Private & Custom Guided City Tour of Washington DC
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Washington DC, USA
- 4 to 15 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Have only a short amount of time to explore the nation’s capital? This private tour lets you customize the itinerary to fit your schedule—and to cater to your interests. Pick between half- and full-day durations, enjoy hotel pickup, and travel in the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle. You can see sights like Arlington National Cemetery, the US Capitol, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and much more.
- See the best of Washington DC, all in a single private tour
- Pick between half- and full-day options to suit your sightseeing schedule
- Visit only the sights that interest you most with this private tour option
- Enjoy hotel pickup and travel in an air-conditioned vehicle for comfort
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Pick-Up and Drop Off at the guest's hotel or any destination of their choice.
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
Select your preferred tour option to see hours.
Itinerary
1
Arlington National Cemetery
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
U.S. Capitol
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
3
Washington National Cathedral
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
4
George Washington's Mount Vernon
3 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
5
National Mall (monuments) Washington, DC
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
6
Ford's Theatre
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
7
The National Archives Museum
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 128 reviews
Josh_W, Dec 2025
Alan is fantastic! He was incredibly kind, very generous with his time, and had all the logistics wired tight. Great communication and recommendations beforehand. And he knew all the great history at every stop we made and all the places in between too. I can’t recommend him highly enough!
Daniel_H, Oct 2025
Our experience began before we even arrived in the city. Alan contacted us right away after booking and went over all of the possibilities that our tour could offer so that we were sure to see everything we wanted. Alan was the best guide. He is kind, personable and funny. We would definitely book Alan for any future Washington DC tour or in any other city he offers tours!
Bethany_A, Aug 2025
Book this DC tour without hesitation! Alan gave our family an amazing and educational experience that we will treasure forever! From the moment we booked, Alan was planning and tailoring our tour based on our personal requests and needs. He called and even offered some input on our stay in colonial Williamsburg prior to the DC leg of our trip. He went above and beyond and his knowledge of the area and its history was impressive! We chose to spend the whole day with Alan and he guided us through the U.S. Capitol, Ford’s Theatre, and the National Archives Museum. The destinations were fantastic, but we got extra tidbits and insights that we would have never had without a knowledgeable guide. Our favorite part was when Alan asked his friend at Ford’s Theatre to open the door (which was closed to the public) to get an inside look at the box seats that Lincoln and his wife were sitting in when he was shot! Alan’s tour was memorable for our family of 6 and we were treated to cold water and a large air-conditioned van for our family of 6. We will definitely call him again for future trips to our nation’s capitol.
Bradly_L, Jul 2025
This was an awesome experience. We would highly recommend this tour. We can’t say enough good things about our tour guide Alan. He was so courteous, helpful, and knowledgeable. He had so many interesting bits of historical information. In addition to the tour, Alan even took us to see the grave of our relative who was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Don’t hesitate to book this tour. We had an amazing time. Thank you again.
Joanne_A, May 2025
I usually don’t write reviews, but my recent tour through Washington DC with Alan was wonderful and warrants recognition for a job well-done.
I booked our tour with Alan on Viator. This was a full day guided tour of Washington DC. for myself, my daughter and my two granddaughters (ages 14 and 15).
Shortly after booking, I received a confirmation phone call from Alan. After our brief conversation about what highlights we should see in our nation’s capital, I was more than thrilled that he had accepted our booking. The first time we spoke, I realized that we were going to have an incredible learning experience with a deeply knowledgeable guide. Alan made our day fun and exciting while learning something at every stop. There were so many stories and fun facts that it became easy for the girls to take part in the conversation.
Both girls are homeschooled had completed study projects leading up to this trip. So, they were knowledgeable of the sites they were going to see. However, Alan added so much depth to what they had already learned that I am sure the added knowledge from this tour will become imprinted on their young minds for years to come.
Now that they are back home, we find that the girls genuinely enjoyed learning added information and are actively sharing their new knowledge with others. It is noticeably clear that Alan has made an impressive impact on their education.
The rating system only allows me to award Alan with 5 stars; I would give 10 stars if I could.
Paula_C, May 2025
Alan is prompt, courteous & very knowledgeable. There's simply no way to see everything we did in a day on your own in DC. We also learned so much new information about the history of DC. A great experience that is worth the time and investment.
