Arlington Cemetery Tour with Guard Ceremony and Iwo Jima Memorial
Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Experience a 2.5-hour early access guided tour of Arlington National Cemetery, America’s largest and most renowned military cemetery. This tour highlights the Changing of the Guard Ceremony, the gravesite of President JFK, and the iconic Iwo Jima Memorial, along with many other significant landmarks. Gain exclusive insight from your expert guide and explore the most important sites for a truly memorable visit to Arlington National Cemetery.
Start by witnessing the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a solemn and moving tribute to the nation's fallen soldiers. This iconic ritual is a must-see, capturing the honor and precision of the military in a breathtakingly quiet setting.
You'll then visit the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy, where you can reflect at the Eternal Flame that continues to burn in his memory. As your guide shares stories and insights, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the significance of this site in American history.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
All visitors 16 years of age and older (pedestrians, drivers and passengers) must present a valid photo ID (valid passport or U.S. State Department-issued photo identification for non US citizens) upon entering the cemetery.
Please wear comfortable shoes as this tour involves a fair amount of walking, including over uneven surfaces, cobblestones, hills, inclines, declines and stairs.
Participants should be in good health - consult first with your doctor if you have any medical condition or are not used to regular exercise.
Wheelchairs, motorised scooters or any other device to assist mobility are not recommended, as we cannot guarantee: that all footpaths/sidewalks/curbs will have suitable ramps.
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
Anybody under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by somebody aged 18 years or older.
Not recommended for travellers with limited mobility
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Enjoy a comprehensive exterior tour of the Whitehouse including the north and south side facades. Also see the Executive building the largest office in DC outside of the Pentagon
Walk through the Presidential Park South (commonly called the Ellipse) is a 52 acres (21 ha) park located just south of the White House fence
What‘s Included
Visit the enormous WWII Iowa Jima Memorial celebrating one of the best USA accomplishments
Visit the location of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Greek style Amphitheatre
Secure the best location to witness the Changing of the Guard Ceremony
Visit the gravesite of the President John F. Kennedy as well as the Kennedy family memorial
See the largest Navy Memorial in the USA
Easy Access to Arlington Cemetery with a first-class Guide
Transportation / Guide Tip
Options
Arlington Cemetery Tour with Guard Ceremony and Iwo Jima Memorial
Reviews
9 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Lots, and lots of...
GregandHolly J,,Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Lots, and lots of walking. Lots of uphill walking. Well worth it, but only for in shape people. We did enjoy.
Such an Historic Sight & Tour
May A,,Sep 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Clift was an excellent tour guide. Lots of information on the ride there & on the way back. He provided very detailed (& printed) itineraries for our 2 stops (USS ARIZONA as well as the USS MISSOURI). Lots of walking (so glad we had comfortable shoes). Wear sunscreen & stay hydrated. There is TSA-like security. Be advised that clear purses are allowed, but nothing larger than a wallet (or phone) is going through (there are bag drop-offs ($7)) the entry. Definitely could have used extra time at the USS ARIZONA grounds (not Memorial). So much to see & read that there just wasn't enough time to read & see t all. The ferry boat to the Memorial has active duty personnel driving the boat & giving safety & protocol instructions. For such a somber place (USS ARIZONA Memorial) (voices no louder than a whisper, no cell phone rings or conversations), visitors are not asked to remove their hats (ball caps, straw hats, etc). Since it is a Memorial & Burial Ground, this should not be just a tourist spot for all the "Oooohs" & "Aaaaahs" that it has to offer. This is a place to pay our respects to those who have fallen. USS MISSOURI also has guided & self-guided tours. We took the guided (which is just for the beginning, rest you can do on your own), Lots of ascending & descending stairs (ladders).
Lost in Arlington
Stacey J,,Aug 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00Couldn’t find the guide even though we were over 20 min early. Ended up wandering by ourselves. Very disappointed
Loved the information...
Christina R,,Jul 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Loved the information Charles gave! The tour was great, and so was he! It was a great experience that we will never forget!
Amazing
mayinfl,,Jun 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00This was a tour for my significant other & I who had not previously visited. We opted for this tour & had to contact Dublin, Ireland to ask a question. Response came via e-mail (there is a 5-hr time difference), but was rather quick (I'm glad I checked my e-mail b/c I was expecting a phone call or a text msg). Wayne was our tour guide & we were his only 2 for the tour. He was very personable. Since my significant other & I are both retired military (Navy), we wanted to see just about everything. I caught sight of the Women's Memorial Building (which has not outside markings (engraving) on the building) & wanted to visit. So the 3 of us walk up to the door & discover that it doesn't open until 0930 (our 2.5 hr tour started at 0815). Wayne was not aware of this since he's not used to doing such early tours. Then we walked to the cemetary, JFK's grave (saw the eternal flame), Robert E. Lee's house (which wasn't open yet & we had to wait on that too), caught the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (absolutely breath-taking). We then walked back to the Women's Memorial Building where Wayne parted ways with us. We were already about 10 min past our 2.5 hr tour & never got to the IWO JIMA Memorial (which was a bummer). The sights we did see were amazing. Time went by fast & 2.5 hrs is not enough. Lots of walking (unless you do actually get to the IWO JIMA Memorial (which we did not get to)). Stay hydrated (OK to bring water).
Get ready to learn!
Ed C,,Jun 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and engaging. Learned so much more! Make sure to find meet up spot!
Our tour guide was very...
Joyce M,,Jun 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. The changing of the guards was awesome to watch. The grounds were immaculate.
More than the standard tour guide
Jennifer M,,Oct 9, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Charles was an amazing tour guide! His history education provided a wonderful backdrop for the tour; he asked trivia questions that kept us engaged and seeking more information. He was respectful and made sure we had plenty of time to visit all the areas we were interested in. I would definitely hire Charles to be a tour guide anywhere!
Great experience
Laura B,,May 25, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience. We never would have found our way & learned so much without a lot more time. We covered almost everything in about 3 hrs.
Related Experiences
Operated by LetzGo City Tours USA