Last Updated on February 24, 2026
If you’re looking for things to do in Memphis, leave yourself plenty of time. In addition to the great sights, there’s delicious barbecue and music…lots and lots of music.
Estimated reading time: 16 minutes
By Jim Ferri
If you’re a music lover, history buff, or foodie, you’ll likely find many things to do in Memphis. Especially so, if you’re a family with children or are a multi-generational family group.
Situated on bluffs high above the Mississippi River, it’s also renowned for the Blues and being the birthplace of Rock n’ Roll. It’s also home to the National Civil Rights Museum and the incredible Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum. And you’ll also want to see those famous ducks in the Peabody Hotel. As well as the “Flippers” on Beale Street. And also taste Memphis’s renowned barbecue. Delicious BBQ. And much more.
As with any large city with many sights and activities, it’s a good idea to have a tour guide who knows the place well. I was lucky to have such a guide, my nephew Chris, who grew up in Memphis and still lives there.
After arriving for a long weekend, I asked him to show me the best Memphis things to see and do. Incredibly, it turned out to be one of the most fun and memorable tours I’d ever been on.
Table of contents
- A Top Place for All Americans: National Civil Rights Museum
- Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum – A Must Stop in Memphis
- Dyer’s Burgers
- Memphis Rock ‘n Soul Museum
- Sun Studio
- A Don’t Miss – Stax Museum of American Soul Music
- Mud Island River Walk
- A Must-See in Memphis: Elvis’s Graceland
- Enjoy Really Great Barbecue at Central BBQ
- Looking for Things to Do in Memphis? Party on Beale Street
- A Bit Quacky, But a Fun Photo-Op
A Top Place for All Americans: National Civil Rights Museum
FFor many, this is the most important museum in Memphis. It is the Lorraine Motel, the site of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, and it is an incredibly poignant place.
For me, it was one of the best things to do in Memphis, since it’s more than a museum. It’s an experience that features artifacts and multimedia presentations on the civil rights movement. You’ll also find oral histories, films, listening posts, and interactive media that take you through five centuries of history.
Exhibits include a bus ridden by Freedom Riders, and the exhibit “Slavery and a Culture of Resistance.” The exhibit is set in a round room and is also illuminated with maps and information about the Atlantic slave trade.
There are also first-person accounts of life under Jim Crow laws. Surprisingly, you can listen to the altercation between a transit system worker in Montgomery and Rosa Parks. The final exhibit is in MLK’s Lorraine Motel room, where he spent his last hours before his assassination . As you might expect, you should plan to spend several hours here.
If You Go:
National Civil Rights Museum
(at the Lorraine Motel)
450 Mulberry St.
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 521-9699
https://civilrightsmuseum.org/visit/
Open daily (except Tuesday): 9am-5pm
Adults $20.00
Seniors 65+ $18.00
College Students w/ID $18.00
Children age 5-17 $17.00
4 & under Free
Active U.S. Military Free
Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum – A Must Stop in Memphis
After hearing of this museum a few years ago, Chris told me he was amazed when he visited it. I was also. It’s a remarkable place, one of the best things to do in Memphis, because you learn how the Underground Railroad actually worked. It will likely amaze you.
It’s the original house of Jacob Burkle, a German immigrant who operated a way station on the Underground Railroad. From his house, Burkle secretly ferried slaves up the Mississippi to freedom in Canada. “The Mississippi River was the real Underground Railroad,” our docent/guide Elaine Turner told us.
In addition to her work at the museum and at Heritage Tours, Turner is an amazing storyteller. As we walked through the house, she brought it to life while discussing its history. In the cellar, we were also amazed at how people could live in such a confined space, hidden from outsiders.
By all means, ensure that Slave Haven is one of your “don’t miss” places in Memphis.
If You Go:
Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum
826 N 2nd St.
Memphis, TN 38107
(901)527-3427 / (901)527-7711
Note: the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum in Memphis is temporarily closed following a fire. Although restoration work has been completed, reopening has been delayed due to unresolved administrative issues. When open, they typically operate from 10 AM to 4 PM (or 5 PM in summer) with hourly tours.
$15.00 Adults
$14.00 Seniors and College Students
$12.00 Students (ages 4-17) Group Rates Available (20+ people)
Dyer’s Burgers
“I first visited Dyer’s 30 years ago,” Chris told me. “Been a favorite ever since.”
