The memorials after dark
The best DC night tours
Moonlight trolley tours, night bus tours, small e-cart and van tours and a private SUV tour of the lit-up memorials. Here is how to pick a DC night tour, with honest advice on whether it beats walking on your own, how much walking each tour means and whether you get a real guide.
See our 8 picks
The best DC night tour for most visitors is the Monuments by Moonlight trolley tour, from €54 for 2.5 hours.
The memorials are open 24 hours and free, so you can also walk them on your own. Park rangers lead some night walks too.
Our 8 picks for DC night tours
All eight have free cancellation. The first seven are shared tours; the private SUV comes last.
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from €54 per person Our top pick 2 h 30 min 4.6 (1,619) reviews on GetYourGuide
Monuments by Moonlight trolley tour
A 2.5-hour trolley tour with a guide and two 30-minute stops on foot: the Lincoln, Vietnam and Korean War memorials, then FDR and MLK. The Iwo Jima stop is replaced by the World War II Memorial for now, due to a bridge closure.
Best for A first night in DC, families
Check availability: Monuments by Moonlight trolley tour on GetYourGuide -
from €39 per person 2 hours 4.8 (209) reviews on GetYourGuide
Day and night monuments tour by e-cart
A 2-hour ride in an open-air electric cart, with a live local guide and photo stops. It stops at the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson, MLK and Lincoln memorials and the White House. Groups are limited to 9.
Best for Small groups on a budget
Check availability: Day and night monuments tour by e-cart on GetYourGuide -
from €57 per person 3 hours 4.6 (315) reviews on GetYourGuide
National Mall night bus tour
A 3-hour tour in a climate-controlled bus with live commentary. You can upgrade to a glass-top or open-top bus. It meets at 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW.
Best for Seeing a lot from your seat
Check availability: National Mall night bus tour on GetYourGuide -
from €61 per person 3 hours 4.5 (323) reviews on GetYourGuide
Night tour of 10+ monuments
A 3-hour tour with 10+ stops, including the White House, the Capitol and the Lincoln and MLK memorials. The guide walks you through each stop. The "entry tickets" are optional extras for a self-guided visit on another day.
Best for Seeing every big memorial
Check availability: Night tour of 10+ monuments on GetYourGuide -
from €88 per person 3 hours 4.7 (146) reviews on GetYourGuide
Small-group night tour by van
A 3-hour tour in a 12-seat van at a relaxed pace. You get out at most sites, so wear comfortable shoes. Water, maps and umbrellas are included.
Best for A relaxed pace, small groups
Check availability: Small-group night tour by van on GetYourGuide -
from €49 per person 2 hours 4.7 (25) reviews on GetYourGuide
Monuments and US history e-cart tour
A 2-hour e-cart tour with a local guide and time for questions. It meets at 333 G St NW.
Best for Asking questions as you go
Check availability: Monuments and US history e-cart tour on GetYourGuide -
from €61 per person 3 hours 4.2 (51) reviews on GetYourGuide
Night tour with 10+ monuments and the holiday lights
A 3-hour tour with 10 stops and a guide who walks with you. In December it shows the holiday lights at the White House and the Capitol. It meets at 790 Pennsylvania Ave NW.
Best for A December visit
Check availability: Night tour with 10+ monuments and the holiday lights on GetYourGuide -
from €446 per group up to 6 4 hours 4.9 (118) reviews on GetYourGuide
Private day or evening tour by SUV
Your own SUV and driver for 4 hours, with hotel pickup in central DC. Tours run in English, Spanish or Portuguese. The driver stays with the car and does not walk you to the monuments.
Best for Your own group, your own timing
Check availability: Private day or evening tour by SUV on GetYourGuide
DC night tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Pickup | Live guide? | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monuments by Moonlight trolley tour | €54 per person | 2 h 30 min | Meeting point | Yes, guide on board | A first night in DC, families | The most reviewed night tour: 4.6 from 1,619 reviews. |
| Day and night monuments tour by e-cart | €39 per person | 2 hours | Meeting point | Yes, live guide | Small groups on a budget | The cheapest night tour here, from €39, rated 4.8. |
| National Mall night bus tour | €57 per person | 3 hours | Meeting point | Yes, live commentary | Seeing a lot from your seat | A bus with a live guide, rated 4.6 from 315 reviews. |
| Night tour of 10+ monuments | €61 per person | 3 hours | Meeting point | Yes, walks with you | Seeing every big memorial | A guide who walks with you, rated 4.5 from 323 reviews. |
| Small-group night tour by van | €88 per person | 3 hours | Meeting point | Yes, local guide | A relaxed pace, small groups | A small group with a local guide, rated 4.7. |
| Monuments and US history e-cart tour | €49 per person | 2 hours | Meeting point | Yes, local guide | Asking questions as you go | A small, guided ride, rated 4.7 from 25 reviews. |
| Night tour with 10+ monuments and the holiday lights | €61 per person | 3 hours | Meeting point | Yes, walks with you | A December visit | The same tour family as the 10+ monuments pick, with the holiday lights in December. |
| Private day or evening tour by SUV | €446 per group up to 6 | 4 hours | Pickup included | No, info in the car | Your own group, your own timing | Rated 4.9, with pickup. The price is for the whole car, up to 6 people. |
Monuments by Moonlight trolley tour
€54 per person2 h 30 min 4.6 (1,619)
Details
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Live guide?
