Month: July 2022

Memphis is undoubtedly one of America’s greatest music cities – its rich heritage birthed rock ‘n’ roll and its own version of soul and the blues. 

The vibrant and culturally diverse hub has recently seen many of its storied neighborhoods spring back to life through regeneration efforts. Where once stood empty warehouses, now you’ll find a crisp batch of independent stores and restaurants, serving up new takes on Memphis’ legendary food scene.

The city’s laidback and open-minded attitude means there isn’t a strict rulebook to follow, but there are a few things to know before visiting Bluff City.

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Always make reservations for brunch and fine dining

Brunch is a big deal in Memphis, and restaurants book up fast, so always call ahead to secure a spot. For those seeking high-end dining, particularly if there’s a James Beard-nominated chef at the helm, you may need to call a couple of weeks ahead to guarantee a seat at the table. 

If it’s a local barbeque or hot wing joint, just show up, but be prepared to wait in line.

Don’t forget your reusable water bottle

Ditch the throwaway bottles – Memphis’ water is classed as some of the tastiest in the world. With the flick of a tap or the push of a fountain’s button, you can hydrate with freshwater derived from natural reservoirs flowing hundreds of feet below Memphis’ surface. 

And with Memphis’ notorious heat and humidity, topping up the aqua levels regularly is a must in this city.

Best time to visit Memphis 

The Memphis dress code is whatever you want 

Memphis is a laidback city, with a dress code to match. You can turn up in an Elvis t-shirt, a tracksuit or sequined eveningwear, and no one will raise an eyebrow, so come as you are. The exception to this: church. When attending a service, it’s best to dress smartly. 

The barbeque capital of the US also caters to vegans

In fact, we’ll raise you – it’s now fairly easy to be vegan in Memphis. Although Bluff City has a reputation for giving us some of the finest meaty barbeque in the country, recent years have seen a fresh cluster of plant-based restaurants and stalls cropping up across the city.

Local specialties focus on southern staples minus the meat. Think cauliflower hot wings, beet burgers, carrot dogs and vegan barbeque, for a true taste of Memphis. 

Crosstown Concourse is home to a collective of health-conscious restaurants, while the Imagine Vegan Café caters to all your comfort food needs.

Grab a takeout cup – the liquor laws are relaxed on Beale St

Memphis is a town of many quirks. One of them just happens to be that Beale St, home of the blues, is the only place in Tennessee where you can legally walk the street with an open alcohol container.

This means that on a warm summer evening, visitors can grab a drink from a Beale St bar in a takeout cup and wander up and down America’s most famous musical highway, soaking up the live acoustics or catching a performance from the Beale Street Flippers, Memphis’ famed acrobatic troupe. 

Note that cannabis, for both medical and recreational uses, is illegal in Memphis.

Memphis’ churches have an open-door policy on Sunday

There are more than 2000 churches in the Greater Memphis Metropolitan area, the majority of which are Baptist. One of the best ways to ingratiate yourself into the city is to attend a Sunday morning church service, where tourists are welcome to respectfully join congregations in worship, which often involves a full choir and band.

The Reverend Al Green – yes, the former soul-singing legend  – can be found leading a fantastically dynamic service at his Full Gospel Tabernacle Church.

If you’re unsure of the etiquette, just quietly choose a pew in the back. A collection plate will likely make its round during the service, so come prepared. 

Memphis is LGBTIQ+ friendly, but you need to know where to go

Although Memphis’ scene is certainly more lowkey than neighboring Atlanta or New Orleans, a flourishing LGBTIQ+ community exists and is increasing in visibility. 

Cooper-Young and Overton Square are particularly LGBTIQ+ friendly neighborhoods, flying the flag with joyful rainbow crosswalks.

For those looking to explore Memphis’ LGBTIQ+ nightlife, the main roadblock is the lack of a condensed, specific district, so transport is essential for barhopping. 

Atomic Rose is a weekend-only nightclub just steps from Beale Street with drag shows and bingo nights. Dru’s Bar in midtown offers karaoke nights and a patio for cooling off on balmy nights, while The Pumping Station in Crosstown is an ultra-inclusive neighborhood hangout that’s been crowned Memphis’ top gay bar. 

