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Can I Tour FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC?
Seeing the J. Edgar Hoover Building, or FBI HQ (as some in the know might call it), is a pretty great way to experience the increasingly important work the FBI does to protect this city – and this country. You must arrange your visit through your Congressional office. Visit this website to find out the name and contact information for your Congressional representative. The FBI requires up to a month for advance notice from Congressional offices prior to your visit; this is because the FBI will perform a security check on all visitors. The visit itself will take about two hours. The FBI Headquarters is located between 9th and 10th Streets NW. The closest Metro subway stops are Federal Triangle on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines, Gallery Place/Chinatown and Metro Center on the Red Line, and Archives/Navy Memorial on the Yellow and Green lines. More on the FBI Building and Tour The tour of the FBI is actually one of the oldest ones around. It started in 1937, when headquarters was in the Department of Justice building. In 1975, the FBI moved to its current location, the J. Edgar Hoover Building, on Pennsylvania Avenue NW. After Sept. 11, the tour closed for security reasons. Never fear, sleuths of all ages. It’s now back open and, we’d say, better than ever. The tour was modernized and updated in 2008, as the FBI created a full-fledged Education Center to assist in teaching the public the importance and central role of the FBI in law enforcement and national security. But what does the FBI actually do? Surely, you’ll learn just a bit more about that on the tour, but we can clue you in on a couple things. The FBI’s mission is to protect the United States from internal and external threats, whether clear and imminently dangerous, or more metaphysical and long-term, all with the goal of improving the security of our nation. The FBI has grown and changed since its inception, now incorporating both intelligence and law enforcement in its mandate. That means it works to uphold local and national laws, but also investigate those hard-to-define threats. And, OK, since you probably aren’t a special agent, we can tell you some of the things these important people, stationed all over the world, look into: domestic and international terrorism, counterintelligence, cyberwarfare, corruption, civil rights, organized crime (the “mob”), white-collar crime and more. There are so many great tours and sightseeing opportunities in Washington, DC. Discover your next tour adventure.
Can I Tour the Pentagon?
How to tour the Pentagon The Pentagon, located just outside Washington, DC in Arlington, Va., is the headquarters for the United States Department of Defense. It is open for official tours through the Pentagon Tours program. Pentagon tours must be reserved at least 14 days in advance and no more than 90 days in advance. Tours are conducted Tuesdays and Thursdays (excluding federal holidays) at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tours fill up quickly and it is highly recommended that you book well in advance of your visit. You can make a tour request online. International visitors must request a tour through their home country’s embassy. Individuals who have a Pentagon badge and escort privileges are permitted to give a self-guided tours to friends or family. If you are assigned to the Pentagon or if you are visiting a Pentagon staff member, contact the Pentagon Force Protection Agency at (703) 697-1001 to determine escort status. Touring the Pentagon Tours are 60 minutes and cover about 1.5 miles inside the Pentagon, which is one of the largest office buildings in the world. Tours include the history of the four branches of the military and the opportunity to see the indoor memorial near the Sept. 11 crash site and the Sept. 11 Memorial chapel, as well as the Hall of Heroes (featuring the names of all the Medal of Honor recipients) and a number of other military displays. Parking, security and accessibility There is no public parking at The Pentagon. The Pentagon can be reached via its own dedicated Metro stop on the Blue and Yellow lines or you may choose to park at Pentagon City Mall and make the five-minute walk to the Pentagon via pedestrian tunnel. Once you’ve arrived, check in at the Pentagon Tours window near the Metro entrance. Visitors must check-in at least 60 minutes prior to their scheduled tour to allow time for security. You will be asked to present your tour confirmation email and photo ID. All visitors will go through security scanners. All purses are subject to search. Large bags, including backpacks, shopping bags and camera bags are NOT permitted on the tour. Cell phone, cameras, recording devices and other electronic devices cannot be used on the tour and no photography is permitted inside the building. Ramps are available for visitors with disabilities. Tour visitors in wheelchairs must bring someone who can assist them on the tour. A signer will be added to tours to assist hearing impaired visitors provided that two weeks' notice is given. Special tours for visually impaired visitors can also be arranged with two weeks' notice. There are so many great tours and sightseeing opportunities in Washington, DC. Discover your next tour adventure.
