City in Tennessee, United States
Memphis for solo travelers
Is Memphis good for solo travel?
Blues, soul, barbecue and civil rights history at a low price for a US city, with a compact downtown. Car dependence, patchy transit, summer heat and higher crime outside the core are the trade-offs.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Very friendly |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Solo women | Fine in central areas with normal care; use rideshare at night, watch drinks on Beale Street and avoid isolated parking decks. |
How to meet people in Memphis
Live-music bars on Beale Street and in Cooper-Young, walking tours and museum events, run clubs, and conversation at barbecue counters. Locals are quick to chat.
Good things to do alone
- Tour Sun Studio and Stax Museum of American Soul Music
- Visit the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel
- Listen to blues at a Beale Street club
- Eat barbecue ribs at Central BBQ or Rendezvous
- Watch the Peabody Hotel duck march
Where to stay in Memphis
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Downtown and South Main | Visitors: Beale Street, trolleys, Lorraine Motel, riverfront |
| Midtown (Overton Square) | Cafés, bars, local music and longer stays |
| Cooper-Young | Walkable, arty, restaurants and a Saturday market |
| East Memphis (Poplar corridor) | Quieter, car-based, near hospitals and offices |
Solo travel across United States
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Nashville | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Austin | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Las Vegas | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Los Angeles | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Miami | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| San Francisco | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Honolulu | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Washington, D.C. | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Chicago | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Boston | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| New Orleans | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| San Diego | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Seattle | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Miami Beach | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Key West | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Denver | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Philadelphia | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Portland | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Atlanta | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Charleston | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Savannah | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Fort Lauderdale | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Kauai | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Big Island | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Sedona | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Memphis | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Orlando | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Maui | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| San Antonio | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Memphis good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Blues, soul, barbecue and civil rights history at a low price for a US city, with a compact downtown.
How do you meet people in Memphis?
Live-music bars on Beale Street and in Cooper-Young, walking tours and museum events, run clubs, and conversation at barbecue counters. Locals are quick to chat. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Memphis?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is Memphis safe for solo female travelers?
Fine in central areas with normal care; use rideshare at night, watch drinks on Beale Street and avoid isolated parking decks.
More about Memphis
Going to Memphis solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Memphis meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) fares
- Memphis International Airport
- Memphis Travel (Visit Memphis)
- National Civil Rights Museum
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.