U.S. Capitol vs Washington Monument: which should you do first?

If you only have time for one, do U.S. Capitol first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 89 against 88 for Washington Monument, and it has 176 ranked ways to see it versus 172. With a full day in Washington DC, pair them: plan Washington Monument in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

U.S. Capitol in Washington DC, United States

U.S. Capitol

Washington Monument in Washington DC, United States

Washington Monument

Side by side

U.S. Capitol compared with Washington Monument in Washington DC
U.S. CapitolWashington Monument
Ranked experiences176172
Top Outty Ranking9292
Average ranking (top 10)8988
Cheapest experience$50$56
Average time needed4h3.3h
Free cancellation100% of options100% of options
Free to visitNoYes

Best ways to see U.S. Capitol

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

    Outty Ranking 92 · from $70 · 2.5h

  2. 2. US Capitol "Big 3" Highlights with Reserved Entry

    Outty Ranking 91 · from $50 · 3h

  3. 3. Washington DC Small-Group Sightseeing Experience

    Outty Ranking 91 · from $99 · 4h

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

    Outty Ranking 90 · from $99 · 3h

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

    Outty Ranking 89 · from $89 · 6h

All 176 U.S. Capitol experiences

Best ways to see Washington Monument

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

    Outty Ranking 92 · from $70 · 2.5h

  2. 2. Washington DC Small-Group Sightseeing Experience

    Outty Ranking 91 · from $99 · 4h

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

    Outty Ranking 90 · from $99 · 3h

  4. 4. Washington DC Monuments Tour by Electric Cart Day and Night

    Outty Ranking 88 · from $56 · 2h

  5. 5. DC Monuments & Capitol Hill Highlights Tour by Electric Cart

    Outty Ranking 88 · from $56 · 2h

All 172 Washington Monument experiences

Frequently asked questions

U.S. Capitol or Washington Monument: which is better?

If you only have time for one, do U.S. Capitol first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 89 against 88 for Washington Monument, and it has 176 ranked ways to see it versus 172. With a full day in Washington DC, pair them: plan Washington Monument in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Which is cheaper, U.S. Capitol or Washington Monument?

Ranked experiences at U.S. Capitol start from $50 and at Washington Monument from $56 per person. Washington Monument can also be visited for free; paid options add guides, skip-the-line access or transport.

How long do you need at U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument?

Experiences at U.S. Capitol run 4 hours on average and at Washington Monument 3.3 hours, so both fit in one day in Washington DC with a break in between.

Can you do U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument 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 U.S. Capitol options and 100% of Washington Monument options offer free cancellation, which makes it easy to adjust.

What is the best tour of each?

For U.S. Capitol: Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour (Outty Ranking 92, from $70). For Washington Monument: Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour (Outty Ranking 92, from $70).

More Washington DC matchups

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