Hop-on Hop-off Tours Washington DC

Big Bus: Washington DC Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour with Optional Sunset Tour

Group taking a selfie in front of a Big Bus Tours vehicle during Washington DC Hop-On-Hop-Off Tour.

Big Bus tour in front of the US Capitol, Washington DC.

Tourists enjoying Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour in Washington DC.

Open-top Big Bus tour in Washington DC passing a historic building.

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Guided tour

Transfers available

4.0/5

(451)

Candee

Sep 2025

Verified booking

The WWII Mounument was the highlight of our experience with Big Bus - Washington DC Hope-On-Hop Off Bus Tour. My father was a Bataan Death March survivor, held prisoner for 33 months; so this was a very moving and heart felt monument. Our stop at Visit to Arlington National Cemetary also was a moving experience for us. Each driver we had was very pleasant; very patient waiting for us to get on the bus and find seats before pulling away from the curb.

Cindy

Aug 2025

Verified booking

Our driver for full loop was great. Someone left a wallet on a seat. He asked if we remembered who sat there. With description, he ran to upper level to where passengers had moved. There was a cheer and a loud thank you from upper level.

Samuel

Feb 2026

Verified booking

Great introduction to the City of monuments. I was able to get some good view from the top deck despite the cold winter. One driver on the blue bus was very interactive

Speed through Washington DC on a 24/48/72-hour hop-on hop-off bus tour and explore the capital's must-see spots on your terms.

Your DC trip is running on your schedule as the Red and Blue route have 19 stops and buses every 30-45 mins – hop on, hop off, and repeat.

Upgrade to a 48-hour pass to take a 2-hour sunset tour, enjoy a live 2-hour guided walking tour of Arlington Cemetery, and enjoy sweet discounts!

Jump on a double-decker bus, tune in to the audio guide in 5 languages, and let the US capital's history unfold as you ride.

Discover landmarks like the Jefferson Memorial, White House, and the Korean War Memorial as an Authorized National Park Service concessioner.

24/48/72-hour unlimited hop-on hop-off tour

Access to Red & Blue routes

Self-guided walking tour of Arlington Cemetery

Bike rental offer (book 1 hour, get 1 free)

2-hour guided walking tour of Arlington National Cemetery (based on option selected)

2-hour sunset tour with 25% off (based on option selected)

Morning shuttle transfers from Mayflower, Hilton & Marriott to stop #1 Union Station (based on option selected)

Discounts at I Love DC Gifts, Artechouse, International Spy Museum Store & Unlimited Biking (based on option selected)

Free commemorative Oval Office photo from White House Gifts (based on option selected)

Pre-recorded audio commentary in English, French, German, Spanish & Brazilian Portuguese (on the bus)

