The Original Capitol Hill Small Group Walking Tour - Max 15 ppl
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Washington DC, USA
- 2 to 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Go to the heart of the United States government on a small-group tour of Capitol Hill that explores the US Capitol and either the Library of Congress or the Supreme Court. 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.
- See where American laws are debated and made
- Choose to visit the Library of Congress or the Supreme Court
- Upgrade to explore everything mentioned plus Folger Shakespeare Library
- A small-group tour ensures personalized service
What's Included
- Guided Walking Tour of Capitol Hill in Washington DC
- Small-Group (15 guests or less) for a more personalized experience
- Admission inside the U.S. Capitol Building
- Admission to the Library of Congress (with Library Option)
- Reserved access to a Capitol guide led tour of historic areas of the Capitol
- View part of Thomas Jefferson’s original collection of over 6,000 books (with Library Option)
- Learn the history of the Supreme Court (interior with Supreme Court Option)
- Professional Guide
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 10 1st St SE, Washington, DC 20003, USA
Meet your guide at the fountain of Neptune's Court on the street level, outside the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building. Guides will arrive 20-30 minutes prior to tour start time to check guests in. Guides will be wearing a blue name badge.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Capitol Hill
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Supreme Court
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Library of Congress
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
4
U.S. Capitol
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Please review voucher information after booking as it provides a detailed list of items banned from the Capitol and many other federal buildings. Possession of these items will result in non-admission to the building.
- Please plan to arrive 15-20 minutes before tour start time. Tour begins exactly at stated time, entry to buildings are on timed reservations, and group must enter security together, therefore we are unable to accommodate for late arrivals.
- Closest Metro stop: Capitol South (Orange/Blue/Silver Lines) - Exit station using main exit, walk approximately two blocks north on First Street SE.
- The US Capitol and its surrounding complex are in a secure federal operation area and nearby parking is highly restricted. The nearest public parking is located at Union Station approximately .5 mile from meeting location. Alternative modes of transportation are highly encouraged.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Frequently Asked Questions (7)
Q:Where does this tour meet?
A:Meet your guide at the fountain of Neptune's Court on the street level, outside the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building.
Address for directions:
Thomas Jefferson Building
10 First Street SE
Washington, DC 20540
Jun 2025
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
4.8
based on 2,015 reviews
Marat_F, May 2026
The tour was primarily two institutions, the Supreme Court and the Capitol Building. Meg was great and knowledgeable but expected a longer tour. The three hours Felt rushed!
Adam_S, May 2026
Really insightful, entertaining and interesting tour by Evelyn which I would highly recommend to everyone. Evelyn was very engaging, witty and entertaining which was exactly what we wanted
Rodney_H, May 2026
Very long but very insightful tour our guide was great and helpful. It is probably not designed for small children due to amount of walking and subject (history & government).
Dana_P, May 2026
Dash was an excellent tour guide! Wonderful personality and high energy also very knowledgeable about the subject matter! His enthusiasm made our experience exceptional... enjoyable and informative !!
Lucie_B, May 2026
James is very knowledgeable. The staff in the Capitol building and Library of Congress reminded our group how amazing he is.
Emily_N, May 2026
Very informative tour! The guide was knowledgeable and engaging with all in the group. Nice walking tour, a quick walk through of spaces so that you have a little more understanding if you would want to come back on your own to spend more time on little details!
Susan_P, May 2026
This is a walking tour that takes you inside the Capitol and Library of Congress. Our tour guide, James, was full of knowledge and he took care of us throughout the tour. I thought the tour was a great pace
Response from Host, May 2026
James is an amazing well of information! His approach to the capitol is the best in the DC area. We hope to see you again soon!
Lori_M, May 2026
This tour was amazing!! Our guide James was a delight. Book this tour immediately! James was full of information and I learned some things i didn't know. We'll organized and would definitely book this tour again.
Response from Host, May 2026
We're so pleased you had such an exceptional time! James is one of the best!
Glenn_T, May 2026
Evelyn was outstanding! First, she was very well informed, which is critical! Next, she was efficient and timely in her communication and answered all questions. In short, she has the perfect set of skills needed to successfully manage a group of 15.
Response from Host, May 2026
We are so lucky to have Evelyn on our team! We're so glad she made your experience so unforgettable!
AnnD_J, May 2026
Terrific guide and we saw and learned more than we expected. Great tour. There were unexpected tips which were great.
Response from Host, May 2026
I'm so glad you enjoyed your time with us! We love to share our wisdom with our guests, we hope they were impactful!
Russell_W, May 2026
Evelyn was very knowledgeable. We learned so much about our government. We now have library cards from the library of Congress. We had a great time.
Response from Host, May 2026
Library of Congress cards are awesome to have! We're so glad Evelyn could make your experience so great
Lorraine_P, May 2026
This was a great experience. It was very informative. Our guide kept us engaged in the tour. She was very helpful. It rained and she have an extra umbrella and rain poco. Very prepared. I liked that. Great job!
