Hop-on Hop-off Tour of DC with 18 Stops and Arlington Audio Tour
Washington DC, USA
- 1 hour 50 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover the most popular sights in Washington DC, and simplify your sightseeing, with this all-in-one package. On a hop-on hop-off bus tour, drive past many of the capital's top attractions, including the White House, the Washington Monument, the National Mall, and more. This cost-saving package also includes an Arlington National Cemetery walking tour and more.
- Explore the city at your own pace on a hop-on hop-off bus tour
- Enjoy an efficient way to see the city's most important landmarks
- Choose from three pass durations to fit your Washington DC schedule
- Benefit from access to several other tours and experiences
What's Included
- Official Tour Provider of the National Mall - a portion of every ticket goes to preservation
- 24/48/72hr Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Ticket
- Open-top double-decker buses - Access Two Routes with 18 stops
- Audio-guided walking tours of Arlington Cemetery, Tidal Basin, and Georgetown
- Shuttle to Georgetown from National Mall (included with 48/72hr tickets)
- 2.5hr Sunset Tour with Live Guide (if option selected)
- Digital onboard commentary with headphones (Hop-on Hop-off Tour)
- Live bus tracking and city information with Big Bus app
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Start time.6:30 pm
Departure Point
- You may start this tour at any of the stops listed.
Itinerary
Pick between 1-, 2-, or 3-day passes to fit your schedule. The tour begins when you hop on at any of the available stops. Board one of the open-top buses and enjoy the view with recorded audio commentary detailing in-depth facts and stories. Learn about the history and happenings of the nation’s capital as the bus rolls along from one location to the next.
Take in all the places that are synonymous with the nation’s capital, including the White House, US Capitol, Air and Space Museum, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and many more.
This package also includes access to an optional Arlington National Cemetery walking tour and other experiences you can opt into.
Take in all the places that are synonymous with the nation’s capital, including the White House, US Capitol, Air and Space Museum, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and many more.
This package also includes access to an optional Arlington National Cemetery walking tour and other experiences you can opt into.
Red Loop
11 Stops
27 Points of Interest
Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes
Operating Schedule: See many of Washington DC’s signature landmarks along the National Mall. Hop off to explore major monuments, museums and memorials before rejoining the tour when you're ready. Hours of Operation - First Bus 9AM, Last Bus 4:30PM
1
1400 Jefferson Dr SW
2
10th Street Northwest & Constitution Avenue Northwest
3
415 New Jersey Ave NW
4
2436 Rayburn House Office Bldg
5
600 Independence Ave SW
6
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW
7
800 Maine Ave SW
8
1200 Independence Ave SW
9
266 Raoul Wallenberg Pl SW
10
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
11
121 West Basin Dr SW
Points of interest passed by on this route
The White House
Tidal Basin
Washington Monument
The National Mall
National Museum of African American History and Culture
U.S. Capitol
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Ford's Theatre
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian American Art Museum
National Museum of Asian Art
Smithsonian Garden
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Art Museum of The Americas
Department of the Interior Museum
Lincoln Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
International Spy Museum
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Black Lives Matter Plaza
Chinatown
National Museum of the American Indian
Union Station
Arlington National Cemetery
Blue Loop
8 Stops
6 Points of Interest
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Operating Schedule: Travel beyond the National Mall to see more of the capital, including the White House and Arlington National Cemetery. This route is ideal for travelers who want to combine Washington's major monuments with sights outside the central National Mall area. Hours of Operation - First Bus 9AM, Last Bus 430PM
1
1400 Jefferson Dr SW
2
World War II Memorial
3
100 Daniel French Dr SW
4
1 Memorial Ave
5
18th Street Northwest & Constitution Avenue Northwest
6
1615 H St NW
7
610 10th St NW
8
1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Points of interest passed by on this route
Washington Monument
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Arlington National Cemetery
Georgetown Shuttle (included with 48/72hr tickets)
4 Stops
3 Points of Interest
Duration: 1 hour
Operating Schedule: Shuttle connects the National Mall with Georgetown on a 45-minute loop. Hop on near the Washington Monument and travel to the Georgetown Waterfront, with stops at the National Geographic Museum and Hyatt Place. Explore the distinct shops, restaurants, and Potomac River views of the historic Georgetown neighborhood.