Exclusive drop-offs close to monuments

Mobile app with a detailed map and live bus tracking

TOTAL DURATION1 hour 50 minutes
FREQUENCYEvery 30-45 minutes
FIRST DEPARTUREWashington Monument at 9:30 AM
LAST DEPARTUREWashington Monument at 4:30 PM
Timeline
Map
1. Washington Monument
Get direction
2 attractions
Artechouse
5 minutes walk
Tidal Basin
5 minutes walk
2. Natural History Museum
Get direction
2 attractions
National Archives Museum
1 minute walk
Ford’s Theatre
4 minutes walk
3. Union Station
Get direction
2 attractions
National Postal Museum
3 minutes walk
Columbus Circle and Fountain
4 minutes walk
4. US Capitol at Garfield Circle
Get direction
2 attractions
Library of Congress
4 minutes walk
Supreme Court of the United States
4 minutes walk
5. Air & Space Museum
Get direction
2 attractions
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
4 minutes walk
National Museum of the American Indian
2 minutes walk
6. L’Enfant Plaza & International Spy Museum
Get direction
2 attractions
L’Enfant Plaza
2 minutes walk
Smithsonian Castle
3 minutes walk
7. The Wharf & Potomac Boat Cruise
Get direction
2 attractions
Potomac River
9 minutes walk
East Potomac Park
8 minutes walk
8. Smithsonian Metro / ARTECHOUSE
Get direction
1 attraction
City Center
6 minutes walk
9. Bureau of Engraving & Holocaust Musuem
Get direction
3 attractions
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
2 minutes walk
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
2 minutes walk
Smithsonian American History Museum
3 minutes walk
10. Jefferson Memorial
Get direction
1 attraction
George Mason Memorial
1 minute walk
11. FDR and MLK Memorial
Get direction
3 attractions
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
4 minutes walk
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
9 minutes walk
Japanese Pagoda
4 minutes walk
TOTAL DURATION75 minutes
FREQUENCYEvery 30-45 minutes
FIRST DEPARTUREWashington Monument at 9:30 AM
LAST DEPARTUREWashington Monument at 4:30 PM
Timeline
Map
1. Washington Monument
Get direction
1 attraction
Tidal Basin
5 minutes walk
2. World War II Memorial
Get direction
2 attractions
D.C. War Memorial
1 minute walk
Floral Library
4 minutes walk
3. Lincoln Memorial & Korean War Memorial
Get direction
3 attractions
Lincoln Memorial
Korean War Veterans Memorial
5 minutes walk
Albert Einstein Memorial
5 minutes walk
4. Arlington Cemetery
Get direction
2 attractions
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
5 minutes walk
Arlington House
5 minutes walk
5. Constitution Gardens
Get direction
6. The White House
Get direction
1 attraction
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
7 minutes walk
7. Ford’s Theater
Get direction
8. The Willard Hotel / US Treasury
Get direction
1 attraction
US Treasury
1 minute walk

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

451 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
177
178
32
27
37
Guests from United Kingdom, France, Colombia and over 10 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Samuel
Feb 2026
Verified booking
Great introduction to the City of monuments. I was able to get some good view from the top deck despite the cold winter. One driver on the blue bus was very interactive
Sally
Jan 2026
Verified booking
Info I read said to locate the pickup point after going through First Street exit, which caused considerable confusion. Two of us had diff information and just at the last moment when we were about to give up did we find the pickup point rep. No signage anywhere to guide us. We asked a half dozen people to help but nobody knew anything about the bus company. The bus windows up on the deck at the front were dirty on one bus. On another bus the windshield was cracked. The heater wasn't working on two of the three buses we were on. The audio worked fine on all the buses after the first bus driver got the audio problem fixed. There was no view of Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial from the bus but that was one, like MLK, where we needed to get off the bus and walk but it was surprisingly chilly. All drivers and other personnel were wonderful.
Mary
Nov 2025
Verified booking
Walked us over to next bus at train station safely. Thx big problem sending customer to an address for a bike shop to trade in initial ticket. Extra cost there, address had no affiliation with big bus. Change that verbiage at site!
Vivian
Nov 2025
Verified booking
Not 5 because it had some important delays and indoors heating instead of AA even the weather was pretty warm.
R
Oct 2025
Verified booking
Waiting 50 minutes for the bus to arrive, therefor I was unable to visit the museum which was last on my list.

What's not allowed

Keep in mind food & alcohol (except non-alcoholic drinks in screw-top bottles) are not allowed on this experience. Pack wisely!

Accessibility

The buses are wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.

Your safety comes first so visitors with mobility issues are restricted on the upper decks.

Due to restrictions on the bus, pets (except ADA service animals) are not allowed onboard.

Additional information

The tour remains closed on Independence Day (Jul 4), Oct 29 & Christmas (Dec 25).

The Sunset Tour is a non-stop bus tour, and not a hop-on hop-off service.

Specific details related to the add-ons in your tickets like walking tours will be shared post-booking.

Tour details

2-hour Sunset tour

Departure: 6:30pm & 7pm from Union Station

Hotel shuttle transfer

Departure: 9:20am from Mayflower Hotel, 9:30am from Washington Hilton & 9:45am from Georgetown Marriott

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Carry a printout of your voucher and hop on to the bus from any stop on the route. The driver will exchange it for the bus ticket.