Big Bus DC: Monuments & Memorials Night Tour with Live Guide
Badge of Excellence
Washington DC, USA
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover a new perspective on Washington DC's best-known sights—and enjoy a comfortable way to travel, without the hassle—on this nighttime, open-top bus tour. See many of the city's key monuments and memorials lit up after dark, from the White House to the Lincoln Memorial. As you go, the on-board narration illuminates the city's rich history. To enhance your visit, upgrade to include 24- or 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus passes.
- This tour offers a great introduction for first-time Washington DCvisitors
- Experience unobstructed views from your open-top double-decker bus
- See a new perspective on the city when you explore after dark
- Create a cost-saving bundle: Upgrade to add hop-on hop-off bus passes
What's Included
- 2.5-Hour Panoramic Night Tour of DC
- Live guide (available March & April 2026) - digital commentary available post-April
- Open-air, double decker bus
- 15-minute photo stop at The Lincoln Memorial
- Big Bus is the only official bus tour partner of the National Parks Service
- 24/48hr Hop-on Hop-off Tour with 18 stops (if selected)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 700 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024, USA
Redeem your voucher with Big Bus staff at L’Enfant Plaza (Stop #6).
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Exchange your voucher, head to the departure point at Union Station, and board your open-top, double-decker bus. Seats are first come, first served.
As you take off through Washington DC, lit up after dark, listen to recorded audio commentary that illuminates the stories behind the sights.
Pass landmarks and highlights such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Memorial, the White House, and many more. Admire the sights and capture nighttime photos, all while enjoying the comparative lack of crowds and traffic.
Finally, after spending several hours seeing the sights, return to your original departure point. You can also opt to extend your Washington DC sightseeing by upgrading to include 24- or 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus passes.
As you take off through Washington DC, lit up after dark, listen to recorded audio commentary that illuminates the stories behind the sights.
Pass landmarks and highlights such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Memorial, the White House, and many more. Admire the sights and capture nighttime photos, all while enjoying the comparative lack of crowds and traffic.
Finally, after spending several hours seeing the sights, return to your original departure point. You can also opt to extend your Washington DC sightseeing by upgrading to include 24- or 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus passes.
Union Station (Pass By)
1
Lincoln Memorial
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
U.S. Capitol (Pass By)
U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Pass By)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (Pass By)
Black Lives Matter Plaza (Pass By)
Jefferson Memorial (Pass By)
The White House (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Infants must sit on laps
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early to secure your seat
- Night Tour is not a hop-on hop-off tour
- Please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required
- Guests may activate ticket via Big Bus app or in person with Big Bus staff
- Big Bus is the only tour operator servicing the Jefferson Memorial during the Cherry Blossom Festival. Complimentary shuttle services from city hotels to Stop #1 available at select times (Hop-on Hop-off combo only)
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
Supplied by
Frequently Asked Questions (7)
Q:Can I hop on and off during the Big Bus Washington DC Night Tour?
A:The night tour is one continuous tour to view the lights of Washington DC after dark. There are no stops during the night tour.
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
4.3
based on 1,185 reviews
Leah_H, Mar 2026
Bus heaters were broken. A second bus was called but did not accommodate all passengers. Our tour was cut short due to being too cold without working heat. Live guide was knowledgeable and entertaining but buses with non working heat or a/c should not be used for tours such as as these.
Kevin_O, Mar 2026
Make sure the head phones jack functions... could not hear the talk about the city. Enjoyed the bus ride.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Kevin_O. We wish to thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the audio experience did not work properly. We are actively working on enhancing our systems to ensure all guests can discover the city. We hope to have you back soon. Best, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.
Shawn_R, Mar 2026
Very informative information shared with passengers. Guide very knowledgeable about the area.Would definitely do this again with family and friends.
Reuben_M, Mar 2026
I learned a lot while on the tour. Our driver Grace was smooth as silk! Mr. Gray was a wealth of knowledge!
Jennifer_F, Nov 2025
Monument by night tour description states it is approximately 2 hrs 15 min. We were back at Union Station in 1 hr and 45 min.
