Best Local Tour Guides in Nashville

For over 18 years, Franklin on Foot has thrilled guests of all ages on its guided walking tours. Owned by "recovering lawyer" Margie Thessin, the company's tours take customers through the small and endearing town of Franklin, Tennessee, located just south of Nashville. Franklin on Foot prides itself on offering a different tour for every taste, ranging from Food Tours to Ghost Tours to Civil War Tours to Children's Tours. Since 2012, the company has offered tours of Nashville as well as Franklin. Most tours are available year round, on Monday through Saturday by reservation. Franklin on Foot also offers free educational programs as well as an informative blog. The company has been recognized with several awards including TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence for three years in a row.

Franklin Segway Tours offer guided tours of one of the South's best-kept secrets. Guests will enjoy riding a Segway through picturesque Franklin while becoming acquainted with the Historic Downtown area, the surrounding Historic Civil War Battlefield sites, and some of the town's walking trails along the beautiful Harpeth River. First-time users receive Segway training sessions, and the company also offers customers the opportunity to rent a Segway and explore the Franklin area at their own pace. Customers are encouraged to call ahead to make reservations, and comfortable shoes are highly recommended. The company suggests autumn as the optimal time to take a Segway tour and enjoy the beauty of the town's colorful changing leaves.

Hick Chick Tours is a Nashville-based company providing combination sightseeing tours and pub crawls. Guests spend roughly three hours walking through Nashville, learning about the city, and visiting at least four or five "honky tonks" and pubs to enjoy drinks and Nashville's world-famous live music. The company prides itself on entertaining guests through local history, music, and comedy. Tours are offered from Thursday through Sunday, and payment is accepted both online and in person. Hick Chick Tours offers cash discounts and donates a portion of all proceeds to local charities. Reservations are not required, but walk-ups cannot be guaranteed a spot on the tour. Guests are offered discounts at several of the businesses visited on the tour.

For nearly forty years, I'll Take Tennessee has brought Historic Downtown Nashville to life for countless students, teachers, and parents. Led by guide Marilyn Switzer, the company offers a wide array of educational services, including walking tours, "desk-side" tours, and the Nashville City Cemetery Tour. Walking tours are tailored to the needs of individual groups, and can include historical sites such as Fort Nashborough, War Memorial Plaza, and the grounds of the Tennessee State Capitol. Desk-side tours are storytelling sessions provided at school; they last approximately one hour and can consist of a litany of historical topics. Though I'll Take Tennessee primarily serves schools and students, the company is also available to conduct tours for private parties, church groups, and anyone else who wishes to learn more about the Nashville area.

iRide Nashville is a company offering guided Segway tours through Nashville. The company takes guests into the heart of the Music City on tours covering landmarks such as the Country Music Hall of Fame, Fort Nashborough, and the Tennessee State Capitol. For their guests who lack experience with Segways, the company offers training sessions before the tours begin. iRide Nashville allows guests to choose from a broad array of tour options, ranging from the ninety-minute "Music City Snapshot" to the four-hour "All Access Music Pass." Tours are available every day of the week, and seasonal discounts are available during the winter months. iRide Nashville's unique experience has earned them several awards, including the top-rated tour on TripAdvisor's Tours & Activities in Nashville and TripAdvisor's 2015 Bravo Award.

Tommy's Nashville Tours offers guided bus tours of some of the Music City's most well-known attractions. Led by tour guide and comedian Charmin' Tommy Garmon, customers ride in comfort in air-conditioned buses as they visit and learn about downtown Nashville staples such as the Coyote Ugly, the State Capitol, and Ryman Auditorium. Tours also include views of the homes of some of the biggest names in country music, such as Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, and Alan Jackson. Guests can reserve their spot by telephone or email, and the tour bus will pick them up and drop them off at their hotel. Tommy's Nashville Tours boasts hundreds of happy customers, as evidenced by a litany of glowing online reviews and testimonials.