Where to Walk: the 6 Best Washington DC Walking Tours

1.Arlington National Cemetery Walking Tour & Changing of the Guards

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,566 reviews · 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55Our pick

Walk about two miles through Arlington National Cemetery with a guide such as Meg, Derrick, Christina, Skye, or Dash. You’ll see the Changing of the Guard, Civil War sections, the USS Maine Mast Memorial, Kennedy family graves, and lesser-known memorials. Groups cap at 15, with several departure times and roughly 2 to 2.5 hours on foot.

“Our guide, Skye was so great, hit all the highlights, had cool stories to tell and extremely friendly! If you like to walk, take in the history, then this is the tour for you!”

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2.DC: Hop-On Hop-Off with 17 Stops plus Arlington Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 2,238 reviews · from $49

Ride Big Bus Washington DC past the White House, Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and Tidal Basin, using the app to track buses in real time. Hop off to explore at your own pace, then add the two-hour Arlington National Cemetery walk on 48- or 72-hour tickets when it operates from September through October 30.

“It is well worth doing the BigBus Hop On Hop Off Bus. It takes you to most of the Washington DC’s most important sights to see. They are all distant from each other. During rush hour it can take you a bit longer to do the loop or get to your destination. However, if you do not know the city well it is a huge asset. We started at some point to mix the Hop on snd Hop off with the city’s subway system the Metro. We did this to get to see the White House up close at Lafayette Square and to get to the Air and Space museum…”

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3.Ghosts of Georgetown & The Exorcist Steps Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 610 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $39

Meet your licensed guide at the Old Stone House for a 90-minute Georgetown walk mixing ghost tales, true crime, architecture, and local history. Guides such as Wayne, Trevor, Sonia, Ingeborg, and Georgia bring different storytelling styles. The route ends at The Exorcist Steps, with a maximum of 15 people.

“We had an amazing tour. Wayne was our guide, and he was phenomenal. Great stories and laughs. Wayne made the tour everything we wanted. A lot of stops with interesting facts and tidbits. A great way to spend a couple hours learning about the area.”

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4.Dreaded Dead Descent of the District: DC Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 446 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $32Best value

Spend about an hour hearing ghost stories and Washington history at eight landmarks near the White House, including Blair House, Decatur House, St. John’s, and the Dolley Madison House. Guides such as Tony, Doug, John, Dena, and Elias have earned praise for humor and storytelling, though the experience can depend heavily on your guide.

“It was a nice walk with interesting facts about the various buildings. The tour guide Dena was funny and we enjoyed it.”

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5.DC: Smithsonian Highlights Walking Tour with Air and Space

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 97 reviews · 3 hours · from $79

This three-hour small-group walk links the American History, Natural History, and Air and Space museums. Guides such as Shane, Kirsten, Meg, and Skye bring the exhibits to life with quick stories and flexible pacing. You will see the Star-Spangled Banner, a famous diamond, American treasures, and the Apollo-era spacesuit.

“Highlights of the museums and a lot of sight seeing info. Christine was a wealth of facts and very friendly.”

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6.DC: Lincoln Assassination Tour with Ford’s Theatre Entry

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 72 reviews · 2 hours · from $69

Follow Abraham Lincoln’s final hours on a two-hour walking tour from 400 7th Street NW. Visit Ford’s Theatre, Petersen House, and the Surratt Boarding House while tracing John Wilkes Booth’s escape. Guides including Jim, Tony, Dash, Skye, and Nick are known for lively storytelling. Theatre access can vary with performances and rehearsals.

“This tour is worth the money!! Our tour guide tony was amazing! He is very knowledgeable about Lincoln & the washington dc area! He answers questions that you may have.. dont consider this tour.. book it!! You wont regret it”

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