Lincoln Memorial vs U.S. Capitol: which should you do first?

If you only have time for one, do Lincoln Memorial first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 88 against 88 for U.S. Capitol, and it has 226 ranked ways to see it versus 179. With a full day in Washington DC, pair them: plan Lincoln Memorial in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, United States

Lincoln Memorial

U.S. Capitol in Washington DC, United States

U.S. Capitol

Side by side

Lincoln Memorial compared with U.S. Capitol in Washington DC
Lincoln MemorialU.S. Capitol
Ranked experiences226179
Top Outty Ranking9191
Average ranking (top 10)8888
Cheapest experience$54$58
Average time needed4h4h
Free cancellation100% of options100% of options
Free to visitNoNo

Best ways to see Lincoln Memorial

  1. 1. Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour

    Outty Ranking 91 · from $70 · 2.5h

  2. 2. Washington DC Small-Group Sightseeing Experience

    Outty Ranking 90 · from $99 · 4h

  3. 3. Small Group National Mall Night Tour with 10 Top Attractions

    Outty Ranking 89 · from $99 · 3h

  4. 4. Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour + boat cruise

    Outty Ranking 89 · from $79 · 6h

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

    Outty Ranking 89 · from $58 · 3h

All 226 Lincoln Memorial experiences

Best ways to see U.S. Capitol

  1. 1. Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour

    Outty Ranking 91 · from $70 · 2.5h

  2. 2. Washington DC Small-Group Sightseeing Experience

    Outty Ranking 90 · from $99 · 4h

  3. 3. Small Group National Mall Night Tour with 10 Top Attractions

    Outty Ranking 89 · from $99 · 3h

  4. 4. Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour + boat cruise

    Outty Ranking 89 · from $79 · 6h

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

    Outty Ranking 89 · from $58 · 3h

All 179 U.S. Capitol experiences

Frequently asked questions

Lincoln Memorial or U.S. Capitol: which is better?

If you only have time for one, do Lincoln Memorial first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 88 against 88 for U.S. Capitol, and it has 226 ranked ways to see it versus 179. With a full day in Washington DC, pair them: plan Lincoln Memorial in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Which is cheaper, Lincoln Memorial or U.S. Capitol?

Ranked experiences at Lincoln Memorial start from $54 and at U.S. Capitol from $58 per person.

How long do you need at Lincoln Memorial and U.S. Capitol?

Experiences at Lincoln Memorial run 4 hours on average and at U.S. Capitol 4 hours, so both fit in one day in Washington DC with a break in between.

Can you do Lincoln Memorial and U.S. Capitol on the same day?

Yes. Book the longer visit for the morning when crowds are lighter, and keep the afternoon for the other. 100% of Lincoln Memorial options and 100% of U.S. Capitol options offer free cancellation, which makes it easy to adjust.

What is the best tour of each?

For Lincoln Memorial: Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour (Outty Ranking 91, from $70). For U.S. Capitol: Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour (Outty Ranking 91, from $70).

More Washington DC matchups

Best things to do in Washington DCWashington DC city guideWashington DC tours comparedHow the Outty Ranking works