Family-Friendly Tours in Washington, DC
One of the great reasons to visit DC with children is the number of activities that are either affordable or completely free. Most are easily accessible, especially if you plan ahead. Here are some edutainment activities guaranteed to leave an indelible impression on both you and your child. And if you're looking for even more fun things to do, you can save big on popular paid attractions with Washington, DC’s best city and attraction passes. Tours on foot As you explore the National Mall, know that the National Park Service (NPS) has Park Rangers on duty that offer free, interpretive tours, ready to impress your kids with the impressive American history depicted on the Mall. NPS keeps a schedule of tours that you should be sure to check before you embark. For a true only-in-DC experience, join a docent-led interactive tour, available at nearly every Smithsonian Museum. The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History guides offer daily events and family programming – you can even watch a tarantula feeding! On weekend mornings at 9:45 am, take a “Highlights” tour at the National Zoo, where topics like animal care and the protection of wildlife habitats are discussed in detail. Plan a trip around a Smithsonian Sleepover, an unforgettable experience that includes tours, games and crafts. Offered at the National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum of American History and the Natural History Museum, the sleepovers are designed for kids between the ages of eight to twelve (must be accompanied by one parent). And if you're looking for a more personalized museum-going experience, the whole family will enjoy private, guided tours of a number of Smithsonian museums from Washington, DC WeVenture. There are many tour guide services in DC, and each has its own area of expertise and price range. Many of these guides offer both private and group tours led by experts who have studied the city’s history and enjoy storytelling. DC Insider Tours offers themed and personalized museum tours. Fiat Luxe Tours offers private guides who speak multiple languages that will work with you to customize the route and sights. DC Design Tours offers historical walking tours of the nation's capital focusing on architecture, urban planning and design. Tours with transportation The District also features plenty of bus, trolley, segway and boat tours. Big Bus Tours' British-style double-decker open-air bus is popular with families and allows guests to pay one fee to hop on and off at various locations, then reboard later. Big Bus offers tours in multiple foreign languages and live commentary (book with coupon code VISITDC for the best available deal). Other sightseeing options include City Sights DC and Gray Line DC. Both companies run buses or motorcoaches through continuous routes around DC, with regularly scheduled stops at each landmark. Old Town Trolley Tours has multiple vehicles and different routes from which to choose, including moonlight tours, when the monuments and memorials are at their most beautiful. Families who love the outdoors will love taking a pedicab tour with Adventure DC Tricycle Tours. Options include an excursion through the traditional landmarks and a Kid’s Adventure Tour. The pedicabs are also pet-friendly – your guide will even watch your dog as you check out DC’s incredible memorials. Marveling at city sights on a Segway is also an option. Capital Segway Tours leads tours via individual motorized scooters. After an orientation and lessons in the art of riding a Segway, a guide-led tour will travel around the National Mall with stops for photo taking and history lessons via headset. Limited to ages 16 and over, this is a memorable way for your older teens to experience the nation’s capital. If your family loves to bike, Unlimited Biking offers abbreviated, manageable tours via bicycle. Ask about their tandem bikes, trailers, baby seats and child-sized bikes. The best days to ride are in the summer and on the weekends when the route is less crowded; both allow time for stopping at historic sites. Make sure to check out DC Cycling Concierge for a completely customized bike experience in the District, where their motto is "your ride, your pace." Families will love taking a pedicab tour with Adventure DC Tricycle Tours. Adventure DC Tricycle Tours offers private customized tours for families and pets to the traditional landmarks (as well as the secret fun stuff kids love when requested). Private tours can be conducted via pedicab (for all ages), golf cart (for all ages) or electric scooter (for ages five and up). Saturday public tours are conducted on scooters with promo codes available. Food tours Families who love to eat will enjoy one of the delicious food tours operating in the DC area. DC Metro Food Tours explores several neighborhoods known for their parade of noteworthy restaurants, including Capitol Hill, Georgetown, U Street, Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan. If your family loves Italian food, then try Mangia Food Tours, which focuses on Italian cuisine at four stops in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. Or try a curated food tour with Blue Fern Travel and try local dishes in iconic DC eateries. Families with a sweet tooth can try an Underground Donut Tour. Tours by boat Stretched along the Potomac River, DC is a fun place to go for a boat ride, especially when you catch a view of a monument from the water. While onboard you may pass a few paddle boarders or college crew teams. Many companies offer waterfront tours and activities in the District, including family-friendly boat tours from City Cruises. Multilingual tours Families looking to experience the nation's capital in languages besides English will find plenty of top-notch tours. For a tried-and-true transport method, hop on a Big Bus Tour in one of six languages – or opt for a different kind of city traversing with a Capital Segway Tour in ASL and German, French or Spanish. For a private, more intimate outing in a language of your choice, reach out to USA Guided Tours. At DC Nation or Pascana DC, on the other hand, specialized Spanish-language services are the focal point. All guides at Washington En Français are native French-speakers, while WashingTours touts guides in seven languages, including German and Tagalog. Ready for more? Explore other family-friendly activities in Washington, DC.
