Memphis, TN

Travel Guide

Memphis which includes a river or creek and a bridge
Pink Palace Museum featuring a house
Memphis Rock \'n\' Soul Museum which includes signage and interior views
Downtown Memphis showing outdoor art
Mason Temple featuring theater scenes and interior views

A mecca for music lovers and the barbecue-obsessed, this soulful Southern city manages to preserve tradition while maintaining a forward-looking spirit.

Memphis is a city forever associated with music. Elvis fans flock here to see the King’s over-the-top mansion, and the recording studio where he, together with the likes of Johnny Cash and B.B. King, all made music. When you’re not paying homage to Memphis’ musical greats, visit the city’s historic sites, explore top-notch museums and feast on succulent smoked meats.

Start your musical pilgrimage at Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley. Examine his record collection, view the animal print and plant-dotted Jungle Room and pay your respects at his grave, which is located on the grounds. Music fans can also peek inside the venerable Sun Studio, where the likes of Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and others all recorded their tracks. Browse the exhibits at the Memphis Rock'n'Soul Museum and Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

Educate yourself on Memphis’s history at a range of key locations. Top of any traveler’s list should be the National Civil Rights Museum, which is housed in the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. Also worth a look is the family-friendly Pink Palace Museum, where exhibits are devoted to history, culture and science. The Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum educates visitors on life in the pre-Civil War South.

For kids, Memphis offers a couple of superb animal-oriented attractions. Bring little ones to see the fountain-splashing ducks at the famous Peabody Hotel and the giant pandas at the Memphis Zoo. For adults hoping to experience the city’s legendary nightlife, take a stroll down the bar and blues club-lined Beale Street in downtown Memphis.

Memphis is located near the Mississippi River on the southwestern border of Tennessee. To get to Memphis, fly into Memphis International Airport. Use the trolley and public buses to navigate Downtown and Midtown. If you plan on exploring outside these neighborhoods, it’s advisable to rent a car. Plan your visit for spring or fall when the weather is warm but has yet to reach the sizzling summer highs of July and August.

Where to stay in Memphis

Beale Street showing nightlife, night scenes and street scenes

Downtown Memphis

4/5(1,782 area reviews)

Home to the Memphis Redbirds and Grizzlies NBA team, this central business district offers entertainment, dining, and attractions like Beale Street, FedExForum, and AutoZone Park. Easily accessible via major highways and public transit options.

Downtown Memphis
Pink Palace Museum featuring a house

East Memphis

4/5(216 area reviews)

East Memphis is beloved for its popular shops. Take some time to explore sights in the area like Theatre Memphis and Memphis Botanic Garden.

East Memphis
Spectacular sunset from the top of Bass Pro.

Uptown

Uptown is known for its ample dining options, and you can make a stop by Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid and Cannon Center for Performing Arts while in the area.

Uptown
Memphis Zoo which includes street scenes

Midtown

4/5(190 area reviews)

Immerse yourself in the arts scene with institutions like Playhouse on the Square and Brooks Museum of Art, or explore Overton Park's Memphis Zoo. Enjoy live music at Cooper-Young's vibrant bars and restaurants, and easily navigate via bike lanes and trolley lines.

Midtown
Graceland showing a house and a pool

Whitehaven

3.5/5(1,285 area reviews)

Graceland mansion, a major tourist attraction, and the renovated David Carnes Park await visitors in this South Memphis neighborhood. Do some shopping at Southland Mall or explore along Elvis Presley Boulevard.

Whitehaven
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Southwind

Travelers come to Southwind for its abundant dining options, and you can see top attractions like Mike Rose Soccer Complex and TPC Southwind while you're in town.

Southwind
Hu. Hotel

Hu. Hotel

3.5 out of 5
79 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN
The price is $135 total per night from Aug 28 to Aug 29
$135 total
per night
Aug 28 - Aug 29
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Memphis. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the bar and the helpful ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,366 reviews)
"An amazing hotel! The staff was fantastic!!!!!!!"

Reviewed on Aug 19, 2025

Hu. Hotel
Big Cypress Lodge

Big Cypress Lodge

5 out of 5
1 Bass Pro Drive, Memphis, TN
The price is $270 total per night from Sep 7 to Sep 8
$270 total
per night
Sep 7 - Sep 8
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Memphis. Enjoy 2 restaurants, private hot tubs, and 3 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the restaurant and the bar in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,610 reviews)
"This was an amazing property. I will definitely come back. I ate at the restaurant at the top. It was great. This will definitely be a stop on my next road trip."

Reviewed on Aug 21, 2025

Big Cypress Lodge
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Memphis Airport Graceland

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Memphis Airport Graceland

3 out of 5
2979 Millbranch Road, Memphis, TN
The price is $83 total per night from Aug 28 to Aug 29
$83 total
per night
Aug 28 - Aug 29
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Memphis. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the convenient ...
7.4/10 Good! (2,099 reviews)
"My stay was positive. My room was clean and comfortable and I greatly appreciated the transportation to and from the Memphis airport that was available."

Reviewed on Aug 18, 2025

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Memphis Airport Graceland
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Rambler

The Rambler

4 out of 5
400 S Main St, Memphis, TN
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Memphis. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and an in-room coffeemaker. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
9/10 Wonderful! (481 reviews)
"Very comfortable and spacious area. Beds were very comfortable. Quiet and restful. Nice pool/hot tub area. Easy check in and communication via text was great! Enjoyed my stay. Will definitely come again. Hidden oasis in a concrete jungle."

Reviewed on Aug 17, 2025

The Rambler
stayAPT Suites Memphis-Cordova-Wolfchase

stayAPT Suites Memphis-Cordova-Wolfchase

4 out of 5
1667 Chickering Ln, 75, Cordova, TN
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly aparthotel in Cordova. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Bellevue Baptist Church ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (27 reviews)
"Discreet Location"

Reviewed on Aug 17, 2025

stayAPT Suites Memphis-Cordova-Wolfchase
The Stallion

The Stallion

4 out of 5
436 S Front St, Memphis, TN
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Memphis. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Beale Street and National Civil Rights ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (89 reviews)
"We had an amazing time in Memphis - accommodations here were clean, quiet, and spacious. Great location! We walked so many places - if you come to Memphis sat here!"

Reviewed on Aug 18, 2025

The Stallion
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Getting around Memphis

If, like many others, you’re visiting Memphis on a musical pilgrimage, the Sun Studio Shuttle offers a free and convenient way to get between three of the city’s best-loved attractions: Sun Studio, the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum and Graceland, the legendary home of Elvis Presley. Much of downtown is walkable. Memphis is also great for cycling; pick up bikes at stations across the city. Visit the Memphis Area Transport Authority Opens in a new window website.Browse Memphis rental cars.

Best time to visit

With hot, humid summers and cold, wet winters, the weather in Memphis can be unforgiving, and you’ll find things much more manageable if you visit in the spring or fall. These times are also cheaper, outside the peak school summer vacation, and there are some great festivals. The annual Memphis in May International Festival, for example, celebrates blues, barbecue and all things Memphis.

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