Thank you Alan! From the 87, to the big red one, to the meaning of money on headstones, we truly valued our time with you! God speed!
Nichol_C, May 2025
This was the absolute gem of our Washington DC trip. While I had been to DC a few times, my fiancé had not. We decided a private full day tour would be a great way to get the most out of the trip. We got way more than we could have imagined. Alan, our guide, was so engaging and did a great job working with us. From pre-visit communications and planning our guide he was top-notch! Even for someone who thinks she knows it all (that’s me!) I learned so much. We were reciting factoids all weekend. It was fun, entertaining, educational, enlightening, and our guide made us feel like friends quickly. Even if you have been to DC and think you’ve seen it all, you haven’t, and Alan will share things that only someone with as much enthusiasm and passion as he has could. We did this tour on our first day in town and spent the next two days looking at things around DC and saying, “I bet Alan knows why this is…”. If you are considering a tour I doubt you’d find a more enjoyable guide or memorable experience than this. In one day here are some of the highlights: We visited/toured The Capitol (if you have a chance to eat here, don’t miss the salad bar, dessert station, and burgers, we almost went back for lunch another day it was so good) walked the mall and visited the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial, Vietnam Memorial Wall, White House South Lawn Ellipse, and Arlington (we watched a wreath laying ceremony at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and changing of the guard, and visited the Kennedy graves). Alan provided us a list of dining recommendations for the remainder of the trip, and we were lucky enough to snag some reservations and he was spot on. Keep in mind, this experience was customized per our pre travel communication so you might have other interests that cater more towards your wishlist. We would 10/10 recommend and will do this again ourselves.
William_K, Apr 2025
Alan Feldman was an excellent guide. knowledgeable, friendly and funny. We covered a lot of ground during our tour. Lots of walking but still a great experience.
jason_h, Apr 2025
Great 2 day private tour of DC with Alan. Top notch in every way. Alan is great. He's very personable, entertaining, knowledgeable, full of fun facts. He was also able to keep the teenagers engaged, especially my 13 yo who's not very interested in history. Really fun and wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
Amanda_H, Mar 2025
Alan was amazing!! Would book this tour every time we visit! We loved that the tour can be customized to what we are wanting to see. Thank you so much for a great day Alan!!
Emily_S, Mar 2025
Alan was amazing! He custom planned our tour based on the activities and sights we wanted to see. We traveled with a group of 9, two young girls, three teenagers, three adults and one senior. He was patient with us and took his time when we needed more time. What we loved about traveling with Alan is all the information he provided, we wouldn't have known any of the information he shared if he wasn't with us. He also had lots of tips and tricks that other around weren't aware of that gave us the opportunity to check things out at a better vantage point!
JillMarshall, Mar 2025
Alan was very knowledgeable and friendly. We enjoyed our private tour with him. It was so nice not having to worry about travel and parking. We highly recommend Alan!!!
Kevin_H, Mar 2025
I honestly can’t say enough good things about Allen! We were unsure of what to think about spending the whole day with a stranger but he immediately put us at ease with easy conversation and so many fun facts about some of the things we were going to see that day. We went to Ford’s Theater, toured the Capital, Arlington National Cemetery, and did a nighttime monument tour all in one day with Allen. He knew so many interesting facts about every location and knew exactly where to take us for the best views and pictures. He was happy to take lots of group pictures that have become priceless memories of our amazing trip.
His expertise allowed us to just relax and enjoy the day. He knew workers at every location that at times allowed us to be moved through lines faster and get a sneak peek of parts of the capital not on tour. He also does all the driving and knew where to find parking in the very congested DC streets.
Allen is professional, fun, full of good information, and easy to spend the day with. I feel we met that morning as strangers and walked away friends. My 15 year old son stayed engaged the whole time and told Allen at the end it was the best tour we have ever been on. That’s high praise from a teenager! We will definitely use Allen again should we return to the DC area. Highly recommend!
Jennifer Hyslop and family 💗
Bruce_A, Mar 2025
Alan was a wonderful guide. He is extremely knowledgeable on the history of the area and made our trip fun and exciting. Out of all the tours this one was the best we’ve ever had.
