Free Guided Tours given by Friends of the Kennedy Center Tour Guides

"Thank you so much for my "private tour" of the Kennedy Center. Your knowledge and time were appreciated. The Center truly epitomizes President Kennedy's mission to make the performing arts available to everyone. With individuals like you striving to inform and educate both visitors and locals alike, I see an extraordinarily successful future for the Center."
----From a grateful tourist

Tour Hours

Weekdays: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Weekends: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Public Tours begin approximately every 10 minutes. Walk-ins are welcome.

Group Tours (20 or more) can book a private tour by calling the Visitors Center at (202) 416-8340, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Group tours are scheduled every half hour until 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 12:30 p.m. weekends.

On Display

A tour of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, situated on the banks of the Potomac River, is a highlight of any visit to Washington, D.C. As the nation's performing arts center and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, the Kennedy Center welcomes three million visitors annually. The tour highlights the historic events that led up to the establishment of a national cultural center, as well as an interactive exhibit on the life and presidency of John F. Kennedy.

The tour also includes the majestic Hall of States Hall of Nations and five of the Center's main theaters, including its three grand performance halls (the Concert Hall, Opera House, and Eisenhower Theater). From the magnificent Opera House chandelier, a gift from Austria that measures 50 feet across, to the 3,700 tons of marble from Carrara, Italy, lining the walls of the Hall of Nations, to the gorgeous Israeli Lounge, these gems reflect the many extraordinary gifts from the governments of more than 60 countries that make the Kennedy Center truly an international destination. Also featured on the tour are works of art by renowned 20th century artists, including Lucien Wercollier's Ascension and Dame Barbara Hepworth's Figure. For a viewing of all the gifts on the tour, click here.

The tour concludes with a breathtaking 360-degree view of the nation's capital from the Center's Roof Terrace.

International Services

For international visitors, tours of the Kennedy Center can be provided upon advance request in French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish. In addition, the written tour script is available in 12 languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish.

For more information or to book a group tour of 20 or more, please call (202) 416-8340 or TTY (202) 416-8524.

If you would like to learn more about the Kennedy Center in the following languages, we have informational brochures available for viewing online.