VIP Best of DC with US Capitol + National Archives Reserved Entry
Description
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.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Reserved entry to the U.S. Capitol Building - the centerpiece of the capital city!
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.
Guided tour of WWII Memorial.
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.
Guided tour of Jefferson Memorial.
Visit the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial – dedicated in 2011 – just across the Tidal Basin.
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.
SEASONAL (Oct 1 - Mar 31); The Pentagon City; lunch break & free time
Enjoy the iconic memorial up close!
Guided tour of Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Includes walking. This stop is conjoined with the one above.
Guided tour of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial, which will transport you back in time to the years of 1933-1945.
Delight in reserved entrance into the National Archives Building!
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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
Reviews(2,555)
The tour timing is paced well if everyone is able. The number of stops was a good amount as not to make it too much. Water was provided, which was very helpful with heat index more than 90 degrees. The tour was negatively affected by street closures due to the Washington DC Grand Prix. This led to some confusion and a rushed lunch time. Tour guide Sam was excellent. He was able to keep the full group together and moving (5 stars for Sam).
Professional knowledgeable kept great pace friendly. Sam and Richard were amazing. Would recommend 10/10
We only had one day and wanted to see as much as possible. This tour took us too many of the highlights. Nick was our guide and did a great job. He was personable, kept the tour moving and was very knowledgeable.
The tour guide and driver were great. However would recommend giving more than 40 minutes for lunch or options with faster options (fast food).
Very educational. Our guide was fantastic. A great way to see a lot of DC on one day. Highly recommend
This tour was the highlight of our trip. Nick our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable about all the places we visited and kidded with the group the whole day. I was blown away with everything we saw in just one day. And truly loved being told the meaningfulness behind the design of the monuments before we got to them and then having the freedom to just take it in as we were onsite. Early access to the Capital Building was nice. Enjoyed lunch on the wharf at really good restaurant. Our bus driver was absolutely delightful. They kept cold water stocked at all times and reminded us to take use of it to avoid dehydration. We were exhausted by the end of the day so don’t recommend planning anything that evening. Only thing I would change about the trip is taking out the boat cruise and adding Washington Monument instead. Thanks to the team for a great time!
Joey and Evan were fantastic tour guides. Thanks, Evan, for putting us on the open-air bus, and Joey for explaining the monuments. For the bus, it would be nice to give her a microphone so we can hear better from the back.
It's hard to score this tour. I thought the tour guide, Sam, was great - 5 stars. The bus we were put on, was 0 stars! The tour stated A/C Bus, was the main reason I booked this event. We visited DC during the 250th celebration & also during a very hot 103-degree weather! The bus did not have A/C or even a fan. ==> Pink Bus #52! The bus was like an actual oven. It made this tour miserable, and I was counting how much more of this can I take (waiting for the tour to end)! We should have been notified to given options about this bus problem or even given some sort of refund. For the tour itself --- The White House shouldn't even be a stop. Waste of a stop. You can't see anything due to the very large fence. The tour can put it use to another stop or add time for something else. A few days prior to the tour, it was stated that we were not to "River Tour' segment, instead my voicemail stated, we are replacing it with a stop at the Pentagon. This was in reality wrong; it was a stop at Pentagon City at a shopping mall for lunch. Communication needs to be better.
We had a large group ranging in ages from 6 years to 75 years. This was the way to experience the sites. Just enough time at each stop, kids behaved themselves b/c someone else telling them what to do, not mom and dad, telling them where to be and what to do.
Great day seeing many of the main historical attractions and tributes. Well worth the price paid. Our guide, Sam, was outstanding in every way. Knowledgeable, caring to all guests, and kept us on time, without feeling rushed. Excellent job Sam!!
