Top Washington DC Night Tours

There are several great options for exploring Washington DC after dark. Previous customers have loved these Washington DC night tours:

• DC Monuments and Memorials Night Tour
• Washington DC Monuments by Moonlight Tour by Trolley
• Night Monuments Tour with 8+ Stop & Optional Attraction Tickets
• Night City Tour with Optional Air & Space or Washington Monument
• Washington DC by Moonlight Electric Cart Tour

Yes, you can visit Washington DC monuments at night. The National Mall, Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and Vietnam Veterans Memorial are open 24 hours a day—tick them all off on a Washington DC night tour. The only exception is the Washington Monument, which is only open during the day.

Yes, the Monuments by Moonlight tour is worth it—travelers give this after-dark experience top ratings, as it lets you see the monuments when they're illuminated and transports you between landmarks quickly and effortlessly. Plus, knowledgeable guides share insider tips and information.

Yes, the National Mall is open 24 hours a day. Visitors say seeing the monuments illuminated after dark is a must-do experience when visiting Washington DC. To see all of the sights after dark, take a Washington DC night tour that transports you between monuments by trolley or electric cart.

Yes, three nights in Washington DC is enough. It gives you time to explore the main museums and attractions on the National Mall and surrounding areas. Be sure to put aside one evening for a Washington DC night tour to complete your experience of the United States' capital.

Yes, the Lincoln Memorial is lit up at night—it looks spectacular when it's illuminated after dark. You can also admire the other monuments and memorials on the National Mall after the sun has set. Cover all of them on a Washington DC night tour.

There are tons of fun tours and excursions in Washington DC aside from night tours. According to previous travelers, these are the best activities to book for your next trip:

• Bus Tours

• Hop-On Hop-Off Buses

• Trolley Tours

• Segway Tours

• Museum Tickets & Passes

Washington DC night tour prices vary depending on duration and inclusions. If you’re looking for high-quality experiences on the lower end of the price range, these are the best tours to book now: 

• Haunted DC Night-Time Walking Tour on Capitol Hill

• Ghosts of Georgetown Night-Time Walking Tour

• Big Bus DC: Monuments & Memorials Sunset Tour by Open-Top Bus

• Washington DC Monuments by Moonlight Tour by Trolley

• Day or Night Grand Tour of DC With Optional Mount Vernon Upgrade

Unlike in some other cities, night tours in Washington DC tend to be sightseeing tours, rather than nightlife tours. Most are suitable for the whole family, as long as kids are comfortable staying up late. Keen photographers should look for a night tour that includes plenty of stops, as DC’s grand national monuments look especially attractive lit up after dark.

When joining a Washington DC ghost tour at night, you might want to check the “spooky” level of the itinerary, especially if you’re traveling with kids. Some such tours are family-friendly, while others are less so. If you’re visiting DC from somewhere in a different time zone and haven’t yet adjusted, a night tour might be easy for you—or really hard. Make sure you’re well-rested before the tour, especially if it starts at midnight in your time zone.

Yes, night tours in Washington DC are generally family-friendly, but you should consider your kids’ ages, meals, bedtimes, and other needs before booking. Most tours start in the evening, between 6pm and 8pm, and run for between 1.5 and three hours. Older kids may not have trouble staying up, but younger ones might. Bus tours are often stroller-accessible. Check whether ghost tours in particular are family-friendly before booking.