In the Footsteps of Prince: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Downtown Minneapolis

Prince’s Minneapolis story comes alive on foot, one downtown block at a time. This self-guided audio tour links the places tied to his early career, Purple Rain, famous photographs, and the city’s mourning after his death. You finish near what was once the Guitar Shop, with a better sense of how closely Prince and Minneapolis were tied.

I like the freedom to start when you want and pause for food, shopping, or a closer look. I also like the way the route mixes major Prince sites with downtown discoveries such as the Mary Tyler Moore statue. The main drawback is simple: this is a walk, not an attraction-hopping tour, and some people have had trouble loading the app or keeping the audio on track.

Key points at a glance

• A 2.4-kilometer downtown walk: Plan on about 75 minutes at walking pace, or up to two hours if you stop along the way.
• Purple Rain locations: See the Crystal Court balcony featured in the film and pass the Orpheum Theatre.
• Prince murals and photographs: Visit the 100-foot mural by Hiero Veiga and the Schmitt Music Wall, linked to Prince’s first iconic photo shoot.
• A private audio experience: Only your group takes part, with no scheduled guide or strangers joining you.
• Offline listening: Download the audio, maps, and route data before starting, then walk without WiFi.
• A useful downtown orientation: The route begins at 700 Nicollet Mall and ends at 400 North 1st Avenue, near the former Guitar Shop.

Why Prince belongs on a Minneapolis walking route

Prince was born in Minneapolis, made his name there, and helped put the city on the international music map. This tour works because it treats the city itself as part of the story. You are not sitting in a museum looking at objects behind glass. You are moving through streets, theaters, murals, clubs, and public spaces connected to his career.

The route begins on Nicollet Avenue, a sensible downtown starting point. From there, the audio leads you through places tied to Prince and to the wider music culture of Minneapolis. That broader view matters. You hear about Prince, but also about other artists who helped shape the city’s reputation.

The experience is best understood as a walking narrative. The app tells you where to go and supplies the background as you move. That means your attention is split between the phone, the street, and the audio. For many people, that is part of the pleasure. You can walk at your own speed instead of keeping up with a group.

The tour is offered in English only. It is designed for your own group, so you do not have to share the route with a larger party or match a guide’s timetable.

Starting on Nicollet Avenue

You begin at 700 Nicollet Mall. The route’s fixed start matters more than it may seem. VoiceMap tours use location prompts, so starting somewhere else can cause you to miss sections or hear them out of order.

Before you leave, download the tour fully through the VoiceMap app. The audio, maps, and geodata are available offline once downloaded. This is a major help if your phone connection is weak, but the download itself should be completed before you set out.

Bring your own smartphone and headphones. Neither is supplied. The tour does not include transportation, food, drinks, museum tickets, or entrance fees to attractions along the way.

The route covers about 2.4 kilometers. That is not a long walk for most people, but the total time varies. The stated range is about one hour and 15 minutes to two hours. Your pace, photo stops, breaks, and any time spent at nearby businesses will decide where you fall in that range.

The Crystal Court balcony and Purple Rain

One of the route’s strongest moments is the Crystal Court balcony featured in Purple Rain. For Prince fans, this is the kind of location that gives the tour its purpose. You are not just hearing that Minneapolis mattered to the film. You are seeing a specific place connected to it.

The stop also shows the difference between a self-guided city walk and a standard attraction visit. The tour takes you past or near the location, but it does not include admission to any museum or attraction. You should think of the experience as an outdoor film and music history walk, not a package of indoor visits.

The audio gives you context as you go, which helps turn an ordinary downtown stop into part of the Prince story. The timing of the commentary is intended to match your position along the route. If the app works properly, you can keep your phone in your pocket for much of the walk and listen as the next section begins.

Schmitt Music Wall and Prince’s first photo shoot

The Schmitt Music Wall is another useful stop because it connects Prince’s public image with the city’s visual culture. The mural is associated with his iconic first photo shoot, making it more than a colorful wall on your route.

This is a good place to slow down. Murals reward a closer look, and the audio helps explain why the site matters. You may want to pause the tour while taking photographs, then use the app’s resume function before moving on.

The route also includes a 100-foot mural created by Hiero Veiga. Veiga was selected from more than 60 artists to create a work commemorating Prince. That scale gives the stop real visual weight, even if you are not normally someone who seeks out murals.

The murals are among the most memorable parts of this experience because they are easy to appreciate without an admission ticket. They also show how Prince remains part of the city’s public identity, not only its concert history.

The Orpheum Theatre and a wider music story

You pass the Orpheum Theatre, where Prince was one of the first Black musicians to play. That detail places his career within the story of American performance spaces and the opportunities available to Black artists.

The Orpheum stop broadens the route beyond personal fandom. If you know every Prince album, you will still get a sense of the setting in which his career developed. If you are less familiar with his work, the theater gives you a concrete place to connect with the story.

The tour also brings in other artists who helped put Minneapolis on the music map. That is a smart choice. Prince is the main subject, but the city’s musical identity was never built around one person alone.

You should not expect a full survey of Minneapolis music. The route is short, and its main focus remains Prince. Still, these connections add useful context and make the walk more worthwhile for companions who may not share the same level of Prince enthusiasm.

