Lit memorials · open all night · free to walk

Washington Night Tours

Coaches, vans, trolleys, private cars, bikes and walks after dark

Washington Night tours take you round the memorials of the Mall after dark, by coach, van, trolley, private car, bike or on foot. The memorials are free and open all night, so each card shows how you ride, your time on foot and where you start, and you choose the evening that fits.

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Almost every booking here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, so you can book now and change your plans later.

24 hThe memorials stay open, all night, every night

4:46 to 8:38pmSunset, from early December to late June

From $48A seat in a night van or an open-air e-cart

Hours, prices and access verified by the Washington Night Tours team — last checked 2026-09-27.

Washington Night Tours › Tours & Tickets 2026 Updated: 2026-09-27

Start here

Top Washington Night Tours for 2026

The best night tour of Washington DC is the one that starts close to where you are staying. Pick yours from these three.

Best seller

DC Monuments by Night: 10+ Landmarks | Open-Top Upgrade Available

★★★★★ 4.7 (7,262 reviews · 3 hours)

By coach9 stops of 15 to 20 minNavy Memorial PlazaMax 50 people

Board at the Navy Memorial plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue for a 7:30pm coach through three hours of a Washington night. The guide gets off with you at each of nine stops of 15 to 20 minutes, from the White House to the flag raisers in Arlington. In June you set off about an hour before sunset and in December well after dark, so pick your month with that in mind. The open-top upgrade rides under a glass roof from October to March, and luggage cannot be stored on board.

Meet at the US Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Bus leaves at 7:30pm
The White House and the U.S. Capitol
World War II Memorial
Jefferson and Martin Luther King, Jr. memorials
Lincoln, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans memorials
Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington
Back to the Navy Memorial

From $58 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Small Group National Mall Night Tour with 10 Top Attractions

★★★★★ 4.9 (1,726 reviews · 3 hours)

By van10 stops of 5 to 20 minGrand Hyatt, 11th Street doorVans of up to 12

Meet outside the Grand Hyatt's side door on 11th Street, where vans of up to 12 guests set off on a three-hour Washington night loop of the Mall. Your driver-guide talks on the road between ten stops of 5 to 20 minutes, and at each one you explore on your own. The route passes Ford's Theatre on its way to the Capitol, then the war memorials and those to Jefferson and King, ending with Lincoln and the White House. Hotel pickup is not part of it, and there is no room on board for a wheelchair or scooter.

Meet at the Grand Hyatt, 11th Street side entrance
Drive past Ford's Theatre and the National Archives
U.S. Capitol and the Capitol Reflecting Pool
Jefferson and Martin Luther King, Jr. memorials
World War II and Korean War Veterans memorials
Vietnam Veterans and Vietnam Women's memorials
Lincoln Memorial, then the White House
Back to the Grand Hyatt

From $99 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Private Night-Time Monuments Tour of DC for up to 10 Guests

★★★★★ 5.0 (352 reviews · 2 to 3 hours)

Private vehicle9 stops of up to 20 minPickup at your hotelPrivate, up to 4

Door-to-door pickup at your hotel or vacation home starts two to three private hours with a licensed guide in an air-conditioned vehicle. You choose up to nine stops of up to 20 minutes with your guide, from the Capitol and the White House to the flag raisers across the river. The fare shown covers a party of one to four, and parties of five to ten book the larger option. Umbrellas or ponchos come out in bad weather, and bottled water is on board.

Pickup at your hotel or vacation home
U.S. Capitol and the White House
World War II and Jefferson memorials
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington
Korean War, Lincoln and Vietnam memorials
Drop-off back at your lodging

From $595 per group (up to 4)

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Why book with us

Trusted by Thousands of Visitors

⚖

Best Guides

Washington Night guided tours put a guide beside you at the memorials, from a coach guide who walks each stop with you to a licensed guide of your own for the evening.

✓

Book With Confidence

Almost every booking here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, and every card prints the fare and its basis, your time on foot and where you start.

★

Experience of a Lifetime

Stand on the memorial steps as the Mall lights up in front of you, watch the Capitol dome glow at the far end, and see the flag raisers lit against the dark.

FREE CANCELLATION up to 24 hours ahead on almost every booking here, and the one private tour that is non-refundable says so on its card.

Everything available

All Washington Night Tours and Tickets

Washington Night Bus Tours

Washington Night bus tours leave from kerbs by the National Archives, the Navy Memorial and the Smithsonian Metro station for about three hours. The guide gets off with you at the stops, and some coaches sell a pass for the next day as an option.

