DC: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour with Cherry Blossoms
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, panoramic sunset 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
- 24/48/72hr Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour
- Open-top Double-decker buses with 18 convenient stops
- Exclusive audio guide tour of Arlington Cemetery, Tidal Basin and Georgetown
- Big Bus is the only official bus tour provider of the National Park Service
- Cherry Blossom Access - Big Bus is the only provider servicing the Jefferson Memorial entry point
- Digital commentary aboard hop-on hop-off bus
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
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, a panoramic sunset 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, a panoramic sunset tour, and other experiences you can opt into.
Red Loop
11 Stops
27 Points of Interest
Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes
Operating Schedule: Meeting Point - Stop #1 Washington Monument (1400 Jefferson Drive SW). Recommended alternative stop - Stop #3 National Japanese American Memorial (415 New Jersey Ave NW) As the official tour partner of the National Park Service, Big Bus is the only tour operator allowed to stop at the front of the Cherry Blossom Festival during peak bloom. Hours of Operation - First Bus 9:00AM, 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
700 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: Meeting Point - Stop #1 Washington Monument (1400 Jefferson Drive SW (on Jefferson Dr. SW & corner of 14th St. by Bike Racks) As the official tour partner of the National Park Service, Big Bus is the only tour operator allowed to stop at the front of the Cherry Blossom Festival during peak bloom. Hours of Operation - First Bus 930AM, 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
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
- Big Bus is only tour allowed to stop at the front of the Cherry Blossom Festival during peak bloom
- Complimentary shuttle services from city hotels to Stop #1 available at select times - please view ticket voucher for exact times.
- Free White House 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.
- Unlimited Biking Offer: Rent a bike for one hour and get an additional hour free. Rental includes bike, helmet, basket, lock, roadside assistance and an illustrated map featuring key routes and attractions.
- Choice of audio guide tours includes Arlington Cemetery, Tidal Basin, and Georgetown neighborhood. Guests 18 and older must provide valid photo ID to enter Arlington Cemetery.
- Cherry Blossom Access - as the only provider permitted to stop at the Jefferson Memorial during the Festival, Big Bus takes you closer than any other tour to the heart of the bloom—no detours, no hassle.
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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:A bus arrives approximately every hour on both the Red Loop (Official Tour of the National Mall) and the Blue Loop (American Heroes Shuttle.)
Mar 2021
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 3,870 reviews
JD_J, Mar 2026
Easy way to get around. It was great till the driver veered off of the prescribed route. It may have been because of construction but there were no stops which was a long walk back to where we wanted to go. Buses need a little bit of updating. Well worth the price for a 2 day travel around the city.
Deidre_G, Mar 2026
We enjoyed our tour and felt it was a very good use of our time. We particularly liked sitting on the top and not having to worry about driving through traffic.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Deidre_G. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the time spent with us in Washington DC, and we are delighted to learn that the upper top ewas a comfortable way to discover the city. We hope to have you back soon. Best, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.
Brad_B, Mar 2026
Overall experience on the busses was poor. Many of the audio devices were broken so it was hard to hear. Busses were too crowded so we could not sit together as a family. Attractions were so close we could have just walked to them, and we would have been better served just taking an Uber to the ones farther away
Cory_B, Mar 2026
Other than the near impossibility of finding where to hop-on at Union Station and the long wait for the bus to show up (several Trolley buses came and went as we were waiting -- waiting not good as the clock on 24 hours ticks down), the experience was good. Definitely get the earbuds for the audio commentary. Some of the commentary is a bit cheesy, but overall still worth it.
Gwen_G, Mar 2026
It is difficult due to DC normal traffic but lots of good information . The listening guide makes it easy to understand
Cindy_R, Mar 2026
It was terrible. We only made 3 stops because there were like only 3 buses running. We canceled our second day. We waited over an hour and then had to taxi to the next stop instead.
Viki_M, Feb 2026
I had family in town who wanted to tour Washington DC. We thought a bus tour would be a great way to cover a large area of the city and learn about the sights. From the start, we were disappointed. The first bus we got on by the White House did not have a functioning narration system. The bus driver told us that if we wanted to have that part of the tour, we would need to switch buses. When we did that after several stops, our "new" bus broke down in the middle of Constitution Avenue. We needed to wait for another bus in order to continue on, wasting our limited time to tour the city. Additionally, the narration, that were eventually able to hear, was outdated and had lots of cheesy jokes. Not the experience we were looking for. I would recommend trying another tour company.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hello Viki! We appreciate your feedback. We're sorry to learn that the bus had a breakdown and that the audio was outdated, which affected your experience. Please feel free to reach out to us through live chat or email, and our team will gladly assist you! Best, Ana from Big Bus Tours.
