FBI Headquarters
FBI Headquarters
4
7:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 9:30 PM
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- Archives • 4 min walk
- Federal Triangle • 5 min walk
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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
178 reviews
Excellent
86
Very good
37
Average
46
Poor
7
Terrible
2
Nichole N
11 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
We had a great time exploring the visitor's center. There was a lot of memorabilia from famous cases and interactive exhibits to give you a sneak peak into some of the ways the FBI solves cases. This tour was self guided but we were shown around by a retired FBI employee Tony. He made the whole experience so much richer. He went above and beyond to connect with everyone in our group, learn something about them to be able to highlight things in the exhibit they would appreciate. Tony took great care to make sure that everyone enjoyed the experience. He's certainly a gem.
Written August 15, 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.
CbinBigD
Dallas, TX137 contributions
Apr 2023
The FBI Experience tour was one of the best i have been on in DC. There were docents or volunteers who had law enforcement experience could elaborate on famous cases in the tour displays (think BTK killer, Watergate, Patty Hearst and more). Plus they had scenes setup (e.g. bank robbery) where you had to identify the clues to resolve the case. Security clearance required way in advance, so plan accordingly.
Written April 20, 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.
Jennifer S
1 contribution
Jul 2024 • Family
Wonderful, informative, enjoyable! Tour guides were exceptional! Great insight into the FBIs formation and progress. Plan your visit ahead of time since there are security protocols to meet - but worth it!
Written July 3, 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.
Debborn
Rye, CO47 contributions
Sep 2014 • Couples
This is straight from the FBI's website and my congressman is trying to arrange a tour for my husband and I -
"The FBI tour was the public face of the FBI since 1937 when FBI Headquarters was located in the Department of Justice building. In 1975, the J. Edgar Hoover building was opened to house Headquarters and the tour became a significant component of the new building. Following the events of September 11, 2001, the tour was closed due to security risks, as well as associated costs, and has remained so for nearly 10 years.
In 2008, multiple divisions across the Bureau joined forces to convert the “tour” to create a modern education center to educate new employees and our numerous partners (local, state, tribal, and international law enforcement, federal agencies, Congress and others) with an understanding of the Bureau and its unique national security and law enforcement mission. The new Education Center would give visitors a rare inside look into the FBI’s vital role in protecting the United States and Americans overseas from those who would do us harm.
On August 25, 2014, the FBI launched a partner-public pilot program that opens the FBI Education Center to the public to tell our story through an historical perspective, and outline our many capabilities and future direction. During this pilot program, the public can request a visit to The Education Center by writing and arranging the visit through their respective Congressional office.
The Education Center is open Monday through Thursday during normal business hours.
The FBI requires 3 to 4 weeks advance notice from Congressional offices prior to your visit. The visit itself will take two hours and you should arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled visit."
"The FBI tour was the public face of the FBI since 1937 when FBI Headquarters was located in the Department of Justice building. In 1975, the J. Edgar Hoover building was opened to house Headquarters and the tour became a significant component of the new building. Following the events of September 11, 2001, the tour was closed due to security risks, as well as associated costs, and has remained so for nearly 10 years.
In 2008, multiple divisions across the Bureau joined forces to convert the “tour” to create a modern education center to educate new employees and our numerous partners (local, state, tribal, and international law enforcement, federal agencies, Congress and others) with an understanding of the Bureau and its unique national security and law enforcement mission. The new Education Center would give visitors a rare inside look into the FBI’s vital role in protecting the United States and Americans overseas from those who would do us harm.
On August 25, 2014, the FBI launched a partner-public pilot program that opens the FBI Education Center to the public to tell our story through an historical perspective, and outline our many capabilities and future direction. During this pilot program, the public can request a visit to The Education Center by writing and arranging the visit through their respective Congressional office.
The Education Center is open Monday through Thursday during normal business hours.
The FBI requires 3 to 4 weeks advance notice from Congressional offices prior to your visit. The visit itself will take two hours and you should arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled visit."
Written September 14, 2014
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.
Nathan W
Anchorage, AK17 contributions
Jun 2018
This was really cool! I booked a tour of the FBI not really sure what the tour would encompass. I was blown away! You enter through the actual J. Edgar Hoover FBI building (agents are working out or just going about their business) and then you and your group are escorted through a small portion of the FBI building to the interactive, self-guided tour.
