Washington DC · WASHINGTON DC TOURS

15 Washington DC Tours & Day Trips to Book First

552 tours  ·  from $8 a head

Washington rewards a plan: the memorials after dark, the Capitol with a reserved slot, the museums in the heat of the day. These 15 cover the city and the day trips across the river, each with its price and how long it takes.

DC Memorials Night Tour: Glass-Roof Convertible Upgrade Option - From the White House to the Capitol
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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

Leave the daytime crowds behind on a three-hour Washington DC night tour from the U.S. Navy Memorial. Your English-speaking guide leads you to the White House, Capitol, and major memorials, with stops for photos and time to walk around. Choose a standard coach or, when available, upgrade to a glass-roof vehicle.

“Seeing the monuments at night put them in a different perspective than seeing them in the daytime. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and done an excellent job.”

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National Mall Monuments Night Tour with 10+ Stops, Entry Tickets - White House photos, not a White House visit
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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 an air-conditioned coach past more than 20 Washington sights, with stops for photos at the Capitol, White House, Lincoln Memorial, and key memorials. Guides such as Sally, Tyrone, and James share history along the route. The three-hour tour starts at 7:30 pm and costs $65, with optional attraction tickets for a separate daytime visit.

“This tour is fantastic, as far as seeing a number of monuments and sites in a short period of time. The tour guide, Sally, is very knowledgeable and Chris, the driver, is very helpful and courteous. The only thing I recommend, is go when the weather is good. I went after an unusual storm which left huge ice problems. Walking paths were not cleared and the monument lighting was buried under the ice, so the monuments were dark (not picture worthy). The trek to them was dangerous and I slipped and fell once. If I come back in better weather, I will definitely try again.”

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Washington DC Monuments by Moonlight Tour by Trolley - The Lincoln Memorial and its neighbors
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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 $48Best value

Ride an open-air trolley past the White House, Capitol, and Washington Monument, then walk at the Lincoln, FDR, and Martin Luther King, Jr. memorials. A live guide adds history, anecdotes, and ghost stories. Guides featured on past tours include Smiley, MJ, and Hollywood, though your guide is not guaranteed.

“Nice, everything is close. Very COLD outside. Tour guide was informative. Hotel was nice. Glad to see the restoration of the monuments and clean up of the park areas for the 250th celebration.”

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Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus with 18 Stops - The waterfront, Tidal Basin, and memorials
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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 an open-top Big Bus around Washington, DC, with 18 stops for the National Mall, museums, monuments, Union Station, and Arlington Cemetery. Choose a 1-, 2-, or 3-day pass, use the app to track buses, and listen to recorded commentary. Optional audio tours cover Arlington, the Tidal Basin, and Georgetown; a one-hour bike rental offer is also included.

“Overall a great way to get around the city. Plan on doing a good bit of walking once you get to a stop. No reason to huurry because there is always another bus coming. Due to a road race, buses didn't get started until noon which really shortened up the day and especially our time at Arlington.”

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Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour - The Navy Memorial is your starting point
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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

Cover the Capitol, White House, National Mall and memorials on a six-hour Washington DC sightseeing tour, traveling by air-conditioned coach or upgrading to a glass-top bus. You’ll walk the grounds with a live guide, then take a seasonal Potomac cruise from April through September. Guides have included Nick, Joey, Evan and Brittany, though the lineup varies.

“Awesome tour! Our tour guide and driver were exceptional. I would definitely recommend this tour. It is totally worth it!”

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DC Monuments and Capitol Hill Tour by Electric Cart - Washington Monument and Tidal Basin memorials
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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 an open-air electric cart for up to seven people past the Capitol, White House, Smithsonian museums, and major National Mall memorials. Your local guide makes photo stops at sites such as the Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and Vietnam memorials. The route takes about two hours, with private and small-group options.

“Great way to see the most important Washington, DC, monuments with entertaining history and commentary.”

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Washington DC Moonlight Tour by Electric Cart - From the Capitol to the Washington Monument
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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

At 8 pm, join a small group or book a private electric cart for a two-hour loop of Washington’s lit monuments. Your guide shares local history as you pass the Capitol, White House, and museums, with stops at key memorials. The carts are open to the weather, so bring layers and rain gear.

“It was great! Got to see the major highlights of the city monuments and our tour guide was very knowledgeable.”

