Graceland is the reason many people come to Memphis, and it lives up to the legend. Elvis Presley bought the white-columned house on what is now Elvis Presley Boulevard in the late 1950s and lived there until his death in 1977, and the mansion is preserved much as he left it. The tour begins with an orientation film, then an audio guide, narrated by actor John Stamos and available in several languages, leads you through the living room, the mirrored TV room, the famous Jungle Room and the trophy building, out to the racquetball court and finally to the Meditation Garden, where Elvis and his family are buried. Across the road, the Elvis Presley’s Memphis complex holds the self-guided Automobile Museum, the Elvis: The Entertainer career museum, the Graceland Archives Experience and other discovery exhibits, plus his two custom airplanes. This page links to Graceland’s own Platinum-level ticket on Viator, which bundles the mansion, the museums and the planes and is rated 4.4 from more than 700 reviews.
How to visit: Graceland is in Whitehaven, about ten minutes south of downtown and three minutes from Memphis International Airport, and tours depart from the ticket office at 3765 Elvis Presley Boulevard. In November 2026 it opens daily from 9:00 to 16:00, with the last mansion tour at 16:00 and the airplanes opening at 10:00. It is closed on Thanksgiving (26 November 2026) and Christmas Day, with no walk-ups, and closes early on Christmas Eve. Hours can change, so check before you go. The Viator listing is the Graceland-supplied ticket with flexible departure times through the day and free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
What to expect: shuttles carry you across the boulevard to the mansion at your tour time, and the house itself takes about an hour; the upstairs rooms, where Elvis lived privately, are not part of the tour. Plan on at least half a day for the mansion, the car museum, the career museum and the planes, and longer if you are a serious fan. Lines are longest on weekends and in August around Elvis Week.
Making the most of it: arrive early and do the mansion first, while it is quieter. From 19 November 2026, the Holiday Lighting Weekend switches on Elvis’s Christmas lights, and the house is dressed for the season through the holidays, which makes late November a lovely time to visit.
What to expect
The experience
An audio-guided tour of the Graceland mansion and Meditation Garden, followed by self-guided museums and Elvis’s airplanes across the boulevard.
Best time
The first tours of a weekday morning, before the coach groups arrive, or late November when the Christmas lights are on.
How long
Three to five hours for the mansion, museums and airplanes, and a full day for devoted fans.
Tips
Book ahead, start with the mansion, and remember Graceland is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day and closes early on Christmas Eve.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Elvis fans, first-timers and anyone curious about the most famous home in American pop culture.
- Families
- Kids enjoy the cars, the planes and the Jungle Room, though the full visit is long for the very young.
- Couples
- Come for the Holiday Lighting Weekend in late November, when the lawn glows with Elvis’s Christmas lights.
- Pair with
- Sun Studio, where Elvis made his first records, on the same day or the next morning.
- Time needed
- Half a day at least.
Good questions
What are Graceland’s hours in November 2026?+
Graceland opens daily from 9:00 to 16:00, with the last mansion tour at 16:00 and the airplanes opening at 10:00. It is closed on Thanksgiving, 26 November 2026, and on Christmas Day.
How long does a Graceland visit take?+
The mansion tour itself takes about an hour, but most visitors spend three to five hours including the museums and airplanes. Serious fans often stay most of the day.
Can you go upstairs at Graceland?+
No, the upstairs rooms where Elvis lived privately are not open to visitors. The tour covers the main floor, the basement rooms, the Jungle Room, outbuildings and the Meditation Garden.
Who narrates the Graceland audio guide?+
The audio guide is narrated by actor John Stamos and is offered in several languages. It plays as you walk through the mansion at your own pace.
When are the Christmas lights on at Graceland?+
The 2026 Holiday Lighting Ceremony is on 19 November, when staff switch on Elvis’s Christmas lights. The decorations then stay up through the holiday season.
