Top 14 Things To Do In Memphis, Tennessee - Updated 2024

Sonia
Sonia 
Updated
| 5 min read

Located in southwest Tennessee, Memphis is popular for being the place where famous songs of Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and Johnny Cash were recorded. Blues, Soul and Rock n’ Roll all originated here, making it quite a popular place to visit. There are several musical landmarks here that you must visit, irrespective of whether you are a fan of it or not. Some of the places that you must visit on your trip here include the Rock n’ Soul Museum, Blues Hall of Fame, and Stax Museum of American Soul Music. There are also other places that are about things other than music where you can take your family. The Memphis Zoo and the National Civil Right Museum are two of the many. Have you started planning already? To help you, we are here with some of the best things to do while you are in Memphis. This may help you create the perfect itinerary. Read on for more details!

1. Enjoy a bus tour of the city and a visit to Sun Studios (from USD 75.0)

Enjoy a bus tour of the city and whizz by the pristine Mississippi River. Dotted with classic houses of the Victorian era and historical landmarks, the tour helps you discover the unexplored gems like a local rather than a tourist. You will be getting picked up from the hotel and dropped off after the tour.

Boarders can enjoy a visit to the iconic Sun Studios where legendary artists such as Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley recorded their music. The tour is limited to a small group and the friendly guide knows the history, architecture, and culture of the city like the back of his hand.

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Memphis City Tour with Sun Studio Upgrade

Duration: 4 to 5 hours

424 reviews

2. Savour the delicacies on this Memphis food tour (from USD 75.0)

This historic food tour in which you can sample delicacies from six of the city’s award-winning restaurants will leave you coming back for more. Made from locally sourced ingredients, you can dig into hot tamales and indulge your sweet tooth with homemade desserts. This food tasting is for two people and lets you enjoy delicious food in private.

You will have a friendly tour guide who will enrich the experience by recommending special treats that you must try. You can shed calories with a leisurely stroll between locations while enjoying fun stories of the city from your guide.

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Taste of Downtown Memphis Food Tour

Duration: 3 hours

691 reviews

3. Explore the historic mansion of the Woodruff and Fontaine families (from USD 15.0)

If antiques and period furnishings fascinate you, a visit then to this historic mansion of the Woodruff and Fontaine families is a must. Constructed in the Victorian era, this mansion was built in the French style and furnished with period furniture.

While you will get a good glimpse into the 19th-century culture in Memphis through a self-guided tour of this historic home, you will also be able to explore the place at your own pace by scanning the QR codes throughout the house.

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Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum Admission Ticket in Memphis

Duration: 1 hour

21 reviews

4. Tap your toes at the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum (from USD 14.0)

If you are an avid fan of blues, rock, and soul music, you must buy a ticket to this museum. Quite a treasure trove for fans of rock music, the museum has on display the costumes, instruments, photographs and so much more from the bygone musicians and recording studios of the golden era.

A tour through the museum helps you understand the pivotal role that Memphis played in the development of American music. An audio guide with more than 5 hours of information and 100 songs will give you a glimpse into how legends such as BB King and Muddy Waters put Memphis on the global music map.

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Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum Admission

Duration: 1 to 2 hours

157 reviews

5. Stroll down the Mississippi River (from USD 32.0)

With this walk, you get to know some of the top attractions of Memphis. There are several places that you will visit on this entertaining walking tour including Beale Street and Confederate Park. You will also walk through several Civil War sites. Stroll down sections of the Mississippi River while taking in the amazing views of the city. Your guide will tell you touching stories about Memphis’ Civil War and Prohibition. At the Peabody Hotel, you will watch the March of the Ducks.

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Memphis Historical Walking Tour

Duration: 2 hours

323 reviews

6. Dance the night away on Beale Street (from USD 38.0)

Move through the city rocking and rolling on this guided musical bus tour. This fun tour begins from one of the most iconic streets of America, Beale Street. Your guide will be a professional musician from Beale Street who will ensure that you have a musical and fun experience. On this tour, you will pass through some of the most iconic and wonderful places such as the Civil Rights Museum, Cotton Row, and early homes of Elvis, Johnny Cash, and B. B. King. You can also upgrade the tour to include admission to the Sun Studio, which is the birthplace of rock and roll.

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Memphis Mojo Tour

Duration: 90 to 180 minutes

1036 reviews

7. Find the local fans at FedExForum (from USD 40.0)

This guided tour will take you on a 2.5-hour excursion all around Memphis. There are so many places that you will cover on this tour. Walk down the mighty Mississippi River and visit the famous Beale Street. You also visit the Victorian Village where you get to see houses that were built in the early 1800s. Also, the famous FedExForum is one of the places where you will stop by. This is the place where the NBA team Memphis Grizzlies play. With this tour, you shall get to know the entire history of Memphis that will leave you amazed. The tour includes pick up and drop from/to the hotel.

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City of Memphis Guided Bus Tour

Duration: 3 hours

196 reviews

8. Take a picture with the famous Peabody ducks (from USD 45.0)

This three-hour sightseeing tour lets you explore some of the top attractions of Memphis. You will visit some of the landmarks like Memphis Pyramid, the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel - this is the place where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. You can upgrade to include entry to Graceland, which is the famous home of Elvis Presley. You will also drive through the historic Victorian village where you can see the amazing and exquisite Victorian houses. Pickup and drop facilities are offered with this tour.

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Memphis City Tour with Optional Riverboat Cruise & Sun Studio Add-On Options

Duration: 2 to 7 hours

1544 reviews

9. Go horseback riding at Shelby Farms Park (from USD 80.0)

Ever dreamt of being a cowboy/cowgirl? Now you do not have to take a retreat to the country to be able to experience this joy. On this tour, you get to live your dreams. After you arrive at the stables, all that you have to do is complete some paperwork. And then, all that’s left to do is enjoy the sheer pleasure of riding a horse. The wildlife in the park is varied and you may get to enjoy some of it, including the sighting of deer, ducks, cranes, and racoons.

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Memphis Horseback Trail Ride Tour

Duration: 1 hour

154 reviews

10. Drink up to the chills (from USD 27.0)

This 2.5-hour tour will make sure that you never think ghost stories are meant only for kids. This haunted pub crawl will take you to three of the most famous pubs in Memphis to let you enjoy your drink while listening to haunted stories. Your host and guide will be happy enough to keep you company with real paranormal activities and past stories. The price does not include drinks.

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Haunted Pub Crawl in Memphis

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

10 reviews

11. Visit the Sun Studio (from USD 15.0)

One of the things that you must definitely do when in Memphis is to take a guided tour of the Sun Studio. This is the place that gave birth to rock and roll. It is the world’s most famous recording studio where artists like Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison have recorded. The studio still serves as a recording studio during the evenings, while during the daytime, it holds public tours. The tour takes you around the studio and in this 45-minute guided tour, you will see where the legends recorded. There is also a souvenir shop where you can pop in after the tour to pick some fantastic souvenirs to take with you back home.

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Sun Studio Guided Tour GENERAL ADMISSION Ticket **PLEASE PRINT**

Duration: 40 minutes

1255 reviews

12. Explore Martin Luther King's Legacy at the National Civil Rights Museum (from USD 46.0)

With this tour, you have the flexibility of visiting the attractions at your own pace. This self-guided tour gives you a pass to visit some of the city’s most important attractions. The pass includes a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum, the Withers Collections Museum & Gallery, the Blues Hall of Fame, and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. On this tour, you can learn about some of the most remarkable figures in America. Food, drinks, and transportation services are not included.

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Memphis Heritage Pass: National Civil Rights Museum & 3 Memphis Attractions

Duration: 1 to 3 days

13. All things Elvis at Graceland (from USD 78.0)

all things elvis at graceland
Source: www.viator.com

Take three hours to experience and enjoy the former house of the king of rock n’ roll to your heart’s content. Graceland is the ultimate place to be in for lovers of music and of Elvis Presley. This is a self-guided audio tour. Here, you get to invade the personal space of Elvis; you get access to his gold and platinum records, stage costumes, jewellery and so much more. Get ready to be impressed by his collection of cars, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and more. Finally, do not forget to visit the place where Elvis and his family members are buried - Meditation Garden.

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Graceland Tour Including Automobile Museum and Airplanes

14. Take in a ball game at AutoZone Park (from USD 43.0)

take in a ball game at autozone park
Source: www.viator.com

With this all-inclusive tour, you can explore all of downtown Memphis. There are so many attractions that are included in this tour that it will surely create wonderful memories. This three-hour guided tour begins at BB King’s Blues Club on Beale Street. You will visit several attractions on this tour such as the Motel where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. You will also stop at Central BBQ where you will get to sample some of the best barbeques in Memphis. Other sites such as the Victorian Village Street, the Gibson Guitar Factory, and historic Cotton Row are also included. Another thing that is included is the admission to the Memphis Rock N’ Soul Museum.

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Memphis Discovery Tour including Rock and Soul Museum

Duration: 3 hours

116 reviews

Ready to take the trip to Memphis?

These were some of the best and most fascinating tours in Memphis. What are you waiting for? Pack those bags and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Sonia is a voracious reader, a passionate writer, and a connoisseur of all things unique, colorful, and exotic.

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