Response from Host, May 2026
We aim to prepare for most every eventuality! While we're not omniscient, we're glad we could accommodate the change in weather. Come see us again soon!
Kellie_E, May 2026
This was a great tour. James, our tour guide, was a wealth of knowledge about the Library of Congress and Capital building. He was funny and spent a good amount of time answering our question. Even when we were late because we got mixed in another tour, James found us and made sure we didn't miss a thing. Thanks a bunch James. He is the guide to request.
Mark_H, May 2026
Architecture in both buildings is incredible! Book on weekday in order to have a chance to see Senate or House in action. They don’t work weekends.
Peter_G, May 2026
Enthusiastic and wonderful guide Evelyn.
Well worth the money. I’m using the same company for our Smithsonian tour
Anaika_F, May 2026
James was very knowledgeable and provided a great deal of insight into the Capitol and the Library of Congress. His expertise and familiarity with the history of these sites made the tour informative and engaging.
That said, his use of sarcasm could be toned down. While some of his jokes were funny, others did not land as well. At one point, when a question was asked, his sarcastic response came across as dismissive and made us feel a bit uncomfortable. As visitors, we take these tours to learn, and it’s important that questions are met with encouragement and clarity.
Overall, the tour was informative, but a more approachable and respectful tone would make the experience even better.
Shawn_T, May 2026
Evelyn was very knowledge about the history of the capital, supreme court, and library of Congress. She helped us navigate the long lines which saved time. It was busy with all the 8th grade field trips and she kept us together and on track. I would definitely recommend the tour.
Fallon_T, May 2026
The entire experience from reservations to tour meeting spot were easy. The day of the tour was beautiful. Having a guide to explain what we see as we walk through makes the visit more interesting and meaningful. We had a great experience.
Ellie_L, Apr 2026
Guide James was great— unfortunately the part of the tour inside the Capital has to be with an official Capital guide— it’s crowded, noisy with a dozen tours going on at the same time so less than ideal. But, the Library of Congress is spectacular and James did a terrific job guiding our small group around.
Valerie_V, Apr 2026
Excellent tour. Very informative never real realize that these buildings looked the way they did totally blown away. Thought I was in Europe.
Laslo_O, Apr 2026
Great guide, very interesting and informative tour. He was very knowledgeable, personable, attentive. Enjoyed the tour!
Karen_K, Apr 2026
Our tour guide was a plethora of information. He was very personable and a delight to be around. He made learning history fun and entertaining. James did a great job.
Sheilal_C, Apr 2026
Very very good tour . James was kind courteous and thoughtful. He was mindful of what was inportant to us And extremely knowledgeable about the sites we visited. I’d would definitely recommend him !!! Thank you James
Tawnya_B, Apr 2026
Excellent tour! So many details and knowledge. This is my second time doing this tour it was so much fun the first time
Paul_B, Apr 2026
James is great! Too much to see in 3 hours. We suggest taking private tours so you can go at your personal pace.
Shannel_R, Apr 2026
James is a wonderful tour guide. He is very knowledgeable and funny. He remembered everyone’s names and where they were from in our group and pointed out things specific to each of us. I was very impressed.
Lisa_S, Apr 2026
We were disappointed in this tour. It was a waste of over 40 minutes until our appointed time in the Capitol. The tour guide did not speak loud enough for more than 2 people to hear her, even with only a group of 15. It was a ton of waiting around. Once in the Capitol, all we looked at were statues. Couldn't even see the Senate floor. And, our tour guide had us checked in and were required to be with an official Capitol tour guide. It was so silly to have hired our tour guide. The only benefit is skipping the line. The Library of Congress is beautiful inside, but again, we could've done it ourselves because our tour guide barely told us anything. And, you can't hardly see any books in the Library!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thanks for you feedback. Sorry you were disappointed in your tour.
The Senate floor is a working chamber of congress and is therefore not on any tour. All visitors to the historic areas of the US Capitol are required to be escorted by an official capitol guide or staff member. The Library of Congress is not your standard library, with over 25 million books, most of which are stored off site. We do tour the great hall, see the main reading room, and show our guests the Gutenberg Bible and Thomas Jefferson's original books on our tour.
The fact you were unaware of these and other details illustrates the benefit of a guide vs doing it yourselves.
Susan_S, Apr 2026
Our tour guide, James, was very fun and educational. We had a lot of fun on this tour. I highly recommend!
Sarah_A, Apr 2026
James was an amazing guide! My daughter is on the spectrum and was so excited to see the Capital and specifically the rotunda. He made it a point to make sure she was engaged and felt included.
Also, he knows more facts and details about this area and the Capital than I will ever even read!
Sara_G, Apr 2026
Shane was an excellent tour guide. We especially enjoyed the Library of Congress, a must see! We learned a lot.
From $79.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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