Capitol, Library of Congress and Supreme Court
The best US Capitol tours
The free official Capitol tour, the Rotunda, Crypt and Statuary Hall, the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court. Here is how to book a Capitol tour, with honest advice on security and what you can't bring, lines even with a timed ticket, and when a paid guide is worth it.
See our 8 picks
You can tour the US Capitol for free: reserve a slot online, or walk up and join the next tour.
The Visitor Center is open Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The last tour is at 3:20 p.m.
To see the Capitol and the Library of Congress with one guide, our top pick is a 3-hour tour from €58.
Our 8 picks for guided Capitol Hill tours
The official Capitol tour is free. These tours add a guide, booked entry times and the Library of Congress or Supreme Court in one plan. All eight have free cancellation. The one tour rated under 4.0 comes last, marked.
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from €58 per person Our top pick 3 hours 4.7 (1,678) reviews on GetYourGuide
Capitol Hill and Library of Congress with tickets
A 3-hour tour with a licensed guide. You get a docent-led Capitol tour and a guided visit inside the Library of Congress. The Supreme Court is a photo stop; you go in only on some days. Not for wheelchair users.
Best for A first visit
Check availability: Capitol Hill and Library of Congress with tickets on GetYourGuide -
from €42 per person 3 hours 4.8 (62) reviews on GetYourGuide
Capitol, Supreme Court and Library tour
A 3-hour guided tour of all three. A Capitol docent shows you the Rotunda, Statuary Hall and the Crypt. It ends with a walk through the U.S. Botanic Garden.
Best for All three sights for less
Check availability: Capitol, Supreme Court and Library tour on GetYourGuide - from €58 per person
2.5 to 3.5 hours
Capitol, your choice
2.5–3.5 hours 4.8 (127) reviews on GetYourGuide
Capitol plus the Library or the Supreme Court
Choose your option by day. The Library option does not run on Mondays, and the Supreme Court option does not run on weekends. A private guide is an upgrade.
Best for Picking by the day you visit
Check availability: Capitol plus the Library or the Supreme Court on GetYourGuide -
from €49 per person 3 hours 4.7 (701) reviews on GetYourGuide
Capitol Hill guided tour with entry tickets
A 3-hour tour with booked entry to the Capitol and the Library of Congress. It starts on the west side of the Supreme Court, not at the Visitor Center. The Library is closed on Monday tours.
Best for A guided morning on the Hill
Check availability: Capitol Hill guided tour with entry tickets on GetYourGuide - from €49 per person
Capitol and Library, 3 hours
Early access tour
3 hours 4.7 (148) reviews on GetYourGuide
Capitol Hill tour with early access
The same tour as above, but early, to beat the crowds, says the listing. It also meets on the west side of the Supreme Court.
Best for Early risers
Check availability: Capitol Hill tour with early access on GetYourGuide -
from €53 per person 2–4 hours 4.6 (406) reviews on GetYourGuide
"Big 3": Capitol, Library and Supreme Court
Three options from 2 to 4 hours. You get the Capitol tour and the Library's Main Reading Room view. You can add the House chamber or the Supreme Court. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early.
Best for Seeing all three inside
Check availability: "Big 3": Capitol, Library and Supreme Court on GetYourGuide - from €49 per person
7 miles, 2 hours
Capitol Hill by bike
2 hours 4.7 (76) reviews on GetYourGuide
Capitol Hill bike tour
An easy 7-mile bike ride from Capitol Hill along the National Mall. Bike, helmet and map are included. You do not go inside any building. Not for pregnant women.
Best for Active visitors, outside only
Check availability: Capitol Hill bike tour on GetYourGuide - from €57 per person
A backup pick
Capitol and Library
2 hours 3.54 (73) reviews on GetYourGuide
Capitol and Library tour with Supreme Court stop
Rated under 4.0 on GetYourGuide (3.54). The other tours above rate higher for the same sights. It includes Capitol entry and the Library, or the Capitol Museum on Mondays.
Best for Only if the others are full
Check availability: Capitol and Library tour with Supreme Court stop on GetYourGuide
Capitol Hill tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Goes inside | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capitol Hill and Library of Congress with tickets | €58 per person | 3 hours | Private, up to 30 | Capitol, Library | A first visit | The most-booked Capitol tour, with 1,678 reviews. |
| Capitol, Supreme Court and Library tour | €42 per person | 3 hours | Up to 16 | Capitol, Court, Library | All three sights for less | The lowest price for all three, from €42. |
| Capitol plus the Library or the Supreme Court | €58 per person | 2.5–3.5 hours | Private, up to 100 | Capitol + Library or Court | Picking by the day you visit | Clear options, each matched to the days the sights are open. |
| Capitol Hill guided tour with entry tickets | €49 per person | 3 hours | Private, up to 1 | Capitol, Library | A guided morning on the Hill | Well rated by 701 reviewers, from €49. |
| Capitol Hill tour with early access | €49 per person | 3 hours | Private, up to 55 | Capitol, Library | Early risers | The early slot, at the same price. |
| "Big 3": Capitol, Library and Supreme Court | €53 per person | 2–4 hours | Small-group option, up to 10 | Capitol, Library, Court (option) | Seeing all three inside | The only pick with an optional House chamber visit. |
| Capitol Hill bike tour | €49 per person | 2 hours | Up to 15 | None, outside only | Active visitors, outside only | The Hill and the Mall in 2 hours, by bike. |
| Capitol and Library tour with Supreme Court stop | €57 per person | 2 hours | Not stated | Capitol, Library | Only if the others are full | A 2-hour option when other times are sold out. |
Capitol Hill and Library of Congress with tickets
€58 per person3 hours 4.7 (1,678)
Details
- Group size
- Private, up to 30
- Goes inside
- Capitol, Library
- Who it suits
- A first visit
- Why we picked it
- The most-booked Capitol tour, with 1,678 reviews.
Capitol, Supreme Court and Library tour
€42 per person3 hours 4.8 (62)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 16
- Goes inside
- Capitol, Court, Library
- Who it suits
- All three sights for less
- Why we picked it
- The lowest price for all three, from €42.
Capitol plus the Library or the Supreme Court
€58 per person2.5–3.5 hours 4.8 (127)
Details
- Group size
- Private, up to 100
- Goes inside
- Capitol + Library or Court
- Who it suits
- Picking by the day you visit
- Why we picked it
- Clear options, each matched to the days the sights are open.
Capitol Hill guided tour with entry tickets
€49 per person3 hours 4.7 (701)
Details
- Group size
- Private, up to 1
- Goes inside
- Capitol, Library
- Who it suits
- A guided morning on the Hill
- Why we picked it
- Well rated by 701 reviewers, from €49.
Capitol Hill tour with early access
€49 per person3 hours 4.7 (148)
Details
- Group size
- Private, up to 55
- Goes inside
- Capitol, Library
- Who it suits
- Early risers
- Why we picked it
- The early slot, at the same price.
"Big 3": Capitol, Library and Supreme Court
€53 per person2–4 hours 4.6 (406)
Details
- Group size
- Small-group option, up to 10
- Goes inside
- Capitol, Library, Court (option)
- Who it suits
- Seeing all three inside
- Why we picked it
- The only pick with an optional House chamber visit.
€49 per person2 hours 4.7 (76)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 15
- Goes inside
- None, outside only
- Who it suits
- Active visitors, outside only
- Why we picked it
- The Hill and the Mall in 2 hours, by bike.
Capitol and Library tour with Supreme Court stop
€57 per person2 hours 3.54 (73)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Goes inside
- Capitol, Library
- Who it suits
- Only if the others are full
- Why we picked it
- A 2-hour option when other times are sold out.
- None of the 8 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
- All 8 offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Can I tour the Capitol? The short answer
- Free
- every Capitol tour
- About 1 hour
- official tour
- 3:20 p.m.
