When the museums and federal buildings close, there are still great options of what to do in DC at night - but as a tour guide, I think night tours are one of the best options.
Below are some of the best types of DC night tours, organized by category. We start with Walking Tours, because that is what DC by Foot does best - but we do offer bus tours to get to some further memorials.
TYPES OF DC NIGHT TOURS:
- Walking Tours (Memorials and Moonlight, Ghosts & Scandals, Themed Tours)
Most other types of DC night tours are going to focus on the memorials and federal buildings like the US Capitol and White House.
Why take a night tour...
- Cooler weather in the summer: Washington, DC can be hot and humid but evening tours allow for nicer temperatures.
- Something to do after the museums close: Most museums in DC close at 530pm - but there are still hours of the day left to explore the city. Guided tours give you a chance to do that!
- A local guide and built-in group: As far as cities go, DC's touristy areas are generally safe, but by joining a tour you are with a large group of people and a knowledgeable guide who will make sure you don't get lost.
- Unique experiences: I mean, you won't see a ghost in Georgetown at 10 am!
- Beautiful sights: While the memorials are moving at any time of day, many of them have an extra special feel at night.
Why we're the experts in night tours in Washington DC...
DC by Foot offers at least one tour every night of the year (with a few exceptions for holidays and thunderstorms).
From Spring to Fall, we have up to 5 different tours in the evening and in Winter we run a few different options Thursday to Sunday.
Ghosts and scandals tours that benefit from a spooky atmosphere to a cooler stroll around the memorials and moonlight, we know all about taking advantage of evening hours.
NIGHT WALKING TOURS OF DC
Washington DC is perhaps best experienced through walking tours.
Although bus and boat tours will give you a unique perspective of many historically important memorials, most of these attractions can only be accessed on foot.
Many of our walking tours are pay-what-you-want, which means there's no cost to join and you can pay whatever you want or could afford. We also offer specialized theme tours in the evening.
Our company has earned an overall 5 out of 5-star rating on TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Google Reviews. Read the reviews for yourself.
BOOK ONE OF OUR NIGHT TOURS IN WASHINGTON DC
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National Mall Tour
We offer this tour both day and night.
Yes, you can walk around the monuments at night but it's so much better with a tour guide!
You can visit the memorials as late as you'd like, though facilities close, the memorials are open 24/7.
With the exception of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial, the DC monuments are lit up at night.
A professional tour guide from DC by Foot knows the best way to visit the memorials at night.
It is safe to explore the National Mall after dark but our guides know the best-lit paths, how to find the best angles for great photos, and what unique aspects of each memorial may be hidden around the corners.
Our Memorials and Moonlight tour visits:
- Washington Monument from afar
- WWII Memorial
- DC War Memorial
- MLK Memorial
- Jefferson Memorial from afar
- Korean War Veterans Memorial
- Lincoln Memorial
(we do not visit the Vietnam Wall on our moonlight tour as it is best seen during the day, but we do talk about it in case any guests want to visit it on their own)
Lincoln Assassination
Hear the tale of Abraham Lincoln’s last days and discover the truth behind the plot to assassinate our nation’s 16th president.
Uncover the truth and find out what really happened on that night over 150 years ago.
Visit locations such as the National Theatre, Ford’s Theatre, and the Star Saloon to learn more about how it all went down.
Ghosts of Georgetown
Washington DC is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the United States, and there is a lot of history in the area of Georgetown.
Do the ghosts of our nation’s past still lurk on these streets?
Join us for this family-friendly night tour and visit a variety of historic locations as you hear some of the spooky tales that were born in this area.
NIGHT BUS TOURS DC
There are a lot of bus tours at night in Washington DC, and they’re all quite highly rated.
You will still need to walk some on night bus tours! You'll hop off at the memorials as they cannot be seen from the road.
Some companies use double-decker buses, which could have 30-45 passengers, while others use smaller shuttles that seat no more than 30 people.
One company offers sprinter buses with no more than 11 passengers.
Some of these night tours have both a driver and a tour guide, which means you will be provided guided walking tours at some stops.
Also, some memorials, such as Iwo Jima and the Air Force Memorial, are not really accessible by foot.
Expect to pay between $50-$60 on average per adult ticket.
Some of the night bus tours listed below can be taken as part of a larger bus tour package.
Visit our Washington DC bus tour comparison post for more details.
USA GUIDED TOURS
USA Guided Tours is one of the better-reviewed bus tour companies in DC.
The DC at Dusk Tour has both a driver and a tour guide.
Your tour guide will join you for guided strolls through each stop, which is helpful as sometimes the sights cannot be fully experienced from the road.
This is a premium service that uses shuttles rather than coach buses with a maximum of 30 guests per tour and thus reflected in the prices.
