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Washington Monument

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Big Bus Washington DC Open Top Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Washington, United States

From $54.00

Select Date and Travelers

Reserve Now & Pay Later
Secure your spot while staying flexible
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
Washington DC Tours
All Washington DC Tours
Audio Guides
Likely To Sell Out
Unique Experiences
  • 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Discover the most popular sights in Washington, DC on this relaxing hop-on hop-off bus tour. Drive past many of the top attractions in the nation’s capital — including the White House, the Washington Monument, the National Mall, historic Georgetown, and Arlington National Cemetery, and choose where you want to get off and explore in more detail. Select a 1- or 2-day pass, then hop on at any of the stops on two different routes and get to know the city with an audio commentary. The 2-day Deluxe option includes a Night Tour.
  • Explore the city at your own pace with a Big Bus Washington DC hop-on hop-off bus tour
  • Hop on and off at any of the 9 city-wide stops, and tour four different routes
  • Choose a 1-day pass or opt for a 2-day pass

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

Included Madame Tussauds entry makes this tour a budget-friendly way to visit the popular attraction.

What's Included

  • Recorded commentary on board
  • Unlimited Hop-on, Hop-on Service
  • Bike Rental Offer: Rent a bike for one hour and get an additional hour free.
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting And Pickup

Start time

Opening hours

Select your preferred tour option to see hours.
View tour option

What To Expect

The tour begins with a hop on at any of the 9 stops on two separate routes. Board one of the open-top buses and enjoy the view with recorded audio detailing interesting facts and stories. Learn about the history and happenings of the nation’s capital as the bus rolls along from one location to the next.

Hop-off at any of the attractions for a closer look, then, hop back on when it’s convenient. See the sites on the Red Route (Official National Mall Tour), authorized by the National Park Service and National Mall and Memorial Parks. Take in all the places that are synonymous with the nation’s Capital; The White House, U.S. Capitol, Air and Space Museum, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial are just some of the iconic landmarks.

Travel the Blue Loop (American Heroes Shuttle), to experience the sites and memorials honoring American heroes. You'll travel over the Potomac River leaving Washington, DC behind and visiting Virginia. You can expect to see Arlington National Cemetery and Pentagon City. 

The Deluxe 2-day option including the Panoramic Night Tour let you explore the city under the evening sky, visiting its iconic monuments when they're lit up for a different vantage point.
Red Route

15 Stops

23 Points of Interest

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Operating Schedule: First Departure at 9:30 am from 700 L’Enfant Plaza – NW Crosswalk in Front of Spy Museum (Near Capital Bikeshare) Last departure at 5:30 pm. Buses depart every 15-20 minutes. Customers are advised to visit the Big Bus website or to download the app to find out more about our new health and safety measures and for the most update service information to include routes, route times and real live bus tracking.

Capital Bikeshare: 10th St & L'Enfant Plaza SW

Washington Monument

East Basin Drive Southwest

121 West Basin Dr SW

100 Daniel French Dr SW

23rd Street Northwest & Constitution Avenue Northwest

VWJP+MC

18th Street Northwest & Constitution Avenue Northwest

1400 Jefferson Dr SW

10th Street Northwest & Constitution Avenue Northwest

610 10th St NW

1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

2436 Rayburn House Office Bldg

600 Independence Ave SW

800 Maine Ave SW

Points of interest passed by on this route

White House

Tidal Basin

Washington Monument

National Mall

National Museum of African American History and Culture

U.S. Capitol

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

Ford's Theatre

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art

Smithsonian Garden

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Art Museum of The Americas

Department of the Interior Museum

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Korean War Veterans Memorial

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

International Spy Museum

National Museum of Women in the Arts

Black Lives Matter Plaza

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Operation times are subject to change without notice
  • Tickets are valid from the first date of redemption
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

about cancellations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

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Q:How often does a bus arrive at each stop during the Big Bus Washington DC Open Top Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?

A:A bus arrives approximately every hour on both the Red Loop (Official Tour of the National Mall) and the Blue Loop (American Heroes Shuttle.)

Mar 2021

Q:Do I have to go to a central location to redeem my ticket for the Big Bus Washington DC Open Top Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?

A:You may redeem your printed or electronic ticket at any of the listed bus stops.

