Ryman Auditorium: A Practical Visitor Guide

What to know before you go

Ryman Auditorium is at 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North, Nashville, TN 37219. The building sits between Fourth and Fifth Avenues, a half block off Broadway to the north.

That is the short version a visitor needs: a downtown Nashville address, a block off Broadway, and an entrance on the Fourth Avenue side of the building. You can browse events on SeatCommons to see what is coming up at the venue.

The official pages checked for this guide cover directions and parking, accessibility, food and drink, bag rules and ticket policies. They do not describe the auditorium as indoor or outdoor, so that detail is not confirmed in the sources checked. Seating is on pews: the main floor pews are the original from 1895 and the balcony pews date back to 1897.

Getting to the Ryman

If you are driving, the Ryman's directions say to take I-40, exit at Broadway and go east towards downtown.

Lyft is the Official Rideshare Partner of Ryman Auditorium, according to the venue's directions page. That page also lists a new-rider code, RYMANAUD, for 50% off a first two rides, up to

Entrances, levels and finding your seat

The Ryman entrance is on the Fourth Avenue side of the building.

Inside, seating is split between the Main Floor, with its original 1895 pews, and the balcony, where the pews date to 1897. There are exits on the West, North and East sides of the building on both the Main Floor and the balcony level. On the balcony level, the West and East exits are the nearest exits.

To reach the balcony, the Ryman has one elevator in the lobby. Restrooms are in both the upper and lower lobbies; the upstairs restrooms are available only during concerts and sit adjacent to the concessions counter. An ATM is in the lower lobby, just outside the auditorium doors.

The official pages do not describe numbered gates or section numbering, so how seats are numbered is not confirmed in the sources checked. Your ticket is good only for the event you purchased it for and only for the seat it was issued for.

Food and drink inside

You can grab a drink at one of the fully stocked bars, or visit the concessions in the lobby on each floor of the Ryman for popcorn, candy, pretzels and more. Concessions are listed at the venue address, 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North, Nashville, Tennessee 37219.

Outside food and beverage is on the prohibited items list, and that includes cans, bottles and alcohol. Guests who consume alcoholic beverages are asked to do so in a responsible manner.

There is no coat check at this time.

Accessibility services

Wheelchair accessible seating is available for every public event at the Ryman, on the Main Floor and the Balcony. Patrons buying accessible seating may purchase one accessible seat and one companion seat adjacent to it. Accessible seating is available through AXS and in person at the AXS Box Office.

Ryman Auditorium provides complimentary wheelchairs to guests with special needs when requested during shows, and complimentary wheelchair escorts are available at any entry point. An escort will help you get to your ticketed seat but will not stay with you throughout the show. Guests who arrive with their own wheelchair can use wheelchair storage if they want to move to their ticketed seat.

The lobby has one elevator that accesses the balcony. All restrooms at the Ryman are accessible by wheelchair. Service animals and guide dogs are welcome in Ryman Auditorium.

Qualified sign language interpretation is available with three weeks notice, arranged by filling out the form on the venue's Contact page. If strobe lighting or fog machines are in use, signage will clearly state so in a spot visible before you enter the auditorium. Both the Backstage and Self-Guided Tours are fully wheelchair accessible.

In an evacuation, elevators will be locked for safety and will not operate. Last checked October 28, 2026.

Parking and drop-off

The Ryman does not have a public parking lot. Self-parking for all Ryman events is available directly across the street at Fifth + Broadway, at 179 Rep. John Lewis Way N, Nashville, Tennessee 37219. Parking can be purchased upon entering the garage.

There are several paid parking lots and street meters around the Ryman, and public parking information is available at www.parkitdowntown.com. For drive-in and drive-out parking options around the Ryman, the venue points to Metropolis.

Lyft is the Official Rideshare Partner of Ryman Auditorium. The official pages checked do not name a designated rideshare pickup or drop-off zone, so that detail is not confirmed in the sources checked. Published parking rates are also not confirmed in the sources checked.

