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Best Tours & activities in Washington DC (2026)

A guided tour is a useful way to make sense of Washington's size and history, especially on a first visit. Old Town Trolley Tours runs a narrated hop-on hop-off loop with 15 stops around the National Mall, which saves a lot of walking between museums and monuments. Its Monuments by Moonlight tour visits the major memorials after dark, when they are lit and the crowds have thinned. DC by Foot offers a wide range of walking tours led by licensed local guides, including a name-your-price night walk around the memorials and routes on Georgetown, Capitol Hill and the Lincoln assassination.

For something more local, Washington Walks leads themed neighbourhood walks that look at African American history, parks, cemeteries and the changing city, with virtual sessions in winter. DC Metro Food Tours combines eating with neighbourhood history in areas such as Capitol Hill, Georgetown, U Street and Little Ethiopia in Shaw. To see the city from the water, Capitol River Cruises runs 45-minute narrated sightseeing cruises from Georgetown every hour. Book walking and food tours a few days ahead, check cancellation terms and wear comfortable shoes, as even guided tours involve plenty of walking.

5 places · Updated October 27, 2026

Our top 3 tours & activities in Washington DC

  1. Old Town Trolley Tours of Washington DC Hop-on hop-off trolley and night tours, National MallNarrated hop-on, hop-off trolley tours with 15 stops around the National Mall, plus a Monuments by Moonlight night tour of the major memorials.
  2. DC by Foot Walking tours, National MallWalking tours led by licensed local guides, from a name-your-price memorials night walk to Georgetown ghosts, Lincoln assassination and Capitol Hill routes.
  3. Washington Walks Neighbourhood walking tours, CitywideA local walking tour company founded by Carolyn Crouch, leading themed walks through Washington's neighbourhoods, parks and history for visitors and residents.

Tour operator

2. DC by Foot

Walking toursNational Mall

Walking tours led by licensed local guides, from a name-your-price memorials night walk to Georgetown ghosts, Lincoln assassination and Capitol Hill routes.

View details — DC by Foot

Tour operator

3. Washington Walks

Neighbourhood walking toursCitywide

A local walking tour company founded by Carolyn Crouch, leading themed walks through Washington's neighbourhoods, parks and history for visitors and residents.

View details — Washington Walks