The Dakota club and the final Guitar Shop stop

The route passes the Dakota club, which Prince visited just a few days before his death. This is a more recent and somber part of the walk. It connects the historic story of his rise with the final period of his life.

The tour also recounts the night 10,000 people came to First Avenue to mourn the city’s music legend. That moment helps explain the scale of Prince’s place in Minneapolis. First Avenue was not just another club. It became a gathering place for grief and public memory.

The tour ends at 400 North 1st Avenue, in front of what used to be the Guitar Shop. That ending makes sense thematically. After a route filled with stages, photographs, walls, and clubs, you finish with another music-related location rather than being returned to the starting point.

Because this is a one-way walk, plan your next move before you begin. The tour does not include transportation back to Nicollet Avenue. You may need to arrange your own ride or continue exploring from the end point.

What the audio format does well

The best feature is control. You can stop, start, pause, and continue when you choose. That works well if you want to take photos, stop for lunch, browse shops, or spend extra time at a mural.

The audio also provides a sense of purpose to a downtown walk. Instead of wandering without a plan, you follow a route with a clear subject. One person who used the tour while waiting for a later event found it useful as a way to spend time alone with a reason to keep walking.

The format suits solo visitors, couples, friends, and families. It also lets your group talk without having to stay beside a live guide. If you need a break, pause the audio rather than missing part of a scheduled explanation.

There are limits. The tour relies on the VoiceMap app, GPS, and your phone. Some people have experienced audio failures, repeated sections, or prompts that did not advance as expected. Others had trouble entering the booking code and needed technical help.

To avoid the most common problems, download the complete tour on a reliable connection before arriving. Use the dedicated starting point, follow the route in order, and keep the booking details and VoiceMap support information available. If the app fails, the provider says its support team can help with technical issues and can process a refund request through the booking system.

Price, timing, and practical value

At $14.99 per person, this is a modestly priced experience for a downtown walk lasting roughly 75 minutes to two hours. The value depends on how much you want from the format.

If you are already planning to explore downtown, the price buys you a route, narration, maps, and a focused Prince theme. It costs less than many staffed tours and gives you lifetime access in English. You can also reuse the tour later because the access does not expire.

The value is weaker if you expect entrance to attractions, a live guide, or a long list of indoor stops. None of those are included. You are paying for the audio route and the storytelling, not for tickets or transport.

Weather matters. Several parts of the experience are outdoors, and the walking time can stretch toward two hours if you take breaks. A warm day can make the route pleasant, but it can also make the walk tiring. Comfortable shoes and water are sensible choices.

One note from the route’s practical side: a solo participant described downtown as having some sketchy inhabitants and said they stayed alert. That is a personal observation, not a formal safety assessment, but it is fair advice to remain aware of your surroundings, especially if walking alone.

Who should book this Prince tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to Prince fans who want to connect his music with real Minneapolis places. The murals, Purple Rain locations, First Avenue story, and Dakota stop give the walk a clear emotional and cultural thread.

It also suits first-time visitors who want a short introduction to downtown. The route adds structure to your sightseeing and may point out places you would otherwise pass without noticing, including the Mary Tyler Moore statue mentioned by one participant.

This is a good choice for a solo visitor who wants flexibility. You can begin at any convenient time, walk privately, and pause whenever you wish. Couples and friends also get a pleasant shared activity, with restaurants and shopping along the way.

Families can manage the distance if everyone is comfortable walking and listening through a phone. The subject matter is more likely to appeal to older children and adults than to very young children.

I would be cautious about booking it if you dislike phone-based tours, need guaranteed live assistance, or want to spend most of your time indoors. I would also avoid making it your only Prince experience in Minneapolis if your main goal is a longer visit to major attractions. This is a focused city walk, not a full-day music pilgrimage.

Should you book In the Footsteps of Prince?

Book it if you want a low-cost, flexible way to connect Prince with downtown Minneapolis. The strongest parts are the Crystal Court balcony, Schmitt Music Wall, Hiero Veiga’s 100-foot mural, the Orpheum Theatre, and the stories tied to First Avenue and the Dakota.

Before booking, be honest about the format. You need your own phone and headphones, you must download the tour properly, and you will be walking outdoors for at least 75 minutes. If that sounds enjoyable, $14.99 is a fair price for a private, self-paced introduction to Prince’s city.

FAQ

How long does the audio tour take?

The tour takes approximately one hour and 15 minutes to two hours. The route is about 2.4 kilometers, and stops or breaks can make it longer.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at 700 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at 400 North 1st Avenue, in front of what used to be the Guitar Shop.

Is the tour guided in person?

No. It is a self-guided audio tour using the VoiceMap app. Only your group participates.

Does the tour work without WiFi?

Yes. You receive offline access to the audio, maps, and geodata after downloading the tour.

What language is available?

The tour is offered in English.

What is included in the $14.99 price?

The price includes lifetime access to the English tour and the VoiceMap app for Android and iOS. It does not include a smartphone, headphones, food, drinks, transportation, or entrance fees to attractions along the route.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded.