KAYAK - Memphis, Tennessee Travel Guide

Memphis Travel

Popular Tennessee (TN) Destinations

Nearby Cities

Memphis Airports

Memphis Vacations

If Nashville is considered the home of country music, Memphis, Tennessee, might rightly be called the birthplace of the blues. Situated on a bluff looking down over the Mississippi River, the city is a gateway to the southern Mississippi and Louisiana farms and bayous as well as to Arkansas beyond and Chicago up north. Visit in May to enjoy the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest featuring $40,000 in prizes. The site of Elvis Presley’s Graceland and the Civil Rights Museum, Memphis is a fertile breeding ground for creativity and individualism. Tourists are most apt to enjoy the leisurely pace of life and lovely grounds of many homes and buildings in this charming city.

Popular Memphis Hotels

The Westin Memphis Beale Street
170 Lt. George W. Lee Avenue

Regency Inn & Suites Memphis Airport
2411 Winchester Road

Memphis Marriott Downtown
250 North Main Street

Crowne Plaza MEMPHIS DOWNTOWN
300 North Second Street

Peabody Memphis
149 Union Avenue

Hilton Memphis
939 Ridge Lake Boulevard

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Top rated attractions in Memphis

1.	Memphis Botanic Garden Memphis Botanic Garden, Memphis, comprises 100 acres of gorgeous gardens, wooded areas, and lakes. Visit the Japanese Garden of tranquility or the Sensory Garden, among others, to cap an exhausting day of business or site seeing. Spring events include a Brown Bag Lunch & Learn and Art in the Garden. Take I-40 to exit 12-B and stay on the Sam Cooper Blvd. Freeway until you reach exit 9. « hide
2.	Children’s Museum of Memphis Where children love to learn and adults learn to play! Kids climb through enlarged model of human heart and arteries in “Growing Healthy” or explore a 50-foot model of the Mississippi River. Numerous fun and insightful activities for children and parents. « hide
3.	The Mississippi River Museum The Mississippi River Museum, Memphis, displays numerous exhibits about the mighty river and its history, along with contemporary major events. You can see a partial 1870 Mississippi River steamboat, a Civil War Union gunboat, and nearby, a World War II B-17, Mississippi Belle. Canoe, kayak, bike, and pedal boat rentals available. Take I-40 to exit 1. « hide
4.	Sun Studio Not exactly a secret, this unimposing site can get overlooked in the wake of more glittery attractions. In Sun Studio, which became the birthplace of “rock ‘n roll,” Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley got to know each other and jammed together. Here 17-year-old Ike Turner played piano in 1950, and in 1953, 18-year-old Elvis Presley nervously auditioned for the first time. Learn about the other great blues, country, and rock performers who got their start in Memphis. « hide
5.	See Memphis Featured Tours If you prefer being chauffeured to driving your own vehicle, schedule a tour with See Memphis, which offers specialized charter tours for family reunions, student groups, and self-guided tours. Take the African-American tour to learn about the role Memphis played in this dynamic movement. Or take the Everything Elvis excursion to peek into the King’s local haunts. Many other themes and areas available. « hide
6.	Beale Street Beale Street, Memphis, encompasses three blocks between 2nd and 4th streets that are home to nearly three dozen nightclubs, eateries, and shops. World-famous, Beale Street hosts many types of street musicians playing rock & roll, R&B, blues, or jazz. Take I-40 to exit 1 (Promenade Street), which then becomes Riverside Drive and will take you to Beale Street. « hide
7.	The Pyramid, Memphis The Pyramid, Memphis, is the world’s third largest pyramid with 32 stories and 21,000 seats. This sport arena and entertainment facility links this U.S. city to his Egyptian ancestor by the same name. You can tour the Gallery of Stars, which displays huge photos of the biggest sports and entertainment celebrities, on a 30- or 40-minute guided walk. It’s also possible to visit the backstage, dressing rooms, and locker rooms. « hide
8.	Graceland Graceland, Memphis, is a must-see for Elvis Presley fans. The King’s personal residence sits on 14 acres that include two museums, his airplane, a movie theater, and specialty shops. From Memphis, take I240 to the I-55 interchange and exit 25A to follow I-55 Southbound; exit 5-B. Follow US-51 (Elvis Presley Boulevard) to Graceland. Self-guided audio tours through the mansion via stories told by Elvis and daughter Lisa Marie. Additional tours include his custom jet and car collections, as well as the new “Elvis After Dark” exhibit. Three ticket levels offer basic mansion tours, the mansion plus auxiliary exhibits, and the VIP Tour. « hide
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Top rated restaurants in Memphis

1.	Charlie Vergo’s Rendezvous Charlie Vergo’s Rendezvous, Memphis, has been around since 1948 and enjoys a longstanding reputation for quality. Prompt service and delectable pork loin bring back committed customers and new guests. It is frequently rated as one of Memphis’s best barbecue sensation. « hide	6.	Sekisui Midtown Sekisui Midtown, Memphis, proudly presents Japanese cuisine for lunch and dinner. Menu includes traditional Japanese entrees, including sushi, and reliable service. « hide
2.	Cozy Corner Cozy Corner, Memphis, is a simple eatery cooking smokin’ hot barbecue. Served on paper plates and plastic tablecloths, the entrees more than make up for the basic décor. Ask about their ribs, sandwiches, or their specialty—Cornish game hen. NO Alcohol served « hide	7.	The Bayou Bar and Grille The Bayou Bar and Grille, Memphis, will tickle your fancy for the Southern entrees on its menu. Try their famed Cajun catfish, jambalaya, gumbo, or red beans with rice. « hide
3.	Interstate Bar-B-Q You’ll get more than pork here! Try this family-owned eatery’s barbecued hash, chicken, bologna, and spaghetti! Friendly service, and unforgettable barbecue sauce. « hide	8.	King’s Palace Café King’s Palace Café, Memphis, is called “the home of championship gumbo,” along with a long line of other delicious Southern entrees. You’ll love the ribs, Cajun dishes, crawfish etouffee, voodoo potatoes, catfish with hush puppies, and other regional favorites. Blues and jazz music offered every night. « hide
4.	Spindini Spindini, Memphis, prepares authentic Italian classic and innovative fire-cooked entrees on the restaurant’s popular wood-fired oven. Guests have their choice of “cartoccio” food in copper cookers, skewered spiedini, and other tasty items cooked in terra cotta. Fresh bread daily. Casual elegant style. Complementary valet « hide	9.	Owen Brennan's Restaurant Owen Brennan’s Restaurant, Memphis, offers an elegant dining experience in the New Orleans tradition where you will find fantastic preparations of Cajun and Creole favorites. Live jazz music on weekends. « hide
5.	Mojo's Mojo’s, Memphis, serves a traditional Mediterranean menu featuring tabouli, kebabs, and Greek salad. Weekend belly dancer provides live entertainment. Average entrée costs about $8. Casual atmosphere, beer is served; no smoking. « hide	10.	Melange Melange, Memphis, is one of the most exciting of the city nightclubs, located inside a trendy restaurant. The dynamic bar draws the younger set and fashionistas for drinks and ales « hide

Memphis Insider tips

Lock Your Car!

Reportedly, Memphis has high auto theft and vehicle break-in rates, so be sure to lock your car doors when you leave a vehicle unattended. Don’t leave valuables like a purse, briefcase, or clothing exposed on the seats; lock these items in the trunk or push them under the seat where they can’t be seen. When possible, try to park in a well-lit area with lots of other cars. Avoid traveling alone in unknown or unsafe Memphis neighborhoods or out-of-the-way areas after dark. « hide

Nighttime Driving in Memphis

Like any other city, Memphis has its share of questionable neighborhoods and high-crime areas. Stay in well-populated centers and places of business or entertainment after dark. If you must go out alone at night, stay aware of your surroundings when you get out of the car to shop, fuel the car, or ask directions; try to do these things during the day. Beware of pickpockets around key sites like Graceland, though many attractions close by dark. It’s always a good idea to plan ahead to avoid getting lost at night. « hide

Memphis nightlife

1.	Club 152 Club 152, Memphis, is a dance club newbie in Memphis, but has rapidly climbed the popularity charts toward the number one spot. Attracts young adults who like to dance on three different floors to alternative, techno, or other music styles, some live by up-and-coming bands, late into the night. « hide
2.	The Black Diamond The Black Diamond, Memphis, is a recent new club on famous Beale Street. You can find big names playing live music here, including Isaac Hayes and the Nighthawks. Songwriter’s night is the last Thursday of each month. « hide

Cheap Memphis Flights

These are the cheapest* flights to Memphis found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours. Use the links to see if you can get a better flight deal.

From Rs. 9419 Flights New York (NYC) - Memphis (MEM)
From Rs. 8787 Flights Boston (BOS) - Memphis (MEM)
From Rs. 11666 Flights Los Angeles (LAX) - Memphis (MEM)
From Rs. 15609 Flights Chicago (ORD) - Memphis (MEM)
From Rs. 13375 Flights Washington (WAS) - Memphis (MEM)
From Rs. 11862 Flights Philadelphia (PHL) - Memphis (MEM)
From Rs. 7772 Flights Chicago (CHI) - Memphis (MEM)
From Rs. 13351 Flights Charlotte (CLT) - Memphis (MEM)
From Rs. 13425 Flights Raleigh (RDU) - Memphis (MEM)
From Rs. 6601 Flights Atlanta (ATL) - Memphis (MEM)