Beale Street Guided Walking Tour

Badge of ExcellenceMemphis, USA

Downtown Memphis Beale Street Walking Tour

1 hour (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Follow in the footsteps of musical legends, such as Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, and B.B. King, on this walking tour of Beale Street in downtown Memphis. Your guide knows the ins and outs of the street—said to be where blues began—ensuring you won't miss a beat of its storied past. Pass by highlights including Lansky Brothers, where Elvis Presley was known to shop, as well as the more-than-100-year-old A. Schwab General Store.

Walking tour of Beale Street in downtown Memphis
Trace the street's transformation from red-light district to the home of blues
Learn about Memphis' significance in the civil rights movement
See highlights including stores frequented by the likes of Elvis

What's Included

Professional guide
All taxes, fees and handling charges

Gratuities
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Alfred's On Beale
197 Beale St, Memphis, TN 38103, USA

Start time

01:30 PM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Meet your guide on Beale Street, the so-called "Home of the Blues," and former red-light district and epicenter of the civil rights movement.

Follow your guide to significant spots on the main street, including A. Schwab General Store, which has been open for more than a hundred years, and the Lanky Brothers clothing store, where Elvis once shopped.

Pass, too, highlights such as Handy Park and Coyote Ugly saloon, and learn about the musical legends and colorful characters who shaped the street.

Your tour concludes back at the original departure point.

Beale Street

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Handy Park

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Lansky Bros. Clothier to the King

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

A. Schwab

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

W.C. Handy Memphis Home and Museum (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Provide Viator Voucher to show proof of purchase
The walking distance is 0.5 miles (0.8 km)
Stroller accessible
The tour is a walking tour on public city sidewalks, and is wheelchair accessible

Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
Within a few blocks there are four different parking garages, and several open-air parking lots. The closest garage to our location (just two blocks away) is at 149 Peabody Place between Second Street and BB King Blvd., next to the Hampton Inn. You can try your luck with on-street metered parking, too, on Second Street just south of Beale; on Beale between Front and Second; or along Peabody Place from Front to Fourth Street.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

142 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 142 reviews

Beale St

Jean_J, Apr 2024

It was interesting hearing about the history of Beale St and the way it figures into current day Memphis.

Great intro to Memphis

Patricia_M, Apr 2024

This was a great tour for the price point. Renee was our guide, and we spent an hour and 15 minutes walking through Beale street and learning the history of Memphis. One thing I would’ve liked is if we got to enter some of the stores mentioned. Renee was knowledgeable and readily answered our questions.

Still good.

Monica_S, Mar 2024

Guide was okay. Shared some good information. It’s never easy to tell the true history of many places in the South, so he struggled and watered down some of the facts.

Great tour

Lana_C, Nov 2023

Great tour guide! Very knowledgeable and would recommend highly! She knew everyone and was very friendly.

Great way to quickly get a Beale Street History lesson

Patricia_N, Oct 2023

I love to learn the history of the things I am seeing in life. This was an inexpensive way to understand and appreciate Beale Street. I have a deeper appreciation for the city because of this tour. Thank you.

Informative

MaryJo_C, Oct 2023

Guide was very informative and told some fun facts of the past! Very easy walking with just enough stops

Fun and informative

Mark_S, Oct 2023

This was a great tour. Worth more than what we paid. Our guide, Charlie, did a great job of explaining the history of Beale Street and Memphis.

Renee while friendly and...

Terese_M, Sep 2023

Renee while friendly and informative, could have given more fun facts about Beale St. I was a little disappointed as I'm sure there was more she could have added.

Shade

Leslie_K, Jun 2023

Guide was very knowledgeable. Only thing that would have been better is if she had scouted out places in the shade

First time in Memphis

LaSonya_R, May 2023

Our guide was very polite and friendly. He even made several jokes which kept my kids attention also. Anything they wanted to know about the different landmarks, he answered them without no problem. I will definitely recommend this tour to my friends and family.

Walking on Beale street

Peggy_m, May 2023

The guide was awesome. She really went in to details about Beale Street and it’s history. It was a small tour so that was to our benefit.

Interesting upbeat tour guide

Linda_K, May 2023

This was a great idea because you learned so much about the area making it way more meaningful than just walking around on your own.

A Fascinating Education

Jeffrey_B, Apr 2023

Shannon was terrific, she is extremely knowledgeable and has a true pride for the city of Memphis. I learned so much in just 1 hour.

Great Walking Tour

Richard_B, Apr 2023

Great short walking tour of Beale Street, appreciated our guide who gave us a great historical perspective on how the Street developed and became a real musical focus, highly recommend.

Great way to learn about the town

Barclay_J, Apr 2023

Loved this tour, learnt to much about the history of Beale St and Memphis. The tour guide presented all the info clearly and in an entertaining way.

Spring Break Family Trip

GlobeTrotter, Apr 2023

Took the family to see the wonderful city of Memphis. Kate was a great guide. My teens learnt about Memphis in a different way and were excited to share their knowledge after the tour. Weather was good too so that helped.

The guide providing info...

Judy_W, Apr 2023

The guide providing info on the buildings’ history. Getting us a good spot to view what he is talking about even though streets are busy.

Walking with Kate is Great!

Malissa_S, Mar 2023

Kate was our guide. She was excellent! She was very historically informative with a little of her own twist. We couldn't have asked for a better guide this girl is top notch!!!

Very good tour

Donald_S, Mar 2023

Joshua was our guide and very knowledgeable. Shared many stories as well as history. Very nice tour even though it was raining. Small group, only 3 people and questions were answered very satisfactorily.

Great tour

Michele_V, Mar 2023

Knowable and fun guide. It really helped us understand the history and magic of Memphis. Highly recommend

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