Washington DC: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Arlington Audio Tours

Two Bus Routes, 18 Stops, Your Schedule: DC's Monuments on Your Terms

You get two full bus loops covering the National Mall, White House, and Arlington Cemetery with 18 stops you control; three self-guided audio walks through Arlington, the Tidal Basin, and Georgetown; real-time bus tracking on the app; and a Georgetown Shuttle on 48 and 72-hour tickets. The whole thing is designed so you're not renting a car, not hiring a guide for each museum, and not spending your morning figuring out which monument to see first. Just board, listen, and hop off when something catches your eye.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore DC landmarks by bus and shuttle

• Board Red Loop bus at Washington Monument
• Visit Natural History Museum
• See National Japanese American Memorial
• Stop at US Capitol at Garfield Circle
• Explore Air & Space Museum
• Visit L’Enfant Plaza and International Spy Museum
• Stop at The Wharf and Potomac Boat Cruise
• Get off at Smithsonian Metro
• Visit Bureau of Engraving and Holocaust Museum
• See Jefferson Memorial
• Visit FDR and MLK Memorial
• Board Blue Loop bus at Washington Monument
• Stop at World War II Memorial
• Visit Lincoln Memorial and Korean War Memorial
• Explore Arlington Cemetery
• Stop at Constitution Gardens
• Visit The White House
• See Ford's Theater
• Stop at The Willard Hotel and US Treasury
• Take Georgetown Shuttle from Washington Monument
• Visit National Geographic Museum of Exploration
• Stop at Hyatt Place
• Explore Georgetown at AMC Theater

The experience

You step off the plane or train and within an hour you're on an open-top double-decker bus rolling past the Washington Monument. The Red Loop hits the National Mall first (Natural History Museum, Air & Space, the Capitol), while the Blue Loop swings toward the White House, Arlington Cemetery, and the memorials along the Potomac. Eighteen stops total, and you pick which ones matter to you. The digital commentary plays through headphones as the bus moves, so you're not stuck listening to someone else's pace or someone else's jokes.

What makes this different from just walking or taking a cab is that you're not figuring out the route yourself or paying for three separate tickets to three separate places. The hop-on hop-off model means you can spend an hour at the Lincoln Memorial, then catch the next bus ten minutes later without planning ahead. The app tracks buses in real time, so you're not guessing when the next one arrives. If you grab a 48 or 72-hour ticket, the Georgetown Shuttle is included. That's the waterfront neighborhood with the shops and restaurants, running every 1 to 1.5 hours from mid-morning to early evening. A portion of every ticket goes straight to preserving the monuments themselves, which is the kind of detail that matters when you're standing in front of something that's been there for a century.

The audio walking tours are self-guided, which means you move at your own speed through Arlington National Cemetery, the Tidal Basin, or Georgetown's historic streets without waiting for a group to assemble. You download the Big Bus app, activate your ticket on your phone, and board at any of the 18 stops: no voucher exchange, no line. Stop #6 at L'Enfant Plaza is the redemption point if you need to swap a printed ticket, but most people just use their phone. One thing to know: Stop #1 at the Washington Monument isn't currently accessible by bus, so if that's your starting point, you'll board at Stop #2 or another nearby stop instead. Guests entering Arlington Cemetery need a valid photo ID if they're 18 or older.

What’s included

• Open-top double-decker buses on two full loops with 18 stops.
• Big Bus app with live bus tracking and mobile ticketing.
• digital commentary with headphones provided aboard the buses.
• three self-guided audio walking tours of Arlington National Cemetery, the Tidal Basin, and Georgetown.
• Georgetown Shuttle on 48 and 72-hour tickets, running every 1 to 1.5 hours.
• choice of 24, 48, or 72-hour ticket validity.
• a portion of every ticket supporting preservation of National Mall monuments and memorials.
• free Oval Office commemorative digital photo when you present your ticket at White House Gifts.

Options for this experience

8 options

Twenty-four hour pass, red loop onlyNo fixed timeA one-day pass covering just the red loop of the hop-on hop-off route, with the Arlington audio tour included.

Twenty-four hour pass, blue loop onlyNo fixed timeA twenty-four hour pass covering only the blue loop, which goes beyond the National Mall to the White House and Arlington Cemetery, plus a choice of audio guided walking tours.

Option 1No fixed time

See 5 more options

Two-day pass with Oval Office replica visitNo fixed timeCovers two days of the Red and Blue loops, with a choice of audio walking tours, a free Oval Office Replica photo, and an hourly Georgetown shuttle.

Three-day pass with red and blue loopsNo fixed timeA seventy-two hour hop-on hop-off ticket covering both the red and blue loops, plus a choice of audio-guided walking tours and a free Oval Office replica photo.

Day pass with a sunset guided walk18:30Includes a full day of hop-on hop-off riding on the red and blue loops, plus a guided sunset walk with a guide.

Two-day pass with a sunset walk18:30Covers the red and blue loops for two days, plus a two-hour guided sunset walk with a guide.

Seventy-two hour pass with sunset guided walk18:30Three-day hop-on hop-off pass covering the red and blue loops, plus a guided sunset walk with a guide and a choice of Arlington Cemetery, Tidal Basin or Georgetown route.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 18:30

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Big Bus Tours - USA

Is this one for you?Pick this if you're new to DC and want to see the major landmarks without renting a car or buying separate museum tickets: the two loops and 18 stops let you build your own itinerary in a single day, and the app removes the guesswork about when the next bus arrives.

Traveler reviews

3.50★★★★★★★★★★

4,050 verified traveler reviews

5 ★1,698

4 ★676

3 ★425

2 ★459

1 ★792

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

How long can I stay on the bus at each stop?

There's no set time limit. You hop off, explore for as long as you want, and catch the next bus when you're ready. Buses run regularly throughout the day on both loops.

Do I need to book the audio walking tours in advance?

No. The audio tours of Arlington, the Tidal Basin, and Georgetown are included with your ticket and available through the Big Bus app whenever you want to use them.

What's the difference between the Red Loop and Blue Loop?

The Red Loop covers the National Mall and Smithsonian museums. The Blue Loop includes the White House, Arlington Cemetery, and memorials along the Potomac. You can ride both on the same ticket.

Is the Georgetown Shuttle worth upgrading to a 48 or 72-hour ticket?

If you want to explore Georgetown's shops, restaurants, and historic streets without walking from the main Mall, yes. The shuttle runs every 1 to 1.5 hours from 10:15 AM to 5:15 PM and takes about 45 to 60 minutes for a full loop.

Can I use my phone ticket to board, or do I need a printed voucher?

Your mobile ticket works directly. Download the Big Bus app, activate your ticket, and show it on your phone when boarding. Printed tickets are also accepted.

What happens if I want to see the Oval Office?

Present your Big Bus ticket at White House Gifts (701 15th Street NW) and you'll receive a free digital Oval Office commemorative photo, one per ticket.

Is there wheelchair access?

The buses and tours are wheelchair accessible. Note that Stop #1 at the Washington Monument is currently not accessible by bus, but other nearby stops are available.