15 Library of Congress Tours to Plan a Day Around

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

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

Walk Capitol Hill with a guide such as James, Meg, or Dash, then enter the U.S. Capitol on a reserved tour of its Rotunda, Crypt, and Old House chambers. Choose the Supreme Court or Library of Congress, or upgrade to include the Folger Shakespeare Library. Groups are limited to 15, and the tour takes about two to three hours.

“Excellent tour. Worth the cost for a much more efficient guided experience than just walking everywhere on my own. Guide was knowledgeable and had a positive attitude.”

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2.Capitol Hill and Library of Congress Tour with Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,376 reviews · from $75

Spend about 2.5 hours walking Capitol Hill with a local guide, visiting the Library of Congress and seeing the Supreme Court and Capitol from outside. Then use your included ticket for a separate 45 to 50-minute Capitol tour. Guides such as Brooke, Ingeborg, Trevor, and Katherine bring the buildings’ art, architecture, and government to life.

“It was an amazing experience! Our guide, Brooke, was fantastic. She shared the history of the city in such an enthusiastic and clear way. It was obvious that she had a lot of knowledge, and her passion for Washington DC was contagious! I highly recommend it to anyone looking to explore Washington DC in a personal and educational way!”

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3.The Original US Capitol and Library of Congress Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 298 reviews · from $55

Meet at the Neptune Fountain for a guided Capitol Hill walk, a look at the Supreme Court, and reserved entry to the Library of Congress and US Capitol. Inside the Capitol, a federal guide leads you through the Rotunda, Crypt, and Old House Chambers. Guides have included James, Andrew, Jack, Kirsten, Laurel, and Tony.

“our guide James was excellent. he was funny and informative. it was as excellent tour. highly recommend it.”

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4.U.S. Capitol Tour with Library of Congress or Capitol Museum

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 286 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $64

Spend about two hours on Capitol Hill with a live English-speaking guide, then enter the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress, except on Mondays and 8 a.m. tours, when the Capitol Museum is substituted. Expect the Rotunda, Crypt, outdoor memorials and a short Library visit. Guides such as Dwayne and Rochelle have earned praise for lively, detailed storytelling.

“Very nice tour of the Capital and Library of Congress. My rating would have been a five without the guide's political commentary.”

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5.U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress Tour with Rotunda & Crypts

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 227 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $56

Spend about two hours with a guide around Capitol Hill and inside the U.S. Capitol, including the Rotunda, Crypt, and National Statuary Hall. Then use timed entry to explore the Library of Congress on your own. Guides such as Dwayne, Tyrone, and Rochelle have earned praise for their stories and personal touch. Check the day’s schedule: the Library closes Mondays, and access can change without notice.

“I came to DC from Florida with my son. We did the tour & it was amazing. Our tour guide was on time, very courteous & extremely knowledgeable about US history. My son is 13 & was amazed by at how much our guide knew. We’ll definitely book again when we’re in DC.”

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6.Capitol Hill, Supreme Court & Library of Congress Tour 12ppl Max

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 176 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $51Best value

Spend 2.5 hours walking Capitol Hill with a guide and no more than 12 people. Visit the Supreme Court exterior, the Library of Congress, and the Capitol Visitor Center. Look for the Gutenberg Bible and Thomas Jefferson’s books, then get a pass for the House or Senate gallery to visit on your own.

“We had a very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide, Amanda. She gave us heaps of information and we thoroughly enjoyed it.”

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7.Capitol Hill & Library of Congress Highlights Walking Tour (With Tickets)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 143 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $75

Walk Capitol Hill with a licensed guide, see the Supreme Court from outside, visit the Library of Congress and finish with a docent-led U.S. Capitol tour. Guides have included Becca, Ingeborg, Trevor, Eli and Daniel. The group is capped at 15, and indoor access may change during a government shutdown.

“Ingeborg was an outstanding tour guide! She had a wealth of knowledge about the DC area and she navigated our group effortlessly through throngs of tourists. Tours like this can be pricey - particularly for families - but it’s money well spent. You take all of this time, money and effort to travel to a location, so think of it as an investment to help you get the most out of your trip. Being provided historical context for what you are viewing is priceless. This tour was also appealing to us because we only planned our trip to DC two weeks in advance. At such short notice, it’s nearly impossible…”

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8.Capitol Hill, Supreme Court & Library of Congress Exclusive Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 127 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $51

In 2.5 hours, a private guide leads you past the Supreme Court, into the Library of Congress’s Thomas Jefferson Building, and through the Capitol Visitor Center. You’ll get passes for the House or Senate galleries to visit afterward on your own. Guides have included Maureen, Kate and Leigh, though your guide will vary.

“Great tour and our guide, Maureen, was fabulous! She was so knowledgable and really seemed to enjoy her job!”

