much until one security guy who was really cool finally just said, go ahead on in. If we would have known that was the setup we would have gotten in line but they had only ONE line to get everyone in so it took quite a bit of time.

Saw a concert here a few months ago, and it was incredibly and dangerously loud. So loud you could not actually “hear” the music or distinguish the lyrics. My ears are still ringing. Wrote to the Ryman directly and they didn’t respond, so I guess they don’t really care. Now I see several other reviewers have had the same experience, and this has been happening for years.

They ran out of audio so we just did the self guided tour. Fun to see and the movie at the beginning was nice to know all the history. I think $30 was a little much to walk around and read things myself.

The Ryman tour was great, it is a self guided tour so I wasn't sure if we missed anything, I sure hope not. It did say on the sign I saw later that night that we may have been able to tour Johnny Cash tour bus, we never saw such a thing so hopefully it wasn't there and we missed it :( They give a couple pictures and didn't have to pay for those ones so that was very nice.

So much history in such a building. You see the auditorium, get a history lesson and can step on stage. Walking distance to Broadway and all the bars.

We went to see Tom Jones and he was wonderful, but Ryman has terrible packed seating. We were like sardines in a can. Hard church pews for seating which are pretty, but not comfortable at all. To make it worse, the crew would not let people in early, as it opened at 6:30PM and it began to downpour at 6:20PM. It was also lightening and there were several people in wheelchairs and some elderly folks that really should have been let into the theater. Everyone was soaked… it wasn’t just sprinkling…it was pouring down and also an electrical storm. The theater is very plain and not decorative at all.

This was such an awesome place to see. I would advise anyone to see it even if you’re not a country music fan. Such history here!

Love learning about the history of the Ryman, the Mother Church of Country Music and the Soul of Nashville. Make sure to watch the short film outlining the history of auditorium and how it got its name. Sit in the seats and imagine what it would have been like back in its glory days listening to Minnie Pearl, Aretha Franklin or George Jones!

The video show was awesome. The self guided tour was more than sufficient. Just a great spot. You can feel how special this space is to the genre. Did this as part of a tour. Spent one hour here and it was sufficient. Would do again. My kids are older (17 and 19) and they really enjoyed it.

The movie you see prior to going into the auditorium is really informative and well presented. It gives you the groundwork for the actual visit to the auditorium. We really enjoyed seeing this icon in person. It doesn’t take a lot of time and so it’s well worth a visit. It is part of the heart and soul of Nashville.

We were so glad we included this, including the backstage tour, during our trip. It's an awesome place! We bought our tickets on site and loved the tour. They let us borrow a wheelchair and use the elevator for my convenience. The tour price included receiving two free pictures of us on stage and a tour of Johnny and June Carter Cash's tour bus. (I could walk into it). Don't miss the Ryman, learn it's history, and go through the museum part too.

The Ryman is truly part of Americana. Thank God, wiser minds came together to restore and preserve this magnificent building.

We took the Self-Guided Tour and appreciated that there were still people available to answer questions.

Impressive!

I thoroughly enjoyed the back stage tour, despite the guide being somewhat timid. So much (musical) history in one place.

I went to the Ryman Auditorium, and I saw Vince Gill play he was amazing if you ever have the opportunity and you're in Nashville this is a must-see venue you will be impressed just like me

We took the guided tour in Match 2024. While I'm not really a country music fan, I LOVED this! The history in this building is so cool. My Dad visited during the glory days of The Grand Ole Opry. We had a great tour guide who told stories, showed us backstage, dressing rooms. They took our photo on the famous stage. The photo was free with our paid tour ticket. After the tour ended, our ticket gave us access to Johnny Cash's tour bus that was parked in the parking lot. Very cool! (We understand it's headed back to Cleveland to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame for the summer). This tour was very enjoyable. 5 stars!

