Top Washington DC Walking Tours

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.

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.

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).

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.

Deepen your understanding of the legislative branch of the US government on a small-group tour of Capitol Hill that explores the US Capitol and your choice of the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, or both (along with the Folger Shakespeare Library). 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.

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.

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.

The US Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress are some of the most popular sights in DC, but that can also mean long lines to get inside. On this small-group half-day guided tour, spend more time exploring rather than waiting around with reserved access. Learn about the historic importance of each landmark as you spend time navigating them on foot.

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.

Go beyond the guidebooks as you walk through Arlington National Cemetery with a dedicated guide on this private tour. Visit the graves of the famous men and women buried there and learn about their lives. Ask your private guide as many questions as you like and enjoy a more flexible itinerary based on your interests.

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.

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.

Head out after dark to see the iconic monuments of Washington, DC, lit up for the night. This evening tour takes you on a scenic ride past the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and other sites. This tour combines a ride in a tour vehicle with some stops where you'll get out to walk for a closer look. Upgrade to include a reserved entry ticket into the Washington Monument, Air & Space Museum, or African American Museum.

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)

Experience 250 years of American history on this 3-hour guided walking tour led by a local historian & professional tour guide. Visit the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, where you’ll explore pivotal moments from the American Revolution to the 20th century and beyond. Rather than wandering aimlessly, you’ll follow a carefully curated narrative that makes history engaging, accessible, and relevant. Head to the National Archives Museum, where you’ll enjoy skip-the-line entry. Inside, view the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, some of the most important original documents in world history. Throughout the tour, the small group size allows for meaningful interaction, questions, and discussion, creating a more personal and enriching experience than large group tours.

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.

Take a stroll back in time with this small-group guided walk along the historic Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail. Learn about the trail that once brought visitors from Washington DC and elsewhere to the beach, and view the diverse habitat of the Chesapeake Bay region, including marshland off Fishing Creek. Includes a visit to the Chesapeake Railway Museum.

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.

Make the most of your National Archives visit on a small-group tour that highlights both famous documents and smaller gems often missed by visitors. Going with a guide is recommended, as you’ll learn historical facts and hear anecdotes you won’t find on plaques or in guidebooks. A small group size of eight or fewer ensures ample time for questions and a personalized experience.

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.

Combine US history with a pub crawl through DC’s most iconic bars on this small-group historic tour. Learn the history your teachers left out as you listen to stories that helped shape the nation’s capital. Hear how one of the founding fathers was a master distiller, what life was like during the Prohibition days, and even the parties at the White House.

Learn about American history and culture—and explore a solemn landmark in a respectful way—on this tour of Arlington National Cemetery. Visit key monuments, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the President John F. Kennedy Gravesite, and the Robert E. Lee Memorial, hear more about the service members and national figures laid to rest here, and watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony.

Take a spooky stroll through Washington DC on this guided walking ghost tour. Visit one of the most haunted buildings in the world—the United States Capitol Building—as well as the Supreme Court Building and the Library of Congress. Hear the stories of feuding ghosts of past lawmakers, haunted souls surrounding the Trial of the Lincoln Assassination Conspirators, the phantoms of past presidents and the curse that surrounds everything on Capitol Hill. It’s a fascinating, spine-tingling adventure.