Home Activities USA Bar Harbor Historic Bar Harbor Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour Guide

Activity Bar Harbor, USA

Historic Bar Harbor Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour Guide

4.4 (42 reviews) 1–2 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

42 reviews

4.4

Historic Bar Harbor Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour Guide — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Historic Bar Harbor Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour Guide, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

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/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.

New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

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

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At a glance

Duration: 1–2 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Operated by: Adventures with Action

Ages: Adults (13–100 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
Included: Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
Included: Just bring your phone and headphones; the app guides your walk.
Included: Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
Included: Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
Included: Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
Included: Private walking tour experience for your family or group.
Included: Access your tour in our separate audio tour app after booking.
Included: Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.

Not included

Not included: No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.

Itinerary

Stop 1

5 min

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: The tour is over 2 miles long, with more than 28 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete.

New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
Stop 2

5 min

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.
Stop 3

5 min

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

Passing by

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.
Stop 5

Passing by

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!
Transfiguration Parish

10 min

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!
Stop 7

10 min

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

Passing by

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

Passing by

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

Passing by

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.
Stop 11

Passing by

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

Passing by

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!
Stop 13

Passing by

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.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Start at John B. Ells Pier, 23 Ells Pier, Bar Harbor. Look for the Bar Harbor Port Security Building on your right and Ellis Park with a gazebo ahead. This is the suggested starting point. We’re not affiliated with nearby businesses. Audio plays automatically—check your email/text for details.

End point

Start at John B. Ells Pier, 23 Ells Pier, Bar Harbor. Look for the Bar Harbor Port Security Building on your right and Ellis Park with a gazebo ahead. This is the suggested starting point. We’re not affiliated with nearby businesses. Audio plays automatically—check your email/text for details.

Using your ticket

IGNORE THE QR CODE ABOVE

The QR code CANNOT be presented for a ticket onsite.

The QR simply contains your tour access instructions. Please follow these instructions BEFORE you’re onsite because they require WiFi/signal.

1. Download my Action Tour Guide app:

actiontourguide.com/app

2. Sign in/ register with your email (this is will automatically generate a one-time verification sent to your email. That code is NOT your tour password).

3. Go to “My Tours” and select “Enter Password”. Find your password in the instructions email sent by “Action Tour Guide” to you by email and text.

4. Download your tour NOW. Do not wait until you are onsite.

BEFORE YOU START

This is a self-guided audio tour. No guide will meet you.

Entrance tickets, attraction tickets, parking, and transportation are not included.

Your tour has lifetime access with no expiry. Use it on any date—no need to change your booking date.

For walking tours, we recommend headphones.

See how it works: actiontourguide.com/tutorial

NEED HELP?

Setup: actiontourguide.com/redeem

FAQs: actiontourguide.com/faq

Call: 1-508-506-1844

Email: [email protected]

Cancellation

Free cancellation

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

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Your password can be used on the same number of devices as travelers booked. Enter the same password on each device.
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.
Savings tips: Walking tours: couples can share a tour by using separate earbuds. We recommend using headphones or earbuds for clearer audio and to avoid disturbing nearby guests.