I've been fortunate enough to take this tour multiple times. I've gone through the process of contacting my rep for entrance (you have to do this in advance of your visit for available dates, providing them with your personal information, etc.). I have also been in D.C. for other government-related purposes and was able to take after-hours guided tours with a couple of different members of Congress (actual members and not a staffer). Any tour is a wonderful experience but most especially getting to take one in the hours after the hustle and bustle of The Hill comes to an end for the day. It's exciting to be on a tour when senators are holding hearings and you can actually sit in on them. The building is adorn with artwork, paintings, and sculptures that date back centuries. The architecture is awe-inspiring. So much to learn and see during the tours. There is a gift shop as well (but of course there is). A must for students (first time I took a tour) and adults alike. Anyone interested in the history of the United States should include this tour on a D.C. visit. read more

We went last week even after doing it once before years ago. We loved it. It was slow so the tour operator took us into 2 additional rooms that most people don't get to see. She was very knowledgeable. To get tickets you must visit your congress person there in Washington D.C. It is very easy! The tour was fantastic and we would do it again. read more

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We've had an opportunity to tour the US Capitol Building on 2 separate occasions. During both visits, the process was the same. First of all, you have to contact your local congressman's office and provide them with pertinent information for each guest in your party. You also need to provide them with your availability dates. Then, you'll wait for a response. While you wait, they will conduct a background check for all guests that are requesting a tour. Once everything is cleared, they'll look at your travel/tour date request and see if they have anything available for you and your party. You'll receive a confirmation email prior to your visit. When you arrive, you will go to The Rayburn Building across from the Capitol Building. Go through a quick security screening and then you can enter the building. Each congressman/congresswoman has their office. The state flag is outside of each door that leads to each office. Once you locate the specific office that you're looking for, you can sign a guestbook that is outside of their door. Then, walk inside and you'll be greeted by someone who is part of the fellowship programs who are interning for your local congressman/congresswoman. If you are lucky, your local state representative will be in their office ready to greet you. They'll give you some background about their experiences and what they hope to accomplish. Then one of their fellowship interns will take you on a tour of The Capitol Building. You'll walk through a tunnel that takes you under the street and into the main building. Along the way, you'll be provided with a wealth of knowledge for the history of The Capitol Building. There is another security checkpoint that you must go through before entering the main building. Once you're in this portion of the building, you'll see where senators hold their hearings. If you want to watch and if they're in session, you have to check in all items before entering the room. You will also see the old Supreme Court Room where some of the items are authentic to the times. It's pretty awesome to see it all in person. The tour of The US Capitol Building is something that people should experience while in DC. It's great for students who are learning about the different branches of The United States Government. This tour is also great for people who are curious about US history. Make sure the try to book this tour in advance because it may be more of a challenge to secure a tour during peak travel seasons. read more

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Our tour guide, Rachel, was absolutely delightful and made our visit one of the best tours to date. She was well informed, provided clear instructions, and exhibited patience as we made our way through the property. The building and art work as well as the fact it is an active working space during our visit is a lot to take in while moving through the space. Really enjoyed this first time visit and learned so much information. Looking forward to visiting in the future. read more

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Our tour guide, Kyle, was amazing! He was extremely knowledgeable and made the tour so fun.

The building itself is very pretty and interesting. It was a lot of hoopla to get these tickets, and the tour itself is only 3 rooms. There's cool statues and paintings to see, but that's it. We would have done the full tour by getting approval from congressperson in hindsight. The headphones worked well to hear your guide too, but you've gotta stay close to them or you'll be out of range. Arrive early since line can be long. read more

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We had an overall positive experience with US Capitol tour thanks to our great tour guide. Entry was not smooth as the female TSA went overboard abusing her power fuzzing over some coins with an old man before me. We were held up in line for quite some time. Already running late for the reservation so my patience was thin. At least the other security was apologetic. The tour guide did a good job explaining history and fun facts. Not sure how truthful they were but the chandelier replacement story was probably true because it wasn't historical just expensive. The highlight for me was the rotunda and the court room. Tour lasted 45 min. Very strict security you aren't allowed to bring any liquids or food in. Gift shop had everything made in USA, it looked patriotic but can't find anything I liked. Another delightful surprise was the food at cafe, tasty and reasonable priced. Of course there's a tunnel to library of congress and surprisingly there's a tour for public. In DC there are plenty free museums and government buildings to visit and lots of immigrant workers coming to work in the city; summer's extremely hot here, these buildings serve as sanctuaries for visitors to avoid scathing heat. read more

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Had a tour at the capitol with my class. Miguel is the best tour guide ever Give him a raise read more

It was stunning to see the capitol of the United States. The building's architecture is beautiful and impressive beyond I can remember. The lines, of course were long, and that was understandable. The audio led, tour while a good idea, wasnt pleasant. I would definitely do a private tour next year. I highly recommend this tour for all history lovers! read more

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This is one of those things that you have to do at least once, but keep your expectations in check, as the tour does not include the actual House or Senate. To do that, you have to arrange for a separate gallery pass for one or the other. That said, seeing the heart of our democracy is pretty cool. The Rotunda alone, with its high ceilinged dome, presidential statues, and famous paintings that were no doubt in your grade school U.S. History textbook, is worth the trip alone. You also visit statuary hall, which was the original House of Representatives chamber, the confusingly-named crypt (which contains no dead bodies), and a few corridors. You will also no doubt spot a few members of Congress going about their day. Aside from our absolutely hilarious tour guide, the highlight was seeing a "THIS CORRIDOR CLOSED" sign in front of the now empty Speaker of the House office that still had a sign up for Kevin McCarthy. Oops. read more