1
149 15th St NW
2
1669 M St NW
3
2121 M St NW
4
3111 K St NW
Points of interest passed by on this route
Georgetown Waterfront Park
National Geographic Museum Of Exploration
Washington Monument
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Guests may redeem tickets via Big Bus app or in person at Stop #1 Washington Monumnent, 1400 Jefferson Dr. SW (on Jefferson Dr. SW, corner of 14th St. by Bike Racks)
- Your Dollars in Action: A portion of every ticket helps preserve the National Mall’s iconic monuments and memorials—so your Big Bus tour supports America’s history for generations to come
- Free Oval Office Commemorative Photo: Present your ticket at White House Gifts (701 15th ST NW) to receive a free Oval Office digital photo. One photo per ticket.
- Choice of audio-guided walking tours includes Arlington Cemetery, Tidal Basin, and Georgetown neighborhood.
- Live bus tracking, route information, and ticket activation available via the Big Bus app
- The Georgetown Shuttle operates daily every hour from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM, with a full loop taking approximately 45–60 minutes. Please present your digital or printed ticket before boarding.
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Frequently Asked Questions (9)
Q:How often does a bus arrive at each stop during the Big Bus Washington DC Open Top Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?
A:Buses arrive every 30-45 minutes for both the Red and Blue Loops
Apr 2026
The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
3.5
based on 4,028 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
If you are doing the red and blue loops, I would suggest riding all the way to the Arlington cemetery and getting off to enjoy that one first.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Hi Brandie_B. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are happy to learn that you enjoyed the tour in Washington DC. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again soon. Best regards, Vlad @BigBusTours
The tour was cancelled in the morning due to some activity taking place in DC. When I asked for a refund due to not being able to do the tour as I would not be available in the afternoon I was told NO.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your feedback.
We understand your disappointment. Having the tour cancelled in the morning and then being unable to use the alternative afternoon departure because of your schedule understandably impacted your plans.
If you have not already done so, please contact our Customer Service team with your booking confirmation so they can review the circumstances surrounding the cancellation and your refund request. We would be happy to look into the matter further and review the options available.
You can reach our Washington DC Customer Service team through the following page: https://www.bigbustours.com/en/washington-dc/contact-us
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Alex@BigBusTours
The NASCAR car race was on the day and they had to amalgamate the loops. should have informed us prior to this, no intimation at all. We were waiting at the Hyatt for 1.5 hours along with other people and the bus did not show up at all. The hotel staff said that it stopped there and had the stop timings, though the bus did not show up. Wouldnot recommend this at all
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We are very sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating it must have been to wait for an extended period at the Hyatt stop without any bus arriving. We also appreciate how disappointing it would be to discover that route changes had been made due to the NASCAR event without receiving clear advance communication.
Special events and road closures can sometimes require operational adjustments, but we recognize that customers should be informed of these changes as early and clearly as possible so they can plan accordingly. We regret that this did not happen in your case and that you, along with other guests, were left waiting without accurate information.
Your comments regarding the lack of updates and the disruption to the normal route structure are very important to us. We will share this feedback with our operations team to review how service changes and event-related disruptions are communicated to customers in the future.
Thank you again for bringing this to our attention. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused.
Flavius@BigBusTours
This was not a guided live tour instead it was a pre-recorded message. Most guides/drivers were friendly, but one was very rude to some women who did not speak English well. Also one of the employees near Washington monument at info tent was very rude in the way he responded to my question and was more focused on what he was doing on his cell phone before I bothered him. Maybe find employees who are friendly and like to interact with the public.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hello, Craig!
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
We are genuinely sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations.
Friendly and welcoming service is a top priority for us, so hearing about the interactions you described—both with the driver toward non-English speaking guests and with our team member at the Washington Monument stop—is very concerning.
We take this feedback seriously and will be addressing this internally with our local operations team to ensure our staff remains professional, attentive, and helpful at all times.
We appreciate you bringing this to our attention, as it helps us improve.
We hope you'll consider giving us another chance in the future to provide you with the high standard of service you deserve.