DC Monuments Night Tour with 10+ Stops, National Mall, Tickets

★★★★★ 4.6 (5,941 reviews · 3 hours)

By coach9 stops of 15 to 20 minOutside the National ArchivesNext-day tickets: an extra

Be outside the National Archives on Pennsylvania Avenue by 7pm for a 7:30pm coach, with a guide who walks with you at each of nine stops. Late March to early April adds a walk under the cherry blossoms, and December brings holiday lights outside the White House and the Capitol. An optional upgrade adds a timed pass for the next day, to the Monument or a museum, while the memorials themselves cost nothing after dark. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own way to the kerb.

From $63 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Washington DC Night-Time City Tour

★★★★☆ 4.5 (568 reviews · 3 hours)

Bus or van, by numbers12 stops of 5 to 15 minSmithsonian Metro, Knapp ArchMax 53 people

Start under the Knapp Arch at the Smithsonian Metro station's main entrance, so you can arrive by train and leave the car behind. Twelve short stops of 5 to 15 minutes fill a three-hour Washington night on this loop. The vehicle is a bus or a van, depending on how many book that evening, with air conditioning and a phone charger on board. A bottle of water comes with your seat, and hotel pickup is not part of the fare.

From $55 per person an offer fare to 30 Sep 2026; regular $69

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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DC Monuments by Night: Open-Top Bus Tour of Illuminated Landmarks

★★★★★ 4.7 (66 reviews · 3 hours)

Glass-top minibus9 stops of about 15 minNavy Memorial PlazaMax 15 people

Ride a minibus of no more than 15 from the Navy Memorial plaza, with a guide on board for three hours and nine stops of about 15 minutes. Its name promises an open top, and from October to March that top is glass, so you still look up at the lit domes out of the cold. The smaller vehicle costs more than a full-size coach seat for the same evening hours. Tips for the guide are not included, and there is no hotel pickup to wait for.

From $109 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Washington Night Small-Group Tours

Washington Night small-group tours seat 12 or 13 riders in a van, so getting on and off at each memorial is quick. Some collect you at a downtown hotel, and the $48 van adds a free museum pass for the next day.

Top rated

Washington DC Monuments and Memorials Night Tour

★★★★★ 5.0 (353 reviews · 3 hours)

By van9 stops of 15 to 20 minOne CityCenter, 10th St NWMax 12 people

Look for the van at One CityCenter on 10th Street, where a party of 12 at most sets out for three hours of Washington night. At each of nine stops of 15 to 20 minutes, the commentary carries on through an audio link at the site. Bring your own earbuds or headphones, because the van does not supply them. Bottled water and air conditioning come with the seat, and there is no Wi-Fi on board.

From $89 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Best value

Washington DC Night Tour: ICONIC Landmarks, Monuments SMALL GROUP

★★★★★ 4.8 (136 reviews · 3 hours)

By van8 stops of 10 to 20 minMetro Center or Navy MemorialNext-day Air and Space pass

Catch the van at 7:00pm outside the Marriott at Metro Center, or at 7:10pm on the Navy Memorial plaza, for three hours with a driver-guide. Eight stops of 10 to 20 minutes take you round the lit memorials in a vehicle sized to the night's group, 13 at most. The fare adds a free self-guided pass to the Air and Space Museum for the next day, and the museum itself is free to enter. A bottle of water and a granola bar come with the seat, and tips of 15 to 20% are recommended.

From $48 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Moonlight Tour of Washington DC

★★★★★ 4.8 (300 reviews · 3 hours)

By van6 stops of 10 to 20 minDowntown hotel pickupMax 13 people

Pickup from downtown hotels, or the Marriott at Metro Center if you are staying in Virginia or Maryland, starts three hours in an air-conditioned van. A driver-guide covers six stops of 10 to 20 minutes, with 13 riders at most. Bookings need two people or more, so it suits couples, friends and families rather than a solo traveller. Taxes, fees and bottled water are in the fare, and gratuities are yours to add.

From $67 per person, bookings of two

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Washington Night Private Tours

Washington Night private tours put a minivan, a car or a walking guide at your party's service, with pickup downtown on the drives. Some are priced per vehicle and some per person, so read the basis beside each price.