- last tour
Yes. All Capitol tours are free, and anyone can join one.
The tour starts at the Capitol Visitor Center. It lasts about an hour.
You see the Rotunda, National Statuary Hall and the Crypt.
A paid tour does not get you more of the Capitol. It adds a guide and other sights nearby.
How to book a free Capitol tour
Book online at tours.visitthecapitol.gov. A reservation is the safe way in.
Book a free Capitol building tour
Pick a date and time on the Capitol's booking site. The official pages we read do not say how far ahead slots open, so book as early as you can.
United States Capitol tour tickets: free, reserve ahead
There is no paid Capitol ticket. Tours that sell "tickets" sell a guide and a booked time.
Without a booking, you can still walk up. You join the next tour with space. Arrive by 2:30 p.m.
Guides on Capitol Hill and nearby
What you see on the US Capitol building tour
The official tour shows you the Rotunda, National Statuary Hall and the Crypt. It lasts about an hour.
The tour does not go into the House or Senate galleries. You need a separate pass for those.
Capitol Visitor Center hours and same-day passes
The Visitor Center is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday. The last tour starts at 3:20 p.m.
It is closed on Sundays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Inauguration Day.
Walk-ups join the next tour with space. Arrive by 2:30 p.m. to get one.
Seeing Congress in session: the House and Senate galleries
To watch Congress, you need a gallery pass. US citizens ask their own Representative or Senator.
International visitors ask at the Appointment Desks in the Visitor Center. Passes can be reused, but not given to someone else.
When Congress is out of session, the galleries open at 9 a.m., Monday to Friday. Last entry is about 4 p.m. They close on weekends and federal holidays unless Congress is sitting.
Library of Congress and Supreme Court tours
The Library of Congress is free, but you need a free timed ticket for the Thomas Jefferson Building. Book up to 30 days ahead; same-day tickets come out at 9 a.m.
The Library is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and until 8 p.m. on Thursday. It offers no guided group tours, so the paid tours bring their own guide.
A tunnel links the Capitol Visitor Center to the Library. It can close on event days.
The Supreme Court is closed on weekends, say the tour listings. Entry is possible only on some days.
Choose a guided Capitol Hill tour
A paid guide is worth it if you want the Capitol, the Library and the Court in one plan. The guide books the times and tells the story.
For a first visit, pick the Capitol Hill and Library tour. For all three at the lowest price, pick the Capitol, Supreme Court and Library tour.
Want to go inside all three? Take the "Big 3" tour, with the House chamber as an option.
A good half day: the Capitol at 9 a.m., then the Library through the tunnel, then lunch. Air and Space and the other Smithsonians are a short walk away.
Getting to Capitol Hill and what to bring
Bring only a small bag. Bags larger than 18 x 14 x 8.5 inches are not allowed.
Food, drinks, aerosols, knives and pepper spray are banned too. Everyone goes through security.
Take the Metro to Capitol South, then walk about two blocks north, says one tour listing. Parking nearby is very limited.
The Capitol stands at the Mall's east end. From here the Mall runs west to the Lincoln Memorial.
Before you book a Capitol tour
Try the free tour first
Reserve on tours.visitthecapitol.gov. Every Capitol tour is free.
Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early
Entry runs on timed slots, and security takes time even with a booking.
Pack light
Bags over 18 x 14 x 8.5 inches, food and drinks are not allowed in the Capitol.
Mind the days
The Capitol is closed on Sundays. The Library is closed Sunday and Monday, and the Supreme Court on weekends.
Find the start
Two picks meet on the west side of the Supreme Court, not at the Visitor Center. Check your voucher.
Cancel if plans change
All eight tours have free cancellation. Check the exact deadline on each listing.
Questions about Capitol tours
Can I tour the Capitol building?
How do I book a tour of the Capitol building?
How long is the Capitol tour?
Can you tour the Supreme Court?
How long is the Library of Congress tour?
More Capitol tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideSources (7), facts checked on 25 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in Washington DC editorial team.