MariaS@BigBusToursCustomerCare
It was really cool to see everything and be able to get on and off the bus. But we had only purchased the red bus loop and at some point it’s switched to the blue loop and no one told us and we ended up riding the bus for like three hours and we were hot and tired. We were not happy with that. The drivers were great very nice.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hi Pam,
We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the flexibility of being able to hop on and off the bus and that our drivers provided a friendly and helpful service.
We are sorry to hear about the confusion with the route change and that this resulted in a longer journey than expected. We understand how inconvenient this must have been, especially after spending several hours on the bus in the heat.
We appreciate your comments and will continue working to ensure our guests have a clear and enjoyable experience throughout their journey. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you aboard again. Alexandra@BigBusTours
Great way to see the city! Loved that I got to see so many sites so easily. No parking or traffic woes!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear that the tour made it easy for you to see so many of the city's highlights without the stress of parking or dealing with traffic. Hop-on, hop-off sightseeing is all about convenience, and we're so pleased it helped you make the most of your time in the city. We hope to see you on board again soon for another great adventure!
Ciprian@Big Bus Tours
The bus had a car accident bro. Kind of expensive especially considering the hours of operation. I wouldn’t recommend
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi, Dalisha!
We are very sorry to hear about the accident during your tour and the inconvenience this caused. Safety and a positive experience are our top priorities, and we take incidents like this very seriously.
To help us investigate this closely and look into a resolution for you, please reach out to us directly through our support form here: https://www.bigbustours.com/contact-us and provide your booking details.
Best regards, Mihaela@BigBusToursTeam
The Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour is a convenient way to see many of Washington, D.C.’s major attractions without having to drive or navigate public transportation. The route covers many popular sites, and the concept is a great option for visitors.
However, there were several areas that could be improved. The buses did not have air conditioning, which made traveling in the summer heat uncomfortable. The buses also did not appear to run on a consistent schedule, resulting in longer-than-expected waits at some stops. It was sometimes difficult to locate the pick-up and drop-off points because there was little signage, and having staff members available at major stops would have been helpful for answering questions and directing passengers. In addition, clearer communication from the drivers about the route, stops, and expected wait times would have made the experience smoother.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed and thoughtful review!
We’re so glad our tour was a convenient way for you to explore the best of Washington, D.C. without the hassle of driving.
That being said, we’re really sorry for the parts of your day that felt stressful or uncomfortable. Exploring the city in the summer heat without proper air conditioning and having to wait longer at stops is definitely not the relaxing experience we want for our guests!
We truly appreciate your constructive points. We’re already working with our D.C. team to see how we can add clearer signs at our stops, have more friendly faces on the ground to help direct you, and keep everyone better updated on bus arrivals.
Thank you again for helping us get better! We’d love the chance to welcome you back for a much cooler and smoother ride in the future.
Maria@BigBusToursCustomerCare
We had to delay our Big Bus tour due to a sudden illness of our guest. (Party of 3 only.) We had booked through Viator. Their phone representatives secured the chance to reschedule. It was too late to get a refund, but we were so grateful for the work of Viator to advise and advocate for us on this issue.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello, Karl!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with us!
First and foremost, we hope your guest is feeling much better and making a full recovery.
We know how stressful it can be when unexpected health issues disrupt travel plans, and we are so glad that we and our partners at Viator could work together to help reschedule your tour.
Flexibility and making sure our guests are taken care of during tough moments mean everything to us.
We truly appreciate your kind words, and we can’t wait to welcome all three of you on board for a smooth, enjoyable tour when you're ready to explore!
Maria@BigBusToursCustomerCare
We were sent to the wrong place to even begin our tour.
We arrived at the Union Station at 50 Massachusetts Ave NE
After paying $20.00 to a nearby parking garage we were told that BigB busses do not have a stop there. We are both in our 70"s and had to locate and walk to the Japanese/American museum to be picked-up. When the bus arrived we could not get on until we ran another 1 1/2 blocks to where the bus finally stopped.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Roy,
We are sorry to hear about the difficulties you experienced while trying to start your tour. We understand how disappointing it must have been to encounter challenges with locating the correct stop and having to walk further than expected before joining the bus.
