

Things to do in Washington DC
Washington is the rare city where the headline attractions cost nothing and the scarce resource is access. Timed entry to the Smithsonian museums, Capitol and White House tours, and the night monument runs by bike or bus are what fill up. Our ranking rewards operators who secure the passes themselves rather than telling you to sort it out at the door.
Quick answer
What are the best things to do in Washington DC?
Outty ranks 793 bookable experiences in Washington DC, United States. The highest scoring is Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour at 92 out of 100, followed by Arlington Cemetery Small-Group Tour & Changing of the Guards, Washington DC Small-Group Sightseeing Experience, Small Group National Mall Night Tour with 10 Top Attractions. Prices start at $22 per person and 3 experiences score 90 or above, putting them in the Outty 90+ Club. Late March to April for cherry blossom, or September to November for cool museum weather.
- Ranked experiences
- 793
- In the 90+ Club
- 3
- From
- $22 per person
- Bookable today
- 120
Top attractions in Washington DC
Landmark by landmark: every ranked tour, ticket and guided visit in one place.

Lincoln Memorial
222 experiences • 4.6/5

The White House
198 experiences • 4.6/5

U.S. Capitol
176 experiences • 4.5/5

Washington Monument
172 experiences • 4.5/5

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
167 experiences • 4.5/5

Vietnam Veterans Memorial
153 experiences • 4.6/5

Korean War Veterans Memorial
151 experiences • 4.6/5

National World War II Memorial
123 experiences • 4.6/5

Thomas Jefferson Memorial
117 experiences • 4.6/5

National Mall
85 experiences • 4.4/5

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
77 experiences • 4.4/5

Capitol Hill
63 experiences • 4.6/5
Top tour operators in Washington DC
The companies behind the experiences, ranked by how much of Washington DC they cover.
taxiGo.online - Booking Transfer & Taxi
1964 experiences across 302 cities
taxiGo Limo Airport Service
1250 experiences across 304 cities
taxiGo DMC
1181 experiences across 264 cities
PROFI DRIVER
887 experiences across 133 cities
VoiceMap Audio Tours
703 experiences across 222 cities
Tour Travel & More
685 experiences across 120 cities
Welcome Pickups
488 experiences across 124 cities
Guydeez
382 experiences across 158 cities
Most Popular in Washington DC
The experiences travelers book most right now.


Arlington Cemetery Small-Group Tour & Changing of the Guards

Washington DC Small-Group Sightseeing Experience

Small Group National Mall Night Tour with 10 Top Attractions

Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour + Boat Cruise

DC Monuments by Night: 10+ Landmarks | Open-Top Upgrade Available
Most Highly Reviewed in Washington DC
Highest traveler sentiment with enough reviews to trust it.

Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour

Arlington Cemetery Small-Group Tour & Changing of the Guards

Washington DC Small-Group Sightseeing Experience

Small Group National Mall Night Tour with 10 Top Attractions

Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour + Boat Cruise

DC Monuments by Night: 10+ Landmarks | Open-Top Upgrade Available
Last Minute in Washington DC
Confirmed availability today or tomorrow.

Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour

Arlington Cemetery Small-Group Tour & Changing of the Guards

Washington DC Small-Group Sightseeing Experience

Small Group National Mall Night Tour with 10 Top Attractions

Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour + Boat Cruise

DC Monuments by Night: 10+ Landmarks | Open-Top Upgrade Available
Family Friendly in Washington DC
Works with children in tow, by age policy and pacing.

The Escape Game DC: 60-Minute Adventure in Georgetown

The Escape Game DC: Epic 60-Minute Adventures in Penn Quarter

Washington DC's Best Donuts, Sweet Treats & Walking History Tour

Ghosts of Georgetown & The Exorcist Steps Walking Tour

Private Washington DC City Tour

Small-Group Arlington Cemetery & Changing of the Guard Tour
Food & Drink in Washington DC
Food tours, tastings, markets and dinner experiences.

The Escape Game DC: Epic 60-Minute Adventures in Penn Quarter

Washington DC's Best Donuts, Sweet Treats & Walking History Tour

Loudoun County 3-Winery Tour from DC Metro or Leesburg

Dupont Circle and Embassy Row Architectural Walking Tour

Georgetown Foodie Culinary Tour & Neighborhood Walk

Gastronomic Georgetown Walking Food Tour
Culture & History in Washington DC
Museums, landmarks and stories behind the streets.

Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour

Arlington Cemetery Small-Group Tour & Changing of the Guards

Washington DC Small-Group Sightseeing Experience

Small Group National Mall Night Tour with 10 Top Attractions

DC Monuments by Night: 10+ Landmarks | Open-Top Upgrade Available

DC Monuments & Capitol Hill Highlights Tour by Electric Cart
Outdoors in Washington DC
Fresh air, water, trails and skyline views.

Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour + Boat Cruise

Washington DC: Monuments and Memorials Bike Tour

DC in a Day: 10+ Monuments, Boat Cruise, National Mall, Tickets

Historic Georgetown: History, Gossip, & Architecture Walking Tour

Small Group 5-Hour DC Tour via Electric Scooter for Ages 16+

Washington DC: Monuments at Night Bike Tour
Nightlife in Washington DC
After dark: bars, shows and evening cruises.

Arlington Cemetery Small-Group Tour & Changing of the Guards

Small Group National Mall Night Tour with 10 Top Attractions

DC Monuments by Night: 10+ Landmarks | Open-Top Upgrade Available

Washington DC Monuments Tour by Electric Cart Day and Night

Washington DC Monuments and Memorials Night Tour

DC Monuments Night Tour with 10+ Stops, National Mall, Tickets
Highest rated in Washington DC
The top of the Outty Ranking across 793 local experiences
- 1Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour2.5h • from $7091.8
- 2Arlington Cemetery Small-Group Tour & Changing of the Guards2h • from $6990.8
- 3Washington DC Small-Group Sightseeing Experience4h • from $9990.7
- 4Small Group National Mall Night Tour with 10 Top Attractions3h • from $9989.8
- 5Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour + Boat Cruise6h • from $8989.1
- 6DC Monuments by Night: 10+ Landmarks | Open-Top Upgrade Available3h • from $5889.1
- 7US Capitol "Big 3" Highlights with Reserved Entry3h • from $8988.5
- 8DC Monuments & Capitol Hill Highlights Tour by Electric Cart2h • from $5488.0
- 9Washington DC Monuments Tour by Electric Cart Day and Night2h • from $5487.9
- 10DC: US Capitol & Library of Congress / Supreme Court Guided Tour3h • from $6587.2
- 11Washington DC: Monuments and Memorials Bike Tour3h • from $6586.8
- 12DC in a Day: 10+ Monuments, Boat Cruise, National Mall, Tickets6h • from $7086.8
People also ask
What are the top 15 things to do in Washington DC?
Our ranked guide lists the 15 best experiences in Washington DC with prices, time needed and quick picks for families, rainy days and last-minute plans. Read the answer
Lincoln Memorial or The White House: which should I do first?
A side-by-side of price, time needed, ranking and flexibility, with a clear verdict. Read the answer
Lincoln Memorial or U.S. Capitol: which should I do first?
A side-by-side of price, time needed, ranking and flexibility, with a clear verdict. Read the answer
Lincoln Memorial or Washington Monument: which should I do first?
A side-by-side of price, time needed, ranking and flexibility, with a clear verdict. Read the answer
Lincoln Memorial or Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial: which should I do first?
A side-by-side of price, time needed, ranking and flexibility, with a clear verdict. Read the answer
What is the best Lincoln Memorial tour?
We compare all 222 ranked ways to see Lincoln Memorial, best first. Read the answer
What is the best The White House tour?
We compare all 198 ranked ways to see The White House, best first. Read the answer
Planning questions about Washington DC
- What are the best things to do in Washington DC?
- Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour is the highest ranked experience in Washington DC, scoring 92 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking from 2,054 traveler reviews. Arlington Cemetery Small-Group Tour & Changing of the Guards, Washington DC Small-Group Sightseeing Experience, Small Group National Mall Night Tour with 10 Top Attractions, Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour + Boat Cruise round out the top five. Outty ranks 793 bookable experiences in Washington DC, United States, and 3 of them score 90 or above.
- Which attractions should I visit in Washington DC?
- The landmarks with the deepest choice of tours and tickets are Lincoln Memorial, The White House, U.S. Capitol, Washington Monument, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Each has its own page on Outty listing every ranked way to visit, from timed entry tickets to guided and combination tours.
- How much do activities in Washington DC cost?
- The median price across everything we rank in Washington DC is $65 per person, and the cheapest starting price is $22 on Arlington National Cemetery Hop-On Hop-Off Tour. Guided, small-group and skip-the-line versions sit above the median, and peak weekends price higher than midweek mornings.
- Can I book something in Washington DC for today?
- Yes. 120 of the top 120 experiences we rank in Washington DC currently show same-day availability. Same-day slots are limited, so book early in the day where you can.
- Is Washington DC good for families?
- Yes. 11 of the experiences we rank in Washington DC are family friendly, covering short, low-cost activities as well as full-day outings. Check the minimum age on each experience page before booking.
- How many days do you need in Washington DC?
- Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting: one anchor experience each morning, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
- When is the best time to visit Washington DC?
- Late March to April for cherry blossom, or September to November for cool museum weather. Prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
- Can I cancel a booking in Washington DC?
- 119 of the 120 experiences we rank in Washington DC offer free cancellation, usually up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact window is shown on each experience page before you book.
- How does the Outty Ranking work?
- Every experience in Washington DC gets a single 0 to 100 score built from traveler sentiment, the depth of review evidence, recent booking momentum, price fairness against comparable options in the same city, operator standing and cancellation flexibility. Scores are benchmarked within Washington DC so a strong local option is not buried by global volume, and anything at 90 or above joins the Outty 90+ Club.