Historic Ybor City Audio Tour
A self-guided audio tour through Tampa’s historic Ybor City
What to Expect
Step into the heart of Tampa’s past with this self-guided walking tour of Ybor City—an iconic neighborhood once known as the cigar capital of the world. As you stroll its brick-lined streets, you’ll uncover the stories of immigrants who built a thriving community, from Cuban bakers to Spanish mutual aid societies. Through vivid narration and GPS-triggered audio, the history of Ybor comes alive around you.
Along the way, you’ll pass historic landmarks, local favorites, and cultural touchstones that define this unique district. Whether it’s the scent of fresh Cuban bread or the legacy of revolutionaries and rollers, Ybor City offers a fascinating blend of old-world heritage and modern energy, best explored at your own pace.
Ready to go? Book below or download our app and purchase directly from your phone.
📍 Location: Tampa, FL
🚶♂️ Type: Walking tour
⏱ Duration: Approx. 1.5 hours (flexible)
✅ Includes: App download, GPS-triggered audio, No expiration
📶 Works Offline: Download ahead of time - no cell service required
🎧 Multiple Languages: English, Spanish
Get Ready for Your Ybor City Self-Guided Tour
Immerse yourself in Tampa’s legendary Cigar City, where brick-lined streets and ornate ironwork reflect generations of immigrant ambition and community strength.
This self-guided audio walk through Historic Ybor City explores a neighborhood shaped by Cuban, Spanish, Italian, Jewish, and Afro-Caribbean communities whose shared vision turned industry into culture.
As you explore, you’ll discover places that define Ybor’s layered character—mutual aid societies, lively street corners, and bakeries where the aroma of fresh Cuban bread still fills the air.
Learn how lectores once read literature and news aloud in cigar factories, creating a unique working-class intellectual tradition.
More than a history tour, this experience invites you into a neighborhood that honors its past while continually reinventing itself, from labor movements to today’s festivals and nightlife.
This is Ybor City—not as a snapshot, but as a living community still shaping its future.
What You’ll See on Your Ybor City Walking Tour
7th Avenue / La Séptima
Stroll along Ybor’s energetic main corridor, where historic façades, shops, and cafés showcase the district’s enduring character. Brick streets and wrought-iron balconies offer a window into another era.
Centro Asturiano de Tampa
This elegant clubhouse once provided healthcare, education, and social life for Asturian immigrants. Its ornate architecture reflects the pride and determination of its members.
Centro Ybor & El Centro Español de Tampa
A modern entertainment complex built on historic ground, Centro Ybor stands where one of Ybor’s earliest Spanish social clubs once thrived—an example of history and renewal side by side.
Círculo Cubano de Tampa / Cuban Club
Long a cultural hub for Tampa’s Cuban community, this venue hosted performances, celebrations, and political gatherings. Its grand halls are rich with stories and lingering echoes of the past.
Ybor City Museum State Park
Housed in a former bakery, the museum chronicles Ybor’s immigrant roots and cigar-making legacy. The surrounding garden offers a quiet retreat amid the neighborhood’s energy.
Italian Club / L’Unione Italiana
Founded in 1894, this stately hall supported Tampa’s Italian community through healthcare, social events, and mutual aid. Its refined design reflects the founders’ sense of unity and pride.
José Martí Park
A small but powerful space honoring Cuban independence leader José Martí. The park symbolizes Ybor City’s deep ties to Cuba’s fight for freedom.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church
Serving generations of immigrant families, this church has long been a center for worship and community life. Its architecture highlights the lasting role of faith in Ybor.
Ybor City Historic Streetcars
Ride the bright yellow streetcars connecting Ybor to downtown Tampa. They remain a moving link to the city’s transportation heritage.
Centennial Park
Located at the heart of Ybor City, this park hosts markets, festivals, and gatherings. It’s an ideal spot to pause and absorb the neighborhood’s rhythm.
Ybor Factory Building
Once home to a major cigar manufacturer, this structure recalls the industry that fueled Ybor’s growth. Its brick walls still hint at the hum of factory life.
Columbia Restaurant
Florida’s oldest restaurant, serving Cuban and Spanish cuisine since 1905. Its iconic courtyard and tilework are as celebrated as its menu.
La Segunda Central Bakery
Baking legendary Cuban bread since 1915, La Segunda is a cornerstone of Tampa’s culinary heritage and a must-visit stop.
King Corona Cigars Café & Bar
Blending café culture with cigar tradition, King Corona offers a relaxed space to enjoy coffee or a hand-rolled cigar in classic Ybor style.
The Castle
A gothic-inspired nightclub set in a historic building, The Castle is known for its dramatic atmosphere and long-standing local lore.
L’Unione Italiana Cemetery
This historic cemetery preserves the stories of Tampa’s Italian community through its monuments and inscriptions, offering a quiet, reflective end to the walk.
Meeting Point
Your Ybor City walking tour begins at Centennial Park.
Centennial Park can be found in front of the Tribute to Immigrants Memorial Statue on 9th Avenue. This is between Angel Oliva Senior Street and North 19th Street.
FAQs About Our Ybor City Walking Tour
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Tickets to a show at Centro Ybor range in price depending on the event and the seats you choose. Visit the Centro Ybor website for more information.
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Admission to the Ybor City Museum State Park costs $4 per person. Children who are aged five and below visit for free. Visit the Ybor City Museum State Park website for more information.
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Tours are fully refundable up to 24 hours in advance.
If it’s within 24 hours or you had an issue during your tour, email support@drivesanddetours.com. We review all requests individually and will always do our best to make things right.
Our goal is to ensure every traveler has a great experience exploring with Drives & Detours.
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Our Ybor City walking tour covers approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) and takes about 90 minutes to complete at a leisurely pace.
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Yes, downloading the Drives & Detours app will give you full access to the tour you have purchased, as well as many other self-guided tours.
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Download the tour before you go. Some areas have poor signal, which can make downloading the tour difficult. Once the tour is downloaded, it will work without any cell signal
The tour audio plays automatically as you approach each stop
Want to see more? Tap “View Stop” to see photos and bonus content
To return to the map, tap the small down arrow between the “previous” and “next” buttons
Follow the blue line and audio directions to stay on route
Use audio controls to pause, rewind, or skip—just like a podcast
Safety first: Keep your eyes on the road or sidewalk, follow traffic laws, and stay aware of your surroundings
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No—download your Ybor City tour before you go, and you won't need a cell signal. Drives & Detours’ tours work without any cell signal once they are downloaded to your device.
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Once you have purchased your Ybor City walking tour from Drives & Detours, you can use it whenever you want. You can always take the tour another day if the weather is bad on the day you plan to take it.
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Unfortunately, Dives & Detours cannot guarantee that the Ybor City self-guided tour is accessible. People with wheelchairs, strollers, or mobility impairments are very welcome, but we recommend checking the Visit Tampa Bay website for detailed information.
Pro Tips for Your Drives & Detours Ybor City Self-Guided Tour
Download before you go.
Enable location services—GPS triggers the audio.
Use earbuds, headphones, or your car speakers.
Pause and resume anytime. If you take a break, just reopen the app and head back toward your last stop.
Lost your way? Tap any pin on the map, then tap the right-turn-arrow icon to open your default maps app for turn-by-turn directions to that spot.
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