Get the app

Tennessee, United States

Memphis

Give it two days: civil rights and soul history by day, barbecue and Beale Street blues at night. This guide pulls together 5 sights, 3 places to eat and 1 bar or café from our curated routes.

Plan Memphis with friendsBrowse 9 places
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Places
9

5 See · 3 Eat · 1 Drink

Curated routes
1

Arkansas Delta Blues & Bites

Best season
Oct – Apr

from our route notes

Warmest month
August

34°C / 93°F avg high

Coolest month
January

9°C / 48°F avg high

Wettest month
May

about 138 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Memphis

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

5 sights worth building a day around across South Main, Midtown and Soulsville.

  • National Civil Rights Museum in MemphisPhoto: Antony-22 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    National Civil Rights Museum

    Museum built around the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King was assassinated in 1968.

    Tip Allow 2–3 hours; closed Tuesdays.

    • South Main
    • $$
    • 3 hr
    • Morning
  • Sun Studio in MemphisPhoto: ant gorman · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Sun Studio

    Studio where Elvis, Johnny Cash and B.B. King recorded; tours end in the working room.

    • Midtown
    • $$
    • 60 min
  • Stax Museum of American Soul Music in MemphisPhoto: Victor Chapa from Denton, USA · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Stax Museum of American Soul Music

    Rebuilt Stax Records site with Isaac Hayes' gold Cadillac and Soul Train dance floor.

    • Soulsville
    • $$
    • 2 hr
  • Graceland in MemphisPhoto: Fallaner · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Graceland

    Elvis Presley's mansion, cars and planes, with an exhibit complex across the street.

    Tip Book tickets online; the basic mansion tour is enough for most.

    • Whitehaven
    • $$$$
    • 3 hr
    • Weekday morning
  • The Peabody Memphis in MemphisPhoto: The Peabody Memphis · Google
    See

    The Peabody Memphis

    Grand 1925 hotel where ducks march to the lobby fountain at 11am and back at 5pm.

    Tip Arrive 30 minutes early for a view of the duck march.

    • Downtown
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • 11am

Eat

Where we would book a table in Memphis across South Main and Downtown.

  • Central BBQ in MemphisPhoto: Central BBQ - Downtown · Google
    Eat

    Central BBQ

    Local favorite for pulled pork, dry-rub ribs and smoked wings across from the museum.

    Tip Order half-and-half ribs, wet and dry.

    • South Main
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Lunch
  • Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken in MemphisPhoto: Tristan Williams · Google
    Eat

    Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken

    Spicy, crackly fried chicken in a casual downtown dining room.

    • Downtown
    • $
    • 45 min
    • Lunch
  • Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous in MemphisPhoto: Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous · Google
    Eat

    Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous

    Basement restaurant since 1948 that made charcoal-broiled dry-rub ribs famous.

    Tip Closed Sun–Tue; enter from the alley.

    • Downtown
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Memphis in Beale Street.

  • B.B. King's Blues Club in MemphisPhoto: B.B. King's Blues Club · Google
    Drink

    B.B. King's Blues Club

    Beale Street's best-known club with live blues bands nightly.

    • Beale Street
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Night

How to fit Memphis into a trip

Memphis is stop 1 of 3 on our Arkansas Delta Blues & Bites route. Follow it as-is or lift Memphis into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Memphis month by month

Average daily highs run from 9°C / 48°F in January to 34°C / 93°F in August. May is the wettest month, with about 138 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Memphis weather and the best time to visit →

Near Memphis

8 other destinations from our guides within about 350 km (217 mi), measured in a straight line.

Memphis questions, answered

How many days do you need in Memphis?

Our route notes suggest 2 days in Memphis. On our Arkansas Delta Blues & Bites route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 15 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Memphis best known for?

Give it two days: civil rights and soul history by day, barbecue and Beale Street blues at night. Standouts on our list: National Civil Rights Museum (Museum built around the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King was assassinated in 1968); Sun Studio (Studio where Elvis, Johnny Cash and B.B. King recorded; tours end in the working room); Stax Museum of American Soul Music (Rebuilt Stax Records site with Isaac Hayes' gold Cadillac and Soul Train dance floor).

When is the best time to visit Memphis?

Our Arkansas Delta Blues & Bites route is best Oct – Apr. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (34°C / 93°F), the coolest in January (9°C / 48°F) and the most rain in May (about 138 mm).

What are the best things to do in Memphis?

Start with National Civil Rights Museum, Sun Studio, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Graceland and The Peabody Memphis. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 5 sights, 3 places to eat and 1 bar or café.

Where should a group eat in Memphis?

Our picks: Central BBQ (South Main); Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken (Downtown); Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous (Downtown). Order half-and-half ribs, wet and dry (Central BBQ).

What is near Memphis?

The closest destinations in our guides are Beale Street & Downtown Memphis (about 1 km / 1 mi), South Main & the Riverfront (about 2 km / 1 mi) and Helena-West Helena (about 85 km / 53 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Memphis with your crew

Open the Arkansas Delta Blues & Bites route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

Get TripsCircle

Plan around Memphis

More in Tennessee

More in United States

Plan it together

Plan Memphis