This review is mainly written about the service, staff and the people who make the Ryman everything it is! Our first time here seeing the Randy Travis More Life Tour and we couldn't have been more pleased with the merchandise inside and outside the venue, the staff (including security) who made pass through a breeze, and the personal attention given by everyone wearing a Ryman tag/shirt. They were all courteous, more than helpful, and very organized and took pride in their work and seemed to be always smiling! Thank you for making this a wonderful first time experience! While we did not take the self-guided tour we really felt like a part of something historically special and musically significant!

Ryman auditorium was absolutely amazing. the only thing that would have been better is more bathrooms!

What a fantastic building. So much history, and very well-preserved. Lots of memorabilia on display. Solid intro movie. We appreciated the group photo included in the price. Would love to see a concert there someday.

What a wonderful visit to The Ryman - the Mother Church! We took the tour, which was very informative and interesting. We then attended a concert there. What an experience! When in Nashville, make sure this is on your list of places to see.

Nice venue, wooden floors and seating in curved church pews. Not a lot of leg room for taller people. And there is no separation of the seats- we had a lot of larger people who put the squeeze on us! But it is intimate and all seats seem to have a good view. We were the last row up on the balcony and still enjoyed watching! The music was very loud and drowned out the singing, unless that’s how an aging band wanted it? Some of those higher notes didn’t cut it like it did 60 years ago lol. But both bands were very personable and even joked about their age! Two mixed drinks cost around $50 with a tip- but Nashville is pretty expensive all around. One and done!

What a fabulous tour! Very informative with great videos, displays, and guides who gave topical talks every half hour. It was fun to see the stage hands prepping the stage for that night's performance. Everyone was very helpful and friendly. It was relaxing to be able to go at our own pace. It was a highlight of our time in Nashville.

We visited the Ryman yesterday. You can feel the history as you step inside. What an iconic venue!

We took the guided tour that includes many of the dressing rooms and we got to step onstage. (We also received a free picture of us standing onstage in front of a microphone.) Our tour guide was Dakota and he was excellent. He was friendly, very informative and made the visit so historically interesting.

We also saw a beautifully made film of the history of the building. We wandered around and even sat on those church pews. It was a tour I will long remember.

We visited the gift shop and walked around the outside of the auditorium. It is interesting and worth a stop. Tours are $30, and we opted not do a tour. It was very hot the day we were there. The gift shop was air conditioned. I bought some stickers. The sold harmonicas. Lots of music items. If you love country music, you must stop.

The auditorium has pew style seating. They are solid wood, no padding snd about as comfortable as that sounds. But the real problem is that the Ryman crowds people in way beyond reasonable comfort. Its like a middle seat on a budget airline with two sumo wrestlers on each side and without the benefit of an arm rest. Ladies, expect a lot of full body contact with the gentleman next to you. I literally had to sit side on to the show and the ushers, couldn't give a damn. Clearly with the history of the place, they dont have to work too hard to get people in but you wont be back. . Just do the tour if you must. Don't even think of seeing a show here.

Our visit to the Ryman Auditorium was a highlight of our Nashville trip. We opted for the self-guided tour, which included a souvenir photo (don’t forget to pick it up in the gift shop at the end!). The experience was fantastic—rich in storytelling, beautifully presented, and full of history that gives you goosebumps. Sitting in the original pews, you truly feel the soul of ""The Mother Church."" A deeply moving experience that connects you to the roots of Southern music and culture. Highly recommend!"

What an awesome venue with so much history! We saw Sir Tom Jones, 83 and going strong. He may not swivel the hips as he used to but his voice is still amazing !

We love John Mellencamp, he is fabulous. We got to the Ryman a little before the show, as those pews are not what I want to sit in any longer than necessary.

We were happy to find that he did not have an opening act, I think the show was 7:30. The stage was interesting with mannequins, hanging lights and dark staircases. We thought the show was starting, but NO. They showed a series of very old movie clips to the point that people were starting to boo and get restless, us included! This was after 30 minutes of watching these clips. It might have been OK if it hadn't gone on for 30 minutes. I wish these artists would consider that people just want to see them !!! Opening acts sometimes are not that great either and we all wish they would just get on with the show we went to see. Like Jackson Browne did at The Opry House recently. John Mellencamp was on a Wednesday night.

