WASHINGTON, D.C.
The best way to spend a day in D.C.
The 15 best guided 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.
A 6-hour Washington DC guided tour with bus-and-walk routing, seasonal Potomac cruise, and an optional glass-top upgrade from $89.
Most Popular“Great experience and well thought explanation about all historical places we went to Thanks to Joey and Ahmed”
Guided Segway tour in Washington DC: 30-minute training, headset commentary, and fast stops at White House, memorials, and landmarks.
“This was fabulous! Got to see a bunch of sites , get great pictures, and the tour guide was very informative. The only thing I wish was that we could get off and walk some of the sites a bit more, and see the capital.”
Small-group tour inside the US Capitol plus Library of Congress or Supreme Court, with reserved entry and guided history for $67.
“Very immense tour, James was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. We would highly recommend this tour”
See Washington DC’s top memorials and monuments in 4 hours on a small-group van tour from the Grand Hyatt, with exterior views of Capitol and White House.
“Ramon was a great tour guide on this quiet Sunday! He was very knowledgeable and I learned a lot of interesting facts during the tour. We loved it! It was definitely worth the time and money.”
Guided African American history tour in Washington DC with bus commentary, Lincoln and MLK Memorial stops, and reserved museum entry.
“ELVIS was an amazing guide! He was so knowledgeable and thoughtful to cater the guide to the interest and age groups from kids to seniors. He engaged my family in a dynamic experience through Washington DC and the insights about the city and our american history through the lens of black america was something I’ll…”
Ride Washington DC’s monuments lit up on an easy 3-hour night bike tour with stops from WWII to Jefferson, plus helmets and lights.
“Great tour! Great guide. Jose guides us and shared a lot of fun facts and was very engaging and friendly”
Guided Capitol Hill tour with reserved tickets to the U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress, plus tunnels, Rotunda, Crypt, and treasures.
“Really good tour with Jesse. It was a modified tour due to Government Shutdown but still a good time and very interesting. Jesse was very friendly and polite and knowledgeable”
See DC’s biggest monuments in 2 hours on an open e-cart with a guide, photo stops, and winter blankets for $52.70.
“The speaker was informative and provided great history . We did run out of fuel towards the end but I’m sure it wasn’t his fault”
A private, 2-hour highlights tour of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, built around gems, mummies, wildlife, and Ocean Hall.
“Meghan was an amazing guide. She was so knowledgeable and fun. We really enjoyed this tour. Highly recommended.”
Skip-the-line expert tour of the National Archives, including the Constitution, Declaration, Bill of Rights, JFK letters, and Magna Carta connections.
“Our guide was great. Very knowledgeable and explained the documents and story behind the documents well. Easily answered any question we had. Great to see history.”
Guided Mount Vernon and Old Town Alexandria tour from DC with air-conditioned transport, live guide, and timed admission in about 5 hours.
“I was very informative and well planned time ito see and experience all the items on our trip not rushed”
One-day Washington highlights from NYC: Lincoln Tunnel, Arlington, National Mall monuments, White House, Capitol time, and photo stops by bus with a guide.
“It was awesome. It went smoothly. The shuttle bus is excellent. The guide Juanita is very knowledgeable about the tour. The driver Mario is highly skilled.”
Guided small-group tour of the U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress with reserved entry and expert commentary. 3 hours in DC.
“James was awesome!! We had a wonderful experience. He was very funny and made the information fun and easy to understand and digest. If you are coming to DC and want a tour of the Capitol and the Library of Congress, this is it!”
A 2.5-hour guided tour of Smithsonian American History in Washington, DC, covering iconic objects, with an English-speaking guide and free admission.
“Our tour guide, Leigh, was good, but when we went into the museum, it seemed like she was only hitting certain things and skipped a lot of stuff. Wasn't too impressed with her pushing her opinion and agenda on us when it came to things that we might have known or heard about the Star…”
A timed, small-group guided sprint through Washington DC aviation and space icons, with spacesuits, moon rocks, and expert stories.
“Ryan was a wonderful guide. We did a private tour of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum with him. He was incredibly pleasant, had an easy way with our kids, and gave a well informed tour with interesting facts. Our kids raved about him and he provided a great experience from start to finish! We…”
Every corner of the capital, and every way to see it.
