Memphis packs an extraordinary amount of history into a compact, easygoing city. The essentials fall into three areas: downtown, with Beale Street, The Peabody and the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum; the South Main district, home to the National Civil Rights Museum; and a ring of sights a short drive away, from Sun Studio just east of downtown to Stax in Soulsville and Graceland in Whitehaven. Here is how to put a first trip together.
How many days
Two full days cover the headline sights: Graceland and Sun Studio on one day, the Civil Rights Museum and Beale Street on the other. Three days is the sweet spot, adding the Stax Museum, the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum, a food tour and an evening ghost walk. With a fourth day, slow down, add the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, explore the riverfront and leave time for barbecue and more live music.
What to book ahead
Graceland is the big one: book your ticket online, choose an early time and allow half a day. The Taste of Downtown Memphis food tour is often booked weeks ahead and needs at least two people, and the evening ghost tour fills a couple of weeks out at weekends. Stax and the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum can be booked online to skip the desk. Sun Studio is different: tours are first come, first served on arrival, and a voucher does not hold a time, so turn up 15 to 20 minutes before the tour you want.
Hours and closures in November 2026
Graceland opens daily from 9:00 to 16:00 and is closed on Thanksgiving (26 November) and Christmas Day; its Holiday Lighting Weekend runs from 19 to 21 November. Sun Studio runs tours every day from 10:30 to 16:30 and closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, as does the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum, which opens daily from 10:00 to 17:00. The National Civil Rights Museum normally closes on Tuesdays, and the Stax Museum has traditionally closed on Mondays, so do not plan both at the start of the week without checking. The Peabody ducks march every day at 11:00 and 17:00.
Getting around
Downtown is walkable, and Beale Street, The Peabody, FedExForum and the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum are within a few blocks of each other. The Main Street trolley helps for South Main and the Civil Rights Museum. Graceland, Stax and Sun Studio are easiest by car or rideshare; the Guest House at Graceland runs shuttles to downtown, and the Memphis Mojo music bus tour, which offers Sun Studio or Stax admission as an option, is a fun way to see the music sites with hotel pickup.
Day one: the King
Start at Graceland at opening, tour the mansion first and then the car museum and airplanes. In the afternoon, drive to Sun Studio for the tour where Elvis cut his first records. In the evening, watch the 17:00 duck march at The Peabody and walk a block south to Beale Street.
Day two: history and soul
Spend the morning at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, giving it at least two to three hours and saving time for the Legacy Building. After lunch on South Main, head to the Stax Museum in Soulsville. End the day with the Haunted Memphis walking tour, which finishes at Earnestine and Hazel’s on South Main.
Day three: food and music
Take the Mojo music tour in the morning, join the Taste of Downtown Memphis food tour in the afternoon, then visit the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum before it closes and spend your last night club-hopping on Beale.
Practical tips
November weather swings from mild to chilly, so pack layers for evening walks. On Beale Street, a small security fee applies on select weekend and holiday nights, and after 23:00 everyone must be 21 or older with ID. Many of the best experiences, from the duck march to the street music, are free, so a careful plan keeps a first trip affordable.
