DC: US Capitol & Library of Congress / Supreme Court Guided Tour

5.0
(141 reviews)
Washington DC, USA

3 to 4 hours (approximately)
Offered in: English

Explore the heart of American democracy on Capitol Hill with reserved timed-entry tickets and a guide who knows these halls inside and out. We reserve every ticket in advance, so you skip the planning and go straight to the history.

Choose your option:

US Capitol & Library of Congress (3 hrs, up to 15): Tour the Jefferson Building's Main Reading Room, Gutenberg Bible, and Jefferson's library, then the Capitol Rotunda, crypt, and Statuary Hall.

US Capitol & Supreme Court (2.5–3 hrs, up to 15): Start at the Supreme Court, then the Capitol Visitor Center, film, and docent-led Capitol tour.

BIG 3 Capitol Hill Landmarks (4 hrs, up to 10): All three landmarks on one guided tour, Tuesday–Friday.

Upgrade any tour to PRIVATE for just your group (the 45-minute Capitol docent portion is shared).

Note: the Library of Congress is closed Mondays and the Supreme Court is closed weekends.

Perfect for first-time DC visitors, history buffs, families, and school groups.

What's Included

Reserved Entry to the U.S. Capitol (all options)
entry to the Supreme Court (varies by option)
Languages Offered: English
Expert Tour Guide
Reserved Entry to the Library of Congress (varies by option)
Maximum of 15 guests
some buildings are excluded from some options, make sure to review your selection!

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 to 4 hours (approximately)
  • Capitol Hill (Pass by)

    Your experience begins on Capitol Hill! Walk between The Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and the Capitol of the United States.

    Admission ticket free
  • 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

    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 Admission ticket included
  • 3
    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
  • 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.

    1 hour 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
Architecture Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
Likely to Sell Out
Excellent Quality
Best Conversion
Low Supplier Cancellation Rate
Low Last Minute Supplier Cancellation Rate
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

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

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Rating

5.0 Based on 141 141 reviews
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