Memphis

Updated 2016

Said to be the Home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Memphis is a music lovers dream.

WHAT TO DO

For any Elvis fan a visit to Graceland is a must. Although extremely touristy (ok, think “tacky” better), the place is filled with Elvis stuff. If you visit the site during during Birth or Death Week (January and August) you have to be prepared to face the huge crowds. But you can also just sit and watch the fans.

When visiting Memphis you have to tour the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum. The museum used to be housed in a guitar factory across the street and if you are patient enough you can spot famous musicians coming to pick up guitars at the factory.

Sun Studio is very legendary rock’n’roll recordings have been made, including Elvis’s and Johnny Cash’s first recordings. Today you can tour the studio.

And if you are a bit tired after all that music and all those fans, you can relax in one of the parks or go to the Zoo. Overton Park also has a golf course in case you feel like playing.

Read: The Kitsch & Cult of Memphis.

GETTING THERE

Memphis International Airport (MEM) is the site of the largest cargo operations at any airport in the world. It’s also the Northwest Airlines’ third largest hub and plenty of other airlines serve the city, which means finding a flight to Memphis is quite easy. The airport is located just 3 miles from downtown Memphis. If you choose to come to the airport by car, you can book your Memphis airport parking online and save some money and time. Also you can book the Memphis airport shuttle to take you from home to the airport and back.

Read: Long Live the King, in Memphis.

WHERE TO STAY

There are plenty of hotels in Memphis and the prices are affordable. The majority of them are located either downtown or mid-town. There’s also a hostel in Memphis where backpackers can sleep for $10 a night and there are also other budget accommodation to choose from.