Washington DC Tours
Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress
5

Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress

By Unscripted by Guided Tours DC
Recommended by 95% of travelers
95% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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To experience the most important sights in the American capital, no first-time Washington D.C. visitor should miss a guided tour of Capitol Hill. And on this small-group walking tour, guests not only see the seat of American power, but can explore inside each historic building on the tour. Along the way, visit sights representing the three branches of government and even explore the U.S. Capitol—all included in the tour.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 15 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
  • Visit the seat of American government on a guided Capitol Hill walking tour
  • Enjoy stops at the Library of Congress and Eastern Market
  • Get a more personal experience with this small-group tour, capped at 15 travelers
  • Get reserved-entry to the U.S. Capitol, and tour the building—included

  • 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Capitol Hill in Washington DC
  • Small-Group (15 guests or less) for a more personalized experience
  • Admission inside the U.S. Capitol Building
  • Admission to the Library of Congress
  • Reserved access to a Capitol guide led tour of historic areas of the Capitol
  • View part of Thomas Jefferson’s original collection of over 6,000 books
  • Professional Guide
  • Entry/Admission - U.S. Capitol
What's not included
  • Gratuities


Start:
  • 10 First St SE, Washington, DC 20003, USA
    In front of the Neptune Fountain, at the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 41377P2

    • Please review voucher information after booking as it provides a detailed list of items banned from the Capitol and many other federal buildings. Possession of these items will result in non-admission to the building.
    • Tour runs approximately 3 hours
    • Most travelers can participate
    • Please plan to arrive 15-20 minutes before tour start time. Tour begins exactly at stated time, entry to buildings are on timed reservations, and group must enter security together, therefore we are unable to accommodate for late arrivals.
    • Closest Metro stop: Capitol South (Orange/Blue/Silver Lines) - Exit station using main exit, walk approximately two blocks north on First Street SE.
    • The US Capitol and its surrounding complex are in a secure federal operation area and nearby parking is highly restricted. The nearest public parking is located at Union Station approximately .5 mile from meeting location. Alternative modes of transportation are highly encouraged.
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 41377P2

