If you want to learn more about US history, Washington DC is one of the best cities in the world, seeing as it’s the country’s capital. Sightseeing is absolutely a requirement, but did you know one of the best ways to experience the capital is at night?
It’s true – it’s more relaxed as there are less crowds, meaning you have many of these attractions all to yourself.
We’ve taken it upon ourselves to bring you the top Washington DC night tours available, so you don’t have to worry about any safety concerns, or wonder if you missed any of the major sites. Let’s get started!
Best Night Tours of Washington DC
| Perfect Private Night Tour of Washington DC | Washington DC Evening Tour | Washington DC Night Tour with Hotel Pickup | |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Private Tour | Best Small-Group Tour | Best Budget Tour | |
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| Departure: | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Hotel pickup and drop-off included |
| Start: | 7:30 pm | 7:00 pm | 6:00 pm |
| Duration: | 3 hours | 3 hours | 4 hours |
| Includes: | Professional guide, Bottled water, transportation | Guide, Transport by air-conditioned minivan | Bottled water, Driver/guide, Transport by air-conditioned, luxurious mini-bus |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Washington DC Night Tours For 2024
- Perfect Private Night Tour of Washington DC
- Washington DC Evening Tour
- Washington DC Night Tour with Hotel Pickup
- Washington DC Sites at Night Bike Tour
- Washington DC Private Night City Tour
Washington DC Night Tour Reviews
1. Perfect Private Night Tour of Washington DC
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 7:30 pm
- Includes: Professional guide, Bottled water, transportation
Let’s kick things off with the Perfect Private Night Tour of Washington DC. This 3-hour tour takes you through the beautifully-illuminated city as you learn all about its history from your local guide.
This isn’t any ordinary tour either – you get to customize your itinerary to your specific interests to leave out the fluff and get to the good stuff!
Your guide, will pick you up at 7:30 pm at your hotel, so there’s no need to book separate transportation. We found the guides to be fantastic hosts, but also incredibly knowledgeable right from the very beginning.
Expect tons of historical background to give insight into each spot, but also unique facts and stories that you won’t learn about in school.
Your first stop of the evening is the US Capitol, which is pretty impressive to see in person as most of us have grown up seeing it everywhere.
You’ll have time to take some photos before heading over to the National World War II Memorial, which is also quite moving. Up next are the Jefferson Memorial and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial where you’ll learn about these important men in history.
Even if you aren’t a veteran or know one, you’re sure to find the US Marine Corps War Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and Vietnam Veterans Memorial to be intriguing.
The guides make it so intriguing, that we would recommend this tour to anyone bringing children along who may usually be bored with these kinds of tours. With a clean, nice car to transport you, water bottles, and vast knowledge, you’re sure to have a great time like we did!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
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2. Washington DC Evening Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 7:00 pm
- Includes: Guide, Transport by air-conditioned minivan
It’s safe to say that there are a lot of people out there who know a lot about Washington DC. However, we still doubt there’s anyone as knowledgeable about the city as the guide we had for our Washington DC Evening Tour.
They transform what could’ve been a boring bumbling about of monuments into a lively story filled with a genuine passion for teaching the history of the capital and entire country.
This is one of those tours that make you realize the value of one. Sure, you could see all of these memorials and sites on your own, but without the knowledge and anecdotes behind them they wouldn’t have this kind of impact.
Start off by getting picked up by a comfortable, climate-controlled minivan right from your hotel lobby and set off into the night with the rest of your group!
Right away, we noticed that the guide was a very safe driver and knew exactly where to go to avoid any traffic in order to maximize our time. You can choose if you’d rather just drive by and stay in the van while seeing certain sites, or get out and walk around, take photos, etc.
Your first stop is likely going to be the imposing White House, where you’ll learn how the building itself came to be, and how it’s changed over the years.
Check out the US Marine Corps War Memorial based on the famous Joe Rosenthal photo and the Jefferson Memorial dedicated to the first author of the Declaration of Independence (and 3rd US president).
Next, you’ll see a memorial dedicated to another renowned presiden as well as veterans of the Korean and Vietnam warst: the Lincoln Memorial. Last but certainly not least, take some time at the Pentagon Memorial which is dedicated to the victims of the 09/11 attack at the Pentagon.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
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3. Washington DC Night Tour with Hotel Pickup
- Duration: 4 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 6:00 pm
- Includes: Bottled water, Driver/guide, Transport by air-conditioned, comfortable, luxurious mini-bus (seats 14 passengers)
This next one is just a little bit more indepth, and an hour longer than the previous 2 tours. You’ll get to see not only the most commonly-viewed tourist spots, but more of Washington DC as a city.
The Washington DC Night Tour with Hotel Pickup is a fantastic way of learning about The District’s history and modern-day way of life.
As you could probably gather from the title, your tour starts off at 6:00 pm with a hotel pickup. Your transportation for the evening is a luxurious mini-bus which fits a maximum of 14 passengers – not to mention we appreciated the complimentary bottled waters.