The tour stops at and includes guided walking tours at the following locations:
- US Capitol Building
- White House
- World War II Memorial
- Jefferson Memorial
- Martin Luther King Memorial
- Korean War Memorial
- Lincoln Memorial
- Vietnam Memorial
Hotel Pick Up can be arranged via select hotels, otherwise, you can meet your tour at the Navy Memorial conveniently located downtown on Pennsylvania Ave NW - there is a Metro station right there on the Green/Yellow lines.
- 3-hour tour departing at 7:30 pm.
- $58 for Adults
- $49 for Children
BIG BUS DC NIGHT TOUR
This two-hour tour begins just after the sun goes down, allowing you to see what the nation’s capital looks like after dark.
Unlike their other offerings, the Big Bus Night Tour includes a live guide that will explain the significance of every landmark on your journey.
The night tour is not a hop-on-hop-off tour like their day tours, rather you will see most of the sights listed on their page from the bus.
The tour includes 1 stop where your tour guide will accompany you to the Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean War Memorials.
Reviews of Big Bus's night tour are better than the company's reviews on the whole.
This is probably due to the fact that passengers are guaranteed one bus for the entire evening and will not have to wait for the next bus, as they do with daytime tours.
2 Hour Tour
- $58 for Adults
- $49 for Children
- More information
NOTE: The night tour is included in the price for the 3-day all-inclusive ticket, which is just $20 more per adult. This combo pass also includes a free bike rental.
OLD TOWN TROLLEY MONUMENTS BY MOONLIGHT TOUR
In addition to their National Mall and their Arlington National Cemetery trolley services, Old Town Trolley also offers a night tour.
Professional guides will lead you around the city and provide a plethora of information about our nation's history.
Purchase your ticket with confidence, as Old Town Trolley offers a money-back guarantee.
This is not a hop-on-hop-off tour, rather you will make 3 stops with your tour guide.
Old Town Trolley also offers a shuttle service from certain hotel areas to the tour starting point, which is a nice addition.
2 ½ Hour Tour
- $65 for Adults
- $39 for Children
- Children under 4 ride for free
NIGHT BIKE TOURS OF DC
Unlimited Biking DC
Unlimited Biking is well known for providing excellent service in cities all over the country.
In Washington C, they offer a wide variety of excursions both day and night.
Each of their night tours will take you to several monuments and memorials in the area, where tour guides will explain the historical significance of each landmark.
With a 5 out of 5-star rating on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide (read the reviews).
It’s clear that most guests really appreciate the service that Unlimited Biking provides.
- $54 for Adults
- $49 for Children
Tour Length: This tour will require 4 miles of cycling over the course of 3 hours.
Availability: March–November
DINNER CRUISES AND NIGHT BOAT TOURS
Seeing the sights from the water can be just as fun and educational as getting a closer look.
Some of these services are actually dinner cruises, and they will typically cost more than the other options on our list.
On average, the typical boat tour will cost between $25-$50, while a dinner cruise will run you about $90-$130.
Reviews indicate that these trips do not focus much on providing historical information about our nation’s capital.
Most of these excursions are only going to be available between March–November.
Spirit Cruises
When it comes to dinner cruises in our nation’s capital, few names are as notable as Spirit Cruises.
This company is well known for providing excellent service, and they are one of the most popular choices for a nighttime cruise on the Potomac.
Unlike their competition, you’ll actually have access to a dinner buffet on this cruise. This company also provides DJ music and dancing for anyone who wants to finish the night off with a party.
Most of the reviews for their dinner cruise are positive, but there are a few negative comments as well.
Complaints range from lack of service to poor food quality, but there are just as many customers who enjoyed their meals and the people who served them.
Several reviewers mentioned that their food was delicious and the crew was both helpful and polite.
This seems to be a common thread among both happy and unhappy guests.
Spirit of Washington Dinner Cruise
NOTE: Ticket prices fluctuate depending on how many seats remain open and other factors.
Ticket Price: $87.90-$99.90 per person
Included Amenities:
- Dinner Buffet
- Music and dancing
- Unlimited coffee and tea
- Interactive games
Availability: This cruise is available pretty much year-round, but departures depend on whether or not Spirit Cruises has filled enough seats.
Tour Length: 2 ½ – 3 hours
Odyssey Cruises
This cruise company is actually owned by the same business that runs Spirit Cruises.
Their dinner cruise offers fairly similar service, but it is intended as a much more upscale experience.
Odyssey Cruises offers live music and three-course plated dinners, ensuring a more romantic and intimate experience.
Enjoy a more traditional and professional dining experience as you float past some of the most notable monuments in Washington DC.
As a result of offering a more opulent service, Odyssey enjoys an overall 4-star rating on TripAdvisor.
