Tours/New York City/Washington DC Highlights, 1-Day Tour from NYC
Viator · group up to 54 pax

Washington DC Highlights, 1-Day Tour from NYC

4.3(2,741)New York City1 hour
VIATOR4.1(2,042)TRIPADVISOR4.8(699)

Description

Explore beyond the Big Apple with a full-day tour to Washington DC from New York City. You'll capture the spirit of "the home of the brave and land of the free" as you visit the monuments and memorials of Washington DC. Help create a better planet for everyone to travel and explore. We have partnered with One Tree Planted to plant one tree for every passenger that travels with us along with an extra tree for anyone that books multiple trips.

Tour Options

Washington DC Tour in Spanish
Washington DC tour in Japanese
Washington DC Tour in English
Washington DC Tour in German
Washington DC Tour in Italian
Washington DC Tour in French

Itinerary

15 min

Departing from New York and heading south, pass through the states of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland before arriving at Washington DC's Capitol Hill. Here, your tour will start with a stop at Arlington Cemetery to visit JFK's gravesite. Next, head further into Washington to see the Capitol, Senate, and White House, the heart of the US government. Your tour then continues to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum before visiting the Washington, Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean Memorials for exploration and pictures. Late in the afternoon, you'll embark on a panoramic city tour before departing Washington for an early-evening arrival back in New York City. Please Note: This tour is scheduled to stop in front of the White House, Capitol, and Senate for commentary and photo ops. However, please note that sometimes this is not possible due to security issues. In the event of this occurring, your tour will be adjusted accordingly.

45 min

Veterans of every American war from the Revolution to the country's most recent conflicts are buried at Arlington, which was officially declared a military cemetery in 1864. Among the more than 260,000 dead are three unidentified service members, buried at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and John F. Kennedy, whose gravesite is marked by an eternal flame. Due to security a passport or U.S. ID will be required to enter Arlington Cemetery

Admission not included20 min

The Capitol is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. The Senate and the House of Representatives have met here for more than two centuries. Begun in 1793, the Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored; today, it stands as a monument not only to its builders but also to the American people and their government.

Admission not included20 min

One of America's most recognizable historical and political symbols is also the home and office of the President of the United States.

90 min

The most popular of the Smithsonian museums features the Wright Brothers' 1903 Flyer and Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis. We will visit the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in the event that the air and Space museum is inaccessible.

20 min

This emotionally stirring memorial pays tribute to the men and women who served in one of America's most controversial wars.

30 min

"In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever." Beneath these words, the 16th President of the United States sits immortalized in marble as an enduring symbol of unity, strength, and wisdom.

20 min

This memorial to Korean War veterans consists of the Pool of Remembrance and the triangular Field of Service depicting 19 soldiers on the field of combat.

Highlights

Entrance to Arlington National cemetery (U.S. ID or Passport required) & Air and Space Museum
Free Wi-Fi on bus only
Transportation by 15-passenger van or a full-sized bus
Air-conditioned vehicle
Restroom on board
Professional tour guide

What's included

Included
Entrance to Arlington National cemetery (U.S. ID or Passport required) & Air and Space Museum
Free Wi-Fi on bus only
Transportation by 15-passenger van or a full-sized bus
Air-conditioned vehicle
Restroom on board
Professional tour guide
Not included
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Traveller Ratings

4.3
2,741 reviews
5
1,599
4
677
3
245
2
138
1
82

Important Information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Wheelchair accessible; please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required
  • Depending on the rules on the day, sometimes a stop can be made for photographs from outside the fence
  • Time at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is approximately 1.5-hours
  • For tours with fewer guests, vans may be substituted - wifi and restrooms on full size buses only.
  • Tours can be bilingual/multilingual as they are offered in many different languages
  • Children under the age of 2 are free, please advise at time of booking if infant is traveling
  • Due to security, there is no entry to the White House
  • Due to security a passport or U.S. ID will be required to enter Arlington Cemetery
  • Air and space Museum is currently under renovations - entrance is not guaranteed

Reviews(2,741)

J
Jean_E
August 8, 2026
Great trip

The tour was great. Everyone was punctual. The tour guy was attentive. It was a smooth and educational ride.

5
533wildere
August 6, 2026
Fun and relaxing.

The tour was very entertaining, relaxed, and, above all, informative. Our guide, Redi, was an excellent person and very professional in his work, as was the driver, Harvy.

K
K414QIgiuliom
August 6, 2026
Nice tour to DC

Special trip, smart and nice guide Redi

I
Ichi047
August 6, 2026
Great Way to See DC from NYC

Great, convenient, and economical way to see DC from NYC. Our tour was enjoyable and comfortable in the luxury bus we went in. Yurika, our tour guide, was fantastic and made us feel at home.

A
Ava_N
August 6, 2026
Great experience

This is a good experience to see DC. The tour guide explained everything and the bus has a bathroom and safe driving.

9
964bettyo
August 4, 2026
Exceptional Tour with an Outstanding Guide! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We had an amazing experience! The tour was very well organized, interesting, and enjoyable from beginning to end. A special thank you to Sharon, who was absolutely exceptional. She is incredibly knowledgeable and has a wonderful way of bringing the history of the United States to life through her storytelling. Her passion, enthusiasm, and engaging explanations made the tour truly memorable. We highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to learn more about the history of the United States while having a fantastic experience!

S
Saravana_T
August 2, 2026
Pleasant Tour

It was my first time and we travelled with family of 8 with an infant. This was a very nice trip with a very kind and cool guide. I would recommend Empire vacations.

F
Francisca_T
August 2, 2026
Five starts.

It was great, we really enjoy it. Our guide is very pleasant and knowledgeable. She did an excellent job.

T
ThomasB7503
August 1, 2026
Big day out in Washington

Saw a lot of sights in Washington. Great information given by Yurika

L
Laurent J
July 30, 2026
I enjoyed the different visits, the different monuments that we saw, and especially the explanations given by Hadrien, very

I enjoyed the different stops. The different monuments that we saw and especially the explanations given by Hadrien, very precise.

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