USA · TOURS IN WASHINGTON DC

The 15 Best Washington DC Tours & Tickets

25 tours  ·  from $21 a head

The museums cost nothing and the monuments are further apart than the map suggests. These 15 cover the night tours, the bike and bus loops, the Capitol and the Arlington visits, priced and clear about the walking involved.

DC Memorials Night Tour: Glass-Roof Convertible Upgrade Option - Standard coach or glass roof?
Evening Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Washington DC

DC Memorials Night Tour: Glass-Roof Convertible Upgrade Option

1.DC Memorials Night Tour: Glass-Roof Convertible Upgrade Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6,933 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $69Our pick

Ride from the U.S. Navy Memorial to Washington DC’s floodlit icons, including Lincoln, Jefferson, the Capitol, and the White House. Your English-speaking guide, such as Dion, George, or Deion, narrates from the bus and joins you at stops. Choose a standard coach or upgrade to a glass-roof vehicle for broader night views.

“Will and Tyrone was amazing and created a great learning experience. Highly recommend this Tour. Very informative and gave us plenty of time to venture on our own if we wanted to.”

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National Mall Monuments Night Tour with 10+ Stops, Entry Tickets - The Capitol and the first look at American power
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National Mall Monuments Night Tour with 10+ Stops, Entry Tickets

2.National Mall Monuments Night Tour with 10+ Stops, Entry Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,863 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $65

Ride a temperature-controlled coach through Washington DC after dark, stopping at the Capitol, White House, Lincoln Memorial, MLK Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, and more. Guides such as Sally, James, and Tyrone add history and humor along the way. Optional tickets cover the Washington Monument, Air and Space Museum, and African American History Museum on a later date.

“Chris (driver) and Sally (tour guide) Iwere amazing! I learned so much and it was a beautiful tour. Sally was funny, articulate, and knowledgable, and Chris was a great driver and helped us take some group photos too!”

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Washington DC Monuments by Moonlight Tour by Trolley - Starting at Union Station or the Washington Welcome Center
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Washington DC Monuments by Moonlight Tour by Trolley

3.Washington DC Monuments by Moonlight Tour by Trolley

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,956 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $48

Ride an open-air trolley through Washington DC for about 2.5 hours, with live narration from guides such as Smiley, MJ, Bill, or Hollywood. See the Capitol, White House, Lincoln Memorial, and Washington Monument, then step off at three night stops near the Lincoln, FDR, and MLK memorials. Dress warmly and arrive 30 minutes early.

“Experience was amazing. It was an informative tour with lots to see. We were lucky to get a very experienced tour guide, Smiley.”

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Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus with 18 Stops - Stop 6 to Stop 9: the Wharf, Spy Museum, and Smithsonian area
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Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus with 18 Stops

4.Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus with 18 Stops

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3,848 reviews · 1 hour 50 minutes (approx.) · from $49

Ride Big Bus Tours around Washington DC on a 1-, 2-, or 3-day pass, stopping near the White House, Capitol, memorials, museums, Georgetown, and Arlington Cemetery. You get digital commentary, live bus tracking, and optional audio tours. The Arlington walk may include a guided cemetery visit with guides such as Josh, who leads visitors to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“This is the best way to get the layout of DC, and then stop where you want! The three day package allows you to prioritize your tour, and then come back for more!”

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Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour - The Capitol and White House from the outside
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Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour

5.Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,360 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $89

Spend six hours touring Washington DC with an English-speaking guide, visiting the Capitol, White House, memorials, and Lincoln Memorial. You’ll ride an air-conditioned coach, with a glass-top upgrade available, and take a Potomac cruise from April through September. Guides such as Nick, Joey, and Brittany are known for mixing history, humor, and practical help.

“The tour was educational, entertaining, and well-organized. The guide for the tour was Nick and the driver was Leah. Both were fantastic - accommodating and respectful.”

