Top Washington DC Walking Tours

Washington DC’s Georgetown neighborhood is considered the historic core of the city, and it offers a wealth of sights for visitors to explore. See the best of the area's past and present—and discover sights and stories you'd miss if exploring alone—on this small-group walking tour. Follow your guide to key sights from JFK's former home to Georgetown University, learning behind-the-scenes stories along the way.

Get an overview of Washington, DC’s architecture, landmarks, and political powerhouses during a small-group walking tour led by a local guide. Learn about the elegant plan that underlies the present-day city as you visit sights from the U.S. Capitol Building to the Supreme Court and Library of Congress.

Scoring tickets to enter the Washington Monument can be a hassle involving an early wake-up, waiting on the ticket line, and then returning later in the day for your assigned entry time. These tickets allow you to skip the wait and walk straight in at your assigned time. Enjoy the epic city views from top and learn about this iconic monument.

Go to the heart of the United States government on a small-group tour of Capitol Hill that explores the US Capitol and either the Library of Congress or the Supreme Court. This tour goes inside each destination for a guided tour, and highlights include reserved-entry at the US Capitol with a guide to help bring Capitol Hill's fascinating politics and history to life.

Combine visits to several of Washington DC’s most popular attractions on this walking tour that takes you to the White House, the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and much more. Learn facts about each location that most guidebooks miss, while taking the opportunity to snap photos of the White House from several different vantage points.

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.

With the sheer size of the Smithsonian museums, it can be tough to know where to start, let alone how to see all the most interesting exhibits. This small-group walking tour of the National Air and Space Museum, Museum of National History, and Museum of American History lets you squeeze the most out of your time in the city.

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.

Explore Washington DC's iconic landmarks and monuments on a full-day coach tour. Stop at the White House, U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and more. Depending on the season, you'll be invited to enjoy a Potomac River cruise or extra memorial stops and Pentagon Mall lunch. Upgrade options include admission to the Washington Monument, National Air and Space Museum, African American Museum, or a guided Capitol Hill walk with U.S. Capitol entry.

Explore Washington, DC’s landmarks and Capitol Hill on a small-group electric cart tour, offering a sustainable and relaxed way to see the city. Enjoy narrated stops at highlights like the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, with photo opportunities along the way. Led by a local guide, this tour provides fascinating insights and stunning views of the nation’s capital—without hours spent walking.

Discover the hidden history and local legends of Georgetown with a ghost tour. Today the upscale area is bustling with tourists, but it also has a darker past. Learn about supernatural occurrences and listen to true crime stories as you stroll past Victorian row houses, churches, and alleys of the city’s oldest neighborhood.

Delve into the rich history of Arlington National Cemetery on this walking tour, expertly led by a seasoned historian. Witness the poignant Gravesite of President Kennedy, complete with the Eternal Flame, and gain insights into the lives of service members, politicians, and influential figures buried here. Experience the revered Changing of the Guard ceremony from an optimal viewing spot and explore the significant areas surrounding the Memorial Amphitheater. Don't miss the chance to visit Arlington House, where stunning views of Washington D.C. offer perfect photo opportunities.

With elegant mansions, churches, and a world class university, Georgetown is one of DC’s most fashionable neighborhoods. Get your bearings and explore Georgetown architecture on a 2-hour, small-group walking tour with a local guide, who will share Georgetown stories as you visit historic highlights and campus landmarks.

Enjoy an offbeat experience—and discover a new side of the nation's capital—on an evening ghost tour of Washington DC. Follow your animated guide to the Dolley Madison House, Lafayette Square, and a range of other historical locations. At each stop, learn the spooky stories behind the city’s alleged hauntings and ghost sightings. The tour is also a great opportunity to see the nation’s capital illuminated at night.

