T
Blown away on how good this was
This audio tour was awesome. Could stroll along at your own pace and it would know where you were and start up at the landmarks.
Minneapolis River Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour
+4 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1h–1h 30min
- Price from
- $12 / person
- Location
- Minneapolis Saint Paul, United States
- Rating
- 4.2 / 5 · 70 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Private
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- VoiceMap Audio Tours
- Meeting point
- The tour starts at the Open Book Literary Center on Washington Ave. Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace.
Description
Welcome to Minneapolis, the home of Nerf Balls, the singer and songwriter Prince, and, yes, Zubaz pants. On this self-guided audio tour, you'll stroll along the Mississippi River. Along the way, you’ll hear about: • The history of the milling industry in Minneapolis • The massive Washburn A Mill explosion of 1878 • The 35W Bridge collapse of 2007 • The secret history of "Funkytown" • An ugly mansion with 86 TVs • Cougar attacks • The untimely death of Tiny Tim • The hiring of a hitman in St. Paul • ”Untalented but adventurous” German artists, to quote the author Jonathan Raban • How long it takes a single drop of water to travel down the Mississippi – and how long it takes a person to make the same journey This walking tour can be enjoyed on location or even virtually at home with VoiceMap's Continuous Play function which disables the GPS playback. PHOTO CREDITS: Meet Minneapolis
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Next available
- Tue, Oct 13
- Adult (ages 6+)
- $12
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 12.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Open Book
The tour starts outside the Open Book Literary Center. Here you'll learn about how VoiceMap works, be introduced to the city and hear about the Open Book Literary Center, and all before the walk begins.
Guthrie Theater
You'll pass by the Guthrie Theatre and learn about its history and its role as one of Minnesota’s core cultural institutions.
Mill City Museum
The tour takes you past the Mill City Museum. As you walk, you'll learn a bit about the museum.
Mill Ruins Park
You'll walk past the Mill Ruins Park and while you walk, you'll hear a little about it.
Upper St. Anthony Lock and Dam
You'll walk past St Anthony Lock and Dam and hear a bit about it, how it was used and why it is permanently closed.
St. Anthony Falls
While you walk, you can see where St Anthony Falls would have been if the dam wasn't built. You'll also hear a bit about the falls.
You'll walk past a section of the Mississippi River and learn a bit about it while you do so.
Nicollet Island
The tour ends in Nicollet Island at the Nicollet Island Pavilion. While you walk there, you'll learn a bit about Nicollet Island and who it was named after.
What's included
Included
VoiceMap App for Android and iOS
Lifetime access to this tour in English
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Not included
Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
Smartphone and headphones
Food and drink
Transportation
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.2
70 reviews
How it compares in Minneapolis-Saint Paul
- No. 7 by number of reviews among 108 tours in Minneapolis-Saint Paul
- Starting price $12 is 76% below the typical $49 for tours of similar length in Minneapolis-Saint Paul
Excurgo comparison of 108 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Minneapolis River Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour take?
Minneapolis River Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour lasts about 1h–1h 30min. The itinerary has 8 stops.
How much does Minneapolis River Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour cost?
Prices start at $12 per person for this Minneapolis Saint Paul experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Minneapolis River Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day.
Can I cancel Minneapolis River Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is The tour starts at the Open Book Literary Center on Washington Ave. Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Minneapolis River Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Minneapolis River Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.2 out of 5 across 70 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by VoiceMap Audio Tours.
Reviews(70)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
M
A Pleasant and Educational Stroll
Well-written and well-delivered audio with tons of interesting facts about the Mississippi River and the points along the route. Highly recommend!
L
Learn some Mn history.
I picked this as I had an offer to use. Today was close to 50 degrees outside in Mn. There was times the wind was right in your face. We tried to do with the car - hard to follow walking path. The very start of the video was not very clear where you were to be on the stone bridge, possible on walking path below. So the video kept repeating the same statement like 3 times. I would really like to know next time how many miles total for the walk, I believe this one was about a 5 mile walk.
M
Breathtaking river views and captivating stories.
I really enjoyed the tour. Thank you so much. The stories were endearing and interesting and made me want to read the book Under Purple Skies and sail down to New Orleans. I took way too many photos but posted the best ones here. Thanks again.
C
Interesting walk
Fun self guided walking tour of this beautiful, historic and interesting part of the city along the river. Nice narrative, easy to follow and good humor kept it enjoyable and informative. Open Book is a great starting place (go in) and parking was easy on the street. I grew up here and am happy I finally got to spend some time in this area!
W
Excellent workout. Not leisurely.
Great walk. This is for people who are prepared for a huge urban hike. Be sure the weather is good and dress comfortably and have water. My only complaint is the end point was a big distance from the starting point. Long walk back. Tiring, but looked good on my pedometer.
R
Fantastic
The narration was fantastic. So fun! The theater over the river was fabulous. The extension that went straight out toward the river overlooking the river was so cool.
S
Great self guided walkabout
Easy to follow walkabout, picked up some historical tidbits and great views of the river and the city. Took about an hour, across one bridge and back another....
K
Highly recommend
Excellent tour of the City. I learned a lot about its history and enjoyed the jokes in between. I didn’t mind that it ended in a different spot that it started as it wasn’t a super long walk back to where it began and the narrator gave you directions back
N
Excellent self-guided tour!
Excellent self-guided tour. Took about 1.5 hours to complete. Just walking around without this tour would not give a person the chance to appreciate the history of the areas covered.
Compare similar tours in Minneapolis Saint Paul
- Lowest price: Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour — $9
- Best rated: In the Footsteps of Prince: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Downtown Minneapolis — 4.2 (42 reviews)
- Shortest: Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour — 45 min–1h
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis River Walk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour | 1h–1h 30min | 4.2 (70) | $12 | |
 Minneapolis Self Guided Audio Walking Tour of Mill District | 2h–2h 30min | — | $10 | View |
 In the Footsteps of Prince: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Downtown Minneapolis | 1h 15min–2h | 4.2 (42) | $10 | View |
 Minnehaha Falls: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Minneapolis | 1h–1h 30min | 4.4 (19) | $10 | View |
 Minnesota’s Storied City: A Self-Guided Tour of Downtown St. Paul | 1h 15min–1h 30min | 4.4 (7) | $10 | View |
 Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour | 45 min–1h | 4.1 (7) | $9 | View |
 George Floyd Square and Midtown Minneapolis: A Self-Guided Tour | 1h 15min–1h 45min | 4.0 (4) | $10 | View |
from$12
4.2(70) Free cancellation