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DC Monuments and Capitol Hill Tour by Electric Cart - Crossing the Smithsonian museum corridor
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DC Monuments and Capitol Hill Tour by Electric Cart

6.DC Monuments and Capitol Hill Tour by Electric Cart

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,841 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $55Top rated

Ride a quiet, open-air electric cart through Washington’s monument district and Capitol Hill. Your local guide covers the Capitol, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, MLK Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, White House, and more, with time for photos. The seven-seat vehicle keeps the group small, but dress for the weather.

“plenty of time at photo stops guide very knowledgeable friendly and very safe in driving through the traffic of DC”

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Washington DC Moonlight Tour by Electric Cart - Washington Monument and the Tidal Basin memorials
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Washington DC Moonlight Tour by Electric Cart

7.Washington DC Moonlight Tour by Electric Cart

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,610 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $74

Ride an open-air, seven-passenger electric cart through Washington DC for two hours after dark. You’ll see the Capitol, White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, MLK Memorial, and more, with photo stops and narration from guides such as Amanda, Joel, Lorenzo, Sam, and Teddy. Dress warmly, since the carts are not heated.

“Lots of fun… my kids had a great time and we did too! Our guide was very knowledgeable and added lots to our trip to DC.”

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Washington DC Hop-On Hop-off Trolley Tour with 15 Stops - Stops 1 to 3: Union Station, the Capitol, and the Air and Space Museum
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Washington DC Hop-On Hop-off Trolley Tour with 15 Stops

8.Washington DC Hop-On Hop-off Trolley Tour with 15 Stops

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2,599 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $48

Ride a fully narrated Old Town Trolley through Washington DC’s major sights, from Union Station and the Capitol to the White House and Lincoln Memorial. Hop off for museums and monuments, then reboard when ready. English narration is included, with an app in seven languages. Guides such as Joe Moe, Birdie, Rooster, and Everett add humor and local detail.

“The tour guides are knowledgeable and funny. The trolley came very quickly with the hop on hop off feature.”

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Arlington National Cemetery Walking Tour & Changing of the Guards - Meeting at the Welcome Center
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Arlington National Cemetery Walking Tour & Changing of the Guards

9.Arlington National Cemetery Walking Tour & Changing of the Guards

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,566 reviews · 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55

Walk about two miles through Arlington National Cemetery with a guide such as Meg, Christina, Derrick, or Skye. See the Changing of the Guard, Kennedy family graves, Civil War sections, the USS Maine Mast Memorial, and lesser-known sites in a group of no more than 15.

“Scheduling the tour through the website was very easy. The company kept in communication with us so that we would know where to go and find our tour guide. The process was very easy, the tour guide was great, and we all really enjoyed the tour.”

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VIP Best of DC with US Capitol + National Archives Reserved Entry - The White House and Eisenhower Memorial
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VIP Best of DC with US Capitol + National Archives Reserved Entry

10.VIP Best of DC with US Capitol + National Archives Reserved Entry

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,491 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $129

This 8.5-hour Washington, DC tour combines reserved entry to the U.S. Capitol and National Archives with guided stops at the White House, Lincoln Memorial, and major war memorials. You ride a closed-top or glass-roofed coach, hear stories from an English-speaking guide, and take a seasonal Potomac cruise from April through September.

“The ending location of the tour is far from the start location if you plan to park a vehicle near the initial start location. You don't want to have to walk from the National Archives back up to the front of the Capital Building. It is an uphill walk after a day of walking to the the sites. We ended grabbing a taxi at the end of the tour to get back to our vehicle. The 3rd week of September seemed like a great time for the US Capital and Sites tour. The weather was not too hot, and not too cold. Lastly, Nick who shared that he has been…”

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National Mall Night Tour with 10+ Monuments (Public or Private) - The Mall memorials, from World War II to Lincoln
Evening Experiences, Private, Shopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Washington DC

National Mall Night Tour with 10+ Monuments (Public or Private)

11.National Mall Night Tour with 10+ Monuments (Public or Private)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,207 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $68

Start at 7:30 pm on Pennsylvania Avenue for a three-hour guided ride and walking tour of Washington DC. You’ll stop at the Capitol, White House, Lincoln Memorial, MLK Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, and more. Guides such as Sally, James, and Dwayne mix history with humor, while optional next-day tickets cover selected museums or the Washington Monument.

“highly recommend James as our tour guy and CHRIS as our bus driver to anyone. They were very accommodating and thorough with the tour.”

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DC: Hop-on Hop-off Tour by Open-top Bus with 17 Stops - Riding the open-top bus through the National Mall
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DC: Hop-on Hop-off Tour by Open-top Bus with 17 Stops

12.DC: Hop-on Hop-off Tour by Open-top Bus with 17 Stops

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 1,982 reviews · from $49

Big Bus Tours Washington DC gives you an open-top ride past the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Capitol Hill, and the Tidal Basin. Hop off near major sights, use the app to track buses, and add the digital Arlington National Cemetery walk. Audio is offered in several languages, with English driver service.

“Worth every penny! Great value and an excellent option for kids. All the staff were incredibly helpful and friendly. One of our guides was new and walked us to a meeting point while giving us a history lesson. We felt really special!!”

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Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour - Lafayette Square and the city’s early story
Guided, Segway Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Washington DC

Washington DC “See the City” Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour

13.Washington DC “See the City” Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,924 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $70

Start near the White House for 30 minutes of Segway training, then ride with an English-speaking guide past more than 25 Washington DC sights. Stop at the Vietnam Memorials, Lincoln Memorial, World War II Memorial, and Washington Monument, while passing the Capitol, Smithsonian, National Archives, and more. Guides such as Kyle and Sherman add history and humor.

“Very exiting and a great way to avoid hours of walking to see the sites. Guides provide a lot of information and are most helpful.”

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Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress - Capitol Hill views and the walk between buildings
Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Washington DC

Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress

14.Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,869 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $67

Walk Capitol Hill with a guide such as James, Meg, Dash, or Skye, then enter the US Capitol on a reserved visit. Choose the Library of Congress, including the Great Hall and Jefferson’s books, or the Supreme Court. Groups are capped at 15, and an upgrade adds the Folger Shakespeare Library.

“Everything went smoothly and as expected. James was great. He was professional but easy to talk with.”

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Washington DC: Monuments by Moonlight Nighttime Trolley Tour - First walking stop: FDR and Martin Luther King Jr. memorials
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Washington DC: Monuments by Moonlight Nighttime Trolley Tour

15.Monuments by Moonlight Nighttime Trolley Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,529 reviews · 2h 30m · from $48

Ride a stadium-seating trolley past Washington DC’s best-known sights, then walk the Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean, FDR, and MLK memorials. English-speaking guides such as Smiley, MJ, and Sooner Steve are known for lively stories and trivia. The Iwo Jima stop is currently replaced by the World War II Memorial because of a bridge closure.

“The tour guide was wonderful — passionate, friendly, and incredibly informative. He did a great job sharing both history and insight in a way that was engaging and easy to follow. I was especially thankful for the warm trolley, which made the experience comfortable and enjoyable. The only thing I would have loved even more would be the opportunity to stop at a few additional landmarks rather than just driving by them — particularly the Capitol, the Supreme Court, and Jefferson’s Memorial. Even so, it was a great tour overall, and I would absolutely recommend it.”

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New in Tours in Washington DC

★ 4.8See the City Segway TourFrom $70407 reviews
★ 4.6Old Town Alexandria & Mount Vernon TourFrom $109393 reviews
★ 4.8Bus Tour to the Highlights of the CapitalFrom $47373 reviews
★ 4.1DC: Monuments & Memorials Sunset Tour by Open-top BusFrom $49415 reviews

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