Top Things To Do In Knoxville

Knoxville is a city in the eastern part of Tennessee, and it is full of fun attractions for visitors of all ages. The city is home to the University of Tennessee, which has about 27,000 students. The university is walking distance from downtown and next to the popular World’s Fair Park. There are plenty of options for shopping in the area, as well as sports teams to cheer on. Keep reading to find the best things to do in Knoxville.

Rocky Top Mountain Coaster Admission Ticket in Pigeon Forge
Rocky Top Mountain Coaster Admission Ticket in Pigeon Forge
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4.5
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493 ratings
$18
Rocky Top Mountain Coaster Admission Ticket in Pigeon Forge
Top Rated Wine and Shine Walking Tour
Top Rated Wine and Shine Walking Tour
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4.8
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394 ratings
$48
Top Rated Wine and Shine Walking Tour
Basic Party Package for Up to 10 at Sky Zone Knoxville (Up to 9% Off).
Up to 9% Off Basic Party Package at Sky Zone Knoxville
11284 Threadstone Lane, Knoxville13.7 mi
4.7
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25,278 ratings
$270 $245
9% discount_off
Basic Party Package for Up to 10 People
Adult Admission Tickets for Two or Four to Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (Up to 50% Off)
Up to 50% Off Admission to Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
700 South Hall of Fame Drive, Knoxville0.6 mi
4.8
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215 ratings
$15.90 $8.50
47% discount_off
Adult Admission Tickets for Two
Up to 28% Off on Painting Lesson at Mighty Mud
Up to 28% Off on Painting Lesson at Mighty Mud
127 Jennings Ave, Knoxville1.1 mi
4.8
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242 ratings
$55 $39.60
28% discount_off
One Raku firing for two
Two Private and Two, or Four Group Ballroom Dance Classes for One, or Two at Go Dance (Up to 93% Off)
Up to 93% Off Ballroom Dance Classes at Go Dance
1705 Schaeffer Rd, Knoxville12.7 mi
4.3
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24 ratings
$334 $25
93% discount_off
Two Private and Two Group Ballroom Dance Classes for One or Two
Up to 60% Off on SCUBA at Ski Scuba Center
Up to 60% Off on SCUBA at Ski Scuba Center
2543 Sutherland Avenue, Knoxville2.1 mi
4.9
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108 ratings
$60 $33
45% discount_off
Introductory Scuba Class For One Person
Up to 36% Off on Martial Arts Training for Kids at Tiger-Rock Martial Arts of West Knoxville
Martial Arts Training at Tiger-Rock Martial Arts of West Knoxville
9111 Executive Park Drive, Knoxville9.7 mi
5.0
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14 ratings
$39 $25
36% discount_off
Tiger Rock Martial Arts of Knoxville 2 Week Trial Program
Up to 50% Off on Kids Dance Classes at INSPIRATIONS DANCE & GYMNASTICS
Up to 50% Off on Kids Dance Classes at INSPIRATIONS DANCE & GYMNASTICS
10541 Kingston Pike, Knoxville12.8 mi
$1 $0.50
50% discount_off
Free trial class
160+ bought

Visiting Historic Market Square is one of the best things to do in Knoxville. Located in the center of downtown, this square is surrounded by restaurants and shops and it often attracts street performers in the warm weather. World’s Fair Park is another popular destination. The park was the site of the 1982 World’s Fair, and it includes fountains for kids to play in as well as an observation deck.

The best things to do near Knoxville include:

  • Exploring Old City
  • Shopping in Gay Street
  • Walking through the University of Tennessee campus
  • Dining at the Knoxville Farmers’ Market
  • Touring the Knoxville Zoo

