From historic venues to city parks, you’ll have the opportunity to experience and explore Washington DC, which is much more than just a capital city on the Potomac River. Airbnb experiences feature local hosts who are experts in their niche. You can always take a tour of DC and explore its historic monuments and buildings, including Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the White House, the Smithsonian Institution, as well as take the pictures like a proper tourist. Or, you can join a themed tour with surprise twists, participate in a photo safari, and visit places where ghosts roam and spies practiced their trade. So if you’re looking for such unique experiences, we’d recommend signing up for these top Airbnb experiences in Washington, DC.
1. Find 70+ secret doors in historic DC mansion
If you’ve always suspected that museums and old houses have secret doors, then you’ll be proven right at O Museum in The Mansion. This gem of a place in DC challenges participants to find more than 70 secret doors. Updated safety measures are in place so you can focus on the task at hand. You’ll get instructions from one of three hosts who are well versed in local history and the stories behind the artifacts on exhibit. The self-guided tour offers enough diversion to keep adults and children occupied for hours (find as many doors as you can!) You can ask the host to book you to stay in one of the rooms, if you’re into an immersive Airbnb old mansion experience.
Book Tours : Explore Secret Doors & Themed Rooms
2. Check out the murals that brighten the streets of Black Broadway
Tim is an Airbnb experience host offering an outstanding account of Northwest Washington DC’s U Street Corridor. He isn’t just bringing folks to the Lincoln Theatre, where Duke Ellington played piano. U Street was the entertainment hub for Black Americans back then. It’s still a hip place, and perhaps the most eclectic stretch of the capital. Tim will tell you about the politics behind murals you’ll see, and show you how U Street/ Black Broadway looked like in its heyday. Tim is a licensed tour guide who worked as a museum educator and civics teacher, so you’re in for a unique narrative of local art and music history. He’d be talking about heritage and how the back alleys you’re walking on influenced the nation. He’s got an interest playlist for the tour so that’s a great treat for the musically inclined.
Book Tours : Art & Soul of Black Broadway
3. Immerse in a character-driven & scandalous tour of DC
What’s the biggest scandal that toppled a presidential Cabinet and made the Founding Fathers turn in their graves? You might not find an account in the history books so let your host tell you. Edward is articulate and larger than life, and he has prepared an intriguing tour of the White House and Lafayette Square. The stories you will hear span decades of presidential intrigue, and he has a few shocking revelations from the Civil War era, too. The host of this Airbnb experience worked as a speechwriter for a former POTUS and dabbled in comedy, satire and historical writing as well. You can expect a fascinating time with him, so why take a proper tour of DC when you can go for a scandalous one?
Book Tours : White House Tales of Scandal & Intrigue
4. Bring a flashlight for a spooky night out in Georgetown
Captivating ghost stories around a campfire can give you goosebumps. But why wait for a chance to go to camp if you can already visit haunted places like the Old Stone House and Exorcist Steps? Georgetown is the home of Airbnb hosts and ghost aficionados, Canden, Rebecca and Dan. They know where the haunted houses are (more than one, yes). You’ll learn some historical bits and architectural notes on the side, but the tour will mostly be an account of supernatural events in the area. Ghost stories are usually associated with revenge and love lost so you’re in for a very creepy night out.
Book Tours : Experience the Ghosts of Georgetown
Washington Tour Guide
Annie Leguennec
My name is Annie. I am a local Tour guide based in Philadelphia enjoying fully what the city has to offer with its deep history, street arts, murals, architecture, traditional food, black history, Farmer Markets, green space, a melting pot of neighborhoods and its great locals. I am looking for to welcome you and show you this incredible city where you will gain a better understanding of the ci... Read more
Tours by Annie
Washington Tour Guide
Stephanie Eley
I'm a graduate of ITMI, International Tour Management Institute and 17 years as a licensed Tour Director and Program Director. My expertise began in NYC and Washington, DC where I'm a licensed guide and has expanded to Europe, South America, Cuba and the Western / Southwestern National Parks of the US. I'd love to introduce you for a day or a week to Denver, Colorado and the 4 corners region of... Read more
Tours by Stephanie
5. Take in-field instruction from a seasoned architectural photographer
A Washington DC holiday should have great photographs of the White House, the Reflecting Pool, and key landmarks at the National Mall. What if you can go on a photography safari with E.David, a professional photographer and take pictures under his supervision? This unique Airbnb experience in DC starts with a photography orientation at Lafayette Park. From there, you can forgo auto settings and make great choices for the shots you want to take. The in-field three and a half hour training session include a photographer’s trick for a customary Union Station shot. If you have a high-end Canon or Nikon DSLR (or a camera phone), this is one walking tour you don’t want to miss.