darren, Feb 2026
Great to get around Washington DC to the sites , staff very polite, friendly and helpful (especially for me due to my disability) well recommended
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi darren, thank you for the great review. We are so happy that you had such a good experience with our staff and that you enjoyed the tour during your recent visit. Thank you for recommendation and we look forward to have you on board again one day soon! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
Lorrilyn_R, Jan 2026
We had a great time. I grew up in D.C., but saw places I'd never seen before. It was a great way to see a lot of the sights in a relatively short period of time. The drivers were SO nice!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Lorrilyn_R, thank you for your feedback. We are happy that you had a great time with us and our drivers. We hope to have you on board again one day soon! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
Stephanie_F, Jan 2026
Do not book with this company. Everything was unclear, confusing and frustrating. From the pickup points (wrong addresses) to the hours (it’s not a 24 hour service). When I called the customer service line, it directed me to the website. We were left stranded at Arlington in the freezing cold, had to call an Uber.
Heather_B, Dec 2025
Drop off/pickup locations very difficult to find App works sporadically so you can’t tell when next bus is coming. Lots of waiting since you don’t know when to expect the bus. Staff is very nice. The experience would be so much better if you could see when the next bus is coming and the location nearest you. Also bus route only goes one direction. Arlington tour was really great!
Wade_C, Dec 2025
The buses ran on an inconsistent schedule. Sometimes we stayed at a stop for 20 minutes, sometimes 2. The on time map was incorrect. It showed a bus close to us but it didn’t show up for 20 minutes. The recording was not always in sync with where we were. We have taken the Big Bus in several different cities around the world. This was our least favorite
William_L, Dec 2025
This is the best way to get the layout of DC, and then stop where you want! The three day package allows you to prioritize your tour, and then come back for more!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi William! We appreciate your review. We are happy to hear that you find our bus tours the best way to get the layout of Washington DC. We hope to see you soon! Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Jeremy_F, Nov 2025
Plenty of stops at different sites. Bus was running every 30 min which was fine for us. Only in Washington for the day s9 very glad we did this
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Jeremy_F. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour, and found it a good option to explore Washington DC. We hope to have you back soon. Best, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.
TERRI_C, Nov 2025
We didn’t start @ 1st stop. Walked 15 minutes to a stop & we were across street coz we didn’t see the Big Bus sign & they didn’t even stop @ the stop. Walked 1/2 hour & got to another stop: bus came 15 minutes late; hopped on; driver didn’t tell us to pick up ear phones. Got off & jumped on another stop & was told to pick up ear phones & then experience went well. App wasn’t very user friendly but once we figured it out it worked out
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Terri! Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your honest feedback, and we're sorry that you have experienced issues while attempting to board the bus and acquire the earphones. We will make sure that such events do not happen again in the future. We hope that in spite of this, you will choose Big Bus Tours again in your future travels. Eugen, Big Bus Tours
Deborah_W, Nov 2025
It was horrible. The bus never showed and they refused to refund me $108. Due to DC being closed and the bus charging me after not showing up, it was the worse trip ever for my 7 year old granddaughter first trip to DC. We even had to cross the street due to the area becoming unsafe around 7pm. Who can afford to give away money and not getting anything in return. Per their policy you have a 24hr cancellation time, however I booked the trip approximately 4hrs before the scheduled appointed time to meet with the bus. Other buses came and was available for their clients. So unfair for a company to treat their customers in this manner.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Deborah! Thank you for your review. It's unfortunate that you weren't able to travel with us on your booked tour date and were unhappy with our refund policy as a result. We'd recommend taking advantage of our Fully Flexible ticketing, which gives you the freedom to change your experience to a better-suited date - simply hop on a live chat 24/7 with one of our team and they'll be happy to help. See you next time. Ana from Big Bus Tours.
Keeda_P, Nov 2025
The bus allowed us to see many sights in a short time frame. Staff was friendly and accommodating. Would ride again.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Keeda_P, thank you for the great review. We are happy you had the chance to see many sights and that our staff was friendly and helpful. We look forward to have you on board again! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
John_O, Nov 2025
Great service. The app was very good and we were able to decide on pickup and drop off points easily. Live updates very helpful aswell
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi John_O,
We really appreciate your feedback! We're happy to hear that our live tracking was helpful with planning your day! We can’t wait to welcome you back soon! Best regards, Cristian T, Big Bus Tours
Jane_I, Oct 2025
Great route. We saw everything on our list and always managed to sit upstairs for the best views! Friendly staff and lots of stops.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hello Jane, we are thrilled to learn that you had a great time on our Washington hop-on hop-off tour and that you were able to see all the attractions on our stop list. Your review means a lot to us, and we can't wait to welcome you back on board soon. Thank you, Alice w/Big Bus Tours
Brittany_D, Oct 2025
The hop on hop off was great in theory except for when the bus driver stopped at a stop spot and bitched and complained about stuff for 15 to 20 minutes while we were waiting to get to the next stop before it closed. Then the bus driver told us that we had to be back on the bus by 4:15 or we wouldn’t have a way back to our original Location and we saw buses picking up people at 6:00 so we had to pay $118 for the tour and then we had to pay an additional $40 for an Uber to get back when the bus could’ve taken us back but he said he wouldn’t. Very unprofessional, but it was nice to get to see everything in one bus.
Christy_L, Oct 2025
Here is the situation. The bus was (obviously) not running at the same frequency as during the height of tourist season. This was not explained on the viator site or on the site of the BigBus. I looked at it several times during the day because we only saw 1 bus in an 8 hour period and it completely bypassed the stop we were waiting at. I again went on the site to see if the stop we were at was not being used, but it stated that it was and that we should see a bus every 20 minutes. It did say that there were 2 stops that were not in operation.
Our plan was to walk to the mall and around the mall, then grab the bus and take it for the full run, then take it again around and jump off at arlington.
We ended up seeing the monuments on foot and waited for the bus for over an hour at a stop. About 30 minutes into our wait, we saw a bus, but it bypassed our stop (which again, the site said was in operation), so we assumed it was the one that wasn't hop on hop off. So we waited another 45 minutes. After not being able to contact anyone, we decided to walk to the next nearest stop (fairly close--a few blocks). At that stop we met another group who had been already waiting 30 minutes for the bus. They complained about having to sit (on the bus) at Union Station for 30 minutes earlier in the day, so decided to walk the mall and grab the bus for the end of their day to get "their money's worth". We waited with them about another 25 minutes and a bus did not come by. They left and then we decided to ditch out as well. Bottom line is we never actually got on a bus, and never made it to Arlington. I wrote a bunch of emails through Viator and received a response saying that it was likely uncontrollable traffic that extended the expected wait times.
It wasn't traffic. the place is empty and while the roads had been closed the previous weekend (for the visit by Zalinski) and a march, it was a work day and the roads were wide open.
This was a failure to admit and advise that they were working with a smaller crew and bus schedule. I'm very disappointed and I encourage anyone who is buying this to get answers in advance as to what your wait times will be and which stops will be in service.
Allison_P, Oct 2025
It was absolutely amazing. It made our trip to Washington DC memorable. There are many stops and all very important , the bus is very punctual and the audio tour is nice and complete.
Abhishek_J, Oct 2025
Ease access to the tickets and great way to get around a well renowned city in the world. Would definitely recommend this to the avid travelers.
Kat_B, Oct 2025
We weren’t able to do the last three stops because streets were blocked off. They should refund a portion of tour. Not their fault but not mine either. They should also have better schedule for stops. Other people were confused as well.
Henry_G, Oct 2025
Night tour was the exact same route and audio as the day tour, just charged extra for the same ride.
Gary_D, Oct 2025
Pre-recorded spiel so often what it mentions is either somewhere ahead of you or somewhere behind you. Worse, it does not tell you what you got aboard to hear. Three times it played music and described what a great musical history the city has, while a dozen other sites slide past with no other info given. Constant background music is annoying.
David_C, Oct 2025
The Hop On Hop Off bus is always a great way to get acquainted with a destination. We enjoyed getting an overview of DC and made plans as to what we wanted to see.
We also booked the Arlington National Cemetary tour and had a wonderful experience. Our guide, Josh, was friendly and so knowledgeable about the cemetary and its history. He welcomed our questions and provided opportunities to see specific graves. He placed our group in a prime spot to observe the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Josh made our visit an exceptional one!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi David_C,
Thank you for your feedback! We are pleased to know that you had such a great time on the Arlington Cemetery tour! We provide ongoing training for our team to ensure that you consistently receive a 5-star service. We can’t wait to welcome you back soon! Best regards, Cristian T, Big Bus Tours
Kevin_S, Oct 2025
Unfortunately, i did not get to go to DC, but was still able to get a full refund even requesting late.
Myelani_M, Oct 2025
Great experience! Saw more in the one day here than previous visits as a result. Weather was not kind but still worth the price and experience. App allowed us to plan ahead and track the busses so we wouldn't waste unnecessary time waiting for too long at each stop.
Kerry_C, Oct 2025
Overall a great way to get around the city. Plan on doing a good bit of walking once you get to a stop. No reason to huurry because there is always another bus coming. Due to a road race, buses didn't get started until noon which really shortened up the day and especially our time at Arlington.
From $44.10
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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DC: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour with Cherry Blossoms
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