• Insider Guide to
    Washington D.C.

Welcome to our Washington D.C. Insider Guide.

Welcome to your exclusive guide to some of our favorite sights, eats, and spots in the city! We're a company built by travelers - just like you. Regardless if you're brand new to the Nation's Capital or have been visiting for years, after all of the planning, time, and effort spent on getting here, having a great time in D.C. should be the easy part. That's where we come in.

  • Top Tours
  • D.C. Attractions
  • Bucket List
  • Dining
  • Perfect D.C. Weekend
  • Day Trips from D.C.

 

Top D.C. Tours

The people have spoken! Whether you are wanting to glide through the National Mall on a comfy beach cruiser or take a stroll through historic Capitol Hill, our tours offer something for just about everyone.

We've been perfecting our tours around the globe since 1999 and each gives a wonderful orientation to the city for people visiting for the first time, but doesn't fall short on providing fascinating history and tons of fun riding around Washington D.C. for those who have been before. Each season we hand-select the best tour guides to make your experience educational, entertaining, and most of all: fun. Our goal while you are in D.C. is to provide you with memories that last a lifetime, and we hope to see you on a tour with us soon.  

 

"I took two Tours of Washington DC with these guys, and it just confirms what a good tour company they are. The bikes were in great condition, the tour guides are entertaining and knowledgeable. Touring Washington at night on the bike gives the monuments and memorials a unique perspective." – Pierre, Australia

 
View all D.C. tours

 

Attractions

From the world-class museums to the historical monuments, D.C. has no shortage of things to see. With years of experience taking guests out in D.C. and visiting the local attractions ourselves, we have the insider's perspective on how to spend your time in the Capital city. The best part is, many of the museums and attractions in D.C. are free to enter, meaning your options are endless!

U.S. Capitol Building

Entry fee: Free
Closest metro station: Capitol South or Union Station
Home of the legislative branch, U.S. Senators and Members of Congress have met here for over 200 years, and shaped the course of U.S. laws and history.
Enjoy reserved access into the Capitol Building for a docent-led tour on our Capitol Hill Walking Tour.

The White House

Entry fee: Free, but must be arranged several months in advance through your representative or embassy.
Closest metro station: Farragut West or McPherson Square
The most famous address in the world! The White House has housed every President and their family since John Adams and is a United States icon.
We cruise by the White House on our Day Bike Tour, Best of D.C. Electric Bike Tour, and see it lit up at night on our Sunset Electric Bike Tour.

Arlington National Cemetery

Entry fee: Free
Closest metro station: Arlington Cemetery
Witness the moving Changing of the Guard Ceremony on the hill where many U.S. fallen heroes are buried. 
We park our bikes at the entrance of Arlington Cemetery to take a walk though the grounds and stop to see the Changing of the Guard Ceremony on our Monuments, Memorials, & Arlington Cemetery Bike Tour.

The National Mall 

Entry fee: Free
Closest metro station: Foggy Bottom or Smithsonian
Nicknamed "America's front yard", here is where you can find most of the iconic monuments that come to mind when you think of D.C. See the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, and so much more here.
Nearly every tour we offer visits at least a portion, if not all of the National Mall! There's no better way to enjoy the monuments than by bike, covering more ground than you ever could on foot.

Washington Monument

Entry fee: Free
Closest metro station: Smithsonian
Take in the views of the tallest free standing masonry structure in the world. Peeking out through the D.C. skyline from around the city, this monument pays homage to our country's first President, George Washington. 
Spend some time enjoying the monument at your own pace with one of our bike rentals.

National Archives

Entry fee: Free
Closest metro station: National Archives
See the most important documents in the history of the United States with your own eyes: the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence.
Spend the day as a VIP on the Best of D.C. VIP Tour and enjoy reserved access into the National Archives to conclude your tour. 

National Air and Space Museum

Entry fee: Free
Closest metro station: Federal Center SW or L'Enfant Plaza
A favorite museum for aviation and space enthusiasts of all ages, this musuem is home to the original Wright Brothers Flyer and a number of rockets.

Museum of American History

Entry fee: Free
Closest metro station: Smithsonian or Federal Triangle
Take a step back through American history, and we're not just talking about presidents! With exhibits including Julia Child's former kitchen, the first iPods, Dorothy's red slippers from the Wizard of Oz, clothing from the set of TV sitcoms, and so much more.

National Museum of African American History & Culture

Entry fee: Free, but due to its popularity you must reserve a timed entry pass in advance
Closest metro station: Smithsonian or Federal Triangle
Opened in 2016, making this one of D.C's newest attractions, this museum offers a comprehensive and moving exploration through African American's history. 

