White House
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
About
One of America's most recognizable historical and political symbols is also the home and office of the President of the United States.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Plan your visit

The area

Address
Neighborhood: National Mall
How to get there
  • Farragut West • 6 min walk
  • McPherson Square • 7 min walk
Reach out directly

See what travelers are saying

  • Brei H
    17 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very Informative
    Very informative, but a lot of people. If you can get a tour scheduled with your local congressman, definitely do it! and remember that the secret service agents are there for security, but will also answer any questions you might have. It will get crowded towards the end (the front door area) from people taking pictures, but it's still a really neat experience.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written September 18, 2023
  • KHATRI_TANZANIA
    Dar es Salaam, Tanzania794 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Visited to take my selfie with White House
    Visited Washington DC especially to see White House. It will not be wrong to count White House as most liked attraction in Washington DC. When we visited, the area was crowded with so many people taking their selfies and photos with White House, and offcourse we did the same.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written September 18, 2023
  • Dleg4
    108 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Glad we visited the White House
    Get started early in booking this tour. Took about 2 months to be approved. Self-guided tour, with docents/guides in some areas (East Room, Red Room, Blue Room, etc). NO bags, purses, backpacks, fanny packs, etc allowed on tour. Lots of presidential photos & artwork. Photo op with Presidential Seal above. Enjoyed being there.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written September 27, 2023
  • Kathy C
    Columbus, Ohio33 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Plan early for this worthwhile visit to the White House
    This was a high point of our visit and I didn't expect it to be. I had read on line reviews that downplayed the visit to the White House as underwhelming. I disagree - just to be inside the gates seeing so many historic views of the White House, and then inside the East Wing is stunning. The scope and quality of the building, the marble walls and floors, the rooms we have seen on the news for decades - all were worthwhile. Some travel tips: Getting into the White House is not a last-minute plan. You must contact the office of your state representative or Senator weeks ahead. I requested the tour in August for an October visit. You have to fill out a form for a background check and you are checked through ID and a metal detector three times before entering the White House. PURSES OF ANY KIND ARE NOT ALLOWED. My husband caught this just as we were leaving our AirBnB and had he not I would not have been allowed in because they also don't allow you to leave bags, backpacks, etc. outside the White House.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 15, 2023
  • Chuck and Di
    13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    White House tour
    This was one of my favorite things to do in DC! It was a free self guided tour through multiple rooms in the White House. Beautiful decor, many pictures of the presidents and others in the hallways. You must request a pass IN ADVANCE (between 3 months and 21 days) from your member of Congress. We did not receive our pass until about 2 weeks before leaving, but it was worth the wait. As would be expected, security is very tight, and you need to read through the list of prohibited items (almost everything, including pocketbooks!). And, you must have your government issued ID (ex - driver's license). If you cannot navigate the stairs due to a disability, ask to use the elevator; security will request a staff person to escort you.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written November 8, 2023
  • Gavin N
    Aberdeen, United Kingdom12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Dream Come True
    Visiting Washington DC for the first, and possibly only time, meant touring The White House was my number one priority for the trip. As the British Embassy was unable to help me I had to reach out to those who sit in the Capitol for their help. The offices of Adam Schiff put me forward for a tour and a week before I travelled my request was approved. Okay, it was only for the East Wing, so no Oval Office or Press Room etc but I was still excited. The day of the tour arrived on day 3 of my DC stay. After going through multiple security checkpoints it was so exciting to finally step inside the iconic building. Obviously, most of the rooms were viewable from a fenced off doorway only but others were able to be walked through such as the State Dining Room. It took about 45 minutes to complete the tour. I wasn't rushing it and the staff didn't rush people through either. Without doubt it was the highlight of my trip. Walking down the driveway after exiting the building felt somewhat surreal but as an experience it was one I will remember fondly. I just wish I could have seen the West Wing too but I know those are even harder to get permission for, especially as a UK resident.
    Visited January 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written November 27, 2023
  • Kevin B
    Mount Juliet, Tennessee3,752 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Such an amazing tour!
    This was an amazing experience! It's not easy to be able to tour The White House as you have to first contact a member of congress to inquire about a tour. A congressional aide will then guide you through the application process that includes background checks of everyone in your group. Once this is done, your group gets sent into a pool and you only find out 2 weeks before your date if you've been chosen and what entry time you've received. That being said, it's 100% worth the hassle! My wife and I were in town for a conference and we brought 6 of her colleagues on the tour. Everyone said that this was the highlight of their trip. You have to get here early and get in line and the line can be several blocks long depending on how busy it is at the time. You have to go through several security screenings, but once you're in you enter The White House through the East Wing. The tour lasts about 45 minutes and you get to see several historic rooms within the house. It's amazing how different the decor is for all of these rooms and you can see layers of different styles from different presidential families (how often do you tour homes that were lived in by dozens of different people over a couple hundred years?). My two favorite things were seeing the Washington Monument from inside The White House and seeing all of the presidential paintings on the walls; it's amazing to have that view of the monument since so few people have seen it that way and it's always amazing to see pieces of artwork in person when you've known of them and seen them in books your whole life. Touring The White House is truly an amazing experience and we would do it again in a heartbeat!
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written January 12, 2024
  • BNJMNB11
    Glasgow, United Kingdom117 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A White House tour
    We were lucky enough to have a friend book us in for the White House tour during our most recent trip to DC. After you pass through the expected security checks you are able to gain access to the building itself and meander along at your own pace through some recognisable rooms before making your way outside providing a unique perspective. Some fantastic photo opportunities along the way and one to tick off the bucket list. Best advice would be to book as early a slot as possible to avoid the lengthy queue,
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written January 21, 2024
  • LesleyDublin
    Dublin, Ireland259 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great to see it in real life
    We did not go inside the White House but we walked around the front with the fountain and took photos outside the gates. Then we walked a bit further back and got even better pictures. We walked around the back but couldn't see much there. After all the times I've seen the White House on TV it was great to actually see it.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 9, 2024
  • Cassie S
    36 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing to see in real life
    This was very awesome. This was on my bucket list for obvious reasons. It was so surreal to see it in real life. We took so many pictures. Sadly, the fence makes it hard to see. But it's makes sense because the president lives there. It's a definite must-see.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written March 11, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles8,248 reviews
Excellent
3,729
Very good
2,538
Average
1,567
Poor
287
Terrible
128