Washington DC Small-Group Evening City Tour

★★★★★ 5.0 (251 reviews · 3 hours)

Private vehicle6 stops of 10 to 25 minPickup at your hotelPrivate, up to 5

Hire the whole air-conditioned minivan for your party of up to five, with pickup in Washington and your own local guide for three hours. Six stops of 10 to 25 minutes include the Pentagon Memorial across the river. The minivan takes a wheelchair and strollers, so a family of mixed ages can ride together. One price covers the vehicle, so five of you pay $55 each, and gratuities are extra.

From $275 per group (up to 5)

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Private Washington DC Night Tour with Stops at 6 Top Sites

★★★★★ 4.9 (40 reviews · 4 hours)

Private vehicle6 stops of 15 to 30 minPickup at your hotelPrivate: your group only

Choose English, Spanish or Portuguese for four private hours with a driver-guide, who collects you anywhere downtown in an air-conditioned vehicle with bottled water on board. Six stops of 15 to 30 minutes give the longest, half an hour, to the memorial to Lincoln. The drive also passes the Kennedy Center and Georgetown between the stops. The fare is per person, so work out the total for your party, and food, drinks and tips are extra.

From $275 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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The National Mall Private 2.5-hour Evening Tour in Washington DC

★★★★★ 5.0 (9 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes)

On foot2.5 hours on footMellon Auditorium, Constitution AvePrivate: your group only

Walk the Mall for two and a half hours with a private English-speaking guide, starting at the entrance of the Mellon Auditorium, 1301 Constitution Avenue, and ending by the White House. There is no vehicle at all, so you set the pace and stop for photographs where you like. The walk is open to wheelchair users, and your guide works with your group alone. The fare is per person, and getting to the start and home from the end is yours to arrange.

From $185 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Washington Night Bike Tours

Washington Night bike tours take you between the memorials on two wheels, with lights on every bike. The shared ride leaves from D Street by the Navy Memorial, and the private ride starts at your lodging.

Washington DC Sites at Night Guided Bicycle Tour

★★★★★ 4.7 (570 reviews · 3 hours)

By bike4 to 5 miles, 14 short stopsD St NW, by the Navy MemorialMax 15 people

Report 15 minutes early to 801 D Street by the Navy Memorial for a three-hour ride of about 4 to 5 miles. Fourteen short stops break the loop, with 15 riders at most behind one guide. A bike, a helmet you must wear, safety lights and a reflective vest are included, with gear to fit children of every size. Hotel pickup is not, so make your own way to D Street.

From $65 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Private DC Monuments at Night Bike Tour

★★★★★ 5.0 (70 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours)

By bikeOn the bike, 10 short stopsMeets you at your lodgingPrivate, up to 2

Your own guide meets you at your lodging, or wherever you agree, at a start you pick between 5pm and 9pm. Ten short stops break a ride of two and a half to three hours, at a pace set for your party alone. Bicycles, head and tail lights, snacks and a water bottle to keep are included. The fare shown covers one or two riders, parties of up to six can book, and gratuities are extra.

From $595 per group (up to 2)

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Washington Night Trolley Tours

Washington Night trolley tours leave from E Street or the city's main rail station, with the longest stops on foot about half an hour each. The open-air minibus and the electric cart beside it are not trolleys: both are roofless rides with short stops.

Washington DC Monuments by Moonlight Tour by Trolley

★★★★★ 4.6 (4,199 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes)

By trolley3 stops on foot, two of 30 minWelcome Center or Union StationMax 52 people

Check in half an hour early on E Street, or at the city's main rail station, for two and a half hours of Washington night on the trolley. Three stops on foot give the longest two about half an hour each, time to walk up to the memorials rather than look from a seat. In winter the trolley is heated and plastic windows roll down against the cold, and some carry a wheelchair lift if you call a day ahead. There is no restroom on board, so plan for that before you set off.

From $59 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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DC's Memorials Open-Air Small Sunset & Moonlight Guided Tour

★★★★☆ 4.5 (7 reviews · 2 hours)

Open-air minibus6 stops of 5 to 10 minArlo Hotel, G St NWMax 10 people

Climb aboard an open-air minibus outside the Arlo Hotel on G Street for two hours of Washington night, with ten riders at most. It is a minibus without a roof, not a trolley, so the lit domes sit straight above you. Six stops of 5 to 10 minutes keep the evening moving, with a guide on board between them. Tips and personal spending are extra, and a warm layer helps on a cool night.

