Memphis: Sun Studio & Civil Rights Museum with Hotel Pickup

Where Elvis Recorded: Sun Studio & Memphis's Civil Rights Story

You get picked up from your downtown Memphis hotel and spend the morning and early afternoon moving through the city's music and civil rights landmarks on a guided tour. Sun Studio admission is included, along with stops at the Peabody Hotel Ducks, Beale Street, Victorian Village, and the Lorraine Hotel. The guide handles the narration and timing. You just show up and step on the bus.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each4 stops

1. Peabody Hotel Ducks1h
2. Beale Street1h
3. Sun StudioEntry included1h
4. National Civil Rights Museumpassing by

Memphis city tour and Sun Studio visit

• Start at downtown Memphis hotel
• Guided sightseeing by mini-coach
• Stop at Schwab general store
• Pass St Jude Children’s Hospital
• Pass Sun Studio and Pyramid Arena
• Stop at Peabody Hotel duck march
• Cruise Beale Street and Cotton Row
• Travel along Mississippi River
• See Victorian Village homes
• Tour Sun Studio recording site
• See Elvis and BB King statues
• Pass National Civil Rights Museum
• Return to Memphis hotel

The experience

You probably know Sun Studio exists, but standing in the actual room where Elvis, Johnny Cash and BB King laid down their first tracks hits different. This Memphis city tour picks you up from your downtown hotel and moves through the city in a mini-coach with a guide who knows the place, not just the talking points. You'll pass the Pyramid Arena (yes, an actual 20,142-seat pyramid), roll through Victorian Village where homes still stand from the 1800s, and cruise down Beale Street and Cotton Row along the Mississippi River. The whole thing is narrated, so you're not just looking out the window. You're getting context.

The Peabody Hotel stop is the one thing that catches people off guard. The ducks live on the rooftop and march down to the lobby every day. It's real, it's strange, and it's worth the pause. After that, you head to Sun Studio itself for a proper tour of the studio where it happened. The guide walks you through the control room, the recording floor, the whole setup. If you're into music history or just want to see where something actually mattered, this is the place. Kids have to be at least 7 to go inside.

The route also takes you past the Lorraine Hotel, now the National Civil Rights Museum, where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated. You'll see statues of Elvis and BB King along the way. It's not a heavy-handed tour. The guide lets the stops speak for themselves. Schwab, a 120-year-old general store, is another pause point. By the end, you're back at your hotel, and you've moved through Memphis without having to navigate it yourself or figure out where to park.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off from select downtown Memphis hotels, guided narrated sightseeing tour by mini-coach, admission to Sun Studio, stops at Beale Street, the Peabody Hotel to see the famous Ducks, Victorian Village, the Lorraine Hotel, Schwab general store, and views of the Pyramid Arena and statues of Elvis Presley and BB King.

Information

Lasts 4h–5h, runs every day at 09:00, from US$ 92 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

GroupUp to 42

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 29 pickup points.

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Youth (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Memphis Best Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Sun Studio and Memphis's music and civil rights landmarks without arranging your own transport or buying separate tickets: the guide and the fixed route handle the logistics so you just show up at your hotel.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Is Sun Studio admission included?

Yes, admission to Sun Studio is included. Children must be at least 7 years old to enter the studio.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included from select downtown Memphis hotels, and you travel by mini-coach throughout the tour.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The buses are not wheelchair accessible. The operator can accommodate guests who can exit a wheelchair and step onto the bus independently.

What attractions are included in the tour?

The tour includes Sun Studio, Beale Street, the Lorraine Hotel (National Civil Rights Museum), Peabody Hotel Ducks, Pyramid Arena, Victorian Village, Schwab general store, and views of statues honoring Elvis and BB King.

Do I need to buy tickets to the National Civil Rights Museum separately?

The tour passes the Lorraine Hotel and museum, but the itinerary indicates you pass by rather than enter. Sun Studio admission is the included attraction ticket.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You travel by mini-coach and make stops rather than walk long distances.