Washington Dc

15 Best Smithsonian & DC 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

“The ending location of the tour is far from the start location if you plan to park a vehicle near the initial start location. You don't want to have to walk from the National Archives back up to the front of the Capital Building. It…”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“Elvis was our tour guide and he was amazing. Very knowledgeable. The tour was a little over 3 hours but it didn’t feel like a long tour. I highly recommend even for families with teenagers; everyone will learn something. Thank you, Elvis!”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“Christopher was wonderful. I learned so much and the 2 1/2 hour tour went very quickly. I would love to repeat this tour or book him for other museums as he is a wealth of knowledge. Learned much more from him pointing out specific/special exhibits/information…”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“I learned a lot about the history and contributions of many prominent African American figures in the D.C. area. The museum is incredible with so much to see, read, hear and learn.”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

9.Smithsonian Highlights Walking Tour w/ Reserved Air & Space Entry

Discover Washington DC’s top museums with this guided tour, including reserved Air & Space Museum entry, highlighting key exhibits in a 3-hour adventure.

★ 5.0

“Christine was thorough about not just the museums, but provided so many interesting insights about the history of DC and the current setting. Would highly recommend this tour.”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“Meribeth was an excellent tour guide and provided my wife and I with much insight on the on the museum's displays that I didn't know about. Very educational!”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the museum! There was so much to see and do. We only had 4 hours to explore it but we could have used the whole day. Next time we will!”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“Amazing! If you’re into space and anything that moves… this is the tour for you. Paul was very knowledgeable and professional.”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“The tour hide Annette was excellent. We appreciated her knowledge and friendliness. We highly recommend this tour to everyone who is interested in history of US”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“Our tour guide, Amanda, was amazing. We so appreciated her expertise. She pay particular attention to our grandson. We had a great time.”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“We had an incredible experience touring the National Gallery of Art with Leigh as our guide. She was not only extremely knowledgeable about the artwork and artists, but also had a wonderful way of explaining the historical context and artistic techniques behind each piece in…”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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 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 4.0African American History Museum Entry with Private Guided Tour2 hours (approx.)$350.00