Things to Do in Memphis: Music, Food, History and Local Favorites
Memphis has a personality that is hard to confuse with anywhere else. Set beside the Mississippi River in southwest Tennessee, the city blends blues, soul, rock ’n’ roll, Southern food, civil rights history, and neighborhood culture into one memorable trip. If you are searching for the best things to do in Memphis, you can fill several days with famous landmarks, powerful museums, live music, outdoor spaces, and meals that are worth planning around.
Memphis works especially well for travelers who prefer cities with a strong sense of place. You can spend the morning learning about American history, eat barbecue for lunch, tour a legendary recording studio in the afternoon, and hear live blues after dark.
Here is how to experience Memphis without turning your vacation into a rushed checklist.
Best Things to Do in Memphis for a First Visit
A first trip should combine the city’s major attractions with enough free time to enjoy its neighborhoods. Although Graceland often receives the most attention, Memphis offers much more than its connection to Elvis Presley.
Walk Along Beale Street
Beale Street is one of the best-known entertainment districts in Memphis. Its connection to blues history makes it an obvious starting point for music fans, while its restaurants, signs, clubs, and nightlife give visitors plenty to explore.
During the daytime, the street tends to feel easier for sightseeing and photography. Later, the atmosphere becomes livelier as music venues and bars fill up.
You do not need to spend the entire evening here. Instead, walk the district, listen for a venue that appeals to you, and make the night your own.
Travelers who enjoy building trips around distinctive American cities may also find things to do in Philly useful when planning a future city break with a very different mix of food, culture, and history.
Visit Graceland
For Elvis Presley fans, Graceland is one of the essential things to do in Memphis Tennessee. The attraction gives visitors a closer look at Elvis’s home, career, personal life, and lasting influence on popular music.
Allow enough time for the visit rather than squeezing it between several other attractions. Depending on the ticket option you choose, the experience can involve more than simply touring the mansion.
Even travelers who are only casual Elvis fans may appreciate Graceland as a piece of American music history.
Tour Sun Studio
Sun Studio is closely associated with the early careers of artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins. Consequently, it has become a favorite stop for travelers interested in how Memphis influenced modern music.
The studio is relatively compact, so the experience feels different from visiting a large museum. Guided storytelling helps bring its history to life, while original surroundings make the visit particularly memorable for music fans.
Because tour availability can vary, checking current schedules before your trip is sensible.
Explore Memphis Beyond Its Music
Music may bring many people to the city, yet some of the most meaningful things to do in Memphis TN have little to do with concerts.
National Civil Rights Museum
The National Civil Rights Museum is located at the historic Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.
The museum explores the history of the American civil rights movement and places major events within a broader historical context. As a result, it deserves time and attention rather than a quick stop between attractions.
Plan a quieter part of your day around the visit. The subject matter can be emotionally heavy, so scheduling a relaxed meal or river walk afterward may create a more comfortable pace.
Walk Along the Mississippi River
Memphis sits on one of the world’s most famous rivers, yet travelers sometimes focus so heavily on music attractions that they forget the waterfront.
A riverfront walk offers a slower side of the city. Depending on your itinerary, you can visit riverfront parks, enjoy skyline views, watch boats, or simply take a break from museums.
Sunset can be especially pleasant. Meanwhile, travelers visiting during warmer months may prefer morning or evening walks rather than the hottest part of the afternoon.
See the Peabody Ducks
One of Memphis’s quirkiest traditions takes place at The Peabody Memphis, where the hotel’s famous ducks make scheduled appearances.
The tradition has become a popular attraction, particularly for families and first-time visitors. Since schedules and viewing arrangements can change, check the hotel’s current information before planning your day around it.
It is also a useful reminder that not every memorable travel experience needs to be a major museum or landmark.
Fun Things to Do in Memphis With Kids
Memphis can work surprisingly well for a family getaway, especially when adults balance historical attractions with interactive stops and outdoor time.
Spend Time at the Memphis Zoo
The Memphis Zoo is a strong option when children need a break from museums and historic sites. Because a zoo visit can take several hours, avoid scheduling too many other major attractions on the same day.
Comfortable shoes are helpful, particularly during warmer weather. Likewise, families should bring water and check the day’s weather before leaving their hotel.
If family-friendly destinations are a major part of your vacation planning, comparing best places to travel with kids can also help you decide which cities suit your children’s ages and interests.
Visit the Children’s Museum of Memphis
Younger travelers often enjoy attractions where they can participate rather than simply observe. The Children’s Museum of Memphis provides that change of pace through hands-on exhibits and play-oriented activities.
It can be particularly useful on a rainy or very hot day. Therefore, families may want to keep it as a flexible option instead of locking every hour of their itinerary in advance.
Give Children Some Downtime
A common family-travel mistake is scheduling attractions from breakfast until bedtime. Memphis has plenty to see, but children may enjoy the trip more when they have time for the hotel pool, a park, or a relaxed meal.
Two well-planned activities can sometimes create a better family day than five rushed ones.
Where to Experience Memphis Food
Food deserves its own place on a Memphis itinerary. Barbecue receives most of the attention, although the city’s dining scene reaches beyond smoked meat.
Try Memphis-Style Barbecue
Memphis is strongly associated with pork barbecue, particularly ribs and pulled pork. However, preparation styles vary between restaurants, so trying more than one place can be worthwhile.
Dry-rub ribs are especially associated with the city. Still, sauce lovers will find plenty of choices as well.
Rather than choosing a restaurant solely because it appears on a popular tourist list, consider location, opening hours, recent reviews, and what style of barbecue you actually prefer.
