Memphis City Guide - Sightseeing

Memphis spreads eastwards from its position on the banks of the Mississippi River and the best place for visitors to begin any sightseeing tour is Downtown, the oldest part of the city and the part nearest the river.

This is the location of Beale Street, always busy with tourists exploring its shops, lively clubs and restaurants and the famous Peabody Hotel. It is a short walk from here to the bank of the lazy Mississippi, where a monorail slides high above the river and onto Mud Island and the River Museum.

While Downtown can be explored on foot, other attractions are scattered throughout the city, which is so spread out that transport (preferably a car) is needed to reach them.

Graceland, for instance, Elvis Presley's mansion and the city's top visitor attraction, lies 16km (10 miles) to the south of the city, while the best shops are to be found in the gleaming malls of East Memphis.

A good introduction to the city is a trip on the Main Street Trolley, which runs along the river and through the heart of Downtown. On the last Friday of each month, the Main Street Trolley runs tours through the shops, restaurants and galleries of the South Main Arts District.

Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau
47 Union Avenue
Tel: (901) 543 5333 or 1 888 633 9099.
Website: www.memphistravel.com
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700 (Oct-Mar); 0900-1800 (Apr-Sep).

Tennessee Welcome Centre
119 North Riverside Drive
Tel: (901) 543 6757.
Opening hours: Daily 0700-2200.

Passes and discounts depend on vendor and attraction site. MATA (Memphis Area Transit Authority) offers discounts to seniors, students and the disabled. The Memphis CVB also has downloadable discount coupons on its website.