“History books tell the story in ink. Williamsburg tells it in footsteps.”
Long before America had a flag or a president, this town was shaping the ideas that would ripple into a revolution. Craftsmen hammered, governors schemed, students debated, pirates waited in jail, and entire crowds whispered about independence in rooms that still stand today.
Colonial Williamsburg is a living, breathing time capsule. Every wooden beam, brick walkway, and candlelit window carries a piece of the American story. It’s one of the few places where the past does not feel distant. It feels awake.
This self-guided Colonial Williamsburg audio tour turns the entire historic district into an open-air museum. You walk at your pace while stories unlock automatically around you, connecting buildings, people, and turning points into a vivid journey through early America.
As you wander these streets, landmarks reveal the town’s complicated path. Peyton Randolph’s home introduces you to a revolutionary leader whose influence matched the Founding Fathers you do know. The fife and drum corps echoes the rhythms of eighteenth-century battles. Rockefeller’s dream of preserving the town explains why this place looks like time never moved forward. The Public Gaol recalls the days when criminals, deserters, and even Blackbeard’s crew awaited justice behind its walls.
A little farther on, the old Capitol brings you to the very room where Virginia voted to break away from the British Empire. The Raleigh Tavern tells the quieter version of the Revolution, the one planned over tankards and secret meetings. Bruton Parish Church shows how faith anchored the community long before independence. William and Mary’s campus ties you into the education of Thomas Jefferson and other great minds. The George Wythe House adds layers of courage and tragedy, while stories of ghostly whispers near the Play House Stage hint at how much emotion these buildings have witnessed.
The tour ends at the commanding Governor’s Palace, once home to royal authority in Virginia. That authority ran out quickly when the Revolution roared to life and the governor fled under cover of night.
A friendly caution
May result in sudden cravings for tri-corner hats, dramatic reenactments, and strong opinions about eighteenth-century politics.
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Know Before You Go
Due to ongoing rehabilitation work on Colonial Parkway, several sections between Yorktown and Williamsburg are closed or under detours.Check the official NPS webpage for the latest detour and closure details.
This work is important for long-term improvements. You can find the full update here: NPS Colonial Parkway Rehabilitation.
Note: Site entry is free. This audio tour covers 30 buildings from the outside. To go inside, tickets ($35–$45) are sold at select buildings. No rush – enjoy the tour first, then decide!
Value for Money
Our self-guided walking tour includes all the important sightseeing points in the area and costs 70% less than the day ticket sold at the visitor center.
Colonial Williamsburg Map
Where To Start?
How Does It Work?
- Once you book a tour, you’ll get a text/email with instructions.
- Download the app (while in good Wi-Fi/signal) and use your unique password to access your tours. If multiple versions or entry points are available for your tour, be sure to download all the audio guides.
- Audio Setup: Connect your phone to the car stereo via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux, and bring headphones on walking tours. CarPlay and Android Auto are currently not supported; we’re working toward a solution with Apple.
- To begin touring, go to the starting point and launch the app.
- The audio starts automatically once you reach the starting point. Stick to the tour route and speed limit for the best experience.
- Please note that no one will meet you at the starting point.
Audio Story Highlights
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Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center
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Pocahontas & the Powhatan
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Slavery in Williamsburg
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Peyton Randolph House
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A Haunting in the Randolph House
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Origins of Colonial Williamsburg
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Four-Legged Reenactors
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Living History
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Colonial Williamsburg Magazine
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Fifes And Drums
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Public Gaol
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Capitol Building
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Secretary’s Office
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R. Charlton's Coffeehouse
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Raleigh Tavern
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Duke of Gloucester Street
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Ludwell-Paradise House
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Colonial Williamsburg Magazine
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Colonial Williamsburg Courthouse
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Market Square
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Bruton Parish Episcopal Church
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Bowden-Armistead House
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College of William & Mary
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The Brafferton
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The Wren Building
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President's House
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Ghostly Haunted Stories
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George Wythe House
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Play House Stage
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Governor’s Palace
Preview The Tour
Tour FAQs
Typically it will take about 2 days to fully experience Colonial Williamsburg. However, you can still walk through the city in only a day if you’re okay with skipping a few attractions. But if you plan on taking Colonial Williamsburg tours, make sure that you factor in how long they take. Action Tour Guide’s self-guided tour takes about 1 to 2 hours.
You can walk around Colonial Williamsburg for free! However, we recommend buying either a ticket or a pass in order to see trade sites, museums, and important historical buildings like the Governor’s Palace, and purchasing Action Tour Guide’s Self-Guided Colonial Williamsburg Tour to be led straight to the city’s top destinations.
Colonial Williamsburg is open every day of the year! Most of the historical sites and trades are only open from 9 to 5, but the historic city also hosts evening programs like concerts and trial recreations that go on into the night.
Colonial Williamsburg offers an engaging glimpse into Colonial America’s past all year long. But if we had to choose a time to visit, we’d pick mid to late October. The average highs this time of year are in the low-70s. It’s the perfect temperature for walking around the city! At night, the average temperature is in the 50s, which is cool but not too cold. But what really makes this time of the year special is the foliage. In order to see leaves with peak color, check foliage predictions in advance as peak often varies from year to year.
The United States’ first president never permanently lived in Williamsburg, but he did visit! Washington started to frequently visit the city after becoming a member of the House of Burgesses.
Washington stayed in various rooms in Williamsburg. One of his most important visits was when he stayed at George Wythe’s House near the end of the Revolutionary War.
The Wren Building is the oldest structure in Williamsburg. When you take Colonial Williamsburg tours like this one, you’ll quickly learn that most of this historic place is from the 1700s. But the Wren Building traces its history back to 1695.
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Inclusions and Exclusions
App on your phone: A link to download the Action Tour Guide App and Password for your tours.
Easy to use: Stories play automatically via GPS, hands‑free. Assistance available all day via call, chat, or email.
Flexible schedule: Use any day, any time. Tours are valid forever.
Interactive audio stories: Experience local history and culture through clear, concise narratives from experienced narrators.
At your own pace: No group. Take breaks for photos, snacks, hikes. Go at your own pace.
Offline use: No cell signal or wifi required. Offline GPS Map & route. Stop-to-stop direction.
Don’t miss a thing: Enjoy a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated videos, text guides, and hidden gems.
Transportation, parking fees, food, and drinks.
Entry tickets or reservations for any attractions along the route.
Car Rental: Please arrange a rental car at the closest airport or train station.
