Historical Tours
1–2 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$58
per adult
Big Bus Tours
Big Bus Tours
3.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Full view
About
The open-top deck of a Big Bus tour is the best way to see Washington DC. Sit back and relax as you are transported passed the iconic landmarks that make America's Capital so recognizable and special. Our sightseeing tours are designed to provide a flexible approach to city discovery. Your hop-on, hop-off ticket provides you the freedom to get off the bus to explore and visit attractions. Buses run regularly so re-joining the tour is easy. Purchase a combo ticket to experience the Nation's Capital at night. The Night Tour and the day time hop-on, hop-off are two different experiences as the Night Tour incorporates photo stops and expands our reach into Arlington, VA and Georgetown.
Tours and Tickets by Big Bus Tours
Audio Guides
2 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$54
per adult
Travelers talk about
(1,127 reviews)
(488 reviews)
(221 reviews)
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
7,504 reviews
Excellent
3,261
Very good
1,522
Average
752
Poor
752
Terrible
1,218
Naina-Damani
London, UK1,032 contributions
Jun 2019
Hop on, hop off tours with open-top deck of a Big Bus is the best way to see this great city. It is essential to get a 2 or 3 day pass, so you can sit back and relax and enjoy all the iconic architecture. The first day the bus was on time and on the second day the bus was an hour late, which was extremely disappointing.
Written May 23, 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.
Kelly
Georgia164 contributions
Jul 2021 • Friends
Big Bus is a great way to get around to the city. It stops at most of the big sites like the Washington Monument and Arlington Cemetary.
They provide headphones if you want to listen to a pre-recorded tour. They also provide rain ponchos which ended up being very helpful.
I recommend getting a seat on top of the bus because the AC inside isn’t strong so the interior can get stuffy.
You will need to redeem your tickets at the Spy Museum.
They have an App to check the location of the closest bus and where the stops are located.
The only complaint I have was not knowing there would be closed stops due to road closures. I didn’t see the website updated to reflect this.
They provide headphones if you want to listen to a pre-recorded tour. They also provide rain ponchos which ended up being very helpful.
I recommend getting a seat on top of the bus because the AC inside isn’t strong so the interior can get stuffy.
You will need to redeem your tickets at the Spy Museum.
They have an App to check the location of the closest bus and where the stops are located.
The only complaint I have was not knowing there would be closed stops due to road closures. I didn’t see the website updated to reflect this.
Written July 5, 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.
Pioneer55569874446
Thank you for the honest feedback. We do our best to provide guests with the resources they need to experience the city in a fresh and exciting way. Road closures can happen very quickly. We appreciate the time you have taken to provide this informative review. Please refer us to family and friends. Thank you!
Written July 6, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RosesintheDesert
Indio, CA51 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
First af all, the drivers did their job very well. However, the mechanics failed miserably in not making sure that the A/C was working properly if at all. We had a moon appointment to see the White House. That was stop #12. For 1 1/2 hours sitting.in a metal box with NO A/C! Totally unacceptable!
Written July 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.
James K, thank you for leaving us feedback. We are disappointed to hear that your experience was not a positive one. We would like an opportunity to make this up to you. If you are willing, please reach out to us at infodc@bigbustours.com so we can work towards a resolution.
Written July 19, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sally-Ann C
Melbourne, Australia83 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
We purchased the two day pass, first day we completed the red loop taking note of all the monuments and museums we really wanted to hop off at. You get several close up views of the Washington monument on this bus so unless you’re desperate to take the ride to the top I probably wouldn’t get off at this stop. However the African American museum is also accessible from here so maybe do get off and visit that.
We found the guides were a little hit and miss. Or first guide seemed really disinterested, however he hopped off at union station and Pamela hopped on. What an amazing lady - insightful, lots of interesting facts and incredibly friendly. Darius was another fabulous guide he was genuinely interested in ensuring guests were given interesting facts and details about each of the buildings or sights as you drive past.
This is a great way to see the monuments and there’s plenty of time for you to hop off the bus at your selected stops (buses arrive every 30 mins at each stop).
We used this service in January so it was cold up top, but not uncomfortable. We had a little rain so the seats were wet - ponchos are provided free of charge. Well worth the cost of a ticket.
