We're home to legends like Elvis Presley, Isaac Hayes, Three 6 Mafia and Justin Timberlake - with plenty of options to learn music history, whether it's at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, by visiting Graceland, or just by seeing and hearing live music on Beale Street any night of the week.
Eating in Memphis is an experience for the soul.
Our specialty may be barbecue — Memphis is home to more than 100 barbecue restaurants — but make no bones about it: Dining out in Memphis doesn't stop at 'cue. We dish up soul food, fine dining, twists on Southern classics, authentic Italian and Mexican cuisine, burgers, wings, vegan fare and so much more - there's a diverse culinary story to tell. And our award-winning chefs and restaurateurs, brewers and distillers will welcome you with a dose of Southern hospitality every time.
Memphis is a destination steeped in culture and history, with roots dating back to the 1800s. Beyond our food and music scene, Memphis holds a special place in the hearts of many- primarily due to the charm and character of its historic neighborhoods. There's many neighborhoods to explore:
- Downtown: In Downtown Memphis, walk world-famous Beale Street to soak up live music and the stories of our music legacy, told through a collection of music attractions and public art you'll love snapping photos with. Downtown also tells civil rights stories at national landmarks, museums and galleries. It tells stories that flow with the mighty Mississippi River, and invites you to feel the rhythm of the river on riverboat rides and kayaks, by relaxing in riverfront parks or visiting iconic vantage points, like that pyramid defining our skyline. What's more, Downtown beckons with the excitement of professional sporting events, some of the city's best restaurants — barbecue included! — signature hotels and even free things to do
- Midtown: Home to award-winning Memphis Zoo, historic Overton Park and buzzy nightlife and entertainment districts including the Cooper-Young Historic District, Broad Avenue Arts District, Crosstown Concourse and Overton Square Entertainment District, Midtown is a collection of local restaurants, live music venues, shops for anything from records to made-in-Memphis fashion, theaters for movies, plays and musicals, and art gallery and exhibition spaces — all of which inspire some of the city's signature events and festivals.
- Broad Avenue Arts District: The Broad Avenue Arts District is a neighborhood in Midtown Memphis where you can enjoy locally owned restaurants, boutiques and galleries, as well as special events including art festivals and art nights. Public art, including the neighborhood's signature water tower and several murals, signal the vibe of the area. Just don't leave before dark: bars with live music, arcade games and more create a vibrant nightlife in the neighborhood, too.
- East Memphis: Start at Shelby Farms Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country, where you might ride horseback, rent a paddleboard to explore Hyde Lake or zipline at the onsite Go Ape Treetop Adventure course. For chiller adventures, stroll The Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Memphis Botanic Garden or the short trails at Lichterman Nature Center — or opt for retail therapy. Some of Memphis' best shopping is located in East Memphis, so you can browse locally owned boutiques and antiques stores, in addition to a traditional mall. Some of the city's most visionary chefs have moved into the neighborhood as well, curating irresistible spaces for gathering with friends over cocktails, wood-fired pizzas and upscale Southern fare. Add in a show at Theatre Memphis or seasonal Live at the Garden concert, and your East Memphis day is made.
- Crosstown Concourse: Memphis is home to countless one-of-a-kind places, and our city's reinvention of a former Sears distribution center is another example of this creativity and uniqueness. After sitting empty for more than 20 years, this towering historic building - now called Crosstown Concourse - reopened in August 2017. There's plenty of history and architecture, and lots to eat, drink and see within its walls.
ABOUT MEMPHIS TOURISM
Memphis Tourism, a 501(c)(6) membership organization, serves as the official destination marketing and tourism organization for Memphis and Shelby County.
The Memphis Tourism sales staff covers the convention, sports and tourism sales market segments and is supported by a marketing department that includes advertising, digital marketing, research, public relations and membership. Memphis Tourism also has representatives for the destination working in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Each year thousands visit two Memphis Tourism owned and operated visitor centers in Whitehaven and Arlington, along with a third downtown center that is operated in partnership with the state of Tennessee State Department of Tourism.
Memphis Tourism's commitment to workforce and economic development efforts are managed through its 501(c)(3) affiliate, Welcome to Memphis, which works to ensure tourism and hospitality professionals are equipped with customer service skills and destination knowledge to create a positive visitor experience.
The Memphis Sports Council operates within Memphis Tourism and works to bring a variety of large and small sporting events to Memphis and Shelby County each year, in addition to supporting annual sporting events. Memphis Management Group (MMG), a subsidiary of Memphis Tourism, operates both the Renasant Convention Center and The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. For more information about Memphis Tourism, visit www.memphistravel.com.