An audio tour script template lists every stop with where the listener stands, what they see and a time and word budget. At about 150 words per minute, a 2-minute stop holds about 300 words. Copy a museum, walking or venue tour below, add your stories and voice it in Kveeky.
Key Takeaways
- Keep most stops under 2 minutes. Bloomberg Connects suggests audio under 2 minutes, or 250–300 words.
- Cover one or two points per stop. Tell a story about what’s in front of the listener, not a list of dates.
- On walking tours, fit the words to the walk. At 3 mph, a quarter mile takes 5 minutes, or about 750 words. Use the calculator below.
- Start every stop with where to look. “Face the fireplace” beats “This fireplace” when the listener has just arrived.
- Publish a transcript. Smithsonian guidelines say audio-only programs need a printed text for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Personalise every script at once
- Type your tour details in the boxes below. Nothing is sent or saved.
- Pick a tour type in the "Audio tour scripts" section. Your details are already inside every script.
- Press Copy, paste one stop at a time into Kveeky, choose a voice and download MP3 or WAV.
Audio tour scripts
Choose a tour type. Each tab shows the stop plan with timing, then the script to copy. Each script is a starter that sits under its word budget: replace the brackets and add your own stories to reach it.
Museum gallery tour (5 stops, about 8 minutes of audio)
Best for a numbered keypad or app guide where visitors stand in front of one object per stop.| Stop | Time | Word budget | Where the listener is | Stop job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0. Welcome | 45 s | 112 words | Entrance or first gallery | Greet, say how the guide works, set the length |
| 1. Opening object | 90 s | 225 words | In front of the first object | Tell where to look, then one story |
| 2. Detail stop | 2 min | 300 words | Close to a second object | Point out one detail most visitors miss |
| 3. People stop | 2 min | 300 words | Portrait, tool or personal item | Tell the human story behind it |
| 4. Close | 45 s | 112 words | Last gallery or exit | Sum up, point to the next thing to do |
Stop 0, welcome ≈ 70 words
Stop 1, opening object ≈ 85 words
That detail tells us [what it reveals]. In [year], [person or group] [what they did with it]. [One sentence of story: what was at stake.]
Most people walk past this piece in a few seconds. Now you know why it’s the first stop. When you’re ready, walk [direction] to stop 2.
Stop 2, detail stop ≈ 86 words
Why is it there? [The answer, told as a short story.] [One sentence that connects it to the visitor’s own life.]
Here’s a question to think about as you look. [Question.] There’s no right answer, but [hint at the curator’s view].
Take your time here. When you’re ready, follow the [sign or colour] to stop 3.
Stop 3, people stop ≈ 83 words
[Name] was [one line on who they were]. In [year], they [the moment that matters]. [One line on what happened next.]
[Quote, kept short: “Their words here.”] Those are [name]‘s own words, from [source, such as a letter or diary].
When people see this today, they often ask [common visitor question]. The answer is [short answer]. Next, head [direction] for the last stop.
Stop 4, close ≈ 62 words
Self-guided walking tour (5 stops, about 12 minutes of audio)
Best for a heritage trail, city walk or park route where the listener walks between stops. Size each stop's budget to the walk that follows it.| Stop | Time | Word budget | Where the listener is | Stop job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0. Welcome | 1 min | 150 words | Meeting point | Greet, give the route length, safety note |
| 1. First landmark | 2 min | 300 words | Facing the landmark | Orient, then one story |
| 2. Hidden detail | 2 min | 300 words | Side street or square | Point out what locals know |
| 3. Big story | 4 min | 600 words | Somewhere to stand or sit | The tour’s main story, told once |
| 4. Finish | 1 min | 150 words | End point | Wrap up, say where to go next |
Stop 0, welcome and safety ≈ 84 words
We start at [starting point]. Before we set off, a quick safety note. Please keep to the sidewalk, use crossings and keep one ear free for traffic. If you’d like to stop, pause the audio. The route will still be here.
Ready? Face [landmark] and walk [direction] for about [distance]. I’ll talk as you go.
Stop 1, first landmark ≈ 86 words
In [year], this was [what it used to be]. On an ordinary day, you’d have heard [sound] and smelled [smell]. [Name] [what they did here], and the street has never quite been the same.
Look closely and you can still see [clue left from the past]. Once you’ve spotted it, carry on [direction] past [landmark]. Take the [first or second] turn on your [left or right]. Stop 2 is about [distance] ahead.
