Top Washington DC Crime Tours in 2026

Step into one of history's most dramatic nights—tracing Lincoln's final hours through Civil War-era D.C. Unlike rushed, generic museum visits, this guided tour takes you inside Ford's Theatre and the Petersen House with reserved access, revealing hidden details and untold stories. You see the theatre booth where the President was shot, stand in the very room where Lincoln drew his last breath, and more. This 2-hour small-group tour offers an intimate look at these historic sites. Please note: Between May 28 and August 31, Ford's Theatre closes its interior to tour groups for repairs. During this summer window, we adapt the route to feature alternative historic sites that keep the narrative moving. Regardless of the season, your journey will always include the Petersen House, Baptist Alley, the Star Saloon, and the imposing exterior of Ford's Theatre.

On this adults-only walking tour, discover how a neighborhood once nicknamed Murder Bay transformed into the nerve center of American power. From 19th-century brothels to Cold War espionage, political cover-ups to presidential indiscretions, this is the side of D.C. that rarely makes it into textbooks. You’ll explore the streets where corruption, vice, ambition, and power collided — and learn how these hidden stories helped shape the nation’s capital as we know it today.

On the night of April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre and vanished into the Washington night, launching one of the greatest manhunts in American history. Follow that story on the very streets where it happened; visit the boarding house where the conspiracy was planned, Baptist Alley where Booth's horse awaited, Ford's Theatre, and the Petersen House where Lincoln died the next morning. Led by an expert guide and inspired by Manhunt, this tour brings the events of April 1865 vividly to life with stories, hidden details, and insights most visitors miss. More than sightseeing, it's a chance to stand where history happened and experience one of America's most dramatic stories firsthand. See beyond the crowds and modern cityscape, revealing the hidden clues, overlooked locations, and human drama behind the assassination. Experience Lincoln's final hours in a way no book, museum, or documentary can match.

Spyher’s hosts are all former CIA officers with operational experience. Pending availailability, the tour is available privately in Spanish, French, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic.

Step into the shadows of Washington, DC on a gripping walking tour through historic Georgetown, where ivy-covered mansions hide Cold War secrets and restless spirits linger behind historic facades. This isn’t your typical ghost tour, it’s an immersive blend of real-life espionage, haunted legends, and secret history. Walk Georgetown’s storied streets to hear chilling tales of haunted homes, secret CIA safehouses, and infamous betrayals. Stand outside the former residence of “Wild Bill” Donovan, father of modern American intelligence. Discover how Robert Todd Lincoln’s life was eerily intertwined with three presidential assassinations, and explore DC’s oldest, most haunted building, the Old Stone House. See Martin’s Tavern where JFK proposed to Jackie, and revisit the dramatic mid-meal defection of a KGB officer. Uncover the occult lore of Halcyon House before ending at the iconic Exorcist Steps. Highlights: Ghostly legends, Cold War spies, curses & see the famous Exorcist Steps!

See the moving Changing of the Guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns on a guided walking tour of Arlington National Cemetery. Be perfectly placed for good views of the moving ceremony, then continue to some of the cemetery's most important gravesites and memorials, including places dedicated to John F. Kennedy, the USS Maine, Second World War soldier Audie Murphy, and more, learning the fascinating history of the cemetery as you walk.

This tour is recommended for ages 13+. Some of the most notorious crime scenes in DC are hidden in plain sight. Strolling from the Capitol to the White House, you'll see the locations of four presidential assassination attempts (and talk about some of the attempts outside of DC). Your guide will share the motives, the manhunts, and crazy coincidences that might have changed history forever.

Explore the famous monuments and memorials of Washington DC by night on this small-group (or private) sightseeing tour. Hop aboard an open-air, electric vehicle and enjoy an educational and entertaining narrated history of the nation’s capital. Travel by the wealth of famous attractions, with views of the Washington Monument, the White House, and many other landmarks lit up after dark, and don't forget to bring your camera to capture this magical time of day.

On the tour you'll explore stories of Civil War-era spirits, the Exorcist stairs, unexplained phenomena in historic buildings, legends surrounding Georgetown University, JFK, and tales of restless spirits said to inhabit the area, to name a few. This tour combines historical facts with local folklore, offering insights into Georgetown's past and the stories that continue to circulate among residents and visitors. We'll discuss the origins of these tales and their significance to the neighborhood's cultural heritage. Go at your own pace, anytime. The tour is guided by our walking tour app and is all outside, so feel free to take it at 3am or 3pm. The tour never expires and you can listen again later.,

Experience Washington DC from a different perspective on this evening coach tour. Visit multiple sites when the crowds are lower and the atmosphere is a little more relaxed. Discover the highlights of the National Mall, including the White House, the US Capitol, and Lincoln Memorial. Make stops along the way for an up-close look, and learn more from your guide's commentary. Additionally, upgrade to include admission tickets to DC museums (for later, independent sightseeing).

Take a hop-on hop-off Washington DC trolley tour to explore the nation’s capital at your own pace. The route encompasses the city’s top attractions, including the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and more. Just hop off at any stop when you want to explore, and then hop back on the trolley to continue around the city. You can also upgrade to include Arlington National Cemetery entry.

Explore the many famous monuments and memorials of Washington, DC by moonlight on this narrated sightseeing tour. Hop aboard an open-air trolley and get an educational and entertaining rendition of the storied history of the nation’s capital. Take in views of an illuminated Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the White House, and more. Leave the brochure at home—your guide has way better stories.