Totally not worth it.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Jennifer_F,
Thank you for your feedback! We are very sorry that the tour duration did not match the estimated time. In such cases, please do not hesitate to contact us via our webform on the website or live chat, so we can offer you a solution. Our dedicated team is available 24/7 for you! We really hope that you will consider giving us another try in the future! Best wishes. Cristian T, Big Bus Tours
Leslie_B, Oct 2025
Magical evening. Seeing monuments at night and riding on top of bus easy and comfortable. Miss Gale exceptional and fu
Barbara_A, Oct 2025
It was well done. We saw everything on the itinerary and this tour included the DC monuments but also a tour through Georgetown, old town Alexandra and parts of Arlington. A very inclusive tour.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hello Barbara_A, we truly appreciate your candid feedback! It brings us joy to know that you enjoyed the tour and were able to see everything you wanted. We're glad you liked the tour's offerings. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future!- Best wishes, Mara from Big Bus
Rhetta_R, Sep 2025
The tour was beautiful! The driver and other employees were so kind and welcoming. Fabulous experience on our first night in DC!!!!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Rhetta_R! We want to express our gratitude for your feedback. It's wonderful to know that you had a great time on the tour, and that our team contributed positively to your experience with their helpful energy. We look forward to welcoming you back soon. Best wishes, Vlad from Big Bus Tours
darlene_e, Sep 2025
Our evening monument trip only allowed you to exit at the Lincoln Memorial for 20 minutes or so. The commentary was a TERRIBLE recording with very little historical info, an outdated music track & lousy jokes. Did get several good pics of some of the monuments, but most were far away.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hello darlene! Thank you for your honest feedback, we're terribly sorry to hear that you did not enjoy the commentary, we will make sure to improve upon this aspect in the future. We hope that in spite of this, you will choose Big Bus Tours again, perhaps in a different city. Eugen, Big Bus Tours
Vicky_V, Aug 2025
The bus tour was great. We did the 7 pm tour, but it become chilly once the sun went down as we sat on the top decker of the bus. It was educational and fun.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Hi Vicky_V. Thank you very much for dedicating your time to share your thoughts with us. We are delighted to hear that you had a wonderful experience on the bus tour! Your positive comments are greatly valued, and we thank you for your insights. We eagerly anticipate your next visit. Razvan @ Big Bus Tours.
James_H, Aug 2025
The trip was very nice. The people we encountered were very professional and polite. Especially the driver. Washington is beautiful at night.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
HI James_H. We are truly grateful for your time in sharing your feedback with us. It is wonderful to know that you enjoyed the bus tour! Your kind words mean a great deal to us, and we appreciate your valuable insights. We cannot wait to welcome you back soon. Razvan @ Big Bus Tours.
Michelle_V, Aug 2025
Great nighttime view of the whole city! We got gorgeous pics of all the monuments and we stopped to see Lincoln memorial at night for 15 minutes and bathroom break. It was perfect!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Hi Michelle_V. Thank you very much for dedicating your time to share your thoughts with us. We are delighted to hear that you had a wonderful experience on the bus tour! Your positive comments are greatly valued, and we thank you for your insights. We eagerly anticipate your next visit. Razvan @ Big Bus Tours.
marsha_k, Aug 2025
The people that work here are absolutely the most caring, considerate, and fun workers that we have ever had in Washington… They are fabulous
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Hello marsha_k! Thank you so much for your feedback. We're thrilled to know that you had an amazing tour and that our team contributed to your experience with their caring, thoughtful, and fun energy. We look forward to welcoming you back soon. Best wishes, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.
Cindy_H, Jul 2025
It is only dark for the ride about 30 min at the end. Communication was not good. At only stop, driver said “be back in 15 min. Go take pictures.” When I I asked where are we, he pointed at Lincoln sign & that is all I got. The ONLY reason we booked was to see the Korean War & Vietnam memorials. When back on bus, I asked him where the Korean War memorial was, he pointed toward it & said - here. I wouldn’t have missed it if he communicated better when we got off.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hi Cindy_H. Thank you so much for your feedback. We're sorry to learn that the tour didn't meet your expectations. Please rest assured that we are diligently working on improving our staff training to provide our guests with the excellent service they deserve. We look forward to welcoming you back soon. Best, Vlad from Big Bus Tours.
