Small Group Capitol Hill Tour with Reserved Entry Tickets

3 hours (approximately)
Offered in: English

Discover the heart of American democracy on this immersive 3-hour Capitol Hill experience — including hard-to-get timed entry tickets to both the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress, fully handled for you.

Beginning at the iconic U.S. Supreme Court, guests explore the Capitol's exterior before stepping inside the Capitol Visitor Center, where famous statues, hidden history, and remarkable stories await. The highlight: a 30 to 45 minute professional Docent-led tour of the stunning Capitol Rotunda.

From there, guests travel the historic Capitol tunnels — walked daily by senators and congressmen — emerging at the Library of Congress, the largest library on earth, to explore the Jefferson Library, the Gutenberg Bible, the breathtaking Main Reading Room, and more.

Let us handle the stressful part for you, and enjoy a seamless experience of Capitol Hill!

What's Included

Languages Offered: English
Expert Tour Guide
Reserved Entry to the U.S. Capitol
Reserved Entry to the Library of Conress
Gratuities

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Your guide will text you an hour before your tour and meet you on the sidewalk at the corner of 2nd St NE and East Capitol St NE, just outside Florida House. Kindly remain outside of Florida House as this is an active state embassy.

End point

The tour will conclude inside of the Capitol Visitor Center so you can continue exploring nearby landmarks, restaurants, or call a ride or metro to your next destination.

Itinerary

Duration: 3 hours (approximately)
  • 1
    Supreme Court

    Standing across from the Capitol, the Supreme Court's marble façade and iconic columns have guarded American justice since 1935. This is where landmark decisions — from Brown v. Board to Roe v. Wade — shaped the nation. Look up at the inscription above the entrance: 'Equal Justice Under Law.' Few phrases carry more weight in American history.

    20 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 2
    U.S. Capitol Visitor Center

    Beneath the Capitol's east plaza lies one of Washington's best kept secrets — a 580,000 square foot underground visitor center that welcomes over 3 million guests a year. This is your gateway to the heart of American democracy, housing exhibition halls, historic artifacts, and the original plaster cast of the Freedom statue that crowns the Capitol dome. Before we head inside, take a moment to look up — that dome took over 10 years to complete and was finished during the Civil War, a deliberate symbol that the Union would endure.

    30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 3
    U.S. Capitol

    Few buildings on earth carry the weight of this one. The Capitol has housed Congress since 1800, and inside the Rotunda, guests find themselves standing beneath one of the most breathtaking interiors in the world. Nearly 180 feet above, Constantino Brumidi's Apotheosis of Washington — a nearly 5,000 square foot fresco painted in 1865 — watches over all who enter. Eight monumental paintings line the walls, each capturing a defining moment in America's founding story. Designed to inspire awe, the Capitol Rotunda has been doing exactly that for over two centuries.

    1 hour 30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 4
    Library of Congress

    Just steps from the Capitol sits the largest library in the world, and arguably its most beautiful building. The Library of Congress holds over 170 million items — from Thomas Jefferson's personal book collection to the first map to use the name 'America.' Guests who step inside the Great Hall are often stopped in their tracks by the breathtaking Beaux-Arts interior, a jaw-dropping mosaic of marble, murals, and gilded detail that rivals any museum in the world. More than a library, this is the nation's memory — and every American has a membership.

    30 minutes Admission ticket included

Additional info

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Supplied by Cornerstone Tours
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Tags

Half-day Tours
Private and Luxury
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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