Bags, prohibited items and entry rules

Oversized bags and weapons are prohibited, and all guests are subject to a security screening. For more on the bag policy, the venue directs guests to ryman.com/security.

The prohibited items list includes all weapons including pocket knives, oversized bags, backpacks, outside food and beverage, cans, bottles, alcohol, drugs, laser pens, utility tools, masks and facepaint, laptops and tablets, musical instruments (except for use during Make A Record), video cameras, monopods, tripods, audio recording devices (unless special permission is granted or taper tickets are offered to the ticket buyer), selfie sticks, and cameras with telephoto or zoom lenses.

Tennessee state law prohibits smoking at the Ryman, and federal law prohibits ignition of an open flame in a National Historic Landmark. By law, smoking in all areas of the Ryman is prohibited. Guests may smoke outside the building in designated smoking areas. Lighting matches, lighters or any other flammable device inside the building is not permitted and may result in ejection. All smoking and similar paraphernalia, including e-cigarettes, is strictly prohibited.

The camera policy for shows is set by the event promoter or performer. Unless otherwise posted or announced, videotaping or filming of performances is prohibited except by approved media.

Keep your ticket with you at all times; staff may ask to see it, and failure to produce it may result in ejection. Guests who violate the Code of Conduct may be subject to ejection without refund and, where conduct violates the law, to arrest. The official pages checked do not state a re-entry policy, so re-entry is not confirmed in the sources checked.

Door and show times

Door times and start times for individual events are not stated on the venue pages checked for this guide. Check the official event page or the Ryman's show calendar for the times of the performance you are attending; times are not confirmed in the sources checked.

Daytime tours are a separate offering and run Monday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Ryman is closed on Thursday, November 26, Thanksgiving Day.

Check tickets

Browse events on SeatCommons to see what is coming up at Ryman Auditorium.

The venue's own pages list authorized points of purchase: in person at the AXS Box Office at the Ryman or the Opry House Box Office, by calling Ryman/Opry Customer Service at (615) 889-3060, or via the ryman.com calendar. Ryman Auditorium cannot assurance the authenticity of tickets obtained through any other source, and counterfeit or invalid tickets will not be honored; admission is not assured if tickets are invalid.

The Ryman has a no refund, no exchange policy on tickets for all shows and events, and all purchases are non-refundable and cannot be canceled. Tickets are not transferrable, are limited revocable licenses that may be revoked at the sole discretion of Ryman Auditorium, and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. If tickets are lost or stolen, return to your point of purchase for assistance.

Taper tickets must be purchased at the AXS Box Office at the Ryman.

Sources

This guide is based on Ryman Auditorium's official directions and parking, accessibility, places to eat, and frequently asked questions pages.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Ryman Auditorium?

Ryman Auditorium is at 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North, Nashville, TN 37219, between Fourth and Fifth Avenues a half block off Broadway to the north.

Where is the entrance at Ryman Auditorium?

The Ryman entrance is on the Fourth Avenue side of the building.

Is there parking at Ryman Auditorium?

The Ryman does not have a public parking lot. Self-parking for all Ryman events is available directly across the street at Fifth + Broadway, 179 Rep. John Lewis Way N, and parking can be purchased upon entering the garage. There are also paid lots and street meters around the venue.

What can I bring into Ryman Auditorium?

Oversized bags and weapons are prohibited, and all guests are subject to a security screening. Prohibited items include backpacks, outside food and beverage, cans, bottles, alcohol, laptops and tablets, selfie sticks, and cameras with telephoto or zoom lenses. The venue points guests to ryman.com/security for more on the bag policy.

Is Ryman Auditorium accessible for wheelchair users?

Yes. Wheelchair accessible seating is available for every public event on the Main Floor and Balcony, with one companion seat available adjacent to an accessible seat. Complimentary wheelchairs and wheelchair escorts are available during shows, and all restrooms are wheelchair accessible.

Are tickets to Ryman Auditorium refundable or transferable?

The Ryman has a no refund, no exchange policy on tickets for all shows and events, and all purchases are non-refundable. Tickets are not transferrable and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen.