10 Best Things To Do In Memphis: Elvis-Town

Memphis must be on every traveler’s bucket list. You will never have a dull moment while you enjoy the best things to do in Memphis. This alluring city in Tennessee is the seat of Shelby County in the state’s southwestern part, and is situated along the Mississippi River. 

Do you fancy learning about the history and heritage of the city? Or perhaps you are yearning to know more about its contributions to the world of music, art, culture, and politics in America. Or maybe you are just craving barbecue. Whatever your reasons are for visiting this Tennessee city, the things to do in Memphis will surely live up to your expectations. 

But beyond those attractions and activities, Memphis is known to be the home of the king of rock and roll himself, Elvis Presley. He loved the city so much that when asked after returning from the Army, he said what he missed most about Memphis is “everything.” And you can appreciate Memphis from the perspective of this artist in a place called Graceland. You will learn more about this and more as you read on. Rock your world, move your soul, and discover your own beat in Memphis. 

Revealing Some Of The Best Things To Do In Memphis

What are some of the best things to do in Memphis?

1. Memorialize And Salute Elvis Presley In Graceland, His Home

Since Presley once called Memphis his home, your visit here won’t be complete without visiting Graceland. Visiting this mansion where the singer and actor once lived is among the first things to do in Memphis. 

Memphis carries a strong musical identity, which brings no doubt as to why Elvis chose the city to be his kingdom. Appreciate Memphis from the eyes of this artist in Graceland. Situated about 10 miles south of Memphis’ downtown, Graceland is also one of the most-visited private homes all across America. 

As you make your way inside the mansion, you will see Elvis’ famous jungle room, his iconic pink Cadillac, and his record collection. Plus, there’s even a walk through his customized private jet. And did you know that his grave is also located on Graceland’s grounds. Your tour here will be very high-tech as an iPad will guide you through each of the rooms, alongside audio narration by actor John Stamos. Yes, the actor in blockbusters like “Never Too Young to Die” and “Born to Ride.” 

2. Don’t Miss A Memphis Grizzlies Game Here!

Aside from Elvis, you know that when hearing Memphis, you will also think about the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. This is their home. 

Like San Francisco and Cleveland, Memphis is also a basketball city – in the biggest of ways. Believe it or not, the University of Memphis prompts holidays on some days when there’s a game. 

Memphis is where NBA alumnus and its native son, Penny Hardaway, coaches his alma mater. It is where even young hoops franchises win ardent fans and games with a soul-deep contentiousness filled with grind and grit, and where superstars like NBA All-Star Ja Morant scribe basketball history. 

These are just some of the reasons ESPN magazine named Memphis Grizzlies the best overall professional sports franchise a few years ago. So, you are definitely missing a lot if you don’t include watching a Grizzlies game on your things to do in Memphis list. If you are ready to catch a Grizzlies match, head to the FedEx Forum located in downtown Memphis, and be part of the action. 

So when the Grizz bring their game to the FedExForum in Downtown Memphis, the city actually vibrates.

You will find out that the things to do in Memphis are mostly about music. Want more cities that champion music? Visit Nashville too. Here’s a guide. 

3. The Best Barbecues Are In Memphis

If you are searching for the best barbecues in America, eateries in Memphis will, for sure, be on top of the lists. Well, the reason is simple. The best barbecues are in Memphis. 

Barbecues are famous in Memphis primarily because of the city’s geographical location. Since it is a port town, the city’s barbecue cooks have enjoyed access to a wider range of ingredients to slab on, including all the molasses shipped up the nearby Mississippi River. These have shaped the way Memphis’ barbecues are made – with warm spices balanced by a sweet and tomatoey sauce. 

As you search for the best things to do in Memphis wherein you can get a taste of the city’s best barbecues, list down these places: A&R Bar-B-Que, The Bar-B-Q Shop, Central BBQ, Charlie Vergos Rendezvous, and Cozy Corner Restaurant. 

4. Learn More About The Civil Rights Movement In This Museum

Memphis is a city that’s a venue to the civil rights movement, a venue that lingers to people’s memories. For one, there’s a museum here housed in a motel where civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. This is a reason why many travelers consider visiting the National Civil Rights Museum as among the top things to do in Memphis. 

The National Civil Rights Museum features multimedia presentations detailing the civil rights movement. Its collection also includes 260 artifacts, over 40 movies, oral histories, interactive media, and more which visitors can witness, as they are guided through four centuries of history. 

During your tour, you will also get to view artifacts significant to the movement, such as the Greyhound bus that the Freedom Riders rode on, as well as King’s motel room, where he spent his last hours.

Go all out exploring the best things to do in Memphis, and satisfy your taste buds with the city’s best food. Want to know about the best food tours in Tennessee, Memphis’ home state? Read this story.  

5. Cruise The Mississippi River On A Paddlewheel Boat

Memphis is located along the mighty Mississippi River, so another of the best things to do in Memphis is cruising this waterway. But the Mississippi River cruises here are not just any regular cruise. You will ride a paddlewheel boat, which is a vintage type of boat that’s somewhat similar to a steamship or steamboat. During the cruise, you will see all that Memphis has to offer, such as Beale Street and the former mansions of the Victorian Village neighborhood. 

6. Shake, Rattle, And Roll In This Musical Bus Tour

Like Nashville, Memphis is also a city that stands witness to a lot of musical heritage. So as you explore this place, there’s no way for you not to try some things to do in Memphis such as going on a musical bus tour.

In this tour, you will shake, rattle, and roll with local musicians who are facilitating the ride through Memphis, the home of the blues, complete with live music onboard, as well as shakers, tambourines, and bongos playing out for you to have a good time. You will also be stopping by Beale Street, Stax Studio, and Lorraine Motel, among others.

7. Lounge At Beale Street, The Heart And Soul Of Memphis Culture, And Where Blues Were Born

Beale Street is the most iconic street in Memphis, and one of the most iconic streets in the United States. Not only does this place host a wide array of shops, clubs, music studios, cafés, museums, and other attractions, but it is also brimming with so much history as the heart and soul of Memphis culture, and where blues were born.  

Established in 1841, Beale Street gradually became a hub for travelers and traders, whom musicians treated as audience since this crowd came in and from the port. This ushered Beale Street to become widely known among the African-American community, as blues music started to flourish here. 

Today, Beale Street may be home to everything from nightclubs to restaurants, but as you enjoy your things to do in Memphis here, you will see that it still hosts a number of vintage attractions like old theaters, historic houses, and retro jazz halls. 

Are there scorpions in Tennessee? We have a story to reveal the facts. Another must-read article from our website aside from this “things to do in Memphis” guide.

8. Sing Your Hearts Out At The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum

After enjoying the things to do in Memphis on Beale Street, you can have fun with more activities at the nearby Memphis Rock n’ Soul Museum. Just a few steps away from Beale Street, this Smithstonian affiliate was voted “Best Museum” in 2022. Here, you will learn why Memphis is the center of the blues, soul, and rock and roll. You will be treated to a treasure trove of memorabilia and a loaded playlist. 

Memphis has a lot of music-themed attractions, but this museum is quite unique since it literally tells the whole Memphis music story. You can hear every musical style, encounter the characters across genres, and gain access to a bunch of multimedia, prompting you to geek out or rock out as much as you wish.

9. Take A Selfie With The Memphis Pyramid

Memphis shares some things with Egypt (Seriously? Even if the two places are miles and miles away? Yes.). First, Memphis is also a city in Egypt. Second, there’s also a pyramid in America’s Memphis, known as the Memphis Pyramid. And while you are here, this is definitely one of the must-try things to do in Memphis. 

Dubbed as the most striking building in Memphis, this 32-story Memphis Pyramid was completed in 1991, and is now the home of the huge Bass Pro Shops. The activities are quite varied here. There’s an artificial swamp and an aquarium you can visit even without you bringing fishing gear or hiking boots. Then, there’s the Sky High, a clear-walled elevator ascending 28 stories toward a glass observation deck that will treat you to amazing views of downtown and the river. A must-visit. 

10. Treat Your Kids To A Crash Course On Science And History

Know that kids will learn more knowledge even when they are beyond the four corners of their classroom, such as when traveling. And here in Memphis, there’s a place for your kids. Not Disneyland. Not LEGOLAND. But a museum where they can learn lots of things about science and history. 

If you’ve got kids in tow, one of the best things to do in Memphis for your whole family is a visit to MoSH or the Museum of Science & History. Formerly known as the Pink Palace Museum since it is housed in a vivacious pink mansion constructed by Clarence Saunders, a supermarket tycoon, the museum is dedicated to teaching guests culture, history, and science. 

Here, there are various interactive rotating and permanent exhibits such as the Piggly Wiggly grocery replica, and an exhibit that teaches about dinosaurs. You and your kids can journey here and learn about meteors, constellations and black holes, or enjoy 3D movies on the museum’s Giant Screen Theater. Don’t miss this.

The best things to do in Memphis just reflect the beauty of the United States. Want to make memories? FInd out the best cities to photograph in the USA. Click here for the guide.

Things To Do In Memphis: Best Hotels To Stay At

Aside from the rundown of the best things to do in Memphis, this guide will also take you to a list of the best hotels in the area, from the posh and luxurious ones, to those that are budget-friendly. Here they are.

• The Peabody Memphis
• Big Cypress Lodge
• River Inn of Harbor Town
• The Westin Memphis Beale Street
• The Guest House at Graceland
• The Memphian, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
• Hu. Hotel
• Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel 

Rock Your World In Memphis

Memphis does not just invite tourists – it attracts pilgrims. Music enthusiasts love themselves to the throbs of blues guitars along Beale Street. Barbecue foodies treat themselves to a buffet of smoky pulled pork and dry-rubbed ribs. Elvis fanatics make it a point to visit Graceland. 

In Memphis, you can spend days hopping from a museum or historic site to another, or stopping only for barbecue. Either way, you will leave happy and satisfied. A lover of Elvis Presley or not, a lover of music or not, you will enjoy the best things to do in Memphis.