Guide to Memphis: how to get there and where to stay, what to see and where to go in the evening. Highlights of Memphis: fresh reviews and photos, places to see, branded entertainment and shopping.
According to toppharmacyschools, Memphis is the largest city in the US state of Tennessee and the 19th largest in America, located in the southwest of the state. The city, founded in 1819, was named after the ancient capital of Egypt.
Memphis is considered the birthplace of the blues.
King of rock and roll Elvis Presley spent the last years of his life in Memphis.
How to get there
By plane
Memphis International Airport is one of the busiest cargo airports in the world (all items bought on eBay, as well as FedEx parcels, are sent through it). Most tourists fly to Memphis on Delta airlines.
The airport is located 20 kilometers from the city center along the I-55 highway. You can get to the city by taxi (on average – from 25 USD ) or by bus No. 2 or No. 4 (base fare – from 1 USD ). Prices on the page are for July 2021.
By car
Interstate 40 connects Memphis with the rest of America, but the highway does not pass through the city, so you should turn off it onto I-40, and then onto I-240, the Memphis ring road.
By bus
Greyhound buses carry out trips to both nearby and distant cities. The road from Nashville will take about 4 hours and will cost you – from 59 USD, from Little Rock – from 24 USD and 2.5 hours, and from New Orleans – 68 USD and 11 hours.
The Megabus budget company operates flights from Atlanta and Dallas (the cost of the trip starts from 70 USD ).
By train
Amtrak’s rail network connects Memphis to all cities up and down the Mississippi, as well as major cities such as Chicago (from $111, 10.5 hours) and New Orleans (from $64, 9 hours).
Search for flights to Memphis at the lowest prices
Transport
Driving is the best way to see Memphis and the surrounding area. Bus service is available throughout the city, but some routes are slow in the evening, and on weekends, the bus may change the route of the trip.
Weather in Memphis
Memphis is very hot and humid during the summer, especially in July and August. There are often thunderstorms in summer, in autumn it is warm and comfortable almost until November, in winter the temperature rarely drops below 10 degrees.
See also the current weather forecast in Memphis for the next few days.
Transport
Driving is the best way to see Memphis and the surrounding area. Bus service is available throughout the city, but some routes do not run well in the evening, and on weekends the bus may change the route.
Memphis Hotels
In the city you can find affordable and comfortable housing for any period. Accommodation in a 3 * hotel will cost – from 100 USD.
Mid-range hotels are represented by Hampton Inn, located on the legendary Beale Street. This place is suitable for those who like to be in the center of events day and night. If you prefer a quieter setting, Doubletree Downtown is a couple of blocks away.
A high level of service (at appropriate prices) can be obtained at the Peabody Hotel, which showcases the best examples of luxury in the American South, the River Inn of Harbor Town, where in addition to the atmosphere of a boutique hotel you will find a magnificent view of the Mississippi Harbor and Hu Hotel, located in the city center, with a great rooftop restaurant.
Cuisine and restaurants
Memphis is famous for two things – music and food. And besides, it is one of the cheapest cities in America to live in, which is also reflected in the price tags in restaurants. The local barbecue is known all over the world and is served in wet (with a spicy spicy sauce) and dry (when the meat is rubbed with spices right before cooking). There are many places throughout the city where you can taste southern cuisine. Real culinary treasures can be found even in ordinary eateries.
Entertainment and attractions in Memphis
The home of the blues on Beale Street is dozens of bars and clubs with live music, in the evenings the street is closed for cars and the fun spills out into the street.
National Civil Rights Museum, located in the house where Martin Luther King was mortally wounded (opening hours – from 9:00 to 17:00). Mud Island River Park is accessible by monorail. The park houses the Mississippi River Museum.
At the Rock’n’ Soul Museum, you get headphones at the entrance and listen to melodies and famous songs as you walk past the exhibits. And at Pinc Place, built on the site of the private residence of eccentric billionaire Clarence Saunders, you can see an eclectic collection, from animated dinosaur models to a planetarium.
But, of course, the most famous place is located in the vicinity of Memphis – this is Graceland – the home of the king of rock and roll Elvis Presley. Every anniversary of the singer’s death, locals and fans from across America, dressed as Elvis and his wife Priscilla, gather around the mansion where he lived, with candles lit. Here you can buy unique souvenirs dedicated to Elvis.
The Mississippi River is accessible by boat for short and long trips, and the best view of the river is from Tom Lee Park.
Memphis nightlife
Soul, R&B, and rock ‘n’ roll are deeply embedded in the cultural life of Memphis, and today there are many places in the city where you can listen to high-quality music. The most famous clubs are located on Beale Street, where you can walk around dozens of clubs or listen to music performed by street performers.
By purchasing a white bracelet, you secure access to all clubs.
Popular musicians of various styles from reggae to country perform at the Hi-Tone Cafe. It is always lively here and the audience enthusiastically dances to incendiary music. Minglewood Hall is Memphis’ newest music venue, bringing the pulse of the modern city to life.
Developments
The largest cultural event in the city is the Memphis in May festival, which includes a music festival, a world barbecue championship, and the Sunset Symphony Festival. Also in May, the Greek Festival takes place in Memphis, associated with the feast of the Annunciation of the Greek Orthodox Church, the main entertainment of the festival is the tasting of Greek cuisine and wines.
The Market Italian Festival, which includes musical performances, fairs and Italian cooking competitions, takes place in June. And in June, the whole city and thousands of tourists walk at the Memphis Carnival – an endless string of parties, concerts and parades throughout the city.
