Memphis Tour: Beale Street, Civil Rights & Riverboat Ride

Blues bars, a cotton baron's mansion, the site of Dr. King's assassination, and a Mississippi River cruise

A guided tour of Memphis covering downtown highlights (Beale Street's blues history, Victorian Village, the National Civil Rights Museum, and the Mississippi River) with a professional guide, BBQ tasting, and museum admission included. You choose whether to end the day with a riverboat cruise or return to Beale Street. The tour runs three to six hours depending on how long you spend at the museum.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Beale Street10m
2. Court Squarepassing by
3. Victorian Village10m
4. Memphis Orpheum Theaterpassing by
5. National Civil Rights Museum1h 30m · entry included

Explore Memphis history and culture

• Start tour at Beale Street
• Explore history of Home of the Blues
• Pass by Memphis Redbirds stadium
• Pass by Court Square park
• Visit Victorian Village historic homes
• Pass by oldest residential home
• Pass by St. Jude Children's Hospital
• Pass by Orpheum Theater
• Pass by Cotton Exchange and Cotton Row
• Enjoy Memphis BBQ tasting
• Pass through South Main Historic Arts District
• Visit National Civil Rights Museum
• Learn about Mississippi River history

The experience

The tour starts on Beale Street at Alfred's on Beale and moves through the neighborhood that built Memphis' reputation as the Home of the Blues. From there you'll see Court Square, one of the city's oldest parks, and Victorian Village: the historic homes of Memphis' cotton barons on "Millionaire's Row." The guide walks you through the neighborhood's oldest surviving residential home, explains the history of the Orpheum Theater and the Cotton Exchange, and points out St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as you move through downtown.

A Memphis BBQ tasting is built into the tour. You'll also pass through the South Main Historic Arts District, where local restaurants and shops line the streets. The route takes in the Mississippi River's importance to the city and ends at the National Civil Rights Museum, located at the site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Museum admission is included, and you'll have time to walk through the exhibits at your own pace.

After the museum, you pick your ending: the guide will drive you back to Beale Street, or you can head to the Memphis Riverboat for a scenic cruise on the Mississippi River. The riverboat is at the bottom of a steep historic cobblestone incline, so the bus drops you at Riverside Drive and you walk down from there. Food and drinks on the boat are not included in your ticket, though the cruise itself is part of the package if you choose that option.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English.
• National Civil Rights Museum admission.
• Memphis BBQ tasting.
• riverboat cruise admission if you choose that option at checkout.

Options for this experience

2 options

Memphis discovery tour including entry to the National Civil Rights MuseumGuide in English · 10:00

Tour with Civil Rights museum visit and riverboat rideGuide in English · 10:00Civil Rights Museum and riverboat option: The tour covers admission to the National Civil Rights Museum plus a riverboat cruise. Duration is 6 hours, adding 3 extra hours to the tour and museum option.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except TuesdayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 36

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Backbeat Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to cover Memphis' main stories (blues, civil rights, riverfront history) in a single morning or afternoon with a guide who knows the city. The fixed route and included museum entry mean you're not building the day yourself. The guide handles the stops and the timing holds together without gaps.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5): free.

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.

What exactly is the National Civil Rights Museum?

The National Civil Rights Museum is housed in the building where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. The museum documents the civil rights movement and its history, and admission is included in your tour ticket.

How much time do I spend at the National Civil Rights Museum?

The museum visit is part of the overall tour duration of three to six hours, and you'll have time to walk through the exhibits at your own pace after the guided portion ends.

Is the riverboat cruise included, or do I have to pay extra?

The riverboat cruise is included if you choose the tour option that adds it. You select which ending you want at checkout. If you pick the cruise, the boat ticket is covered, though any food or drinks you buy on board are separate.

What is the BBQ tasting like?

A Memphis BBQ tasting is included in the tour as you move through downtown. The BBQ is pork, and substitutions are not available.

Do I need to be able to walk a lot?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour involves walking through neighborhoods and districts. Fold-up walkers and wheelchairs can be accommodated, though the riverboat dock is at the bottom of a steep cobblestone incline and buses cannot drive down to it.

Where does the tour start and how do I get there?

The tour starts on Beale Street at Alfred's on Beale. Several parking garages and open-air lots are within a few blocks. The closest garage is at 149 Peabody Place, two blocks away. Public transportation options are also available nearby.