The 2 Best Cruises And Boat Tours in Memphis
Memphis’s lively riverfront and storied streets make it a natural choice for boat tours and cruises. From hearing the soulful sounds of Beale Street to cruising past the historic Lorraine Motel, Memphis offers a mix of cultural, musical, and scenic experiences that can be enjoyed from the water. Whether you’re after a comprehensive city experience combined with a Mississippi River cruise or an affordable downtown tour with the option to add a riverboat cruise, there’s something to suit different interests and budgets.
In this guide, I’ll compare two top-rated Memphis boat and city tours. The first is a guided Memphis city tour combined with a paddlewheel riverboat cruise—a longer, all-in-one experience perfect for first-timers wanting a full-day immersion. The second is a more flexible city tour with optional riverboat and Sun Studio add-ons, ideal for travelers looking to explore highlights at a lower cost and with customizable options. Read on to see which tour suits your Memphis adventure best.
Quick Overview
This guide features two popular Memphis tours: one that combines a 6.5-hour downtown city tour with a Mississippi River cruise, and a second that offers a shorter, 2 to 7-hour narrated city tour with the possibility of adding a river cruise and Sun Studio visit. Both tours include hotel pickup and drop-off, but differ in length, focus, and price, making it easier to match your schedule and budget.
1. Guided Memphis City Tour that includes Riverboat Cruise
At $85 per person, this combination tour stands out for its in-depth exploration of Memphis’s top sights plus a relaxing Mississippi River cruise. Starting with hotel pickup from downtown Memphis, the tour takes you on a guided sightseeing journey through the city’s historic core, stopping at landmarks such as Beale Street, Victorian Village mansions, and other notable sites, all narrated by a humorous and knowledgeable guide.
After the city tour, you’ll board a paddlewheeler for a cruise on the Mississippi River. This part of the experience offers a scenic perspective of Memphis from the water, with commentary about the river’s importance to the city’s history and culture. The 6.5-hour duration makes it a comprehensive day, suitable for those who want a deep dive into Memphis’s past and present.
What makes this tour unique is the seamless blend of land and water experiences, offering a relaxed way to see the city’s highlights and enjoy some river scenery. The hotel pickup and drop-off add convenience, making it easy to relax without worrying about transportation. It’s especially well-suited for visitors with limited time but a desire for a rich, multi-layered experience.
The reviews highlight the guide’s humor and expertise, with many praising the comprehensive itinerary. One traveler noted, “The city tour and riverboat cruise was terrific. Sam was a wonderful tour guide, knowledgeable and funny.” The value here lies in the combination of sightseeing and river time, giving you a full Memphis experience for a reasonable price.
Bottom Line: This tour offers a well-rounded, immersive way to experience Memphis, perfect for first-time visitors who want to combine city highlights with a scenic river cruise in one day.
2. Memphis City Tour with Optional Riverboat Cruise & Sun Studio Add-On Options
For $45 per person, this more flexible and shorter tour provides a solid overview of Memphis’s major attractions, with the freedom to customize your experience. Starting with hotel pickup, a friendly guide will narrate highlights such as the Memphis Pyramid—now a sprawling Bass Pro Shops complex—and the historic Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. The duration varies from 2 to 7 hours, depending on your interests.
This tour’s main strength is its adaptability. You can choose to upgrade with a paddlewheel river cruise or a visit to Sun Studio, the legendary recording studio where Elvis, Johnny Cash, and others made history. The optional add-ons allow for a tailored Memphis experience—whether you want just the city sights or a combination that includes a scenic cruise and musical history.
The tour tends to focus more on city highlights and history, with mentions of landmarks like the Peabody Hotel ducks and the Civil Rights Museum. Although some travelers feel that it leans heavily on the Bass Pro Shops story, reviews also praise its engaging guides and the flexibility to prioritize your interests. One reviewer remarked, “Absolutely brilliant tour, city tour and Sun Studio…highly recommend,” emphasizing its versatility.
In terms of value, this tour suits those wanting an overview without a long commitment or those with a tighter budget who might later add a river cruise or museum visit. It’s particularly good for travelers who want to see Memphis’s core attractions at their own pace and perhaps skip the longer full-day options.
Bottom Line: If you prefer a shorter, more customizable experience with the choice to add river and music history highlights, this tour is a practical and flexible option.
How to Choose
Deciding between these two tours depends on your schedule, budget, and what you want to get out of Memphis. If you’re after a comprehensive, all-in-one experience that combines sightseeing and river cruising in a single day, the Guided Memphis City Tour and Riverboat Cruise offers excellent value. It’s best suited for first-timers or those with limited time who want to see a lot without booking multiple experiences.
On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter, more adaptable tour that lets you focus on the city’s top landmarks and add on a river cruise or Sun Studio visit later, the Memphis City Tour with Optional Add-Ons is a smart choice. It’s ideal for travelers on a budget or those who want to pace themselves.
For best results, book early—especially during peak travel seasons—since these tours are popular and fill quickly. Whether you choose a full-day adventure or a flexible city highlights tour, both options will give you a memorable taste of Memphis’s musical roots, rich history, and Mississippi River charm.