Tampa’s Highlights Self Guided Audio Walking Tour
Overview
Discover Tampa with this self-guided walking tour! Stroll along the scenic Tampa Riverwalk and get to know the scenic side of the city, from the Kiley Gardens to the old railroad bridge and beyond. As you explore, you’ll also dig into Tampa’s rich history. Hear all about the city’s founding, trouble with pirates, battles between settlers and Native tribes, and Tampa’s very own cigar mafia. There’s no shortage of sights to see in Tampa, and no shortage of stories to tell!
After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.
New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check opening hours before your visit.
Itinerary
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1
15 min
Welcome to the Tampa Riverwalk! This scenic walking path runs right along the Hillsborough River with plenty of sites to see and stories to tell on both sides of the river. Our walk today covers a little over two miles and should take around an hour and a half. So without further ado, let's get walking! nnNew, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.nnThe tour is over 2 miles long, with more than 41 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete.
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2
20 min
Weu2019re strolling past the Hotel Tampa Riverwalk, on our right. The sleek Art Deco design might make you think it was built sometime in the early 1900s, but it actually opened in 1969. The design is actually a nod to the architectural heyday of Miami, where Art Deco was all the rage about a century ago. If you ever find yourself in Miami, make sure to check out my driving tour of the city!
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3
25 min
That checkerboard display of grass and concrete strips off to our right is Kiley Garden, designed in the 1980s by the late landscape architect Dan Kiley. Kiley loved modern design and believed in creating outdoor spaces that fit with their surroundings. Here, Kiley created a gridded landscape, inspired by the business buildings that tower along the edge of the garden.
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4
10 min
The Hillsborough River spills into Hillsborough Bay, which empties into Tampa Bay about seven miles from here. Thatu2019s also where youu2019ll find the Port of Tampa Bay, the largest port in the state of Florida. Tankers and cargo ships bring over 37 million tons of cargo through this port each year!
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5
If Tampa was such a tiny town in the 1800s, howu2019d it become such a big deal? That would be thanks to the discovery of one valuable mineral: Phosphate, a chemical compound of the mineral phosphorus thatu2019s often found in rocks. Phosphate is rich in nutrients, a perfect ingredient in fertilizers that helps crops grow. And you know what, phosphate helped Tampa grow too!
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6
During the rise and fall of Tampau2019s cigar industry, the streets of Ybor City were ruled by a shady, dangerous individual known as u201cThe Dean of the Underworld.u201d That man was Charlie Wall.
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7
15 min
As we approach the end of our tour, what better time to return to the man responsible for making Tampa the city it is today: Railroad tycoon Henry B. Plant. The lush park weu2019re about to enter is Henry B. Plant Park, named in his honor. Itu2019s Tampau2019s oldest public park and includes a botanical garden full of orchids, palms, citrus and other tropical plants. When Plant purchased the land in 1886, there was a huge orange grove here. 150 years ago, weu2019d be walking through that grove right now! But Plant cut those trees down to make way for his Tampa Bay Hotel, which he built with all the money he made from the railroad.
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8
10 min
Ahoy, mateys! Do you see any pirates around? Thereu2019s one day of the year they swashbuckle around, overrunning the Riverwalk and the park on our right, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. This all takes place during The Gasparilla Pirate Festival, an annual tradition thatu2019s been going on since 1904.
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9
15 min
That an old steel bascule bridge is the only one of its kind in Tampa. It dates back to 1915 and was once the main route into the old port of Tampa. Believe it or not, itu2019s still in use to this day! Occasionally, at least. Trains still chug over the bridge every once in a while, but these days, thereu2019s more river traffic passing under the bridge than there are trains passing over it, so itu2019s usually left open.
What's included
- Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
- Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
- Just bring your phone and headphones; the app guides your walk.
- Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
- Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
- Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
- Private walking tour experience for your family or group.
- Self-guided audio tour through our easy-to-use mobile app.
- Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.
What's not included
- Self-guided tour u2014 no live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and transport are separate.
Good to know
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
- Private tour: Follow the route on your phone without an in-person guide or crowded group.
- At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
- Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
- Multi-device access: Use the same password on one device for each traveler included in your booking.
- More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
- Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
- Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
- Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
- Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- ✓ 100% refund24 hours or more before the start time
- ✕ 0% refundLess than 24 hours before the start time