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9.Guided Capitol Hill with US Capitol and Library of Congress Entry

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 63 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $64

Spend about two hours with an English-speaking guide on Capitol Hill, entering the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress Jefferson Building. See the Rotunda, Crypt, National Statuary Hall, Gutenberg Bible, and Main Reading Room, then pass the Supreme Court and nearby monuments. The Library is closed Mondays, when the Capitol Museum is substituted.

“Dwayne was a kind & knowledgeable tour guide/host/teacher, making our small group so comfortable. We were blessed with a beautiful day for the walk to the was all that more enjoyable and the pictures Dwayne took of us were just great. Everyone at the capital knew him, and it made our experience all the more enjoyable. How he keeps all the info & numbers in his head is beyond me. What are the best things we did in DC!”

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10.Capitol Hill Tour with Supreme Court, Library & Capitol

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 37 reviews · from $59

Walk Capitol Hill with an English-speaking guide and visit the Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and Capitol in a group of up to 12. See the Library’s Great Hall, Gutenberg Bible, and Reading Room, then take an underground passage to the Capitol Visitor Center. Guides Ryan and Matt have led the route; the Capitol portion is conducted by an official guide.

“Our tour guide planned the best parts of the tour (Supreme Court and Library of Congress). He was really competent and entertaining at the same time. We were disappointed, though, by the tour of the Capitol, which was run by the official Visitor Center. We would have liked to see more here.”

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11.Small Guided Tour Inside the Capitol and Library of Congress

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $79

Spend about three hours on Capitol Hill with a licensed guide and a group of no more than 15. Go inside the U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress, then visit the Supreme Court. Guides include Isaiah, Maeve, Sonia and Dwayne. Expect security checks, striking architecture and a brisk pace.

“Although a little quick it was a great tour. We even got to sit in on a senate session, rare for a Saturday.”

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12.Capitol Hill Tour inside Supreme Court, Library and Capitol

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 22 reviews · from $59

Spend about three hours on Capitol Hill, visiting the Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and U.S. Capitol with a group capped at 12. You’ll see the Library’s Great Hall and Gutenberg Bible, walk through an underground passage, and tour the Capitol’s Rotunda with a Capitol guide. Guides have included Jim, Ryan, and Joel W.

“Joel W is phenomenal! According to him, this tour is a new offering by the tour operator. My son and I loved the tour! Included in this tour are three important and must see destinations in one, The US Supreme Court, Library of Congress, Read more”

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13.Guided visit inside the Capitol and the Library of Congress

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 18 reviews · 3 hours · from $80

Meet at the Library of Congress’s Neptune Fountain for a three-hour guided walk through the Capitol, Supreme Court, and Thomas Jefferson Building. Your guide speaks Portuguese, French, Spanish, or Italian. Capitol and Library entry tickets are included; the tour also covers the Gutenberg Bible and the institutions behind U.S. government.

“La visite était très intéressante. Le guide français n’était pas disponible. Nous avons été prévenus en amont. Nous avons eu le choix du remboursement ou du maintien de l’activité avec un guide parlant anglais. Le guide a fait un gros effort pour parler doucement avec des mots simples. Nous avons tout compris. Nous avons vraiment apprécié le service client du prestataire. Je recommande fortement.”

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14.Private U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Start at 9 a.m. with a private guide-driver and hotel pickup in central Washington, the National Mall area, or Arlington. Visit the Capitol and Library of Congress, then see the Supreme Court exterior and nearby memorials. The Capitol visit includes a staff-led group, while the rest of the tour is private. One guide named in an account was Cliff, but guide assignments can vary.

“Not a pleasant experience. Tour guide dropped of group to include a person in a wheelchair on the backside of the Capitol building and told us to work our way around the visitors center. This turned into a navigation drill and a super unpleasant experience for the person in the wheelchair for over a half mile (uphill) to the entrance. Cliff provided absolutely nothing as a guide other than small talk in the van. As the host of the work team on this trip I apologized throughout the tour as it is clearly not what was advertised on the webpage.”

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15.Library of Congress Private Tour with Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 2 hours · from $208

Spend two hours exploring the Library of Congress with a licensed private guide in English, German, Spanish, or French. Pre-booked tickets cover the permanent exhibition, while your guide explains the Thomas Jefferson Building, its symbolism, the Main Reading Room, and collections tied to American history.

“I was at the LOC on a more general "private tour" that included Capitol Hill and other sites last December, and at that time, I had never seen the LOC. I was really impressed with this building; I wanted to show it to my spouse and to see it again in June. We hired this private guide, who really knew many more details that I had not heard about before on my former shorter tour, not only the history of congress, but also the library itself. I think everybody who loves the history of this country, especially what REALLY happened, should go on a tour of this kind and include…”

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