WASHINGTON, D.C.
The best way to spend a day in D.C.
The 15 best city tours in Washington, with what each one covers, what it costs and how long to set aside. A shortlist for planning real days on and off the National Mall.
Guided Segway tour in Washington DC: 30-minute training, headset commentary, and fast stops at White House, memorials, and landmarks.
Most Popular“Segway was lit of fun to ride. We Segway many times for photos. Sean was a great guide full of info and trivia.”
Private 4-hour Washington DC tour with hotel pickup, luxury van rides, key memorials and Arlington, plus flexible stops for up to 5.
“Excellent 4-5 hours with Melinda in the DC area.. she was knowledgeable and friendly. She kept the vehicle warm while we took in the attractions.”
DC City Cruises Spirit of Washington buffet brunch or dinner with DJ, games, and 360° Potomac views of major landmarks for about $65.
“The atmosphere was nice. The food choices could be better.”
Old Town Trolley in Washington, DC with live narration, 100+ sights, unlimited hop-on hop-off stops, and an optional Arlington Cemetery tram upgrade.
“Highly recommend Hop on Hop off tour by Old Town Trolley. The Tour guides are great! They’re courteous besides being knowledgeable.”
A 2-hour DC Potomac River cruise with plated brunch or a 3-course dinner, 360° views, and smart-casual comfort on the Odyssey.
“The boat was very beautiful and our server was so accommodating and friendly. It was a great experience, though there was some trouble with the tickets and the scanner that they had so I had to walk a few yards to the ticket office and have it printed out. If you come with both the…”
A 2-hour walking donut tour in downtown DC: fresh samples from Western Market to Palmer Alley and a gelato finish.
“Sam and Ethan did a great job with an enthusiastic tour around the White House. Donuts and coffee were delicious!! Especially Astrodonuts”
See Washington, DC by night in about 3 hours on a comfortable bus, with water and a phone charger plus major memorials.
“Great way to see all the things quickly with hop on and off stops...................................”
Enjoy a 2-hour Washington DC Potomac lunch cruise with a buffet, coffee, and DJ music, plus views of the Washington Monument and Alexandria.
“Don’t hesitate. Trust me. Book it. This cruise is worth it. Whether for a nice romantic date, or a friends outing, b-day or me day just do it. It’s beautiful. It’s fun. It’s healing. The crew takes care of you. The food is delicious.The servers are always so kind and accommodating. Dj Rich knows how…”
Glide the National Mall on a 2.5-hour Washington DC Segway tour with training, helmet, and radio headset narration of major landmarks.
“Well worth the money, we were able to take in way more sites and information in a fraction of the time”
DC at night from the Odyssey: a 2.5-3 hour Potomac dinner cruise with a 3-course meal and DJ-led dancing.
“Wait staff was understaffed, we waited 40 minutes before our order was taken and had to go to the bar to get drinks in the meantime. The tables were too close to others in proximity while the back of the boat was empty. The food came out cold and the DJ was subpar. The waiter…”
A 2-hour Washington DC brunch cruise on the Potomac with a buffet, bottomless mimosas, DJ music, and skyline views from the yacht deck.
“The staff is great. They kept the champagne coming. The food was good. It was not as much of a variety like it was when I took a group in June. The DJ was good. My group of 10 had a fantastic time. You will enjoy it.”
A 3-hour night minibus tour hitting DC’s top monuments and memorials, with free stops, guided stories, and time to photograph.
“Our Driver was excellent knowledge about the different places that he took us to. My only complaint is that the air conditioner in the bus was not sufficient. I would do again.”
3-hour small-group monuments tour in Washington DC at night, with a local guide, pickup options, and time at each lit stop.
“Eddie was terrific. His depth of knowledge in American history and the uniqueness of the DC area was fascinating.”
Private multilingual DC monument tour with hotel pickup, a comfortable SUV, and photo stops at Lincoln, Jefferson, Capitol, and more in 4 hours.
“My driver was very knowledgeable and courteous of my needs. I highly recommend this tour. I was able to see all of the main monuments in the Washington DC area. Four hours was more than enough time for me to go where I wanted. I was able to ask him any question about Washington DC…”
3-hour Washington DC night tour from $59: White House, memorials, Capitol, WWII and MLK, finishing at the Lincoln lit up.
“Our guide- Freddie, was very polite and showed us everything. He has a good knowledge about the history of all the landmarks. Overall, it was a great experience. Thank you. 👍”
Every corner of the capital, and every way to see it.
