Louisville's Best: Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour of Iconic Landmarks
Places: 20 POIsDistance: 12.42 miDuration: 1h:34m
Tour #2601
About this English self-guided 1h:34m driving tour in Louisville
Welcome to Louisville, Kentucky, a city where tradition and innovation meet along the banks of the Ohio River. Louisville is best known as the home of the Kentucky Derby, but there’s much more to explore—world-class bourbon distilleries, historic neighborhoods, cutting-edge art, and the legacy of a man the world will always know as The Greatest, Muhammad Ali.
On this tour, you’ll drive past the landmarks that tell Louisville’s story. You’ll see the Louisville Slugger Museum, where bats for baseball legends are made, and distilleries like Michter’s and Angel’s Envy, proving why bourbon is more than a drink here—it’s a heritage. You’ll pass cultural treasures like the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts and the Speed Art Museum, as well as Old Louisville, one of the largest Victorian neighborhoods in the country.
We’ll guide you to Churchill Downs, where the thunder of hooves has electrified race fans for nearly 150 years, and to the Muhammad Ali Center, which celebrates the life and values of Louisville’s most famous son. Along the way, you’ll also get a taste of the city’s vibrant spirit—from the energy of Fourth Street Live! to the timeless charm of the Belle of Louisville, the oldest operating steamboat in the world.
Our journey will finish at the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge, overlooking the Ohio River. Once an abandoned railroad crossing, it’s now a glowing symbol of connection, linking Kentucky and Indiana while offering some of the best views in town.
So as you follow along, enjoy the drive, keep an eye out for these landmarks, and get ready to discover the sights, sounds, and stories that make Louisville one of America’s most distinctive and dynamic cities.
Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts – Louisville’s Cultural Stage
On your right is the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, the beating heart of Louisville’s cultural scene. This impressive complex opened in 1983 and has been the city’s showcase for music, theater, and dance ever since.
Inside, you’ll find stages that have hosted everything from Broadway tours and world-class concerts to the Louisville Ballet and the Kentucky Opera. The building itself is striking—modern lines of glass and limestone that stand out on Main Street, announcing that this is where the arts come to life.
What makes the Kentucky Center special isn’t just the big-name shows, though—it’s also a place where local talent shines. Many of Louisville’s own artists, musicians, and performers have graced these stages, making it a true community hub as well as a cultural landmark.
Starting our tour here feels just right. Louisville is a city known for bourbon, baseball, and the Derby, sure—but it’s also a city with a deep love for the arts. And this building is proof. From here, we’ll hit the road and discover more of Louisville’s mix of history, creativity, and surprises.
Place #2
Distance: 0.14mi
, Attraction : Museum
613 US-31W, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
Golden Statue of David & 21c Museum Hotel
On your left, you can’t miss it—a towering, 30-foot-tall, gold-painted replica of Michelangelo’s David gleaming in the Kentucky sun. It looks a little out of place here on Main Street, and that’s exactly the point.
This giant golden David was created by Turkish artist Serkan Özkaya and installed in 2011. Unlike the marble masterpiece in Florence, this version is fiberglass, super-sized, and unapologetically flashy. Since the day it went up, it’s been one of the city’s most photographed and talked-about landmarks. Some locals love it, some shake their heads at it, but nobody ignores it.
Behind David stands the 21c Museum Hotel, which makes this all make sense. 21c is more than a hotel—it’s a contemporary art museum and boutique stay all in one. Guests can sleep here, dine here, and wander through galleries of rotating modern art exhibits—all free and open to the public. The hotel’s founders wanted to bring bold, thought-provoking art into everyday life, and this golden David became their signature calling card.
So while it may look a little quirky, it captures Louisville perfectly: a city that celebrates tradition while embracing the unexpected.
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts – Louisville’s Cultural Stage
Place 2Golden Statue of David & 21c Museum Hotel
Place 3Louisville Slugger Museum, Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery & Frazier History Museum – Baseball, Bourbon & History All Around
Place 4Muhammad Ali Center
Place 5Belle of Louisville – Queen of the River
Place 6Fourth Street Live! – Louisville’s Entertainment District
Place 7Louisville Free Public Library – Knowledge for the City
Place 8Louisville Memorial Auditorium & Memorial Park – Honoring Service and Sacrifice
Place 9West End Baptist Church
Place 10Central Park, Historic Old Louisville & Conrad-Caldwell House – Victorian Louisville at Its Finest
Place 11The Speed Art Museum – Kentucky’s Oldest and Largest Art Museum
Place 12Churchill Downs & Kentucky Derby Museum – Where Legends Run
Place 13L&N Stadium – Home of the Louisville Cardinals
Place 14Fun Facts About Louisville
Place 15Angel’s Envy Distillery – Bourbon with a Twist
Place 16Louisville Slugger Field – Baseball by the River
Place 17Waterfront Park – Louisville’s Front Porch on the Ohiov
Place 18Big Four Pedestrian Bridge – Crossing into the Finale
Place 19Farewell
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How to take a UCPlaces tour
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Download the app (Android or iOS), purchase the tour (either here on the website, or from within the app).
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When you want to start the tour, find the tour in the app (via a quick in-app search or by clicking the tour link received in your confirmation email) and click "Start Tour" (headphones recommended for best experience.)
* After purchasing a tour you will receive a purchase confirmation email including the tour link and instructions on how to take the tour, so you don't have to remember anything now.
How does the tour work?
UCPlaces acts as your personal tour guide, providing self-guided audio tours fully navigated within our app using GPS-based navigation. You won't need to switch between external navigation apps.
Whenever you approach a point of interest (POI) on the tour, our app will automatically play the relevant audio story at the right time and place.
If you start the tour before reaching the first POI, the app will navigate you to the starting point and then begin the tour.
How is this more convenient than a traditional tour?
UCPlaces offers an innovative and flexible way to explore exciting destinations on your terms.
Here are some key advantages over traditional tours:
No need to commit upfront or purchase in advance; buy a tour only when you're ready to go.
Walk at your own pace.
No waiting for groups; go on your schedule.
Take the tour in your preferred language.
Start, stop and continue the tour whenever you want.
Returning to the same destination? Take the tour again, and again, and again... And bring a friend!
Enjoy preferred prices.
What's included?
A self-guided audio tour taken via the UCPlaces app [Android / iOS (iPhone) / Apple CarPlay].
Tour route map and in-app GPS navigation (via the UCPlaces app).
Audio stories for places visited during the tour.
Apple CarPlay connection (for iOS users); for a seamless driving tour experience.
What's NOT included?
Earphones (highly recommended).
Smartphone.
Any kind of transportation (including tickets and passes).