VIP Best of DC with US Capitol + National Archives Reserved Entry

4.6 (2,565 reviews) 8 h 30 min Free cancellation

out of 5

2,565 reviews

4.6

Fully Guided by Expert Local Tour Guides — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

A group approaches the U.S. Capitol Building for an insider-access tour. — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Get the presidential treatment with the most comprehensive Washington DC day tour! The tour includes reserved access to the National Archives Building and the U.S. Capitol Building! For smaller groups, fresh air & uninterrupted views, upgrade to our convertible tour bus!

Your tour includes guided stops at the White House (outside only), the National World War II and I Memorials, Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.

After lunch, summer brings the opportunity for a boat ride through Georgetown and the DC Waterfront. The tour price includes a complimentary boat ride, and you will have the opportunity to purchase lunch at one of several waterfront restaurants. In winter, we visit the Pentagon City.

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At a glance

Duration: 8 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 35 people
People per booking: 1–30
Guide: English
Operated by: USA Guided Tours

Ages: Infants (0–2 years) · Children (3–12 years) · Adults (13–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Reserved Entry to the U.S. Capitol Building
Included: English-Speaking Live Tour Guide (on and off the bus)
Included: Boat Cruise on the Potomac River (Seasonal: April 1 to September 30)
Included: Tickets to the National Archives Building
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning: Standard Bus

Not included

Not included: Gratuities
Not included: Hotel pickup and drop-off
Not included: Lunch

Itinerary

U.S. Capitol

one hour Admission included

Reserved entry to the U.S. Capitol Building - the centerpiece of the capital city!
The White House

15 min Admission not included

When arriving at the White House (outside only), you will see the Executive Residence of the President and his family, as well as the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. This stop also includes a walk through the Elipse, otherwise known as the South Lawn.
National World War II Memorial

15 min

Guided tour of WWII Memorial.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial

Passing by

This brand new memorial completed in 2020 is dedicated to massive legacy of President Eisenhower with a large wall depicting the cliffs of Normandy behind the simple memorial designed by iconic American designer Frank Gehry.
Jefferson Memorial

20 min

Guided tour of Jefferson Memorial.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

15 min

Visit the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial – dedicated in 2011 – just across the Tidal Basin.
Georgetown

one hour Admission included

SEASONAL (Apr 1 - Sep 30); in the warmer month, guests enjoy a boat cruise on the Potomac River and can purchase lunch and explore Georgetown.
The Pentagon

one hour

SEASONAL (Oct 1 - Mar 31); The Pentagon City; lunch break & free time
Lincoln Memorial

15 min

Enjoy the iconic memorial up close!
Vietnam Veterans Memorial

15 min

Guided tour of Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Includes walking. This stop is conjoined with the one above.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

15 min

Guided tour of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial, which will transport you back in time to the years of 1933-1945.
The National Archives Museum

45 min Admission included

Delight in reserved entrance into the National Archives Building!
Korean War Veterans Memorial

15 min

A stunning memorial steps away from the Reflecting Pool depicts lifelike statues walking through moss along a wall carved with images in a design inspired by the Penisula itself.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Your VIP experience begins at Neptune Fountain in front of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building.

Address: 68 First St SE, Washington, DC 20004

End point

End of tour

Using your ticket

Climate-controlled buses – closed-top bus or upgrade to convertible glass-top / open-top bus.

Convertible buses switch from open-tops to glass-tops between October and March due to colder temperatures.

You will be able to view the interior of the US Capitol Building and the National Archives Building. Reserved entry is included!

The tour starts at Neptune Fountain in front of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building (address: 68 First St SE, Washington, DC 20004)

Check-in lines may be lengthy- please arrive no later than 8:15 am for a timely check-in.

The boat cruise is seasonal from April 1 to September 30.

In off-peak season (Oct 1 – Mar 31), instead of boat cruise and Georgetown stop, we'll have lunch at the Pentagon City Mall.

The tour price includes a boat cruise, and tourists will have the opportunity to purchase lunch at one of several waterfront restaurants in the summer.

Security restrictions at the US Capitol Building and the National Archives Building prevent any food or drinks being brought through security.

US Capitol visitor policies are designed to keep visitors and staff safe and secure and to preserve the collections, facilities, and historic building and grounds for generations to come.

Before entering the Capitol Visitor Center, all visitors are screened by a magnetometer and all items that are permitted inside the building are screened by an x-ray device.

For the full list of items are strictly prohibited in the Capitol, including the Capitol Visitor Center, please visit www.visitthecapitol.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/prohibited-items

Cancellation

Free cancellation

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

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.
The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

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
Walking is involved to get an up-close look at the monuments (comfortable shoes are recommended)
Strollers may not be accommodated on tour
Security restrictions at the US Capitol and National Archives Buildings prevent any food or drinks being brought through security
During peak season, security lines are long, and as such, arriving ahead of time is highly encouraged
Tour Departure Times Are Subject to Change Due to Local Traffic Conditions
Please Arrive at the Meeting Point No Later Than 8:15 AM For Check-In
No food allowed on buses (snacks are fine!)
The tour price includes a boat cruise, and tourists will have the opportunity to purchase lunch at one of several waterfront restaurants in the summer
Convertible buses switch from open-tops to glass-tops between October and March due to colder temperatures