Museum of Natural History

Entry fee: Free
Closest metro station: Smithsonian
Learn about the history of our planet at one of the most visited museums in America. Get up close and personal with dinosaur fossils and see the massive Hope Diamond for yourself.

 

Our Washington, D.C. Bucket List

Paddle along the Tidal Basin

  • Did you know you could rent a paddle boat and enjoy the sights of D.C. from the tranquil Tidal Basin? Now you do!
  • Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and take in the sights of the monuments from the water.

Have a moving experience at Arlington National Cemetery

  • Visit the resting place of American heroes. Located on a beautiful hill overlooking D.C, Arlington National Cemetery is not only the resting place of soldiers, but is the site where the Kennedy Family is buried. 
  • No visit to Arlington Cemetery is complete without witnessing the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The guards here stand watch 24 hours a day, 365 days a year through rain, sleet, snow. 
  • Our Monuments, Memorials & Arlington Cemetery Bike Tour is timed perfectly so you can witness the Changing of the Guard. 

Tour Capitol Hill

  • While you should certainly pay a visit to the U.S. Capitol Building while in D.C., make sure you spend time exploring the rest of Capitol Hill! 
  • Just across the street from the Capitol Building is the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress - the largest library in the world! Depending on the schedule, visitors can sit in on the Supreme Court while if they are in session for a once-in-a-lifetime look at the Judicial Branch at work.

Marvel at the gothic architecture of Washington National Cathedral

  • Noteable burials at the Cathedral include Hellen Keller and President Woodrow Wilson - the only U.S. President buried in the District of Columbia.
  • The Cathedral has been the host of post-inaguration day prayer services for Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.  
  • If you look really closely, you can spot a Darth Vader 'Gargoyle' among the exterior architecture. 

Snap photos of the Cherry Blossoms

  • Cherry Blossom Season is a delight to witness in D.C. Every spring, thousands of white and pink flowers adorn the city. They were a gift to the United States from Japan over 100 years ago, and they have become an icon of D.C. ever since.
  • While the National Mall is the most popular location to enjoy the trees, a more peaceful area to take in the views is Hains Point, at the southernmost tip of East Potomac Park.
  • Cherry Blossom Season varies slightly each year based on the weather so while it's impossible to predict exactly when they will bloom, they generally appear between mid-March and mid-April.

Stroll or cycle through picturesque Georgetown

  • Enjoy window shopping, quaint homes, and a world-class university in the oldest part of D.C. 
  • Rent a bike and cycle along the waterfront and canal before stopping at Baked and Wired for our favorite cupcakes and a cup of coffee!

See the Memorials light up at Night

Take in a concert or movie Outdoors

  • During the summer months when the weather is nice and warm, D.C. has tons of fun outdoor events enjoyed by both visitors and locals.
  • Local neighborhoods host movie nights in parks featuring a huge screen and classic favorites. Paried with a bring your own picnic or a meal from one of the delicious food trucks parked nearby, this is a great way to spend an evening in D.C. 
  • Don't miss Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery of Art's sculpture garden or Concerts at Yard's Park along the waterfront.

Museum hop the Smithsonians

  • Washington D.C. boasts 17 Smithsonian Museums with something to suit just about any interest! Whether you want to see fine art at the National Portrait Gallery, explore our galaxy at the National Air and Space Museum, or learn about African-American history at the stunning new National Museum of African American History and Culture, there's something for you. 
  • We enjoy the exterior architecture of many of these museums on our tours, but due to time-constraints, we don't visit the insides. Ask your guide about their favorites and they can help you plan our your museum adventures.

Say hello to your Senator or Representative

  • Offices of Senators and Members of Congress are open for visits from their constituents. Typically, you can walk right into their office and ask if they are free, and they may pop out to say hello to you! 
  • If you want to visit inside of the White House, you can do so by getting in touch with one of your representatives. You can look up and contact your representative by clicking here and they would be happy to help arrange a visit for you. 

 

Restaurants

In recent years, the D.C. restaurant scene has joined the ranks of Michelin-esteemed cities. Featuring American classics, all-day brunches, and international dishes from around the world, there's something for everyone. These are a few of our local favorites to include a bit of everything that we love about the D.C. dining scene!

 

AMERICAN FARE
Contemporary and traditional American dishes in the Nation's Capital.

Roses Luxury

717 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
One of the most exciting restaurants in the city is home to an ever rotating menu of dishs. They don't take reservations, so be prepared to wait in line. But, the wait is always worth it!


Blue Duck Tavern

1201 24th St NW, Washington, DC 20037
Local and sophisticated bar food can be found at this Foggy Bottom hot spot. The Obamas even celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary here in 2009!


Birch and Barley

1337 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
Birch and Barley has been creating legendary meals for their guests since 2009. Don't miss their tasting menu where they will pair seasonal dishes with some delicious beers off their epic beer list.


