Touring D.C.
When sending a written request, please make sure to include your name, address and phone number, the places you would like to visit, the number of tickets you want and your dates of travel. If you have any questions you may also contact the office by phone at (202) 224-5042.
You can also file a request electronically by the form on this page. Hope to see you soon!
Printable Tour Listings
Download and print a PDF of available tours.
The U.S. Capitol Building
What? Professionally led tour
When? You can schedule your party for a reserved tour of the U.S. Capitol to visit Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. through 4:15 p.m. Tour passes are required and can be requested in advance online at http://tours.visitthecapitol.gov. If you experience technical difficulties, please call the Office of Visitor Services at (202) 226-8000. You may also call the Senate office at (202) 224-5042, and a staff member will enter your request into the online reservation system.
Where? The Capitol Visitor Center, the new main entrance to the U.S. Capitol, is located below the East Plaza of the Capitol between Constitution Avenue, NE and Independence Avenue, NE.
Guided tours of the Capitol begin at the Orientation Theaters on the lower level of the Capitol Visitor Center. Tours will begin with a screening of “Out of Many, One,” a 13-minute film, illustrates how this country established a new form of government, highlights the vital role that Congress plays in the daily lives of Americans, and introduces you to the building that houses the U.S. Congress.
Prohibited Items? Examples include large bags, pocket knives, any pointed objects, sprays, bottles, and cans.
Other? The Visitor Center is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Inauguration Day.
For tours, a limited supply of same-day passes is also available.
Please note that to access the Senate gallery (when the Senate is in session), visitors must still obtain gallery passes from the Washington, DC office located in Room 201 of the Russell Senate Office Building.
visit the U.S. Capitol Guide Services website
(back to top)The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
What? Self-guided tour
When? We can request a reserved tour for you 3 to 6 months in advance to visit Tuesdays through Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. The White House requires groups of 10 or more in order to request a tour, but if you are interested, we will do our best to accommodate your party by partnering with other Congressional offices to form groups.
Where? The Visitor Entrance is located by the East Wing.
All visitors 15 years of age and older must present photo identification.
Prohibited Items? Examples include handbags, backpacks, food, liquids, strollers, cameras, recording devices, tobacco products and personal grooming items including makeup, brushes, combs and lotions. For a complete list, please visit the White House website. Please note that any medications must be identified. There is also no check facility available for visitors.
Other? For additional information on the White House, the White House Visitor Center is located at the intersection of 15th Street and E Street, NW and is open 7 days a week from 7:30 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. No reservations are necessary for the Visitor Center, which provides various programming and information about the White House.
Library of Congress
1st Street, SE and Independence Avenue, SE
What? 50 minute tour.
When? We can request a reserved tour for you 1 to 2 weeks in advance to visit Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m. or 2 p.m. If neither time suits your plans, the Library of Congress offers unreserved public tours at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. free of charge.
Where? The Jefferson Building should be entered on 1st Street, SE, which is immediately across the street from the U.S. Capitol's East Front Plaza excavation work.
Other? The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world and serves as the research center for the legislative branch. In addition to its vast collections of books, maps and manuscripts, the Library of Congress has computers and other research facilities which are free and open to the American public.
visit the Library of Congress website
(back to top)Bureau of Engraving and Printing
14th Street, SW and C Street, SW
What? 40 minute tour
When? We can request a reserved tour for you 1 month in advance to visit Monday through Friday at 8:15 a.m. or 8:45 a.m. For the months of May through August, we can also request 4 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 4:45 p.m. tour times. If none of the aforementioned options suit your plans, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing offers unreserved public tours every 20 minutes from 9 a.m. through 2 p.m. free of charge on a daily basis. However, tickets must be obtained on the 15th Street, SW side of the building on the morning of the desired tour; lines typically form at 6:30 a.m. and doors open at 8 a.m. There is a five ticket maximum per person.
Where? The main entrance is located at the corner of 14th Street, SW and C Street, SW.
Prohibited Items? Examples include large bags such as backpacks. There is no check facility available.
visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing website
(back to top)Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
What? 45 minute tour of Diplomatic Reception Rooms
When? We can request a reserved tour for you to visit Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., or 2:45 p.m.
Where? Enter at 23rd Street, NW and C Street, NW.
