Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour
5
Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour
By USA Guided Tours
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About
Combine the many highlights and landmarks of Washington DC in a single-day bus and walking tour. With a guide to accompany you and distill the importance of each sight, feel well-informed rather than overwhelmed over the tour time. Highlights include the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, the White House, and a seasonal cruise on the Potomac River, among other important DC attractions.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 55 per group
Duration: 6h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- Travel via climate-controlled coach, eliminating the hassle of driving
- See the top Washington DC sights in single day with ease
- Gain in-depth knowledge through your guide's commentary
- English-Speaking Live Tour Guide (on and off the bus)
- Boat Cruise on the Potomac River (seasonal: April 1 to October 15)
- Upgrade to glass-top bus available
- Entry/Admission - Georgetown
What's not included- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
- Lunch
- Meet your guide and group at a central meeting point for your tour. Climb into an air-conditioned coach and get ready for a well-organized tour of the capital city’s highlights. Head past top sights such as the National Mall, Smithsonian Museums, and White House. Listen to engaging narrative on each landmark. Disembark and head out on guided walks at certain spots, including the the World War II Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the US Capitol building. You get the chance to see these monuments up close and snap photos. In season (March 15 to October 16), the tour includes a boat cruise on the Potomac River. We'll spend some time at beautiful Georgetown Waterfront Park for a lunch break. Off season, the tour stops at Fashion Centre in Pentagon City for free time and lunch (own expense). After a full day of sightseeing, return to your departure location.
- Start:
- 701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004, USAU.S. Navy Memorial Plaza
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6349DAYTOUR- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers can participate
- Small carry-on bags are allowed, however it is recommended that you ravel lightly. Due to security concerns, the tour operator reserves the right to search any bags or purses you bring on board. Many of the attractions in Washington DC are equipped with metal detectors at the entrances. Traveling without bags or purses is recommended
- Due to time restrictions, you cannot go inside any of the monuments, however you can spend about 15-20 minutes at each stop to enjoy up-close views
- No food allowed on buses (snacks are fine!)
- The boat cruise is seasonal from April 1 to October 15
- Convertible buses switch from open-tops to glass-tops between Oct 15 - Mar 15 due to colder temperatures
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 55 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6349DAYTOUR
From
$162.79
per adult
Select date and travellers
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Itinerary
- 701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004, USAU.S. Navy Memorial Plaza
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Jacqueline F0 contributionsA must see tour in Washington, DC.Elvis, our guide and John, our driver were fantastic. Elvis provided us with through information, including history and culture about DC and the African American experience. He evidently really enjoys his job. John is an experienced driver who safely took us around town. My husband and I were very impressed.Written 19 January 2025
- Suzanne Utter A0 contributionsDC Night TourExcellent tour guy and driver. Very personal and explained all the memorials. Why we have them. Did not have to use a speaker or yell. Spoke with a distinguished voice. Very Knowledgeable about subjects we question. We both enjoyed the evening.Written 18 January 2025
- Bintshanek0 contributionsFabulous!Our tour guide was Sam and the driver was Shawn. We had an incredible experience. Sam was so knowledgeable and it was very clear he loved his job. He gives clear directions and explanations at all stops. We took the night tour and the city was beautiful. Shawn was a great driver. He guided the van gracefully around the city and knew the in and outs of the route. We went during the inauguration preparations and there were many road blocks and detours. Shawn kept us on time and made the trip seamless. I highly recommend this company.Written 18 January 2025
- timothybG2704GV0 contributionsA Night in DC.Great way to see the sights of DC. The tour guide was very informative. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone.Written 18 January 2025
- TaylorGriffith0 contributionsEntertaining and comprehensiveI think his name was Deon?? The tour guide was super knowledgable and funny!! He was a DC local and you could tell he loved this job. He had so many fun facts. Also it was freezing and icy but he made sure to keep us safe and warn us when a path was dangerous. I would highly recommend this!Written 15 January 2025
