Hop-On Hop-Off Double Decker Tour & Arlington Cemetery Audio Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
As the Official Tour Provider of the National Mall, Big Bus gets you closer than anyone else to the monuments and memorials of DC. Plus, a portion of every ticket goes towards preservation.
Explore DC with our flexible hop-on hop-off tours. With 18 stops to explore, you have the freedom to create your own itinerary and discover the city's iconic landmarks at your own pace.
Our tours allow you to experience the best of DC while enjoying the comfort of open-top double-decker buses. Hop on and off at any stop throughout the city, giving you the flexibility to explore.
From the historic landmarks of the National Mall to the hip neighborhoods of Georgetown, our routes cover the must-see sights. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Lincoln Memorial and White House as our professional digital audio provides insightful commentary along the way.
Enhance your Big Bus Tours experience with three exclusive, audio guide walking tours of Arlington National Cemetery, the Tidal Basin, and Georgetown.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Your Dollars in Action: A portion of every ticket helps preserve the National Mall’s iconic monuments and memorials—so your Big Bus tour supports America’s history for generations to come
Complimentary shuttle services from city hotels to Stop #1 available at select times - please view ticket voucher for exact times.
Free Oval Office Commemorative Photo: Present your ticket at White House Gifts (701 15th ST NW) to receive a free Oval Office digital photo. One photo per ticket.
Unlimited Biking Offer: Rent a bike for one hour and get an additional hour free. Rental includes bike, helmet, basket, lock, roadside assistance and an illustrated map featuring key routes and attractions.
Choice of audio guide tours includes Arlington Cemetery, Tidal Basin, and Georgetown neighborhood. Guests 18 and older must provide valid photo ID to enter Arlington Cemetery.
Download the Big Bus Tours app to access and activate your ticket, track buses in real time, and board easily using your mobile ticket.
What To Expect
Duration:1 hour 50 minutes
Operating Schedule:Meeting Point - Stop #1 Washington Monument (1400 Jefferson Drive SW). Recommended alternative stop - Stop #3 National Japanese American Memorial (415 New Jersey Ave NW) As the Official Tour Provider of the National Mall, Big Bus gets you closer than anyone else to the monuments and memorials of DC. Hours of Operation - First Bus 9:00AM, Last Bus 4:30PM
Stop 1 - Washington Monument
Stop 2 - Natural History Museum
Stop 3 - National Japanese American Memorial
Stop 4 - US Capitol at Garfield Circle
Stop 5 - Air & Space Museum
Stop 6 - L’Enfant Plaza & International Spy Museum
Stop 7 - The Wharf & Potomac Boat Cruise
Stop 8 - Smithsonian Metro
Stop 9 - Bureau of Engraving & Holocaust Musuem
Stop 10 - Jefferson Memorial
Stop 11 - FDR and MLK Memorial
Duration:1 hour 15 minutes
Operating Schedule:Meeting Point - Stop #1 Washington Monument (1400 Jefferson Drive SW (on Jefferson Dr. SW & corner of 14th St. by Bike Racks) As the Official Tour Provider of the National Mall, Big Bus gets you closer than anyone else to the monuments and memorials of DC. Hours of Operation - First Bus 930AM, Last Bus 430PM
Stop 1 - Washington Monument
Stop 12 - World War II Memorial
Stop 13 - Lincoln Memorial & Korean War Memoria
Stop 14 - Arlington Cemetery
Stop 15 - Constitution Gardens
Stop 16 - The White House
Stop 17 - Ford's Theater
Stop 18 - The Willard Hotel/US Treasury
Options
24hr Ticket - Red & Blue Loops
24-hour Hop-on Hop-off Tour Arlington Cemetery Audio Tour Free White House Gifts Photo 1-Hour Free Bike Rental
24hr Ticket - Red Loop Only
Duration: 1 day: 24 hours of validity Red Loop (11 Stops): Discover the best of DC with a route focused on the National Mall, Smithsonian museums, and world-famous monuments
72hr Ticket - Red & Blue Loops
72-hour Hop-on Hop-off Tour Arlington Cemetery Audio Tour Free Oval Office Photo 1-Hour Free Bike Rental
24hr Ticket - Blue Loop Only
Duration: 1 day: 24 hours of validity Blue Loop (7 Stops): Go beyond the National Mall with a route that includes the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, and other key areas
48hr Ticket - Red & Blue Loops
48-hour Hop-on Hop-off Tour Arlington Cemetery Audio Tour Free White House Gifts Photo 1-Hour Free Bike Rental
What‘s Included
Official Tour Provider of the National Mall - a portion of every ticket goes to preservation
Big Bus Tours app (ticket storage, live tracking and ticket activation)
Digital commentary aboard hop-on hop-off bus in multiple languages
Open-top Double-decker buses with 18 convenient stops
24/48/72hr Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour
Professional audio-guided walking tours of Arlington Cemetery, Tidal Basin, and Georgetown
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
3,936 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Sadly would not recommend
Lesko J,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00We never received information as to where to meet the first bus. We tried looking it up and finally asked our concierge for help. She told us to park at Union Station that this was one of their stops, she was wrong. Trolley Tour people were and they helped us find a nearby stop to walk to and meet a bus. Didn’t care for the audio portion, several things get repeated throughout the tour and the information is stale and the jokes are lame. With a historic city like DC they should be able to talk constantly but too often music is playing. Sadly, IWould not recommend!
Hot and stinky!
jeanineh341,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00It was a pretty hot day in the low 90s and there was NO air on the bus. It was even hard to breath, the windows don't open. They are pretty dirty also. We were on several different busses all hot and nasty. Also the tours start at 9 we took the red loop and was dropped at stop 2 a museum that opens at 10. What waste of time! We were not happy and would not recommend the big bus to anyone, for more reasons then listed above.
The bus we rode in the...
Michael P,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The bus we rode in the morning covered both red and blue routes. When we got back on the bus in the afternoon they said the bus was only for the red route. A bit confusing.
Complete waste of time
daviddnixon,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Complete waste of time. Important building/monuments were passed by without comment while anything to do with black history was played up to the hilt, including a sermon on how wonderful the BLM riots were in Washingtom DC. Absurd.
Start early!!
Jessica G,Jun 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00This is a really nice tour where you can jump on an off at your discretion. Only thing that I will say is that you do need to start early as they do stop at 5 to 530pm. Make the most of the opportunities and plan ahead.
We did not get a paper...
Nancy K,Jun 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00We did not get a paper map which would have helped understand where all the stops were. It seemed like we had a wait for buses so we did not get everywhere as I had done before- maybe there were more buses then?
Great Service
E5561EKisabelr,Jun 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Devaughn was very helpful. He provided tips that allowed for effective planning of my trip. He also gave great recommendations for local eats.
Poor service
edwardbt2024,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00My purchase was not of value. The bus stop locations were way out of the way. I used my 3 days pass only once; it rained my entire time in Washington DC. I missed the blue bus, waited 30 minutes in the rain for the next blue bus, upon arrival of the blue bus & enroute to the stop I wanted to go, a supervisor entered the bus & commandeered the bus and she said it was now a red bus. It necessitated my exiting & again waiting in the rain for a blue bus.
Great experience!
sammieg2024,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Brandon and Stephanie were awesome and informative!
Great View
ericfK5796YK,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Easy to find stop, great view from the top of the bus!
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Operated by Big Bus Tours - USA