If you would like to provide any further details regarding your experience, please feel free to contact us directly. Alexandra@BigBusTours
What was supposed to be a nice visit to the most important landmarks in Washington DC became a waste of time and money. 380 Canadian dollars for three days in which we got to see half of what we wanted to see because of the big bus tours . No specific stop signs for many stops pick up for the big bus tours. Had to guess where we have to wait for the bus. When we managed to find where the stop is approximately situated and had to get in, the driver stopped exactly where he knows he has to . Doesn't matter if you have to walk back or forth to get in the bus, the driver won't stop two steps before or after his stop. If you happen to try to get in the bus instead of the driver telling you to get in , you get: wait there, wait there instead of could you please wait so people can get out. Twenty minutes breaks said by the driver lasted half an hour and of course the bus turned off and people suffocating in the heat for half an hour without air conditioning on the lower deck. Two days out of three the last bus at the end of the day had zero air conditioning ither turned off or not working. Is it on purpose or not will not know. The vibe really feels like we driving you cause we have too not because we want too. Many stops we walked ,cause took less time than waiting for the bus to show up at the stop. Unfortunately the big bus tours experience ruined the whole visit for us and would not recommend the big bus tours to anyone. Payed a lot and got to visit half of what we wanted to. They say you have 72 hours bus time but the bus runs from 9:30am to 4:30pm every day. Do the math . It's 21 hours of bus time you get out of 72 for almost 400$ Canadian. Let's just say if we visit another city we won't be taking the big bus tours cause it's been so deceiving. We better walk the city it will be faster and get to see all we want and not what the big bus tours will allow us to see being at their mercy and hostage on the bus or waiting for the bus .
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. I am deeply sorry to hear that your trip to Washington D.C. was so disappointing and that issues with bus stops, driver attitude, and non-functioning air conditioning ruined your visit.
This is certainly not the level of service we aim to provide. To allow us to investigate this matter fully and take the necessary operational measures, could you please contact us with your booking details through our official form here: https://www.bigbustours.com/contact-us
Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and I sincerely apologize for your experience.
Best regards, Mihaela@BigBusToursTeam
Waited for over an hour for the bus to arrive. The employee at the stop kept telling us it wouldn’t be long, all the while I could see in the app that the bus was nowhere near us.
Major confusion about where the bus would actually pick us up. At one point the employee was nowhere to be found because he had wandered off.
Once on board, the tour wasn’t bad. The family enjoyed it.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Jeffrey_M. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to learn that the bus was delayed. We aim to always be on time, but sometimes traffic can delay us. We are glad you could enjoy the tour once the bus arrived. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again soon. Best regards, Vlad @BigBusTours
It might have been a great experience, but we went over Memorial Day Weekend and happened to book the one day they closed all the roads and literally only offered 7 stops out of the 20 or so advertised. It was very disappointing, we only rode the bus ONCE the entire day, and they refused to discount or refund us any amount of the fee. Not worth it, D.C. is very walkable and the subway is a much better deal.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
We appreciate your feedback regarding your experience over Memorial Day Weekend. Operating a tour during major city events involves adhering to strict local transit and security restrictions, which can significantly limit the available stops on our routes. We understand the disappointment this causes when trying to see the full loop and the points you raised regarding service availability and our standard policy during holiday events have been forwarded to our relevant department. We'd love to welcome you again under much better circumstances. Valeriu @BigBusTours
We have absolutely loved the hop-on-hop off experience in London and New York. The DC version was miserable. I should have heeded the warnings in the other reviews. The bus was broiling hot (on top and down underneath), it went on weird paths that didn't let us see much of anything, and we wasted SO much time just sitting at bus stops for what seemed like endless periods of time. We paid for two days, but after the first day on the blue line (didn't even get through the whole loop), we didn't even bother using our tickets for the red line the second day. Complete waste of money. Do not waste your time and money.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello, Hazel! Thank you for sharing your feedback about the Washington DC Tour. It is unfortunate to hear that your time on this Route did not match the great experiences you had with us in London and New York.
We understand that delays and uncomfortable temperatures can significantly impact the enjoyment of a sightseeing trip. Your specific notes regarding the climate control and the time spent at stops have been shared with the local operations team in DC for their internal review and to help us improve the overall guest experience. We appreciate you bringing these matters to our attention, and we'd love to have the opportunity of welcoming you again in the future, ensuring you'll get to enjoy everything we have to offer to the fullest extent and create some wonderful memories along the way. Valeriu @BigBusTours
Air conditioning not working on all 4 buses we rode. The staff says it’s been that way for years.
