Cherry blossoms and the Washington Monument

Plan Your Trip to Washington, D.C.

Popular Attractions that Require Reservations

Many sites in Washington D.C. require or recommend that you make reservations prior to your arrival. Below are some of Washington D.C.’s most popular attractions for which you can make reservations in advance. Please be aware that due to high demand many of these tours are booked serval months in advance. To ensure you see as many sites as possible we recommend you contact these attractions as soon as possible.

The United States Capitol: Tours are conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday except for Thanksgiving and Christmas day. Visitors must obtain free tickets for tours on a first-come, first-served basis, from the Capitol Guide Service kiosk located along the curving sidewalk southwest of the Capitol, near the intersection of First Street, S.W., and Independence Avenue. Ticket distribution begins at 9:00 a.m. daily and maximum tour size is 40 people. For updated information please call (202) 225-6827.

Washington Monument: The Washington Monument is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. except Christmas. In order to enter the monument tickets are required and are administered through the National Park Reservation Service. Reservations may be made between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. EST by calling (800) 967-2283. Those making advance reservations will be charged $1.50 service fee per ticket, plus a $.50 handling fee per order. Free tickets are distributed for that day's visit from the kiosk on the Washington Monument grounds at 15th Street and Jefferson Drive on a first-come first-served basis. Hours for the ticket kiosk are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but tickets run out early.

Supreme Court: The Court is the highest tribunal in the nation for all cases and controversies arising under the Constitution or the laws of the United States. As the final arbiter of the law, the Court is charged wit ensuring the American people the promise of equal justice under law and, thereby, also functions as guardian and interpreter of the Constitution. Congressional Courtroom Lectures are offered on a very limited basis. On days when the Court is not sitting, seven lectures are open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis every hour on the half-hour from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For updated information please call (202) 479-3211.

Holocaust Museum: The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is America’s national institution for the documentation, study, and interpretation of Holocaust history, and serves as this country’s memorial to the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust. Timed passes are necessary for visiting the permanent exhibition – The Holocaust – and can be obtained at the Museum on the day of your visit or in advance by calling tickets.com at 1-800-400-9373. Each day, the Museum distributes passes on a first-come, first-serve basis. A large but limited number of timed entry passes for use that same day. Tours are available every day except Yom Kippur and Christmas Day. The Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For updated information please call (202) 408-0400.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations: FBI Tours and the Indoor Range are currently closed until further notice, pending extensive renovations. For periodic updates and status, please call (202) 324-3447.

Old Executive Office Building: The Old Executive Office Building, a National Historic Landmark, was built between 1871 and 1888 and formerly housed the Departments of State, War, and Navy. The building continues to house various agencies that comprise the Executive Office of the President, such as the Office of the Vice President, the Office of Management and Budget and the National Security Council. To make a reservation, please call the Preservation Office between the hours of 9:00 am and noon EST, Tuesday or Wednesday at (202)395-5895. Please have available legal name, date of birth, country of citizenship, and Social Security number for each visitor.

National Archives: The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent Federal agency and is America's national record keeper. At the Washington D.C. location, visitors can view some of the cornerstone documents of our government such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights. The archives open at 10:00 a.m daily except Christmas. Reservations are required for anyone wishing to take a one-hour guided tour of the National Archives Experience. All guided tours of the National Archives Experience begin at 9:45 a.m. daily throughout the year. Reservations must be made at least four weeks prior to the date of your visit. Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@nara.gov to schedule a date and time for your visit. For updated information please call (866) 272-6272.

The Pentagon: The Pentagon is the current headquarters of the Department of Defense and the heart of the United States military command. It is twice the size of the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, and has three times the floor space of the Empire State Building in New York. The National Capitol could fit into any one of the five wedge-shaped sections. Groups interested in touring the Pentagon should contact the Pentagon Tour Office at 703-697-1776.

Washington Navy Yard: The Navy Yard first opened to the public in 1963 after serving as the main production facility for naval guns since 1887. The U.S. Navy museum hold over 5,000 artifacts and displays that commemorates the Navy’s wartime heros and battles, as well as its peacetime contributions in exploration, diplomacy, and humanitarian service. Visitors can also tour the USS Bary, a decommissioned Cold War-era destroyer, which in on permanent display and open to the public for self guided walking tours. The Navy Yard is open, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., and weekends and holidays, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. To make a reservation, please call (202) 433-4882.

United States Department of State: The Diplomatic Reception Rooms of the Department of State, which are used for official functions hosted by the Secretary of State and other high level government officials, are open for pre-arranged tours at no charge. These rooms hold a premier collection of 18th Century American Furniture, paintings and decorative arts. Guided tours are conducted Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 2:45 p.m. Tours are 45 minutes in duration. Reservations are required and should be made approximately four weeks in advance, due to the large volume of requests. Reservations for tours may be requested by calling (202) 647-3241.

United State Marine Corps Evening Parade: The ceremony at the Washington, D.C. Marine Corps Barracks is held every Friday at 8:45 p.m. during the summer months, and begins with a concert performed by the United States Marine Band. The concert is followed by an evening parade which has become a universal symbol of the professionalism, discipline, and Esprit de Corps of the United States Marines. The ceremony reflects the story of Marines throughout the world, whether they be aboard ships, in foreign embassies, at recruit depots, in divisions, or in the many positions and places where Marines are stationed. Reservations are required and must be made through the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. website.