Audio guide apps enhance the visitor experience by providing narrated tours of museums, historic sites, and landmarks. While these apps can include video, images, and text, audio content is particularly effective because it allows visitors to stay immersed in their surroundings while walking or driving. High-quality audio also offers the chance to use voice actors and sound effects to create a more engaging atmosphere — whether you want to deep dive into ancient history or explore modern Qatar.
From world-famous museums to self-guided walking tours, these examples provide inspiration for your next project.
Audio guide app examples for museums & galleries
Audio guides are ideal for galleries and museums as they provide multilingual context for the exhibits on display.
Walt Disney Family Museum
This museum showcases objects from Walt Disney’s life. The audio guide narrates his journey from creating Mickey Mouse to building a global brand. The developers focused on inclusivity, featuring an “Audio Described Tour” specifically designed for guests with low vision or blindness to ensure the story is accessible to everyone.
Tacoma Art Museum
The Tacoma Art Museum offers several guided tours, including a deep dive into Dale Chihuly’s glass artwork. The content explores his inspirations and artistic process, helping visitors notice details they might otherwise miss both inside and outside the museum.
Audio guide app examples for tourism & city experiences
Mobile apps can improve in-person tours or serve as a standalone revenue stream for tourists who prefer a self-guided experience.
Ruka Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro Scenic Flight
Ruka Africa provides a free audio guide for its scenic flights around Mt. Kilimanjaro. It explains how the volcanic peaks formed nearly 200,000 years ago, providing a real-time educational companion to the thrilling views below.
Bloody Mary – Haunted New Orleans
Audio guides can also be monetized, with companies typically charging between $5 and $15. This tour of the Haunted Museum and nearby sites is led by Bloody Mary, a professional psychic medium and historian. After 25 years of in-person tours, she expanded into digital self-guided tours, offering visitors a more affordable way to explore.
Audio guide app examples for cultural institutions & public organizations
Audio guides help city governments and non-profits share local history and culture at a visitor’s own pace. For apps covering large areas, consider including:
- An interactive map with marked points of interest.
- Detailed descriptions and high-quality audio recordings for each stop.
St. Louis Public Library
This app offers a self-guided tour of the library’s architectural history. Since the library spans an entire city block across five buildings, the app helps users navigate and learn about specific collections and rooms, from the Great Hall to the specialized social science and literature sections.
Cultural Tourism DC
This non-profit promotes the history of Washington, DC, through a popular audio guide app. They have organized the experience into distinct neighborhood loops, such as Downtown West and U Street. This is an excellent model for organizations covering a wide geographical area.
Audio guide app examples for trails & outdoor experiences
For organizations maintaining trails, audio apps can use GPS triggers to automatically play content as a visitor reaches a specific location.
Brattleboro Words Trail
This Vermont trail features 47 sites across a 30-mile route suitable for driving, cycling, or walking. It covers everything from historic municipal centers to local businesses. The project recently won a Leadership in History Award for its creative storytelling and community impact.
Snoopy’s Walk of Fame
Created by Charles Schulz, this walk of fame features signatures from celebrities like Dorothy Hamill and Tony Hawk. The audio guide shares the stories behind the 59 signatures found along the path, providing a unique behind-the-scenes look at the history of the site.