Welcome to Memphis Travel! Scroll to begin exploring your official source for Memphis vacation inspiration and planning.
One of "The Most Underrated Travel Destinations In The U.S." - HuffPost
Welcome to Memphis Travel! Scroll to begin exploring your official source for Memphis vacation inspiration and planning.
One of "The Most Underrated Travel Destinations In The U.S." - HuffPost
Start with our picks for the best experiences and activities of the season (as fall gives way to winter, that might be Memphis Grizzlies games at FedExForum, the International Blues Challenge, our favorite holiday traditions and Black History Month celebrations). Explore vacation possibilities by interest, whether you’re curious about our live music and nightlife scene, 60+ attractions, civil rights landmarks or world-famous barbecue.
Want curated recommendations for your Memphis, Tennessee, vacation? Take our quiz and receive customized itinerary ideas. Keep scrolling to see upcoming events in Memphis (from concerts to musicals at The Orpheum), plus hotel deals, dining recommendations and Memphis playlists to inspire your planning. You can also get a free Map & Tourist Guide or subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter.
There's no hibernating in Memphis! Not when winter is filled with holiday traditions, Memphis Grizzlies games, Elvis' rockin' birthday celebration, powerful Black History Month events and an International Blues Challenge that brings some of the world's best blues players to the Bluff City.
For the first time ever, the Memphis Zoo is hosting a Lantern Festival and it’s transforming evenings into pure magic. Explore 60+ brilliant lantern sculptures, glowing tunnels, interactive moments, and stunning animal displays inspired by Memphis’ Egyptian roots. Sip festive drinks, snack on winter treats, knock out a little holiday shopping, and enjoy included attractions like the CHINA Carousel and Zoo Tram. Running select nights through February 1, this is one seasonal experience you’ll want to add to your Memphis itinerary.
Memphis music is authentic, diverse and influential. Music-lovers visit to pay tribute to legends with ties to the city, including Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Aretha Franklin and Isaac Hayes. And they visit to experience the city that continues to inspire modern-day musicians, from Three 6 Mafia, Justin Timberlake and Julien Baker to Al Green. For this reason, Memphis attractions and activities present one-of-a-kind musical experiences.
Only in Memphis, you can listen to live blues on historic Beale Street, hold Elvis’ mic at Sun Studio (or tour the King of Rock 'n' Roll's home, Graceland Mansion) and see Isaac Hayes’ gold-plated Cadillac at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
What else would you expect from the city mentioned in more than 1,000 song lyrics and titles (more than any other in the world)?
Beyond the music, Memphis’ 60-plus attractions and activities are some of the top things to do in Tennessee, including the National Civil Rights Museum and seven stops on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, the world’s longest pedestrian bridge over the Mississippi River, the red-carpet marching Peabody Ducks and the world’s ninth largest pyramid. The Memphis pyramid is home to a bucket-list Bass Pro Shops complete with an indoor swamp, underwater-themed bowling and a glass-bottom observation deck overlooking the Mississippi River.
Visitors also come to Memphis for the city’s reputation as a barbecue capital. With more than 100 restaurants dedicated to the craft, two annual barbecue cooking contests and unique specialties to try – from charcoal-smoked ribs to pulled pork-studded nachos – Memphis is a city that feeds the soul. Soul food, celebrated chefs and all kinds of food festivals contribute to that reputation.
p.s. If you’re wondering how Memphis got its name, this city that anchors southwest Tennessee, marked by bluffs that rise from the Mississippi River, is named after the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis, which sat along the Nile River.
Here's that quiz we mentioned – take it to tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re looking for in a vacation to Memphis. Or, click on any of the Memphis Experiences below to start exploring. These are the reasons the world comes to Memphis.
