Memphis hums low and long, from river light to Beale.
Best Stays by Sonder Memphis
Find places to stay in Memphis. Choose from apartment-style stays and boutique hotels for weekend breaks, business trips, and longer city stays.
Travelers
Soulful, steady, and deeply rhythmic.
Memphis moves to a slower, soul-sure rhythm, with blues on Beale Street, river light, and a food-and-music culture that feels lived in rather than staged.
What Makes Memphis Memphis
- Blues echoing on Beale
- Riverfront views and wide skies
- Barbecue and smokehouse tables
- Stax, Sun, and soul
- Downtown streets with musical memory
- A city moving to rhythm
Where to Stay in Memphis
Memphis Popular Stays
Choose your perfect stays
-
Parking -
Kitchen -
Air Conditioner -
Internet
-
Parking
-
Kitchen
-
Air Conditioner
-
Internet
-
Parking
-
Balcony/Terrace -
Air Conditioner
-
Internet
-
Parking
-
Kitchen
-
Air Conditioner
-
Internet
-
Parking
-
Kitchen
-
Air Conditioner
-
Internet
-
Parking
-
Kitchen
-
Air Conditioner
-
Internet
-
Parking
-
Kitchen
-
Air Conditioner
-
Internet
-
Balcony/Terrace
-
Air Conditioner
-
Internet
-
Pet Friendly
-
Parking
-
Balcony/Terrace
-
Air Conditioner
-
Internet
Good for the Weekend
Easy in-and-out for quick Memphis gateway.
Work-friendly stays
Desks, fast Wi-Fi, and a kitchen for work trips that run long, with dinner a short walk away.
-
Breakfast -
Parking
-
Kitchen
-
Air Conditioner
-
Breakfast
-
Parking
-
Pool -
Balcony/Terrace
-
Breakfast
-
Parking
-
Kitchen
-
Air Conditioner
Blues, barbecue, and riverfront evenings
Walkable, music-tinged, and easy to settle into, Memphis rewards travelers who like neighborhood-by-neighborhood exploring.
Known for
Blues history, barbecue, and a riverfront cityscape shaped by the Mississippi. Music landmarks, civil rights sites, and downtown brick streets leave a lasting impression.
Best for
Music-first weekends, food-led trips, and first visits that balance museums, live sets, and time in the city center.
Walkability
Explore on foot around Downtown, the South Main Arts District, and nearby pockets where galleries, restaurants, and historic streets sit close together.
Closest airport
Memphis International Airport (MEM), southeast of the city center.
Ideal trip length
A long weekend gives you enough time to cover the core sights and still linger over meals, music, and river views.
Vibe
Soulful, grounded, music-rich, easygoing
What lingers after a Memphis day.
Some moments feel more Memphis than others, from Beale Street music to riverfront walks, the things to do in Memphis you remember most.
Sip coffee in Cooper-Young
Start the day at a neighborhood cafe in Cooper-Young, where locals linger over espresso, window seats, and a slow first stretch before errands or work.
Pick out lunch at a corner deli
Duck into a Midtown deli for a sandwich and something cold to drink, then carry it to a nearby bench or back to your apartment-style stay.
Stroll under the trees in Overton Park
Follow the shaded paths through Overton Park for an easy reset, with walkers, cyclists, and dog owners moving through the same familiar green space.
Browse shelves in a local bookstore
Spend an unhurried hour in an independent bookstore, where staff picks, local titles, and a quiet reading corner make browsing feel like part of the routine.
Grab a late bite downtown
Head downtown for a simple dinner at a neighborhood restaurant, where the room fills with after-work conversation and familiar plates ordered without much ceremony.
Catch sunset along the riverfront
End the evening on the Mississippi riverfront, watching the light shift over the water while runners, cyclists, and couples share the promenade.
Every few blocks, a different Memphis
From historic streets to riverfront views, Memphis neighborhoods each set a different pace, mood, and way to move through the city.
