10 Self-Guided Tours in Washington DC to Plan a Day Around

1.Visit Mount Vernon by Bike: Self-guided Ride with Optional Boat Cruise Return

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 65 reviews · 4 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $74Our pick

Ride a rental bike about 9 to 10 miles from Alexandria to Mount Vernon on a mostly paved trail beside the Potomac. Explore the estate, museum, gardens, and Washington’s tomb at your own pace. A seasonal, narrated boat ride to Washington, DC is available as an upgrade. Bikes, helmets, and estate admission are included.

“Our cruise on the way back was cancelled, so they upgraded is to the electric bike! The bikes were great made the ride on the way there in the rain much easier and the ride back super fun. The trail is great and marked well. We had a great time stopped on the way back and took in the views along the water.”

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2.Best of DC: Hop-on Hop-off, Night Tour, and Arlington Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 64 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $75

Start at Union Station for a Big Bus package combining 24, 48, or 72 hours of hop-on hop-off access, a separate two-hour open-top night tour, and audio guides for Arlington Cemetery, the Tidal Basin, and Georgetown. Expect onboard commentary in multiple languages; Erica is one named guide, but guide assignments are not guaranteed.

“Great way to see DC, day and night tours. Erica and crew are amazing guides. Hop off the bus to see exactly what you want to”

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3.Washington DC Monuments Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $16

Explore more than two miles of central Washington, from the White House and World War II Memorial to the Lincoln Memorial and Capitol area. This private, English-language audio tour uses GPS-triggered stories and offline maps, so you can pause, take detours and set your own pace. It costs $16.99 per person and includes lifetime access after download.

“Tour guide has a Good overall in-depth understanding of all the memorials. Van was comfortable and clean.”

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4.Self Guided Walking Tour in Old Town Historic Alexandria

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $9

Follow a GPS-guided smartphone tour from the Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum to the waterfront. In about 60 to 90 minutes, hear stories at Christ Church, the Spite House, Captains Row and other Old Town landmarks. There is no human guide or admission to sites, and you can pause and continue whenever you like.

“My family came to visit and I wanted to do something different around Old Town so we tried this tour. This was so interesting and the stops were so great! If you want a nice walk around Old Town to see some nice history on a good day, this is the tour to try.”

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5.Washington DC Monuments self-guided walking tour & scavenger hunt

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 6 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Explore the west side of the National Mall on a private, self-guided phone tour for your group of up to six. Follow a roughly three-hour route from the Ellipse past the White House, war memorials, the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, and the Washington Monument. You get 20-plus challenges and four movie-location stops, but you need internet access.

“We did the scavenger hunt as part of a bachorette party activity and it was definitely fun and learnt new things along the way. Visited multiple war memorials, the lincoln memorial. Will be a good activity for children as well.”

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6.Old Town Alexandria Tour: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $8Best value

Follow a self-guided English audio walk through Old Town Alexandria, from the long-running farmers market to the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Along the way, hear about George Washington, Captain’s Row, Gadsby’s Tavern and a famously spiteful house. VoiceMap provides audio, maps and geodata for offline use, and you can pause or restart as you like.

“Our pace. Our way. Great. Had the ability to stop and start as needed. We enjoyed walking by ourselves.”

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7.National Mall Expedition: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 5 reviews · 1 to 3 hours (approx.)

This private, self-guided app tour links 10 major Washington, DC sights, starting and ending at the U.S. Capitol. Plan on about one to three hours, depending on your pace and how long you stop. It is offered in English and costs $5 per group of up to 15, but check the checkout total and entry details before you set off.

“Had a good time on this tour with my mom. You see a lot of the major Sights of D.C. at your own pace with the app”

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8.Washington DC Museums self-guided walking tour & scavenger hunt

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

This private, self-guided hunt leads your group of up to six across the east half of the National Mall, from the National Museum of African American History and Culture past Smithsonian museums, the Capitol, and the Botanic Garden. Expect 30+ puzzles, six film locations, and about three hours on foot. You need internet access, and some clues may be inaccurate or hard to solve.

“The hunt had my teen quickly engaged while we worked the clues. Even though we got off track around the FBI building clue, we found our way back to continue on. For an adventure that keep my teen engaged, you get four stars. Minus one for typos through out the clues.”

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9.Customizable Private Self-Guided Tour of Washington DC

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 4 - 8 hours Top rated

Explore Washington, DC, in a private 13-passenger Sprinter van with an English-speaking chauffeur and an audio-guide app in English or Italian. Choose a 4- to 8-hour itinerary from landmarks such as the Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, and Mount Vernon. There is no live tour guide, but the app includes audio and an interactive map.

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10.Washington DC Neighborhoods Personalized Self-Guided App Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.)

Start at Union Station and follow a self-guided app route through Capitol Hill landmarks, Frederick Douglass’s former home, the Florida House and more, ending inside the Library of Congress. The private booking costs $5 for a group of up to 15 and takes about two to four hours. No guide’s name is provided. Plan ahead for the Library’s timed-entry reservation.

“A disaster. Couldn’t get guide to continue story after his two minute intro about his self. Went back into Union station and tried to start over. Same thing. Then tried to check in with virtual guide. Couldn’t connect. Tried to go manually. Still didnt connect. Found it very frustrating. Tour was to include admission to Library of Congress, which is free, anyway! I wasn’t told a reservation had to be scheduled before going to the Library of Congress, until just before finding my way to the Library. Couldn’t get in without a reserved time. I’m a senior cit so maybe that was my problem. And they kept asking to connect…”

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