Dyer’s is a burger cafe on Beale Street that was founded by the late Elmer “Doc” Dyer in 1912. They say the flavor of its unique burgers is the result of a secret cooking process.
The process, it turns out, is deep-frying in grease, which is strained every day. Hence Dyer’s motto: “Have you had your vitamin ’G’ today?” (In case you’re wondering, it is the same grease they’ve been using since 1912.)
For those adverse to burgers, it also serves hot dogs, chicken tenders, and baloney sandwiches.
If You Go:
Dwyer’s Burgers
205 Beale Street
Memphis, TN
(901) 527-DYER (3937)
http://www.dyersonbeale.com/
Open daily: 11:00am – till
Memphis Rock ‘n Soul Museum
The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum is one of a kind. It’s also the one museum that lauds only Memphis musicians and Memphis’s music history. The Smithsonian Institution developed the exhibition, and the museum showcases works from its collection. It’s one of the best things to do in Memphis if you enjoy rock ‘n roll.
What’s great about the museum is its focus on musicians from all socio-economic and racial backgrounds. It’s a fun, comprehensive, and educational exhibit.
Just the right size, you’ll find it on Beale Street, the home of the Blues, near the FedEx Forum. The museum also provides audio guides and maps of historic Beale Street. There are free hourly shuttles from the museum to Graceland and Sun Studio.
If You Go:
Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum
191 Beale Street
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 205-2533
Open daily: 10am-5pm
Adults $16
Youth $12
Discounts for AAA, AARP, Military & Smithsonian Members
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Sun Studio
Memphis, Tennessee, may be a town built on cotton, but if you visit, you’d better like music and barbecue. Especially music.
And any music lover looking for things to do in Memphis must visit Sun Studio. This is where rock ‘n roll was born in a former upholstery shop.
Sun Studio shot to fame after an unknown 18-year-old Elvis Presley walked in one day and recorded his first record. The Studio also attracted many others, including Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and countless other legendary stars. Visit it, and you can stand in the same spot each of them did while recording.
Now a National Historic Landmark, its tour is interesting and nostalgic, especially the outtakes from some recording sessions.
It’s a bit far from the downtown Beale Street area, but there’s a shuttle from the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum.
If You Go:
Sun Studio
706 Union Avenue
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 521-0664 / (800) 441-6249
https://www.sunstudio.com
Open Daily: 10am-5pm
General Admission: $20
Youth: $18 (ages 12 – 18)
Children: $15 (ages 5-11 with adult admission. Please note: Children under the age of 5 are not permitted on the guided tour.
General Admission tours begin once an hour at the following times: Monday – Sunday 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30
A Don’t Miss – Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Stax Records is one of the most successful soul music labels in the world. In fact, with artists including Carla Thomas, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. and The MGs, Rufus Thomas, William Bell, and Otis Redding, it is second only to Motown in sales. It’s one of the must-see things to do in Memphis if you visit for a long weekend or a day.
In the southeast area of Memphis, the museum is also on the site of the original Stax Records studio. It’s a fascinating museum with more than 2,000 exhibits, including films and galleries. One of the more surprising things here is Isaac Hayes’s 1972 Cadillac Eldorado, part of a Stax renegotiation deal. It has 24-carat gold exterior trim, a TV, refrigerator, and minibar.
It’s a captivating museum that even has a dance floor for visitors.
If You Go:
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
926 E. McLemore Ave.
Memphis, TN 38106
(901) 261-6338
https://staxmuseum.org
Open Daily: 10am-5pm (last admission 4pm)
$20 Adults
$16 Ages 7-12, 62+, Veteran, Military, AAA discounts
Free Ages 6 and under
Mud Island River Walk
Chris raved about Mud Island, and once there, I could see why.
Mud Island is a scale model of the Lower Mississippi River from its confluence with the Ohio River at Cairo, Illinois, south to the Gulf of Mexico, a distance of nearly 1,000 miles. The river walk, as it’s called, is almost a half mile in length.
A replica of the river, it was designed using Corps of Engineers survey and navigational charts. It’s an entertaining and educational recreation that’s done in incredible detail, allowing you to see the river like never before. It’s one of the offbeat but interesting things to do in Memphis.
“30 years ago, I went to it and thought it was a great exhibit and still is,” Chris told me. “You get to walk the length of the Mississippi River and also see the towns inlaid in brass in the concrete. It really gives you a good understanding of the scope of the river.”
The Mud Island Museum, complete with a full-scale replica steamboat, presents the history of the Mississippi River valley. The complex also has restaurants and an amphitheater.
If You Go:
Mud Island Park
River Park, Mud Island
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 312-9190
https://memphisparks.com/park/mud-island-park/
Open daily: typically, 7am-7pm (March–October) and 6am-5 pm (winter)
Free admission
A Must-See in Memphis: Elvis’s Graceland
Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland, is the best-known tourist site in Memphis, if not all of Tennessee. Incredibly, although Chris has lived in Memphis for 34 years, he has never visited Graceland. I decided to remedy that. On 13+ acres about 9 miles from downtown, it’s a marvelously kitschy homage to the “King of Rock ‘n Roll.”
Astoundingly, it’s also one of the most-visited private homes in America, second only to the White House. Elvis’s grave, along with those of other family members, is also on the property. A visit here is definitely one of the things to do in Memphis.
The once-quiet property has morphed into a huge complex. There’s the “Elvis The Entertainer Career Museum” with an extensive collection of personal memorabilia. And the Presley Motors Automobile Museum with his Pink Cadillac, Stutz Blackhawk, 1956 Cadillac Eldorado, Dino Ferrari, and more.
You can walk through the “Lisa Marie,” Elvis’s plane with a private bedroom, gold-plated seat belts, and 24-karat gold-flecked sinks. And eat in Vernon’s Smokehouse or Gladys’ Diner, two restaurants on the premises. The restaurants are named for Elvis’s parents.
If you really want to do Graceland right, you can also stay at its four-star Guest House. It’s an AAA Four Diamond hotel located approximately 10 minutes from Memphis International Airport. And, as you might imagine, if you’re searching for Elvis tchotchkes you’ll largest collection of Elvis memorabilia in the world in several gift chops in Graceland and the hotel.
None of this comes cheaply. Prices range from $46.50 for children 5-10 years (it includes a mansion tour, exhibits showcasing Elvis’ career, his automobiles, his wardrobe, his gold records, his custom jets, etc.) to $240 per person for an Inside the Graceland Archives UVIP Tour. The latter includes a meal at Vernon’s.
If You Go:
Graceland
3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard
Memphis, TN 38116
(901) 332-3322
800-238-2000
https://www.graceland.com
Open daily: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Elvis’ Airplanes open at 10:00 am. Last mansion tour begins at 4:00 pm
The Mansion Only Tour starts at approximately $41-$82.Elvis Experience Tour: Includes Mansion + Elvis Presley’s Memphis exhibit (cars, career, etc.) for approximately $85.
Ultimate/VIP Tours: Ranges from $148 (Entourage) to $235-$260 for top-tier experiences.
Group Tours: $139 per person
AAA, military, seniors (65+), and children (ages 5-10) get reduced rates.
Enjoy Really Great Barbecue at Central BBQ
Chris took me to Central BBQ since it’s one of his favorites. It’s now mine as well.
Don’t miss it for a weekend lunch or dinner or any other meal during the day.
Inside, it’s loud and colorful with people at tables attacking piles of slow-smoked, Memphis-style ribs and pork. According to the menu, Central rubs the ribs with a special “rib rub”, marinates them overnight, and slow smokes them to perfection. You can get them wet or dry, or half and half. They also serve hot wings, brisket, chicken, and turkey, among other things.
Out back on the patio, a band plays for those who want some entertainment. It’s all just laid-back Memphis with really great barbecue and cold beer. Having lunch or dinner at Central BBQ is one of the things to do in Memphis.
If You Go:
Central BBQ
147 E Butler Ave.
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 672-7760
https://cbqmemphis.com/
Note: There are several locations in Memphis (see website)
Looking for Things to Do in Memphis? Party on Beale Street
Beale is the beating heart of Memphis, a place of bars and barbecue, neon and the blues. It is where the blues were born and where many well-known musicians – including B.B. King and Isaac Hayes – got their start.
As you’d expect, like Bourbon Street in New Orleans, it is quite raucous at times. That’s especially true at night and on the weekends when the beat picks up dramatically as live music blares from countless bars and crowds clog the street. Spending an evening or night here is one of the top things to do in Memphis.
It’s rather tame during the day, with shops selling memorabilia and clubs luring customers in for lunch and a drink. Later in the day, you’ll see the Beale Street Flippers, an acrobatic group seen on America’s Got Talent. Just stay out of their way as they do their multiple flips down the center of the street.
If You Go:
The Beale Street Flippers perform on Beale Street in downtown Memphis, between 2nd Street and B.B. King Boulevard. They usually perform after 4pm weekdays and 7pm on weekends, often near the Hard Rock Café or Rum Boogie Café. They are free to watch but they perform for tips.
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A Bit Quacky, But a Fun Photo-Op
Oddly enough, for many people, seeing the Peabody Hotel’s famous ducks is one of the most popular things to do in Memphis.
At 11 a.m. every day five mallards waddle into the lobby and jump into the Peabody lobby fountain. Later, at 5 p.m., they head back to the elevator for the ride up to their rooftop Royal Duck Palace. Each time they’re accompanied by the tune of John Philip Sousa’s King Cotton March.
It’s a tradition dating back to 1933 when the hotel’s GM and a friend returned from a hunting trip. After imbibing a little too much sippin’ whiskey, they decided to put their live decoys in the fountain. The reaction among guests was highly enthusiastic and continues to this day, more than 90 years later.
As you might expect, the hotel does attract a small crowd for this quacky event. It’s best to get a seat along the red carpet about an hour early. There’s also a good view from the second-floor lobby balcony.
And in case you’re wondering, Duck a l’Orange is never offered on the menu at any of the hotel’s restaurants.
If You Go:
The Peabody Memphis
149 Union Avenue
Memphis Tennessee 38103
(901) 529-4000
https://peabodymemphis.com
The closest I came to Memphis the last time was Tupelo, Miss.
The previous time was driving to Vicksburg,Miss. Heard Mark Cohn sing his song “I’ve been walking in Memphis” when he opened for Bonnie Raitt. Always had a history as being a tough town but with a lot of grit and the meeting of music genres. Will make it there one day.
I went to Tupelo on my way up to Memphis. Had to see Elvis’s birthplace, even though it’s quite kitschy. Glad I sent, though, since it’s so close toe Memphis. Memphis is a great place to visit.
Memphis is super boring and full of crime..
What’s here to visit..
You must be from Chicago.
You got that right
Really? A lot of tourists and national publications don’t feel that way.
No one wants to hear your opinion.. do you live here? Why put your own city down? Who’s making you live here. We’re one of the top tourist attractions in the country.. they’re is crime everywhere.. some people are always negative.
I will be in Memphis on 3/3/21 for vacation music and BBQ cant wait.
Hey, Chris!
Congratulations! Your bar sounds like a lot of fun, will look forward to sampling the wares. Memphis has always been on our weekend list and this might just clinch a visit.
Tom
For anyone interested in casino gambling and concerts, Tunica, MS, would be an interesting side-trip from Memphis. It’s less than an hour south and close to the Mississippi River.
Jim, I really enjoyed this article and pix of you and Chris having a great time. We have never been to Memphis and hope to get there sometime and press Chris into tour guide service as you did!
Hi Pat, you really should visit Memphis. It’s a great place for a long weekend trip. And that music stirs up plenty of good memories too!
I love the local perspective of this article. It’s crazy how much you and Chris look alike!
I saw the similarity also. I’m glad you liked it.
Come one come all. We will have a great time.
Was there many years ago with Bob — went to Graceland & Beal Street. Did not know there are so many other places. Will have to return some day and look up Chris for help. Great to see you and Chris together.
Thanks Wini. There’s a lot to do in Memphis beyond Graceland and Beale Street. And go hit Chris up for a drink or two.
Memphis is one of my favorite cities…and not just because I’m a huge Elvis fan! You hit many of the highlights, for sure! I am always ready to go back to Memphis to explore a few more of its hidden treasures. Next time I will seek out your nephews’ bar!
Go to Belle Tavern – it’s a great place and Chris is a great guy. Just up the alley in front of the Peabody.
Born and raised in Memphis, currently reside in Nashville. Ive visited a few of these places and now I will go down your list to see the rest when I visit home. Great article.
Thank you Kimberly!
I do not like memphis tennessee because it is boarding here and there is nothing to do here
Lol. Memphis is boarding?
I think you must have meant “boring”, which anyone with an appreciation of American history would argue that.
Then again, it’s quite possible that you just lack the education needed to understand how special this city really is. I’m a proud Memphian, and I feel sorry you can’t find anything here to occupy your time.
