Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour + boat cruise
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.
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Options
Discover DC with Nick
Discover Washington DC with Nick McCall — "The DC Tour God" — as seen on Netflix's Queer Eye!
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.
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!
Reviews
3,541 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Excellent experience
Rebecca F,May 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Exactly as stated in the description. Really worth the money especially if you only have 1 day to see the sights. We had a great tour guide, Nick, who was incredibly knowledgeable and funny. He also anticipated our needs (bathroom, lunch, etc…). Our driver, Sylvia, was excellent. No food or drink on the bus, except water, which they provide complimentary.
Caring and great customer service!
Carolina S,May 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00There were many roads closed because of a bycycle event in Washington, DC and the metro station near us was closed as well, causing us to be late to our tour. Summer in the customer service line was fantastic! She got hold of the driver and asked them to come back for us after the first stop. The driver Sylvia and the tour guide Nick were so nice and forgiving! Nich was funny and knowledgeable. It was a great experience with my 17 yo and his friend!
Best tour to take hands down!
lisae860,May 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We could not have had a better experience on this tour. Nick clearly has a love of history and what he does. Not only did he relate more history in a memorable and meaningful way but did it with the perfect amount of humor. We hit all the sights mentioned in the description even though the White House is currently closed to visitors we at least got a view of it. He clearly has read and studied many sources of history because we had things told, and pointed out to us, that I had missed or never knew in past visits on my own. I would recommend Nick’s tour to anyone headed to DC
DC Highlights
MariaChristine L,May 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Sam and Mr Parker are the best. They were full of energy and were very knowledgeable. No boring moments. Thank you both. - Maria &Joaquin
The tour was amazing. Got...
Nickel K,May 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour was amazing. Got to see all the national monuments for the first time and learnt about the history of the United States of America.
Joey and Leah were great...
Skilynn L,May 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Joey and Leah were great on the tour. Very informational. I think the time at each spot was perfect in order to keep the tour going.
A Great Tour!
E8483TQsamuelb,May 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great time on the tour with tour guide Nick and bus driver Calvin! We got to see all the big highlights of DC and get pictures.
Worth the money
Julie E,May 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00You will see most of the major monuments and will get a lot of history for your time on the tour. Sam and Lea were great as guide and driver. Very helpful and kind.
Fun DC Tour!
MarisaM419,May 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were on a family vacation from California with our two school aged daughters. We had a blast. Our Tour guide was Elvis, who was so funny and easy to get along with. My husband and Elvis had a blast getting cracking jokes with each other the entire day. There were only our group and another couple on our tour and the other couple did not get off the bus at most stops, so we felt like we had a private tour. We were able to hit all the important monuments we wanted to see and get a feel for for the ones we wanted to go back and spend more time at the following day. Elvis is super knowledgeable and was able to answer any question thrown at him. The complimentary water is a nice touch. I would recommend this tour to others. I saw the other BIG group tours and was glad I booked the smaller more expensive tour. You could really engage with the guide without having to compete with so many people. And because the tour group was so small, Elvis was able to get awesome photos of our family. Our driver was Corey, who was also great. A+
Awesome day in DC👍
Kelly M,May 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide, Sam fantastic and informative! Driver Carlos fabulous! Very smooth, navigating the busy DC traffic and kept us comfortable and helped with on and off👍Pace, perfect! We’re both handicapped and no problems keeping up at all. Would highly recommend this all inclusive tour very knowledgeable details and very enjoyable. Thanks guys for a great time.
-20% off
From US$71.20Was US$89.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
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Operated by USA Guided Tours