Memphis Travel Guide

Memphis is the birthplace of American music. Elvis, Johnny Cash and Howlin' Wolf recorded at Sun Studio, and blues, soul and rock and roll all have deep roots here. The city sits on the Mississippi River with a complicated history and a growing food scene.

Updated · On BootsnAll since 2006 · History

Overview and Things to Consider

Music, civil rights history and food are what Memphis is about. Beale Street, the famous entertainment district, is touristy but still central to the city. Downtown is being revitalized. The South Memphis neighborhoods are local and worth exploring.

The Mississippi River defines the city. Graceland, Elvis Presley's mansion, is the most visited private residence in the country and a necessary pilgrimage for many. The National Civil Rights Museum is powerful and important. The food scene reflects Memphis's multicultural history.

Getting There and Around

Memphis International Airport (MEM) serves the city. Downtown is walkable for main attractions. Beale Street is pedestrian-focused and easily explored on foot. Graceland is south of downtown and requires rideshare or car. Public transit exists but is limited.

A rental car helps for exploring neighborhoods and the broader city. Rideshare works well for downtown and specific attractions. The city sprawls but is not overwhelming.

What's Changed Since 2016

Downtown Memphis has been revitalized, with new restaurants and entertainment venues. Neighborhoods like Cooper-Young have become trendy, and investment in the waterfront and riverfront keeps coming.

Memphis has gone from a food backwater to a food destination, with restaurants and chefs worth seeking out. There are more live music venues than there were. The civil rights story is told more clearly now. Some crime has decreased with development.

Ideas to Consider for Your Visit

Graceland is a must for Elvis fans. The National Civil Rights Museum is profound and shouldn't be skipped. Beale Street has live music every night. Sun Studio, where Elvis, Johnny Cash and Howlin' Wolf recorded, is open to visitors. The Mississippi River waterfront is being developed with parks and attractions.

Eat barbecue and soul food. Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous is famous for dry-rub ribs. Explore the Stax Museum of Soul. Walk Beale Street at night for live music. Visit the Cooper-Young neighborhood for local shops and restaurants. The Peabody Memphis Hotel with its famous ducks is downtown.

Realities to Be Aware Of

Memphis has real crime issues - downtown and main tourist areas are fine, but neighborhoods can be unsafe. Ask locals about safety in specific areas. Summer heat is serious - July and August regularly exceed 90 degrees with high humidity.

Beale Street is touristy and expensive. Some blocks feel dodgy. Infrastructure issues exist in some neighborhoods. Economic inequality is visible. The city is still recovering from decades of decline and development isn't equal everywhere.

If Memphis Is Part of a Longer Trip

Memphis works well as a road trip stop: Nashville is 3.5 hours east and Little Rock 2.5 hours south. Graceland means more if you're making a bigger Memphis trip. The Mississippi Delta region is worth exploring too.

A typical music-focused trip might include Nashville and Memphis as combined destinations. Plan 2-3 days in Memphis.

Yearly Things to Consider

Spring (April-May) is pleasant with temperatures in the 70s. Summer (June-August) is hot and humid, regularly 90+ degrees. Autumn (September-November) is comfortable. Winter (December-February) is mild, rarely freezing.

Spring and fall are ideal for visiting. Summer is doable but hot. Winter is quiet. Even as a well-known destination, Memphis is never overwhelmingly crowded.

Ideas for Itineraries

Two Days in Memphis

Day one: Arrive, Graceland tour, barbecue dinner, Beale Street live music. Day two: National Civil Rights Museum, Sun Studio, local restaurants, evening live music, departure.

Four Days: Music and History

Day one: Graceland, barbecue dinner, Beale Street. Day two: National Civil Rights Museum, Sun Studio, neighborhood exploration like Cooper-Young. Day three: Stax Museum, riverfront walk, local restaurants. Day four: Any missed attractions, final live music, departure.

Five Days: Memphis and Nashville

Days 1-2: Memphis - Graceland, Civil Rights Museum, Beale Street. Days 3-5: Drive to Nashville for country music, the Ryman and the Broadway honky-tonks.

Three Days: Deep Music Focus

Day one: Graceland, Sun Studio, introduction to live music venues. Day two: Stax Museum, additional live music, barbecue crawl. Day three: Civil Rights Museum morning, remaining venues, final dinner.

FAQ

If you care about Elvis or music history, yes. It's the most visited private residence in the US. Even non-fans find the production and detail interesting.

Downtown and main attractions are fine. Avoid certain neighborhoods, especially at night. Ask locals for advice. The usual city precautions apply.

Barbecue first: Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous and Central BBQ, among others. The soul food is good too, and the wider food scene has grown up.

Downtown for walkability and nightlife, Cooper-Young for local feel, midtown for balance.

2-3 days hits the main sights. 4-5 days lets you explore neighborhoods and absorb the music culture.

Yes, especially on Beale Street. Blues, rock, and soul happen somewhere in the city every evening.

Update history (5)▸

  1. · Rewrite

    Edited for readability and the BootsnAll voice: generic phrasing cut in 10 passages, no facts changed

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    Updated for modern frameworks, with content updates and changes

  4. · Contributors

    1 member blog post from 1 blogger

    • 2006: 1 post from 1 traveler on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)

  5. · Contributors

    Chris Heidrich, BootsnAll co-founder, has contributed to this guide since 1999, including dispatches from BootsnAll and AirTreks travelers