- Yes, guide on board
- Who it suits
- A first night in DC, families
- Why we picked it
- The most reviewed night tour: 4.6 from 1,619 reviews.
Day and night monuments tour by e-cart
€39 per person2 hours 4.8 (209)
Details
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Live guide?
- Yes, live guide
- Who it suits
- Small groups on a budget
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest night tour here, from €39, rated 4.8.
€57 per person3 hours 4.6 (315)
Details
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Live guide?
- Yes, live commentary
- Who it suits
- Seeing a lot from your seat
- Why we picked it
- A bus with a live guide, rated 4.6 from 315 reviews.
€61 per person3 hours 4.5 (323)
Details
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Live guide?
- Yes, walks with you
- Who it suits
- Seeing every big memorial
- Why we picked it
- A guide who walks with you, rated 4.5 from 323 reviews.
€88 per person3 hours 4.7 (146)
Details
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Live guide?
- Yes, local guide
- Who it suits
- A relaxed pace, small groups
- Why we picked it
- A small group with a local guide, rated 4.7.
Monuments and US history e-cart tour
€49 per person2 hours 4.7 (25)
Details
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Live guide?
- Yes, local guide
- Who it suits
- Asking questions as you go
- Why we picked it
- A small, guided ride, rated 4.7 from 25 reviews.
Night tour with 10+ monuments and the holiday lights
€61 per person3 hours 4.2 (51)
Details
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Live guide?
- Yes, walks with you
- Who it suits
- A December visit
- Why we picked it
- The same tour family as the 10+ monuments pick, with the holiday lights in December.
Private day or evening tour by SUV
€446 per group up to 64 hours 4.9 (118)
Details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Live guide?
- No, info in the car
- Who it suits
- Your own group, your own timing
- Why we picked it
- Rated 4.9, with pickup. The price is for the whole car, up to 6 people.
- Small group: Day and night monuments tour by e-cart takes up to 9 people.
- 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.
Monuments night tours in DC compared
Monuments night tours in DC differ in three ways: the vehicle, the time on foot and the guide. All of them pass the big memorials on the National Mall.
The trolley and the e-carts keep you seated between stops. The 10+ monument tours and the van tour have you walk through most sites.
The Monuments by Moonlight tour
The Monuments by Moonlight tour runs 2.5 hours on a trolley with stadium seats. You walk for two 30-minute stops: Lincoln, Vietnam and Korean War, then FDR and MLK.
Its Iwo Jima stop is skipped for now, due to a bridge closure. The World War II Memorial takes its place, says the listing.
Bus tours of DC at night
Bus tours of DC at night take about 3 hours. The National Mall night bus has live commentary and an open-top or glass-top upgrade.
The 10+ monuments tours also travel by bus. Their guide gets off and walks you through each stop.
Night tour or walk on your own?
You can walk the memorials on your own for free. The National Mall and Memorial Parks are open 24 hours a day, says the National Park Service.
A tour is worth it if you want the stories, or if you do not want to walk far. The memorials are spread out, and a tour drives you between them.
Not ready to book? Use our DC monuments map and walk the memorials yourself.
Metro is cheaper late at night. Off-peak fares run $2.25 to $2.50 after 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and at weekends (wmata.com, 25 October 2026). See our guide to public transport in Washington, DC.
The Lincoln Memorial at night
Yes, you can visit the Lincoln Memorial at night. It is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, which are open 24 hours.
Inside sits the 19-foot statue of Lincoln by Daniel Chester French. The memorial was dedicated on May 30, 1922.
The Monuments by Moonlight tour gives you 30 minutes on foot there. The day and night e-cart tour and both 10+ monuments tours also stop there.
By day, our guide to the Washington monuments DC visitors come to see covers each memorial.
Things to do in DC at night
The top things to do in DC at night are the lit-up memorials, a ghost walk or a late dinner. A night tour is the easy way to see the memorials in one evening.
Park rangers lead some night walks on the Mall too, says the National Park Service. Check its page for dates.
The Washington Monument ticket is free, with a $1 fee per ticket online (recreation.gov). The Smithsonian says its museums are free. So the "entry tickets" on two of our picks are optional extras, not part of the night tour.
Fun things to do in DC for couples at night
For couples, a small e-cart tour or the private SUV feels more personal. Add an evening walk with food and drinks from our DC food tours.
Ghost walks are another evening idea; see the related guides below.
Before you book a DC night tour
Check how much you walk
The trolley has two 30-minute stops on foot. The van tour stops at most sites. The 10+ monuments tour is not for people with mobility problems.
Ask who guides you
Most picks have a live guide. On the private SUV, the driver stays with the car and gives you the facts inside.
Read the "tickets" line
Two picks sell entry tickets as an upgrade. They are for a self-guided visit on another day, not part of the tour.
Find the meeting point
Only the private SUV picks you up. The others meet downtown, for example at 701 or 790 Pennsylvania Ave NW.
Stay central
Tours end late. A hotel near the Mall means a short trip back; see where to stay in Washington, DC.
DC night tour questions
What is there to do in Washington, DC at night?
Are the monuments in DC open at night?
Can you visit the Lincoln Memorial at night?
More DC night 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 GetYourGuideMore DC after dark
Sources (6), facts checked on 25 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in Washington DC editorial team.