Downtown Memphis · Visitor Guide

Things to Do in Downtown Memphis: A Local Guide

Few American downtowns pack as much into a few walkable blocks as Memphis. There are world-changing downtown Memphis attractions here — the Home of the Blues, the Mississippi River, the music that gave us soul and rock 'n' roll, championship-caliber museums, pro sports, and some of the best barbecue on earth. This local guide to the best things to do downtown is organized the way you'd actually explore it: on foot, from a central base like The Exchange Building on Court Square.

A local visitor guide from The Exchange Building · 9 N 2nd Street, Memphis, TN 38103

The beauty of downtown Memphis is its density. The river, the music, the ballpark, the arena, the museums, and the restaurants all sit within a compact, flat grid that you can cover on foot or on the trolley. Plan a few stops a day, leave room to wander, and you'll see why so many people who come to visit end up looking for a place to live. For trip planning beyond this page, the official Memphis Tourism site and the Downtown Memphis Commission are both worth a bookmark.

Beale Street: the Home of the Blues

No trip downtown is complete without a walk down Beale. The neon-lit blocks between Second and Fourth are the Home of the Blues and routinely cited as the most-visited attraction in Tennessee — a stretch of historic clubs, juke joints, and patios where live music spills onto the sidewalk from the afternoon until late. Duck into a club for a band, grab a drink to walk with, and let the energy carry you from doorway to doorway. Beale sits just a few flat blocks south of Court Square, so it's an easy stroll from the heart of downtown. For the full rundown of clubs, food, and history, see our Beale Street guide, or check the official Beale Street site.

The Mississippi riverfront & River Garden

The Mississippi is downtown's western edge, and the riverfront is where Memphians go to breathe. River Garden — part of the chain of parks run by the Memphis River Parks Partnership — offers lawns, shaded overlooks, and one of the best free sunsets in the country as the sun drops behind Arkansas across the water. Walk north toward the historic cobblestones and Mud Island, or south to the wide-open lawns of Tom Lee Park, and you can string together miles of car-free riverside path. It's the perfect counterweight to a loud night on Beale. Dig deeper in our Memphis riverfront guide.

Memphis music: Stax, Sun Studio & Rock 'n' Soul

Memphis didn't just host American music — it made it. Within a short ride of downtown you can stand in the small room where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Howlin' Wolf recorded at Sun Studio, feel the groove at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, and trace the whole story at the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum beside FedExForum. Together they explain how a single city gave the world blues, soul, and rock 'n' roll. Our Memphis music heritage guide ties the sites into one itinerary; die-hard fans can add Graceland, Elvis's home a few miles south.

The National Civil Rights Museum

Built around the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, the National Civil Rights Museum is one of the most powerful museums in the country and an essential downtown stop. Its exhibits trace the American civil-rights movement from the era of slavery to the present day, and the experience stays with you long after you leave. It sits in the South Main Arts District, a short walk or trolley ride south of Court Square — pair it with the galleries, coffee shops, and boutiques covered in our South Main guide.

Downtown sports: AutoZone Park & FedExForum

Downtown is a genuine sports neighborhood. AutoZone Park, widely praised as one of the finest minor-league ballparks in America, is home to the Memphis Redbirds and sits right on Union Avenue. A few blocks away, FedExForum hosts the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies and University of Memphis basketball, plus the biggest touring concerts. Both venues are within walking distance of Court Square, which makes a game night effortless when you're staying downtown — no parking hunt, no long drive home. More in our downtown sports guide.

Dining & barbecue

You can't talk about Memphis without barbecue. Downtown delivers the city's world-famous dry-rub ribs, pulled pork, and hot wings, alongside a deepening bench of chef-driven restaurants, rooftop bars, and Southern brunch spots. Whether you want a sticky-fingered pile of ribs, a plate of soul food, or a quiet dinner with a river view, it's all within a few blocks. The hardest part is choosing — so we made it easier with our roundup of the best restaurants in downtown Memphis.

Court Square & downtown parks

At the literal center of downtown sits Court Square Park, one of the four public squares laid out when Memphis was founded in 1819. Shaded by old trees and anchored by its Hebe fountain, it's where downtown gathers for lunch, concerts, and seasonal markets — and where the trolley rattles past on Main Street. The Exchange Building stands right on the square, which means residents get a historic green space as their front yard. Combine it with River Garden, Tom Lee Park, and the Fourth Bluff and you have an unusually green downtown. Explore it in our Court Square Park guide.

Festivals & events

Downtown's calendar stays full. The Beale Street Music Festival anchors the Memphis in May celebration each spring; the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend takes over the streets every December; and Court Square, the riverfront, and the Renasant Convention Center host events year-round, from food festivals and farmers markets to major conventions. See what's coming up in our downtown events & festivals guide, or plan a race trip with where to stay for the St. Jude Marathon.

Getting around downtown Memphis

Here's downtown's open secret: you barely need a car. The core is flat and compact, the vintage Main Street trolley runs the spine from the Pinch District to South Main, and the riverfront walk connects the parks on foot. MATA runs the trolley and the bus network, and rideshares fill the gaps. Park once and walk — especially if you're based near Court Square, where almost everything is within ten or fifteen minutes on foot. For routes, fares, and parking tips, see getting around downtown Memphis.

Basing yourself downtown at the Exchange

The fastest way to fall for downtown Memphis is to wake up in the middle of it. The Exchange Building — a 1910 Beaux-Arts landmark on Court Square Park at 9 North Second Street — puts Beale Street, the riverfront, AutoZone Park, FedExForum, the trolley, and the Convention Center within an easy walk. After a day of music and barbecue, you're home in minutes, not stuck in traffic on the way to the suburbs.

Plenty of people arrive for a weekend, a game, or a convention and decide they don't want to leave. When that happens, the Exchange makes it simple: it leases direct, with no broker fees, so you can go from visitor to resident without the runaround. Learn more in our Exchange Building apartments guide, weigh your options in downtown hotels vs. apartments, or browse downtown Memphis apartments for rent.