Category DC City & Sightseeing Tours

Washington DC · DC CITY & SIGHTSEEING TOURS

The 15 Best Washington DC Sightseeing Tours

104 tours compared

With only a day to spare, a good sightseeing tour hits the monuments, the museums and Capitol Hill in the right order and skips the doubling back. Hop-on-hop-off buses, guided full-day tours and small-group options are all here, with prices, running times and which one suits a first visit.

Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus with 18 Stops

Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus with 18 Stops - Audio narration: use it as a guide, not GPS

Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour

Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour - The Capitol and White House: Exterior Views Done Efficiently

VIP Best of DC with US Capitol + National Archives Reserved Entry

VIP Best of DC with US Capitol + National Archives Reserved Entry - Coach Time Between Stops: How the Ride Changes in Every Season

3.VIP Best of DC with US Capitol + National Archives Reserved Entry

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,491 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $129

A VIP DC day with reserved U.S. Capitol entry, coach-led monument stops, and National Archives Public Vaults, plus a seasonal Potomac cruise.

“It was a great day. We saw quite a few monuments & took in a lot of history. There was quite a bit of walking & stairs to most of the monuments, but we were not rushed going through it. Brittany & our driver (sorry I forgot his name) did a great job today! Thank you!”

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Washington DC “See the City” Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour

Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour - Price, Time, and What You Really Get for $70

4.Washington DC “See the City” Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,924 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $70Top rated

Glide through Washington DC on a guided Segway tour with headset narration, training, and fast stops at top monuments from the White House to the Capitol area.

“The event was well organised and very helpful in understanding whats going on in central Washington. Our two guides who accompanied the group of around 15 were wonderful, very helpful and knowledgable. They explain many details to us and their approach was very friendly. Unfortunately I had a couple of mishaps with the handling of the Segway since I am an owner of a motorcycle and its management is quite different, especially turning which unlike a motorcycle the Segway turning needs some time to get used to it. Perhaps my age (60) did not help much. Anyway the event was wonderful and our two guides exceptional. Many thanks.”

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Private Washington DC City Tour

Private Washington DC City Tour - Pennsylvania Avenue drive-by stops: the landmarks you’ll recognize fast

5.Private Washington DC City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,508 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $436

4-hour private DC highlights with hotel pickup in a luxury SUV. Skip crowds: White House, Capitol, memorials, Arlington. Customize as you go.

“Oh my goodness, if you go to DC do this tour! We saw so much in four hours! Jeik was incredible and very accommodating. We got to spend extra time at the memorials we wanted to see (Jefferson, WW2, Arlington), less at the ones that were not as much of a priority for our family. We had already done a Capitol tour the day before and had a White House tour scheduled for the next day, so less time at those. Jeik even dropped us at the Natural History museum after so we wouldn't have to walk from our hotel. We saw so much in 4 hours and would definitely…”

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See DC In A Day: Guided Small Group Ultimate Day Tour

See DC In A Day: Guided Small Group Ultimate Day Tour - How the tour works: Grand Hyatt start, small group pace, real-time routing

6.See DC In A Day: Guided Small Group Ultimate Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,257 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $99

Small-group 4-hour DC loop with a friendly guide and a 12-passenger van. See Capitol, MLK, Lincoln, Vietnam memorials, White House exterior.

“The best introduction to Washington DC you could possibly have! A small group, personalised service from a wonderful local guide and driver with a deep knowledge of the city’s history which he shares with you over the 4 hour tour. If you only do one DC tour - do this one - like us, you’ll be so glad you did! 11/10.”

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DC: City Cruises Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise

DC: City Cruises Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise - The vibe onboard: greeting, your photo, then eat

Grand Tour of DC with Option to Add Explore Egypt in DC

Grand Tour of DC with Option to Add Explore Egypt in DC - White House Photo Stop: Fast, Famous, and (Mostly) Free of Ticket Headaches

Washington, DC: Hop-On Hop-Off Old Town Trolley City Tour

Washington, DC: Hop-On Hop-Off Old Town Trolley City Tour - From Ford’s Theatre area to the White House: the opening stretch

DC: City Cruises Gourmet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise

DC: City Cruises Gourmet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise - The 2–3 hour rhythm: how your time is likely to play out

Washington, DC: Full-Day Tour with a Scenic River Cruise

Washington, DC: Full-Day Tour with a Scenic River Cruise - Convertible Bus Views: Best Seats for the White House and Capitol Photos

11.Full-Day Tour with a Scenic River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 571 reviews · 6 hours · from $71

A 6-hour Washington DC tour with guided monument walks, a Tidal Basin look, and a seasonal Potomac River cruise plus lunch options.

“Absolutely amazing! We only had one full day in DC with our teenage daughters and wanted to show them as much of DC as possible and this was absolutely perfect! Would recommend to anyone going into DC. Our guide was fantastic also. So much knowledge with humor made for a very enjoyable six hours together.”

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Delicious Donuts of Downtown DC: A Sweet City Experience

Delicious Donuts of Downtown DC: A Sweet City Experience - Western Market to the White House: The Opening That Gets You Oriented

12.Delicious Donuts of Downtown DC: A Sweet City Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 512 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $70

Taste DC on a 2-hour donut walking tour from Western Market to CityCenterDC, sampling fresh treats and hearing White House history.

“Tour guide was very knowledgeable and kind, provided a great experience for the walking tour. Donuts were mediocre. First batch were cold so tasted like oil, second stop two donuts were fine but nothing legendary, third stop had the best donut, forth stop wasn’t a donut. Value of the cost for myself and my niece vs the total of 4 donuts and gelato we received did not seem worth it.”

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Washington DC Highlights Tour with Top Landmarks and Memorials

Washington DC Highlights Tour with Top Landmarks and Memorials - U.S. Capitol and White House: Outside-Only, Still Worth It

13.Washington DC Highlights Tour with Top Landmarks and Memorials

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 489 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $59

See Washington DC’s top landmarks in 4 hours with an A/C bus, bottled water, and a live guide at Capitol, White House, and key memorials.

“Went on this tour as a family of five ( kids are 12, 7, 5 years old). Would have preferred a slightly shorter tour or an earlier start time, as 4 hours was a bit long for them (and 10-2 is a bit awkward over the lunch hour for kids) but it was a fantastic way to fit in the main highlights. We would not have been able to walk to see everything, and we would not have been able to fit in as much on our own. It was a warm day, and the comfortable air conditioned bus was perfect for quick on and off, and everything was very…”

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DC: Open-top Monuments and Memorials Sightseeing Night Tour

DC: Open-top Monuments and Memorials Sightseeing Night Tour - The 2-Hour Pace: Passing, Stopping, and Getting Your Bearings

Washington DC Night-Time City Tour

Washington DC Night-Time City Tour - Meeting point, timing, and how the bus experience works

15.Washington DC Night-Time City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 435 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $69

See DC’s National Mall by night on a guided bus tour with expert trivia, bottled water, and phone charging in about 3 hours.

“Vernon was informative and funny!! Our experience was awesome and we would do it again! We all loved it.”

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