Farmers, Fishers, Bakers

300 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Great cocktails paired with local and seasonal food is what you'll find on this Georgetown Waterfront spot. It's tough to go wrong with anything on the menu, but the crab dip is a great way to start any meal at Farmers Fishers Bakers.


Old Ebbitt Grill

675 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
Founded in 1856, Old Ebbitt Grill is the oldest saloon in Washington. Their impressive guest list has included presidents as far back as Andrew Johnson, Hollywood actors, musicians, and sports stars. They offer great local fare, like crab cakes, but their menu is so diverse that it will satisfy any appetite or taste.

INTERNATIONAL CUISINE
Be sure to dip your toes in the local melting pot of cultures, with incredible dishes from around the globe.

Rasika

633 D St NW, Washington, DC 20004
DC's best Indian Restaurant is definitely Rasika, nestled in the heart of Penn Quarter. It's hard to go wrong with anything on the menu, but try the black cod or the palak chat.


Zaytinya

701 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Chef Jose Andres' Greek restaurant in Penn Quarter is one of the best small-plates restaurants in the city. Grab a bunch of treats for the table to share and you won't be dissappointed.


Ethiopic Restaurant

401 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
The reigning "best Ethiopian restuarant" in DC according to the Washington Post, experience real Ethiopian cuisine like their lamb tibs or kitfo.


Osteria Morini

301 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003
Osteria Morini brings northern Italian flavors to DC's Capitol Waterfront neighborhood. On top of being one of the best Italian restaurants in the city, the have an award winning pastry chef to ensure that desert is just as special as the main course


Maketto

1351 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002 
Maketto is a combination restaurant, bar, retail, and market space located in DC's Atlast District. But their restaurant really shines as it features a mix of Taiwanese and Cambodian street food.

BRUNCH
From bottomless mimosas to all you can eat buffets, to classic comfort food with a modern flair, its hard to go wrong with brunch in D.C.

Cava Mezze

527 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
This Greek meze/tapas restaurants features an all you can eat brunch option with 25 cent mimosas.


The Liberty Tavern

3195 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
If the never-ending buffet is more your style, this is where you come without sacrificing quality for quantity. Come with an empty stomach!


Ted's Bulletin

Two locations: 1818 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20009 or 505 8th Street SE Washington, DC 20003
With breakfast options available all day, you can sleep in as late as you wish! Menu features include American breakfast classics, homemade pop tarts, and legendary milkshakes. 


Le Diplomate

1601 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
This buzzing brasserie offers chic brunch plates including oysters and king crab, with some classics with an upscale twist as well. Feast on a basket of pastries alongside your lobster omelette or baguette provençale. 


Green Pig Bistro

1025 N Fillmore St, Arlington, VA 22201
This relaxing Southern meets French spot places an emphasis on hearty dishes, including grits, andouille sausage, shrimp, waffles, eggs, and huevos rancheros. 

 

Our guide to the perfect weekend in D.C.

Coming to D.C., but only have a few days? We’ve compiled a packed three day itinerary to help you plan your visit, making sure you see everything we love about our city. You’ll visit the sites, but we’ll also make sure you get into the neighborhoods and see what D.C. is all about. 

DAY 1 (FRIDAY)

Morning

We may be biased, but kick off your time in D.C. by taking a tour with us! Our Best of D.C. Electric Bike Tour or Day Bike Tour is a great way to see the sights quickly and get your bearings on the city. Our guides can show you the basics, but also help with some ideas on what to do the rest of your time in the city. Don't be afraid to ask them about their favorite spots!

Afternoon

You can't come to D.C without spending time in some of its world-class museums. The Smithsonians are packed with incredible history, and D.C. is home to 17 of them. We recommend going to one of their must-see museums first, like the Air and Space Museum, the Natural History Museum, or the Newseum. See how many you can knock off this afternoon!

Evening

Grab a ticket to any of the national shows that come through town like the Book of Mormon, Wicked, the Phantom of the Opera, or the hit Broadway show, Hamilton. There's also other great theaters in the city featuring local and national acts like the Shakespeare Theater Company, Arena Stage, Warner Theater, National Theatre, or the Woolly Mammoth Theatre. In the summer months, there are tons of outdoor movies and concerts.

DAY 2 (SATURDAY)

Morning

Take a stroll around Capitol Hill to learn about the U.S. Government and its history by taking a tour of the U.S. Capitol. You'll see the U.S. Supreme Court, The Library of Congress, and Union Station on our tour, and we recommend exploring the area on your own as well. 