Thanks to the small group size, you get to customize your itinerary based on your party’s specific interests!
Just like most of the DC tours, your first stop will be the White House, which is usually the number 1 box to check on tourist’s lists. Next up, you’ll see the various veteran/war memorials before checking out Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and will pass by the Potomac River.
Stop at the Washington National Cathedral, which features some incredible architecture and has hosted the funerals of various presidents.
You’ll see the Air Force Memorial, MLK Jr., Franklin Roosevelt Memorial, and others that are magnificently illuminated by night. We also enjoyed our time perusing Chinatown, which was once home to thousands of Chinese immigrants (today, fewer than 300 live here).
This beautiful and informative tour put on by a true expert will surely give you an amazing experience you have to repeat!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Washington DC Sites at Night Bike Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: 998 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC
- Departure Time: 4:30 pm or 6:30 pm
- Includes: Three hour fully guided tour, Comfort bike rental, Helmet, Safety lights, Reflective vest, Equipment for kids of all sizes and ages
This 3-hour tour does cover a distance of 4 miles which may sound like a lot, but it’s perfect for the entire family – no matter the age! Your bike rental and all safety equipment, along with reflective vests and lights, are all included.
As this will be by bicycle, you’re not going to have a hotel pickup this time but will meet your guide at The Wharf DC offices right next to most of the main tourist sites.
Start by putting on all necessary gear after being fitted to the right bike, anad head off to the National Mall where the vast majority of your tour will occur. The Washington Monument is usually the first to see, and you’ll learn about why it’s 2 different shades of stone.
The White House is next, and if you have the time, you can stop and take photos – just know that you won’t be able to go inside.
We enjoyed the ride through the Constitution Gardens before seeing the Vietnam Women’s and Veterans Memorial (both of which are dedicated to those who served in Vietnam). There are also many other memorials along the way, and your guide will give you exciting insight to each one.
Overall, this is a great way to get a general overview of the city’s history, without going too in-depth on a budget.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Washington DC Private Night City Tour
- Duration: 4 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 8:00 pm
- Includes: Private tour, Bottled water, Driver/guide, Transport by private vehicle
If that sounds like fun to you, do yourself a favor and book the Washington DC Private Night City Tour, as it does sell out fast!
At 8:00 pm, your guide will pick you and the rest of your party up from your hotel. All transportation takes place in a nice private car, and with a maximum group size of just 6 people, you don’t have to deal with big groups of people you don’t know.
Sip on your complimentary bottled water as you enjoy a traffic-free tour through the city’s monuments all glittery and lit up.
You’ll have some stops at the Washington Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, and many other importance DC landmarks. Taking your specific interests into consideration, you’re sure to enjoy this customized tour.
The guide is so much more than someone who just rattles on facts that you could get anywhere in a history book.
Rather, they tend to have their own experiences – whether it be simply from growing up and living in DC or even from working at the Pentagon during 9/11.
While they do a fantastic job of offering interesting facts and stories about each location, they’re great at answering any questions you may have. We can’t recommend it enough!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Washington DC Sights
Located on the Potomac right between Maryland and Virginia, Washington DC has an incredibly rich history. Let’s take a look at the sights you can expect to see on your DC night tours! What’s really convenient is that the monuments are open 24 hours a day, so you’ll still be able to see everything you would during the day, with less crowds!
United States Capitol/Capitol Hill
We all know what the Capitol looks like, but the massive dome is still cool to see in real life. It’s changed quite a bit over the years, and you’ll learn which additions are most recent and where presidents take the oath.
Lincoln Memorial
Perhaps the most beloved memorial of all, the Lincoln Memorial is quite a sight – even more so at night! The massive 19-foot Lincoln is in the center of 36 columns – one for each of the 36 states that existed when he passed away. It’s also important, considering it was where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I have a dream” speech in 1963.
National Mall and Veterans Memorials
This large greenbelt is perfect for taking a stroll or bike ride through, from the Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial. Here, you’ll find the Washington Monument, along with many more dedicated to war veterans.
The White House
As the official residence of the President of the United States, you can imagine the stories about what’s gone on here. Built by James Hoban in 1792, it was actually burned down by the Brits in 1814 and had to be rebuilt in 1818.
The Washington Monument
This massive 555-foot-tall obelisk with the long Reflecting Pool at the bottom is pretty impressive. Learn about how long it took to accomplish, and why its construction kept getting interrupted!
Best Times to Visit Washington DC
Many people have the misconception that DC will be most pleasant in the summertime. That’s understandable, but unfortunately, DC has incredibly sweltering summers that can make it sticky and hot to walk around – even at night.
Instead, try going from September to November, or from March to May. These months tend to be mild, with changing leaves and cool breezes that are pleasant when paired with a light jacket or flannel shirt. There’s nothing like cherry blossoms in DC!
The only exception is if you have to go during the summertime, book one of the tours with air-conditioned transportation. That way you remain comfortable at least for the duration of your tour.
Sites Seen
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Value
The Perfect Private Night Tour of Washington DC is our Editors Choice for the best Washington DC night tour
