Advance Reservations
To visit areas of the Capitol beyond the Capitol Visitor Center, you must make a reservation in advance. Note that tour schedules can fill up quickly, so it is advisable to book your tour well in advance of your visit.
Same-day Reservations and Same-day Tour Passes
Same-day reservations are not available. However, same-day tour passes may be available at the “Public Walk-up” line near an Information Desk located on the lower level of the Visitor Center. During peak visitation periods such as spring and summer, fewer same-day tour passes are available, and there are often longer waits for these passes.
There are several ways to book a tour of the Capitol.
U.S. residents can go directly through the offices of their Representative or Senators. Many Congressional offices offer their own staff-led tours to constituent groups of up to 15 people, and most can assist you in booking a general tour. Use the buttons below to locate and contact a Representative or Senate office for a tour.
Tours can also be arranged directly through the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center using an online reservation system. Click the button below to reserve your tour date and time.
Tour services and organizations with groups larger than 10 participants should use the online reservation system designed for groups to make tour reservations. Student groups may be interested in two inquiry-based student programs at the Capitol that are offered from October through February. Click here to learn more about student programs at the U.S. Capitol.
Guided tours of the historic Capitol begin at one of the Capitol Visitor Center’s orientation theaters with a 13-minute film, "Out of Many, One," which will take you on a journey through our country's struggle to establish the world's first truly representative democracy and introduce you to the magnificent building that houses our Congress. Once inside the historic Capitol, visitors will see the Crypt, the Rotunda, and National Statuary Hall. All tours begin and end at the Capitol Visitor Center.
