Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Memphis?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Memphis?
Many travelers spend two to three days in Memphis during their visit. After all, the soulful city has plenty to explore such as the live music, the nightlife scene, and the famous sights and museums.
Memphis is a music loving city that sits on the Mississippi River. It has its roots in several music genres including the blues, soul, and rock 'n' roll and several notable musicians recorded such as Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. In addition to its influence over music, the city has a great food scene with classic southern favorites such as barbecue.
Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Memphis? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is 3 days enough time in Memphis?
Many visitors choose to spend around three days in Memphis. This would give you the chance to experience the city's most popular activities and listen to some live music, grab some drinks at a bar, wander through the museums, and enjoy the city's energy. Since many visitors prefer to spend around two to three days here, we have a few suggestions of things to do in the soulful city.
How to spend 3 days in Memphis
Don't miss Elvis Presley's Graceland during your trip to Memphis, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
Live music is very popular in Memphis, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. There are plenty of live music venues in the downtown area that you can explore. Several of the most famous include B.B. King's Blues Club, Handy Park Pavilion, and Blues City Cafe. The city is known for its influential role in several music genres including the blues, soul, and rock 'n' roll. There are also many music related museums and attractions in town like Graceland, the Rock 'n' Soul Museum, the Blues Hall of Fame and Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Memphis Music Scene: Private Half-Day Walking Tour ($155)
- Memphis Music Hall of Fame Admission Ticket ($8)
This city offers some good museums and historic landmarks, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. Pick the ones that appeal to you the most and get started. Many attractions in town are related to the city's history in music. There is the famed Graceland as well as the Rock 'n' Soul Museum, the Blues Hall of Fame and Stax Museum of American Soul Music. The city also has several art museums that are worth checking out.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum Admission Ticket in Memphis ($15)
- Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum Admission ($14)
This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. Music is at the heart of the nightlife scene. Head to Beale Street in Memphis's downtown for the most active nightlife that usually stays open the latest. You'll also find a lot of bars and clubs in Midtown around Overton Square.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Haunted Pub Crawl in Memphis ($27)
Memphis is large enough to spend at least a full day exploring the local neighborhoods, attractions, and activities found around town. The city sits on the Mississippi River and is famous for its influence on different musical genres like the blues, rock 'n' roll, and soul.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Memphis City Tour with Sun Studio Admission ($75)
- Memphis Hop On and Hop Off Tour ($40)
- Memphis City Tour with Optional Riverboat Cruise & Sun Studio Add-On Options ($45)
You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. The town has grown into a foodie destination with excellent barbecue and ribs. There are many award winning barbecue joints, but you'll also find casual bars that serve nachos, pizza, and other quick bites.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Memphis Brew Bus Tour with Three Local Breweries & Tastings ($65)
- Taste of Downtown Memphis Food Tour ($75)
Is 4 days enough time in Memphis?
Four days provides ample opportunity to explore the entirety of Memphis at your own pace to listen to some live music, grab some drinks at a bar, wander through the museums, and enjoy the city's energy. Then you can use the city as a convenient base for venturing into nearby destinations where you'll discover exciting day trip options.
Memphis, Tennesse
How to spend 4 days in Memphis
With 4 days in Memphis, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
After you've explored most of Memphis, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
As the live music scene is so popular in Memphis, make sure you spend another evening finding more of the area's best places to take in a show. Often, many of the local venues are near one another, so you can hop from place to place.
Is 5 days enough time in Memphis?
With five days at your disposal, you'll have more than enough time to take in all that Memphis has to offer, giving you the flexibility to unwind in your hotel or use Memphis as a base for day trips to nearby destinations. You can relax while enjoying the live music, the nightlife scene, and the famous sights and museums at your own pace. We have some suggestions of things to do below, too.
How to spend 5 days in Memphis
If you have more than 5 days in Memphis, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.
Memphis is such a huge city that you can easily spend another day in one of the neighborhoods that you haven't visited. Look for those hidden gems and local spots where most tourists don't go. Or, pick another neighborhood with local charm that you haven't fully explored yet.
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Memphis, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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