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15 Best Smithsonian & DC Museum Tours

The museum tours: Natural History, Air and Space and the Archives’ founding documents, with guides who route around the queues. Free museums still cost time; these spend it well.

1.Best of DC Plus US Capitol and National Archives Reserved Entry

Discover Washington DC's top sites with reserved Capitol entry, expert guides, and scenic views, all in one comprehensive day tour designed for convenience and depth.

Most Popular★ 4.5

“Comprehensive, fun and the guide and driver are funny and helpful, always cracking up jokes😂. Sorry, forgot their names but they made the tour easier and comfortable. 👍👌”

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2.Guided African American History Tour with Reserved Museum Entry

Explore Washington DC’s African American history on a 3.5-hour guided tour, visiting key landmarks and enjoying reserved entry to the Smithsonian museum.

★ 4.5

“Dre was our guide. Very cool guy, super knowledgeable about Black American history, Washington DC, and the interconnectedness of both. Unfortunately, because of the government shutdown, we were unable to go to the Museum, but Dre made up for that with a drive-by tour of…”

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3.Washington DC: Museum of the Bible General Admission

Discover the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, with early access, engaging exhibits, and artifacts spanning 3,500 years—perfect for history and faith enthusiasts alike.

★ 4.8

“It exceeded my expectations! I was concerned my teenaged grandson would be bored, but he was captivated, not only by the interactive dramatizations, but also by the artifacts. We'd like to visit this museum again!”

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4.Smithsonian Museum of Natural History – Exclusive Guided Tour

Discover the Smithsonian Natural History Museum with a private or small-group guided tour, exploring iconic exhibits like the Hope Diamond and Egyptian mummies, in just 2 hours.

★ 5.0

“The museum has a lot of interesting exhibits. Our tour guide, Brenda did an amazing job walking us thru the geology and gems, mummies, dinosaurs and mammal sections. She was very knowledgeable and helped us maximize our experience by navigating the crowds. Really appreciated her…”

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5.African American History Tour with Museum of African American History Ticket

Discover Washington DC’s African American history on a 3.5-hour small-group tour, visiting key landmarks and ending at the National Museum of African American History & Culture.

★ 4.5

“One of the highlights of my visit to the museum was definitely the one-hour tour on C2. Our tour guide was a treasure trove of knowledge, captivating us with fascinating stories that brought history to life. Each tale was more intriguing than the last, making…”

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6.Skip-the-line National Archives Building Exclusive Guided Tour

Discover the National Archives in Washington DC with a private, skip-the-line guided tour. See original founding documents and enjoy expert insights.

★ 5.0

“Ryan was incredibly knowledgeable and just a pleasure to be with. We couldn’t stump him with any odd question and his familiarity with DC as a whole is equally impressive. Highly recommend!”

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8.Washington, DC: African American History Tour & Museum Entry

Explore African American history in Washington, DC, with a guided bus tour, landmarks, and reserved museum entry for an insightful, balanced experience.

★ 4.9

“The tour was outstanding! Our tour guide Elvis disseminated the information with knowledge and ease. The information about African American people in Washington DC was so very interesting. We learned so much from Elvis. You could tell that Elvis is very knowledgeable and he loves…”

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10.Smithsonian Museum of American History Exclusive Guided Tour

Experience the Smithsonian American History Museum with a private guide. Highlights, personalized attention, and flexible timing make this tour ideal for short visits.

★ 5.0

“I think Leigh explained everything very well and was a great story teller. I loved every exhibit! Thank you Leigh!”

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11.Museum of the Bible Admission Ticket

Discover the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C. with this detailed review. Learn about exhibits, interactive experiences, and tips for an enriching visit.

★ 4.5

“It’s a great museum! Give yourself three hours. Really worth it. There’s so much to experience at the Bible museum.”

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12.The Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum Exclusive Guided Tour

Discover the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum with a guided tour that offers insider stories, highlights like moon rocks and historic aircraft, and a personalized experience for space enthusiasts.

★ 5.0

“Air and Space Museum Tour Review with Rebecca If you’re planning a visit to the Air and Space Museum, make sure you take the guided tour — and if you’re lucky enough to have Rebecca as your guide, you’re in for a phenomenal experience. From…”

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13.#1 National Archives Tour | Satisfaction Guaranteed! | 6ppl Max

Discover the secrets of American history with this small-group tour of the National Archives, highlighting iconic documents and stories beyond the guidebooks.

★ 5.0

“Richard was an exceptional guide. We could not have had a more wonderful time at the National Archives. Highly recommended!”

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14.#1 Smithsonian Museum of Natural History | Satisfaction Guarantee

Discover Washington DC's Natural History Museum with a guided small-group tour. See the Hope Diamond, ancient mummies, and more in an intimate setting.

★ 5.0

“Brenda's knowledge of the museum was awesome! The oddities, Hope diamond, and T-Rex were major highlights, but Brenda made it all worthwhile.”

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15.The National Gallery of Art DC – Exclusive Guided Museum Tour

Discover the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC with a private guided tour. See masterpieces by Monet, Van Gogh, and da Vinci in an engaging, personalized experience.

★ 5.0

“Leigh was a fantastic guide. Her expertise in, and love of art of every period is immediately apparent. She believes that the history of art reflects the development of human society. I agree. We live in interesting times. An appreciation of art history and it’s…”

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More Smithsonian & DC Museum Tours

4.1Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Guided Tour2 hours$75 4.6Washington DC: Walking Tour and African American Museum3 hours$80 5.0#1 Smithsonian National Air & Space Tour | Satisfaction Guarantee2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)$89.67 5.0#1 Smithsonian American History Museum | Satisfaction Guaranteed!2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)$89.67 5.0National Archives Skip-The-Line Tour with Optional Museum Add-On1 hour (approx.)$59.00 4.6Washington DC: National Archives and US Capitol Guided Tour$53 4.8DC: Smithsonian Highlights Walking Tour with Air and Space3 hours$79 4.8Smithsonian Air & Space Museum Guided Tour 8ppl Max2.5 hours$95 5.0National Archives Skip-the-Line Guided Tour1 hour (approx.)$59.00 5.0#1 National Archives + American History Museum Guided Tour5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)$166.15 4.9National Archives Skip the Line Tour Semi-Private 6ppl Max2 hours$111 5.0Smithsonian Natural History + Air & Space Museum – Exclusive Tour5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)$166.15 5.0#1 Smithsonian Natural History + Air & Space Guided Museum Tour5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)$166.15 4.7Washington DC: African American History Museum Private Tour2 hours$350 4.5Two Smithsonian Museums Private Tour: American & Natural History3 hours (approx.)$185.00 4.5Skip the Line National Archives and US Capitol Tour$53.00 4.5Washington DC: Bus Tour with US Capitol and Archives Access8 hours - 510 minutes$129 5.0National Archives + American History Museum Exclusive Guided Tour5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)$166.15 4.7DC: Skip the Line National Archives & Optional Museum Add-On$49 4.7DC: National Archives Skip-the-Line Semi-Private Tour1 hour$59 4.9Smithsonian Natural History Museum Tour Semi-Private 8ppl2.5 hours$95 4.5DC Walking Tour with Reserved Ticket for the African American Museum2 hours (approx.)$80.00 5.0#1 Smithsonian Natural History + American History Museum Tour5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)$166.15 5.0#1 National Archives + National Portrait Gallery Guided Tour5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)$166.15