Leave Room for Other Southern Favorites
While barbecue is the obvious choice, Memphis also offers fried chicken, catfish, soul food, biscuits, and other Southern dishes.
Breakfast can be another enjoyable part of the trip. Instead of eating every meal near a major attraction, try at least one neighborhood restaurant or locally popular café.
That small decision can make your visit feel less like sightseeing and more like experiencing the city.
Things to Do in Memphis This Weekend
If you are planning a short-notice getaway, the best activities may depend on what is happening during your specific dates.
Memphis hosts concerts, sports, festivals, seasonal celebrations, and community events throughout the year. Therefore, check official event calendars shortly before traveling rather than relying on an old list of weekend activities.
Start with one or two permanent attractions, such as Graceland or the National Civil Rights Museum. Then, build current events around them. This approach keeps your trip flexible while making sure you do not miss the city’s main highlights.
If you have only a weekend, avoid spending too much time driving between distant attractions. Grouping nearby stops will leave more time for actually enjoying Memphis.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Memphis?
Spring and fall are often appealing because temperatures can be more comfortable for walking and outdoor sightseeing. However, popular events can also increase demand for accommodation during certain dates.
Summer brings longer days, although Memphis can become hot and humid. As a result, travelers visiting in summer may want to schedule indoor attractions during the afternoon.
Winter can feel quieter, while cooler temperatures may appeal to travelers who dislike heat. Still, some outdoor experiences are naturally more enjoyable during milder weather.
| Season | What to Expect | Good For |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Mild to warm conditions, popular events | Sightseeing and music |
| Summer | Hot, often humid weather | Indoor attractions and nightlife |
| Fall | Generally comfortable sightseeing weather | Walking and outdoor activities |
| Winter | Cooler temperatures and potentially quieter periods | Museums and lower-key trips |
Weather varies from year to year, so check the forecast close to departure.
Getting Around Memphis
A car can make exploring Memphis easier because attractions are spread across different parts of the city. However, visitors staying around Downtown may be able to walk between several sights or use local transportation for part of their trip.
Before renting a vehicle, map your planned attractions. If most of your itinerary centers on Downtown, paying for a rental car plus hotel parking may not always offer the best value.
On the other hand, travelers visiting Graceland and several locations outside the central area may appreciate the flexibility of having a vehicle.
Ride-hailing services can fill the gap for shorter trips. Either way, grouping attractions by area helps reduce unnecessary transportation time.
Choosing Where to Stay
Downtown is convenient for travelers who want access to Beale Street, riverfront areas, restaurants, and several major attractions. However, accommodation prices can change considerably based on events, weekends, and season.
Other neighborhoods may offer different price points and a quieter atmosphere. Therefore, compare the total cost rather than looking only at the nightly room rate. Parking charges and transportation expenses can change which hotel represents better value.
Younger travelers booking independently should also check hotel age policies before paying for a nonrefundable reservation. The rules vary by property, so understanding how old do you have to be get a hotel room can prevent problems at check-in.
A Simple 2-Day Memphis Itinerary
For a short first visit, organize your schedule around a few major experiences instead of trying to see everything.
Day 1: Start with the National Civil Rights Museum, have lunch Downtown, spend part of the afternoon near the Mississippi River, and then explore Beale Street in the evening.
Day 2: Visit Graceland in the morning, enjoy Memphis barbecue for lunch, and tour Sun Studio later in the day. Afterward, leave the evening open for live music or a relaxed dinner.
If you have a third day, add the Memphis Zoo, Children’s Museum, more neighborhood exploration, or extra music attractions depending on your interests.
Common Memphis Trip-Planning Mistakes
One mistake is assuming Memphis is only about Elvis. Graceland is significant, yet focusing exclusively on it means missing the city’s blues, soul, civil rights history, food, and riverfront character.
Another mistake is underestimating travel time. Since attractions are not all clustered together, backtracking can waste a surprising part of the day.
Likewise, avoid filling every hour. Some of the most fun things to do in Memphis involve simply listening to music, enjoying a long meal, or walking around without rushing toward another ticketed attraction.
Finally, check attraction hours and ticket requirements before arriving. Opening days, tour schedules, admission prices, and special-event arrangements can change.
FAQs About Visiting Memphis
How many days do you need in Memphis?
Two days can cover several major highlights, while three days provide a more comfortable pace. With three days, you can add family attractions, neighborhoods, or extra music experiences without rushing.
Is Memphis worth visiting for non-Elvis fans?
Yes. Memphis offers major civil rights history, blues and soul heritage, barbecue, museums, river views, and cultural attractions beyond Graceland.
What is Memphis best known for?
Memphis is particularly known for blues, soul, rock ’n’ roll history, Elvis Presley, Beale Street, barbecue, the Mississippi River, and its major role in American civil rights history.
Is Memphis good for a weekend trip?
Yes. A weekend gives you enough time to combine several major attractions with local food and an evening of live music. However, choosing attractions in advance helps you use limited time efficiently.
Do you need a car in Memphis?
Not always, although having one can make sightseeing easier because several major attractions are spread across the city. Travelers staying Downtown can walk to some sights and use rideshares for others.
Make Your Memphis Trip Feel Like Memphis
The best Memphis itinerary is not the one with the longest attraction list. Instead, give yourself time to hear the music, understand the history, taste the food, and enjoy the Mississippi River without constantly watching the clock.
For most first-time visitors, a mix of Beale Street, Graceland, Sun Studio, the National Civil Rights Museum, local barbecue, and some unplanned exploring provides a strong introduction. Once those essentials are covered, choose the remaining things to do in Memphis according to what genuinely interests you.