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Online Gift Shop Now Open

Check out our new Online Gift Shop, https://shop.visitthecapitol.gov. All products are Made-in-the-USA, and many are created exclusively for our store. We look forward to welcoming you to the CVC Online Gift Shop.


COVID-19 (coronavirus) Update

The Capitol Visitor Center is closed for tours. All tours are cancelled. We regret any inconvenience this may cause you, and we look forward to welcoming you to the Capitol Visitor Center at a future date.

Plan A Visit

The United States Capitol is a monument, a working office building, and one of the most recognizable symbols of representative democracy in the world.

Visitors are welcome to enter the building through the Capitol Visitor Center, located underground on the east side of the Capitol. You can begin your Capitol experience at the Visitor Center by visiting our temporary exhibits, perusing our Gift Shops or dining in our Restaurant. Please review the U.S. Capitol prohibited items list before your visit.

Guides using translation devices lead foreign language tours each day. Tours in Mandarin and Spanish are offered at 8:40 a.m. Each tour is walk-up only (no advance reservations are accepted). Tours are limited to 50 visitors.

The Capitol Visitor Center, the main entrance to the U.S. Capitol, is located beneath the East Front plaza of the U.S. Capitol at First Street and East Capitol Street.

Tours of the Capitol Book a Tour Make, Modify, or Cancel a Reservation.
Prohibited Items Prohibited Items In order to ensure the safety of visitors and staff and to preserve the collections, facilities and historic buildings and grounds, some items are prohibited at the U.S. Capitol.
Getting To The Capitol Getting To The Capitol Located at the center of Washington, D.C., the U.S. Capitol and other buildings on Capitol Hill are easily accessible via multiple public transportation centers.
Visitor Hours & Info Visitor Hours & Info The Capitol Visitor Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Inauguration Day.
Accessibility Services Accessibility Services The Capitol Visitor Center provides a variety of services for individuals with disabilities including sign language interpreting services and wheelchair loans.
Emergency Evacuation Info Emergency Evacuation Info In the event of an emergency, please follow the guidance of U.S. Capitol Police Officers
Watching Congress in Session Watching Congress in Session Get passes for the Senate and House Visitor Galleries where you can watch Congress in session from your Representative or Senators.
Where To Eat Where To Eat Freshly-made soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees are available at the Capitol Cafe on the lower level.
Where To Shop Where To Shop You’ll find a unique selection of merchandise inspired by the Capitol’s art and architecture at two Gift Shops on the upper level of the Capitol Visitor Center.
Suggested Itineraries Suggested Itineraries Have an hour? Have an afternoon? Make a day of it!
U.S. Capitol Map U.S. Capitol Map Map of the Capitol campus
Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions Answers to questions like how to cancel a reservation
Student Orientation Video Student Orientation Video “A Capitol Moment” videos are bite-sized talks about the artwork and exhibits in the Capitol Visitor Center.
Capitol Visitor Center Indoor Map Capitol Visitor Center Indoor Map Capitol Visitor Center Indoor Map