Published: November 7, 2023 Updated: May 5, 2025
There is so much to see on a trip to Washington, DC. Rush hour traffic and Metro schedules can make seeing just a few monuments an all day affair. Even if you decide to fight the traffic, finding parking near the monuments and museums is a struggle. The Metro is a good option, but requires a LOT of walking.
The best way to see the Nation’s Capitol is by tour. There is a large variety of Washington DC tours to choose from. Everything from your standard DC monuments and museums to unique food and drink tours. These are the best tours of Washington, DC.
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Monuments & Museums at night
Moonlight Monuments & Memorials Tour
Nothing is more spectacular than the DC monuments and memorials lit up at night. This 3 hour nighttime guided tour will take you to the all of the popular DC monuments and memorials. This is particularly fabulous at during December when the city is lit up with Holiday decor. Check out my article on The Top Things To Do at Christmas in Washington DC
Washington DC by Moonlight Electric Cart Tour
See the monuments and museums by moonlight in an open air electric cart in this 3 hour guided tour for up to 7 people.
E-Bike Tour DC by Moonlight
This tour includes electric bike rentals and helmets for all ages! Ride electric bikes through DC monuments by moonlight. Click here for more info.
Daytime Mueseums & Monuments Washington DC Tours
Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour
Washington DC in One Day is a 6 hour guided group bus tour to all of the must-see memorials and monuments, with excellent reviews. The maximum tour capacity is 30 people. This tour ends with a scenic boat ride past the monuments on the Potomac River (April 1-October 15)
Private Half Day Tour of Washington, DC
For those wanting the ultimate private tour of DC, this is the tour for you! Your private guide will pick you up in a luxury SUV and take you on a guided 4 hour tour of the best sights in the city. Since you are the only ones on the tour, you can pick your own departure time, and customize your itinerary to fit your interests. This is the ultimate way to tour Washington, DC. Price is per group, not per person–maximum group size is 5 people.
Washington DC Electric Cart Guided Tour
The 2 hour Washington DC Electric Cart Guided Tour is a great option for those who don’t want an all day tour. This open aired driving tour can accommodate up to 7 people. The Electric Cart Guided Tour guides are knowledgable and you will have more photo opportunities than with a large group. This tour has almost 2,000 five star reviews!
Arlington National Cemetery Walking Tour and Change of the Guards
Experience the moving Changing of the Guards ceremony with the best reserved viewing, and then a guided walking tour of Arlington National Cemetery, including John F. Kennedy’s grave, and Robert E. Lee’s house. This tour is 1 1/2-2 hours long with a maximum group size of 15.
African American History Tour with Museum Admission
This 3 1/2 hour half-day guided bus tour will immerse you in African American History throughout the city, including admission and tour of the African American History Museum. Stops include The MLK Memorial, U.S. Capitol, White House and many more monuments and memorials. Maximum tour capacity is 30 people.
Small Group Half Day DC Tour
This 4 hour guided tour includes all of the monuments along the National Mall as well as the U.S. Capitol. The tour vehicle is a sprinter van, allowing for a more intimate experience with the guide more accessible for questions and conversation along the way.
DC Monuments E-Bike Tour
Ride on hybrid electric bikes throughout the city to visit the top monuments and memorials on this 3 hour guided bike tour. Helmets and bike rentals included.
U.S. Capitol & Library of Congress Small Group Guided Tour
This 3 hour guided tour includes reserved admission to both the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress.
Private Guided Tour of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
Experience the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History with a private 2 hour guided tour!
Skip the Line Private Guided Tour of the National Archives Building
Tour the National Archives Building on this 1 1/2 hour private guided tour.
Food & Drink Tours in Washington DC
Taste of Georgetown: Food & History Tour
This small guided tour includes tasting at 4 of the best restaurants in Georgetown while learning about the DC neighborhood’s rich history.
U Street Food, History & Street Art Tour
Lunch is included on this 3 hour walking food tour of the U Street Corridor
Gastronomic Georgetown Food Tour
Come hungry for this 3 1/2 hour walking culinary and historical tour of DC’s Georgetown neighborhood.
Washington DC Delicious Donut Adventure
This 3 hour tour combines history, sight seeing and donuts! Sights you will see on your donut-eating adventure include the White House and Palmer’s Alley-the most Instagrammable place in DC!
Small Group History & Pub Crawl Tour
Learn history of the city through this 2 hour bar tour.
Hotel Stays in Washington DC
Click below to search for hotels in Washington DC. My favorite hotel to stay at is the Hotel Hive, located across the street from George Washington University and within walking distance to the monuments.
Search & Compare Rental Car Rates In Washington DC
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@postcardsfromcarrie ✨LINK IN BIO ✨ Just had my 5th stay at Hotel Hive, Washington DC’s #1 ranked hotel on TripAdvisor. DC’s first micro hotel features elegant but efficient room size at an affordable rate. Located directly across the street from George Washington University and walking disrance from the Lincoln Memorial and National Mall. Foggy Bottom Metro Station is a short 3 blocks away. Family-Friendly Connector Rooms feature one Queen bed which connects to a bunk bed room. Each bunk has their own tv. The Hive Bar and Hive Rooftop serve delicious craft cocktails, with views of the Lincoln Memorial from the roof. The onsite restaurant, &Pizza, serves delicous customized flat bread pizzas. My favorite thing about the Hotel Hive is the outstanding service provided by the front desk staff! Check out the link in my bio #hotelhive #washingtondc #washington #dc #nationscapital #visitdc #travel #traveltiktok #travellife #exploredc #rooftopbar #dcbars ♬ original sound - Postcards From Carrie | Travel
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