10 Best Viator Tours In Washington DC - Updated 2024

Sowmya
Sowmya  
Updated
| 4 min read

There is so much to see and do in Washington DC, that it can get very quickly overwhelming for visitors. The capital city of the US is immersed in history, and its numerous monuments, memorials, and museums showcase it in a wonderful fashion. But there’s much more to the city than historical sites such as beautiful river views and a thriving dining scene. Discovering and getting around these sights become easier with guided tours. Often they include a guide who helps you gain a better appreciation of the places of interests. Here is a selection of the best Viator tours In Washington DC that guarantee the best coverage of DC’s top attractions.

1. Enjoy a dinner cruise on the Potomac River (from USD 144.0)

Enjoy a relaxing evening aboard the Odyssey a top class dining ship featuring elegant glass atrium dining rooms that will give you amazing river views of the some of the most famous monuments of Washington DC such as the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery as you dine. Later, chill out at the open-air observation deck to take in the beautiful sights, or if you feel like it shake a leg on the dance floors. The dinner will be a sumptuous three-course meal across tastings, entrees, and desserts. An ideal choice for those looking for a romantic evening!

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Washington DC Premier Dinner Cruise

Duration: 3 hours

330 reviews

2. Explore with the Big Bus Washington DC hop-on hop-off tour (from USD 54.0)

Hop on Hop off buses offers a fun way to explore a city. They combine convenience and flexibility as you can explore attractions at your leisure without having to worry about transportation. In this tour, you will drive through several of Washington DC’s top attractions such as the National Mall and the Washington monument. Get off at any of the 40 stops across three routes and sightsee at your pace. You have the choice of buying either a one-day pass or a two-day pass. The two-day pass includes admission to Madame Tussaud’s Washington DC and a night tour.

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Washington DC Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, Wax Museum Admission

Duration: 2 hours

2921 reviews

3. Enjoy a comprehensive monuments tour (from USD 129.0)

If you are a history buff but short on time, then you ’ll love this tour. As a part of it, you receive VIP-like priority access to two major attractions - the United States Capitol and the National Archives Building. In between, you’ll tour through some of the city’s most famous landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial on a tour bus as well as make a stop for lunch (included).

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VIP DC: Capitol, National Archives Priority Entry; Sights Tour

Duration: 8 hours 30 minutes

1916 reviews

4. Enjoy brilliantly illuminated monuments on a night tour (from USD 64.0)

Beautifully-lit monuments make night tours a visual delight. In this tour, you will drive past a host of floodlight monuments across Washington DC in a luxury coach having panoramic windows. A knowledgeable guide will give you the fascinating background and history of these monuments and the city itself. You will also get a chance to get off at key monuments like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Lincoln Memorial for photo opportunities.

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Washington DC 'Monuments and Memorials' Guided Night Tour

Duration: 3 hours

4400 reviews

5. A tour of Washington DC’s top breweries (from USD 119.0)

Go beyond the usual touristy spots with this tour of Washington DC’s award-winning breweries. Lasting for five hours, you will visit four of the city’s top brewpubs and get an inside look at how beer is made with an expert guide showing you around. You will get a chance to chat with the owners of the breweries and observe the process first-hand. The tour also includes a sampling session featuring 15 to 20 beers as paired with pub essentials like hickory-smoked ribs and buffalo wings. Pick from either an 11 am departure or a 5 pm one.

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Washington DC Brewery Tour with Expert Guide, Food Pairings

Duration: 5 hours

82 reviews

6. View key monuments with this full day tour of Washington DC (from USD 44.0)

This full day tour will leave you with an in-depth appreciation of Washington DC’s major historic landmarks. It starts with a walk around in Arlington - you will visit the National Cemetery, witness the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns and visit the gravesite of the Kennedy family. In the next leg of the tour, you will be taken to several top monuments and memorials in a coach bus with the guide sharing interesting facts and insights about each.

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Arlington Cemetery Guided Morning Walking Tour

Duration: 2 hours

90 reviews

7. Explore Georgetown and its dining scene (from USD 79.0)

With this ‘eat like a local’ tour, you’ll discover eating joints in the historic neighborhood of Georgetown that you might have missed otherwise. A top pick for the foodies, here you will walk for around 2.5 km (1.5 mi) to visit a set of carefully selected establishments exploring different types of cuisine. There will be a stop every 20 minutes and you’ll enjoy 4 or 5 samples plus a beverage at each. In between the stops, your guide will share insights about Georgetown, its culture and also its architecture.

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Georgetown Foodie Tour and Neighborhood Walk

Duration: 3 hours

343 reviews

8. Get a close look at George Washington's hometown, Mount Vernon (from USD 56.0)

Take a trip to the hometown of George Washington, Mount Vernon, Virginia in a comfortable coach bus in this 4.5-hour tour and get the opportunity to explore the historic home of the First President. As a self-paced tour, you can explore the house, outbuildings, museums, burial grounds, and the gardens/forest trails on your own. On your way there, the bus will go through several interesting sites like General Robert E. Lee’s Boyhood Home and Historic Carlye House with your driver/guide offerings insights and information on each.

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Half Day Tour to Mount Vernon from Washington DC

Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes

10 reviews

9. Visit the exciting International Spy Museum (from USD 26.0)

Fascinated by the world of spies? A James Bond fan? Then be sure to plan a visit to the International Spy Museum in Washington DC. This museum has the biggest collection of espionage-related items in the world that include really cool spying gadgets, cameras, bugs, and weapons. In this tour, you will get to learn about the history of undercover agents such as Julia Child and explore themed rooms, as well as engrossing interactive displays. You can even self-test your spy skills as you browse through the many riveting artifacts of the museum.

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International Spy Museum Admission

Duration: 2 hours

216 reviews

10. Take the Washington DC Segway tour for a different experience (from USD 75.0)

This super fun tour is extremely popular for a reason – you zip around several of the top sights of Washington DC on a Segway, learning about the history and significance of key monuments like the U.S. Capitol Building, the National Museum of Natural History, and the Lincoln Memorial. Led by an experienced guide, the tour is an adventurous and exciting way to explore the sights. Rest assured you are given adequate time to get comfortable on the Segway so the actual tour remains safe and enjoyable.

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Washington DC Segway Tour

Duration: 3 hours

367 reviews

Experience the rich history of Washington DC

There are as many tours as your interests, so pick ones that make the best use of your time and give you chance to explore all the attractions that make Washington DC special.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Writing and travelling both bring joy to Sowmya's life. Her favourite destination so far is Bhutan - a land of incredible beauty! And her favourite style of travelling is solo backpacking!...Read more

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