Why? Music and Memphis are synonymous, and the main reason to travel to Memphis is to delve into the home of the blues and rock 'n roll and visit the iconic shrines to the city's great musical heroes, most notably 'The King', Elvis Presley.
When? The merry month of May is festival time in Memphis, and therefore probably the best time for a holiday in Memphis, with the Beale Street Music Festival, an international festival and a barbecue contest, just to name a few items on the menu. Summers are best avoided because Memphis is swelteringly hot.
Who for? Devotees of the blues, zydeco and rock 'n roll are obviously the choice candidates for a holiday in Memphis, and fans of Elvis Presley make pilgrimages to his home mansion, Graceland, all year round, but particularly on his birthday.
More Info: Find out everything required for a jolly holiday in Memphis from our comprehensive Memphis travel guide, which lists events and attractions in this musical city, including the opening times and admission fees for the famed Graceland estate.

Graceland © Memphis CVB

Few people alive today have not heard of Elvis Presley, legendary 'King of Rock 'n Roll', and most associate Memphis, largest city in Tennessee, with the iconic deceased singer. Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the city each year, particularly on Elvis' birthday, to make a pilgrimage to Graceland, the mansion where Presley lived and died.

Citing its famous singing sensation as the only draw card in Memphis, however, is failing to do this go-getter city in southwest Tennessee justice. But music makes Memphis special, for sure: not only rock 'n roll but also the fact that the city spawned the modern musical forms of blues and soul as well. Music fans from all over the world stroll down legendary Beale Street in the downtown area, happy to be walking in the footsteps of their heroes.

Aside from touring Graceland there are several other music-related attractions to grab the attention, and a whole lot of other things to see and do in Memphis. The nightlife is world-renowned; the cuisine, particularly barbecue, irresistible; and there are fascinating museums, great gardens, Mississippi river boats, amusement parks, and some quirky cultural and natural sights to explore.