Memphis private tours

Memphis is a city that grooves to the soulful rhythm of the Mississippi. It's where the blues was born and barbecue is a way of life. Memphis tours are more than just a taste of the South; they're a journey through the city's rich tapestry of music, history, and culture. With your local guide, step beyond Beale Street's vibrant nightlife and into the stories that make Memphis sing. On a private tour, explore the Sun Studio, stroll through the historic Lorraine Motel, or indulge in a mouthwatering food and wine tour featuring Memphis’s legendary barbecue. Skip the line and let your guide show you the heart and soul of this remarka...

Memphis is a city that grooves to the soulful rhythm of the Mississippi. It's where the blues was born and barbecue is a way of life. Memphis tours are more than just a taste of the South; they're a journey through the city's rich tapestry of music, history, and culture. With your local guide, step beyond Beale Street's vibrant nightlife and into the stories that make Memphis sing. On a private tour, explore the Sun Studio, stroll through the historic Lorraine Motel, or indulge in a mouthwatering food and wine tour featuring Memphis’s legendary barbecue. Skip the line and let your guide show you the heart and soul of this remarkable city, making each note and flavour a cherished memory. If you’re looking for more inspiration, take a look at our curated list of things to do in Memphis.

Explore Memphis your way

At ToursByLocals, we believe that how you explore is just as important as where you go. That’s why every Memphis tour is private, flexible, and built around you: Move at your own pace, skip the crowds, make connections and follow your curiosity. Find local guides offering private tours in Memphis for every interest, including:

History tours: Stand at the Lorraine Motel with context from the National Civil Rights Museum, then step into Sun Studio’s tiny recording room where Elvis and Johnny Cash cut tracks. You can add the Stax Museum to hear how soul music grew from the Soulsville neighbourhood.

Art and Culture tours: See colourful murals along South Main and Broad Avenue, and browse rotating shows at Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Music lovers can visit the Memphis Music Hall of Fame or catch an early-evening set at a small venue your guide knows.

Off The Beaten Path tours: Walk through the Crystal Shrine Grotto, a handcrafted cave hidden in Memorial Park Cemetery, and bike or stroll the Big River Crossing over the Mississippi for skyline views. For a maker fix, peek inside St. Blues Guitar Workshop to see instruments taking shape.

Downtown is fairly walkable, but many sights sit far apart and public transit is limited outside the core. Your guide can provide private transportation or set up a chauffeured tour so you cover more ground with ease.

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all itinerary, you can tailor your private tour to match your interests, pace and personality with a local who knows Memphis inside and out.

Walking tours & neighbourhoods

Day trip ideas from Memphis

When you’re ready to see beyond Memphis, short drives into Mississippi, Arkansas, and West Tennessee make simple day trips, and your tour can focus on music history, small-town squares, or wide-open nature.

Oxford, Mississippi: A classic Southern square with bookstores, galleries, and a strong food scene gives you an easy day of walking and browsing. If you like literature, coffee, and pretty neighbourhoods, Oxford fits, and campus greens add a calm break between shops and lunch.

Clarksdale, Mississippi: For live blues and Delta character, Clarksdale mixes murals, juke joints, and local eats. If you’re into music, street photography, or roadside history, it makes sense, and evenings often bring sets that feel close and unpolished.

Shiloh National Military Park: Open fields, quiet woods, and river views frame a major Civil War site that is easy to follow by car and on foot. If you like history and time outdoors without crowds, this park delivers clear stops and room to reflect.

Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee: Cypress trees rising from the water, boardwalks, and frequent bird sightings make this a calm nature break. If you enjoy photography, short walks, or a relaxed boat ride, the lake area matches that pace, and small towns nearby keep lunch simple and local.

A private tour with a local guide is the best way to really get to know a place. Skip the crowds, follow your interests, and see a side of Memphis most travellers miss.