Memphis Holidays

What makes Memphis a good choice for a trip?

• Music history you can visit in person, from studios to halls of fame
• Strong museums that cover culture and civil rights, not just entertainment
• A compact set of headline sights that can fit into a long weekend
• Live music in the evenings, with Beale Street as a simple first-night plan
• Memphis in May, a month-long festival celebrating the region’s musical tradition

What are the top things to do in Memphis?

Prioritise the music landmarks

Sun Studio is the signature visit, associated with major artists including Elvis Presley, B.B. King and Johnny Cash. Pair it with the Memphis Music Hall of Fame if you want broader context, then choose one deeper museum depending on what you’re most interested in.

Pick the museums that explain the city properly

• National Civil Rights Museum: the key non-negotiable museum for understanding Memphis beyond the music
• Stax Museum of American Soul Music: a focused look at soul, with a clear narrative and strong exhibits
• Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum: a useful overview that links genres and eras

Plan a Beale Street evening without overcomplicating it

The Beale Street Historic District is the best-known stretch for blues clubs, cafes and shops, often described as ‘America’s Most Iconic Street’. A practical approach is dinner, one live set, then a short walk to take it in.

Put Graceland in a half-day slot

Graceland is one of the city’s most famous attractions. It’s easiest to enjoy when you go early, then keep the rest of the day lighter with a museum, shops, or downtime back at your hotel.

Family-friendly Memphis

Memphis can work well for families if the schedule stays realistic and evenings stay early.

• One main visit per day (Graceland or a museum)
• One shorter stop afterwards, then time back at the accommodation
• Beale Street earlier rather than later, keeping the focus on a brief look and a meal

Food worth trying in Memphis

Food is part of the point here. You may spot dishes such as Cornish game hen, shrimp skillets, lobster pronto pup and prozac cupcakes. A good rhythm is one planned meal each day, with the rest left open so you can eat where you end up.

Where to stay in Memphis

With Memphis hotels, location is usually the difference between a smooth trip and too much time in transit. Choose a base that matches how you want your evenings to feel.

• Downtown: convenient for museums, straightforward access to Beale Street, and a practical all-round base
• Midtown: more of a local neighbourhood feel, good for cafes and boutiques, often calmer at night
• East Memphis: more space and a quieter setup, useful for families or a slower pace

If you want a luxury stay, look for the kind of details that make evenings effortless after a full day out: more space, attentive service, and somewhere good to eat without needing another taxi ride. Location still does most of the heavy lifting, so it’s worth picking a base that keeps key sights within easy reach rather than saving a little and spending it back on getting around. If you’re comparing Memphis hotels for a special occasion, keep the shortlist to a couple in the same area so the differences are clearer.

Memphis also fits neatly into a wider route withNashville and New Orleans, especially if you want a run of live music and culture before switching scenery. It can work well as a honeymoon stop in that kind of itinerary, with a couple of bigger nights out balanced by slower museum and neighbourhood time.

How to plan and book Memphis holidays with Southall Travel

• Share your dates and trip length and Southall Travel can suggest Memphis hotels in the right area for your pace and evenings
• If you want to include the key sights, ask Southall Travel to map a sensible order for Sun Studio, Graceland and the main museums
• For the best available rates, call Southall Travel on 0208 843 4444