Roxana_d, Mar 2025
Alan was amazing!!! We learned a lot yesterday!, and the best part is that he keeps the whole family engaged. My kids loved him! He will give you information you won't find in any of the guided tours at the Capitol, etc. Don't be hesitant to book your excursion, you won't regret it!
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Roxana - Your entire family are amazing. Lucas and Liam are going to be Superstars!!
Jeffrey_L, Mar 2025
My, wife, granddaughter and I came to DC for her 15th birthday and we wanted a fun, interactive private tour of DC.
We got all of that and more… we had comedy, we had trivia, an amazing history lesson, and overall one of the best tours we have ever been on in all our travels. Alan was amazing… or in my wife’s words, “phenomenal”. We loved the personal touch, all the “Easter eggs” and the depth of knowledge and passion he has for all the history and what makes this city so unique and special. From the time we were picked up, we had nonstop fun, learned so many things that you would never learn on other tours. Again, simply amazing!!! The monument walk was incredible, and Arlington was very breathtaking, humbling and patriotic - even got to witness a wreath ceremony after the changing of the guard!
At the end of the tour Alan recommended a restaurant (shameless plug for Flavio’s in Georgetown), and even called the restaurant to ask them to take good care of us - and they did, and the food was fantastic!!
For anyone reading this review, if you’re considering doing a tour, stop looking and book this one. If you’re not sure about a private tour because they are a little more expensive, I can assure you that it’s worth every penny (and more) of the additional touches, the personalization and the awesome tour guide. Highly recommend… I give Alan SIX stars (because he’s not allowed to outrank George Washington), and highly recommend him!!!
Kathryn_K, Feb 2025
Alan was awesome! Our group was age 5 to 71 and Alan kept us all engaged. Even the locals in the group learned a lot. Really can't say enough for the tour.
Jake_G, Jan 2025
We truly cannot recommend Alan enough if you are looking to explore Washington DC. My fiancé and I were going to DC for a few days and wanted to pack in as much as possible. Alan FaceTimed both of us prior to our tour to build the itinerary. He helped us decide what would be worth seeing with him. He even gave us recommendations of other things we could see during our stay outside of the tour. The tour itself was UNREAL… a day we will never forget. Alan is beyond sweet, accommodating, fun, and smart. We never met someone who knew more about history. His tour is great for any level of knowledge as he makes sure to meet you where you are at. For his knowledge of history, you would think he has taken this tour one million times. For his excitement and enthusiasm, you would think this is the first tour he has been on. Booking Alan was the best decision we made!!!
Tara_P, Dec 2024
Booking private tour with Alan was an exceptional experience. We learned so much more than we would have exploring on our own or in a group tour. Especially, the anecdotes that Alan was able to share with us. We will definitely book again, a private tour with Alan the next time we visit Washington DC!
Ricki_C, Dec 2024
We had a fabulous tour with Alan taking us to see the Capitol building, The Archives & Arlington Cemetary incl Changing of the Guard ceremony. He was so engaging, knowledgable, funny & kept us informed & entertained the whole time. He was great with our kids aged 12 & 15 and they loved the tour. I would highly recommend using Alan for a tour.
Shaun_M, Dec 2024
Alan was our personal historian nerd. It was like taking a tour guided by a close member of your own family. The care and attention to make the tour the best you will ever hope for.
You chose the itinerary with Alan in advance, and you dictate the pace; there is no feeling of rushing any time. Alan even helped us with dinner reservations at a great Italian. We will meet him again one day I am sure.
Laken_C, Nov 2024
Alan took the best care of us starting with his initial phone call weeks ahead to make sure he built the perfect itinerary for me, my husband, and two tween girls. We had the best time! Alan taught us so many fun things while telling delightful stories, showing us hidden Easter eggs, and making everything smooth, seamless, and easy as can be! And we laughed the whole time! Our tour is something we will happily reminisce about for years to come and was the best part of our trip.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Laken: Your family is amazing! Piper and Kate are Superstars!
Angela_M, Nov 2024
If you’re looking for a private tour in DC do yourself a favor and book with Alan! I took my parents to DC for a few days and knocked off a lot of the places we wanted to see with our private day tour. My parents loved all the history we got with our tour. This was one of the BEST private tours I have booked! Thank you Alan.