A majority of the reviews for this dinner cruise are positive, indicating that most people enjoyed their fine dining experience.
Even those who took issue with the food quality admitted that the live music was excellent.
Most passengers were very impressed with the cruise, stating that both the staff and their meals were wonderful.
Odyssey Cruises is particularly popular among couples due to its focus on a more romantic atmosphere.
NOTE: As with Spirit Cruises, ticket prices fluctuate depending on remaining seats and other factors.
Ticket Price: $107.90-$127.90 per person
Included Amenities:
- Three-course plated dinner
- Unlimited coffee and tea
- Live band music
Availability: Odyssey’s dinner cruises are also available year-round, but the boat won’t depart unless they receive enough guests. You will be informed if this is the case.
Tour Length: 2 ½ – 3 hours
Boomerang Boat Tours
Much like DC Cruises, you’ll find that this tour company is more about having fun and sightseeing than it is about providing an educational experience.
If you want to see the monuments from the Potomac while enjoying a few drinks on a yacht, this would be an excellent option.
Tickets for the Nighttime Party Yacht are a bit more expensive than the services offered by competitors, but reviews for Boomerang are also a lot more impressive.
This yacht includes a full bar and an air-conditioned dance floor in the main cabin.
According to customers on TripAdvisor, this is one of the most entertaining cruises in Washington DC.
Reviewers have seen fit to give the Boomerang Party Yacht a 4 ½ star rating, and most of them seem very happy with their experience.
Older customers weren’t as excited about the trip, but they did suggest that this would definitely be more fun for younger audiences.
Price: $65 per person
Availability: March–December
Additional Information: This cruise is limited to adults 21 and older. An ID will be required to board the yacht.
NIGHT DC SEGWAY TOURS
There are actually a wide variety of Segway tours in Washington DC. Unfortunately, most of them do not offer night tours, instead opting for trips at sunset.
Some of these sunset tours will last long enough to see the monuments as the sun goes down and during the magic hour, which is yet another wonderful experience.
Others will run until 9 pm, giving most guests an opportunity to see our most treasured landmarks after the sun goes down. This is certainly the case the closer you are to June 21st.
Expect to pay anywhere from $65-$75 per person for each tour.
NOTE: These tours cannot accommodate children or youth under 16 years of age.
City Segway Tours
This company offers fairly long tours and one of them begins at 6 pm.
This 3-hour trip will last until about 9 pm, giving you plenty of opportunities to see the monuments and memorials both as the sun sets and at twilight.
Their review profile is excellent. Read the reviews for yourself.
National Mall Segway Twilight Tour
This trip is intended for guests who are new to Washington DC. If you want to learn the basics, this is the perfect introduction to our nation’s capital.
- Ticket Price: $75 per person
- Tour Length: Approximately 3 hours
- Availability: Spring-Fall
- The daytime version runs year-round
In addition to their many bike tours, this company also offers a segway tour which has one offer at 6 pm.
Each tour lasts for 2 ½ hours, so it’s entirely possible that you will see the monuments during sunset and after nightfall.
This is a slightly more affordable segway ride and it comes from one of the most trusted tour companies in Washington DC.
As we previously mentioned, Unlimited Biking enjoys an excellent 5-star rating on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide (read the reviews).
- Ticket Price: $64 per person
- Tour Length: You will cover 6 miles over the course of 2 ½ hours
- Availability: March - November
Capital Segway
This is the shortest but least expensive Segway night tour in Washington, DC. It departs at 7 pm.
This company has a 5-star rating on TripAdvisor and all indications are that their service is excellent.
- Ticket Price: $70 per person
- Tour Length: 2 hours
- Availability: March–October
- The daytime version runs year-round
Several tour companies provide combo packages and deals that allow you to save money on their services.
If you’re in the market to experience more than one attraction or activity in Washington DC, you might want to consider one of the following opportunities.
There is also a tourist attraction discount card that allows a mix and match of different tours.
Some of the bus tours we listed above offer combo tickets which include their night tour for free.
Big Bus Tours
With the purchase of a Deluxe 3-Day ticket, you will receive access to their night tour.
This combo pass also includes a free bike rental.
Ticket Price: $72 for Adults | $63 for Children
NOTE: This is less than $20 more than the price of their night tour alone.
Go Washington DC Card
Although most of the attractions and tours included with this combo pass are daytime activities, there are a few options you can experience during the night.
For instance, if you choose to build your own pass, you could actually save money on both The Capital Wheel and the Sites By Segway tour offered by Unlimited Biking DC.
Each of these activities can be experienced after dark, and you can save 20% or more by using the Go Washington DC Card!
For more information on the Explorer Pass and the Build-Your-Own Pass, please look at our comparison of Washington DC attraction passes.
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