From $52 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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Washington, DC: Day & Night Guided Monuments Tour by E-Cart

★★★★★ 4.8 (178 reviews · 2 hours)

Open-air e-cart7 stops of 5 to 10 min500 5th St NWMax 9 people

Sit in an open-air electric cart for nine at most, leaving 500 5th Street NW for a two-hour loop with a live local guide. It is a cart, not a trolley, and the open seating leaves your view of the lit memorials clear. Seven short stops of 5 to 10 minutes come between the stories of the city. The same loop runs by day too, so book an evening departure for the lights, and bring money for food and tips.

From $48 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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See all Washington Night trolley tours

Washington Night Ghost Tours in Georgetown

Washington Night ghost tours in Georgetown swap the memorials for 90 minutes on foot through the old streets, with a licensed guide. The walk starts on M Street and ends on the steps at 36th and Prospect.

Ghosts of Georgetown & The Exorcist Steps Walking Tour

★★★★★ 4.8 (782 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes)

On foot90 minutes on footOld Stone House, GeorgetownMax 15 people

Gather on M Street outside Georgetown's oldest building, whose yard the walk enters, for 90 minutes on foot with a licensed guide. Ghost stories and the neighbourhood's past fill a Washington night in the old streets, and you share it with 15 people at most. The walk ends with a descent of the Exorcist Steps at 36th and Prospect Streets. It is an evening away from the Mall, so pair it with a memorials tour on another night.

From $49 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

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The Mall after dark

About Washington Night Tours

Washington's memorials never close. The National Park Service keeps them open 24 hours a day, with rangers on duty until 10pm, and there is no fee to visit them. What changes through the year is the light: sunset moves from 4:46pm in early December to 8:38pm at the end of June. Join us for the tours that link the memorials after dark, by coach, van, trolley, private car, bike or on foot. We set out on every card how you ride, your time on foot and where you start.

The Memorials After Dark

The Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial across the Tidal Basin are open all night, like the World War II, King, Korean War and Vietnam memorials, and rangers are on duty from 9:30am to 10pm. The Washington Monument itself closes at 5pm, so no night tour goes up it, and the tours stop outside the White House, never inside.

Getting Round at Night

Nothing on the Mall needs a ticket after dark. The coaches and vans leave from downtown kerbs by the Navy Memorial, the National Archives and the Smithsonian Metro station, and the private cars collect you at your hotel. Metrorail runs until midnight from Sunday to Thursday and until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights.

When It Gets Dark

Sunset comes at 4:46pm in early December and 8:38pm at the end of June, with full dark about half an hour later. A 7:30pm coach sets off in daylight in June and after dark from late September to early March. Evenings run near the average low, about 72°F in July and close to freezing in January.

The Korean War Veterans Memorial's soldiers lit among the junipers at night

The Capitol's west front under a sunset sky, the pool in front

A round, domed memorial glowing white between dark trees

What you will see

Named Highlights of a Washington Night

What the coaches, the vans, the private cars and the bikes show you, from the Capitol at one end of the Mall to the flag raisers across the river.

The seated president, open all nightThe Lincoln Memorial never closes, like every memorial on the Mall, and rangers are on duty there until 10pm.
A dome across the waterThe 7:30pm coach, the Grand Hyatt van and the private car all stop at the Jefferson Memorial on the far side of the Tidal Basin.
A flag that never comes downThe flag at the Marine Corps War Memorial flies 24 hours a day by presidential proclamation, above bronze figures 32 feet high.
Fountains lit after darkThe World War II Memorial is a stop on the coach and on the van alike, its pillars and fountains floodlit.
An obelisk that closes at fiveThe Washington Monument is open from 9am to 5pm, so you see it lit from outside, and its free timed tickets are for a daytime visit.
Two famous fronts, seen from outsideThe tours stop outside the White House rather than going in, and the Capitol dome is lit at the east end of the Mall.

Plan your evening

Everything You Need Before You Go

When it gets darkWhat it costsGetting backWhat to bringMeeting points

Sunset in Washington comes at 4:46pm in early December and 8:38pm at the end of June, with full dark about half an hour later. A 7:30pm coach sets off about an hour before sunset in June, and from late September until the clocks go forward in early March it leaves after dark.

Weather and dark times

The memorials are free and open 24 hours a day. Washington Monument tickets are free too, for a daytime visit, with a $1.00 charge on each one booked in advance. Tour fares run from $48 a person in a van or an open-air cart to $940 for a whole private vehicle of up to six.

Washington Night visitor guide

A coach or trolley that starts at 7:00 or 7:30pm finishes about 10:00 to 10:30pm. Metrorail runs until midnight from Sunday to Thursday and until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights, so check the last train from your own station. The private cars and the hotel-pickup vans drop you back at your door.

