10 Best Tours in Washington DC

The National Mall is at its grandest in the light of sunset, so check out some of the city's most famous landmarks when they're lit by the floodlights' glow. Visit the memorials to presidents Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln and monuments dedicated to the Civil Rights movement and the wars in Korea and Vietnam. Then, spare a moment to get one of the most famous views across the White House's lawn.

Some of the most venerable pieces of American government are on display on a tour filled with touchstones of national history. At the National Archives, you can see an original copy of the Declaration of Independence, complete with signatures of the United States’ founding fathers, along with the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation that abolished slavery in most of the country. Trace the history of the USA’ democratic principles back to the Magna Carta – complete with a copy of the 1297 charter – before exploring the vast Main Reading Room in the Library of Congress.

See how the stories of African Americans have impacted every era of the United States' history with a look at monuments and living neighbourhoods throughout the city. A local DC guide leads you to landmarks like the home of famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass, along with some of the earliest schools and theatres that were built to serve African Americans. Spend time among the nation’s grandest monument, including the memorials to civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and soldiers who fought in the American Civil War.

Try out the flavours of the District with a visit to Eastern Market, its oldest public market. Your guide helps you find the best in local cuisine, craft goods, and antiques as you walk among the stalls that have been serving residents for more than 200 years. Check out DC’s spin on kimchi (Korean fermented vegetables) and Eastern European desserts, along with fresh locally grown fruits at the farmer’s market, all while mingling with locals and getting a feel for what it’s like to live around Capitol Hill.

Spare an evening for the spooky side of American history with this visit to 8 different locations that are known for their haunted past. You’re introduced to a series of carefully researched tales that take you back to some of the city’s oldest structures as your guides fill in all the context and detail you could hope to find. See DC's iconic landmarks in a new light and take home some eerie tales nearly as old as the United States itself.

Discover the highlights of the Smithsonian’s premier natural history museum with a guided introduction to its most remarkable exhibits. From the actual Hope Diamond to a vivid coral reef recreated in crochet, the museum’s 126 million artefacts and exhibits show you a terrific picture of human history and the living world. You travel among a small group with a dedicated guide who makes sure to help you get your bearings among and discover the best of what the museum has to offer.

Get a look at the foundational moments of America’s past, along with a vision of the future, on a guided tour of Smithsonian’s flagship museums. The Air & Space Museum is home to historic vehicles like the Wright brothers’ first aeroplane, the aircraft Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic, and the spacecraft that carried Neil Armstrong to the moon. Just across the Mall, the Museum of American History preserves artefacts and imagery from the Revolutionary War to the early days of Hollywood and the settings of the Civil Rights Movement.

Experience the 18th-century life at the famed estate of George Washington, the Revolutionary War general and the first American president. Maintained to preserve the original look of the mansion and its grounds, much of the property still stands as a window into the United States’ early years. At its onsite museum and educational centre, you’re given a unique look at the original First Family’s home life.

Take a ride to explore the heart of Washington DC with a cycling trip along the Potomac Trail Basin and around the National Mall. This tour puts you right among the grandest symbols of American government, plus some great views along the waterfront, as you ride along trails that put you right in the middle of it all. Get your photo taken in front of the White House, visit the memorials to presidents Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt, and the spaces dedicated to American soldiers who fought in Vietnam and WWII.

Explore the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery, a national symbol for the sacrifice of generations of Americans who served their country in uniform. Built on land seized from the family of General Robert E. Lee, the cemetery holds more than 400,000 soldiers and veterans who fell in the American Civil War, including US president John F. Kennedy. A trolley carries you through the cemetery grounds. You can hop off at any stop to view the tombs and memorials dedicated to some of the United States’ most celebrated military leaders, along with the servicemen and women who committed their lives to the country.