Memphis has a new Convention Center & is getting a 250′ Italian Big Wheel Boardwalk downtown with dozens of new mix-retail, music venues, restaurants, hotels.
How has covid affected Beale Street? Masks required?
Ive lived in memphis for 27yrs it is a terrible place full of violent crime it is extremely boring the food is disgusting and it is extremely racially divided the school system is awlful im not lying why would i its truly a vile place i never left because of bad health the one good thing about it is houes are very cheap and its cheap to live here
I have lived in Memphis 53 years and I disagree with you.. there is crime and racism but that’s everywhere in the United States. Memphis is a top tourist destination according to USA Today and many top publications. The BBQ, the wings, and cuisine are some of the best in the country.. Memphis is neither vile or terrible.. keep your negative comments to yourself and stop trying to discourage people from visiting because you don’t like the city you live in. Everyone does not agree with you.. thank God
I have lived in Memphis all my life and like all cities it has its good and bad. Having said that I look at my cup full and over flowing here. We have the most friendly helpful people all done with a smile! But I must say if you want real Memphis Bar-B-Que you have to go to Tops Bar-B-Que. Its hands down the best! If you want old school history you must book a tour at Elmwood Cemetery. They give a real historical lesson about our beginnings. You wont be disappointed. Dont forget to stop by discount souvenir shop next to Sun Studio’s after you vist Sun of course. Hope yall come and stay a while. Come get yall some southern hospitality and a big ol glass of sweet tea!
Beware of the “Bad Trap;” to be a resident at 201 poplar is no joke, to visit the union mission is no fun, and to walk those streets for years with no escape was a nightmare.
I live here in Memphis, there is absolutely nothing here to see. I have been to Graceland (boring & very gaudy), never want to go back. I never have visited the Lorraine Hotel Museum, have no desire. Elmwood is great, but been there done that. Would not recommend anyone to visit Memphis.
Thank you for your opinion Ann.
Jim
Great article! It might be good to update your information about the mud Island River Park. You can still go down and re-view the replica of the river, which is great. . But the museum with the replica of the steam riverboat is not in use . There is chatter about renovation and some has been done already.
Hi Jan,
Thanks for bringing us all up to date about Mud Island. I just hope they don’t change too much.
Jim
I was born in 1955 and raised in Memphis..I have avoided returning for many years because the places I cared about are gone..torn down by the city years ago to create a tourist Beale Street. The old fruit stand once on the corner of Main and Beale..my cousin’s men’s store on the old Beale, and numerous businesses once owned by immigrants who became the backbone of Memphis….it is sad….history removed.
Hi Michelle,
I understand what you mean as to how places change. But I always have my memories of all the places I’ve been.
Jim
I disagree with the negative comments. I took my mom and my son to Memphis on fall break. We saw the duck March, duck palace at the Peabody, Graceland, Bass Pro Observation Deck, Mud Island (my son was actually able to climb to the middle of the H in the Memphis sign), Beale Street, Lorraine Motel, and Stax. We had tons of fun and felt completely safe. There is tons of police presence.
Thank you Stephanie. I also felt safe. But I’m certain that almost everywhere it’s different if your a resident or a visitor.
Jim
The Memphis Zoo is the best. Don’t miss that!
Thank you Tam.
Thank you Tam!
Jim
I randomly picked this article to see what you thought….I live in Memphis. And lo, and behold, your picture of Central BBQ (best bbq salad EVER) has my dad, a long time Memphis musician, playing in the background! Lol. You did good. All the picks are really good.
Thank you Tiana. I’m glad I was able to immortalize your Dad!
Jim
I’m glad tourists don’t listen to some of the people that live here in Memphis. We’re still one of the top tourist destinations in the U.S. I’m not a fan of Graceland but it’s the 2nd most visited house in the country behind only the White House. Because you don’t want to visit some of the best sites in Memphis don’t try to discourage others.
I loved this!! Agree with every one, and yes, next time visit the zoo! We lived in Memphis for almost 20 years, just recently moved for our business, but I get back as often as I can. We support the National Civil Rights Museum and have attended the Freedom Awards many times. Next time we’re back in town I’ll be sure to find Chris to shake his hand. Thank you!
Thank you Lisa! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Jim
Rendezvous is the best BBQ in Memphis. Central BBQ is good, but Rendezvous is the best by far. Of course, you can always eat BBQ more than once.
Patrick – I’m with you. The more BBQ, the better!
Jim