Getting back after dark

The stops are outside, so wear shoes you can walk and climb steps in. Evenings run near the average low, about 72°F in July and close to freezing in January. A next-day pass in a fare is sent on the day and used the following day.

What to expect on the night

The coaches leave from Pennsylvania Avenue by the Navy Memorial and the National Archives, or from the Smithsonian Metro station. The vans meet at the Grand Hyatt, One CityCenter or the Marriott at Metro Center, the trolley on E Street, and the private cars collect you at your hotel.

Meeting points map

Straight answer

Do You Need a Tour for a Washington Night?

Not to get in: the memorials are free, they never close, and you can walk the west end of the Mall on your own. What a tour buys you is the evening in between: a ride from one lit memorial to the next, a guide who explains them, a set start time, and the Marine Corps War Memorial across the river.

A coach or a van puts all of that in one seat, a private car starts at your door, and a bike gets you between the stops under your own steam. There are no Washington Night tickets to buy at the memorials, because they are free and open all night. The Washington Night ticket prices that matter are the tour fares, from $48 a person, and a $1.00 charge on each Washington Monument ticket booked ahead for a daytime visit. Make your Washington Night booking for the date you want, since almost every Washington Night reservation here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead. If you would rather walk it yourself, the things to do after dark and the one-evening plan show you how.

See Top Tours Which tour suits you?

Book with a full refund up to 24 hours ahead on almost every tour, and a change of plan costs you nothing.

Which one is me

Choosing the Right Tour for You

Start from your budget, your party and how you want to move between the memorials, and the right evening follows.

The lowest fare

The 7:30pm departure from the Navy Memorial has the most reviews, from $58 a person. See every nighttime bus tour Washington DC operators run by its kerb, or take the $48 van, whose fare adds a museum pass for the next day.

A smaller vehicle

Washington Night small-group tours seat 12 or 13 in a van. The van from the Grand Hyatt scores 4.9 from more than 1,700 reviews, and at every stop the time is yours to explore.

Just your party

Compare every private night tour Washington DC operators run, by car, minivan, bike or on foot. The door-to-door car with a licensed guide costs $595 for one to four, about $148 each for four.

On two wheels

The night bike tours Washington DC operators run cover about 4 to 5 miles from D Street, or start at your lodging with a guide of your own between 5pm and 9pm.

With children or a wheelchair

The trolley tour Washington DC night visitors book most is heated in winter, and some trolleys carry a wheelchair lift if you call a day ahead. A private minivan for up to five takes a wheelchair and strollers too.

Ghost stories instead

The Georgetown ghost walk is a nighttime tour of Washington DC away from the memorials: 90 minutes on foot with a licensed guide, ending on the steps at 36th and Prospect.

Compare

Which Washington Night Tour Is Right for You?

Each Washington DC night monuments tour is a loop of the same free memorials, so read how you ride, your time on foot and where you start before the price. Every nighttime monument tour Washington DC operators run stops outside, and a private vehicle is priced per group while a coach seat is priced per person.