- R9994NTstephanieg0 contributionsGreat Tour of DCDion & Sylvia did a great job! They were enthusiastic, kind, knowledgeable, and entertaining. Just the right amount of time to hit the main attractions and they were especially beautiful at night.Written 13 January 2025
- JoeyMcGirr0 contributionsDecember 2024 DC Tour of Monuments at Night!This was the first stop on our most recent DC trip. Although my wife and I had been to DC before, we were bringing two teenagers with us for their first trip (our daughter and niece) and wanted them to see the monuments up close without wearing them out from too much walking. Seeing the monuments at night is great, and we wanted to contrast this experience later for when we visited some again during the daytime. It was December, so using a bus tour made sense. Our tour guide was great. Personable and knowledgeable. The tour was casual; get off the bus or don't. Do what you can; don't overdo it. We felt no pressure and still saw about 15 landmarks in a 2.5-hour span. The last stop was only a few blocks from our Airbnb, so we asked to leave the tour early, and it was no issue at all. Will (highly) recommend to our friends.Written 11 January 2025
- natem1900 contributionsGreat & very complete tour!Great tour guide who was funny, entertaining & also knowledgeable. Great value for what all you get. Very nice/clean bus that was warm & made the experience on a cold night very worthwhile and good!Written 5 January 2025
- chasitya20250 contributionsAwesome ExperienceThis tour was absolutely amazing! Sally was our tour guide and she was so informative and funny. Chris was our driver and he was awesome! He knew I was by myself so he took lots of pictures for me with no hesitation. I’d recommend this tour to anyone who is new to D.C. and would like to see all the great important sites. It’s so beautiful at night!Written 4 January 2025
- eddiemleblanc0 contributionsWorth itGreat trip. Our tour guide, Nick, did a great job explaining everything and making it interesting with his corny jokes. At first, I thought the tickets were expensive, but now I realize it was worth it. I thought I knew a lot about the history of the sites and people, but there was so much I didn't know. Worth it.Written 4 January 2025
- jodirobinette810 contributionsGreat experience!Besides the bitter cold, we had a great experience! Our driver, Sylvia and our tour guide, Dion were awesome! I’m not sure there is anything about DC and American history that Dion doesn’t know. He has a true passion for it and it shows. We learned a lot, took some good pictures and enjoyed seeing the monuments and other parts of the area he pointed out. Our two teenagers were also happy and entertained so that’s a win!Written 4 January 2025
- D104RKlindseys0 contributionsSkip it.There were only three stops on this tour. One was a long way off. You couldn’t see out of the bus. The whole trip would have been over three hours. We got off and got an Uber home. Do the monuments at night tour on an open top bus instead.Written 3 January 2025
- SandraMT550 contributionsFantastic and interesting eveningFantastic night tour and the guide & driver were both excellent. Highly recommended. It was a cold night but the coach was warm and comfortable.Written 3 January 2025
- Catherine D0 contributionsTeens and parents happy!Sally and Godfrey were excellent guides. Teens stayed engaged throughout. Sally shared interesting facts about history and the city. Highly recommend.Written 2 January 2025
- BrittanyOH0 contributionsGreat Tour — But Not the Bus We ExpectedThis is a great tour — lots to see, plenty of time off the bus to explore and take photos, and helpful commentary along the way. Elvis was entertaining. Both of my kids (16 and 8) loved it. My only complaint: we paid extra for the glass top bus, but they put us on a normal 14-seat bus. When we asked about it, they told us this is what we get since it’s cold out, but there was a glass top bus with the same company that boarded at the same time as ours. The views out the windows were NOT nearly as good as they would be in the glass top bus, and for the significant up-charge, we were disappointed (as were several others in our group).Written 2 January 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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5.0
964 reviews
Excellent
839
Very good
71
Average
25
Poor
8
Terrible
21
Eric P
Asheville, NC2 contributions
Apr 2023
We had a fantastic time and saw a lot of stuff. We opted for the VIP tour and were on a much smaller bus so instead of 1 tour guide for 60+ people we had a tour guide for 15. Not only were we able to get in everywhere, but the bus also had a sliding roof so once it warmed up for the day, we opened the roof up for unobstructed view of the city and architecture of the city. Our tour included a stop for lunch at the wharf as well as an hour boat ride on the Potomac river down to the Jefferson Memorial area and back to the wharf at Georgetown. At the conclusion of the tour our tour guide also got us into the National Archives without having to wait through the long lined queued up around the building. It was a great experience and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this tour. I would recommend splurging on tickets to get the VIP tour as it is a much better experience overall than the main tour groups.
Written 3 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for this great review! Be sure to share your photos with us on social media @usaguidedtours
Written 4 May 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
alwaystogether
Oklahoma City, OK67 contributions
Mar 2023
A must if you have not been here before! Our guide Dion was entertaining kept the flock from getting lost and on time, and did show us all the sites. We did not spend too much time at any particular site but got a great idea of where to Uber the next day to the ones we wanted to see in depth. Understand, there is just an overwhelming amount to see as far as we are concerned. The only way to do that is spend a couple of years there. So because of this tour we got a great idea of what we wanted to see more in depth in the time we had and went back the next day for our own walking adventure. The price was worth the ride and the driver and guide were great! I recommend the glass top mini bus and not the giant buses, the extra $$ is well worth it. You can just see it in the pic behind the big white one.
Advice: Get there early like 30 minutes. Bring a small bag no need for a lot, just a camera. They will provide water, at least ours did. Pay extra for the glass top bus. You wont regret it.
Get ready to walk a bit. We covered 3.7 miles that day according to my IPhone.
Advice: Get there early like 30 minutes. Bring a small bag no need for a lot, just a camera. They will provide water, at least ours did. Pay extra for the glass top bus. You wont regret it.
Get ready to walk a bit. We covered 3.7 miles that day according to my IPhone.
Written 5 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian&Debbie
2 contributions
Apr 2022
Had an exceptional day on this tour! Assembly and boarding was very well organized, and the trip began with a bang with the arrival of tour guide Josh. He is incredibly knowledgeable, very personable, and very patient with stragglers and those with hearing problems (us!). Ali and Calvin were always there to assist with a smile. The itinerary was jam-packed, but we covered a lot of ground and were satisfied with the time allowed at each stop. Very highly recommended!!!
Written 8 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your comments, we are very happy that you enjoyed the tour, we invite you to review our different tour offers, we have a modern fleet of buses, experienced drivers, and friendly tour guides that will make you feel very comfortable.
Written 23 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cathy H
17 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
Terry the tour guide was very knowledgeable and pleasent, however she dropped the ball when it came to following covid guidelines and not enforcing the skipping seats between people.This was part of the instructions prior to entering the bus so everyone was within 1 to 2 feet of each other. I had to ask her myself to have the passengers separate which I felt was not my job. The bus itself was very clean and comfortable and the tour was almost what I expected until the end it was time for the boat f. The boat less than acceptable surprised it was afloat the deck chairs scattered yard chairs windows not clean and no access for anyone with any disabilities. The drop down from the dock approx 2 feet and no railings to hold on to just 2 wooden wide posts.knee ,hip or the elderly or handicapped had to stay behind but still.paid full price. The driver of the bus was also very nice and felt like a safe ride. Riding back one women had her mask off and nothing was said to her. In this dangerous time of virus fear of spread I feel the reccomedations should be truly enforced. Although the staff did try to be helpful with other issues encountered with the folks left on the dock don't think I would reccomend this company.
Written 12 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the feedback, Cathy. We appreciate you taking our tour, and for taking the time to share your experience. Our people are what set us apart and it sounds like you experienced the great service we are famous for. Although your guide reports not having seen anyone on the bus without a mask, we are grateful to know your group was informed of the protocols. While we must leave it to our guests to assess their own ability to board and disembark the buses/boats used on the tour, we will pass along your comments to our river cruise partner.
Written 23 May 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
FrequentFlier696470
2 contributions
Mar 2021
This is not worth the money, the guide spoke so fast we couldn’t understand anything he said. He didn’t seem to really care about his job and just went through his script.
I hope he finds employment doing something he enjoys.
I hope he finds employment doing something he enjoys.
Written 28 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Our tour guides are examined on their knowledge, are licensed, and are fine representatives of their prestigious tradition. We are sorry that you were displeased with the guide on your tour.
