Audio tour of monuments

Question

Does anyone know if there’s a free (or inexpensive) audio tour of any of the monuments in the national mall? When we went to Italy we used free audio tours by Rick Steves when we went to the Colosseum and other places. But he only does European audio tours on his site. Looking for something similar to tell us history and interesting facts without doing a formal tour.

Answer

Washington DC’s National Mall offers several options for self-guided audio tours, many of which are free or inexpensive. These tours can provide historical context, anecdotes, and interesting facts about the monuments, memorials, and surrounding areas without requiring a formal guided tour. Below is a detailed breakdown of your options.

Free and Official Audio Resources

NPS (National Park Service) App: The NPS app for smartphones provides free audio tours and detailed information for many monuments, memorials, and historic sites along the National Mall. It includes the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and more. Each stop offers historical context, photos, and some narrated content.
Smithsonian Audio Guides: Some of the Smithsonian museums offer free downloadable audio tours for specific exhibits and nearby monuments. While these focus mostly on museum content, they occasionally include outdoor features like the National Mall.
DC National Mall Virtual Tours: The official DC tourism website provides free virtual tours and narrated walking maps that can be followed while on site, offering historical context similar to an audio guide.

Third-Party Apps and Audio Guides

Detour (now part of Bose AR/Storytelling apps): Offers self-guided audio walking tours in DC, often with a small fee. These are narrative-driven and include personal stories and historical details that make the walk engaging.
GPSmyCity or izi.TRAVEL: Both apps provide self-guided audio tours for the National Mall and individual monuments. Most content is free, though some premium content may require a small payment.
Audible or Podcast Tours: Several free or inexpensive podcasts focus on DC’s monuments. You can download episodes to play offline while walking the Mall. Examples include “The National Mall Podcast” or “History Here in DC.”

Tips for a Self-Guided Audio Tour

Download the audio or app content before your visit to avoid data usage and ensure smooth playback.
Bring a pair of comfortable headphones and a portable battery pack if you plan to walk extensively.
Plan your route in advance: a circular or linear route along the National Mall can help you hit major monuments efficiently while following the audio cues.
Combine free app content with a map or printed guide so you can pause at any monument to explore more on foot.

Overall, the NPS app is your best free option, providing accurate, official information. Supplementing it with third-party apps or podcasts can enrich the experience with additional stories and perspectives. This approach allows a flexible, informative, and self-paced tour similar to Rick Steves’ audio guides for European landmarks.

Audio tour of monuments

More Washington DC Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions