Trolley, hop-on and guided bus
The best Old Town Trolley and DC bus tours
The Old Town Trolley's 25 stops, Big Bus open-top double-deckers with an Arlington audio tour, a 4-hour guided highlights bus tour, a sunset bus tour with a live guide and a full day with Capitol and Archives entry; here is how to pick a DC bus or trolley tour, with honest advice on long waits at the stops, whether a pass is worth the money and hearing the guide.
See our 6 picks
For a hop-on hop-off day, the Old Town Trolley is our best-rated pass: 4.2 from 735 reviews, from €49, with a live guide. For a guided bus tour, the 4-hour highlights tour rates 4.8 from 402 reviews, from €53. No duck tour was on sale on GetYourGuide when we checked on 25 October 2026.
DC bus and trolley tours: our picks
Two hop-on passes, three guided bus tours and one combo. All six show free cancellation. The two Big Bus passes are rated under 4.0, so they come last.
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from €49 per person Our top pick 1 or 2 days 4.2 (735) reviews on GetYourGuide
Old Town Trolley hop-on hop-off pass
A 1- or 2-day pass with 25 stops and a live guide on board. You can add a tram tour of Arlington National Cemetery. It starts at 50 Massachusetts Ave NE, by Union Station.
Best for Your own pace with a live guide
Check availability: Old Town Trolley hop-on hop-off pass on GetYourGuide -
from €53 per person 4 hours 4.8 (402) reviews on GetYourGuide
Highlights bus tour with short walks
A 4-hour guided bus tour. The guide walks you to the White House and the memorials. Commentary is in English only.
Best for A half day with a guide
Check availability: Highlights bus tour with short walks on GetYourGuide -
from €115 per person 8 hours 4.5 (47) reviews on GetYourGuide
Full day with Capitol and Archives entry
An 8-hour guided bus day with entry to the US Capitol and the National Archives. From 1 April to 30 September it adds a 1-hour Potomac cruise. Both buildings are free on their own: you pay for the guide, the bus and the timing.
Best for One day, everything arranged
Check availability: Full day with Capitol and Archives entry on GetYourGuide -
from €44 per person 2 hours 4.0 (463) reviews on GetYourGuide
Sunset bus tour with a live guide
An evening loop on an open-top bus with a live guide. It makes 15-minute photo stops at the Lincoln Memorial and the White House. There are two meeting points, so check yours on the listing.
Best for An evening with the memorials
Check availability: Sunset bus tour with a live guide on GetYourGuide -
from €40 per person 24, 48 or 72 hours 3.95 (2,715) reviews on GetYourGuide
Big Bus pass with Arlington audio tour
Rated under 4.0 on GetYourGuide: 3.95 from 2,715 reviews. A 24-, 48- or 72-hour pass on two routes with 18 stops and recorded commentary. It adds audio tours of Arlington, the Tidal Basin and Georgetown.
Best for The lowest price for a hop-on pass
Check availability: Big Bus pass with Arlington audio tour on GetYourGuide -
from €62 per person 24, 48 or 72 hours 3.93 (42) reviews on GetYourGuide
Big Bus pass plus sunset tour
Rated under 4.0 on GetYourGuide: 3.93 from 42 reviews. The Big Bus pass plus a 2.5-hour sunset tour with a live guide. The sunset tour leaves from Stop 6 at L'Enfant Plaza.
Best for Day and evening in one ticket
Check availability: Big Bus pass plus sunset tour on GetYourGuide
DC bus and trolley tours side by side
| Tour | From | Duration | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town Trolley hop-on hop-off pass | €49 per person | 1 or 2 days | Your own pace with a live guide | The best-rated hop-on pass here, 4.2 from 735 reviews. |
| Highlights bus tour with short walks | €53 per person | 4 hours | A half day with a guide | The best-rated bus tour here, 4.8 from 402 reviews. |
| Full day with Capitol and Archives entry | €115 per person | 8 hours | One day, everything arranged | The only bus tour here that goes inside, rated 4.5 from 47 reviews. |
| Sunset bus tour with a live guide | €44 per person | 2 hours | An evening with the memorials | A live guide at golden hour, rated 4.0 from 463 reviews. |
| Big Bus pass with Arlington audio tour | €40 per person | 24, 48 or 72 hours | The lowest price for a hop-on pass | The cheapest pass here, from €40, but the rating is under 4.0. |
| Big Bus pass plus sunset tour | €62 per person | 24, 48 or 72 hours | Day and evening in one ticket | Both rides in one booking, but the rating is under 4.0. |
Old Town Trolley hop-on hop-off pass
€49 per person1 or 2 days 4.2 (735)
Details
- Who it suits
- Your own pace with a live guide
- Why we picked it
- The best-rated hop-on pass here, 4.2 from 735 reviews.
