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The 6 Best Cherry Blossom Tours in DC (By Foot, Bus, and Bike!)

Updated: March 5, 2024

This post is about the best Cherry Blossom tours offered for 2024 Peak Bloom.

For more information on how to get the most out of the events, read our Cherry Blossom Festival Guide.

A different take on regular walking tours, there are many tour opportunities to explore the city for great photographic spots, learn about the history of these trees and the Cherry Blossom festival that celebrates the trees, Spring and our friendship with Japan.


We also have Virtual Tours and 360 Walks so you can experience them from home. Watch our social media feed and YouTube Channel for more!

CHERRY BLOSSOM TOURS

We offer two types of public Cherry Blossom tours in 2024.

These tours run during peak bloom only as public options, but we can book private tours (above) on any dates. If it happens that peak bloom is earlier or later than predicted, we'll add public tours, as well.

Read more about them below or go ahead and book them now!

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DC by Foot Blossoms on the Basin Walking Tour

Reservations: Tours run at 10am and 130pm daily from March 21-28, 2024. We may add some earlier or later based on how the blooms look!


DC By Foot is pleased to present our name your own price Cherry Blossom Tour. This tour will take you around the Tidal Basin in the cool shade of the city's legendary cherry trees and through some of DC's most beautiful, majestic and picturesque memorials.

Join DC by Foot as we visit the memorials that honor three great men of ideas. Thomas Jefferson, whose pen affirmed mankind's inalienable rights. Franklin Delano Roosevelt who led America's greatest generation for 12 years in the fight against tyranny and poverty. Martin Luther King, Jr. who reminded America and the world of our promise of equality and social justice.

For more information, read our Guide to the Cherry Blossom Festival for the Best Place to See the Cherry Blossoms

Sights we cover on the Cherry Blossom tour:

Where: Tours depart from outside the DC War Memorial on Independence Ave SW.

The tour ends at Jefferson Memorial.

Reserve parking in advance in a garage near the tour’s starting point through SpotHero. This service enables drivers to compare prices and locations of area garages and book a guaranteed spot ahead of time. Street parking in the area is extremely limited.

Duration: Tour lasts approx. 1.5 hours. Total walking is about one mile (1.6km).


DC by Foot Blossoms on the Waterfront Walking Tour

We are proud to offer a Cherry Blossom tour that takes place OFF the Tidal Basin! This 2 hour walking tour starts the Wharf and explores springtime in this historic area - including some of the oldest residences in the district, the Titanic Memorial, and of course, the Cherry Blossoms on the Potomac River.

This tour begins outside the Waterfront Metro and ends at East Potomac Park - an easy walking distance to the Wharf! 

This tour runs as as private tour only.

Please contact us at info@dcbyfoot.com


Other Walking Cherry Blossoms Tours:

Arlington National Cemetery Tour

While the tour focuses on honoring our military men and women, Arlington National Cemetery prides itself on it's natural beauty. The grounds are tended with great care and you'll find cherry blossoms, flowering magnolias, and grand oaks throughout the cemetery.

A beautiful and honored backdrop in this most hallowed grounds. We offer Arlington National Cemetery Cherry Blossom tours on a daily basis during the festival.

You can book our Arlington National Cemetery tour on our Booking Page.


Historic Georgetown

To take Cherry Blossoms tours without the crowds, come with us on a stroll through this centuries old city. Instead of memorials, you'll find colorful and detailed architecture behind the harbingers of Spring.

A feel for the residential side of the city, the tour takes you through the ups and downs of Georgetown to discover that it's much more than just a university. As you wander the cobblestone streets and brick sidewalks, the highlight of this tour is to look up at the residential gardens, the blossoming trees, and the beautiful homes.

You can book our Historic Georgetown tour on our Booking Page.


Cherry Blossom Tours by Bus

Washington DC Bus Tours

The most popular places to view the Cherry Blossoms is along the Tidal Basin (MLK, FDR, Jefferson Memorials) and most of the Washington DC Bus Tours have stops at these memorials. Few bus tours run special tours that focus on the blossoms, but you can take their regular tour offerings to find your favorite viewing spot.

Use our post on the best Washington DC Bus tours to see which ones fit into the rest of your trip.

All bus tours include stops around the Tidal Basin - the most popular place to view the Cherry Blossoms.

The Best Washington DC Bus Tours Reviewed

A few key points to note about taking hop on/hop off and guided bus tours during Cherry Blossom Festival. There are significant road closures and rerouting of traffic due to special events and the increased amount of traffic around the city during the three weeks of the festival. This may alter some of the pick up/drop off locations as well as the wait times between buses. Allow extra time to see everything you want to see!


OTHER CHERRY BLOSSOM TOURS

Cherry Blossom Segway Tour

This 3 hour segway tour is limited to 8 people per guide to ensure personal attention and easier ability to make your way through the crowds. Each tour starts with an orientation to help you get used to the machine and then you'll make your way to the memorials and Tidal Basin.

Segway tips: Wear comfortable shoes; while you're not walking, you are on your feet for three hours! Don't bring too many belongings with you. The Segways are equipped with very small bags for cameras and small purses. You may wish to wear sunscreen on sunny days, and bring rain gear and/or warm clothing for bad weather days

Costs: $85 per person, must be over 16 years of age

Purchase your Tickets for Cherry Blossom Segway Tour Here!


Potomac River Cherry Blossom Cruise

In some ways the best view of the blossoms is from the water. You can board this 50 minute river cruise from Georgetown for majestic views of the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and Thomas Jefferson Memorial. There is live commentary about these and other DC landmarks, as well as history of the Cherry Blossoms.

Costs: $25 per person

Purchase your Tickets for Cherry Blossom Cruise Tour Here!


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About The Author

Canden Arciniega

Follow On Instagram | I'm a historian & tour guide in Washington DC with 4 published books about the city. I have written for HuffPost Travel and have been featured in the Washington Post, WTOP, and numerous other DC papers. I've also been interviewed by the BBC, NPR, Travel Channel and Discovery Family Channel. I am the producer of the podcast, Tour Guide Tell All. I am an authority on D.C. history, and have led tours in the city since 2011. I currently resides in DC, but have also lived in London and South Korea, and have traveled to over 28 countries and every US State but Hawaii. I homeschool my 2 children by exploring the plethora of museums in DC. Read More...
Updated: March 5th, 2024
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