Finally, out he came. He was wonderful, sounded great and did his hits as well as a new song about the abysmal state of our country. He is the ultimate storyteller and a true treasure to American music.
We were happy we went.

Ryman did not disappoint. So good to learn history and we now need a show! Super fun to get pics on stage. Loved it. The sound quality is unparalleled and we wud def return for a show at the Ryman.

Wonderful experience with my family. We selected the self guided tour but by no means were we left alone! Staff members were very upbeat and informative.

We took the VIP Experience Tour on our visit to the Ryman Auditorium, and would really recommend.
The tour was well paced with a wealth of information and insights about not only the Ryman but also some famous artists that have appeared at the auditorium.
So much important music history in one building! Thank you!

Absolutely loved the Ryman, it feels like such a special place, almost spiritual. Sitting on the wooden pews, listening to a sound check for an awards show was a nice treat.

This self guide tour let us roam, enjoy and absorb the vibes fro this historic site. The video in the beginning was so educational that we just couldn't wait to start. I could have sat there all day and reminisced.

Ryman Auditorium with the backstage guided tour was fantastic and a must do for anyone visiting Nashville! Absolutely loved everything about the tour and the entire Experience!

We regret not taking a guided tour. We walked thru the old tabernacle, but did not realize much of the history.

The self guided tour was entertaining and informative, but not sure it was worth the $70 for a couple. We enjoyed the history lesson of the Ryman and I’d love to see a concert here, but the money paid tempers my enthusiasm.

Having never been to the Ryman we got tickets to see Rodney Atkins. Good show in this historic venue. We did not do a tour but just the posters of all the artists that have performed there is cool. I would recommend sitting in the balcony. We got tickets on the main floor but we weren’t in the front rows. You are under the balcony and there are posts that obstruct your view. Glad we went. I can now say I saw a show at the Ryman.

Saw a sold out house for Ian Munsick. Bucket list item and was fortunate that I knew of Ian. I’m 66, love music, play the guitar and love listening, playing and discussing the latest musicians. Historic!!!
Had tickets in the 2 md row. Incredible. Only problem, the young people need to stand! No worries, I’m 6’2”…. But if we all sat it would have been awesome. Therefore…. No one in the balcony was standing. Not a bad seat in the house. I would save money and sit in the balcony. The floor seats are on flat ground.

A must to understand the American music soul. A nice building and venue where all the world artists in the country world performed.

While this is definitely a bucket list item for music fans, I’m not sure the $30+ price per person for the self guided tour is worth it. We also thought the “ rock n roll hall of fame” aspect was a little over exaggerated and underwhelming. Unless this is in your must-see list, I’d take a photo op out front and spend your money elsewhere.

We went to see the Kid Rock Comedy night at the Ryman auditorium. We purchased tickets at the ticket office on the day and the staff were fantastic, so helpful. The experience was really good - the staff at the bar were friendly, the seating staff were interactive and helpful and overall the auditorium was a great experience

Great venue, the music was clear. There are no bad seats at least on the upper level. Only issue I had was the pew seats were “hard” on my rear end.

We very much enjoyed this self guided tour. Worth the price of admission. So much music history to appreciate and learn. Great way to spend an afternoon while in Nashville.

We had a great time. The displays were awesome and informative. The introductory movie was well done. We went in the morning and it was not crowded

This was a self-directed tour, and relatively quick to get through. The best part was getting your photograph at the end, although the man taking them was anything but pleasant.

Classic venue for all sorts of entertainment. The seating is on hard wood benches. You have been warned.

The guided tour was very informative. This was our first visit to the Ryman, the tour guide explained a lot about the history and the uniqueness of the building. You will learn more about the Ryman on the guided tour but overall it is a bit pricey for what you get.

It was awesome hearing about the history of the Ryman. Walking around and seeing how it looked inside and seeing all the stars that played inside.

We did the guided tour which was 45 minutes with a guide and then time on your own to explore more. Tour was very interesting and our guide was very knowledgeable. Only downside was parking in the garage acrodd the street and being charged $30 for 2.5 hours.

