Edgartown Martha's Vineyard: Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour

Walk Edgartown's Whaling Past & Jaws Filming Spots at Your Own Speed

You download the app, follow GPS through Edgartown's streets, and listen to stories about whaling captains, the underground railroad, Jaws filming locations, and the lighthouse: all at your own pace, anytime you want. No guide to keep up with, no fixed schedule, just you deciding when to move and when to linger.

Step-by-step itinerary

Historic Edgartown Walking Tour

• Start outside Dr. Daniel Fisher house
• Walk through streets hearing hidden stories
• Pass filming site of Jaws
• Stop at church to learn Frederick Douglas speech
• Visit Giant Pagoda Tree story
• Walk the dock and hear fishing derby tales
• Stop at Carnegie library history
• End at lighthouse and native legends

The experience

So yeah, you download the app, put in your earbuds, and suddenly you're standing outside the Dr. Daniel Fisher house listening to the whole whaling story of Martha's Vineyard unfold. The tour doesn't rush you. You move when you want, stop when something catches your eye, grab coffee if you need to. It's just you and the narration walking through Edgartown's narrow streets, and honestly, that's when the town actually starts to make sense. The app has GPS, so you're not squinting at a map or wondering if you've missed a turn.

What gets interesting is how the stops layer together. You'll walk past old captain's houses and hear about the people who built them, then swing by the spot where they filmed Jaws, then find yourself at the whaling church where Frederick Douglass once gave a speech. The underground railroad ran through here too, and the tour doesn't skip over that. It's woven into why certain buildings matter. There's the Giant Pagoda Tree that a ship captain hauled back 150 years ago, the Carnegie library with its own story, the dock where the fishing derby made the island famous. Each one has something to say, and you're hearing it from someone who knows the place, not reading it off a plaque.

The lighthouse is where it wraps up, and by then you've got the shape of the island: how it got its name, who lived here before the settlers, what the native legends were. The whole self-guided audio walking tour of Edgartown takes as long as you let it. You can do it in an afternoon or break it into pieces across a few days. The app doesn't expire, so if you're coming back to Martha's Vineyard, it's there waiting.

What’s included

• Self-guided audio walking tour app with GPS navigation.
• eight main stops covering whaling history, underground railroad sites, Jaws filming location, the whaling church, Giant Pagoda Tree, fishing dock, Carnegie library, and lighthouse.
• professional narration and production.
• access anytime, never expires.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by WalknTours

Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to explore Edgartown at their own pace without a guide keeping time or a group slowing them down. The self-guided format means you stop when something interests you and move on when you're ready.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can I take this tour more than once?

Yes. The app never expires, so you can take the self-guided audio walking tour of Edgartown as many times as you visit Martha's Vineyard.

Do I need to follow a specific route or time?

No. You control the pace entirely. Start and stop whenever you want, skip ahead, or revisit sections. There's no fixed schedule or group to keep up with.

How long does the tour take?

That depends on you. The tour covers eight main stops across Edgartown, but you decide how long to spend at each one.

What if I get lost using the GPS?

The app includes GPS navigation, so it guides you turn-by-turn between stops. You can also retrace your steps or skip stops if needed.

Are there stops related to the Jaws movie?

Yes. The tour includes a historical downtown spot where Jaws was filmed, with details about why Martha's Vineyard was chosen and what was shot there.

Will I learn about the underground railroad?

Yes. The tour covers Edgartown's role in the underground railroad, including the whaling church where Frederick Douglass spoke.

Is this tour suitable for families with young children?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels and can be done at whatever pace works for your group. You can take breaks or split it across multiple days.

What's included with the tour?

You get access to the self-guided audio walking tour app with GPS navigation, professional narration, and eight main stops covering Edgartown's history.