Many of Washington, DC's main attractions are conveniently located within walking distance of each other and there are several tours that guide visitors through them with local knowledge and historical context. Many of the walking tours offered by companies in DC are free and rely solely on tips. The tours usually meet in the downtown area and the starting points are easily accessible from the downtown area hotels. One such tour is DC by Foot which meets on 15th and Constitution in downtown DC just a few blocks from The Willard International, The W Washington DC and The JW Marriot. The DC by Foot Tour gives visitors facts and history about the major monuments and some fun not so known facts.
The Bi-Partisan Tour Company also offers free tours of the monuments, the Georgetown neighborhood and tours of the cherry blossoms in bloom. Other companies with both paid and free walking tours include Washington Walks and Walk of the Town.
Sightseeing by bus allows visitors to experience more of the city and can be more comfortable in the hot and humid summer months. The Washington DC Hop On Hop Off double-decker bus takes visitors through the entire downtown area including in the National Gallery of Art, Spy Museum, Capitol, the monuments and then over to the Arlington National Cemetery and back to DC. As the bus makes its loop through the town, riders may get on and off the bus at their points of interest. The bus makes stops at downtown hotels like the Washington Hilton Hotel, Four Seasons Hotel and the Hyatt Hotel.
The Old Town Trolley tour has three routes including downtown DC and the monuments, the Arlington Cemetery and The National Cathedral/Georgetown neighborhood. The trolley makes frequent stops, and riders may get on and off as many times as they like. The company also provides free shuttle service to the trolley starting point from many DC hotels such as the Capitol Hilton, Hyatt Regency, DC Renaissance and many others as well as select hotels in Alexandria and Arlington, Virgina. The Tourmobile, Grey Line Tours and City Sightseeing offer similar bus tours.
If you are aiming to get around a little faster than walking, Bike and Roll offers bike tours of downtown DC and the monuments. The tour gives visitors the chance to stop and look around at each stop while the guide explains the sights and also helpful tips for tourists about the neighborhoods. The company also offer a bike by night tour as well as an old town Alexandria, Virginia tour.
The City Segway tour is also another way to move quickly through the sights. The tour covers the National Mall and monuments from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial. The tour leaves from downtown DC blocks from the Hotel Monaco and the Marriott Metro Center.
Many of DC's monuments are visible from the Potomac River, and what better way to see them but on a relaxing cruise. Day and night, there are several companies that cruise the Potomac river, giving visitor another perspective of Washington DC's sights. The Potomac Riverboat Company runs tours from Alexandria and Georgetown. Visitors have a view of the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial.
The DC Ducks tour covers the monuments from land and sea as it tours downtown DC and then returns by way of the Potomac River. While still giving tourist information, the tour prides itself on having fun and joking the whole ride. DC Cruises and Capitol River Cruises offer similar sightseeing tours.