The history there is amazing. Includes two free pictures.So many famous musicians have played there. The seats are like church pews.

the Ryman is such a fascinating building to visit. the history and acts to go through this place is nothing short of amazing. you can tour at your leisure and visit the exhibits as you want. take a little or alot of time to see it all.

The history of country music! The tour was very nice with lots of information and stuff to see! Get your picture taken on the stage where all of the music legends have stood! The gift shop has a wide selection and the prices are great! This is a must stop if you are a country fan or just like history! Check out the concert venue for your stay and catch a show!

We went to the Ryman to see a nearly sold-out Tuesday evening Bluegrass ensemble. This was our first concert at the Ryman, and i'm quite sure it won't be our last! We sat up in the balcony 3 rows back and near the center....great view of the stage. Sound quality was good too. And plenty of ushers to show you the way.

If you're a music enthusiast, going to a concert at the Ryman Auditorium is a must-do at least once in a lifetime. My only complaint is the pew seating. While i get that it's part of the history of the building, they're not very comfortable. I was pretty sore after about an hour. But other than that, i highly recommend seeing a show here.

The history is there - they even have the old pews. If you select an appropriate seat, the sound is great and the energy in the venue cannot be beat. I saw a prefect show there and would return anytime they have an artist of interest to me.

My wife and I took this self-guided tour about 24 years ago, and we took it again recently on family vacation. Happy to report this place hasn't changed a bit and is still preserved 100%. So much rich history about this magical place and the tour now includes a short film to explain the historical significant of this place and many of the famous acts who have performed here. I highly recommend touring this place if you are a country music fan!

You could not help but feel the history! Very enjoyable. The auditorium was amazing and the opening film was very informative.

We went to the Ryman Auditorium at 3:30 to buy tickets for the tour. We were told it would take about an hour to see. There really wasn’t much to see except the old auditorium and when we got to the auditorium , they were setting up for the show that night. They were doing sound tests ( really loud) and most of the area was roped off for the prep work they were doing.
We were told they were sorry but we had to leave at 4:15 - that they were closing for the show. The ticket office was closed and there was no one to explain to us why we had to pay $30 a head for 45 minutes! Disgusted.

Other than being a challenge to get to, the tour itself was great. Loved the history shared. The grandkids didn’t know most of the people or their music. They too appreciated the history though and thought it was cool.

It was wonderful to see this historic building and hear the story. The music displays represent a multitude of genres and it is definitely worth seeing

Didn’t expect it to be so amazing! From the almost 4D video presentation to the natural beauty of this amazingly preserved piece of history…it’s a MUST SEE for anyone heading to Nashville.
They even have a real recording studio inside where you can go in and record yourself singing a song…our son did it and it turned out great!

Went to Ryman for Blue Grass concert. Something completely new and different for us.
Loved the architecture of the auditorium outside and walkway with metal sculptures of musicians.
Security was super tight, metal detectors and bag checks.
The auditorium is vast, with good acoustics. It’s church like setting with pews and hard benches, but very lively. There were raffles and prizes, and the presenters did not lack in character and southern charm.
Most people in the audience were Blue Grass aficionados, but we felt welcome. People joined in and supported the musicians, which was lovely. One of the bands was local favourite, the other group traveled from California.
The music was excellent.
There was a lot of merchandise from performing bands.
Very special and positive experience.

The ultimate for country music devotees, this gorgeous brick exterior and church windows can be admired as you approach it from blocks away. Built in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle it became the venue for the Grand Ole Opry in 1943 and served for 31 years until 1974 when a larger venue was built about 10 miles northeast of town. Though Ryman seats 2,362, the larger one seats 4,400, but seems a little out of place next to a large highway and with a lot less character. It's a surprise that something couldn't have been found or built to keep it downtown Nashville. We enjoyed reading the historical markers around the property and see that to this day it has a very active event schedule. What a great location a 1/2 block off Broadway. A National Historic Property.