Stop 2, hidden detail ≈ 81 words
See the [detail] at [where]? It’s there because [reason]. [Short story about it.]
Here’s something to try. [Small action, such as “Stand where the old gate was and look back.”] From that spot, you can see [what they see].
When you’re ready, cross at the [crossing] and head towards [landmark]. Look for a bench near [spot]. That’s stop 3.
Stop 3, the big story ≈ 88 words
In [year], [event]. [Name] was [age or role]. [What they saw or did, in 2 or 3 short sentences.]
[Turning point.] For the people living here, that meant [consequence].
[Short quote from a primary source, with who said it.]
Look around you now. [What still shows the event today.] When you’ve heard enough, walk [direction] to the finish. It’s about [distance], so take your time.
Stop 4, finish ≈ 52 words
Venue or campus tour (4 stops, about 5 minutes of audio)
Best for a college campus, visitor center, brewery, factory floor or show home, where the tour also has to sell the place.| Stop | Time | Word budget | Where the listener is | Stop job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0. Welcome | 45 s | 112 words | Reception or gate | Greet, give the route, rules for the site |
| 1. Signature space | 90 s | 225 words | The space you’re proudest of | What happens here and why it matters |
| 2. How it works | 90 s | 225 words | Behind the scenes | One process, step by step |
| 3. Close and next step | 1 min | 150 words | Exit, shop or office | Thank, then one clear call to action |
Stop 0, welcome ≈ 67 words
Stop 1, signature space ≈ 59 words
This space matters because [reason]. [Short example: one person, one moment.]
Notice the [feature] on your [left or right]. It was added in [year] so that [benefit]. When you’re ready, follow the [sign or floor marking] to stop 2.
Stop 2, how it works ≈ 58 words
First, [step 1]. Then, [step 2]. Finally, [step 3]. Watch the [machine, team or screen] for a moment, and you’ll see [what to look for].
The part most visitors don’t expect is [surprise]. That’s why [one-line reason]. Next, head [direction] for the last stop.
Stop 3, close and next step ≈ 51 words
Reusable lines for any tour
Swap these in wherever your tour needs them. Each is short enough to record as its own track.How to use the guide ≈ 27 words
Walking directions ≈ 23 words
Pause for a long story ≈ 27 words
Accessible route ≈ 31 words
Lost your way ≈ 31 words
Kids' version intro ≈ 30 words
Words in square brackets without a highlight are details only you know. Replace them before you generate the audio.
Script ready? Paste each stop into Kveeky, pick a voice and download one file per stop.
Voice your tour freeHow long should each audio tour stop be?
Set the length by where the listener is. Standing in front of an object, people listen for a couple of minutes. Walking, they can listen for as long as the walk takes.
| Stop type | Suggested length | Word budget at 150 wpm | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome or how-to track | 30 to 60 seconds | 75 to 150 words | Editorial guideline |
| Gallery or object stop | Under 2 minutes | 250 to 300 words | Bloomberg Connects guidance |
| Feature stop, listener seated | Up to 5 minutes | Up to 750 words | Ask listeners to sit or stop first |
| Walking stretch between stops | The walking time | See the calculator below | VoiceMap: under 750 words per location |
The 150 words per minute figure is the average US speaking rate. The welcome-track length is our editorial suggestion, not a published standard.
How many words fit the walk to the next stop?
Enter the distance to the next stop and how listeners travel. The calculator turns it into talk time and a word budget, so the audio ends as the listener arrives.
If the calculator doesn’t load, use this table. It assumes a 3 mph walk and 150 words per minute.
| Distance to next stop | Walking time | Word budget |
|---|---|---|
| 100 feet (30 m) | 23 seconds | 57 words |
| 250 feet (76 m) | 57 seconds | 142 words |
| 500 feet (152 m) | 1 minute 54 seconds | 284 words |
| 1,000 feet (305 m) | 3 minutes 47 seconds | 568 words |
| 0.25 miles (402 m) | 5 minutes | 750 words |
Driving tours need the speed limit for each stretch, not one average. Set the speed to the limit on that road. For a gallery stop where people stand still, time the stop’s script with the words to minutes calculator.
How to write an audio tour stop
- Pick one or two points. Bloomberg Connects suggests one or two points per stop. Choose the story, then cut everything else.
