Memphis Walking Tour: Beale Street & Sun Studio

A morning tracing the path from Beale Street to the studio where rock and roll was born.

A 3.5-hour private walking tour of Memphis' musical history, starting on Beale Street and ending at Sun Studio with a guide and admission tickets included. The route covers W.C. Handy Park, the Peabody Hotel where Elvis signed his first RCA contract, and WDIA Radio Station, which launched B.B. King and shaped the sound that reached Elvis. A Memphis Trolley daily pass is part of the package, so transport between stops is covered.

Step-by-step itinerary

Memphis music history walking tour

• Learn about Memphis music history
• Stroll down Beale Street
• Explore W.C. Handy Park
• Visit the Peabody Hotel
• See WDIA Radio Station
• Walk to Sun Studio
• Join Sun Studio small group tour

The Experience

The tour starts on Beale Street, one of America's most famous music corridors, where your guide walks you through the blocks where blues and soul took root. From there you move to W.C. Handy Park, a small plaza honoring the composer who called himself the Father of the Blues and whose influence ran straight into rock and roll. The Peabody Hotel comes next—the place where Sam Phillips and RCA signed Elvis to his first major contract, a moment that changed everything. These are not museums behind glass; they are the actual streets and buildings where the music happened.

The tour includes stops at WDIA Radio Station, which has broadcast continuously since 1947 and gave B.B. King and Rufus Thomas their first platform. By the time you reach Sun Studio, you've walked the geography of how Memphis became a music city. At Sun Studio itself, your guide hands off to a studio guide who leads a small group tour of the actual recording space where Elvis, Johnny Cash, and dozens of others cut their first tracks. The whole outing takes 3.5 hours and covers the ground on foot, with the trolley pass handling transport between the main stops.

What’s included

• Memphis Trolley daily pass for transport between stops.
• a private guide for your group.
• Sun Studio admission tickets.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearby

Operated by Travel Curious

Is this one for you?If you don't have a car or are staying downtown without easy access to these scattered landmarks, the trolley pass and private guide settle the logistics—you walk the famous blocks, the transport between them is covered, and Sun Studio admission is already paid. The guide ties the stops together into a story instead of a list of places to find.

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Top questions

What exactly is Sun Studio and what do I see when I get there?

Sun Studio is the original recording studio where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, B.B. King and other early rock and roll and blues artists made their first recordings. The tour includes admission and a guided walk through the actual studio space where those sessions happened, led by a Sun Studio staff guide.

Do I need to arrange my own way to get between the stops on this tour?

No. A Memphis Trolley daily pass is included, so transport between the main stops—Beale Street, Handy Park, the Peabody Hotel, WDIA, and Sun Studio—is covered. The walking portions are on the streets themselves, and the trolley handles the longer distances.

How much walking is involved over the 3.5 hours?

The tour is described as an easy walk, though the operator notes you should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The route is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are available nearby if you need them.

Will the guide take me inside the Peabody Hotel and WDIA Radio Station?

The itinerary describes visits to both the Peabody Hotel, where Elvis signed his RCA contract, and WDIA Radio Station, which has operated since 1947 and launched B.B. King's career. The guide will show you these landmarks and their significance to Memphis music history.

Is food or drink included, or will I need to buy lunch?

Food and drink are not included in the tour price. Your guide will be happy to recommend local favorites along the way if you want to stop and eat during the 3.5 hours.

What's the difference between this tour and visiting Sun Studio on my own?

This tour connects Sun Studio to the rest of Memphis' musical geography—Beale Street, Handy Park, the Peabody Hotel, and WDIA Radio Station—so you understand how these places and people shaped each other. The guide provides that context, and the trolley pass and Sun Studio admission are arranged in advance, so you don't have to plan the route or buy tickets separately.