The tour is really unique, it shows displays of agents in training, and talks about the training they have to go through. It has displays of famous evidence (boat from the Boston Marathon Bombing) and interactive exhibits based on typical FBI duties (evidence collection, bank heists, hostage situations, etc.). I enjoyed it myself but I’d highly recommend it for families with little kids; there were a bunch running around and they looked like they were having a blast. My favorite part is that the tour guides were both retired agents and other active duty agents kept popping into the tour to talk and answer questions. We even got to see agents qualifying with their handguns.
The tour is really unique, it shows displays of agents in training, and talks about the training they have to go through. It has displays of famous evidence (boat from the Boston Marathon Bombing) and interactive exhibits based on typical FBI duties (evidence collection, bank heists, hostage situations, etc.). I enjoyed it myself but I’d highly recommend it for families with little kids; there were a bunch running around and they looked like they were having a blast. My favorite part is that the tour guides were both retired agents and other active duty agents kept popping into the tour to talk and answer questions. We even got to see agents qualifying with their handguns.
Written June 26, 2018
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.
phale24
Doylestown, PA44 contributions
Dec 2019
Firstly, you'll need to contact your congressional representative to obtain invitations and then be cleared for the visit so plan ahead. There is no cost and there is even a little FBI experience gift shop you visit before starting the mostly self-guided tour. The guides are very happy to engage in any topic that comes up. Should you have Jon, stick with him as he was a veritable encyclopedia of information and was keen to discuss some of the more arcane bits of the history. You can spend 25 minutes or 2 hours (we did the latter) and enjoyed every bit. They have an intriguing number of artifacts from various cases from the very early days all the way through the Boston marathon bombings. It's designed for smaller groups so make the most of the time.
Written December 12, 2019
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.
Taylor
Alexandria, VA3 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
The FBI building recently reopened its tour. From 2014-2016, they had the "FBI Education Center", which was something of a pilot program for re-opening the FBI tour. They closed this about a year ago for renovations, and have now reopened and re-branded it as "The FBI Experience".
I enjoyed the tour. It's mostly a self-guided tour through a 14,000 sq ft museum featuring several exhibits, short movies, etc., with several staff members hovering around your group to answer questions. They have some interesting artifacts, as well as fun exhibits for kids and myself. My favorite exhibit consisted of a room with 2 TV's where you could see the live feed from two hidden cameras in the next room; you then go into that room and try to find the cameras (hint: it's impossibly difficult). I would say generally the target audience is probably 8+.
General tips/info:
* You basically can't have any bags with you (backpacks, purses, camera bags, etc.), though we were admitted with an Ergo baby carrier/wrap. Strollers, food/drink, weapons, etc. are also prohibited.
* You CAN bring a camera, but no video recording is permitted.
* We acquired tickets from our local congressional representative (you should request them at least 1 month in advance of your tour).
* The gift shop is at the beginning of the tour. After the tour, you cannot get back to the gift shop!
I enjoyed the tour. It's mostly a self-guided tour through a 14,000 sq ft museum featuring several exhibits, short movies, etc., with several staff members hovering around your group to answer questions. They have some interesting artifacts, as well as fun exhibits for kids and myself. My favorite exhibit consisted of a room with 2 TV's where you could see the live feed from two hidden cameras in the next room; you then go into that room and try to find the cameras (hint: it's impossibly difficult). I would say generally the target audience is probably 8+.
General tips/info:
* You basically can't have any bags with you (backpacks, purses, camera bags, etc.), though we were admitted with an Ergo baby carrier/wrap. Strollers, food/drink, weapons, etc. are also prohibited.
* You CAN bring a camera, but no video recording is permitted.
* We acquired tickets from our local congressional representative (you should request them at least 1 month in advance of your tour).
* The gift shop is at the beginning of the tour. After the tour, you cannot get back to the gift shop!
Written July 10, 2017
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.
susan2909
Aberdeen, UK1,196 contributions
Jun 2019 • Friends
we just walked past, no idea on how to get a visit/tour. But, its quite cool (to me) to just have the FBI office right there on the street, no guarding fence wall etc.
Written July 9, 2019
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.
boulder78
Pocatello, ID8 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
Great space that ha definitely been updated from what was there years back. Very professionally done with easy to navigate displays. It was a little much for a 2 y/o old, but the working NYPD cruiser that you could sit in was his highlight! Pictures were allowed inside the tour as long as wifi and Bluetooth were turned off. My nightlight was getting a picture behind Hoover's actual desk!!! There was also a really thoughtful 9/11 portion...
Final surprise was the boat from Boston that the Boston bomber was caught in!!
Great tour, but be sure to buy the FBI swag in the gift shop before the tour!
Final surprise was the boat from Boston that the Boston bomber was caught in!!
Great tour, but be sure to buy the FBI swag in the gift shop before the tour!
