Washington DC Night Tours
This post lists the various Washington, DC night tours available to you, including our free walks, as well as bus, bike, and Segway tours.
We review and compare the different options to help you make the best decision for yourself.
Disclosure: In addition to our free night walks, we have also provided other night tour options. While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.
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.
All 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.
Our company has earned an overall 5 out of 5-star rating on TripAdvisor. Read the reviews for yourself.
National Mall Tour
We offer this tour both day and night. Walk along the National Mall and discover the history of the United States through the many memorials and monuments in the area.
Discover the Washington Monument, The White House, The Lincoln Memorial and many other significant landmarks on your journey.
Memorials & Moonlight
If you really want to see the memorials in a different light, take this tour to visit the most beautifully lit memorials.
We explore WWII, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial. And we will see and talk about from afar the Jefferson Memorial.
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 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.
Wicked Embassy Row & Georgetown
ADULTS ONLY – From the assassinations and international intrigue of Embassy Row to the tragedy of Georgetown’s darker side, we’ll explore the oldest neighborhoods in DC with local legends and true crime events from its past.
Starting in Dupont Circle, we’ll hear about the original mean girls and stories from the Gilded Age, then we’ll cross of Rock Creek to see old cemeteries, supernatural tales, and the sites of unsolved murders, ending in downtown Georgetown
White House at Night – Secrets and Legends
ADULTS ONLY – Scandalous side of White House? Who would’ve thought it?
Join Free Tours by Foot, if you’re an adult, for a walk through the neighborhood around the White House at night to talk about presidential affairs, nearby duels, murders, and scandalous first ladies.
Our historian guides take you through this small park, known as Tragedy Square, for the true stories of some of the city’s darkest secrets and most haunted houses, including the White House.
NIGHT BUS TOURS DC
There are a lot of bus tours at night in Washington DC, and they’re all quite highly rated.
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 $30-$50 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.
DC TRAILS
This 3.5-hour open-top bus tour will take you past all of the most iconic buildings in DC.
Of all the hop-on-hop-off companies, DC Trails offers the most stops of any similar night tour. The stops included are:
- White House (Photo stop only)
- U.S. Capitol (Photo stop only)
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Lincoln Memorial
- Korean War Veterans Memorial
- World War II Memorial
- Iwo Jima Memorial
- FDR Memorial
- MLK Memorial
DC Trails Twilight Bus Tour offers a live guide who will get off the bus with you at each stop.
We like how a child ticket is just $20. Combined with our discount, this is also the cheapest of the night tours. In our opinion, this is the best value night tour (other than ours).
DC Trails gets good overall reviews and that also goes for their night tour, which guests rate highly.
3.5 hours departing daily at 7 pm.
- Get 10% off the prices below
- $45 for Adults
- $40 for Seniors
- $30 for Children
Purchase your DC Trails Tickets Here – Get 10% off the prices above (discount applied automatically)
NOTE: This night tour is included for free with a 48-hour DC Trails hop-on hop-off ticket. Click here to purchase!
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.
- $54 for Adults (additional fee for hotel pick up)
- $44 for Children (additional fee for hotel pick up)
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 as a 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 the daytime tours.
2 Hour Tour
- $46 for Adults
- $36 for Children
- More information
NOTE: The night tour is included in the price for the 2 days all-inclusive ticket, which is just $20 more per adult. This combo pass also includes a free bike rental, free refreshments and free admission to Madame Tussauds.
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 the history of our nation.
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
- $40.50 for Adults
- $29.70 for Children
- Children under 4 ride for free
BI-PARTISAN TOURS
Epic Evening Bus Tour – Discover all of the most significant locations in DC during the evening! There are a few good points for this tour.
- First, it’s a small group (up to 11 people) tours.
- Second, Bi-Partisan Tours is one of the highest-rated tour company.
- Third, this night tour visits the Air Force Memorial, which most other companies don’t do, and this stop is a real treat at night.
However, this is a driver-guide only tour, so there is no tour guide to accompany you through the memorials which can be a negative if you have any questions while at the sites since many sites cannot be seen from the coach.
With that said, none of the reviewers seem to have any issues with this aspect and the guided bus portion seems to make up for it.
They do offer hotel pick up and drop off.
- 4 hours starting at 7 pm.
- $59 for Adults
- $44 for Children
NIGHT BIKE TOURS OF DC
Bike and Roll is well known for providing excellent service in cities all over the country. In Washington DC, 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-stars rating on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide (read the reviews). It’s clear that most guests really appreciate the service that Bike and Roll provides.
