---
title: "Audio tour"
description: "A narrated companion to a route or collection: short audio stories, keyed to each stop, that visitors play on their own phone as they walk."
glossary: "https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary"
source: "https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/audio-tour"
---

# Audio tour

> A narrated companion to a route or collection: short audio stories, keyed to each stop, that visitors play on their own phone as they walk.

Glossary: https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary  
Source: https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/audio-tour

The highest-value audio asset is the artist's own voice: a ninety-second
recording of the person who made the work explaining one decision beats a
professionally narrated essay. Keep clips short (people are standing on a
sidewalk, not sitting in a lecture) and let each one stand alone, because
almost nobody listens in order.

Related terms: [Self-guided tour](https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/self-guided-tour), [Interpretive signage](https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/interpretive-signage)

## Mentioned in

- [How to Evaluate Public Art Mapping Software](https://www.civiccollection.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-public-art-mapping-software)
- [Why the Map Comes First](https://www.civiccollection.com/blog/why-a-map-first-guide)