Danielle_T, Jul 2025
The initial bus we got on was broken, therefore we switched buses. Instead of driving saying please choose the same seats it became a mad dash to the next bus for seats. We arrived an hour early to ensure good seats which were then taken. In addition the new bus was filthy. We spent the trip grabbing trash off of ourselves and from flying onto streets. The driver ran three red lights and stopped at two green lights. She was clearly flustered. Our stop at Lincoln moment was only 10 minutes instead of adverse 15 which caused us to run onto the bus. The trip was also at least 20 minutes less than 2 hours. We started about 30 minutes late and returned about 10 minutes early. Overall I am not recommending this company to friends.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hi Danielle!
We are truly sorry to hear that your experience in DC was impacted by the cleanliness of the bus, driver safety, and the route being shorter than what was advertised. Thank you for sharing your honest feedback with us! We are committed to keeping our buses clean and will be installing additional trash bins in the future. Moreover, our drivers undergo regular training to guarantee a smooth and safe journey, as the safety of our guests is our highest priority. Lastly, please note that the duration of the Night Tour can be influenced by current traffic conditions. We look forward to welcoming you back soon with this information in mind!
Alexandra I. @ Big Bus Tours
Regina_L, Jul 2025
The tour hit all the major sites in Washington DC the staff were pleasant and allowed us to get off the bus for a few minutes at some sites to take a closer look and take pictures
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hi Regina, we appreciate your time to share this experience with us! we're happy you found our staff to be so supportive and understanding during your experience. Have a lovely day, Anca from Big Bus
Charles_T, Jul 2025
do not take when days are long, i.e. in June, July the daylight makes it so no monuments are seen lite up
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hello Charles! We appreciate your feedback. We're sorry to learn that the daylight caused the monuments to appear too bright. We look forward to seeing you again soon! Best, Ana from Big Bus.
MaryAnne_T, Jun 2025
Don’t do it. There were streets blocked off and we didn’t see all of the monuments as promised in the advertisement. When I reached out to the company about a potential refund, I was told that there was nothing wrong with the tour. People were getting off the bus early because they couldn’t see the monuments. Even the bus driver was apologetic and told me to reach out to the company. Never again.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Hi MaryAnne!
We sincerely apologize for hearing that your DC Night Tour did not meet your expectations because some streets were closed, preventing you from seeing all the advertised monuments. Your honest feedback is greatly appreciated! We are continuously updating our website regarding closures and diversions that might impact our regular tours. We look forward to welcoming you back soon, keeping this information in mind!
Alexandra I. @ Big Bus Tours
Ilene_A, May 2025
Fun and informative. Unfortunately cold and rainy. Stops made for Starbucks and restrooms. Very enjoyable!
Response from Host, May 2025
Hello Ilene_A, We sincerely thank you for your amazing 5-star review! It truly means so much to us! We're excited that you selected us to accompany you on your journey, and we eagerly look forward to having you back with us next time! Best wishes, Mihaela @Big Bus Tours
Ronald_L, May 2025
Very nice tour. I would recommend it to anyone. Let's you figure out what you want to see the next day.
Response from Host, May 2025
Hi Ronald_L, thank you for your great review. We are happy to hear you had a positive experience during your recent visit with us. We really appreciate your recommendation. We hope to see you on a Big Bus Tour again soon! All the best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
Tammy_L, Apr 2025
The bus driver was 15 minutes late, 1/4 through the tour the sound stopped working so no description of where we were or what we were seeing and the driver skipped our ONLY stop at the Lincoln Memorial. I need a refund!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Hi Tammy_L,
Thank you for sharing your feedback! We sincerely apologize for the wait and the issues with the sound system. We're also very sorry that your stop was missed. Please note that our bus frequency can be impacted by traffic, which may cause delays. Occasionally, we might need to adjust our stops due to city events or unexpected situations. In those cases, we recommend visiting our website for the latest stop information. If you need assistance, feel free to reach out to us via live chat; we're available 24/7 to help! Best regards, Cristian T, Big Bus Tours
Pam_S, Mar 2025
It was good. It would be nice if staff could encourage singles to double up in seats so others could have opp to sit with their party outside. We ended up inside due to singles ‘hogging’ two seats. Overall good but you can’t see everything from inside 😖
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Hi Pam_S, thank you for your honest feedback. We aim to provide the best experience to our customers and it's unfortunate to hear this was not the case. Thank you for your recommendation We are sorry you could not enjoy the full Big Bus experience and we hope to have the chance to turn this around on a future tour! See you next time! Best, Denisa from Big Bus Tours
Bryan_B, Dec 2024
Would recommend to anyone, but,
It’s Cold.
