Dupont Circle and Embassy Row Architectural Walking Tour
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Washington DC, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore some of Washington DC’s grandest streets on a 2-hour, small-group walking tour of Dupont Circle and Embassy Row with a local guide. Hear stories about capital city scandals and history as you follow a 2-mile route past Gilded Age mansions, extravagant homes, embassies, and architectural landmarks.
- 2-hour walking tour of Dupont Circle and Embassy Row
- See historic DC homes
- Fully narrated tour
- Led by a local guide
- Small group ensures personal service
What's Included
- Local guide
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Dupont Circle, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Look for your guide at the Dupont Circle Fountain in the center of Dupont Circle.
End point
- The Phillips Collection1600 21st St NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA
Itinerary
Make your way to Dupont Circle, where you’ll meet a guide and small group for this 2-hour walking tour. Stroll alongside your guide, who will share interesting facts and historic tidbits throughout the tour, filling you on the unique culture of America’s capital city.
Start by passing by the James Blaine Mansion, the Embassy of Indonesia, the Cosmos Club, and the the Society of Cincinnati.
Then continue on to see the Embassies of Latvia and Turkey, and learn about the Washington élite that built the impressive structures as private homes. Pass Sheridan Circle and the Embassy of Cameroon before you see the former home of President Woodrow Wilson.
Your tour takes you past DC’s own Spanish Steps, Mitchell Park, and the spot ‘The Hobbitt House,’ where Edward Lind Morse painted his famous inventor father.
Lastly, take in the red brick exterior of The Philip’s Collection modern art museum, before re-entering Dupont Circle, where this tour concludes.
Start by passing by the James Blaine Mansion, the Embassy of Indonesia, the Cosmos Club, and the the Society of Cincinnati.
Then continue on to see the Embassies of Latvia and Turkey, and learn about the Washington élite that built the impressive structures as private homes. Pass Sheridan Circle and the Embassy of Cameroon before you see the former home of President Woodrow Wilson.
Your tour takes you past DC’s own Spanish Steps, Mitchell Park, and the spot ‘The Hobbitt House,’ where Edward Lind Morse painted his famous inventor father.
Lastly, take in the red brick exterior of The Philip’s Collection modern art museum, before re-entering Dupont Circle, where this tour concludes.
1
Dupont Circle
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Embassy Row
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
Embassy of Indonesia
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Anderson House
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Residence of the Turkish Ambassador
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Sheridan Circle Northwest
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Kalorama
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
The President Woodrow Wilson House
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
9
Spanish Steps
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
10
The Phillips Collection
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 120 reviews
Shawn_L, Apr 2026
Walk around the neighborhood of DuPont Circle with a knowledgeable guide who relayed both the architecture of the homes and the stories of the lives of the rich and famous owners.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you Shawn!
Sherri_M, Jun 2025
We learned so much - history and architecture. Lovely walk! Sam is a terrific guide and provided a great experience.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks so much, Sherri!
Nina_B, Dec 2024
Such a great experience! Sam was so knowledgeable and had good energy in the frigid cold temps. He kept things moving while imparting great little nuggets of information. Learned a lot.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you Nina!
KevinColson, Nov 2024
A 2 hour tour that meanders along a path of rich, american architecture and history, providing a great opportunity to stretch your legs after a morning coffee or libatious brunch. The guide had a detailed knowledge of the many types of architecture throughout the route as well as interesting background and facts on the people who built and lived in the homes. He started with the basic history of why DuPont Circle was established and named which laid a strong foundation for the social, political, and personal information that provided us a more robust perspective on each building.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you so much! Our guide Sam is an excellent person to share a pitcher of mimosas with! :)
Cynthia_H, Sept 2024
Washington’s movers and shakers once strolled the streets of Dupont Circle, where Massachusetts Avenue was the city’s most fashionable residential address. Heiresses, industrial magnates, newspaper tycoons, and members of the political elite built opulent mansions along the avenue, all to impress Washington society. After the Great Depression, many of these magnificent mansions were converted into embassies, social clubs, and offices.
Response from Host, Sept 2024
Thank you for the five star review!
Diana_B, Aug 2024
Mark was a great tour guide, knowledgeable and considerate. It was a fun and interesting way to see the area. It seemed like everyone on the tour was enjoying themselves. Definitely worth the money.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you Diana! We appreciate your review of Mark's tour!
Alia_W, Jun 2024
A phenomenal and active way to learn about the city, its architecture and behind-the-scenes history. I've lived in the DC area for a decade now and took my husband and mom, who was visiting from out of town. We experienced the Dupont neighborhood in a way we never had before -- and the insights into international relations and embassy culture were an added bonus. Would definitely do this again and explore other tours with this group! Christine was so knowledgable.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you Alia!
Tracey_W, May 2024
Great stories about the homes and history of DuPont Circle and Embassy Row. Loved hearing about Alice Roosevelt!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you Tracey! She is one of our favorite "characters" on the Embassy Row tour!
Diane_S, Apr 2024
Our guide was very knowledgeable and shared a nice combination of history and architecture. It was a probably 2 hours and 20 minutes, so allow for a flexible end time.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review Diane!
