Get your discount tickets for the US Capitol & Library of Congress Tour with Supreme Court, Senate, save up to 14% !
Overview
Discover the heart of American government on a 2-Hour Guided Capitol Hill Walking Tour. Travelers will visit inside the iconic U.S. Capitol building with guided entry. See highlights such as the Rotunda and Crypt, and the opportunity to step inside one of the historic House or Senate chambers (dependent on day of week). Along the way, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how Congress works and the stories behind this symbol of American democracy. The experience continues with a visit to the Library of Congress (Capitol Museum on Mondays and 8am tours when Library is closed), home to the world’s largest collection of knowledge, where you’ll see Thomas Jefferson’s original library and Gutenberg Bible. As you walk along Capitol Hill with your guide, you will also stop outside the Supreme Court, Senate Offices, and House of Representative Office building. This tour offers an insightful and memorable introduction to the institutions that shape the United States.
Meeting and Pickup
8am Tours: Please meet across the street from the Supreme Court building, located at 1 First Street NE.
End Point
Our Tour ends at the Library of Congress
Redemption Instructions
MEETING LOCATION (depends on tour time selected at checkout) 9AM, 11:30AM, 2PM TOURS - Please plan to meet 15 min prior to tour start time outside the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory at 100 Maryland Avenue SW. Your Guide will meet you next to a large planter located outside the conservatory in the Terrace Garden, which is a paved courtyard located right near the Conservatory entrance. The planter is a large, grey urn shape with a small tree inside, and is a focal point in the garden area so easy to identify. An image of the planter has been added to the tour listing for reference. 8AM TOURS - Please meet across the street from the Supreme Court building, located at 1 First Street NE. Please plan to meet 15 min prior to tour start time. IMPORTANT Not permitted inside the US Capitol building: - Outside food and beverages - Bags larger than 18" wide x 14" high x 8.5" deep - Aerosol containers - Weapons - Laser pointers - Animals - Bottles, cans, food/beverage containers (open, empty containers allowed) - Non-aerosol spray - Creams, lotion, perfumes greater than 3.4 oz - Drones/UAS *List is subject to change and at the discretion of the U.S. Capitol. Please refer to their website for the up to date or full list of prohibited items. There will be standing and walking during this tour. Please wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather as much of the tour is outdoors. DC can be very hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Umbrellas and layers are recommended. Tours provided by: Signature Tours/DC Guided Tours, (202) 498-2346. *If you have questions about your booking, such as amendments or cancellations, please contact Viator's customer support team
Language Offered
English-GUIDE
Itinerary
1. Explore the heart of American democracy on our 2-Hour Capitol Hill walking tour! Visit the U.S. Capitol and see the Rotunda, Crypt, and National Statuary Hall, then step into the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress (note: closed Mondays and 8 AM tours, guests will visit the Capitol Museum instead). Along the way, pass by the U.S. Supreme Court as well as other notable landmarks, including the Senate and House of Representatives office buildings, while learning about their history, landmark cases, and key facts from your live guide.
2. Inside the U.S. Capitol: Step inside one of the most iconic buildings in the country and experience the history of American democracy up close. After a brief orientation and film, you’ll join an official guided tour. Explore highlights like the Crypt, the grand Rotunda, and National Statuary Hall, with occasional access to the historic Old Supreme Court or Old Senate Chamber. Look up to admire “The Apotheosis of Washington,” a breathtaking fresco soaring 180 feet above, and stand in the Crypt, originally intended as George Washington’s final resting place. This immersive visit offers a powerful glimpse into the stories, architecture, and legacy at the heart of the United States. *The government has the right to close or to cancel any tour inside the US Capitol without advanced notice to us.
3. Library of Congress (closed Mondays; 8 AM tours, guests will visit Capitol Museum instead): Step inside the Jefferson Building, widely celebrated as the most beautiful building in Washington, D.C. Using timed-entry passes, guests are escorted through a tunnel and right into a world of art, history, and architectural splendor. Highlights of the tour include: The Gutenberg Bible – one of only three perfect vellum copies in existence. The Great Hall – a soaring Italian Renaissance-style atrium adorned with marble columns, intricate mosaics, gold leaf, and murals by leading artists. The Main Reading Room – viewed from the upper observation deck, this iconic circular space has appeared in countless films. Putti and carvings – charming cherubic figures representing the arts and sciences line the balustrades. Architectural firsts – the Jefferson Building was the first public building in D.C. designed for electric lighting and among the first to feature a comprehensive climate-control system.
4. Stop outside the U.S. Supreme Court with a live guide who brings the building and its history to life. Learn about landmark cases, notable justices, and fascinating facts that have shaped the highest court in the nation.
5. Pass by the Senate and House office buildings and learn about the workings of Congress. Your guide will share insights into the history, architecture, and role these iconic buildings play in shaping American legislation.
6. See views of the Washington Monument from a distance.
7. Peace Monument/Peace Circle – commemorates naval deaths of the Civil War; figures “Grief” and “History."
8. One of the largest equestrian statues in the world; sculptor took 20 years to complete.
9. Pass the United States Botanic Garden
Inclusion
Visit the Rotunda, the Crypt, and old house chambers of the US Capitol building
Admission and Guided Tour inside the U.S. Capitol building
See Thomas Jefferson’s original library and Gutenberg Bible
Stop outside Supreme Court, Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, Senate Office, House of Reps, Peace Monument
Entry to the Library of Congress (or Capitol Museum when Library of Congress is closed on Mondays)
2-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Capitol Hill, the center of American politics
Exclusion
Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
U.S Capitol is closed on Sundays
Library of Congress is closed on Mondays and 8am Tours (travelers will visit the Capitol Museum on this day of the week and tour time instead)
Outside food and beverages are not permitted inside the US Capitol building
Bags larger than 18" wide x 14" high x 8.5" deep are not permitted inside the US Capitol building
Animal policy: animals are not permitted on tours.
Reviews
4.1
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
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