11 Self-Guided Trips Around the World to Build a Day Around

1.Fort Sumter Admission and Self-Guided Tour with Roundtrip Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,343 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $43Our pick

Sail from Liberty Square or Patriots Point to Fort Sumter on a narrated 30-minute harbor cruise. A National Park Service ranger gives an orientation, then you have about an hour to see the ruins, museum, bookstore, and harbor views before the return ferry.

“Such a core piece of American history. The ferry ride was smooth and offered great harbor views, and the fort and ranger talk were very interesting. Worth seeing.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Alcatraz Ticket, Ferry, & Self-Guided App

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,460 reviews · 3 hours · from $79

Travel from Pier 33 to Alcatraz Island by ferry, then explore the former prison with a self-guided app tour. See the cell blocks linked to Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly, learn why escape was so difficult, and enjoy San Francisco views. Allow about three hours, or stay longer.

“The whole experience was great. Awesome how it’s been kept as it was.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Alcatraz, Ferry & Audio Tour w/ Night Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 617 reviews · 3 hours · from $78

Take the official ferry from Pier 33 to Alcatraz, then explore the prison, gardens, ruins, and protest sites with two audio experiences. The companion guide covers the full journey, while the included Cellhouse recording brings inmate stories and escape history to life. A night option adds ranger introductions and limited evening access.

“The audio station would be better placed at the bottom of the island, nearer to where the ferry lands as we went a different way around the prison at the beginning and missed getting our audio pieces.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Self-Guided Bike Rental

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 161 reviews · 1 day · from $16

Rent a fitted bike for one day and follow a mostly flat, car-free route from Fisherman’s Wharf through Fort Mason, the Presidio, and across the Golden Gate Bridge. Staff provide maps, route advice, safety guidance, a phone holder, and storage. Sausalito and Tiburon are optional extensions.

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Alcatraz Inside Access Ferry and Audio Tour with Night Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 138 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $90

From Pier 33, you take a ferry to Alcatraz Island, explore the prison, gardens, and ruins, and follow the official Cellhouse audio tour in English. An extra companion guide begins on the ferry and continues to your return. Night departures offer a darker mood and some special programs.

“Fascinating facts on the audio tour. Great views of the Golden Gate, Bay Bridge, and San Francisco skyline. Steeps hills if walking but there is a tram. So glad we went!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Self-Guided Electric Bike Rental

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 82 reviews · 1 day · from $38

Pick up a modern electric bike near Fisherman’s Wharf, get a safety briefing, maps, route ideas, a helmet, lock, phone holder, and storage, then ride at your own pace. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, return by bike or buy a ferry ticket, and use the free late drop-off option.

“Great activity especially for solo traveller - loved it!!! Highly recommend. Super helpful staff!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Gozo Day Pass Ferry and Hop-on Hop-off buses with audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 19 reviews · 7 hours · from $59

Take a same-day ferry from Sliema or Bugibba to Gozo, then use two open-top bus routes to reach Victoria’s Citadel, Dwejra, Xlendi, Marsalforn, Ramla, and Ġgantija. Multilingual audio commentary helps explain the island as you ride, but careful timing is essential.

“Absolute shambles. worst HOPO we ve been on. No one co ordinating at disembarkation of ferry. Finally found someone on red bus who checked our ticket via phone & told us to go on green bus. Got on it as instructed by lady outside green bus. Ticket issuer spoke very badly by telling us to get off & go to red bus for assistance. Finally same lady that sent us to green bus accepted our ticket this time. For some reason our paper ticket with QR code was not enough By this time we missed our bus. They got an additional one some 15 min later. The driver drove like…”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Harpers Ferry Audio Tour History, Ruins and River Views

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $9Best value

Use your phone to follow a two-hour, GPS-guided walk through Harpers Ferry, from the train station and John Brown’s Fort to Jefferson Rock, Virginius Island, and the river junction. The English audio guide starts near each stop, letting you set your own pace, though steep hills and spotty cell service require planning.

“A good way to hear about Harper Ferry ‘s history. Technology recognizes where you are located & provides information about that site. This supports the traveler’s pace in viewing the area.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Szentendre: Self-guided Bicycle Tour with optional boat transfer

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 5 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $34Top rated

Start near Gozsdu Court at 11:00 and pedal north from central Budapest to Szentendre on a regular bicycle or e-bike. Follow the Danube through Margaret Island, Óbuda, Roman Beach, and Lupa Lake. Return by train any day or by boat on weekends with the right option.

“Guide, Laszlo, did a great job showing us around Budapest. The ride to Szentendre and boat ride back were terrific. Only thing is I wished we would have had more time in Szentendre... maybe less time riding through Budapest next time!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Tenerife: Masca Canyon Descent with Audio Guide and Boat Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4 reviews · 5 hours · from $105

Walk 5 km down Tenerife’s Masca Ravine at your own pace with an audio guide, official permit, helmet, and boat ride to Los Gigantes. You must take bus 355 from Santiago del Teide, bring food and water, download the route before arrival, and arrange your own return from the port.

“Self-guided-Toir. Hat alles funktioniert, man bekommt die Tickets und organisiert sich selbst.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Ferry ticket – Day return ticket to Inishbofin Island from Cleggan. Self Guided.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $52

Take the fast Island Discovery ferry from Cleggan Pier to Inishbofin, about 10 kilometres off the Connemara coast. You will have time to explore independently, walk along cliff tops, find white sand beaches, and enjoy island food before returning to Cleggan. Sailing depends on weather.

“Loved the whole experience- the boat trip, island fascinating and food great. We had a great walk over the island and over to the beach . Lots of families and children everywhere. Such a lovely feeling.”

Check availability →Read our full review