And I Would appreciate the bus stopping to give time to snap a photo in front of landmarks
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hello Bryan_B, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Your feedback is invaluable as we continuously work to improve. We hope you enjoyed your experience and can't wait to have you back with us soon!
Hitha_R, Nov 2024
It was terrible bus drive. First they made us sit on a bus. Then asked to change the bus. The seat we got was the worst. Didn’t get to see anything properly. Would never recommend this to anyone.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Dear Hitha_R, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional service, so we are disappointed to hear that your visit with us was anything less than satisfactory. The Sunset Tour takes place on a open-top bus and our customers are welcome to seat on the avaiable spots as they arrive. Our approach is first come, first seated. We would like the opportunity to address your concerns. Please reach out to us via the live chat feature in the app or by visiting our official website's contact page when you have a chance. Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Steven_H, Oct 2024
Really enjoyed seeing DC and the monuments lit up at night. Gave a different view of things for sure. Guide was knowledgeable and informative. I’d recommend this tour and would do it again.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you for your kind words, we're glad to hear that you have enjoyed both the Night Tour and the commentary, and we're looking forward to your next isit!
Jackie_L, Sep 2024
The tour is good. We enjoyed seeing various monuments at night time. The driver slows down in sync with the audio.
The management for this tour is awful. Time was changed multiple times. We did get email of the change but the message was bad. It stated the new time for a date range but it is NOT our date! When inquiring, no reply. The ticket we get a week before tour has all wrong information and they didn't bother to update. More importantly, the meeting place is not what it says on the ticket. It's also confusing where to board or whether you are required to go to redemption point. We actually had to get a Uber to a second location printed on the ticket after noticing the first location didn't feel right. We were seconds to miss the bus. Never had a Viator tour like this before!
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Hi Jackie,
We pride ourselves on providing exceptional service, so we are disappointed to hear that your visit with us was anything less than satisfactory. We would like the opportunity to address your concerns. Please reach out to us directly at infodc@bigsbutours.com when you have a chance. Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Gavin_Y, Aug 2024
This unfortunately turned into a long bus ride instead of a tour. We did not have a guide. The audio tour guide system was not working. We switched seats several times and every single system in each seat was down. Bus driver made fast stops and drove quickly. Tour was advertised for two hours when in reality tour was about an hour and half. Not worth the money!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
We appreciate your honest review. We set a high standard for ourselves, so we are disappointed to hear that your experience with us was not a positive one. We appreciate you bringing this experience to our attention. If you are willing, please contact us at infodc@bigbustours.com so we can work towards a resolution. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sona_D, Aug 2024
Big disappointment was your trip description says white house but we never got to see that properly!
Instead of 20 mins stop at Lincoln memorial you could have arranged for a better break at white house for pics.
Nick the tour guide was good but he can improve with more of real fun facts instead of silly unrelated unfunny talk.
Overall Driver and nick were good and trip was on time and fun.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you for leaving us feedback. We are disappointed to hear that your experience was not a positive one. Please reach out to us so we can work towards a resolution. Thanks again for bringing this to our attention. We hope to hear from you soon.
All the best,
Big Bus Tours Washington D.C.
infodc@bigbustours.com
Sara_P, Aug 2024
It was rainy, but still amazing! My aunt and I met a new friend on the tour, too! Our phones were both dying and she agreed to share photos! We spent the rest of the tour getting to know her while enjoying seeing the sights!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
We strive for 100% satisfaction, and it is great to see you had such a positive experience at Big Bus Tours Washington D.C.. Please don't hesitate to reach out if there's anything additional we can do for you.
Pedro_V, Jul 2024
The Lincoln Memorial one of my favorites along with Arlington Cemetery and the Marine s raising the flag.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Good afternoon, we appreciate you taking the time to leave us this feedback. We hope to be of service to you again in the future.
Best wishes,
Big Bus Tours Washington D.C.
From $49.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Big Bus DC: Monuments & Memorials Night Tour with Live Guide
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