Tampa's Highlights Self Guided Audio Walking Tour

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Tampa Riverwalk

   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! New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. The tour is over 2 miles long, with more than 41 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete.

   15 minutes here

2. We’re 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!

   20 minutes here · Admission not included

3. Kiley Garden

   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.

   25 minutes here

4. Port Tampa Bay

   The Hillsborough River spills into Hillsborough Bay, which empties into Tampa Bay about seven miles from here. That’s also where you’ll 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!

   10 minutes here

5. Julian B Lane Riverfront Park

   If Tampa was such a tiny town in the 1800s, how’d 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 that’s 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!

   Pass by without stopping

6. Ybor City

   During the rise and fall of Tampa’s cigar industry, the streets of Ybor City were ruled by a shady, dangerous individual known as “The Dean of the Underworld.” That man was Charlie Wall.

   Pass by without stopping

7. Henry B. Plant Museum

   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 we’re about to enter is Henry B. Plant Park, named in his honor. It’s Tampa’s 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, we’d 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.

   15 minutes here · Admission not included

8. Gasparilla Pirate Festival

   Ahoy, mateys! Do you see any pirates around? There’s 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 that’s been going on since 1904.

   10 minutes here · Admission not included

9. 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, it’s still in use to this day! Occasionally, at least. Trains still chug over the bridge every once in a while, but these days, there’s more river traffic passing under the bridge than there are trains passing over it, so it’s usually left open.

   15 minutes here

Where it starts and ends

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

en

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Every day

Group size

Up to 15 travelers per booking

Operated by

Drive with Action

Know before you go

• 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.

Photos

Traveler reviews

1 verified traveler reviews for Tampa's Highlights Self Guided Audio Walking Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.