Enjoy Washington DC’s monuments and landmarks lit up after dark, and see side of the capital city many visitors miss, on this evening highlights tour. Have the opportunity to stop outside 10 top DC landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial, White House, and US Capitol. As you travel between attractions, learn details about the landmarks and memorials from your driver-guide. Then, at each stop, have time to take photos and explore on your own.

See a different side of Washington DC, and beat the daytime crowds, on a nighttime coach tour of the city's top sights. Travel in a standard vehicle, or upgrade for one with a glass roof. Along the way, gaze at floodlit memorials and monuments, such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial. Have time for photo stops, and learn more from your guide's narration en route.

This walking tour reveals what happened on the night that changed the history of a nation forever. Journey back in time to learn about the three-pronged attack designed to change the course of U.S. politics and Government, and its impact on American and world history. This thrilling one-of-a-kind walking tour doesn’t just visit the main landmark locations involved in the plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln but immerses you in incredible insights and revelations that will make you look upon the assignation of the 16th President of the United States in a completely different light as well as other assassinations. With your expert local Washington D.C. guide, you will journey back in time to learn about the three-pronged attack designed to change the course of U.S. politics and Government. The assassination of the 16th President of the United States is shrouded in mystery, intrigue, and conspiracy; however, this tour will reveal the truth behind the infamous night.

Stone and Scandal takes you beyond the polished façades of DC's downtown buildings and into the power, secrets, and scandals that shaped Washington, DC. From historic hotels and grand buildings to the hidden moments that unfolded inside them, you’ll uncover a side of the city most tours don’t touch. Dive into the power plays, quiet deals, and headline-making moments that unfolded behind DC’s most iconic buildings. You’ll walk past iconic places, but more importantly, you’ll understand what really happened there. If you’re curious about what really happened inside these walls, this is the tour for you.

Spine-tingling tales of haunted homes & lethal betrayals await. From cursed presidents to ghost sightings, this late-night Halloween special creeps beyond monuments into the shadows until midnight. Venture through ivy-clad mansions and hear tales of haunted homes, secret CIA hideouts, and notorious betrayals. Stops include the home of OSS founder ‘Wild Bill’ Donovan, the Old Stone House, and Martin’s Tavern, where Cold War secrets linger. Encounter the Exorcist Steps and delve into the unsettling history of the area, perfect for fans of ghost stories, true crime, and the enigmatic side of American history. - Late-night walking tour in Georgetown, ending at midnight - Explore haunted homes and secret CIA safehouses - Hear stories about presidential assassinations and Cold War espionage - Ideal for history buffs and paranormal enthusiasts alike

This experience uses a mobile app for city exploration games, offering mission-like tours in Washington, DC. In each game you follow clues and solve puzzles for discovering new places and stories around the city. Every game is a quest that teleports you inside a fictional story where you’re the main character. In "Capital Spy Pursuit," you play as Agent 23, a seasoned spy hunter tasked with thwarting a German espionage plot during WWII. The mission: track down a notorious German spy who has infiltrated Washington, D.C., and plans to sabotage the war effort. Your journey takes you through the city's historic landmarks, where you'll uncover hidden clues, solve puzzles, and ultimately confront the spy before it's too late. Time is running out—can you stop him?

In the summer of 1881, a hopeful nation welcomed a new president - until gunfire in Washington shattered that promise. On this self-guided walking tour, you'll follow President James A. Garfield from his unexpected nomination to his tragic assassination and agonizing death. You'll also meet the delusional gunman who pulled the trigger, and the doctor whose incompetence may have sealed his fate. You'll walk the National Mall, climb Capitol Hill to the East Front, where Garfield took the oath of office. I'll guide you to the Baltimore and Potomac Train Station, now the site of the National Gallery of Art, where Charles Guiteau fired two shots that set off 80 days of national anguish. You'll follow the aftermath: the bungled medical care, Alexander Graham Bell's experimental metal detector, and the trial that gripped the country.

Step into the past and see Washington, D.C. in a whole new way. Meet your guide near the iconic Friendship Arch and begin a journey through the vibrant and layered history of the city’s first Asian community. This story-filled walking tour uncovers big dreams, bold activism, and dramatic moments that helped shape the Nation’s Capital: Discover the failed lottery that hoped to launch Washington, D.C. as a seat of power Learn how Hecht’s Department Store became a center for civic advocacy and change Explore Clara Barton’s tireless efforts to locate missing Civil War soldiers and bring answers to grieving families Meet the woman sentenced to death for her role in the Lincoln Assassination Step into the tense evening when Abraham Lincoln was shot, just blocks away This tour blends hidden history with dramatic storytelling, revealing how culture, commerce, and courage shaped the streets you walk today.

Most Lincoln assassination tours focus on the events of April 14, 1865 and the death of President Lincoln. This experience follows the investigation that came afterward. Through a carefully structured narrative, guests follow the evidence surrounding John Surratt—the only major conspirator who escaped immediate capture following Lincoln’s assassination. The tour combines crime scene reconstruction, witness testimony, political intrigue, Confederate espionage, and an international manhunt to create an immersive historical experience. The storytelling style is inspired by investigative documentaries and true-crime narratives rather than traditional historical lectures. Guests are not asked to debate the evidence but are encouraged to think like investigators as the story unfolds.