How Can I Tour the Monuments & Memorials in Washington, DC?
Touring DC’s iconic attractions When you come to DC, especially if you’re a first-time visitor, it’s likely that our world-famous monuments and memorials will be at the top of your must-see list. Most of these major attractions are located on the National Mall, which extends from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, with many of them running along Constitution Avenue. Many of the monuments and memorials are open 24-hours a day, 365-days-a-year and you do not need to make advance reservations. These include the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, National World War II Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the FDR Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. These National Park Service (NPS)-run memorials are usually staffed by NPS Rangers who can answer your questions from 9:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. Rangers also conduct various tours and special programming throughout the year. Visit the National Mall calendar page for more information. Tours that require tickets There are several major attractions that do require advance tickets. These tickets are usually free or have a minimal charge. Tickets are required to go to the top of the recently reopened Washington Monument. Tickets may be ordered online for tour dates up to 90 days in advance, while additional tickets listed as "Not Yet Released" are made available the day prior to the desired tour date at 10 a.m. EST. Same-day tickets are also available on a first-come, first-served basis daily starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Washington Monument Lodge, located on 15th Street between Madison Drive NW and Jefferson Drive SW. Tours of the U.S. Capitol also need to be arranged in advance. Free reservations can be made via the visitthecapitol.gov website. Guided tours begin at the Capitol Visitor Center and include a 13-minute intro film, along with visits to the Crypt, the Rotunda and National Statuary Hall. Visitors can also request a staff-led tour through their Senator or Congress person. When court is not in session, visitors can take free, self-guided tours of the Supreme Court. Trained docents are on-hand to give courtroom lectures every 30-minutes from 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. Visitors are also invited to attend oral arguments when court is in session. These seats are extremely limited. Visitors must wait in line the morning of a courtroom session. See the Visitor’s Guide to Oral Arguments page for more information. Admission to both the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (see where U.S. dollars are made!) and the National Archives (home of the original U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights) are free and open to the public. In busier months, you’ll need to queue in an outdoor line to get inside. Please visit our touring the White House guide for more information on booking a tour (Note: these tours must be booked well in advance). Great options for guided tours The highly acclaimed Unlimited Biking offers daily, three-hour guided bicycle tours of the monuments with stops at all of the major attractions along the National Mall. Unlimited Biking also offers tours after dark so that visitors can experience magnificent views of the attractions illuminated at night. Big Bus Tours offers open-top sightseeing tours of the National Mall. Enjoy 24 or 48-hour hop-on, hop-off tours of the city's iconic landmarks. Along the way, you can learn about the city's history while listening to the entertaining and informative commentary. Your hop-on, hop-off ticket also allows you to exit the bus to explore and visit attractions up-close. Get an exclusive discount and save big on your next Big Bus Tour. Just enter the promotional code VISITDC for the best available deal and start exploring the nation's capital. Adventure DC Tricycle Tours offers live and entertaining historical narration as they transport you via pedicab to each monument and memorial. You can enjoy a customized tour that is pet-, child-, and mobility-impaired-friendly. Additionally, private golf cart and electric scooter tours are available. Public scooter tours are open to the general public on Saturdays, with limited availability. The code "DCFUN" will secure a discount on the public scooter tour. Cruise around the nation's capital in style on Washington, DC Urban Adventures' unique electric vehicles, where you can see the monuments and memorials on the National Mall by day or night. For a truly unique way to see the city, Capital Segway Tours offers guided experiences of the National Mall and surrounding sites. Visitors glide across town on a Segway, all while taking in the sites of Washington, DC. DC by Foot offers free, tip-based walking tours of Washington, DC. These informative tours are conducted by expert guides who make it fun and educational. In addition to the National Mall, DC by Foot takes visitors to the Tidal Basin, Pennsylvania Avenue and Capitol Hill. Visitors can also learn all about President Lincoln’s assassination or about Washington’s secrets and scandals. Contact Fiat Luxe Tours for an exciting private tour experience along the National Mall. Whether you want to learn the history of DC's most iconic landmarks or find the most perfect photo-ops, Fiat Luxe Tours has a tour for you. The company also conducts custom-made tours, too.