Michelle B
Saint Paul, MN89 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
I did not expect the white house to be in the heart of downtown DC, I was a little sad that we could not see it very well or get very close. They were doing 'fence' construction so there was a big wall up in front and you could only see the white house from one side. I wanted to get closer to the white house christmas tree, but it was all blocked off so we could only see if from a distance. We were there in December, so I was excited to see it all decorated for christmas and was sadly disappointed. I have never been to DC before, so was glad I got to see what I did, but will plan better for the next trip
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cmschw@comcast.net
Alexandria, VA4,452 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2021
The White House is a must see while visiting DC! In the Covid virus era you cannot expect to tour the president's home. So you get out and walk around the building. In the Christmas season you best see the White House by timing your visit to see the National Christmas Tree. Do this at night. One way to do this is by a bus tour. We live in the DC area. We recommend renting a car and driving through the city. Get out of your car and walk around the White House. While your renting a car make certain you see nearby buildings: Renwick Gallery:Lincoln Memorial; Washington Monument ( you won't be able to walk or ride to the top of this monument during the Covid era}; The US Capital is best viewed by car, park and walk around because you will not be allowed in due to Covid; National Archives (check to see if you can tour inside); the Outdoor monuments including but not limited to the Viet Nam Memorial, The Martin Luther King memorial; and The FDR Memorial. You can see the outdoor monuments during the Covid era.
Written January 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CristinaAriadna
Teddington, UK212 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Friends
We wanted to schedule a visit inside but as our group was made of different nationalities we couldn't schedule things properly with our embassies so we gave up. We saw it both sides, but the back was partly cordoned off as the president just came in, so we didn't get close enough to see it, and the front is so far away that you can barely see it. I was definitely disappointed as I was expecting it to be a bit bigger and closer. I did research before we got there and knew a lot about it but still, didn't prepare me for how small and far it was. For decent photos make sure you have a good camera with decent zoom.
Written May 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Pooja
Ghaziabad, India21 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021 • Friends
March is probably the best time to visit Washington DC.. had a spectacular walk in the city where the cherry blossom trees were in full bloom. The city looked beautiful on a bright sunny day with a temperature of 15 degrees. Had typically American huge size mid day meal at one of the Mexican Vans paked near Capitol ... It was decent for the price .. spotted many offical choppers flying over White House . Overall a beautiful day .
Written March 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Johanna M
Los Angeles, CA1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023
I went on a trip to Washington DC just to see this! And you know what? When I got there, I wasn't allow in! I had booked a spot in the tour months in advance, and yet I couldn't. My children were so excited to see the wonderful building where dreams come true. Well, now the dreams of my children have been crushed. They cried for hours after the gate guard told us they weren't allowing tours that day! I had to take them to get ice cream, which really squeezed my wallet tight, considering how I had already paid for the NON-REFUNDABLE tour of the White House and the plane tickets. It is very expensive to fly all the way over from California, but we did it just for this glorious building, which we were NOT allowed to see the inside of. Tommy, my eldest, has said that he wants to be president since he could speak, and yet, after six years of chasing that dream, he has given up because of this horrid trip. I will never forgive the person who LIED to me and said that the White House was open for tours all of that week. I have already filed a complain with the booking company and the White House staff, though it is doubtful that stye will respond to mine with all the other complains they must surely be getting from other unhappy customers.
Written March 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kevin B
Mount Juliet, TN3,752 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Friends
This was an amazing experience! It's not easy to be able to tour The White House as you have to first contact a member of congress to inquire about a tour. A congressional aide will then guide you through the application process that includes background checks of everyone in your group. Once this is done, your group gets sent into a pool and you only find out 2 weeks before your date if you've been chosen and what entry time you've received.

That being said, it's 100% worth the hassle! My wife and I were in town for a conference and we brought 6 of her colleagues on the tour. Everyone said that this was the highlight of their trip. You have to get here early and get in line and the line can be several blocks long depending on how busy it is at the time. You have to go through several security screenings, but once you're in you enter The White House through the East Wing. The tour lasts about 45 minutes and you get to see several historic rooms within the house. It's amazing how different the decor is for all of these rooms and you can see layers of different styles from different presidential families (how often do you tour homes that were lived in by dozens of different people over a couple hundred years?). My two favorite things were seeing the Washington Monument from inside The White House and seeing all of the presidential paintings on the walls; it's amazing to have that view of the monument since so few people have seen it that way and it's always amazing to see pieces of artwork in person when you've known of them and seen them in books your whole life. Touring The White House is truly an amazing experience and we would do it again in a heartbeat!
Written January 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NikaNumber1
Royal Oak, MI8,960 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Solo
I don’t know of a more pristinely white and more famous house in the world than the White House.

It’s so iconic, it’s had stage, TV and film replicas of it and there are even small replicas of them in Kosovo too.

It’s such a simple but perfect name for such a house that South Korea has their own Blue house (Cheong Wa Dae) for their president as well.

If you are in DC, this is a must. If you can get a tour, even better. I didn’t prep enough to get in inside tour.
Written March 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Analia G
Staten Island, NY410 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Friends
Taking a tour of the White House requires reservations and clearance. Writing to your Congressperson may help with the process. You cannot carry a bag or purse, but a wallet and phone can be on your person. The tour is self paced and allows you to walk the halls and see several rooms of the home of the President. Staff is stationed throughout and are able to provide interesting historical information about the furnishings, portraits, decor, presidents, and people of interest since the original house was built. We took our time and took several photos. This was a bucket list item for most of our group and we were very happy to be here. It was wonderful and inspirational. So glad we came.
Written March 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Flutegarden
Collegeville, PA220 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Family
We fortunate to get tickets. We requested exactly 90 days out through our Senator. We heard back exactly 2 weeks before so be patient and put the request in at 90 days. There is quite a line to get in so be prepared and you get asked for ID twice before heading to security. And remember no food or drinks or bags of any kind. The ticket will tell you to use the restroom at the visitor’s center but there was a long line to get in there so we were told to go to the Ronald Reagan building down the street (you must go through security).

The tour is self guided. We were lucky to go over Easter weekend so we got to see it decorated. The collection of eggs designed by kids is super impressive. It was nice to the multiple entertainment rooms. There is SS in several rooms to answer questions
Written April 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Queenstravelbuff
New York City, NY16,730 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
I only went for Photo Ops, its difficult to get a tour, as you have to reserve 2 weeks in advance from your local representative,

If you want the best photos, you need to go early, like before lunch.

You need to get photos from the front and back of the building, You have to walk around and you dont get very close to the building.

If you are lucky you might see the President walking on the South Lawn of the white house
Written August 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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White House, Washington DC

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