Holger_F, Oct 2024
We had an amazing experience with Alan as our guide on the Capitol Hill tour! He is extremely knowledgeable and shared fascinating stories and facts that you simply can’t find in any book. Alan’s friendly and engaging personality made the day even more enjoyable, and he knew all the perfect spots for photos. His insights enriched the official tour, and we were able to see everything we wanted within just one day. We highly recommend Alan for anyone looking to explore and learn more about the area!
Jennifer_S, Oct 2024
On Monday, October 14 at exactly 9 o’clock (right on time )…Alan showed up and introduced himself and our Most excellent tour began. From the very beginning, it was pretty clear that he was interested in having our day be the best it could be starting with his courteous and enthusiastic demeanor.
Also.. He connected with me , my wife and our children on a personal level and made us feel very comfortable.
His tour was very efficient, and he knew exactly where to go in a timely fashion, so us to not waste a lot of time on the road, Thereby; maximizing the time that we got to spend at the different attractions that we had pre selected.
Additionally, the amazing amount of factual information that he shared with us during our tour was mine blowing. We wondered how one person could remember such an amazing amount of history and in such great detail.
But it wasn’t just the amount of information. It was the manner which he would share it with us. His excellent storytelling made it very interesting and not boring as if we were sitting in a History class being lectured!
When our time was over, he recommended 2 very excellent restaurants…one of which we actually went to. There we received excellent service because of his relationship with a gentleman named Moose at Flavio‘s Italian restaurant.
And so we strongly recommendation that if you ever want to take a tour of Washington DC, we highly recommend that you hire Alan as your personal guide. You will not be sorry and you’ll see that it’s worth every cent and then some!
Heidi_T, Sep 2024
We had a great day with Alan! He called me before the tour and we discussed what we wanted to see. We really liked that it was customized to what we wanted to see. Alan is a walking history book. He is very knowledgeable and keeps the tour fun and engaging. Highly recommend this tour.
Gregory_S, Sep 2024
Very organized tour with lots of information and facts that gives a very clear perspective of the history of DC and Arlington National Cemetery. One of the best tours I have signed up with Viator.
Nicki_T, Aug 2024
Alan was the ultimate tour guide for our trip to DC! His extensive knowledge and attention to detail made the experience TOP TIER! He thought of everything to make our day exceptional in every way and customized our tour for our family. He kept us engaged and shared many interesting facts that were new to us and added to our understanding of the history of DC. He also considered our comfort during the tour, making sure we had water and an umbrella for shade during the outdoor part of the tour. During the tour of the Capitol he made sure we were able to use the elevators when he realized I suffer from vertigo. Alan made the whole trip to DC special for our family. He is engaging and well spoken with all ages and did a great job interacting with our 13 year old son. We were so blessed to have Alan bring DC to life for our family, and to remind us what we love about the USA.
Curt_W, Aug 2024
Alan is amazing at what he does. He took all the time needed to explain and make the tour a lot of fun. Our kids were engaged the entire time. Amazing tour
Joseph_T, Jul 2024
The best part of our first family trip to Washington DC was our full day, private tour with Alan. This is the guy you want for a spectacular time. He was so thorough, knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. I could not have asked for more. If you find a better guide meet me on J Street for us to have a debate about it (history joke). Alan tailored the tour around our family of three (husband / wife / 11 year old son). We chose what we wanted to see in our day. And every place we chose Alan provided interactive and fun history lessons and facts far beyond the average rhetoric of “here is a historical building and here is when it was built.” It was just a perfect atmosphere to learn for the adults and my pre teen son. The time in the vehicle felt like a mashup of Jeopardy and Cash Cab together. Our day long tour was the fastest 8 hours of our entire trip by far. He took wonderful pics of our family at every turn. He provided us with constant waters, electrolyte mixes, and umbrellas to combat the extreme heat. He even went and got the vehicle for a quick pick up to be in the A/C when my little guy got a bit over heated. Alan - I thank you so much for the great DC memory you gave my family. A heartfelt thank you just is not enough. You made our family’s tour of history something we will remember for a very long time. I truly hope to do another tour with you on our next trip.
From $550.00
per group (up to 4)-You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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