Failed to announce which of his like 4 stops at Arlington while in the parking lot when to get out. If you are upstairs you can’t see what’s going on. The top of the bus was almost full snd nobody got off.
Some warning horn blared the entire route on one bus
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello Walter_S. We are grateful for your honest feedback, as we aim to enhance our customer experience continually. We apologize that the bus tour did not meet your expectations. If you would like to share additional details, please feel free to contact us directly, and we will be more than willing to assist you. Best regards, Razvan @BigBusTours
Too hot for no air conditioning............most busses had none and the heat was at 115 degrees. Should have taken cab
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi there! Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the lack of air conditioning on the bus affected your experience. We appreciate you bringing this concern to our attention. If you would like to provide any further details about your experience, please feel free to contact us directly so we can look into this further. Alexandra@BigBusTours
We didn’t get to experience this tour because of the weather and road closures. My family and I waited two hours in 104 degree heat at the Washington Monument stop. The stop was not listed as one of the stops affected by the 4th of July closures, yet it was not accessible to traffic. It was too much to find another stop and after two hours of waiting we had to go back to the hotel to recover. My mom is a senior citizen with heart issues. My sister was finding it hard to breathe. I’m really disappointed in the inaccuracy of the information on the app about the stops affected by the road closures.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello! We are deeply sorry to hear about the distressing experience your family faced in the extreme heat. While 4th of July city closures change rapidly, we completely understand your frustration regarding the inaccurate app updates for the Washington Monument stop, and we have flagged this to our operational team to improve our live tracking.
As you were unable to use your tour, please reach out to our customer support team directly at info@bigbustours.com with your booking details so we can investigate and resolve this for you. We truly hope your family is feeling much better. Melisa@BigBusTours
Your air conditioning unit was not putting enough cold air out. Your bus was very hot . We had to walk so far to be dropped off and you didn’t even update your website to let customers know that there was no blue or red loops. I paid $135.00 for 3 of us waste of money. I realize it was very hot outside but the buses should have been cool. They weren’t.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We're very sorry to hear about your experience and understand how disappointing it must have been. Comfort is an important part of any sightseeing tour, and we regret that the air conditioning on your bus did not provide adequate relief during what sounds like a very hot day. We appreciate that high temperatures can be challenging, but we agree that our buses should provide a comfortable environment for our guests.
We’re also sorry to hear about the inconvenience caused by the suspension of the Blue and Red loops and the additional walking required. We understand your frustration, particularly if these service changes were not clearly communicated before your visit. Keeping our customers informed of route adjustments and operational changes is extremely important, and your feedback highlights an area where we need to improve.
Your comments will be shared with our operations and customer experience teams so that both the onboard comfort and communication of service updates can be reviewed.
Thank you again for bringing these concerns to our attention.
Flavius@BigBusTours
Finding the meeting point for any of the stops is VERY unclear. They DO NOT run anywhere near 10 minutes apart, more like a 1/2 hour. We were on 3 different buses and NON of the AC worked. Also, NON of the audio tour head phones worked on any bus we were on. Unfortunately, all of the other passengers we spoke to coming from different days of use and different times of use all reported the same experiences on their buses. This happened during the week of the 4th in DC when temperatures were over 100 degrees. People were miserable!! The problems with the AC didn't seem to be related to the extreme demand but that all of the buses were very old. I would not recommend these tours.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi, Gary! Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations, especially in the extreme heat. We understand how frustrating it must have been to encounter issues with the air conditioning, audio equipment, and finding stops. We appreciate you bringing these concerns to our attention and would like the opportunity to assist further. Please feel free to contact us via live chat or email with your booking details so our team can look into this for you. Our contact page can be accessed here: https://www.bigbustours.com/contact-us Daniel@BigBusTours
It was disappointing, couldn’t find the bus stops, wasted most of our time waiting for the next bus to show up. Not a convenient hop on and hop off method. Not enough buses.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi, Laura! Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experience was disappointing and that you had difficulties locating stops and waiting for buses. We understand how important clear information and reliable service are when exploring a city. We appreciate your comments and will take them into consideration as we continue to improve our tours. If you’d like to discuss your experience further, please feel free to contact us via live chat or email here: https://www.bigbustours.com/contact-us Daniel@BigBusTours
Good experience to see the city. The reason it don't get five stars is because the air conditioning is not all that great, with people getting on and off the bus. Also on the top level some buses do not have a cover.