Visit for the Tri-State Black Pride in June, or come for the four-day Memphis Pride Fest Weekend in October. It’s the largest gathering of its kind in the Mid-South.

Best Memphis day trips 

Don’t confuse Memphis with Nashville

A friendly(ish) rivalry between Tennessee’s two major cities permeates across most aspects of life, from sports to food and music. If you once had the best night of your life on Nashville’s Honky Tonk Highway, maybe keep that one to yourself while in Memphis.

Accessibility in Memphis

Memphis’ main advantage over other neighboring cities is its wheelchair-accessible trolley system, which makes getting around town a little easier. 

The National Civil Rights Museum has ramp access for wheelchair users, while the Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms Park is a good place for under 12s of all abilities. The majority of Graceland is wheelchair accessible, aside from the basement rooms.

Free things to do in Memphis

Is Memphis safe to visit?

Crime rates in Memphis are above the national average, but if you stick to the tourist-friendly districts, then your visit should be hassle-free.

Pockets of both downtown and midtown have recently been revitalized, with former derelict buildings transformed into residential blocks and thriving businesses. 

If you haven’t visited Memphis for a few years, expect to be pleasantly surprised by the safe and welcoming vibe in neighborhoods such as South Main and Overton Square.

Around Beale Street, which is a magnet for music lovers, you’ll notice a police presence keeping an eye on everything. 

Downtown and midtown are also patrolled by the brilliantly-named blue suede shoe brigade, a collective of uniformed ambassadors on the lookout for nuisance issues. They are not police officers but are available for assistance.  Yes, they actually wear blue suede sneakers, and yes, everyone jokes about stepping on them!

As with any metropolitan area, keep a constant eye on your belongings and note that it’s wise to stick to the main, well-lit tourist streets when exploring Memphis at night. 

The most common petty crimes in Memphis are pickpocketing and car break-ins, so keep valuables close, especially around tourist landmarks, and never leave them in your car. In an emergency, call 911 or for non-emergency situations call 211 to be directed to the relevant department. 

When in doubt, ask a Memphian

Memphis is a friendly city steeped in southern charm, so striking up a conversation with locals tends to be straightforward and guarantees savvy insider tips. 

Those looking for an in-depth chat should just ask a Memphian about their favorite barbeque spot. But be warned: Everyone in Memphis has their favorite smoke, sauce and slaw combination, so the debate can quickly get heated.

Lisbon’s northern rival, Porto is a dynamic riverside city of medieval lanes, sun-dappled plazas and lofty viewpoints overlooking the Douro. This is also a city with a love for the good things in life: fine art, football and wine.

The city’s impressively diverse museums provide a helpful primer on Porto’s unique facets, from its age-old wine-making traditions to more recent triumphs on the sporting pitch, with detours via the city’s cheerfully painted trams and trailblazing artwork.

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You’ll also gain deeper insight into Portugal’s history through galleries packed full of historic relics and swashbuckling interactive exhibitions aimed at pleasing the toughest of critics (namely the under 10 crowd, who are well catered for in Porto).  

The historic Ribeira district has the densest concentration of museums, but it’s worth roaming across the city to see the top museums. Getting from museum to museum is part of the adventure, and not a cumbersome one, given the city’s excellent public transport network. Plan your trip around these seven brilliant museums (and see unique parts of Porto along the way). 

Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis: best for Portuguese art

Even before you step in the door, you’ll feel the overarching prominence of this grand museum, facing the 19th-century Palace of the Carrancas and set in one of Porto’s finest neoclassical buildings. Walking up the granite staircase, you’ll follow in the footsteps of Arthur Wellesley (aka, the first Duke of Wellington) and Dom Pedro IV, both of whom lived for a time in the building. Original frescoes and Italian stucco work adorn the rooms inside, along with one of the finest art collections in Porto.

Architecture aside, Portugal’s oldest museum displays a wide array of artistic treasures, including paintings by 16th-century Portuguese Renaissance master, Vasco Fernandes, and 19th-century naturalist, Henrique Pousão. Pride of place goes to works by the artist for whom the museum is named – sometimes called the ‘Michelangelo of Portugal,’ the sculptor Soares dos Reis created hauntingly realistic works, including O Desterrado (The Exile), on display alongside several other dos Reis masterpieces.