- Start with where to look. The first sentence orients the listener: "Face the fireplace" or "Look up at the clock."
- Tell it as a story. One person, one moment, one consequence. Save dates and numbers for the ones that matter.
- Write for the ear. Short sentences and contractions. Read every stop aloud before you generate the audio.
- End with the next move. Say where to go and roughly how far. On walking tours, keep talking while they walk.
- Name the file after the stop. "03-hidden-detail.mp3" matches the number on the sign and makes later fixes easy.
Pauses help listeners look before you explain. Our guide to pauses, emphasis and pacing in AI voices shows how to add them.
Writing tour scripts for an AI voice
An AI voice reads exactly what you type. A few habits stop it tripping over names, numbers and dates.
| Do this | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Write numbers 1–999 as numerals and bigger numbers in words | Bloomberg Connects gives this rule for AI tour audio |
| Respell names the voice gets wrong | ”Worcester” written as “Wuster” sounds right first time |
| Watch for words like “read”, “tear” and “lead” | The same spelling can be said two ways |
| Use commas for short pauses and full stops for longer ones | Punctuation controls the rhythm of the read |
| Remove notes, brackets and bullet points before you generate | The voice reads everything left in the script |
In Kveeky, custom pronunciations fix a name once for every stop. For tours in more than one language, our guide to AI dubbing and video localization covers translation and review.
Make your audio tour accessible
Some visitors are deaf or hard of hearing. Others are blind or have low vision, or need a step-free route. Plan for them in the script, not after recording.
| Do this | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Publish a transcript of every stop | Smithsonian guidelines say audio-only programs need a printed text |
| Describe what’s in front of the listener, not just the story | Visitors who can’t see the object still follow the stop |
| Give a step-free route in the directions | Nobody gets stuck at a staircase mid-tour |
| Keep the transcript in sync with the final audio | Edits made after recording otherwise drift |
For a full described tour, start with our audio description script template and WCAG checklist. This is general information, not legal advice. Check the rules that apply to your venue.
How Kveeky helps you voice audio tours
Voice your tour free
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See more examples on our AI voiceover for business page and our documentary voiceover page. Our blog also covers how to write an AI voiceover script and multilingual voiceover with AI.
Before you export the audio
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Each stop has a time and a word budget | Long stops lose listeners |
| Walking stretches fit the walk | Audio should end as the listener arrives |
| Every stop starts with where to look | Listeners know they’re in the right place |
| Names and places sound right | A wrong pronunciation breaks the spell |
| Files are named by stop number | They match the signs and keep fixes small |
| A transcript matches the final audio | Visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing can follow |
| Paid plan for a commercial or ticketed tour | Paid Kveeky plans include commercial usage rights |
Frequently asked questions
How long should an audio tour stop be?
Most gallery stops work best under 2 minutes, or 250–300 words, as Bloomberg Connects suggests. Longer stories can run to about 5 minutes if listeners are seated or standing still.
How many words is a 1-minute audio guide?
About 150 words, based on the average US speaking rate of about 150 words per minute. Use fewer words for stories with pauses or for listeners who are looking closely at an object.
How do you write an audio tour script?
Plan the stops and the route first. Then write each stop as one short story that starts with where to look and ends with where to go next, and read it aloud before recording.
How long can a walking tour stop be?
As long as the walk to the next stop. At 3 mph, a quarter mile takes about 5 minutes, or 750 words. VoiceMap asks publishers to keep each location under 750 words.
Can I use an AI voice for a commercial audio tour?
Yes. Paste each stop into Kveeky, pick a voice and download MP3 or WAV. Every paid Kveeky plan includes commercial usage rights.
Sources
- Average US speaking rate of about 150 words per minute: National Center for Voice and Speech, “Voice Qualities”, retrieved 1 November 2026.
- Audio under 2 minutes or 250–300 words, one or two points per stop, numerals for 1–999: Bloomberg Connects, “Best practices for creating AI audio”, retrieved 1 November 2026.
- Walking speed of about 3 mph, 150 words per minute and under 750 words (5 minutes) per location; driving tours set to the speed limit: VoiceMap, “Word counts” for tour publishers, retrieved 1 November 2026.
- Audio-only programs require a printed text: Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Exhibition Design, retrieved 1 November 2026.
- Kveeky formats and plan rights: Kveeky pricing, retrieved 1 November 2026.