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Washington DC Hop-On Hop-off Trolley Tour with 15 Stops - The Wharf, Spy Museum, and the National Mall
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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 narrated trolley to 15 stops near Washington’s major museums and monuments, from Union Station to the Lincoln Memorial. You can hop off and reboard at your own pace, use the seven-language audio app, and choose an Arlington Cemetery add-on. Guides such as Joe Moe, Rooster, Birdie, and Everett are known for mixing local history with humor.

“Convenient, informative and entertaining. Drivers know their history and do not have to stick to a canned speech. Well worth it!”

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Arlington National Cemetery Walking Tour & Changing of the Guards - What the guide adds to a short visit
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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

This 2 to 2.5-hour Arlington tour covers about two miles, with a guide leading you to the Changing of the Guard, the USS Maine Mast Memorial, Civil War graves, and the Kennedy family graves. Groups are capped at 15. Guides include Meg, Derrick, Christina, Skye, Dash, and Liam, though your guide depends on the date.

“Derrick was an exceptionally knowledgeable, enthusiastic and friendly tour guide. We highly recommend this tour when visiting this very large, memorable cemetery for the first time.”

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VIP Best of DC with US Capitol + National Archives Reserved Entry - The White House and memorials from the coach
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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

Start at the U.S. Capitol for a guided visit with reserved entry, then ride between Washington’s major memorials with a live guide. The day ends at the National Archives, where you can see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. In warmer months, a Potomac cruise and Georgetown stop replace the winter Pentagon-area break.

“Nick was a great tour guide. He was extremely knowledgeable. Made the tour enjoyable. His insight was interesting.”

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DC: Hop-On Hop-Off with 17 Stops plus Arlington Walking Tour - The Lincoln Memorial rewards a proper stop
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DC: Hop-On Hop-Off with 17 Stops plus Arlington Walking Tour

11.Hop-On Hop-Off with 17 Stops plus Arlington Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 2,238 reviews · from $49

Ride Big Bus’s open-top route past 17 DC stops, including the National Mall, White House and Lincoln Memorial, with recorded commentary in five languages. Hop off to explore, then, with a 48 or 72-hour ticket during its seasonal operating period, join a two-hour Arlington National Cemetery walking tour at 1pm.

“The bus driver made an extra stop for us called a requested stop to let us off right by the museum where we were going. Everyone was very helpful!”

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National Mall Night Tour with 10+ Monuments (Public or Private) - Memorials around the Tidal Basin
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National Mall Night Tour with 10+ Monuments (Public or Private)

12.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 for a three-hour guided ride and walk among DC’s illuminated landmarks, including the Capitol, White House, Lincoln Memorial, and MLK Memorial. You’ll have time for photos at multiple stops, bottled water, and a guide throughout. Optional upgrades add timed entry to the Washington Monument or one of two Smithsonian museums for the following day.

“The tour guide was very kind. There was some confusion when she said it was a walking tour. It sounded like she was saying the bus would take us to a single stop and we would walk. Getting some passengers a little worried we had paid a lot for something we could do on our own. The tour guide also let some of her political views slip out. I love her passion, but it wasn’t the place. I did like that we were taken right to the monuments. I had a recent knee/foot issue and did not want to have to walk too much. There is some walking as to…”

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Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour - Memorials along the National Mall
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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

Ride a personal Segway from central DC with a guide, headset, helmet, and a 30-minute training session before setting out. In about two and a half hours, you’ll pass the White House, the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial, and more. Guides have included Kyle, Sherman, Brandon, Alex, Sean, Ralphie, Chris, and Sherif.

“This was our favorite experience in D.C. The tour guides were knowledgeable and funny! Don’t miss out!”

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Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress - What the small group changes
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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, 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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Small Group National Mall Night Tour with 10 Top Attractions - The Tidal Basin at the Jefferson and King memorials
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Small Group National Mall Night Tour with 10 Top Attractions

15.Small Group National Mall Night Tour with 10 Top Attractions

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,658 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $99

See the National Mall after dark on a three-hour tour from the Grand Hyatt Washington. A driver-guide shares stories between stops, while a van carrying no more than 12 people takes you to landmarks including the Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, White House, and Vietnam Veterans Memorial. You’ll get out to explore, but expect short walks at each stop.

“Very informative. Perfect amount of time at each location. Van was very warm on a cold winter night. Highly recommend”

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