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Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress
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Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress

By Unscripted by Guided Tours DC
Recommended by 94% of travellers
94% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
About
To experience the most important sights in the American capital, no first-time Washington D.C. visitor should miss a guided tour of Capitol Hill. And on this small-group walking tour, guests not only see the seat of American power, but can explore inside each historic building on the tour. Along the way, visit sights representing the three branches of government and even explore the U.S. Capitol—all included in the tour.
from
$149.44
per adult
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 15 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Visit the seat of American government on a guided Capitol Hill walking tour
  • Enjoy stops at the Library of Congress and Eastern Market
  • Get a more personal experience with this small-group tour, capped at 15 travelers
  • Get reserved-entry to the U.S. Capitol, and tour the building—included

  • 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Capitol Hill in Washington DC
  • Small-Group (less than 20 guests) for a more personalized experience
  • Admission inside the U.S. Capitol Building
  • Admission to the Library of Congress
  • 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
  • Professional Guide
  • Entry/Admission - U.S. Capitol
What's not included
  • Gratuities


Start:
  • 10 First St SE, Washington, DC 20003, USA
    Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, in front of the Neptune Fountain
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 41377P2

    • 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.
    • Tour runs approximately 3 hours
    • Most travellers can participate
    • 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 experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    Which attractions will I visit with Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress?
    How much is Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress?
    Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress price starts from $146.09. Discover and book Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress on Tripadvisor
    What is the Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress cancellation policy?
    Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress on Tripadvisor
    Which company provides Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress?
    Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress is hosted by Unscripted by Guided Tours DC. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Unscripted by Guided Tours DC on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress on Tripadvisor

    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: 41377P2

    Reserve your spot

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • You'll start at
      10 First St SE
      10 First St SE, Washington, DC 20003, USA
      Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, in front of the Neptune Fountain
      See address & details
    • 1
      U.S. Capitol
      Stop: 90 minutes - Admission included
      See details
    • 2
      Library of Congress
      Stop: 45 minutes
      See details
      Pass by
      Supreme Court
    • You'll return to the starting point
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Unscripted by Guided Tours DC
      1,242
      United States
      Joined in August 2016
    • brandyk476
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun, Impactful, and Full of History
      We had a great time on this small tour with Laura, our guide for the morning. She was knowledgeable, fun, enthusiastic, and approachable. My kids had only wonderful things to say about how they enjoyed her. We started by skipping the Spring Break morning lines for the National Archives. We saw the Magna Carta, discussed the history of the Declaration of Independence, then viewed our founding documents, and had a great discussion about the history of the building, it's architecture, and the wall paintings. My elementary-aged boys particularly liked hearing about the peg legged man in one painting. We heard about the founding and planning of the National Mall and Smithsonian castle as we walked to the American History museum. We saw the flag flying over Fort McHenry when the Star Spangled Banner was written, the weird muscular marble statue of George Washington in Roman sandals, and Lincoln's hat. My 5th grade daughter was most impacted by the hanging chad ballots of the 2000 election that stimulated an entire discussion about how elections are run now. It was 2 hours packed with information and definitely worth the money to learn more in less time during your visit to DC.
      Written 18 March 2024
    • BethanyinDallas
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent Tour of Archives & American History Museum
      This was a fantastic tour! Our guide, Laura, gave us so much information in a humorous, interesting manner about all of the sights and history we were shown. It was a great way to efficiently see the important highlights of both the Archives and the Museum of American History. There was time after the tour ended to see a few more exhibits at the museum. Highly recommend!!
      Written 18 March 2024
    • BethanyinDallas
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent Walking Tour
      We really enjoyed our walking tour of Arlington. The tour was a smallish, manageable size, and our guide, Allen, was a wealth of knowledge and information regarding all of the important sights. Much better than wandering around trying to find things on our own. At the end of the tour, he gave us envelopes filled with helpful tourist information for the DC area. Be prepared to walk a lot of hills! This was a great tour, highly recommend.
      Written 18 March 2024
    • Michelle S
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jim was a great tour guide!
      Jim was a great guide. We all really enjoyed the tour. He also gave the group some personal touches to see the cemetery through him. It was a beautiful day for the tour and a beautiful view of the city!
      Written 15 March 2024
    • Q1907DLhelenb
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A memorable experience
      It was beautiful to feel the lives of so many people buried at this cemetery. It was also wonderful to have Jim Garrett as our tour guide; he was very engaging and I was fascinated by the facts that he shared.
      Written 14 March 2024
    • Vacation03693466985
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Arlington cemetery walking tour a must
      Our tour guide Derrick was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed the tour very much. He was a history scholar and made the tour so much more interesting!
      Written 12 March 2024
    • 770codyg
      0 contributions
      2.0 of 5 bubbles
      Lack of Focus
      Guide spent a significant time talking to a British family and the rest of us were somewhat ignored. Spent absolutely no time on JFK grave site or to tell anything about how he and his family came to rest there. Our guide did know about other grave sites and shared a few of those. We did not get to see Robert E. Lee’s house or walk any near as was listed in the tour description. We finally just left the group at the very end and did our own tour as our guide only focused on one or two couples to provide information and talk about their country’s history. We were extremely disappointed for the money. Our other Viator tours were great, but this guide was a disappointment, especially with the importance of where we were touring.
      Written 12 March 2024
    • jodil648
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      An amazing place to visit - don't miss it if you are visiting DC!
      We had the best visit to the cemetery. Our tour guide, Allen McCabe, was the best! I would highly recommend requesting him if you are able to do so when you book. He left us with a small packet of all kinds for great information and he had some much to share as we walked through the property. It is quite "hilly" so be aware of that. The changing of the guards was the most incredible thing to witness. Well worth the $$
      Written 12 March 2024
    • Leslie M
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Spring Break 2024
      Spring Break 2024. Our guide Derrick was amazing. Working on his History Masters Degree and he knew so much. Information of the top of his head. Very friendly, informative and kind!!
      Written 12 March 2024
    • cynthiahT1952IO
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great tour guide and funn!
      Great tour guide! She really helped looking at the highlights of the museums. I think for this tour I would add another hour or two!
      Written 7 March 2024
    • 14daynaw
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing !
      Jim our tour guide was amazing! My husband has recommend him to every person we have rant into since then . His wealth of knowledge about the cemetery, the city , the Government was impressive . Accolades for him to pointing out some other war hero’s that the general public we would not be aware of .
      Written 5 March 2024
    • andrearH370QP
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Experience!!
      The tour was great. Our guide clearly knew his stuff and was able to answer all our questions. As foreigners, it proved an amazing experience.
      Written 5 March 2024
    • Susan S
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Locals Tour
      We’ve lived in the area for nearly two years and had not visited the cemetery since we were young. Many changes have been made and our guide enthusiastically pointed out the highlights while describing the cemetery’s history. Highly recommend this two hour tour for everyone.
      Written 5 March 2024
    • gloriaaY3024GR
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wonderful
      Jim was very knowledgeable and would take the same tour again with him in the near future. Great people person. Learned things we don’t know.
      Written 1 March 2024
    • BackPacker539241
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wonderful tour of Ford theater
      Absolutely fantastic. It was my favorite tour. The guide told a wonderful narrative. I felt like i was there. Loved it!!
      Written 27 February 2024
    See all 1 review
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    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles415 reviews
    Excellent
    377
    Very good
    16
    Average
    14
    Poor
    2
    Terrible
    6

    Wanderlust20002014
    San Diego, CA23 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I booked this tour a bit last minute and was attracted to the stellar reviews and promise of a smaller group. The site has some conflicting information with one spot saying the max is 15 and another saying it is 20 but I believe our final count was around 12 so that worked well.
    We had a separate tour conducted in the Capitol building (no extra fee) and it was so interesting to finally see all the locations we’ve been seeing on tv in person. Both the Capitol and the Library of Congress are stunning inside and the artwork is unreal. Our guide for most of the tour outside of the Capitol building interior, Liam, was friendly, engaging and very knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend this tour.
    Written 4 November 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.

    Kristin S
    Collingswood, NJ6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2023
    Of all of the tours and sites in the week of my stay, this was the one I was looking most forward to and it far exceeded my expectations. Paul was delightful! He was clearly educated, personable, and genuinely enjoys his work as evidenced by his engagement style and delivery of all of the interesting information. The tour was well-timed and paced appropriately to allow enough time to take in the site and ask questions. While I could have done a self-guided tour at no cost I am happy with my choice to select the GTDC because I learned tidbits of history I may have otherwise missed. I'm looking forward to returning and doing another!
    Written 8 February 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.

    Deb B
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Paul was knowledgeable, very efficient time management and navigation of large crowded facilities. Surprisingly, He was able to get us tickets to see the house and senate in session. He told us about the reading room in the National Library and how it’s open to the public once per month. (The week we were visiting).
    Written 31 March 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.

    Emily D
    London, UK3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2023
    Anne Marie, our tour guide, was fantastic! She was incredibly knowledgeable and her passion for history is infectious. I'm certain that the Capitol Building + Library of Congress are incredible buildings to explore solo, however having such a great tour guide leading the way really elevated the whole experience. Highly, highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to visit DC - thanks again Anne Marie + GTDC!
    Written 17 July 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.

    60isthenew40
    Mission Viejo, CA209 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2023 • Couples
    My review title is a compliment and NOT a critique. Andrew is perhaps the most knowledgeable guide in the DC area! Combining his Scottish accent with his comedic delivery, he delivers the necessary facts and little known details that make this tour a must-do when in DC. I am amazed at his ability to engage with our small group of 12 for a fast paced, 3 hour tour. Library of Congress was the personal highlight for me including my acquisition of my Library of Congress Library Card.
    Written 10 November 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.

    Ann W
    Pittsford, NY2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2023 • Couples
    There was so much more inside of the Capitol and Library of Congress than I imagined. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly so we were able to see the highlights and get interesting facts about the buildings. Plan on extra time, you will probably want to explore more of the library of congress after the tour is done.
    Written 29 July 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.

    laura r
    Munich, Germany21 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2023 • Couples
    Our experience with our guide, Laura, was truly exceptional. She expertly led us through the captivating highlights of the Capitol and the library, enriching our journey with fascinating historical insights along the way. Her witty jokes and clever commentary about the building's intricacies added a delightful touch, making our three-hour tour an absolute joy.
    We wholeheartedly recommend it.
    Written 13 August 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.

    Debbie T
    Pass Christian, MS231 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2022 • Family
    Liam led a very professional tour, adding a lot of info about the Supreme Court’s recent ruling and lots of historical facts regarding the Library of Congress. Also explained the reference to what Capitol Hill means. Photos include the Supreme Court, which still has fencing around its perimeter, the Gutenberg Bible - 1 of 3 in the world, and the Library of Congress’s reading room.
    Written 15 July 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.
    Thanks for joining us! The Supreme Court and Library of Congress are definitely a passion of mine. Cheers!
    Written 25 July 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Footprints572223
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2023 • Friends
    The guided tour was a bit pricey but worth it. I went with a girlfriend and we both loved it. Without the guide we would have pooped out after an hour or so but our fun and interesting guide kept us moving and we saw much more than the average visitor.
    The Capitol Building and Library of Congress. Holy cow- the Library of Congress is gorgeous inside and out, a true work of art. The Capital building is a sacred building for all Americans in spite of a handful of buffoons who managed to land a seat in the House or the Senate. Respect is the word of the day.
    Written 30 July 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.

    cainca
    Park City, UT27 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2023 • Solo
    This tour felt really big. I think there were 13 people in my group. Just too many in my opinion. I prefer fewer people at this price point. Felt like cattle and couldn't learn too much. Even the guide themself seemed overwhelmed to keep track of that many participants. Like another reviewer notes ... you get passed off to someone else when inside who is far more informative. Can't give it more than 3 stars.
    Written 1 October 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.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress provided by Unscripted by Guided Tours DC