Our 11 Favourite Washington DC Bus Tours

1.Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus with 18 Stops

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3,848 reviews · 1 hour 50 minutes (approx.) · from $49Our pick

Use a 1-, 2-, or 3-day Big Bus pass to reach Washington DC landmarks from the Washington Monument to Arlington Cemetery. Ride an open-top double-decker with recorded commentary, track buses in the app, and add audio walking tours of Arlington, the Tidal Basin, and Georgetown. Plan for weather and possible waits between buses.

“It was absolutely amazing. It made our trip to Washington DC memorable. There are many stops and all very important , the bus is very punctual and the audio tour is nice and complete.”

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2.Washington DC Hop-On Hop-off Trolley Tour with 15 Stops

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2,599 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $48

Ride a fully narrated Washington DC trolley past the Capitol, White House, memorials, museums, and The Wharf. Hop off where you like, then rejoin the route later. Guides such as Joe Moe, Birdie, Rooster, and Everett add humor and local detail, while a seven-language app helps non-English speakers follow along.

“Great information . Friendly drivers. Window covers couldn't go up or down. Could get off and stop at as many places as you want”

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3.DC: Hop-On Hop-Off with 17 Stops plus Arlington Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 2,238 reviews · from $49

Ride Big Bus DC’s open-top double-decker through 17 stops near the National Mall, White House, Capitol, and memorials. Hop off at your own pace, use the app to track buses, and add a two-hour Arlington Cemetery walk at 1 PM with a local guide on 48 or 72-hour tickets. Audio commentary is available in English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese.

“Excellent! Definitely doing again when I go back to DC.”

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4.Big Bus DC: Monuments & Memorials Night Tour by Open-top Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,174 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $49

Ride an open-top double-decker through Washington DC for about two hours, passing the White House, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam and Korean War memorials, and Iwo Jima. You get a 15-minute Lincoln Memorial photo stop, recorded commentary in multiple languages, and first-come seating. The tour returns to its starting point.

“Really enjoyed seeing DC and the monuments lit up at night. Gave a different view of things for sure. Guide was knowledgeable and informative. I’d recommend this tour and would do it again.”

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5.Arlington National Cemetery Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 744 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $21Best value

Ride a narrated trolley through Arlington National Cemetery, stopping at JFK’s grave, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington House, and more. Your one-loop pass lets you hop off to explore, then board the next trolley. Guides such as Robert, Russell, and Lisa are praised for clear stories and helpful direction.

“Very humbling and beautiful place. Everyone needs to experience everything Arlington offers the people there were knowledgeable and courteous!”

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6.Washington, DC: Hop-On Hop-Off Old Town Trolley City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 647 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $48

Ride Old Town Trolley through Washington with live English narration, stadium seating, and 25 hop-on stops. Guides such as Sarge, Hollywood, Sasha, and Ms. Behavin have earned praise for their humor and local detail. Add the 45-minute Arlington Cemetery tram tour, and use the app for GPS tracking and seven foreign languages.

“loved that we could get on and off as often as we wanted. the interactive map for the stops wasn't working and we had a hard time finding the stops. Most stops didn't have a sign for the trolly either”

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7.DC: Open-top Monuments and Memorials Sightseeing Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 443 reviews · 2 hours · from $49

Ride an open-top Big Bus through Washington, DC after dark, passing the White House, National Mall, Arlington Cemetery, Capitol, and tidal basin memorials. You get a 15-minute Lincoln Memorial photo stop, digital commentary, and an optional 24-hour hop-on hop-off ticket. Arrive at Union Station by 6:15 PM for the 6:30 departure.

“Awesome experience! Our tour guide was Gale and she did a great job! It was so neat to see the city at night. Would for sure recommend this activity as it covered a lot of the monuments without all the walking.”

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8.Bus Tour to the Highlights of the Capital

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 373 reviews · 4 hours · from $47Top rated

Start at the U.S. Navy Memorial and tour Washington DC by comfortable bus, with live English commentary and short walks at the Capitol, White House, Lincoln Memorial, and major memorials. Guides such as Wil, Evan, Christopher, and Jack are known for clear stories, while complimentary water helps on warm days.

“This was an excellent tour! One of the best we’ve taken! Brittany was our knowledgeable guide. She had a wealth of information and made the trip fun and enjoyable. Calvin, our driver, was superb in the DC traffic and detours! They were a great team. Would highly recommend this tour!!”

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9.National Mall Night Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 313 reviews · 3 hours · from $55

Start at the U.S. Navy Memorial and ride through Washington, DC, after dark, stopping at the Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, war memorials, and more. You get live English commentary, photo time, and a choice of climate-controlled or convertible glass-top buses. Guides such as Dion, Deon, George, and Sam are known for lively historical storytelling.

“The tour was amazing and the rain ponchos were incredibly appreciated however the White House stop was SO FAR away from the White House, I could barely see it and it especially didn’t show up well on photos. I understand this could be a logistical thing but just something to note if seeing the White House up close is a huge consideration for your travels. Otherwise, the guide was excellent and more than willing to take photos and I would recommend!”

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10.D.C: Monuments & History Guided Open-Air Bus Tour-Day &Night

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 92 reviews · from $40

See Washington’s major monuments in two hours from a stylish, climate-controlled van. Guides such as Fernando, Breanna, and Sully explain the people and events behind the White House, Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and more. Expect several brief photo stops, English commentary, and an efficient introduction to the city.

“Fernando was an amazing tour guide. He gave us so much information, but also made the whole tour fun for us all. Thank you for a wonderful day in DC!!”

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11.DC: Hop-on Hop-off, Arlington Walking Tour, and Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 36 reviews · from $75

Use a 24, 48, or 72-hour Big Bus pass to visit DC landmarks at your own pace, then join a two-hour Arlington Cemetery walk and a two-hour sunset tour. You will see the White House, Capitol, National Mall, Lincoln Memorial, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and illuminated monuments. The cemetery walk operates in September and October.

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