World of Wine: best for wine lovers

In the port-loving settlement of Vila Nova de Gaia, across the river from Porto proper, the World of Wine isn’t one museum but seven. Here, you can learn not only about winemaking in Portugal but also about other key industries integral to the Portuguese identity, including cork-harvesting, chocolate and textiles. There’s a museum that covers Porto’s complicated past and another devoted to drinking vessels – over 1800 beakers, bowls and chalices from across the globe that provide a unique window into this interesting facet of human history.

Museums are only one part of the WOW experience. Visitors also have ample opportunities to partake of another beloved Portuguese tradition: namely eating. The complex includes a dozen different restaurants, bars and cafes, each with a unique focus. You’ll find vegetarian fare, steaks, haute cuisine, tapas and desserts. Naturally, good wines are ubiquitous, though if you want to delve deeper into local wine traditions, take a class or a workshop at the onsite Wine School. 

Casa do Infante: best for Porto history  

If these walls could talk the cacophony would be deafening considering how much has transpired in this 14th-century building over the years. Among other things, the Case do Infante is where future Prince Henry the Navigator – the father of Portuguese exploration – was reputedly born in 1394.

Stepping inside, you’ll learn all about the notable royal, who played a key role in Portugal’s maritime dominance and the Portuguese colonization of Africa, Asia and South America, while also getting an overview of Portuguese history.

Exhibitions delve even further back in time than the Age of Discoveries, thanks to the accidental unearthing of Roman ruins beneath the museum. Don’t miss the display revealing an impressively designed ancient Roman mosaic floor.

Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves: best for avant-garde art

Hop on bus 201 and take a 30-minute jaunt west of the center to reach the Parque de Serralves. Here, tucked amid manicured, French-inspired gardens, you’ll find the Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves, Portugal’s most important contemporary art museum.

Exhibitions change regularly and showcase thought-provoking works by artists from Portugal and beyond. Recent hits include shows by Joan Miró, Ai Weiwei and filmmaker Manoel Oliveira. The striking modernist building, designed by famed Porto-based architect, Álvaro Siza Vieira, plays a supporting role – as does the garden outside, with oversized windows in the gallery framing nature’s artful designs outside.  

World of Discoveries: best for kids 

Dragging the kids into a museum can be a tough sell. The World of Discoveries, however, brings a touch of Disney-esque excitement to the past, with interactive, hands-on exhibits. You’ll rewind to the 15th and 16th centuries, and the days when Portuguese explorers sailed off into the unknown, and you’ll see the lands they encountered – including North Africa, Brazil, Macau and India.

There are rooms where you can roam around the inside of a ship, learn about navigation through touch screens and check out barrels of cinnamon and other spices brought back to Europe. The highlight is a “round-the-world” boat trip, passing life-sized tableaus complete with knights, camels and jungle creatures along the way.

Museu do Carro Eléctrico: best for transportation nerds

Porto’s beloved yellow trams get the star treatment at this delightful museum near the banks of the Douro River. Set in the cavernous interior of the former thermoelectric station that once powered the tram network, this museum displays some two dozen different trams, including oddities such as an 1872 streetcar that was pulled by mules and boxy Vagoneta 80, which was used to carry fish from the docks of Matosinhos to the markets in Porto.

No prizes for guessing the only acceptable mode of transport to reach the museum! Scenic tram line 1 rattles along the riverside from the Ribeira district to near the museum entrance. It’s a memorable 10-minute ride, and after visiting the museum you can continue out to Passeio Alegre for more glorious tram time.

FC Porto Museum: best for sports fans 

Set beneath the 50,000-seat Estadio do Dragão, the high-tech FC Porto Museum immerses you in the lore of one of Portugal’s best-loved football (soccer) teams. Thoughtfully designed exhibits and interactive screens tell the story of FC Porto since its founding in 1893, covering its deep connection to the city, its most famous players, and its greatest victories.

Don’t miss the exhibit dedicated to Rabah Madjer’s back-heel goal in the 1987 European Cup final against Bayern Munich – which led to Porto’s first European Cup title. For a few euros more you can add on a stadium tour and get a look at some of the key areas in the ‘Dragon’s Den.’

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