Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour
Overview
Available languages
6 hours
Mobile ticket
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 Sep 30) cruise on the Potomac River! In winter, we get to explore the Pentagon City.
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 travel 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 Sep 30
Convertible buses switch from open-tops to glass-tops between October and March due to colder temperatures
If you're driving, there is street parking and garages available near the meeting location, including directly under the Navy Memorial meeting location.
We will meet guests in the front of the Navy Memorial, a large fountain plaza, by the tall navy flags - on Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 7th & 9th St NW. Please note: rideshares tend to bring people to the opposite side of the block.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
United States Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage Center
Starts/Ends
U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Guided Walking Tour of the U.S. Capitol Building (outside only)
What‘s Included
Boat Cruise on the Potomac River (seasonal: April 1 to September 30)
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/Convertible
Duration: 6 hours: 6-hr guided bus tour
Glass-Top Convertible: Small Group Glass Roof Convertible Sprinter Van. Open During the Spring & Summer For Fresh Air!
Discover DC Guided Bus Tour
Duration: 6 hours: 6hrs tour approx
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
3,414 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great day
U1939XTjd,Apr 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience Derek was knowledgeable, friendly, and entertaining. Itinerary was very good as well.
Great experience.
446ji,Apr 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sam was an excellent guide. His enthusiasm and knowledge of American history made the experience even more enjoyable. Cortez was an excellent driver and got us to the memorials on time given construction and traffic.
Money and time well spent
Mobile12430,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fun and educational tour with Sam. Knowledgeable. Check. Funny. Check. Plus, this tour covered all the major DC highlights in a day. Highly recommend!
A Five Star Tour with Viator
Lissa B,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our Guide Brittany was amazing! Her broad knowledge about Washington was so impressive. We covered so many important monumental and memorials throughout the city and she navigated our full bus group with ease. She was efficient, organized, engaging, and friendly. We had a Five Star experience!. Thank you Brittany!!
Blame it on Jefferson
F9725TPjanetm,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Sam, our guide, was a wealth of interesting information. The seats were comfortable and we enjoyed what we experienced …but we made a mistake at the Jefferson Memorial by going to a port-a potty nearby instead of standing in the long lines for bathrooms. We were following another couple who had arranged to meet up with the group after but then we lost them. We were never able to catch back up with our group or find our bus. The phone number to call was hidden under the sticky part of the wrist band so we didn’t find it. It was our fault but lesson learned: don’t lose sight of your tour leader! Also, make note of the phone number on the wrist band before you put it on!
March 30 DC tour
Noel J,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Worth the price. Easy to book. Metro accessible. Brittney and Curtis were good. Did their best to give the group the best experince .
You don't get much time...
Deborah F,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00You don't get much time at each monument. We felt very rushed. You could only hear the tour guide information if you were lucky to be right beside her. There were about 36 of us on the bus, so we missed most of the information.
DC Cherry Blossom city tour.
Garry M,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Informative with manageable walking distances. Our guide Brittany was pleasant and helpful. Our driver Cortez was very skilled and courteous. I would recommend this trip.
Wealth of knowledge
Joyce H,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We visited a lot of sites and our host was great. Dre was knowledgeable i appreciated that wealth of information and history lesson
A Day with Brittany & Cortez
Tina K,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00My family and I booked this tour for last week and we all thoroughly enjoyed it! All of us would highly recommend, especially for those from out of state and don't know where to start. Brittany and Cortez were absolutely incredible during this experience. I cannot recommend both of them enough! Brittany was extremely knowledgeable, charismatic, and hilarious. I learned quite a bit about DC that I did not know before AND I had a great time doing it. As someone who had never been to DC before, this tour allowed me to hit the highlights and feel like I had truly experienced this beautiful city. (There was also ample time at each location to both explore and buy souvenirs for those interested!) Another bonus was the bus! I had actually twisted and/or sprained my ankle the day before the tour, so I was having some difficulty walking around. Had I not been able to experience DC in this way, I would have had trouble moving around and finding everything. Although there is still a decent amount of walking, this tour provides targeted locations/monuments and gives respite between all of the major ones for those who cannot walk quite as much for any reason. Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't say I truly appreciated them as people. Traffic from our hotel was not great that morning, but Brittany and Cortez were willing to wait for my family and I. They definitely could have left and it would have been our fault, but their understanding of the situation made them stand out even more as quality humans. Worth every penny in my opinion!
From US$89.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
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Operated by USA Guided Tours