Three days in Memphis is enough to hit the city's soul if you're intentional about it. This three-day Memphis itinerary is built around the music that started here, the civil rights history that changed the country, and yes, some incr[...]
Traveler Type: Culture, music, & food lovers
Welcome to Memphis
You’ve probably heard of Memphis, but what comes to mind depends entirely on who you are. Maybe it’s Elvis and Graceland. Maybe it’s GloRilla, Young Dolph, and Three 6 Mafia. Maybe it’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Lorraine Motel, or B.B. King and the blues pouring out of Beale Street. For everyone, it’s the barbecue.
Whoever you are, the common thread is the same: Memphis is a city of incredible music and incredible food. It’s soulful, unpretentious, and real in a way few American cities still are. This is where rock ‘n’ roll was born, where soul found its home, and where some of the most defining moments of the civil rights movement unfolded. Come for whatever drew you here. You’ll leave with a trip that means something long after.
Memphis
Did you know Memphis gave the world rock 'n' roll and soul?
Long before it was a household name, a tiny studio called Sun Studio recorded the artists who would invent rock ‘n’ roll, with the sound built on the genius of Black musicians like Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King, and Ike Turner. A few miles away, Stax Records turned an old movie theater into Soulsville, U.S.A., producing Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the MGs, and a string of hits that still move people today.
But the city’s story runs deeper than its music. Memphis was a pivotal stage for the civil rights movement, home to the 1968 sanitation workers’ strike and the place where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his final speech and lost his life. Today, the National Civil Rights Museum stands at the Lorraine Motel as one of the most powerful museums in the country, connecting that history straight to the present.
Music and movement, joy and struggle, often within the same few blocks. That’s the real Memphis.
Black Traveler Friendly Safe For Solo Women Travelers
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SOULSVILLE
BLACK CULTURE SPOTLIGHT
Stax Records
If Motown was Detroit’s sound, Stax was Memphis’s. From 1959 to 1974, in a deeply segregated South, Stax Records was a rare integrated studio in the Soulsville neighborhood of South Memphis, where Black and white musicians made records together and let the music be the only thing that mattered. That spirit produced some of the most enduring soul music ever recorded.
Walking through the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, you feel how much of the American songbook was built by Black artists right here. It’s a reminder that Black people didn’t just contribute to American music; we created its foundation, genre after genre. This is living Black history, and in Memphis, it’s everywhere you look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Memphis safe to visit?
Generally, yes. Memphis has a reputation, but almost everything you’ll want to see (the museums, Beale Street, the South Main Arts District, downtown) is within walking distance of each other in well-trafficked areas. Use the same common sense you would in any city: stay aware of your surroundings, be mindful at night, stick to the main areas, and use a rideshare for longer distances after dark.
How many days do you need in Memphis?
Two to three days is the sweet spot. Two days covers the major music and civil rights sites and great food if you’re focused; a third gives you breathing room for the museums, which deserve unhurried time.
What is the best time to visit Memphis?
Early fall (September and October) and spring (April and May) offer the best weather, with comfortable temperatures and lower humidity. Summer is the liveliest season, but it’s hot and humid.
What is Memphis known for?
Music history (the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll and the home of soul), civil rights history (the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel), legendary barbecue and a deeper food scene, and Beale Street’s live music and nightlife. Ask who the city’s most famous for and it depends who you ask: for some it’s Elvis, for others it’s Three 6 Mafia, Young Dolph, and GloRilla.
Do you need to rent a car in Memphis?
For downtown, no. The South Main district and the civil rights sites are walkable, and there’s a trolley. But you’ll want a car or rideshare for spread-out spots like Stax, Sun Studio, and Graceland.
Is Memphis worth visiting?
Without a doubt! If you care about music, history, and food, and you appreciate an authentic, soulful city over a polished resort destination, Memphis delivers something few places can.