Birthplace of Canada: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Charlottetown

4.5 (28 reviews) Charlottetown, Canada
Duration2h - 3h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Charlottetown isn't just Prince Edward Island's capital — it's where Canada itself was born. This self-guided audio tour starts right at Port Charlottetown and walks you through the rooms and streets where the 1864 Confederation talks took shape, GPS-triggered so the narration finds you automatically at every stop.

Highlights:

- Step inside Province House National Historic Site, where the 1864 Confederation Conference began.
- Hear the history behind St. Dunstan's Basilica and St. Peter's Cathedral.
- Wander past Beaconsfield Historic House and the Irish Settlers Memorial.
- Browse Founders' Food Hall & Market and the Culinary Institute of Canada.
- Finish at the harbour front by Peakes Quay Marina.

Narrated by a seventh-generation Islander, the tour goes at your own pace — pause, restart, or pick it back up later. No set start time, no group to keep up with: perfect if you're working around a cruise ship schedule or just want Charlottetown on your own terms.

What's included

  • A front row seat to the history of how Charlottetown became the birthplace of Canada
  • Directions to the starting point so that when you're in the right place, the tour will start
  • Access to VoiceMap's app on IOS or Android with flexibility to enjoy the tour at your own pace.
  • Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
  • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
  • Smartphone and headphones
  • Food/Drink
  • No ENTRY tickets for any paid attractions
  • transportation

What to expect

  1. Pass by
    Welcome to Charlottetown, the charming capital city of Prince Edward Island! On this walking tour through Downtown, you’ll explore the historical and cultural treasures that make this city so special.
  2. Pass by
    Our 75-minute walk starts and ends at Port Charlottetown, you'll hear how Prince Edward Island was discovered by Europeans, and then handed over to British landlords. You’ll find out how the islanders gained their independence, tiptoed on the brink of bankruptcy, and what eventually convinced them to join the Confederation.
  3. Pass by
    On this tour, you'll pass by the Founders Food Hall and Market and hear about it while you walk.
  4. St. Dunstan's Basilica
    Pass by
    Along the way, I’ll show you St Dunstan’s Basilica, one of only 26 basilicas in Canada, and one of the most visible landmarks in the city.
  5. Confederation Centre of the Arts
    Pass by
    As you take in Downtown Charlottetown, you’ll have a chance to explore the Confederation Center of the Arts, a cultural center dedicated to Canadian visual and performing arts, where productions of Anne of Green Gables (the world’s longest continuous-running musical) were held annually until the pandemic hit
  6. Province House National Historic Site
    Pass by
    You’ll also see the birthplace of the Canadian Confederation, Province House National Historic Site, one of the oldest functioning parliamentary buildings in the world.
  7. Charlottetown City Hall
    Pass by
    You'll have an opportunity to take in Charlottetown City Hall and hear its history while you walk.
  8. Pass by
    Take in a few of the city’s hidden quirks, including a canon planted in the sidewalk, and statues of Eckhart, the mouse from David Weale’s best seller The True Meaning of Crumbfest. You'll see him outside the St James Presbyterian Church
  9. Pass by
    As you take in Downtown Charlottetown, you’ll have a chance to visit the largest and the smallest churches on the island, St. Dunstan’s Basilica Cathedral and All Souls Chapel.
  10. Pass by
    See St Peter's Cathedral, and hear its history while you walk.
  11. Government House
    Pass by
    See Government House and hear its history while you walk.
  12. Beaconsfield Historic House
    Pass by
    After taking in the Beaconfield Historic House, you'll discover how the PEI Railway became one of the world’s most crooked rail beds with a third of its total line made up of curves
  13. Pass by
    As you take in Downtown Charlottetown, you’ll have a chance to find out about the last public execution in the province in Connaught Square, where convict George Dowie was hung three times before being declared dead
  14. Pass by
    As you take in Downtown Charlottetown, you’ll have a chance to stroll past COWS ice-cream parlor, Lobster on the Wharf restaurant, and the Culinary Institute of Canada, where you can discover local cuisine
  15. Pass by
    As you take in Downtown Charlottetown, you’ll have a chance to hear about the ghosts who foretold the tragedy of the burning phantom ship, and an exiled Irish God who lurks in the rocks near the Irish Settlers Monument
  16. Pass by
    As you wander through Charlottetown Marina, Peakes Quay, and down the vibrant pedestrian street, Victoria Row, you’ll learn all about the city’s founding, and Canada’s early history.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Before arrival, please install our mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

End point

Before arrival, please install our mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

Additional information

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please note: You won't be guided through any museums or other attractions mentioned en route. If you choose to enter and visit such places, you'll need to pay for it independently of this tour.

Cancellation policy

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

Reviews

4.5 (28)
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  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
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