Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour

From USD 89

4.73

2,895 reviews

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Overview

Available languages

English

Board your glamourous, climate-controlled panoramic bus at the U.S. Navy Memorial for one of the best bus tours in Washington DC!

Expanding on our popular Highlights Tour, this six-hour excursion also includes a lunch break and the opportunity to travel through the Tidal Basin.

See the very best of Washington DC in one day! Enjoy guided walks around the U.S. Capitol Building, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, and more! For a unique experience, this tour includes a leisurely seasonal (Apr 1 to Oct 15) cruise on the Potomac River! In winter, we get to explore the Kennedy Center for lunch where we can see exhibits and galleries, stunning views from the terrace and shop in the gift shops [show your ticket for a discount]!

Upgrade to our convertible tour bus for a unique sightseeing experience with an open-air view when weather permits, and a climate-controlled, glass-top roof for comfort during sudden weather changes!

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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 Apr 1 to Oct 15

Convertible buses switch from open-tops to glass-tops between Oct 15 - Mar 15 due to colder temperatures

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Boat Cruise on the Potomac River (seasonal: April 1 to October 15)

Upgrade to glass-top bus available

English-Speaking Live Tour Guide (on and off the bus)

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Gratuities

Lunch

Options

Upgrade: Glass-Top Bus

Glass-Top Bus: Guided Bus Tour in a Luxury Climate-Controlled Glass-Top or Open-Top Convertible Bus. Lunch Not Included in Price.

Discover DC Guided Bus Tour

Closed-Top Bus: Fully Guided Day Bus Tour in a Luxury Climate-Controlled Bus. Free Bottled Water. Lunch is Not Included in the Price.

Reviews

4.73

2,895 reviews on TripAdvisor

2423

295

A Good Memory
Thomasina J,
Apr 1, 2025
4.00
If using a taxi or Uber services they are not sure where to drop you off even when told. There is no Viator sign. It is a very educational tour and the guide is very knowledgeable. Very friendly and safe environment. I am very pleased with my choice.
Best tour of D.C.
Monique B,
Mar 31, 2025
5.00
Amazing tour! Deion was amazing and had so much knowledge about the D.C. area. We were lucky enough to be in town during the cherry blossom festival and even with the extra crowds, he was absolutely amazing. Maggie our driver was fantastic as well! 10/10!
Brilliant Small Group Tour and History of DC in 6 Hours!
Robin M,
Mar 31, 2025
5.00
A Great Day in DC....The tour begins promptly. If you are driving in there are plenty of parking garages in the area we found the closest to be at 401 9th NW which is a SpotHero garage. On Sundays street parking is not metered and free alll day. DON'T be late as the open top (new and clean) vehicle seats 14 and leaves promptly at 10am whether you are seated or not. There is a lot of ground to cover and you do NOT want to hold up your group or miss any of the stops. The meeting place is a little chaotic as there are a number of tours leaving at the same time. But, the USA Guided Tours ground crew is readily available and proactive in getting you to your post up spot with ease. You will hop on, hop off the vehicle frequently which is an open air, no top--unless needed due to rain. Dress for a breeze or in layers while in motion. You can leave items on the vehicle at each stop. You will walk along with your guide who will give you history, insights, and little known facts about the monuments. The presentation is interactive and conversational on this tour, not scripted and not blasted through the guide's microphone--there are plenty of those tours too. You are always on the move (easy pace) with forward progression so you meet the driver at a different location than where you were dropped. Our guide, Nick, was a maestro at determining the route based on traffic so we did not miss a thing. We even got a little extra treat with a stop in Georgetown for lunch as the designated spot for lunch, The Kennedy Center, was overwhelmed with tourists. Nick knew this ahead of time as our tour was on a Sunday--which is a busy day at the Kennedy Center and asked for permission to reroute us ahead of time. Water is provided on the bus and this is a narrated, small group tour, with the ability to ask questions along the way. Nick our "Tour God" was AWESOME! Corey, was incredible at being at the new meeting spot (which he and Nick coordinated) when we walked up--not one delay waiting on our driver. And, our tour was on the weekend of the peak of the Cherry Blossoms, so the traffic was challenging. Did I say there would be a lot of walking? Wear your most comfortable shoes, not new ones that are not broken in, and heels are definitely not recommended as sometimes you are walking on grass, sometimes on cobblestones and sometimes on concrete. Your most supportive comfortable shoes are recommended because out of the 6 hours you walk for 4 hours. A special thank you to our on-site tour coordinator, Tatum, for making our experience one that exveeded our expectations. Really appreciate the whole USA Guided Tour crew and we will book with this company specifically for our future tours. We had an exceptional experience and we thank you!
Good Tour
Elissa S,
Mar 30, 2025
4.00
Hits all the main sites. Bus/van was comfortable and a glass top was nice. Microphone didn’t work which was disappointing as the guide spoke quickly. Guide joked a lot about wanting to be done with the tour and to no bother him at lunch. Would have preferred that he was a bit more enthusiastic about the tour.
Bucket List check
Laura D,
Mar 30, 2025
5.00
Nick was a great tour guide, knowledgeable, funny, engaging. Whitney navigated the DC traffic expertly and calmly. We had a limited amount of time , this tour gave us the ability to check a lot off our bucket list. Highly recommend, but be prepared for walking and keeping a fast pace.