Rachel_B, Apr 2024
My dad and I had a fantastic time on this walking tour of Embassy row! Our tour guide Ellory was super knowledgeable and charismatic! The tour was a good balance between architectural facts and history about the mansions on Massachusetts Ave prior to their current statuses as embassies! Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for taking the time to post a review about Ellery's Embassy Row tour!
Matthew_D, Nov 2023
Excellent guide 10/10 would recommend
We learned a lot
Learned about other things to do like the farmers market the next day and lunch commendations
Response from Host, Nov 2023
We love to get a 10/10! Thank you!
Jill_P, Oct 2023
Sam was an outstanding guide. Great mix of history and architecture, story telling and humor. Thanks!
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Thank you for taking the time to write a review for Sam!
SHANNA_T, Oct 2023
Our guide Natalie was so wonderful! She was delightful and full of information! What a great tour! Thank you, Natalie!
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Thank you for posting such a kind review for Natalie!
Theresa_S, Sept 2023
Our tour guide was an excellent communicator and handled my many well! Great tour! Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Sept 2023
Thank you Theresa! We love inquisitive tour guests! Makes it more fun. :)
Louis_H, Aug 2023
Very knowledgeable guide. Enjoyed tour. Just the right size. Would have liked to be able to tour one of the embassies
Margaret_T, Jul 2023
Natalie was a wonderful tour guide! We got just the right amount of information about different architecture styles and who lived at various houses. I also appreciated her supplemental pictures of people so I could visualize how they lived.
Too bad it was so hot and humid! She had nothing to do with that - I would go again to n cooler weather.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Thank you! We appreciate you sticking with us in the DC summer heat! :)
Kim_H, Jun 2023
Wonderful tour in DuPont Circle, down embassy row and in Kalorama. I learned new things - I did not know DC had Spanish Steps!!
Response from Host, Jun 2023
We love to hear that, thank you!!
penny_l, Jun 2023
Natalia our tour guide was fabulous! She made it interesting and fun! Our entire group loved the tour and learned a lot, even those who live in dc! We would definitely recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Thank you so much for posting a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your tour with Natalie!
SuYiSophia_H, Mar 2023
Sam was an outstanding guide with great storytelling skills. The distance and duration of the tour were appropriate, and we were left with a thirst for knowledge and keener eyes for architectural details. Highly recommended!!
Response from Host, Mar 2023
We’re so glad to read your review, thank you!
Marc_z, Nov 2022
Great tour….informative of the architectural styles of the beautiful homes and neighborhood and filled with great stories of the people who owned them. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Thank you Marc! We really appreciate your review!
Kelly_M, Oct 2022
Enjoyed learning the history of the homes and embassies in the Dupont neighborhood. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the architectural styles and made the time fly by.
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Thank you Kelly! We're so glad to read your review!
Lori_N, Sept 2022
Very enjoyable walking tour. Our guide was so knowledgeable about the area. I would have loved to walk this area and listen to our guide for several more hours!
Response from Host, Sept 2022
Thanks Lori, we're so glad to read your review!
Joan_R, Sept 2022
Made history come to life- fun and informative and Christine added a welcome splash of humor
Not a good idea to ask for more comments in my opinion
Response from Host, Sept 2022
Thank you for joining us Joan!
Nicole_S, Jul 2022
This is our third time in DC and we had yet to tour Embassy Row or the surrounding areas. This tour was an experience to say the least. I’m not architecturally too literate. But the Guide was fun and informative with great crowd interaction. I absolutely loved this tour and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Thank you, Nicole! We pride ourselves on making the architecture focus fun for everyone, and I'm glad to read that your guide succeeded! :)
Gerard_B, Jun 2022
Well paced, informative. More historically oriented than architecturally focused. Friendly guide. Recommended.
Response from Host, Jun 2022
Thank you, we’re glad to read your review!
Meredith_M, Jun 2022
Outstanding guide. Architecture and family history of homes in the area, along with anecdotal stories of prior occupants. Very interesting and well done!
Response from Host, Jun 2022
Thank you so much!
Sadhna_L, Mar 2022
Tour really brought the DuPont circle neighborhood to life! Our guide was very knowledgeable and made each story fun to follow -- even for my teen and tween! This one is worth it! Had a great time-- both educational and fun!
Response from Host, Mar 2022
Thanks very much! We appreciate your review!
Katherine_W, Feb 2022
Our guide, Carolyn, was a wonderful guide. She shared engaging stories, as well as architectural details of the buildings we observed on the tour.
Response from Host, Feb 2022
We appreciate your kind review, thank you!
Pam_T, Oct 2021
It was a great tour. We had a super tour guide - Sam - he absolutely made the two hour tour interesting, engaging, added humor and analysis to present day situations. The details in some of his stories were so cool. I am still talking about what I learned.
Response from Host, Oct 2021
Thanks so much, Pam! Sam is definitely a super tour guide, and we appreciate your kind review! :)
Kelsey_I, Sept 2021
Great tour with very knowledgeable guide. Good mix of information related to architecture and design as well as the history of the buildings and their inhabitants. Also a fun neighborhood just to walk around in. Definitely recommend.
Response from Host, Sept 2021
Thanks so much, Kelsey! We really appreciate you taking the time to review our tours!
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