Events in KnoxvilleView All

Rocky Top Mountain Coaster Admission Ticket in Pigeon Forge
Rocky Top Mountain Coaster Admission Ticket in Pigeon Forge
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4.5
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493 ratings
$18
Rocky Top Mountain Coaster Admission Ticket in Pigeon Forge
Adult Admission Tickets for Two or Four to Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (Up to 50% Off)
Up to 50% Off Admission to Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
700 South Hall of Fame Drive, Knoxville0.6 mi
4.8
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215 ratings
$15.90 $8.50
47% discount_off
Adult Admission Tickets for Two
$26 for Two Tickets for Alpine Coaster Ride at Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster ($36 Value)
28% Off Ride Admission to Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster
867 Wears Valley Road, Pigeon Forge21.6 mi
4.9
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21,116 ratings
$36 $26
28% discount_off
Two Tickets for Alpine Coaster Ride: Must present at ticket window first, to redeem your ride!
Admission for 1 or 2 Adults, or Family Pass for 2 Adults and 2 Kids to Gatlinburg Space Needle (Up to 23% Off)
Up to 23% Off Admission to Gatlinburg Space Needle
115 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg28.5 mi
4.6
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3,593 ratings
$31.90 $24.95
22% discount_off
One General-Admission Ticket for One Adult
Lumberjack Feud Show or Adventure Park Tickets at Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud (Up to 33% Off)
Up to 33% Off Adventure Park at Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud
2530 Parkway, Pigeon Forge22.0 mi
4.7
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1,472 ratings
$20.12 $14
30% discount_off
Single-Day Lumberjack Feud-Show Child Ticket
Save Now. Single- or Two-Day Admission to Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay (Up to 27% Off)
Admission to Kentucky Kingdom & Hurricane Bay (Up to 27% Off)
937 Phillips Lane, Louisville
4.6
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568 ratings
$54.99 $39.99
27% discount_off
Single-Day Admission
SeaWorld Orlando Admission with Dining Option, or 2, 3 or Unlimited SeaWorld Park Visits (Up to 50% Off)
Up to 50% Off Admission to SeaWorld Orlando
7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando
4.7
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1,507 ratings
$132.99 $67.99
49% discount_off
SeaWorld Orlando Single Weekday Admission Ticket: Valid 365 days from purchase
TopJump Trampoline & Extreme Arena - One Hour Arena Time
TopJump Trampoline & Extreme Arena - One Hour Arena Time
3735 Parkway, Pigeon Forge24.3 mi
3.8
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369 ratings
$13.71
TopJump Trampoline & Extreme Arena - One Hour Arena Time
Experience the World from a New Perspective at One World Observatory - Your Iconic Landmark Destination!
The City from Above: One World Observatory's Spectacular Skyline Views
285 Fulton Street, New York
4.7
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7,450 ratings
$48 $33
31% discount_off
Standard Admission Experience for One Adult (Ages 13–64)

Knoxville has several tourist attractions to hit when visiting the city. One place is the Knoxville Zoo, which is home to several red pandas. To learn more about the city, visit the Museum of East Tennessee History. As for festivals, make sure to plan a trip during the annual Dogwood Arts Festival. This festival involves more than 60 miles of walking trails lined with dogwood trees, as well as outdoor concerts and art exhibits.

Popular attractions near Knoxville include:

  • Visiting the Beck Cultural Exchange Center
  • Celebrating Labor Day at the Boomsday Festival
  • Touring the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
  • Walking through the historic Blount Mansion
  • Learning about history among the gardens at James White’s Fort

Knoxville has many fun things to do during the day. Start with a walk through World’s Fair Park, as it was recently renovated to include beautiful walkways and landscaping. End the day with an action-packed game at the University of Tennessee.

Exciting activities near Knoxville include:

  • Watching a Lady Vols basketball game
  • Walking through the University of Tennessee Gardens
  • Shopping along Gay Street
  • Grabbing a slice at the Tomato Head
  • Eating Brazilian cuts of meat at Brazeiros Churrascaria

Knoxville gets lively at night due to its college population. As for things to do tonight, head to Old City. Barley’s is a popular spot, as it has 48 beers on tap and concerts on the weekends. Another good option is Fort Sanders Yacht Club, which has a series of arcade games such as Street Fighter and Donkey Kong. The Tennessee Theatre is another vibrant spot as it features touring acts such as John Legend and David Sedaris.

Nighttime activities near Knoxville include:

  • Listening to music at Baker Peters Jazz Club
  • Dinner at Cru Bistro and Wine Bar
  • Dancing at Sassy Ann’s
  • Attending the Knoxville Symphony
  • Catching live music or comedy at Scruffy City Hall

Families will find plenty of things to do with kids in Knoxville. The Knoxville Zoo is a great place to start, as it covers 53-acres and has about 800 animals. There’s also the Muse, which is a science museum that has several hands-on activities for kids.

Family-Friendly things to do near Knoxville include:

  • Playing paintball and mini-golf at Sir Goony’s Family Fun Center
  • Exploring Jo’s Grove at Ijams Nature Center
  • Riding the Three Rivers Rambler Steam Engine
  • Watching the Knoxville Holstons play vintage baseball
  • Springing upward on the trampolines at JumpJam Trampoline Park

Visitors will find plenty of indoor activities in Knoxville. The art museum is a great choice, as well as the Frank H. McClung Museum. Artsy types will enjoy Painting with a Twist or throwing pottery at Mighty Mud.

Knoxville things to do indoors include:

  • Touring art galleries on First Fridays
  • Going ice skating
  • Rock climbing indoors at Onsight
  • Taking a letterpress class at Striped Light
  • Trying a class at Blue Ridge Yoga

Knoxville has many fun outdoor activities. Other than the parks in the city, there’s hiking in the Smoky Mountains and at House Mountain. People can rent jet skis in downtown Knoxville or rent a bike and travel through the many greenways.

Active things to see in Knoxville include:

  • Touring the Victorian homes in the Fort Sanders neighborhood
  • Walking through Volunteer Landing
  • Viewing the University of Tennessee Gardens
  • Ziplining at Navitat Canopy Adventure
  • Fishing for bass at the Tennessee River