Tour	Rating	How you ride	Time on foot	Starts at	Fare	Best for
DC Monuments by Night: 10+ Landmarks \| Open-Top Upgrade Available	4.7 (7,262)	By coach	9 stops of 15 to 20 min	Navy Memorial Plaza	From $58 per person	First-timers who want a guide at every stop	Book
DC Monuments Night Tour with 10+ Stops, National Mall, Tickets	4.6 (5,941)	By coach	9 stops of 15 to 20 min	Outside the National Archives	From $63 per person	Travellers who want a next-day pass as an option	Book
Washington DC Monuments by Moonlight Tour by Trolley	4.6 (4,199)	By trolley	3 stops on foot, two of 30 min	Welcome Center or Union Station	From $59 per person	Wheelchair users and families who want longer walks	Book
DC Night Tour: 10+ National Mall Monuments, Entry Ticket Upgrades	4.6 (2,308)	By coach	9 stops of 15 to 20 min	Outside the National Archives	From $63 per person	Visitors who want the Archives coach with upgrades	Book
Small Group National Mall Night Tour with 10 Top Attractions	4.9 (1,726)	By van	10 stops of 5 to 20 min	Grand Hyatt, 11th Street door	From $99 per person	Travellers who want to explore each stop alone	Book
Washington DC: Monuments by Moonlight Nighttime Trolley Tour	4.6 (1,609)	By trolley	Two 30-min stops on foot	Welcome Center or Union Station	From $59 per person	Travellers who want two long stops on foot	Book
Ghosts of Georgetown & The Exorcist Steps Walking Tour	4.8 (782)	On foot	90 minutes on foot	Old Stone House, Georgetown	From $49 per person	Travellers who want ghost stories, not memorials	Book
Washington DC Sites at Night Guided Bicycle Tour	4.7 (570)	By bike	4 to 5 miles, 14 short stops	D St NW, by the Navy Memorial	From $65 per person	Active riders who want to cycle the Mall	Book
Washington DC Night-Time City Tour	4.5 (568)	Bus or van, by numbers	12 stops of 5 to 15 min	Smithsonian Metro, Knapp Arch	From $55 per person an offer fare to 30 Sep 2026; regular $69	Metro riders who want many short stops	Book
Washington DC Monuments and Memorials Night Tour	5.0 (353)	By van	9 stops of 15 to 20 min	One CityCenter, 10th St NW	From $89 per person	Travellers who want a small van and earbud commentary	Book
Private Night-Time Monuments Tour of DC for up to 10 Guests	5.0 (352)	Private vehicle	9 stops of up to 20 min	Pickup at your hotel	From $595 per group (up to 4)	Families who want pickup and their own guide	Book
DC Night Tour: 10+ Monuments, National Mall, Entry Tickets	4.5 (322)	By coach	8 stops of 5 to 20 min	Outside the National Archives	From $68 per person	Travellers who want the Archives coach with a pass	Book
Moonlight Tour of Washington DC	4.8 (300)	By van	6 stops of 10 to 20 min	Downtown hotel pickup	From $67 per person, bookings of two	Couples at a downtown hotel who want pickup	Book
Washington DC: Monuments by Night Bike Tour	4.5 (269)	By bike	About 4 miles, 8 stops	D St NW, by the Navy Memorial	From $65 per person	Riders who want a shorter four-mile loop	Book
Washington DC Small-Group Evening City Tour	5.0 (251)	Private vehicle	6 stops of 10 to 25 min	Pickup at your hotel	From $275 per group (up to 5)	Parties of five, or a wheelchair user, by minivan	Book
Washington, DC: Day & Night Guided Monuments Tour by E-Cart	4.8 (178)	Open-air e-cart	7 stops of 5 to 10 min	500 5th St NW	From $48 per person	Travellers who want open seating for photographs	Book
Washington DC Night Tour: ICONIC Landmarks, Monuments SMALL GROUP	4.8 (136)	By van	8 stops of 10 to 20 min	Metro Center or Navy Memorial	From $48 per person	Budget travellers who want a museum pass tomorrow	Book
Washington, DC: Holiday Lights Nighttime Bus Tour	4.2 (84)	By coach	5 stops of about 20 min	Navy Memorial Plaza	From $69 per person	December visitors who want the holiday lights	Book
Private DC Monuments at Night Bike Tour	5.0 (70)	By bike	On the bike, 10 short stops	Meets you at your lodging	From $595 per group (up to 2)	Families with children who want a guide to themselves	Book
DC Monuments by Night: Open-Top Bus Tour of Illuminated Landmarks	4.7 (66)	Glass-top minibus	9 stops of about 15 min	Navy Memorial Plaza	From $109 per person	Couples who want a smaller glass-top ride	Book
Private Washington DC Night Tour with Stops at 6 Top Sites	4.9 (40)	Private vehicle	6 stops of 15 to 30 min	Pickup at your hotel	From $275 per person	Spanish or Portuguese speakers who want a private car	Book
The National Mall Private 2.5-hour Evening Tour in Washington DC	5.0 (9)	On foot	2.5 hours on foot	Mellon Auditorium, Constitution Ave	From $185 per person	Walkers who want a private guide on foot	Book
DC's Memorials Open-Air Small Sunset & Moonlight Guided Tour	4.5 (7)	Open-air minibus	6 stops of 5 to 10 min	Arlo Hotel, G St NW	From $52 per person	Travellers who want two hours with no roof	Book
Customizable Private Night Tour of Washington DC	5.0 (4)	Private vehicle	9 stops of about 20 min	Pickup, or the Navy Memorial	From $940 per group (up to 6)	Parties of six who want to customise the evening	Book
Washington DC by Night Private Tour	5.0 (3)	Private vehicle	5 stops of 30 min to an hour	Pickup at your hotel	From $157 per person	Small parties who want long stops by car	Book

It started while it was still light, so two memorials were seen in daylight before the rest lit up.Dianne L · Family · August 2026 · Washington Night van from One CityCenter

After this tour, DC has to be seen at night. The guide even collected a traveller who went to the wrong hotel for pickup.Michael C · Solo · September 2026 · Washington Night van with a museum pass

A seven-year-old was engaged the whole ride, and the family felt safe in the bike lanes and on the park paths.allisons740 · August 2026 · Private Washington Night bike ride

What to expect

How a Washington Night Tour Runs

Pick your month and your hour

Sunset runs from 4:46pm in December to 8:38pm in June, so a fixed start can fall in daylight or long after dark.

