Discover the heart and soul of the American capital with hop on hop off Washington DC bus tours! Covering everything from the White House and Capitol Hill, to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Smithsonian Castle and beyond, these bus and trolley tours are your gateway to the best things to do in Washington DC and offer a flexible way to explore iconic landmarks and city center at your own pace.
So whether you’re drawn to the historic allure of the National Mall or the serene beauty of the Potomac River, there’s no better way to curate your adventure than to book now a hop on hop off Washington DC tour. To find the right sightseeing bus or trolley tour for you, we have explored the best companies around.
So get ready for a journey into American heritage that promises both enlightenment and excitement at every turn!
Hop on hop off Washington DC bus tours comparison
When it comes to hop on hop off Washington DC tours, there are two companies offering bus and trolley tours – Big Bus Tours and Old Town Trolley Tours. While both companies offer similar daytime and evening tours of the US capital, they have different types of tickets and perks. To help you pick the best tour in Washington DC, we’ll look into each company’s details, including hop-on hop-off routes and all ticket options.
1 – Big Bus Tours
With a fleet of open-top buses, Big Bus Tours offers an unparalleled vantage point from which to soak in the sights of Washington, DC. With services running every 15–20 minutes, daytime and evening tours with complimentary audio commentary, and a wide range of ticket options and perks, Big Bus Tours provides one of the best hop on hop off Washington DC bus tours.
Routes
The Red Loop has 15 stops that cover many iconic government buildings, including the White House, Union Station, and the US Capitol, along with national monuments and memorials, as well as museums, such as the International Spy Museum and the Natural History Museum. The entire loop takes just under two hours to complete.
The Black Loop operates in the evening and offers a unique experience as you pass by many important landmarks and monuments at the National Mall and Arlington Cemetery. The average duration of this sightseeing bus journey through Washington DC in the evening is almost two hours.
Tickets
There are five different types of Big Bus Washington DC tickets and passes. All tickets include access to pre-recorded commentary in 5 languages (English, French, German, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese) and complimentary headphones. Children aged 3 to 12 are entitled to reduced ticket prices.
The Discover Ticket offers access to the Red Loop for an entire day and is the most affordable option, costing US$54 for adults and US$45 for children. This ticket also includes a special discount rate for bike rental if you want to explore the capital on two wheels.
The 2-day Essential Ticket, priced at US$63 for adults and US$54 for children, covers the Red Loop. On top of a special bike rental rate and discounts to many shops and attractions, this Big Bus ticket is flexible and includes a free date change.
For a longer stay in the US capital, the 3-day Explorer Ticket offers great value at US$72 per adult and US$63 per child, allowing you to leave no stone unturned. Beyond accessing the Red Loop, cheaper bike rental, discounts and a free date change, this ticket includes a 45-minute one-way boat cruise along the Potomac River.
The panoramic Night Tour ticket includes a 2-hour drive through the Black Loop in the evening on board a Big Bus, with audio commentary in English. Tickets for this evening tour cost US$58.50 for adults and US$49.50 for children.
To get a comprehensive view of the city, the Best of DC Tour includes a single panoramic tour on the Red Loop during the day, followed by a ride on the Black Loop in the evening. This pass, priced at US$70 for adults and US$60 for children, also includes discounted bike rental for further exploration of the capital.
2 – Old Town Trolley Tours
Old Town Trolley Tours brings a unique charm to city exploration, thanks to the live commentary provided by its friendly and knowledgeable guides. The company offers two routes: a 15-stop sightseeing tour in Washington, DC, and a 10-stop tour of Arlington National Cemetery.
Routes
The main hop on hop off route passes by many key D.C. landmarks, including the White House and US Capitol, as well as memorials and monuments dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King and George Washington. The loop also includes designated stops at several Smithsonian museums and typically lasts one hour and 45 minutes.
The 45-minute tour at the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery is unique to the Old Town Trolley Tours company and makes 6 stops on weekdays and 9 on weekends. Stops include the President John F. Kennedy Gravesite, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington House, and the US Marine Corps War Memorial Iwo Jima.
