Washington DC Highlights, 1-Day Tour from NYC
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Explore beyond the Big Apple with a full-day tour to Washington DC from New York City. You'll capture the spirit of "the home of the brave and land of the free" as you visit the monuments and memorials of Washington DC.
Help create a better planet for everyone to travel and explore. We have partnered with One Tree Planted to plant one tree for every passenger that travels with us along with an extra tree for anyone that books multiple trips.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Wheelchair accessible; please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required
Depending on the rules on the day, sometimes a stop can be made for photographs from outside the fence
Time at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is approximately 1.5-hours
For tours with fewer guests, vans may be substituted - wifi and restrooms on full size buses only.
Tours can be bilingual/multilingual as they are offered in many different languages
Children under the age of 2 are free, please advise at time of booking if infant is traveling
Due to security, there is no entry to the White House
Due to security a passport or U.S. ID will be required to enter Arlington Cemetery
Air and space Museum is currently under renovations - entrance is not guaranteed
What To Expect
Empire Vacations Day Tours - New York
Departing from New York and heading south, pass through the states of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland before arriving at Washington DC's Capitol Hill. Here, your tour will start with a stop at Arlington Cemetery to visit JFK's gravesite. Next, head further into Washington to see the Capitol, Senate, and White House, the heart of the US government. Your tour then continues to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum before visiting the Washington, Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean Memorials for exploration and pictures. Late in the afternoon, you'll embark on a panoramic city tour before departing Washington for an early-evening arrival back in New York City. Please Note: This tour is scheduled to stop in front of the White House, Capitol, and Senate for commentary and photo ops. However, please note that sometimes this is not possible due to security issues. In the event of this occurring, your tour will be adjusted accordingly.
Arlington National Cemetery
Veterans of every American war from the Revolution to the country's most recent conflicts are buried at Arlington, which was officially declared a military cemetery in 1864. Among the more than 260,000 dead are three unidentified service members, buried at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and John F. Kennedy, whose gravesite is marked by an eternal flame. Due to security a passport or U.S. ID will be required to enter Arlington Cemetery
Options
Washington DC Tour in German
Washington DC Tour in Spanish
Washington DC Tour in Italian
Washington DC Tour in English
Washington DC Tour in French
Washington DC tour in Japanese
What‘s Included
Entrance to Arlington National cemetery (U.S. ID or Passport required) & Air and Space Museum
Free Wi-Fi on bus only
Transportation by 15-passenger van or a full-sized bus
Air-conditioned vehicle
Restroom on board
Professional tour guide
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
2,703 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Could be improved
Karen R,Jun 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00It was mostly ok but the whole trip took nearly 15 hours & we still didn’t get to see the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial which was listed as one of our stops. Also did not like that it was bilingual.
Great tour to Washington with Sharon
Agata M,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing Washington D.C. tour! Visiting the White House, the Capitol, and the Lincoln Memorial was a fantastic experience. Everything was well organized, and there was plenty of time to enjoy the sights. A special thank you to Sharon, who was an excellent guide. She shared many interesting facts and stories, making the tour both educational and enjoyable. Her enthusiasm and knowledge made the experience even better. Highly recommended!
From NYC to DC in a Day!
Eric M,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Suley (host) was informative & attentive to the 30 of us customers. He professionalism was appreciated. The tour itinerary was comprehensive for the time allocated for the day. A suggestion, I typically travel without cash. Allowing your hosts to offer digital tip options (Venmo, Zelle, Apple Pay) would be convenient for both parties. Thanks again Suley!
Incredible 1-day trip!...
Darshan S,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Incredible 1-day trip! Efficient pacing, spectacular sights, and great guides. Highly recommend! Great experience.
Great Tour, Great Guide, Great Experience
marmon09,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great experience on this tour in Washington, DC. Everything was very well organized, and the schedule was respected throughout the day. Our guide, Dominique, was excellent: knowledgeable, professional, and always attentive to the group’s needs. She answered all our questions with enthusiasm and provided interesting insights about the city and its history. His friendly attitude and attention to detail made the experience even more enjoyable. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Washington, DC!
Great way to see the capital!
Andy G,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great way to see all of the key sites in Washington DC, my particular highlight was the Lincoln Memorial. Granted the 4 hour journey there and back on the bus is long but our guide, Ulrika, told us a lot on the way to DC.
Must do!!!!
Adriana C,Jun 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience with the family, Yuriya was very knowledgeable and Herbie the driver was the best and super friendly.
Proud with new mind
791hanid,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It deserves the big efforts to make it
Washington Tour
massimilianopE2864BG,Jun 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Beautiful tour, and the guide Redi was exceptionally skilled.
Old Bus, no WiFi as advertised and to many language has been translated
Stay10988936317,Jun 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00The bus we had was really old, when we got to the first location, you could clearly see as was the oldest bus out of about 30 buses stop there and the Wi-Fi did not work. The tour guide had to translate as they had booked groups for different countries so he would finish English and then do Italian and someone else would start in Spanish. It was really overwhelming as they just kept talking and talking and talking they need to have different buses for different countries.
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