Prohibited Items? Examples include strollers, backpacks, briefcases, and packages. There is no check facility available.
visit the State Department website
(back to top)The Pentagon
General Information: (703) 697-1776
The Pentagon is open for tours Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. Tours last approximately 60 minutes, are conducted by uniformed military personnel and entail walking roughly one and one half mile around Pentagon corridors and stairs.
Security information is required in advance and must be approved for assigned group tours. Group tour check-in is at the Pentagon Metro Station entrance off the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s subway line. The tour window is on the left—just inside the entrance in the visitor waiting area.
(back to top)U.S. Supreme Court
1st Street, NE and East Capitol Street, NE
What? 20 to 40 minute tour
When? We can typically reserve a tour for your visit with one week or more of notice. Tours are given on the ½-hour from 9:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. when the court is not hearing a case.
Where? Enter at 1 First Street, NE, which is opposite the U.S. Capitol Building.
visit the Supreme Court website
(back to top)National Archives
8th Street, NW and Constitution Avenue, NW
What? 90 minute tour
When? We can request a tour for you to visit Monday through Friday from 10:15 a.m. through 1:15 p.m.
Where? Please call for more information.
visit the National Archives website
(back to top)National Gallery
General Information: (202) 737-4215 or (202) 842-6176, TDD
The National Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. through 5:00p.m. and from 11:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. The entrances are located on the National Mall between 3rd Street, NW and 7th Street, NW on Constitution Avenue, NW.
The National Gallery is spread over two buildings known as the East and West Wings. Visit the West Wing to view mainly classical art and peruse the East Wing for more modern pieces.
visit the National Gallery website
(back to top)U.S. Botanic Garden
General Information: (202) 225-8333
Program and Tour Reservations: (202) 226-4082 or (202) 225-1116
The Botanical Gardens are free and are open daily from 10:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. The main entrance is located at 100 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
The Botanical Gardens consist of the indoor Conservatory and the outdoor Bartholdi Park. Bartholdi Park is open from dawn until dusk and has entrances on Independence Avenue, SW, Washington Avenue, SW and First Street, S.W.
All ages can appreciate this fascinating living plant museum!
visit the Botanical Gardens website
(back to top)National Mall
General Information: (202) 426-6841
Every year, 25 million people visit the National Mall, which stretches from Capitol grounds to the Lincoln Memorial and is lined with Smithsonian Institution Museums and national memorials honoring the veterans of the two World Wars, the Korean War, and Vietnam War. The National Mall is an especially popular spot during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in April, when its Japanese cherry trees are in full bloom.
visit the National Park Service website
(back to top)U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
General Information: (202) 488-0400 or (202) 488-0406, TTY
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. through 5:20 p.m.
The main exhibit—The Holocaust—spans 3 floors of the museum. On average, the self-guided tourist would spend 3 hours visiting over nine hundred artifacts and numerous video monitors displaying historical footage. Timed passes must be acquired to enter the main exhibit; passes are free. To reserve passes in advance of your visit, please call (800) 400-9373.
The Museum Café is open daily from 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. It offers a variety of sandwiches, soups and kosher meals.
visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum website
(back to top)The Smithsonian
General Information: (202) 633-1000 or (202) 633-5285, TTY
Anacostia Community Museum:
1901 Fort Place, SE
Washington, DC 20020
Arts and Industries Building:
900 Jefferson Drive, SW
Freer Gallery of Art & Arthur M. Sackler Gallery:
Freer; Jefferson Drive, SW at 12th Street, SW
Sackler; 1050 Independence Avenue, SW
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden:
Independence Avenue, SW and 7th Street, SW
National Air and Space Museum:
Independence Avenue, SW at 6th Street, SW
National Museum of African Art:
950 Independence Avenue, SW
National Museum of American History, Behring Center:
14th Street, NW and Constitution Avenue, NW
National Museum of Natural History:
10th Street, NW and Constitution Avenue, NW
National Museum of the American Indian:
4th Street, SW and Independence Avenue, SW
National Portrait Gallery:
8th Street, NW and F Street, NW
National Postal Museum:
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
National Zoological Park:
3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery:
8th Street, NW and F Street, NW
Renwick; Pennsylvania Avenue, NW and 17th Street, NW
Smithsonian Institution Building, The Castle:
1000 Jefferson Drive, SW