We found the guides were a little hit and miss. Or first guide seemed really disinterested, however he hopped off at union station and Pamela hopped on. What an amazing lady - insightful, lots of interesting facts and incredibly friendly. Darius was another fabulous guide he was genuinely interested in ensuring guests were given interesting facts and details about each of the buildings or sights as you drive past.
This is a great way to see the monuments and there’s plenty of time for you to hop off the bus at your selected stops (buses arrive every 30 mins at each stop).
We used this service in January so it was cold up top, but not uncomfortable. We had a little rain so the seats were wet - ponchos are provided free of charge. Well worth the cost of a ticket.
Written January 5, 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.
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for allowing Big Bus Tours to provide you with a great touring experience. I will be sure to pass along your fine accolades to Pam and the rest of the staff. We are happy you were able to enjoy our tours and hope you can find time to tour again. If so, please hold onto your tickets to receive 10% off your next purchase.
Best Wishes,
Martavia
Written January 5, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Farah M
2 contributions
Apr 2021
DO NOT book this company online or in advance. We used BIG BUS in Dubai and Muscat last year and initially were impressed. We pre paid tickets for our next stop in Abu Dhabi. Big mistake. Covid forced us to return home. I contacted the company and they were initially very amicable. They did not offer a refund which was understandable under the circumstances but they DID give me a credit. Gave me a reference code and told me I could use the unused tickets towards our next BIG BUS tour. They tell you to contact them a few days before your trip. The minute you let them know you want to use the tickets, they stop responding. Obviously, the reference they give you is to red flag your request so that they can ghost you. Their "chat" line gives you the run around and the e-mails go unanswered. DO NOT PRE-PAY ANY OF YOUR TICKETS. They do not give you credit or refunds. I would have much rather they had just immediately told me my Muscat tickets were null and void instead of them wasting a lot of my time with the pretense that they were actually going to honor their end of the transaction. I was actually going to use the credit for a more expensive package, therefore they would have still profited if they had been ethical. Instead, they have lost a customer forever and I will make sure my review is posted on every travel site.
Written May 3, 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.
We are sorry for your experience. Our chat lines and customer service platform remain open.
Written June 3, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mrscowdoc
Elizabethtown24 contributions
Mar 2021
Be aware - These buses only come to each stop once an hour and they really do not run on schedule most of the day. The recorded audio wasn't great. As we passed by Ford's Theater, the audio was telling us about using the Metro system and to please tip our bus driver. At the stop closest to the White House the audio said to get off here to and walk a short block to see the White House. We got off only to find that the street in front of the White House was still closed due to the capitol riots. The bus driver said nothing as we exited to warn us that the street was closed. Once off the bus, you're stuck there for an hour, or you can walk back. So - we walked, which defeated the purpose of purchasing the tickets. We ended up walking to all of the monuments, only using the bus at the end of the day to get back to L'enfant Plaza where we parked. I only recommend using this bus if you plan to get on and ride the route without getting off. It is not user friendly for hop on hop off purposes. The app is also not helpful. The blue bus appeared as a red bus on the screen. We literally ran to it at one stop, only to find out it was a blue bus and would be sitting at that location for an hour until the next red bus arrived. Honestly, trying to use the buses added to the stress of the day and we regretted purchasing the tickets.
Written March 22, 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.
It is clear this day was very stressful. We apologize for not meeting your expectations. Please reach out to us via the chat on our website and app. Mention the Tripadvisor review. We would love to discuss this with you directly in order to make amends for a difficult day. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
Written June 3, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Janine
2 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
I purchased 7 tickets for a tour in DC. The bus broke down and we had to wait for a new one to come. By the time the bus came it was late and we missed the last bus leaving union station. We were unable to complete a full loop of the city. The employees on the bus told us that we should request a refund. I requested the refund 5 weeks ago by filling out the online form and attaching a picture of the purchased tickets. There was no response or email confirmation. Every time I call, I’m told that there is nobody I can speak to, I need to wait. They can’t tell me the status of my request or in fact, give me ANY information. This is the WORST company. How can you not have a customer service division? The only thing they can do is take your money. They send me advertisement emails, but nothing concerning my personal case.
Written February 2, 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.
Hello. My apologies for the delay as we have been having a few issues with our online refund service. If you could please respond back to Infodc@bigbustours.com with your name and ticket number, I will personally look into this matter for you. My name is Tiffany and I am the Front Office Manager.