Memphis changes with each season.
Many travelers aim for April and May, when Memphis in May brings music, food, and riverfront events downtown.
Spring
Mild light brings longer walks through downtown and Midtown, where patios reopen, music spills into the streets, and the city feels social, easygoing, and forward-moving.
Summer
Days stretch into unhurried evenings, with late dinners, live sets, and riverfront strolls shaping a nocturnal pace that keeps the city active after dark.
Fall
Autumn sharpens the streetscape, with clearer light, easy walking, and a steadier rhythm that favors museum time, coffee stops, and neighborhood browsing.
Winter
Winter slows the pace indoors and out, drawing you toward warm restaurants, live performance venues, and quieter sidewalks that leave room for lingering.
Annual events worth planning around
Memphis in May
A monthlong festival each May with music, barbecue, and riverfront events across the city.
Elvis Week
A week of concerts, tours, and memorial events each August honoring Elvis Presley.
Cooper-Young Festival
A large neighborhood festival each September with live music, local makers, and food.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
A major college football bowl game held each December, drawing fans downtown.
Rituals worth repeating.
From corner barbecue counters to late-night record shops, these are the Memphis places locals keep in rotation.
Start at City & State in Cooper-Young
Memphians drift in for coffee, breakfast plates, and patio time in Cooper-Young, where the day moves at a neighborhood pace and regulars set the rhythm.
Catch an early show at Lafayette's Music Room
Locals come here for live music, conversation, and a casual night out in Overton Square, with a room that feels made for lingering after dinner.
Browse Crosstown Concourse and linger at nearby counters
Spend an unhurried afternoon moving through Crosstown's food stalls, shops, and common spaces, then follow the foot traffic that ties the building to everyday Midtown life.
A few things worth knowing.
From the most walkable neighborhoods to how travelers explore the city, these notes help you plan a trip to Memphis.
Most walkable areas
Downtown and South Main are easy to explore on foot, with Beale Street and nearby blocks close together.
Getting around
Downtown and Midtown work well on foot, while MATA buses and the Main Street trolley help with longer cross-town trips.
Ideal trip length
Two to four nights gives you time for Downtown, South Main, and a slower stretch through Midtown.
Good for work trips
Downtown stays with Wi-Fi and kitchen access suit meetings near the riverfront and evenings back in Midtown.
Memphis travel questions, answered.
Quick answers to the questions travelers ask most.
You can walk comfortably in some central areas, but a car is helpful if you plan to move around the city beyond the main downtown and nearby districts. Many travelers choose a stay close to the places they want to eat, explore, and meet, then use rideshares or transit for longer hops. Check your listing for parking and any building-specific access notes.
For a first trip, choose a central area that puts you close to dining, music, and the city’s main sights, so you can spend less time in transit. If you want the easiest arrival and the most flexible evenings, stay near the core rather than farther out. The right fit depends on whether you want a quieter base or a more active street scene.
Two to three days is a solid starting point if you want a focused city break with time for food, music, and a few landmark stops. Add another day if you like slower mornings, neighborhood wandering, or want room for a day trip. If you are visiting for work, a longer stay can make the trip feel less rushed.
If you prefer a calmer stay, avoid booking around major citywide events and big weekend peaks, when streets, dining, and parking can feel busier than usual. Midweek stays are often easier for check-in, rides, and restaurant reservations. If your dates are flexible, compare a few arrival windows and choose the one that best matches your pace.
Yes, Memphis can work well for a work trip if you want a central base with enough space to settle in. Look for Wi-Fi, a desk or table setup, and a quiet layout in the listing, since those details can vary by building. If you are staying longer, a kitchen or laundry access where available can make the trip easier.
Go with curiosity. Come back with stories.
The best trips rarely go exactly as planned. Sonder keeps you closer to the neighborhoods, kitchens, and small moments that make a city worth remembering.