Choose how you ride

The first line on each card says coach, van, trolley, open-air cart, private car, bike or on foot.

Check your time on foot

The second line gives the stops and how long you get out at each, from five minutes to half an hour.

Find where you start

The third line names the kerb or says the car collects you, so you can plan the ride there and back.

Book the date you want

Almost every booking here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, and the one private tour that does not says so on its card.

See Top Tours

Traveller reviews

Washington Night Tours Reviews

Travellers' own words about the coaches, the vans, the trolley, the private cars, the bikes and the ghost walk, with the stars each gave, four-star evenings included, because they help you choose.

★★★★★

Washington Night coach from the Navy Memorial

A guide with a booming voice, easy to hear and full of interesting facts, and a careful, considerate driver. The bus was comfortable, and the air conditioning was just what a hot, humid night needed.

Sue S. · Couples · July 2026

★★★★★

Washington Night coach from the Archives

An excellent guide and driver, and a lot learned along the way. At each stop the guide explained what was in front of us, then let everyone go and take pictures or stay on the bus.

Erin M. · Friends · August 2026

★★★★★

Washington Night coach with next-day upgrades

Every one of these places had been seen in daylight before, and they were much better by night. A guide who knew everything needed and more, and great photo opportunities after dark.

John C. · Solo · August 2026

★★★★★

Washington Night tour from the Smithsonian station

A knowledgeable, engaging guide. Touring over the Fourth of July meant many streets were blocked and a few things were missed, which the operator handled well. It would be worth doing again on a return trip.

Lisa K. · Couples · July 2026

★★★★☆

Washington Night glass-top minibus

A kind guide and driver, and well-chosen information about every monument. The guide was sometimes hard to hear, and getting home after the tour took some working out.

gretchiejackson · July 2026

★★★★★

Washington Night trolley

A parent and a 14-year-old saw a great deal in two and a half hours. The guide was full of information and humour, and the monuments looked gorgeous at night.

Carrie D. · Family · August 2026

★★★★★

Washington Night bike ride

A first time on an e-bike, made easy by clear instructions before the start. The guide knew many facts about the monuments and kept the group safe, and riding together was fun.

Annette C. · Family · August 2026

★★★★★

Private Washington Night minivan

The stop at the Pentagon Memorial was touching and beautiful. The guide knew the history of every structure, and it was good to be picked up and dropped at the hotel.

Barbara V. · Family · April 2026

★★★★★

Washington Night van with hotel pickup

A small group, quick to get in and out of the van. A teacher and a party of students enjoyed it, with a very good guide.

Felicia W. · Family · July 2026

★★★★★

Georgetown ghost walk

A guide who made sure the whole group was included. The area has some hills and uneven ground, and every age could take part, and the scene was set well for the neighbourhood.

Meghan B. · Family · August 2026

★★★★★

Washington Night e-cart

An electric cart decorated with pink cherry blossoms and a guide who was considerate of everyone in the group. The guide even helped find a family friend's name on the Vietnam wall. The teenage grandchildren called it their favourite thing of the whole trip to the city.

Debbi · United States · April 2026

★★★★★

Private Washington Night car

Great stories and commentary on the sites, with plenty of time to walk around and take pictures. Never rushed, and never kept at one site for too long.

Kelsey M. · October 2023

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Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What time do Washington night tours start?

Where a start time is published, it is around 7:00 to 7:30pm. The biggest coach tours leave at 7:30pm, and some ask you to arrive by 7pm. Private tours set the time with you, and the private bike ride starts at any time between 5pm and 9pm.

Is it dark when a 7:30pm tour starts?

Only from about late September until the clocks go forward in early March. In late June the sun sets about 8:38pm and it is fully dark by about 9:10pm, so the first hour is daylight and dusk. In early December it has been dark since about 5:15pm.

Are the memorials open at night?

