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.
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 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.
Reviews
3,491 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
This was a great tour,...
EVA F,May 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a great tour, our tour, tour guide Sam, and bus driver, Cortez, were terrific. Thanks to you both. I would recommend this tour.
Not happy
mckdds,May 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Very disappointed in not getting into the Capitol visitor center. It was supposed to be part of the tour but the tour guide was over 30 mins late!! We only had one day and it was important to see as much as possible. The bus door kept getting stuck and wasting time. The boat tour without the cherry blossoms was completely unnecessary. Could barely understand the tour bec of the engine noise. Seeing the Pentagon would have been better. The drop off place was changed and I reserved a car to pick us up at 4:30. I asked before booking the car to make sure I gave us enough time. Rather than drop us straight off, the bus went back to the original drop off place and we barely made our ride back. Didn’t need that stress at the end of a long day!!
Positive experience.......
Christopher W,May 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Positive experience.... saved a ton of walking, no way we cover all that in a day! Boat ride was a nice break.
Informative and entertaining
fionamJ4259BM,May 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were lucky enough to score the best tour guide,Nick along with the driver Cortez in Washington DC on our 6hr bus trip.Entertaining ++,incredibly knowledgeable and engaging. Made our stay in Washington unforgettable. Thanks Nick
Great day tour
Mary B,May 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We did the VIP day tour that included all the major monuments plus a couple I didn’t know about, the inside tour of the capital and the national archives and a 45 minute boat tour. It was our first time to DC and this was a great way of seeing all the major sites. Our tour guide Sam was great. Full of inside knowledge about the sites and managed the time line of the day great (along with the driver for the day) I would highly recommend!
See DC The Right Way!
Sunshine56272249779,May 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The experience was amazing. Our Tour Guide, Nick was very knowledgeable about Washington DC and kept us engaged as a group throughout the day. His inside DC tips were invaluable! Additionally, our Driver Cortez was great. He engineered us to our locations throughout the day and was right where we needed after each stop! We would definitely 100% would recommend this tour for anyone coming to visit DC.
If all guides are as good...
Susan T,May 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00If all guides are as good as Brittany was, I would highly recommend this tour. It was packed with all the interesting sites (and sights!) one would want to see; yet, we never felt rushed (except at lunch in Georgetown which was not Brittany’s fault. We had a boat to “catch” for Potomac River part of tour which is another partnered company and we had to stay on their schedule. All in all, I would give Brittany and Cortez (our very able driver) both A+!
6 hour tour of DC, lots of fun
Carolyne F,May 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Lots of walking, boat ride wasn’t really necessary Guide was awesome and we had a beautiful day despite a rain prediction
Excellent, informative...
Tushar P,May 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent, informative tour. Nick, our tour guide is absolute best. Funny, cracking jokes and giving great information
Awesome tour!
X5124UKandrewb,May 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour was awesome! Nick was a great tour guide!
-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