Written February 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Otis
Long Beach, NC3 contributions
Aug 2020
I purchased a ticket direct from their app. The app didn’t mention when I purchased the ticket or while using it that their buses only run Fri-Mon. BigBus tours would not refund my unused ticket. They extended the validity which is effectively useless to me. Based on this experience I would be surprised if their company is still in business next year. Highly recommend a different service.
Written August 20, 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.
Lisa M
1 contribution
Nov 2022 • Friends
Jessica and Ramaro were awesome. We had a group of 20 and they were Very responsive and answered any questions we had in a timely manner. Ramaro even walked to meet me so my group did not get lost. I highly recommend this company if you want to do a hop on hop off tour of Washington DC!
Written November 26, 2022
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.
Hi U7007nrlisam, thank you for taking the time to leave a review for us at Big Bus Tours Washington D.C.. We're happy we could meet your expectations! Please don't hesitate to reach out if there's anything additional we can do for you.
Written November 28, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael G
West Palm Beach, FL1 contribution
Nov 2022 • Couples
I enjoyed the tour around DC because the Big Bus has allowed us to see the major museums, memorials, the Washington Monument, the Capital, etc. Ramaro who works for the Big Bus provided great customer service and he answered all of our questions about the DC area. He was very polite, knowledgeable and helpful which made our experience on the Big Bus memorable.
Written November 21, 2022
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.
J9834bzmichaelg, we strive for 100% satisfaction, and it is great to see you had such a positive experience at Big Bus Tours Washington D.C. We're happy you found our staff to be so supportive during your experience visit. Thanks again for taking the time to leave us this information about your recent visit. Take care!
Written November 24, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lucia
Lexington, MA
Hi, I bought tickets from groupon for the 48 hr NYC tour. How can I redeem the tickets?
where is best to park if we want to take the tour
Michael R
Washington DC, DC
You can park at stop 1. There is street parking as well as a parking garage underneath the plaza. L'Enfant Plaza.
I was charged for 4 tickets and I only bought 2. How do we correct this
retirednold
sinclairville n.y.211 contributions
or challenge it with your credit card co
LJP55
Marshall, MI37 contributions
We bought night tour tickets for August 6, 2021 and the tickets say the tour starts at 7 pm. There is no information on the ticket or your website about where we get on the bus.
WHERE do we get on the night tour bus?
Linda - Michigan
Natalia Z
Asuncion, Paraguay75 contributions
Hola viajeros quisiera saber si cuanto tiempo vale el tour de 1 día, es decir si lo empiezo a usar al medio día del día 1 puedo usarlo al día siguiente hasta cumplir las 24hs?
Gracias
Hi Natalia,
The one-day tickets are valid for one business day.
catriona47s
Edinburgh, UK23 contributions
Do you need to Orr book place on night tour
P H
37 contributions
It’s better if you book in advance. But you should be able to book at their counter at union station office on the same day.
davolitribe
Melbourne, Australia93 contributions
Today I purchased 4 tickets to go on the WDC Big Bus from a BB attendant. My daughter is in a small wheelchair but can walk short distances and he clearly saw her and let us purchase the tickets at over $200 USD. The next attendant allowed us to board the bus. Once we were on the bus a new BB attendant started telling us “ You cannot bring that wheelchair in this bus”. I asked politely no one had advised us if this and he said “ok, but you cannot bring that wheelchair in this bus”. I asked what do we do now? He said you have to get on a different Bus. We were confused as we didn’t understand what he meant by “different” bus? He started to get agitated as we were delaying other passengers. He started to really tell us we had to get off! I think this name was Rodney. It got very stressful but thankfully Steve the Tour Guide got involved and asked Rodney to call management and get approval to stay on board. Steve thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Without you Rodney would have kicked us off and made my daughter feel less like a part of the human race than she does already. Rodney you ruined our day. We were shaken and my daughter keeps asking why you wanted her not to get on your bus. Thanks for your total lack of understanding. If your company is decent they would suggest a refund for my family.
JamesMichael2018
41 contributions
I would recommend you file a complaint with your credit card company, if they were unable to provide you with service.
L inscription en ligne prends tu temps
Michel L
Gerzat, France82 contributions
Non. 3 minutes. Mais si vous comptez visiter plusieurs sites, il vaut mieux prendre le pass.
Big Bus Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
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