    From
    ₱5,373.07
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

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    Itinerary
    • 10 First St SE, Washington, DC 20003, USA
      In front of the Neptune Fountain, at the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building
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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Unscripted by Guided Tours DC
      1,779
      United States
      Joined in August 2016
    • Mark M
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Awesome Tour!
      Awesome tour and tour guide.,Very informative! Would highly recommend for those that enjoy history and have interest in Lincoln.
      Written February 3, 2025
    • Paul S
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      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Bucket List
      WOW! One of the most humbling experiences ever. Such a solemn and breathtaking place. It was a very emotional experience. These men and women served our county and…. Well I will not get into opinions. Our guide Derrick was amazing. His knowledge of Arlington was remarkable. He knows his history. We all know the famous people but he knew things about the everyday citizens. We would stop at various headstones and he would tell the story of that person. Just absolutely amazing!!!! Do yourself a favor and book a tour of Arlington. You will educated and will not regret it.
      Written February 3, 2025
    • 667lilliamz
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great honeymoon outing tour
      Claudia was an amazing tour guide and excellent speaker. Her knowledge and love of the paintings were noticeable. Thank you for a wonderful experience.
      Written January 28, 2025
    • GuildfordCookies
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent, would recommend
      Really moving insight into such a sobering cemetery. Well paced, with good number of stops to listen to our very knowledgeable guide, I would thoroughly recommend doing this tour.
      Written January 25, 2025
    • I8253SUlc
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Claudia and Mona were awesome!
      We had an amazing tour with Claudia and Mona who offered amazing historic insights that we would never have known without them. Highly recommend!!
      Written January 19, 2025
    • E9269VGsusanj
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Educational
      Great tour guide! She was fun and very knowledgeable. She made sure if we had questions she had the answer. Would do another tour with them
      Written January 18, 2025
    • Kim H
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great tour!!
      Excellent tour. Well organized. Very informative guide, I would recommend this tour with anyone with limited time in Washington as the Smithsonian is huge so you see a lot of the main exhibits which you would miss on your own. Highly recommend this tour!!
      Written January 18, 2025
    • F4844URdougs
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      Impressionist and renaissance art were highlights for us at the National Gallery!
      Our guide, whose name is escaping me sorry, is a history PhD student and therefore very knowledgeable about European and American history over a wide period of time. Her art knowledge was impressive as well and she was very personable as she described the various renaissance, impressionist art etc and answered all our questions. We were fortunate in that she was able to spend some extra time with us in the impressionist rooms, beyond the allotted time. We learned a lot and the art was overwhelming!
      Written January 17, 2025
    • Go22411752425
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      Visitng to Arlington Cemetery with Derrick
      Our visit to Arlington Cemetery was great. Derrick, our guide, gave us a lot of interesting information. He was very nice and made the tour enjoyable. I highly recommend him!
      Written January 5, 2025
    • Jay314
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      Smithsonian Highlights - absolutely fantastic!
      Booked the Smithsonian Highlights tour with Unscripted Tours and it was by far one of the best tours I’ve ever been on. Our guide, Shane, was absolutely fantastic—he didn’t just cover the museums (American History, Natural History, and Air & Space) but tied everything together to give us a deeper understanding of American culture and human history as a whole. Everything was expertly timed, including restroom breaks, and the hand warmers and water Shane gave us at the start were such a thoughtful touch, especially in the freezing weather. A perfectly organized tour that really captures the essence of the Smithsonian. Highly recommend!
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      Amazing experience and tour guide!
      Our tour guide Mona was amazing. She was so knowledgeable with a military family history as well as her own. She knew every detail and then more! She pointed out important things and explained everything so well. Highly recommend this tour
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      Great afternoon following the Lincoln story
      We had a lovely time on this very informative and fun tour. It included a casual walking pace and indoor and outdoor portions. I loved the story telling style of these historical facts. The level of detail was incredible throughout the time together. The guide was very experienced, spoke loud and clear with fun and engaging animation that added to the experience. There was ample time and opportunity to ask questions. We highly recommend this specific tour company.
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    • Donna_Wiles
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      Excellent!
      What an amazing visit to Arlington! Our guide, Mona, was a wealth of knowledge and shared to much history. A very engaging and informative tour.
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      Written December 27, 2024
    • juliew820
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    See all 1,779 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles670 reviews
    Excellent
    611
    Very good
    29
    Average
    18
    Poor
    4
    Terrible
    8

    Melissa M
    Darwin, Australia1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sep 2023 • Solo
    Although tours within the Capitol Building and Library of Congress are available for free, they were booked out so far in advance that I missed out on the dates I was in DC. But I am SO glad I stumbled upon this Unscripted tour and it was absolutely worth the money! We started outside the Library of Congress, saw the Supreme Court, the Capitol and then inside the Library and galleries.
    Not only was it the only way I could actually get inside the Capitol during my trip, but our guide, Laura, was a phenomenal fountain of knowledge, who clearly loves what she does. She was engaging, informative, funny and approachable - had the answer for every question and pre-empted most of them before they could be asked! She's possibly the best guide I've ever had in my travels. Highly recommend this tour (even if you can get into the free ones - I'd still do this instead!)
    Written September 8, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Roberta M
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2024 • Friends
    Wonderful trip.
    Got tickets in advance to tour the White House from senator’s office.

    Walking along the National Mall is always enjoyable when the weather is nice.

    So many Smithsonian museums!! Although free, some require tickets in advance. This trip we visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Extremely well done.
    (We were able to go online at 9:00 a.m. for same day tickets.)

    The Washington Monument and ALL of the memorials are a must see!!
    Lincoln, Jefferson, VietNam, Korea, FDR..

    Free tour of the beautiful and impressive Kennedy Center was an eye opener. Never knew how large and active it is. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and receptive to questions.

    Parking in DC is pricey.
    We did not bring our cars into DC.
    There were six of us and we used Uber or Lyft for all of our travel needs. They always came promptly, within five minutes of us “calling” via the app.
    The Metro is also very user friendly.

    Restaurants:
    We had a lovely lunch at Proper 21.
    Enjoyed a casual American dinner at Ted’s Bulletin.
    Dinner was absolutely delicious at Cafe Milano (for which we did make reservations in advance).