Highlights bus tour with short walks
€53 per person4 hours 4.8 (402)
Details
- Who it suits
- A half day with a guide
- Why we picked it
- The best-rated bus tour here, 4.8 from 402 reviews.
Full day with Capitol and Archives entry
€115 per person8 hours 4.5 (47)
Details
- Who it suits
- One day, everything arranged
- Why we picked it
- The only bus tour here that goes inside, rated 4.5 from 47 reviews.
Sunset bus tour with a live guide
€44 per person2 hours 4.0 (463)
Details
- Who it suits
- An evening with the memorials
- Why we picked it
- A live guide at golden hour, rated 4.0 from 463 reviews.
Big Bus pass with Arlington audio tour
€40 per person24, 48 or 72 hours 3.95 (2,715)
Details
- Who it suits
- The lowest price for a hop-on pass
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest pass here, from €40, but the rating is under 4.0.
€62 per person24, 48 or 72 hours 3.93 (42)
Details
- Who it suits
- Day and evening in one ticket
- Why we picked it
- Both rides in one booking, but the rating is under 4.0.
- Small group: Highlights bus tour with short walks takes up to 15 people.
- None of the 6 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
- All 6 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.
Old Town Trolley tours in DC
The Old Town Trolley is a hop-on hop-off tour with a live guide and 25 stops. You buy 1 or 2 days and get on and off as often as you like.
The guide talks live in English. The trolley app has recorded commentary in 7 other languages. The app also shows where the trolley is on a map.
Rather walk than ride? Compare DC walking tours on our main tours page.
Hop on hop off in Washington, DC: how the passes work
A pass lets you ride a loop and get off at any stop. To avoid long waits, check the live tracking in the operator's app before you walk to a stop. Both the trolley and Big Bus listings name a tracking app.
| Old Town Trolley | Big Bus | |
|---|---|---|
| Stops | 25 | 18, on two routes |
| Pass length | 1 or 2 days | 24, 48 or 72 hours |
| Commentary | Live guide in English | Recorded (digital commentary) |
| Arlington | Tram tour add-on | Audio tour |
| Extras | App with 7 languages | Georgetown shuttle (48 and 72 hours only) |
| Price | From €49 | From €40 |
Adding Arlington National Cemetery
The trolley's Arlington tram tour lasts 45 minutes on weekdays and 1 hour on weekends. The ride between the city tour and the cemetery tour is not included.
Bring a passport or a US driving license. The listing says you are turned away without one. Walkers also go through screening at the Welcome Center.
DC tours by bus with a live guide
For a live guide the whole way, pick a guided bus tour over a hop-on pass. The 4-hour highlights tour is the best rated, at 4.8. Its guide walks you to the White House and the memorials.
A full day with the Capitol and the Archives
The 8-hour tour takes you inside the US Capitol and the National Archives, from €115. Both are free to visit on your own. The Capitol has airport-style security, the listing says.
To book the Capitol yourself, see our US Capitol, Library of Congress and Supreme Court tours.
The sunset tour
The sunset tour rides an open-top bus with a live guide, from €44. It stops for 15 minutes at the Lincoln Memorial and the White House.
The memorials are open 24 hours, so you can also walk them at night. Our National Mall monuments and memorials guide shows how.
Hop-on bus or Metro?
Metro is cheaper: a 1-day Metrorail and Metrobus pass costs $13.50 (wmata.com, 25 October 2026). The cheapest hop-on pass here is from €40.
The bus adds commentary and stops right at the sights. On Metro, nobody tells you the stories.
Our guide to getting around Washington, DC has the fares.
Planning your own days? Our Washington, DC itinerary shows where a bus day fits.
Booking tips for DC bus tours
Track the bus before you wait
Open the operator's app for live bus tracking before you walk to a stop. Both the trolley and Big Bus listings include one.
Bring ID for Arlington
For the trolley's Arlington add-on, bring a passport or a US driving license. Expect a security screening too.
Check when your pass starts
Read on the listing when your pass starts and ends. Plan your stops around it.
Compare with Metro
A 1-day Metro pass is $13.50 (wmata.com, 25 October 2026). Pay for a bus when you want the commentary.
If your plans change
All six tours show free cancellation on GetYourGuide. The exact terms differ, so read them on each listing.
Questions people ask about DC bus tours
Which bus tour is best in Washington, DC?
Do DC Duck tours still run?
Is a hop-on hop-off pass worth it in DC?
Is there a trolley in Washington, DC?
More DC bus and trolley tours on GetYourGuide
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 GetYourGuideRelated guides
Sources (7), facts checked on 25 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in Washington DC editorial team.