Elvis Presley may have left the building decades ago, but his spirit still rocks through every street corner, restaurant booth, and recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee. The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll transformed this Southern city into his kingdom, leaving behind a trail of musical magic that draws millions of pilgrimage-making fans each year. Here are 15 essential Elvis attractions where visitors can walk in the blue suede footsteps of the legend himself.
Graceland mansion
The crown jewel of Elvis tourism stands frozen in time at 3717 Elvis Presley Boulevard. Purchased in 1957 for $102,000, Graceland was home to Elvis until his death in 1977 and is one of the most visited homes in the U.S. Visitors tour the preserved mansion with interactive iPad guides hosted by John Stamos, exploring the famous Jungle Room with its bold decor and green shag carpet that somehow works. The tour includes rooms like his parents’ bedroom, the kitchen, TV room, pool room, his father’s office, and the Trophy Building.
The mansion tour ends at the Meditation Garden, where Elvis and his family rest among peaceful sculptures and landscaping. Early visitors can access this sacred space for free before the first public tour begins.
Elvis Presley’s Memphis entertainment complex
This state-of-the-art entertainment and exhibit complex spans over 200,000 square feet and features 10 Elvis exhibits and attractions celebrating his life and career. Located across from the mansion, the complex houses multiple museums under one roof. The 90 for 90 exhibit showcases 90 curated stories from the 1.5 million artifacts in the Graceland Archives, revealing both iconic fan favorites and rarely seen personal treasures.
Still feeling overwhelmed by the sheer scale of Elvis memorabilia? The complex spreads visitors out across multiple themed areas, allowing exploration at your own pace.
Sun Studio
In 1954, an unknown Elvis Presley grabbed a mic and sang his heart out, making Sun Studio one of the most famous recording studios in the world. This is where Elvis’ first ever recording was released back in 1954. Guided tours run every hour from 10:30 am on a first-come, first-served basis, taking visitors through the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll. The studio remains active, so visitors might catch musicians recording during their visit.
Elvis: The Entertainer career museum
This exhibit within the entertainment complex showcases Elvis’ jumpsuits, three GRAMMY Awards and Presidential Medal of Freedom. The newly refreshed Elvis: Dressed to Rock display features 15 dazzling jumpsuits that returned to Graceland after touring globally for two years. Gold and platinum records line the walls, telling the story of a career that redefined popular music forever.
Presley Motors Automobile Museum
Elvis loved cars and the Presley Motors Automobile Museum displays some of his favorites, including his Pink Cadillac, a 1975 Dino Ferrari, and a 1973 Stutz Blackhawk. The collection reveals Elvis’s passion for luxury vehicles and his tendency toward the flashy and bold. Beyond cars, the expanded Presley Cycles exhibit features his motorcycles and even his John Deere tractor.
And yes, that pink Cadillac is every bit as fabulous as you’d imagine.
The Guest House at Graceland
This AAA Four-Diamond resort reflects Elvis’ signature swagger, with Priscilla Presley herself overseeing design aspects. The 450-room luxury hotel features a replica of Graceland’s famous staircase in the lobby and 20 specialty suites designed under Priscilla’s guidance. With restaurants and a new soundstage booking headlining concerts, The Guest House is becoming a destination in and of itself.
Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II airplanes
Step aboard Elvis’s customized jets to see how the King traveled in style. The Lisa Marie includes a living room, conference room, private bedroom, and features gold-plated seatbelts, leather-covered tables, and 24-karat gold-flecked sinks. The aircraft showcase Elvis’s attention to luxury details and his need for privacy while touring. Both planes sit permanently at Graceland, offering visitors a glimpse into high-flying celebrity life of the 1970s.
Overton Park Shell
In what music historians often call the “first rock ‘n’ roll show,” Elvis played his first paid gig at Memphis’ Overton Park Shell on July 30, 1954, when he opened for headliner Slim Whitman. Now known as the Levitt Shell, this historic bandshell presents 50 free concerts yearly with great sound and lights for up to 3,000 music lovers in a gorgeous park setting. The venue offers backstage experience tours and remains an active concert destination.
Humes High School
From 1948 until 1953, Elvis attended Humes High School, where he was the first in his family to finish high school and graduate. Elvis was an unpopular outcast in high school who was looked down on for having unusually long hair and dressing in a flamboyant style, but that changed when he performed in the annual talent show in April 1953. Now a middle school at 659 N. Manassas Street, the building features a historical marker, and the auditorium is renamed the Elvis A. Presley Auditorium.
Lansky Brothers
In 1946, Bernard and Guy Lansky founded Lansky Brothers, and the vivid, silky fabrics contradicted traditional Southern styles, eventually outfitting Elvis Presley and other iconic Memphis musicians. As a teenager, Elvis would stare through the window at flashy, bright clothing he couldn’t afford, later becoming a regular customer and telling owner Bernard Lansky he would be famous. Today, fans can shop at the original Beale Street location or inside The Peabody Hotel.
The family business still markets itself as “Clothier to the King®” and continues the tradition of bold, unconventional fashion.
Lauderdale Courts
Elvis and his parents lived in Lauderdale Courts (now Uptown Square) between 1949 and 1953, where Elvis would practice his guitar in the laundry room and play with other musicians who lived nearby. The Presley family paid $35.00 per month in rent for their apartment, living there until 1952, when their income exceeded the maximum allowed. The building still stands, and visitors can actually book apartment #328 to spend the night in Elvis’s childhood bedroom.
The Arcade Restaurant
The Arcade Restaurant is Memphis’ oldest café, and the star was a regular here. Plan for a meal, dessert, or drinks at The Arcade and ask for the Elvis booth, decorated with pictures of The King alongside Southern- and Greek-style favorites. The restaurant maintains its classic 1950s diner atmosphere, and multiple movies.
ICONS: The Influence of Elvis Presley exhibit
This exhibit features John Lennon’s piano and memorabilia from other artists inspired by Elvis. The display explores Elvis’s massive cultural impact on music and popular culture, showing how the King influenced generations of musicians. The ICONS exhibit now features B.B. King’s iconic Lucille guitar alongside Elvis’ personal copies of B.B. King’s records, showcasing their unique friendship and mutual admiration.
Beale Street Elvis statue
Fans should make sure they get their photo taken with the Statue of Elvis, located between Main Street and 2nd Street, unveiled in 1997 by sculptor Andrea Lugar. The bronze statue shows Elvis as he appeared circa 1955, wearing a stage outfit he might have purchased at Lansky Brothers down the block. The statue captures the young King in his Memphis heyday, before he became a global phenomenon.
Not your typical tourist photo op, but definitely an Instagram essential.
Graceland Soundstage
The Graceland Soundstage offers 20,000 square feet of space for luncheons, conferences, receptions, trade shows, live concerts, and more. Both the new Soundstage at Graceland and The Guest House Theater host an entertaining line-up of musicians, comedians and other performers year-round. The venue books major acts and tribute artists, keeping Elvis’s musical legacy alive through live performance.
The King lives on
Memphis didn’t just create Elvis Presley — Elvis Presley created modern Memphis. These attractions prove that some legends never really leave the building; they just find new ways to keep the music playing for generations of fans who never got to see the original show.
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