Home of the blues, soul, Elvis and barbecue
Memphis sits on a bluff above the Mississippi River in southwest Tennessee and is one of the most important music cities in the world. Visitors come for Graceland, Sun Studio, Stax, Beale Street's blues clubs and the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. Its smoky dry-rub barbecue is legendary. It suits music lovers, history buffs and food travellers.
Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.
Elvis Presley's mansion, with tours of the house, his cars, costumes and private jets in a large entertainment complex. The top sight in Memphis.
2026 tours run from $85 for the Elvis Experience to $260 for VIP options.
Built around the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was killed, it traces the US civil rights movement.
2026 adult admission is $25.
A street of blues clubs, bars and neon signs, the heart of Memphis nightlife.
Free to walk; some clubs charge cover.
The small studio where Elvis, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis first recorded, still a working studio.
2026 general admission is $20.
Rebuilt on the site of Stax Records, telling the story of soul music.
2026 adult admission is $20.
A large zoo in Overton Park with Egyptian-themed architecture.
Check the official site for current prices.
A daily tradition where ducks march to the lobby fountain of the grand Peabody hotel.
Check the official site for current prices.
A giant outdoors store inside a 32-storey pyramid with a lookout at the top.
Check the official site for current prices.
A Smithsonian-developed museum on how rock and soul grew from Delta music.
2026 adult admission is $16.
One of the largest urban parks in the US, with lakes, trails and bison.
Free entry.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.
Choose how many days you have.
Day one downtown, day two Graceland, Sun Studio and Stax, day three Rock 'n' Soul, the zoo and Shelby Farms.
Delta blues heritage and juke joints.
78 mi · Car, about 1h30
Mississippi River museum and trails.
37 mi · Car, about 45 minutes
Elvis's birthplace and a small museum.
93 mi · Drive, about 1h45 each way
A literary college town linked with William Faulkner.
78 mi · Drive, about 1h30 each way
Best: April to May and September to October. Warm but not sweltering, with big spring festivals.
Daily high and average, by month
Typical inches per month
Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.
May
A month-long festival including the barbecue cooking contest.
August
Fans gather around the anniversary of Elvis's death on August 16.
Nov 19 to Dec 23, 2026
Holiday decorations on the mansion tour, per the Memphis tourism site.
October 9 to 11, 2026
A recent jazz event listed by Memphis tourism, with dates varying by year.
Based on UK FCDO advice for the USA, which says violent crime rarely affects tourists; Memphis has high crime in some areas, so stick to busy places, use rideshare at night and keep valuables out of cars.
Downtown, Beale Street and South Main are walkable, but Graceland and Stax need a ride.
MATA buses and the Main Street trolley serve downtown; most visitors use rideshare.
The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.
Best for: first-timers, music fans
Hotels near Beale Street, the Peabody and the river.
Best for: couples, art lovers
Arts district by the Civil Rights Museum.
Best for: food lovers, budget
Restaurants and bars near Overton Park and the zoo.
Best for: Elvis fans
Hotels near the mansion.
Best for: food, couples, budget
Neighborhood bars, cafes and shops away from tourist crowds.
| Main airport | Memphis International Airport (MEM), 10 mi from the center |
| To the center | Taxi or rideshare is easiest; rental cars are also available. |
| Around town | Walk downtown and along South Main, and use rideshare or a car for Graceland, Stax and Sun Studio. |
| Ride apps | Uber, Lyft |
Ribs coated with spices rather than sauce.
Often topped with coleslaw.
A local obsession.
A Delta classic.
A Delta tradition that is part of the local food story.
Elvis's famous snack, sold in some diners.
| Plugs | Type A and B, 120 V, 60 Hz |
| Tap water | Safe to drink |
| Tipping | Tip 18 to 20 percent at restaurants and tip musicians if a jar is out. |
| Payments | Cards are common; carry some cash for club covers and tips. |
| Etiquette | Southern courtesy goes a long way. Be respectful at the Lorraine Motel. |
Memphis was founded in 1819 and grew rich as a cotton market built on the labour of enslaved people. Black musicians shaped the blues on Beale Street in the early twentieth century. In the 1950s Sun Studio recorded Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and others, and Stax later defined Southern soul. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in 1968 while supporting striking sanitation workers; the motel is now the National Civil Rights Museum.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.