Booking choice: The sunset or night flight, from $250 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
You can fly the downtown loop in daylight, at golden hour or after dark. Each gives you a different city: detail by day, colour at sunset and sparkle at night.
The Sunset, Evening or Night Helicopter Tour is built for the last two, and the downtown tour also runs evening slots on many days.
The quick answer
Book a slot 20 to 30 minutes before sunset to get the golden light and then the city switching on. Sunset in Nashville is around 4:35 PM in mid-December, 7:20 PM in mid-April, just after 8 PM in late June and about 6:35 PM in late September. The dedicated sunset or night flight is 20 to 25 minutes and private, from $250 per person.
Is a Nashville helicopter tour better at night?
For atmosphere, yes: the lit skyline, Broadway's neon and the bridges are what most night reviewers rave about. For spotting individual buildings, daytime is better.
Guests on night flights describe 'Nashville's sparkling city at night' and call it romantic; several recommend 'going at sunset into the night time' to get both.
Want the lights? Choose an evening, sunset or night slot on the private flight.
Check dates for the sunset or night flightWhat time is sunset in Nashville?
Between about 4:30 PM in December and just after 8 PM in late June; Nashville is on Central Time.
| Date | Approximate sunset | Book a slot around |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-January | 4:55 PM | 4:25 PM |
| Mid-April | 7:20 PM | 6:50 PM |
| Late June | 8:05 PM | 7:35 PM |
| Early August | 7:55 PM | 7:25 PM |
| Late September | 6:35 PM | 6:05 PM |
| Mid-December | 4:35 PM | 4:05 PM |
Should you book the sunset slot exactly at sunset?
No, book 20 to 30 minutes earlier: you want to be in the air while the sun is still up.
A couple of sunset reviews mention flights running 30 to 40 minutes behind schedule, which meant missing the sun. Arriving 15 minutes early helps, and so does a slot with a margin. If you miss the colour, you still get the city lights.
Sunset flight or downtown tour in the evening?
The sunset flight gives you 20 to 25 private minutes; the downtown tour gives you 12 to 15 minutes for $90 less.
Several downtown tour reviews describe night flights too, so check the time slots on both listings for your date. If the occasion matters, the extra minutes of the sunset or night flight are worth it; if the budget matters, an evening slot on the downtown tour gets you most of the view.
On a budget? An evening slot on the downtown tour still catches the lights.
Explore the downtown helicopter tourWhat do you see from the air after dark?
Lower Broadway's neon, the lit Batman Building, the bridges over the Cumberland, Nissan Stadium and, on event nights, the stadium lights.
One guest noticed a concert under way at the stadium; another saw the Christmas lights still up at New Year. See Nashville from the air for the landmarks by day.
How do you take good photos from a helicopter at night?
Turn the flash off, press the lens against the window and let the phone's night mode do the work.
- Flash off: it only lights up the window
- Lens close to the glass to kill reflections
- Dark clothing so you do not reflect in the window
- A wrist strap on your phone
- Film a short video rather than dozens of stills
Is it cold or bumpy at night?
The cabin is enclosed, and evening air is often calmer than a hot afternoon.
Reviewers describe the flights as smooth, and pilots adjust turns to passengers' comfort. Summer afternoons can bring thunderstorms, so evening slots tend to be steadier; the pilot has the final say on weather.
Special occasion coming up? Check the sunset slots for your date.
Check dates for the sunset or night flightIs there a Christmas lights helicopter tour?
There have been seasonal holiday-lights flights in Nashville, but none was bookable on Viator when we checked in September 2026.
In December, any evening slot on the sunset or night flight shows the city's holiday lights, and sunset is before 5 PM, so night flights start early.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Nashville night helicopter tour?
The sunset, evening or night flight is 20 to 25 minutes in the air, private for your party.
Can I see the sunset and the city lights on one flight?
Yes, if you book a slot that starts a little before sunset: you finish as the lights come on.
What is the best month for a sunset flight?
Spring and autumn give comfortable evenings and early sunsets; summer sunsets are after 8 PM, with more storm risk in the afternoon.
Ready to book
Choose your flight
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Sunset, Evening or Night Helicopter Tour
- 20 to 25 minutes in the air (listed duration)
- Private: only your party (1 to 3 passengers)
- Choose an evening, sunset or night time slot
Downtown Nashville Helicopter Tour
- 12 to 15 minutes in the air, about 30 minutes in all with the briefing and walk to the helicopter
- Route over Broadway, the Ryman, Nissan Stadium, the Capitol, the Parthenon and Vanderbilt
- Pilot commentary through headsets
