Washington DC Highlights, 1-Day Tour from NYC
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Explore beyond the Big Apple with a full-day tour to Washington DC from New York City. You'll capture the spirit of "the home of the brave and land of the free" as you visit the monuments and memorials of Washington DC.
Help create a better planet for everyone to travel and explore. We have partnered with One Tree Planted to plant one tree for every passenger that travels with us along with an extra tree for anyone that books multiple trips.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Wheelchair accessible; please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required
Depending on the rules on the day, sometimes a stop can be made for photographs from outside the fence
Time at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is approximately 1.5-hours
For tours with fewer guests, vans may be substituted - wifi and restrooms on full size buses only.
Tours can be bilingual/multilingual as they are offered in many different languages
Children under the age of 2 are free, please advise at time of booking if infant is traveling
Due to security, there is no entry to the White House
Due to security a passport or U.S. ID will be required to enter Arlington Cemetery
Air and space Museum is currently under renovations - entrance is not guaranteed
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Empire Vacations Day Tours - New York
Departing from New York and heading south, pass through the states of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland before arriving at Washington DC's Capitol Hill. Here, your tour will start with a stop at Arlington Cemetery to visit JFK's gravesite. Next, head further into Washington to see the Capitol, Senate, and White House, the heart of the US government. Your tour then continues to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum before visiting the Washington, Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean Memorials for exploration and pictures. Late in the afternoon, you'll embark on a panoramic city tour before departing Washington for an early-evening arrival back in New York City. Please Note: This tour is scheduled to stop in front of the White House, Capitol, and Senate for commentary and photo ops. However, please note that sometimes this is not possible due to security issues. In the event of this occurring, your tour will be adjusted accordingly.
Arlington National Cemetery
Veterans of every American war from the Revolution to the country's most recent conflicts are buried at Arlington, which was officially declared a military cemetery in 1864. Among the more than 260,000 dead are three unidentified service members, buried at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and John F. Kennedy, whose gravesite is marked by an eternal flame. Due to security a passport or U.S. ID will be required to enter Arlington Cemetery
What‘s Included
Entrance to Arlington National cemetery (U.S. ID or Passport required) & Air and Space Museum
Free Wi-Fi on bus only
Transportation by 15-passenger van or a full-sized bus
Air-conditioned vehicle
Restroom on board
Professional tour guide
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Options
Washington DC Tour in English
Washington DC Tour in German
Washington DC tour in Japanese
Washington DC Tour in Spanish
Washington DC Tour in French
Washington DC Tour in Italian
Reviews
2,670 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing!!
athenau2026,May 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Zenaida was an excellent tour guide. We learned so much about US history in a fun and engaging way. We got to see so much of Washington DC in such a short time. But we also saw many interesting points on our drive there. I would totally recommend this trip!
Great tour!
Mihaela N,May 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great tour, Okai was very good and knowledgeable and the driver was the best driver. Outstanding job!
Fantastic one day tour to washington DV
Nishu M,May 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Booking was very easy with viator team Bus was ontime Guide melini was exceptional Driver was brilliant in driving Very smooth and enjoyable trip
Washington DV one day tour
nishumiglani,May 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Viator staff was exceptional in booking trip Tour guide melini was brilliant. She was crisp clear and well organised Driver drover very smoothly I really enjoyed
Day trip to Washington from New York
R7559ALannao,May 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a great tour for us as we are spending 6 days in New York and wanted to visit Washington at the same time. This tour covers the main highlights in one day which was perfect for us. It is an early start and quite a late finish but thoroughly enjoyable. The coach was clean and comfortable and we had a short break at service stations each way , where we were able to grab drinks and food and use the cloakroom. I enjoyed relaxing watching the countryside as we drove through each state. I recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in visiting Washington for the day. Our guide,Yurika was lovely, friendly and so informative. She talked us through the history of how New York came to be, from the first pilgrims to the civil war, to the different States we were passing. It was extremely interesting . She also made the effort to talk to us individually and get to know us as she guided us through each location we visited, taking photos and explaining everything in detail. Thank you to Pablo the driver too !
Amazing tour
sarra990,May 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour was beautiful and interesting, big thanks to charone the guide and driver Jorge who were super professional and kind
Good one day trip
712gregoryk,May 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Guide and driver are very good. Sharon is very knowledgeable, patient and polite.
Cultivate, joy, great visit
ismaellaj2026,May 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent time with Sharon and Georges very attentive and present. I highly recommend this experience.
Great visits
zackanays,Apr 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great guided tour in Washington! The guide was passionate, very professional and knew the history of the city as well as iconic monuments such as the White House, the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. The explanations were clear, interesting and full of captivating anecdotes. The organization was perfect, the pace was pleasant, and we were able to enjoy every stop. An enriching experience that I highly recommend to all those who wish to discover Washington in a pleasant and informative way!
Washington DC
PMBV8,Apr 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Washington was good lots of history, went to the Smithsonian Institution, Visited the Abraham Lincoln statue I loved it. Natural history museum. Not as hectic as NY and LA.
From US$119.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
Related Experiences
Operated by Empire Vacations