Written July 15, 2017
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.
gmaj_05
Jesup, GA499 contributions
Apr 2016 • Family
My family recently got a tour of this building through our congressional office. We had to jump through all sorts of security hoops to get in.... standard screening, ID check, no bags, no cameras allowed, etc. I was quite disappointed to learn that all you actually tour is the "educational center" in a different building. It is just a lot of exhibits about crimes that the FBI has been involved with investigating. Our tour guide was less than knowledgeable about many of these artifacts and gave some incorrect information at times. The artifacts themselves were interesting but not worth the security it took to get in the building. I spent the entire day with no camera because of this tour..... I don't get it. Also, there was no live fire demonstration as the gun range is under repair. I guess I'm glad I did this to say that I have been there, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you have lots of extra time. The tour took two hours.
Written April 13, 2016
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.
Arden M
Easton, Pennsylvania
Where is the best place to park when touring the FBI experience?
Written July 25, 2019
Can't answer as we took the train to DC and got around by foot or Metro. Maybe park in Arlington and take the Metro into DC -- the traffic near all the main sights is very heavy. The Metro was fun and you can get prepaid cards by going to their web site.
Hope that helps a little.
Written July 26, 2019
The tour lasts 1 1/2 - 2 hours. However, you are basically on your own to spend as much time as you want in any location on the tour. Tour guides are available for questions in all areas. You go in groups of about 15-20 people. The tours are at various times during the day. We had to provide our names, date of birth, etc. about a month before the tour to get cleared. You need to bring your ID (drivers license) or for children (birth certificate). It is well worth the visit
Written June 7, 2019
We will be visiting the FBI experience and will be spending the day sightseeing with our double stroller. Is there an area to leave our stroller during the tour? Or should be avoid that? Trying to plan out as best we can. Also, what about a diaper bag? Is there a place we can safely leave that for the tour?
Written March 12, 2019
i believe the answers above are good advice. If you need to get rid of garbage, there are garbage cans on pennsylvania avenue, but not on the block of the FBI building, i had 3 children with me, and i got rid of garbage before i went in. probably, they would allow clean diapers, but the stroller is a problem.
Written March 13, 2019
Can International visitors (from Australia) access this museum?
Written December 8, 2018
According to the f b I experience web site, all visitors must be u s citizens, or have a valid green card. Unfortunately, non u s citizens are not eligible for the f b I tour, as of December 2018. You might be interested in taking a tour of the pentagon building, it is currently open to non u s citizens, you need a valid passport, make reservations at least 14 days in advance, preferably 90 days if possible, they will confirm shortly before the scheduled visit. See reviews for the pentagon and the pentagon tours website for details.
Written December 10, 2018
So what do you actually tour here?
Written August 23, 2018
Besides touring and hearing actual stories about the FBI’s workings, we sat and watched actual candidates test on the shooting range. One will better appreciate and understand how they protect us every moment of every day.
Written August 24, 2018
If you are scheduling the FBI Experience tour through your congress man/woman should you be expected to fill out a spreadsheet with all your person information such as your social security number? If so what other ways can I give the Social Security and make sure that the person I am giving it to is really part of the staff. Also how do I know that I have a secure date if my congress man/woman has not told me a specific date. Please let me know ASAP. Thank you!
Written June 20, 2018
Can you take small external battery packs into the FBI Tour? Since we can't take hardly anything at all in, but what fits in our pockets, can we also take those small external cell phone battery chargers? I could never find anywhere that is says you can't! I hate to take it and then it get turned away or denied entry and I have to trash it or leave it somewhere. I need to know ASAP if at all possible as we have our tour tomorrow morning. THANKS! :)
Written June 15, 2018
I don't remember see that either on the list but i was worried about taking ours on the plane to DC but didn't have an issue. With the FBI i wouldn't take it just to be safe, we were turned away because of the over 16 without a ID. The FBI was the only tour we were turned away because our son didn't have an ID, we made to The Pentagon and The White House tours with no issues.
Written June 15, 2018
How long does the tour/FBI Experience generally take? I'm trying to adequately plan my day before and after our scheduled tour. Thanks!
Written April 12, 2018
We were there for about 2.5 hours
Written April 26, 2018
We are going to visit the FBI Bldg. next month, and I was wondering if you can use any photo I.D. or does if have to be a government-issued I.D.? We have some students who are teenagers who don't have a driver's license yet.
Thanks.
Ron Williams
Written March 20, 2018
We just went with our 3 kids age 10-13 and no ID was required for the kids.
Written March 21, 2018
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