- $49 for Adults
- $39 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 meal 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 meal were wonderful. Odyssey Cruises is particularly popular among couples due to its focus on a more romantic atmosphere.
Washington DC Dinner Cruise
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
DC Cruises
If you’re looking for a more entertaining sightseeing experience, consider DC Cruises.
Although they don’t necessarily focus on providing a lot of information about our nation’s capital, their Monuments By Moonlight cruise will give you an opportunity to see the memorials and landmarks from the Potomac.
They offer panoramic windows, indoor and outdoor decks, and a full bar. This trip is definitely more about having fun and seeing the sights!
With an overall rating of 3 stars on TripAdvisor, DC Cruises doesn’t exactly have the best reputation.
Ratings for their Moonlight cruise are mixed, with some customers complaining that the music on the boat is too loud and the trip is too short.
Other passengers knew what they were getting into and actually enjoyed their experience. If you’re looking for a more laid back cruise, reviews indicate that this may be an excellent service for that purpose.
Although it’s a sightseeing cruise, there will be very little narration. Instead, you will hear a selection of popular music as you float by the monuments.
Ticket Prices:
- $25 for Adults
- $20 for Students/Military
- $12 for Children
No Children under 10
Tour Length: This cruise will last approximately 45-60 minutes. It is offered on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM from March – November.
In addition to their sightseeing trip, DC Cruises also offers a party service during the spring and summer. This is intended as more of a party, with loud music and social drinking.
Ticket Prices:
- $25 for the DJ Party Cruise
- $20 for the Exclusive Hour
- $36 for both
No Children Allowed
Tour Length: The Exclusive hour runs from 9:15 PM-10:30 PM. The DJ Party Cruise runs from 10:30 PM-11:45 PM. Both cruises are only available during the warmer months of the year.
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.
Nighttime Party Yacht Cruise
Price: $35-$45 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.
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, Bike and Roll enjoy 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: $60 per person
- Tour Length: 2 hours
- Availability: March–October
- The daytime version runs year-round
COMBO PACKAGES AND DEALS
Several tour companies provide combo packages and deals which 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.
DC Trails
Just like its competitors, this company also provides a free night tour with every 48-hour ticket. Prices are comparable to other bus tours and reviews for this service are very good.
Ticket Prices: $56 for Adults | $27 for Children
- Purchase your DC Trails Tickets Here – Get 10% off the prices above (discount applied automatically)
Big Bus Tours
With the purchase of a Deluxe 2-Day ticket, you will receive access to their night tour.
This combo pass also includes a free bike rental, free refreshments and free admission to Madame Tussauds.
Ticket Price: $59 for Adults | $39 for Children
NOTE: This is only $20 more than the price of their night tour alone.
City Sights DC
Similar to Big Bus Tours, City Sights offers their night tour for free when you purchase a 2-Day ticket. However, they also offer a combo pass which includes everything you get with a 2-Day ticket plus admission for up to 5 different attractions.
Ticket Prices:
- 2-Day + Night Tour: $49 for Adults | $39 for Children
- 2-Day + Night Tour + 1 attraction: $69 for Adults | $64 for Children
- 2-Day + Night Tour + 2 attractions: $79 for Adults | $65 for Children
- 2-Day + Night Tour + 3 attractions: $94 for Adults | $84 for Children
- 2-Day + Night Tour + 4 attractions: $104 for Adults | $94 for Children
- 2-Day + Night Tour + 5 attractions: $114 for Adults | $104 for Children
City Sights DC also offers a variety of discounts through Groupon. These will not always be available, but you should always check to see if your chosen tour is currently on sale.
For more information on their combo pass, check out our comparison of Washington DC attraction passes.
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 Bike and Roll 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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About the author
Canden is a historian and tour guide in Washington DC with 3 published books about the city. She has written for HuffPost Travel and has been featured in the Washington Post, WTOP, and numerous other DC papers. She's also been interviewed by the Travel Channel and Discovery Family Channel. Canden is the host of our podcast, Tour Guide Tell All
With a M.A. in History from University College London and a B.A. in History from Elon University, she is an authority on D.C. history, and has led tours in the city for over 10 years. She currently resides in DC, but has also lived in London and South Korea, and has travelled to 25 countries. Her two children (both under the age of 3) have their passports and own frequent flier accounts.