Bar Harbor Audio Tour: Explore Historic Architecture

Immerse yourself in the opulence of the Gilded Age with the Bar Harbor Audio Tour. Discover the historic architecture, stroll along the ocean, and uncover the fascinating history of this charming seaside town.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Bar Harbor - Your tour of Bar Harbor begins on the pier by Agamont Park, where you’ll find plentiful parking. As you walk through this historic town, you’ll see tons of beautifully preserved architecture, phenomenal ocean views, and much more. Plus, you’ll learn plenty of fascinating history along the way!

NOTE: This 1+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Bar Harbor in 1-2 hours.

  • Bar Island Trail - Bar Island Trail is a totally unique walking trail. It’s a sandbar trail leading out to one of Bar Harbor’s beautiful islands, but it only appears at low tide! If you’re here at the right time, it makes for a positively magical stroll.
  • West Street - The West Street Historic District features rows of breathtaking historic homes, all dating between 1870 and 1910. Here, you’ll learn how to identify which ones are the oldest!
  • Bar Harbor Historical Society - Built in 1902, La Rochelle is a simply jaw-dropping estate. This enormous mansion has 41 rooms and a ton of history. It’s now owned by the Maine Seacoast Mission Society, which purchased the property for only a dollar.
  • Primrose Inn - Built in 1878, this iconic structure only barely survived a huge fire that swept through Bar Harbor in 1947. Today, it continues to welcome visitors as a cozy bed and breakfast!
  • Holy Redeemer Catholic Church - This is a church which simply must be photographed. The impressive stonework, the imposing tower, and the gorgeous windows are all just begging to end up on Instagram!
  • St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church - St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church is a quirky architectural oddity. This church was built in multiple sections, with the oldest parts dating back to 1877 and the newest to the 1930s. The end result is an oddly endearing and totally unique structure.
  • Jesup Memorial Library - This historic library dates all the way back to 1877. At the time, it had only 250 volumes, almost all of which were donated by the town’s wealthy residents. Since then, that small collection has continued to expand.
  • Abbe Museum - Abbe Museum celebrates the heritage of the native Wabanaki. Also known as the People of the Dawn, the Wabanaki lived in Bar Harbor long before it was Bar Harbor. Museum founder Robert Abbe wanted to honor that long history, and the museum now features exhibits encompassing 12,000 years of Native history in the region.
  • Village Green - Bar Harbor’s village green isn’t just any old park. It was designed by Beatrix Farrand, who also designed the Rose Garden at the White House! It features an 1896 street clock, a historic bandstand, and a fountain in the style of 17th century Italian fountains.
  • Balance Rock Inn - Balance Rock is an unusual landmark which rests right next to the Shore Path. It’s a glacial erratic, meaning a glacier dragged it a very long way before setting it down here. This boulder is estimated to have moved about 40 miles before setting up shop in Bar Harbor!
  • Grant Park - Once the site of a Gilded Age mansion, Grant Park is now just a pleasant, oceanside green space for all to enjoy. If you’re looking for the ideal picnic spot, this is it!
  • Bar Harbor Inn & Spa - The Bar Harbor Inn is a seaside resort with a very long and complicated history. It was once a reading room where Bar Harbor’s wealthy residents discussed literature and the matters of the day. Today, it has been converted into one of the most lavish hotels in the town. Your tour concludes just past this hotel, right near the pier where it began.
What's Included
  • Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
  • Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
  • Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
  • Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
  • Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
  • Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
  • Learn more: dive deeper into any story you enjoyed with extra stories.
  • Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
What's Not Included
  • Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Additional Information

Return to the extravagance of the Gilded Age in Bar Harbor, Maine. Once the vacation destination of choice among some of America’s wealthiest families, this quaint seaside town is still chock full of lavish historic architecture. Dive into Bar Harbor’s rich history, stroll alongside the ocean, and learn how the lobster became such a Maine icon!

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

This isn’t an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

  • How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
  • How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Walking Tours: couples can share one using headphones.
  • Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It’s perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
  • Comprehensive Tour Experience: • The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
  • Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
  • Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
  • Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
  • Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app’s features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
Location
Bar Harbor Harbor Master
Town Pier
After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.3
(26 Ratings)
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Marcy_n
Aug 28, 2024
Excellent and worthy tour! - Excellent tour with very thorough explanations! I found it very easy to use and also quite interesting! I do recommend it!
Review provided by Viator
Michael_b
Jul 26, 2024
Fun walking tour - We really liked that the audio was perfectly synced with our location. This d is great because it’s hard for us to hear in a large tour group. It was just the right amount of information. It didn’t get boring and we learned a lot about the area.
Review provided by Viator
K4whcv6nhq
Jun 22, 2024
Easy and enjoyable - This walking tour was super. We just downloaded one for Boston and found it very easy to learn about the town at our own pace without being in a massive tour group.
Review provided by Viator
Lisa_r
May 28, 2024
Great way to see bar harbor - This made the walk around so interesting. The narrations automatically played when we approached something interesting. We went in the opposite order, end to beginning. And it worked fine for us. I wish there were more of these at other locations.
Review provided by Viator
4eversonshine
May 14, 2024
Facts in clear, story-telling format. - Easy to use app with accurate and interesting location-based narration. Maps and menu were easy to follow. Will be buying another audio tour for Charlottetown, PE!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Javier_o
May 13, 2024
A Great Way to Tour the Town - The tour was very informative and closely matched the displayed walking map. The map with numbered circles was very helpful in knowing when a place of interest was coming up. The tour does need to be updated to show that the Shore Path is closed due to storm damage. A possible solution is to add other points of interest such as the cemetery across the street from the library. Overall, we were very pleased with the app and the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Jaime_g
Nov 1, 2023
Worth it - We liked that the audio knew where we were & start & stop at just the right time. It allowed you to read the story as well.
Review provided by Viator
Amber_c
Oct 11, 2023
We enjoyed walking the... - We enjoyed walking the neighborhood at our own pace, instead of just shopping on the Main Street. We also liked learning the history of Bar Harbor.
Review provided by Viator
Joyryan2016
Jul 15, 2024
Nice way to spend an afternoon - Easy, informative, can set your pace. Wish there was a little more information on each topic/place of interest. Overall a nice way to spend the afternoon, get some Steps in and learn a little about the town.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janet_f
Oct 29, 2023
Frustrating - Terrible is an understatement. We were unable to find any way to start tour. We followed directions on app but when we arrived there was NO way to start tour. Nothing we could find. After at least half an hour of trying to figure it out we gave up. So not only did we waste our time we also wasted our $. Very frustrating!
Review provided by Viator
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September 2024
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