Mar 2021

Q:How long is a full circle ride on the Big Bus Washington DC Open Top Hop-On Hop-Off Tour without getting off?

A:The full circuit lasts approximately 1 hour for both the Red Loop (Official Tour of the National Mall) and the Blue Loop (American Heroes Shuttle.)

Mar 2021

Q:How will I know which stop(s) to use during the Big Bus Washington DC Open Top Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?

A:Our live guides and pre-recorded commentary will communicate upcoming stops. You can also download our free App for more information on routes and times, and what to see and do at each stop location.

Mar 2021

Q:Is the Big Bus Washington DC Open Top Hop-On Hop-Off Tour wheelchair accessible?

A:Yes, we operate wheelchair-accessible vehicles with lifts that can accommodate up to 650 pounds. If you require an accessible vehicle, please let us know in the "Special Requirements" box at checkout.

Mar 2021

Q:Can I bring a pet with me on the Big Bus Washington DC Open Top Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?

A:No pets are allowed onboard the bus, except ADA service animals.

Mar 2021

Q:Can I bring food or drink with me on the Big Bus Washington DC Open Top Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?

A:No food or alcohol is permitted onboard the bus. Non-alcoholic drinks in screw-top bottles are permitted.

Mar 2021

Q:Can I bring luggage on the Big Bus Washington DC Open Top Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?

A:No, luggage is not permitted onboard the bus at this time.

Mar 2021

Q:Is the upper level of the bus climate controlled?

A:The upper level of the bus is open-top, so it is not climate controlled.

Jun 2021

Traveler Photos

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Traveler Tips

Not enough buses so you can hop off and do a quick visit.
If the buses would stop at each memorial/monument for 20 minutes for people to wander to the monument or shop at the gift store, that would have been nice.
Customer service ok but could have been better Busses stop going to early in the evening.

