Washington DC Sightseeing Bus Tour with Potomac River Cruise

The National Mall memorials

The heart of the tour is the National Mall, the long park lined with the capital's best-known memorials. The Lincoln Memorial, dedicated in 1922, has 36 columns and a seated statue of Abraham Lincoln, and it is also the place where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his I Have a Dream speech in 1963. Nearby are the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, with its long black granite wall, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial, with its column of steel soldiers.

On this Washington DC sightseeing bus tour you get out for guided walks at several of these memorials, so you learn the stories rather than see them through a window. The World War II Memorial, opened in 2004, is also on the route, with its ring of pillars and its fountains.

The White House and the US Capitol

The bus passes the White House, which has been the residence of every president since John Adams in 1800, and stops for photographs from the best viewing points. It also passes the US Capitol, where Congress meets, and the guide explains how the two buildings relate to each other along Pennsylvania Avenue.

These are the sights most visitors want in a single day, and the coach saves time: the distances between them are much longer than they look on the map. Ask your guide about the best angle to photograph each building, and about the history of the avenue that links them.

The Jefferson, Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. memorials

Around the Tidal Basin, the tour visits three of the capital's finest memorials. The Jefferson Memorial, finished in 1943, is a round white building with a bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, opened in 1997, is laid out in four outdoor rooms, one for each of his terms as president.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, opened in 2011, features a granite statue of the civil rights leader emerging from the Stone of Hope. The Tidal Basin is also famous for its cherry trees, which bloom in late March or early April, and a visit then is especially beautiful. The route may vary with events and closures.

Georgetown waterfront and the Potomac River cruise

Georgetown is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Washington, with cobbled streets, historic houses and a lively waterfront park on the Potomac. The tour stops here so that you can buy lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants; lunch is not included in the price.

From April to September the tour then boards a boat for a one-hour cruise on the Potomac River, with views of the Georgetown waterfront, the Kennedy Center and the monuments from the water. The cruise operates only in that season, and outside those months the itinerary is adjusted and the boat trip is not part of the tour.

Planning your day: meeting point, timing and what to bring

The tour starts at 10:00 AM from a meeting point in central Washington DC, and the exact spot is confirmed after booking. Hotel pickup is not included. It lasts about six hours, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water, sunscreen, a hat and a light jacket, because it can be cool by the river.

Bring cash or a card for lunch and for tips, which are not included. The commentary is live and in English. The best time of year is spring or autumn, when the weather is mild, and the tour runs all year. Ask your guide for tips about the Smithsonian museums nearby, most of which have free admission.