    There is always more to see in DC —
    We will return!
    Written May 18, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Donna
    28 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    It was easy to find the meet up spot. Our guide, Liam, was there early. He was very welcoming, upbeat, knowledgeable, spoke clearly, and was open to answering questions. He knew the answers to just about every question that came up. You can tour the Library of Congress and the Capitol Building for free if you sign up early enough on their websites. If, however, all the free slots are booked, this tour gives you access to the inside of both buildings - the Capital Building and the Library of Congress Jefferson Building. You will not, however, have access to the legislative chambers.

    It was an incredible tour. Both buildings are incredibly beautiful, with striking architecture, design and artwork. I highly recommend doing this tour if you’re unable to book a slot on the free tours.
    Written March 16, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    BostonMarathon2013
    7 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2024 • Family
    Other than out on the sidewalk in the weather, you won't feel like you're in a small group. It's very crowded in the buildings and you will feel more like a sardine. The guides try to be funny, but we wish there would have been more facts and illustrated stories. Still, it's informative and the buildings are awesome. It's worth the money only if you want more than to take photos and enjoy the architecture and art. We'd go alone if we had to do it over, and just read up on the facts and figures and historic people.
    Written May 23, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    ece b
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The tour guide was very knowledgeable
    However, the value for the amount of money we spent is not there. It is not worth $178
    I understand she was there with us for 3 hours and should worth her time but next time we will sign up for free tours and compare.
    The area was very crowded and loud. However, it was well organized. I do not see how otherwise so many people could visit the Capitol.
    The gift shop was awesome and there were reasonably priced books and gifts there.
    I do not know if I missed to read that the visitor center will not allow food/drinks even protein bar or water in the building. I was not happy to empty my $3 water bottle.
    Also we tipped our guide but I do not know if it was written anywhere when we signed up.
    Written April 6, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Standaman2014
    Solihull, UK68 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We greatly enjoyed this tour and the 3 hours passed extremely quickly. Laurel was our guide plus Charles within the Capitol. Laurel was a mine of information, not surprising given that she worked as a Capitol guide for many years prior to switching to the commercial sector. She was also very entertaining bringing a witty angle to many of the facts she was imparting.
    Overall a very informative and entertaining tour.
    Would 100% recommend
    Written October 23, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Tvlgirl601
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    James was very focused and prioritized information relayed to us . Not an easy task when a guide is as knowledgeable as James. I am 71 years old and my hearing is not what it once was particularly in crowded places with echoes. James’s voice was clear as a bell and he did an excellent job of articulating his words with a neutral accent. I am fortunate to have been on hundreds of tours around the world. I have had none better than James.
    Written June 11, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Bucketlisttraveller
    30 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2024 • Friends
    If you’re not familiar with the workings of the Capitol, Supreme Court or Library of Congress and also want interesting tidbits of history, then this is the tour for you! Be sure to wear comfortable shoes because there’s a lot of walking. However, my wheelchair bound mom had no difficulty accessing everything the rest of us did. (Our guide and the staff of each building were very helpful in getting us reunited with our group as we took the elevator while the rest of the group took the stairs. )
    Laurel was our knowledgeable guide and did a great job of making sure the facts were presented in an informative and interesting manner. She answered questions and managed to keep her eyes on everyone at once so no one got lost. She was amazing in recalling who came from where and pointing out state related statues, etc. personalizing our experience. A great way to visit our nation’s prominent buildings!
    Written October 20, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    AnneE N
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We loved having a guide tell us history of the city and how the buildings were built over time. We would never have known these details otherwise. The buildings were gorgeous and amazing! We felt proud that our ancestors prioritized building such a stunning city for all to enjoy. Tour guide James was super knowledgeable and fun. Highly recommend this tour!
    Written November 3, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thanks for your feedback! Glad you enjoyed your tour with James. We agree, so much is missed without a knowledgeable guide.
    Written November 4, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    john w
    16 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2025 • Family
    Our tour of the Capital building was very good. Our tour guide James gave us lots of information about the Capitol building and the Supreme Court, which we toured in the place of the Library of Congress, which was closed due to a special event.
    The tour ended about a half hour early and we did not get to actually go into the Supreme Court room, but only into the building, some of its spaces, and hallways. So I think the tour with the library of congress could have been better. But overall, still a very good tour.
    Written January 6, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Showing results 1-10 of 668
    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Small-Group Guided Tour inside US Capitol & Library of Congress provided by Unscripted by Guided Tours DC

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