Written 8 April 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ron S
1 contribution
May 2022 • Couples
We paid extra for a small group experience but 15 minutes into the event they called the van back and moved us to a 33 person bus. So we lost 30 minutes from our tour. The guide was very knowledgeable but we couldn't hear him on the foot tours which were upto 30 minutes instead of 10 minutes which were very difficult to endure, especially since it turned out to be a rainy day. The river ride turned out to be useless. Every one ran and cut into line to get the good seats. You couldn't see through the plastic drops and you couldn't hear the guide. Lunch was supposed to be provided but it wasn't. Pickup and drop-off was supposed to be provided but it wasn't. Paid $168 plus lunch plus 2 Uber rides brought the total to a little over $250 for a miserable tour in the rain with walking aids.
When we called to complain we were advised they have the right to move people to different busses.
When we called to complain we were advised they have the right to move people to different busses.
Written 8 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MVSanDiego_Traveler
San Diego, CA54 contributions
This was my first visit to Washington, D.C., and I thought a tour on the first day would be a good idea. On Wednesday, March 23rd, I met up with USA Guided Tours. I had purchased my ticket before leaving home, based on reviews I had seen online. The price was very reasonable for an all-day bus tour that included a Potomac river cruise. Our guide, Joey, was great - very knowledgeable (she grew up in the area). Our driver, Ali, was also excellent, having to deal with the extra Cherry Blossom Festival traffic and drive our big, comfortable bus through the narrow Georgetown streets. My trip timing was fortunate as well, since the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and the river tour wasn't available until March 18th. A big hand to USA Guided Tours, especially Joey and Ali.
Written 26 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael G
Bradenton, FL1 contribution
Aug 2021 • Couples
We were able to view most of the popular tourist sites/attractions from the comfortable tour bus; and we made numerous stops to get off and take photos at the various monuments and memorials.
Our tour guide, Nick (aka: "Tour God"), was superb, providing us with a wealth of information about the city, the presidents, and the monuments throughout the city. His humor made the tour even more fun.
The 45-minute cruise on the Potomac River was relaxing, scenic, and informative as well.
I have already recommended this tour to relatives, and I give it five stars without hesitation. This tour is perfect for first-time visitors, as well as for those of us who have trudged around the city on foot for hours and hours!
Our tour guide, Nick (aka: "Tour God"), was superb, providing us with a wealth of information about the city, the presidents, and the monuments throughout the city. His humor made the tour even more fun.
The 45-minute cruise on the Potomac River was relaxing, scenic, and informative as well.
I have already recommended this tour to relatives, and I give it five stars without hesitation. This tour is perfect for first-time visitors, as well as for those of us who have trudged around the city on foot for hours and hours!
Written 3 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lance G
1 contribution
Oct 2022
Tour was great. Our tour guide Dion made the whole experience fun and we got to see all of go to sites for my first trip to DC. Would highly recommend as it takes getting around the city out your hands, leaving you time to admire the sites and learn about the city's history.
Written 27 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Be sure to share your memories with us on social media @usaguidedtours!
Written 2 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Audrey T
1 contribution
Our family did this DC bus tour today and we had a a really great experience. Troy our driver gave us worry free transportation. Dion was an amazing guide. He’s super knowledgeable and humorous about DC history and we all learned something new. While we didn’t do the cruise because it was much too cold we still feel like we got our moneys worth.
Written 19 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your comments, we are very happy that you enjoyed the tour, we invite you to review our different tour offers, we have a modern fleet of buses, experienced drivers, and friendly tour guides that will make you feel very comfortable.
Written 23 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hello! If we are doing the tour and then headed straight to the airport afterwards. Is there a place to store luggage? Have to check out before 10am and would love to fit this into the schedule! Thank you!
Written 26 September 2024
Is this a child friendly tour. 2 and 3.5 years old? Thank you
Written 11 March 2023
Personally I think this tour will be a bit to much for very young infants as there is a lot of walking and if its a hot day...
Written 13 March 2023
Where can we park our car? Is there any designated spot to park the car before tour begins ?”
Written 5 July 2022
Where can we park our car? Is there any designated spot to park the car before your begins ?
Written 5 July 2022
Where is the pick-up point please
Written 6 June 2022
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