United States
Things to Do in Washington, DC: Tours, Tickets & Experiences
Washington, DC packs a remarkable amount into a walkable core: the National Mall's monuments and memorials, the Smithsonian museums, and the working buildings of government, all within a few miles of each other.
This guide covers monument and memorial tours, museum visits, Capitol-area experiences, and Potomac River cruises — plus which visits need timed entry or advance booking and which you can simply walk into.
Top experience categories in Washington, DC
Monuments & Memorial Tours
National Mall monuments and memorials by day and illuminated at night.
See optionsCapitol & Government Tours
U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress and White House-area experiences.
See optionsGood to know before you book
- Many Smithsonian museums are free to enter, but some special exhibitions and tours need timed tickets.
- Monuments look different at night — an evening tour is worth a slot even on a short trip.
- Capitol and White House tours have their own booking rules and lead times; check the official process before you plan around them.
Browse everything
Viator lists thousands of tours, tickets and activities in Washington, DC, most with free cancellation windows.