Tickets
There are five different Old Town Trolley Tour tickets available, with prices varying depending on the day you wish to book. Children aged 4 to 12 are entitled to a reduced price, and additional discounts are often available for online bookings. All trolleys include free Wi-Fi.
The 1-Day Old Town Trolley Tour tickets start at US$58.95 for adults and US$32.95 for children and include a pre-recorded audio tour to enjoy on the 15-stop ride through Washington, DC.
On the Monuments by Moonlight Tour, ticket prices start from US$69.95 for adults and US$38.95 for children. This evening tour gives you the option of starting and finishing at Union Station or The Washington Welcome Center.
The Old Town Trolley Tour & Arlington National Cemetery Tour package includes a 1-day pass for the Old Town trolley and a ticket for the Arlington National Cemetery Tour. Keep in mind that the trolley tour and cemetery tour do not need to be booked for the same day. Prices for adults start at US$59.70 and US$39.33 for children.
Similarly, the Monuments by Moonlight & Arlington National Cemetery Tour package includes an evening trolley tour of the city and a ticket for the Arlington National Cemetery, which can be booked on a separate day. Prices for adults start at US$84.70, while child tickets start at US$45.32.
General admission tickets for the Arlington National Cemetery Tours are priced at US$19.50 for adults, US$15 for seniors (65+), and US$10.75 for children. Members of the military, veterans and their families are entitled to special tour rates, with adults paying US$8.70 and children US$5.25, while uniformed members of the military join for free.
My Review
Both Hop on Hop off sightseeing companies offer tours with similar daytime and evening itineraries; however, they each have distinct differences.
What I really like about Big Bus Tours is that they offer two- and three-day passes, which are ideal for longer stays in Washington, DC. When coupled with perks such as the discounted bike rental, these packages offer great value and allow you to get a real feel of the city.
As for Old Town Trolley Tours, I really appreciate the live commentary, as it adds a unique flair to the experience, as well as the dedicated tour of the Arlington National Cemetery. The ability to book tours on separate days also gives greater flexibility in covering the city at your own pace.
How do you find discounted Hop on Hop off Washington DC tours tickets?
Finding discounted tickets for hop on hop off Washington DC bus tours is easier than you might think. The first option is to browse through reputable travel websites, where you will often find exclusive deals and discounts.
Alternatively, consider buying a city attractions pass for Washington DC. Not only does it offer access to famous landmarks and tourist attractions in Washington DC, including hop on hop off tours, but it also provides significant savings compared to buying individual tickets.
In any case, both options are excellent for maximizing your experience and staying budget-friendly when planning your sightseeing in the US capital.
1 – Check out discounted tickets on travel websites
Searching on travel websites such as Viator and Getyourguide for discounted tickets is a game-changer, but you might notice that they have slightly different prices for the same tickets. Search engines, like TourScanner, allow you to compare prices across different providers, ensuring you snag the best deal.
Using a price comparison platform simplifies your planning process and makes it easier to budget for your sightseeing adventure in DC, while guaranteeing you don’t miss out on the lowest prices.
2 – Book a city attractions pass
Another way to save money on a hop-on hop-off bus or trolley tour in Washington DC, is to buy a city attraction pass. These passes tend to offer great value for travelers with a sense of adventure and exploration by providing discounts on many major attractions and museums in Washington DC.
The Washington DC Sightseeing Pass
The Washington DC Sightseeing Pass is one of the best ways of touring the US capital on your own terms and pace. There are two main options available:
The Day Pass, lasting 1, 2 or 3 days, offers unlimited sightseeing and use of the Big Bus hop-on, hop-off bus tours. These are ideal for first-time visitors, families and groups of friends who want to see as much as possible.
The Flex Pass allows you to get on the Big Bus hop-on, hop-off bus tours for 1 day and allows entry to 1, 2 or 4 attractions over a period of 60 days. This flexibility makes it ideal for locals and travelers who have visited Washington DC before or want to focus on specific attractions.