Book Tours : The F Stops At Washington Photo Safari
6. Embark on a personalized spy hunt with a CIA veteran
The game of smoke and mirrors is afoot! If you can spare an hour and a half, then you’re welcome to learn previously hidden truths about the Georgetown spy community. The homes of key figures of Cold War espionage are part of the itinerary, as well as places associated with modern-day whistleblowers. The host of this captivating Airbnb experience is Rosanna, a CIA Operations Center veteran, licensed tour guide, and currently a member of Atlas Obscura, a community of explorers from different countries. History buffs would appreciate the layers of perspective Rosanna’s accounts will give about landmark events in the past.
Book Tours : The Spies of Georgetown
7. Eat and drink your way through DC's tastiest neighborhoods
Who is the best person to ask about the best tasting rooms and year-round farmers markets in DC? Our vote goes to April. She’s a writer and artist, who’s into the locavore movement. She’s also a wild food forager, community gardener, and an Airbnb host. She might reveal more about her interesting lifestyle as you visit a centenarian brewmaster and the Farmer’s Market in Dupont. April will bring you to places to sample local treats and maybe buy a few souvenirs, too. When you come across historical landmarks, you’ll be hearing an account of them as well. It’s bound to be the tastiest afternoon you’ll spend in DC!
Book Tours : Farmers & Brewers Tour
8. Soothe your mind, body and soul at Rock Creek Park
Marcella, a Reiki practitioner, will be waiting for you at Rock Creek Park, the third national park established in the United States. You’ll be spending two hours on one of the trails for this Airbnb experience. The objective of the tour is to reconcile you with your center and re-energize you. A 15-minute guided meditation session led by Marcella would bring you to a calm and relaxed state. Walking under the trees, over rock bridges, and along waterways soothe the mind, body, and soul. By the end of it, you could ask Marcella for a reiki healing session or oracle card reading. The tour ends at Pierce Mill, a water-powered grist mill built in 1820.
Book Tours : Healing Nature Experience
9. Go on a vegan tour
Dare to sit down for an elevated plant-based course at the Equinox Restaurant (est. 1999) owned by a James Beard Award nominee. Chef Todd Gray himself prepares the food and greets guests. If you’re vegan and excited about this, you might get a serving of spiced eggplant chips to wake up those taste buds. If you’re a carnivore, it’s time to discover inventive, flavorful, and texture-rich vegan dishes like slow roasted delicata squash with native rice (yummy and filling!). Cauliflower and autumn vegetable tempura could make an appearance on the night’s menu. Expect to be seated comfortably in a relaxed environment as you sample an artichoke dish with red pepper aioli and Italian parsley. Try a vegan dessert for the first time and enjoy every wine pairing for a singular Airbnb experience in Washington DC.
Book Tours : 5-Course Vegan Tasting Experience
10. Learn about the American society, history and politics
Wear comfortable sneakers when you take on this two-hour tour slash debate around the nation’s capital. It starts in front of the Capitol Building and your guide (Tim, or any member of his Airbnb team) will gladly start the dice rolling and dictate the pace. If you’re interested in local socio-political commentary and American international relations, you may take this tour and skip a few history book pages. The tour is intended for people who are fascinated by the inner workings of American politics and society. You’ll learn a handful of trivia about the federal government and its key figures. You’ll also take home a new perspective on DC politics from passionate locals who know their history by heart.
Book Tours : Politics Discussion on Capitol Hill
See Washington DC through the eyes of passionate locals
There’s a better way to experience the nation’s capital than just ticking off a list of landmarks and posing in front of them for a souvenir shot. You can choose the kind of adventure you prefer and see Washington DC up-close and personal by signing up for the above listed unique Airbnb experiences in Washington DC.
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