Yes. The National Park Service keeps the memorials on the National Mall open 24 hours a day, with rangers on duty from 9:30am to 10pm. There is no fee to walk up to any of them.

Can you go up the Washington Monument at night?

No. It opens from 9am to 5pm, so every night tour sees it from outside. The ticket upgrades some coach tours sell are timed passes for the next day.

What is the entry ticket in some Washington night tour titles?

An optional timed pass for the next day, to places such as the Washington Monument or the National Air and Space Museum, which you use on your own. It is not night admission: the memorials are free, and Air and Space admission is free with a timed pass.

Do Washington night tours include hotel pickup?

Most meet at a kerb downtown, on Pennsylvania Avenue between the National Archives and the Navy Memorial. Private tours pick you up at your hotel, and a few van tours use downtown hotels or named pickup points.

How long is a night tour?

Most run 2.5 to 3 hours. The Georgetown ghost walk takes 90 minutes, and some private tours run 4 hours.

How much walking is there?

Short walks at each stop: the steps up to the Lincoln Memorial, and the paths around the World War II and Vietnam memorials. On most coach tours you can stay on the bus at a stop if you prefer.

Can I cancel a Washington night tour?

Almost every tour refunds in full if you cancel at least 24 hours before it starts. One private tour is non-refundable, and its card says so. Operators may also cancel for bad weather or too few bookings, and then offer a new date or a full refund.

Are night tours wheelchair accessible?

A few are. The Old Town Trolley has lift-equipped trolleys if you ask 24 hours ahead, and some private tours and the private walk on the Mall list wheelchair access. Most coaches and vans say they are not suitable.

Do night tours run in the rain?

Most run rain or shine, and the stops are outside, so bring a layer that sheds water. Some operators may cancel for bad weather and offer a new date or a full refund.

Which night tours go to the Marine Corps War Memorial?

Several coach, van and private tours cross the river to the Marine Corps War Memorial, whose flag flies day and night. The trolley's listing says its stop there is currently skipped for a bridge closure. Check the stop list on the tour you book.

How do I get back after a Washington night tour?

Tours end around 10 to 10:30pm, near where they started. Metro runs until midnight Sunday to Thursday and until 2am on Friday and Saturday, but last trains vary by station, so check yours before you set out.

Is a private night tour worth it?

For four people, a private tour at $595 a group works out near $148 each, against $58 to $99 a seat on a shared coach or van. For two it costs several times more. What it buys is pickup at your door and stops you choose.

What should I wear on a night tour?

Comfortable shoes and a layer. Evening lows at Reagan National average about 72°F in July and about 30°F in January, and every stop is outside.

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Photographs

Washington Night Gallery

The columned memorial at the west end of the Mall, lit up and mirrored in the Reflecting Pool

The World War II Memorial's fountains and pillars lit up after dark

The U.S. Capitol dome floodlit against a black sky

The bronze flag raisers and their flag, which flies day and night, lit after dark

The Korean War Veterans Memorial's steel soldiers in their ponchos

A domed memorial's portico and statue lit up at night

View full gallery

Read before you go

Washington Night Travel Guides and Advice

Dark times

When Washington Night Falls: What Time It Gets Dark in DC, Month by Month

Sunset moves almost four hours through the year, from 4:46pm in early December to 8:38pm in late June. What that means for a 7:30pm start, month by month.

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Getting back

Getting Back After a Washington Night Out: End Times and the Last Metro

Most evenings finish between 10 and 10:30pm. When the Metro stops, which starting kerbs sit on a station, and the last-train check to make before you set out.

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What to wear

What to Wear for a Washington Night on the Mall, Month by Month

Evening lows from about 30°F in January to 72°F in July, glass tops from October, and what to carry when rain is forecast for the evening.

Read post →

Read all posts Planning guides

Where it is

Visitor Information for Washington Night Tours

The National Mall and downtown
The coaches and vans leave from downtown kerbs a few blocks north of the Mall

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Name

National Mall and Memorial Parks, the National Park Service unit that looks after the memorials.

Address

1100 Ohio Drive SW, Washington, DC 20242. Telephone 202-426-6841.

Hours

The memorials are open 24 hours a day, and rangers are on duty from 9:30am to 10pm daily. Each tour's start time is shown when you book.

Getting there

The best-selling coach meets on the Navy Memorial plaza at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, by the Archives Metro station. Every other start is on the Washington Night tour meeting points map.

Book Your Washington Night Tour

Choose how you ride, then your date. Fares start at $48 a person, you book at the fare shown on each card, and almost every booking here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead.

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