It’s reduculas trio we sitting on bus and no info has privided about eh stops and places just sitting on bus like public bus and thought we will know what it’s came on stop and suddenly back to drop off no single announcement
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Yagya! Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations. We understand how disappointing it can be when the onboard commentary and information about the stops are not provided as expected, making it difficult to follow the tour and know when points of interest are being passed.
Your comments have been shared with the relevant team, as we continually work to improve the experience for our guests. We appreciate you taking the time to let us know about your experience. Alexandra@BigBusTours
First I’ll give the disclaimer. We were under a long daily heat advisory like no other. Next the National mall has an expanding street closure buffer zone for the carnival goes. Thank you Police, National Guard, Secret Service, EMT’s and Fire Department all your services we appreciated. I purchased a 2 day tickets for 3. Absolute waste of money. I went to their office to find 2 signs laying on the floor and a long phone cord with no phone attached to it. Nothing else… I then spotted a Big Red Bus on the street down the block and proceeded there. After getting no real help there in obtaining my groups tickets I was directed to a blue bus so I could get to Arlington Cemetary. Due to 250 all buses are now running the same routes around the malls buffer zone. Upstairs covered area was packed, lower area was packed. Finally was able to locate a seat for my sister. Plugged in headphones to receive only music no description of where we are or where we are going. The new paplets which show a big loop was inaccurate. Only because I the night before had taken a excellent private evening limo tour was I able to figure where we are. From that point on we had a tour and it was now time to move on, using BRB was not advisable I used Uber, Lyft and cabs from then on. I can not with recommend BRB to anyone. My short experience was poor to say it nicely.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi, John! Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're sorry to hear that your experience did not meet expectations. We appreciate your understanding of the extraordinary circumstances in Washington, DC, including the heat advisory, road closures, and security restrictions. However, we understand your frustration with the difficulties obtaining assistance, the overcrowded buses, the route changes, and the lack of audio commentary. Your comments regarding customer service, onboard experience, and tour information have been shared with the relevant teams for review. We sincerely apologize for the disappointment caused and appreciate you taking the time to bring these concerns to our attention. Alexandra@BigBusTours
The traffic was horrible and we had to wait in traffic jams. It was hot. The bus leaked water from the roof onto our laps. We purchased a 48 hour ticket only to find that they weren’t going to be running the next day (Saturday). They told us the ticket would be good on Sunday, but we were leaving on Sunday so would not be able to use it. It would have been nice if the tour operator told us that ahead of time. The sound system on the bus is so hard to hear that we missed most of what was said during the tour. Half the time we didn’t even know which stop we were at. We spoke to one of the employees and he took down our name and booking number and said he would apply for a refund for us for the cancelled second day.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're sorry to hear that traffic, the leaking roof, the onboard audio, and the unexpected service interruption affected your experience. We also understand your disappointment about not being able to use the second day of your ticket due to your travel plans. We appreciate you bringing these issues to our attention, and we hope your refund request is resolved as quickly as possible. If you need any further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us directly. Best regards, Denis @BigBusTours
The air conditioner didn't work in some of the buses. One bus was stopped for a while because our driver's seat messed up. The mechanic came quickly and we were really surprised how fast he got there. The supervisor was sweet and friendly. I know she had a lot of stress on her but she treated everyone respectfully and was friendly. Our driver on that bus was awesome and funny. She didn't have air and was dying but she was cool as a cucumber. Another bus the headphones things didn't work. We couldn't hear in the back over the engine so we didn't know what stops we were at unless the bus driver yelled. The speaker in the middle wasn't enough for us in the back. Maybe add another back there? One thing I wasn't really happy with is that our pass was for 24 hours. But on the 4th of July the buses were closed. We bought our tickets at 1pm on the 3rd and should have been discounted. We didn't get our full 24 hours. Also the buses stopped running at around 5pm. So we didn't get all evening either. I feel full price for just 4 hours of service isn't right at all. Other people were stranded and not able to get back to Arlington. They bought full price tickets there and got on. They rode into the city and found out that was the last bus out of Arlington. So she and her elderly and very disabled parents were stuck with no way back to their vehicle parked at Arlington. The driver was nice and said she would ask her supervisor if she could take them back because no one told them that was the last bus. I confirmed that no one told us either. We got on just before them at Arlington. There are a few bugs and that is to be expected with this huge event. There are many of us who don't know anything about these buses and times etc. Would have been nice to know. The lady ticket counter where we bought our tickets was awesome too. She was sweet and friendly even though she wasn't getting much help from her male counterparts and was dealing with stress.