How Can I Tour the White House in Washington, DC?
Requesting a White House tour Touring the White House requires some advance planning. Public tour requests must be made through your member of Congress (find your member of Congress and contact information) and submitted up to three months in advance and no less than 21 days prior to your visit. If you're an international visitor and wish to schedule a tour, please contact your home country’s embassy in Washington, DC. You are encouraged to submit your tour request as early as possible as tours fill up quickly and a limited number of spaces are available. Tours are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. All White House tours are free. Please note tours are subject to last-minute cancellations based on the official White House schedule. Public, self-guided tours are 45 minutes and are run between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays unless otherwise noted. For complete details on White House tours, visit the White House tours and events page or call the White House Visitors Office 24-hour information line at (202) 456-7041. The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. What to expect on a White House tour If there is a tour slot available during your visit to DC, you will be given a specific date and time to arrive and be instructed on where to check in. All guests over 18 years old will be required to present a valid, government-issued photo ID upon check-in. Foreign nationals must present their passport. Please bring as little as possible (avoid backpacks, food, large handbags, bottled water, etc.). Note that smartphones and compact cameras with a lens no longer than 3 inches are permitted on the public tour route, but video recording devices and flash photography are not allowed inside the White House. Visitors will go through security prior to entering the White House. There are no restrooms available at the White House. The closest restroom is located at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion nearby. Public tours of the White House include the public rooms in the East Wing, which includes the Blue Room, Red Room and Green Room; the State Dining Room; the China Room; and a view of the White House Rose Garden. Secret Service members are stationed in each room and are available to answer questions about the history and architecture of each room. You can also visit the White House Visitor Center before or after your tour. How to get to the White House The closest Metro stations to the White House are Federal Triangle (Blue and Orange lines), Metro Center (Blue, Orange and Red lines) and McPherson Square (Blue and Orange lines). Please note there is NO PARKING near the White House. Public transportation is strongly encouraged. How to tour the White House Garden Another opportunity to visit the White House is to attend either its fall or spring garden tour. Check whitehouse.gov in early October and April. The announcement of the garden tours is usually made within a week or two of when they take place. Garden tours generally run for two consecutive days. They may be canceled due to poor weather. A ticket is required for all attendees (including small children). Usually, tickets are distributed by the National Park Service at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion on 15th and E streets NW on each tour day beginning at 9 a.m. Review the announcement for specific details. Will I still be able to see the White House without going on a tour? While visitors are not allowed entry to the White House without requesting a tour through your congressional representative, you will still be able to see the White House from Pennsylvania Avenue NW at Lafayette Square and view the White House and the South Lawn from the Ellipse. Please note that a new fence is currently under construction at the White House, as the current 6-foot fence is being replaced by a stronger, wider fence that will be 13 feet. Where can I store my belongings during the tour? It is important to note that security at the White House is extremely high. If your hotel is nearby, we suggest leaving your belongings in your room during the tour. If this is not possible, there are a few other options. You can designate one member of your tour group to hold everyone’s belongings. That person can take the self-guided tour once his or her group has finished the tour. If you're a ticketed Amtrak customer, you may be able to check luggage in advance at Union Station. These are located near Gate A. Lockers are available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. A photo ID is required and lockers must be paid for via cash or credit in advance. Rates are $3-$6 per hour per bag depending on the size of your bag. For questions on bag storage, please call 202-906-3000. Catch up on White House history with the free podcast The 1600 Sessions and enhance your trip with the White House Experience app from the White House Historical Association. The app offers three tour experiences, including a virtual tour of the White House (with rooms you normally don't see on the tour), a neighborhood walking tour and a room-by-room guide for visitors on an in-person tour of the White House. Now that you have read up on the White House, explore DC’s other awesome monuments and memorials.