Afternoon

After grabbing lunch on Capitol Hill (we recommend We the Pizza or Good Stuff Eatery, both from Top Chef standout Spike Mendelsohn), hop on the metro and grab the blue line to Arlington Cemetery. Take a stroll around to visit the Kennedy gravesite, Arlington House, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where you can witness the changing of the guard.

Evening

Get out into one of D.C's exciting neighborhoods for dinner and a night out. We recommend dinner on 14th Street and then walking over to the 930 Club for a show, and post show drinks at American Ice Company. So many of D.C's neighborhoods great bars, music, dancing, and eating that it's tough to go wrong.

DAY 3 (SUNDAY)

Morning

On Sundays: we brunch. For the best brunches in the city, be sure to read our dining guide. Brunch has become an institution in D.C. and whether you're after bottomless mimosas, all you can eat waffles, or to see and be seen over eggs benedict, there's something for you. 

Afternoon

Take in a pro-sports game for the Washington Nationals, Wizards, Mystics, Capitals, DC United, or Redskins. If you can't make it to the big game and the weather is nice, then head over to Rock Creek Park where you can find miles and miles of trails open to the public for biking, horseback riding, picnicing, and pick up games of football, dodgeball, kickball, and softball.

Evening

With your last few hours in the city, seeing the Memorials by moonlight is a must-do for any weekend trip to DC. They really come alive as the sun sets and the lights come up. If bikes are your speed, join us on our Monuments & Memorials Night Bike Tour.

 

Day Trips from D.C.

Washington D.C's central location on the East Coast means that exciting cities like Baltimore, quaint towns like Charlottesville, and historic battlefields like Gettysburg are mere hours away. Grab a rental car and explore beyond D.C!

Charlottsville, VA

Distance from DC: 120 miles southwest, 2.5 hour drive

  • Home to the University of Virginia, started by Thomas Jefferson, spend some time exploring this beautiful campus or going to an exciting UVA football game when they're home. Famous former students of the university include Edgar Allen Poe, Tina Fey, Robert Kennedy and Katie Couric. 
  • The quaint cobbled streets will make you feel ike you've stepped back in time. 
  • Just south of the city is Thomas Jefferson's home at Monticello. See where he drafted some of the most important documents in history and walk around the grounds to learn about his farming roots, the plantation, and the dark history of slavery on his estate. On your way out be sure to grab some grab some delicious fried chicken and Southern food staples at Mitchies Tavern.

Gettysburg, PA

Distance from DC: 80 miles north, 1.5-2 hour drive

  • Once just a small farming town in Pennsylvania, this town was transformed over the course of three hot days in July 1863 and has been embedded in U.S. History ever since. Here, Union and Southern forces collided in one of the deadliest battles of the Civil War, with nearly 50,000 casualities from both sides of the fighting.
  • Just a few months later, the battlefield was dedicated as a National Cemetery and President Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address, asking all gathered would "highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain."
  • During your visit, you can take a tour of the historic battlefields. You can even bring your own car and have an expert (truly, expert) guide drive you around seeing all the important monuments and places across the expansive battlefield.

Richmond, VA

Distance from DC: 100 miles south, 2.5-3 hour drive

  • Not only is this the current capital of Virginia, but Richmond is the former Capital of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.
  • Here at the Second Virginia Convention in 1775, is where Patrick Henry famously exclaimed "Give me Liberty of Give me Death!"
  • While in town, you can visit Victorian Era estates, tour the State Capitol, visit the Confederate White House, and enjoy the wonderful shopping/dining on Carytown.

Baltimore, MD

Distance from DC: 40 miles northeast, 1-1.5 hour drive

  • Once the Capital of the United States during the Revolutionary War, Charm City now makes a quick getaway from D.C.
  • Baltimore is the former home of Babe Ruth and Edgar Allen Poe.
  • From Camden Yards, the Inner Harbor, Ft. McHenry, the National Aquarium, and countless awesome restuarants, a day in Baltimore won't dissappoint.

Annapolis, MD

Distance from DC: 30 miles east, 45 minute drive

  • Annapolis was also once Capital of the United States for a short time. Now, its the Capital of Maryland and a great waterfront getaway from D.C.
  • You'll find no shortage of history here, Annapolis was also where the Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the American Revolution. 
  • Definitely don't leave with out getting fresh crab straight from the nearby Chesepeake Bay. You can also visit the Maryland State House, the US Naval Academy (Beat Army!), and stroll the historic cobblestone streets of old town.

Manassas, VA

Distance from DC: 30 miles west, 1 hour drive

  • Two major battles of the war were fought here, the First and Second Battles of Bull Run.
  • During your visit, you can tour the preserved battlefields where both battles took place. Drive your car around with an expert guide and hear about the history of everything surrounding both military engagements.
  • The local Manassas Museum has exhibits on the Civil War and local history.