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. We're pleased to hear that our drivers, supervisor, mechanic, and ticket office team made a positive impression with their professionalism and friendly service, and we'll be sure to pass along your kind words. At the same time, we're sorry to learn about the issues you experienced with the air conditioning, audio equipment, service interruptions, and the limited operating hours over the holiday, as well as the lack of clear communication regarding the final departures. Your comments are greatly appreciated and will be shared with the relevant teams as we continue working to improve the experience for all our guests. Best regards, Denis @BigBusTours
Bus was not air conditioned and was hotter than the outside. The baby went borderline heat exhaustion because of the heat and lack of air circulation. The bus DID NOT go on the red route that we paid for. Nor did any bus (per the app tracker) go on the red route. The was not a guided tour on the bus. It was headphones you could plug in but the head phones were not offered to us. The entire thing was miserable and we only rode it once. I would like my money back. I did not receive anything that was advertised or that I paid for. Who can I contact for a refund
A bad time to tour DC with this administration, but our first bus driver did not do well maneuvering the traffic and his stops/slowdown for viewing were ill timed.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi, Reba! Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. I am sorry to hear that your experience on our Washington, D.C. tour fell short of expectations, particularly regarding how the traffic and stops were managed by your first driver.
While navigating the busy streets of the capital can certainly be challenging, our drivers are expected to provide a smooth, well-timed, and comfortable ride for everyone on board. We take your comments seriously and are working to ensure the timing of our sightseeing stops is better managed to improve the overall tour quality.
We truly appreciate your input, as it helps us improve, and we hope to provide you with a much better experience in the future.
Best regards, Mihaela@BigBusToursTeam
Wasn’t running on the mall where I needed because of Freedom 250 state fair road closures on 6/26. Adjusted routes should have been published when I purchased so I could alter plans.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We’re very sorry to hear about your experience during the Freedom 250 road closures. We understand how frustrating it must have been to find that the service was not operating where you needed it, especially without prior notice to allow you to adjust your plans.
Clear and timely communication about route changes due to planned events is essential, and we regret that this information was not made available to you in advance. Your feedback highlights an important area for improvement, and we will share it with our team to ensure that future service disruptions are communicated more effectively at the time of booking and on the day of travel.
Thank you again for bringing this to our attention.
Flavius@BigBusTours
I didn't actually get to experience the tour, we didn't make it to town in time to use it. It was past the deadline to cancel when i realized we wouldn't be there in time, so I called attempting to extend it to a two-day pass and was told someone would get back with me, no one ever did. The next day while in DC we did see several buses around so I think it would be a good hop-on/hop-off tour if you actually get to use it. I was disappointed with the lack of communication/response to my request though. Even a simple "No" would have been nice. I wasn't asking for a refund, I was asking to extend my tour. Because of this I chose another bus company for our 2nd day.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your feedback, and we’re sorry to hear about your experience. We understand how frustrating it must have been not to receive a response regarding your request, especially when you were trying to adjust rather than cancel. We appreciate your comments and will use them to improve our communication and follow-up with guests.
Raul@BigBusTours
The big red bus is the best experience; it shows you all of Washington DC. My favorite is the Lincoln Monument. I was able to see where it all was and organize my days.. I recommend ENJOY!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hello!
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're thrilled that our tour was the best way for you to see Washington D.C. and organize your days. The Lincoln Memorial is definitely a favorite!
We hope to welcome you on board again soon!
Best regards,
Melisa@BigBusToursTeam
Member Pricing
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$42.75
per personWas $45.00(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Hop-on Hop-off Tour of DC with 18 Stops and Arlington Audio Tour
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