If there’s one thing Washington D.C. is known for, it’s donuts. That’s not true, but it should be—you’ll taste and see why on this tour. Following your guide, you’ll travel from local donut institutions to the joints favored by politicians, exploring from cake and raised classics to the global donuts of Chinatown. Bonus: You’ll also catch views of the White House, learn about the city’s non-donut history, and more.

Your journey begins at the Neptune Fountain, right outside the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building. Meet your guide and begin your adventure. We walk to the Supreme Court where you'll learn about the prison that once stood on the site and the symbolism-filled architecture of the Supreme Court building. Then we head inside the Supreme Court where your guide will discuss the complex history of the institution, notable justices, landmark cases, and the secrets of the building. Next your guide will guide you through the architectural history of the US Capitol and reveal little known history of the building before providing you with reserved passes for a federal guide-led tour of the United States Capitol.

See a side of Washington DC that most visitors miss—and learn about the capital’s spookiest corners, presidential tragedies, and eerie legends—on this small-group walking tour. Meet your guide in front of the Supreme Court Building, and set off after dark. You’ll explore many of DC’s top landmarks, from the US Capitol to the Library of Congress, and learn about the hauntings and paranormal activity that still linger today.

Vigilance Tours is unlike other tours With 25 years of working knowledge of Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, Congress, and DC – Eric Hommel (Lt Col, USAF (retired)) is the only Cemetery guide who goes beyond the facts and figures and discusses the stories behind the facts and figures The tour is interactive – by getting to know you, Eric strives to make the tour meaningful while maintaining the reverence of Arlington National Cemetery In order to get to know each other, we limit the size of the tour group to a max of 12 visitors No subject is totally off limits – Eric is happy to discuss most topics (history, politics, military decisions, treatment of veterans, etc.) defining those interred at Arlington National Cemetery We will not rush you; the tour is scheduled for at least 3 hours, if you have less than 3 hours to visit the Cemetery we recommend shorter tours with other companies Eric is the author of: THE LOSING GAME: HOW TO LOSE A WAR AND FAIL VETERANS (Amazon)

Skip long lines with this guided Capitol Hill tour, including entry to the US Capitol and Library of Congress. Pass by the Supreme Court, Senate Offices, and the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial while your guide handles security and logistics, allowing you to focus on the hill’s rich history and stories.

Get personalized attention and enjoy a flexible itinerary on this private walking tour of Washington DC. Visit the highlights and landmarks of the nation's capital, including the Supreme Court, the Capitol Building, the Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress, and others. Then, enjoy free time to explore the Capitol Visitor Center, including the US House of Representatives, with your provided entry ticket (unguided).

Experience the history and scale of Washington DC—and quickly travel between destinations—on a fun and time-saving Segway tour. Headsets ensure you can hear your guide’s insightful commentary as you zip past prominent buildings, historic sights, and top DC monuments. This tour is ideal for visitors who want to get a good overview of the city, in order to know where to explore in more depth later.

Put down your guidebook and skip the stress of navigating on your own when you book a gourmet food and walking tour through historic Georgetown. Your guide takes you off the beaten path to highly-rated establishments, from a deli loved by locals to an Indian restaurant that’s been around for 20 years. Along the way, see hidden landmarks often missed by visitors, including Julia Child’s former home.

A grand walking tour of Capitol Hill to explore the Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and US Capitol. Learn about the country's legislative & judicial branches and step inside with the included entry tickets. Supreme Court: The tour does not enter, but you will get a full understanding of the judicial branch. Library of Congress: See an original Gutenberg Bible, view Jefferson's original library collection. Take a peek in the main Reading Room and admire items such as a draft of the Gettysburg Address, handwritten lyrics for “The Sound of Music,” Maya Lin’s drawings for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, original artwork by Stan Lee for the Spider-Man comic. Capitol Building: Learn about the Burning of Washington and find the best angle for a photo. See the original plaster model of Freedom. Your guide will secure hard-to-get tickets for the docent-led tour, which brings you into the Crypt, the Rotunda, and the Old House.