Reviews

3.5
2,634 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 2,634 reviews
Great way to view central DC.
rita_f, Jun 2023
Carefree drive around central DC. Narrative was sparse and too much music. Would have enjoyed more identification of all the important buildings that we passed.
Nice
Peggy_K, Jun 2023
Seeing the monuments and getting on and off. It was hard to find the bus stops. The inside of the bus was too hot. The speakers crackled.
Best way to visit Washington DC
Elizabeth_M, Jun 2023
We had 2 day tickets. The program with earphones wired super well. We liked the stops and pick up ran well. Hot days did not have the best air-conditioning but the company gave us a bottle of water.
Good value but the waits for the buses are longer than expected.
Timothy_C, Jun 2023
The bus tour was a good value and it was nice but we waited much longer than 20 minutes for a bus to pick us up after getting off at one of the stops. We ended up having to take an Uber back home because it took so long.
Not worth the cost
Dan_S, Jun 2023
The bus does to all the right places, but … the head phone jacks are hit or miss as to whether they will work and one bus vibrated so loudly it was uncomfortable and hard to hear. One driver had to reverse the bus to get into two drop off spots
Hop-on,Hop-off Washington DC.
CRAIG_C, Jun 2023
Hop on Hop off is a great way to orient to the city. Highlights of major areas of interest with the ability to revisit those sights you would like to explore in more detail.
DC
Kelvin_D, Jun 2023
The sights were lovely and the information given as a visitor was great. If I return I would take this transportation again and for others.
Great experience
Michael_B, Jun 2023
We really enjoyed the hop on hop off bus tour. We made the complete circuit first then over the 2 days we got on and off several times. The recording was very informative. I highly recommend it
Big Bus evening trip was spectacular!
Gunter_F, Jun 2023
Viator sold me a package where if you bought a two- day trip, you would get the first day evening trip included free. This package was not a current deal with Big Bus! Big Bus was great but booking thru Viator was a mistake! I
The view, the multiple...
Caridad_C, Jun 2023
The view, the multiple stops and the audio narration made the trip enjoyable. I recommend to anyone wanting to maximize time while taking in the sights.
Fun trip and we didn't have to DRIVE
Marsha_S, May 2023
It was a great ride. because of it being Memorial Day we had to take detours so we missed some things we really wanted to see, but we will be going back another time.
Good
Dorothy_g, May 2023
The air conditioner did not work. The lower level was hot and stuffy. The roads were close due to the Memorial Day concert. Other than that, it was good.
Explore other options for the city tour
Sanjay_M, May 2023
The audio support was good. They have to improve upon few things. In lower section fans were not working, it was too hot n stuffy in lower deck and was too hot to sit in open deck. They were repeating the monuments and bringing the bus to the same location again n again. Wasn’t impressed much with the tour but the city was amazing.
I really can't.
Melissa_D, May 2023
Wish we had found the bus. We never got to ride it. I am sure it would have been awesome. DC is gorgeous. Loved the experience of being here.
Next time I’ll make the bus tour
Rhonda_M, May 2023
I did not go yesterday. That’s why I gave poor ratings. I’m sure, if I was feeling better, I would have been eager to keep my plan to go on the tour that I paid for. I was by myself and nervous and I did see the Capitol and for that, I’m grateful!! Maybe next time!!
Saw a lot of sights.
John_A, May 2023
Our driver did a great job. For me, there was way too much traffic noise and too many people to deal with. We sat on the top for most of the trip. The earphones were not loud enough which was annoying.
Great experience
Marlie_F, May 2023
Liked the experience. Great narratives as you go along. And they come by pretty quickly so you do not wait long to hope on from the different stops. We really enjoyed the ride.
Nice way to get a feel for the city layout
JonathanG_W, May 2023
It's a nice way to get a feel for the layout of the city. Was disappointed that it didnt go through Georgetown and the narration tried too hard to be cute and didnt offer enough information
The tour provided a...
Robert_C, May 2023
The tour provided a starting point regarding the places that we wanted to visit during the next two days.
Buyer Beware, buses don’t run every 15 minutes as told and sold !!!
CarlMossIII, May 2023
We waited for over an 1 hour and 15 minutes with no buses. We contacted the person through chat and they basically blew us off. We would like a complete refund. We only used it to get to where we wanted to go and they never sent a bus around. We had to Uber back to our car !!!
Waste of money and time
Karen_W, May 2023
Use the air on the bus please! We were suffocating below because they wouldn’t, didn’t, or couldn’t put the air in. Everyone kept touching the vents seeing if the air was on. Then we went a round the block 3 times which roughly too 20-25 min. The driver had no clue how to get around a street closure, but I guarantee driving around that same block won’t help. I purchased 2 days, but since my first was a complete flop (and I didn’t get to do one trip around ) I’ll pass today.
My review
Jerald_J, May 2023
The staff were very friendly and helpful. The audio guide was informative but seemed to lean a bit to the left. Overall, it was worth the price.
Sightseeing
Petrina_S, May 2023
Riding upstairs and being able to see the sights along the way. It is a good way to get around DC to see all the sights. The hop on hop off allows you to see as much of each area as you want.
Thank you...
Sevana_J, May 2023
Thank you Everyone so friendly and helpful Great amount of information sharing during the ride 5star
Horrible Experience
Lorenzo_C, May 2023
Because there was confusion regarding our 2 day tickets, we were denied access on the bus and customer service was horrible!
Pay a lot. Get little satisfaction.
Andrew_R, May 2023
Terrible to see that with all the money being charged for the fares they are not spending the money on the busses. Rough, brutal noisy and rough transmission. Blown shocks, warped rotors, you can even hear the prerecorded audio from all the noise and the vibration of engine rattling you to the bone. Inaccurate timing of busses at locations Beeping noise constantly on the bus we were on BUS AK93 specifically. Annoying. Glorified shuttle bus with too much noise going on to hear what’s going on. Public transit is $2!!! What you get definitely not worth the price of admission on big bus
Good experience
Charles_S, May 2023
Got off to a bad start as the day we arrived there was a race which delayed the start of the service by 2 hours which we didn't know about. Seems if you don't use apps you know nothing. Could be better signs as found it hard to see them. Once we were on board the service provided was first class and extremely friendly. Information on board was interesting and well presented. I would definitely use this Company again.
Don’t do it
MARIA_L, May 2023
We went to various locations and waited for more than 30-40 minutes and there was no bus. There are better options, we ended up getting another tour.
Family day out
Joe_H, May 2023
Stopping at the capitol was awesome, all drivers very pleasant ,weather was beautiful nice and warm sunny little breeze
Experience
michael_g, Apr 2023
Going to Arlington Cemetery Did not care for liberal politics from night time tour guide—on capt Kirks bus
...

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Product code: 5096DCHOHO

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