Washington DC Tours

The dream of many travellers is to see the east coast of the United States and visit Washington, the nation's capital. If you want to enjoy an unforgettable stay and get to know the city in depth, I recommend you take a look at the best tours of Washington DC.

Washington is a city with a lot of history and great monuments, which is immediately apparent from a stroll through its streets.

If this is your first time in the capital of the United States or if you don't have much time in the city, the best way to get in touch with the city and see its main tourist attractions is to take a guided tour of Washington.

Given its size and the sheer number of sights it has to offer, my advice is to take a guided tour of Washington so that a guide can reveal all its secrets while you learn about its history and other curiosities.

There are different types of tours of Washington (on foot, by bicycle, by bus, by boat on the Potomac River...) to choose from that will show you such emblematic places as the White House, the Capitol, the National Archives Museum or the different monuments to such important American leaders as Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson, among many others.

Seeing Washington during a night tour is a fantastic experience that you have to have.

If in the morning it is a dynamic and surprising city, at night it becomes magical and fascinating. In fact, it is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world as its illuminated monuments look stunning under the moonlight.

A night tour of Washington is a plan I recommend you make during your first night in the capital. Watching the sky turn colourful at dusk as the city's skyline gradually lights up is an unforgettable memory.

Accompanied by a guide, you will enjoy Washington's beautiful scenery and its illuminated monuments on a pleasant stroll. Washington is a large city, and so you don't have to walk from one place to another, night tours are usually conducted in comfortable buses.

Once you arrive at your destination, you can get off the bus to get a closer look at the monument, walk around and take amazing pictures while the guide tells you about its history - one of the most beautiful memories you'll take away from your stay!

If you are one of those travellers who love to get to know a city by getting lost in its streets, there is no doubt that one of the best tours of Washington DC you can take is a guided bike tour.

Accompanied by a local guide, you'll not only visit the main tourist attractions of the American capital, but you'll also do a bit of outdoor sport and get to know Washington in an original and fun way.

In fact, I recommend taking a guided bike tour if you 're travelling with your family because the kids will have a blast cycling, hiking and doing something different.

Plus, it's a safe activity because the operators usually provide bicycles adapted to the size of the travellers as well as equipment and helmets for the kids - it'll be an experience they won't forget!

Daytime:

Taking a guided bike tour during the day is a great way to get the pulse of the city and mingle with the locals, who you'll see on their way to work, to school or just out for a stroll.

During the bike tour you'll visit various historical sites and make stops along the route to take pictures of the landscape and monuments while you listen to the guide explain the history and anecdotes of the places you see. A highly recommended plan!

Night:

When the sun goes down, Washington is transformed. The hustle and bustle of the day gives way to the stillness of the night. Sunset is the ideal time to take a guided bike tour of the city, as you'll have the chance to watch the skyline slowly light up and see Washington's main sights in a special light, away from the morning crowds that usually surround you.

One of the coolest things to do during a holiday in Washington is to take a boat trip on the famous Potomac River.

During the itinerary you'll not only see some of the city's most famous landmarks from a completely different perspective, but you'll also enjoy a delicious feast with plenty of partying on board.

If you like the idea of having a fun time cruising, enjoying Washington's scenery, good food and a DJ-driven party, don't miss the post Washington DC City Cruises to discover some of the top cruises that ply the Potomac.

Exploring Washington on a sightseeing bus is a very practical idea, as you can quickly get to know the most important areas of the city while sitting comfortably on the bus.

If you don't have much time to see all the monuments on foot or it's the first time you visit Washington, in my opinion, it's a good way to get a complete overview of the capital of the United States.

In addition, during the tour you can listen to the guide explain the history and curiosities of the sites you see, which gives you the context you need to learn about the city.

If you want to know in detail all about the tour buses in Washington, I recommend you to read the post The best tour buses in Washington DC for more information.

By day

Washington is a big city full of interesting monuments. The quickest way to explore the city is to take a sightseeing bus, which will show you the main tourist attractions along any of the routes that cover the different areas of the capital.

Moreover, with the Hop-on Hop-off system, you can create your own itinerary (hopping on and off at the stop of your choice) and use the vehicle as public transport to move between different parts of the city.

By night

The fascinating thing about Washington DC is that every moment of the day shows you different facets of this beautiful monumental city.

After dark, the monuments slowly light up and the atmosphere of the city changes completely. At night, they glow with a special light and are not usually surrounded by as many tourists as they are in the morning, so the atmosphere is quieter.

Take a seat on the night sightseeing bus tour and relax to enjoy the beautiful scenery that will unfold before your eyes during the tour - seeing the Washington skyline illuminated is a unique and very special experience!

If you're travelling to Washington with a group of friends, this is one of the best tours you can take to explore the city. Designed for small groups of no more than 5 people, you'll be sure to get a personalised tour of the streets of Washington with a local guide who will explain in detail all the sights you'll see.

With an electric buggy tour of Washington you'll see Washington's most iconic historic sites and the city in general from a whole new perspective, so you'll be able to feel the pulse of the city like a local. Sounds great, doesn't it?

Another fun way to get to know Washington is to take a guided Segway tour.

Accompanied by a local guide, during the tour you'll have the chance to see the main tourist attractions of the American capital in a very original and fun way while listening to its history and curious anecdotes.

You may be a little apprehensive about riding one of these vehicles on the street if you've never taken a Segway tour before, but you needn't worry because before you set off you'll receive an extensive training session with your guide to learn how to operate it properly. In addition, the operator of the activity will provide you with the necessary safety equipment so that everything goes smoothly.

If you are looking for a different and original plan to do during your holidays in Washington, I recommend you to take a Segway tour. Especially if you 're travelling with your family because the kids will have a great time driving one of these vehicles themselves, although they must be at least 16 years old to do so. They'll love it!

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The great thing about tours in Washington is that there are options to suit all tastes and budgets.

You can find inexpensive activities such as a bike or bus tour of the city for less than 40 euros or options where for a little more you can take a VIP tour of Washington with access to the Capitol, the National Archives Museum and a short cruise on the Potomac River, which can give you a very complete overview of the city.

The length of tours in Washington varies widely. The shortest tour can last 2 hours while the longest is about 7 hours.

If you have little time to explore the city, I recommend choosing a short 2 or 3 hour tour by buggy, segway, bicycle, cruise ship or tour bus. You'll see the city's most important sites and monuments quickly, comfortably and in a fun way.

In case time is not a problem for you and you can explore the city inch by inch to enjoy the sights and monuments and take lots of pictures, then I advise you to take a guided walking tour of Washington because you will see the capital in detail.

Absolutely. Washington is a city full of history and tourist attractions. To learn about its origins, its role as the capital of the country throughout history or about the curiosities surrounding its monuments, there is nothing better than taking a guided tour where a professional guide will show you the city in a didactic and entertaining way.

Depending on the Washington tour you want to take, there are some tours that will take you inside certain monuments and others where you will mainly see the outside.

In Hellotickets you will be able to compare routes, prices, schedules, availability of tickets and tours in Washington, so you will find the tour that best suits you!