Memphis is the second largest city in the state of Tennessee, after Nashville. The state rests in the southeastern portion of the United States. Memphis, with a population of more than 651,000 (2019), is also the county seat for Shelby County. The city's claims to fame include Graceland, the mansion Elvis Presley lived in during his later years. Perhaps more importantly, Memphis is considered by many to be the home of blues music.
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Although downtown Memphis has experienced quite a rebirth and renewal in the last few years, the center of the city is older; it is full of new development, teeming with change and coming into its own. In the past few years, the city has emerged to boast one of the largest downtown populations among US cities. Citizens again have a vested interest in making downtown a safe, exciting place to visit and relax in after decades of abandonment. Memphis is extremely hot in the summertime, and the humidity can make you feel even hotter! Those who have trouble tolerating high heat and humidity may wish to avoid visiting in July and August. Daytime summer temperature average around 92 °F (33 °C).
Driving: Travel by car is really the only way to get around Memphis if you want to do anything other than see Downtown. Public Transit: The Main Street Trolley operates along Main Street within the Downtown area. Bus service provided by the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) is available across the city. Some routes are very poorly served in the evenings. At nights and weekends some buses take a different route than during the day which can be a trap for visitors. Memphis is laid out in a more or less east/west fashion. Roads primarily go east/west and north/south.
Downtown Memphis. Buy a ticket and take the trolley to get a good overview of the area. 1 Beale Street. "Home of the Blues". Dozens of bars and clubs, most of them featuring live music. At night the street is closed to vehicles and you can drink on the street; some bars have "drinks to go" windows where you can get a 32-ounce cup of beer for $5 and go bar-hopping. Many bars have no cover charge. Peabody Place is largely a wasteland, as nearly all the stores inside have closed. (updated Dec 2024) 2 Blues Hall of Fame Museum, 421 S. Main St (opposite the Civil Rights Museum precinct). Tue – Sat 10AM–5PM, closed Sun and Mon. Adult $15, student $10, 12 & under free.
Check out live music on Beale Street Memphis Redbirds, 200 Union Ave, ☏ +1 901-721-6000. Minor League Baseball team that plays at 1 AutoZone Park, in the middle of downtown. They are the Triple-A affiliates of the St. Louis Cardinals. $9-75; $8 parking. (updated Jun 2026) 2 FedExForum, 191 Beale Street at Third Street. FedExForum is the largest public building construction project in Memphis history. Managed and operated by the Memphis Grizzlies, the facility is home to the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA and the University of Memphis Tigers men's basketball team. Memphis Grizzlies. National Basketball Association (NBA) team that plays at the FedExForum (updated Jun 2026) Memphis Tigers.
Memphis is one of the cheapest places in the USA to live, and that includes going out to eat. Memphis is famous for two things: music and food. The local BBQ is well-known, and you can sample it "wet" (with spicy, tangy sauce) or "dry" (rubbed with spices before cooking), with rib tips being a well-known local specialty. Other options abound across the city, from Southern home cooking to international fare. You won't go wrong with famous names, but the adventurous will find real treasures in modest hole-in-the-wall joints that make up for their shabby appearance with fabulous flavor. 1 Arcade Restaurant, 540 South Main St (corner of G.E.
Wine is sold in grocery stores, and liquor stores. Beer can be found in grocery stores, liquor stores, and gas stations. 1 Buster's Wine (on Highland at Poplar, near the University of Memphis). Also has a good selection of harder liquor and high-test beer. This place is very popular and always packed on the weekends, but has a fantastic, efficient staff that get you in and out quickly. Open every hour it's legal: M-Sa 8AM-11PM. (updated Oct 2021) 2 Joe's Liquor. Speaking of booze, if you need packaged goods and you're in midtown, head to Joe's (Poplar and Belvedere) as much to see Sputnik (the vintage, spinning, twisting neon star) as for the beverages. Go at dusk for maximum effect.
Violent crime has been a growing problem in Memphis. In 2021, the city had the highest homicide rate in the entire US. It is wise to stay away from areas in North and South Memphis, as these areas have very high rates of crime. Neighborhoods like Riverside, Orange Mound or Binghampton struggle with poverty, urban decay and crime. Even completely suburban areas like Frayser and Raleigh have crime-related problems. Nonetheless, safety in downtown Memphis has greatly improved in the last few years. Throughout the day, especially at night, there is usually a large police presence downtown, especially in the area around Beale Street.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Sep, Memphis typically sees ~30°C daytime highs and 9 rainy days.
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