Anyone visiting DC, I would highly recommend taking this US Capitol Building tour. It's free and you can book this in advance. Be there on time, get in the line, collect the headphones and follow the guide. Our guide was very experienced and with a wealth of knowledge about the History. Great experience for Kids who could experience things they have only learned at school. The whole tour lasted for almost 90 minutes. Highly recommend this experience! read more

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Not the most interesting thing I did during a trip to DC. We did the 30 minute tour. It was ok, visited 3 rooms wearing headphones paired with the tour guide while they talk about the Capital. My opinion on visiting the Capital is stay outside and take photos there and move onto the next attraction. read more

U S Capitol Building Tour - Tours Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Our tour guide Miguel was outstanding. His knowledge and passion for his job were spot on. He spent time with us after tour for more details that really tied things together. He was a true patriot. read more

I reserved a tour of the capitol for myself and 3 of my friends. Initially, I requested a tour with our state representative, However, there were none available. So I monitored the reservation site and luckily 4 spots opened up and I was able to snag them. The tour was great and our guide was awesome. I look forward to coming back when things are in session so maybe we can see some state reps. read more

U S Capitol Building Tour - Tours Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A tour of the Capitol is a true DC experience. It should be done by everyone at some point in their life. This is where everything happens in politics. Also it's where nothing happens. That's government working. It overall is much different than visiting any other memorial or museum here. It's so much larger than anywhere including the White House. There are a few similarities. It amazingly has free admission. This isn't like the Smithsonian museums where you can go places any time. People have to pick time slots. There's also a guided tour. Get your ticket for free admission at the ticket office. You choose an available time slot. It's also possible to preorder a ticket so you can guarantee your slot if you're really wanting a time you need to go. It's $1 to get it online. You can also get tickets from your member of Congress which are free too. It will be a different experience whenever you go. It gets busiest in summer months. The colder months aren't usually as busy as Congress is not as often in session and there's not as many tourists. read more

U S Capitol Building Tour - Tour Groups - Tours Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This review kind of goes hand in hand with the US Capitol Visitor Center. As that's where the tour starts and is your entry to the tour. Who doesn't love a free attraction? Who doesn't love some historical information? Well maybe not everyone, but I do. I'm a buff when it comes to things like this. I love finding out things as I go along in life. This tour did just that. So, pro tip here, book your tour as soon as you can or as soon as you know you are going to be in the area. Also, book it early in the day. I know what you are going to say, I don't want to get up that early to tour a building. Believe me, it'll do you good, the earlier the tour, the less people you will have to contend with. It'll do you good. I showed up for my tour and ended up in an earlier slot, the group wasn't big at all. I like how they do the tour, honestly I do. They give you these headsets that allow you to hear what your guide is saying. It's good for two reasons. You won't miss a thing they are saying, and you don't have to hear them yell over all the other noise going on. Is it weird? A bit, they are headphones that are obviously from a bygone era. You start in the rotunda, which is beautiful. Looking up you will find yourself looking at the cast iron dome. In the center of this you will find 15 angels and George Washington also referred to as Apotheosis of Washington. 13 of those angels represent the original 13 colonies, the other two angels are Liberty and Victory. While in the rotunda you will be given general information in regards to statues that reside in the Capitol. Each state has two statues throughout the building (which can change, but has to be voted on by residence of that state) and then there are statues that are permanent in house, commissioned if you will. As you go through you will see them. I think my favorite part of this tour was walking through the original front door of the Capitol, well maybe this was my second favorite thing to do. My favorite thing to do was to be at the central point of DC. It's funny, they actually now have it roped off due to the amount of people standing on the spot and taking a picture. So many have done it that there is an indention. Then you find out that the crypt is located right underneath. I did not know that the crypt was originally intended to be the final resting place for George Washington. However he does not rest here, his wishes were to be buried with his wife and that wish was honored. Instead, what lies in the crypt is the Lincoln catafalque. The catafalque is now used for anyone that is lay in state at the Capitol. I also enjoyed seeing the original Senate and House chambers. It's hard to believe that they were once this small. And originally filthy, especially the House chamber with all the tobacco being used. Another is the original Supreme Court. Hard to imagine that all of the decisions made in the early part of our country's history all occurred under one roof. The only gripe I have about the tour is that it doesn't feel long enough, or that you are missing some vital information. Maybe it feels rushed. Or maybe it feels like the film at the beginning of the tour takes up a big chunk of the time. But trust me on getting into an early tour, you'll be thankful you did. read more

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What a fun tour! Upon entering the US Capitol building, we heard about a tour and decided to check it out. I am so glad we did. After a short 15 minute movie, we started our tour with the most fun tour guide ever, James Malone. He was knowledgeable, funny, and witty. Boy does this guy know his stuff! Not only did Mr. Malone know his facts, he mixed in some pop culture to bring the tour to life so all generations of visitors would enjoy it. He kept us laughing while learning the history at the same time. We toured so many of the various areas, learned about paintings, and the various statues that are found throughout the building. I know it doesn't seem like a fun time touring this bland stuff if you don't enjoy the history of our nation, but seriously, go do it. You will not regret participating in this fun tour. read more

U S Capitol Building Tour - Tours Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Douglas was our guide for our middle school group today. He did an amazing job keeping our students interested and paying attention. Not an easy feat! If you go, hopefully you'll get Douglas! read more

Great tour guide, only went through the Rotunda and the hall of statues. It was a must see however there isn't much of the awe inspiring items as other locations to tour offer. read more

We were unable to go inside, we missed our day time tour. Traffic in DC is so unpredictable and during our visit, the last available slot was before 4 pm. However, we were able to walk some of the grounds at night and just seeing this building from the distance we did in the evening all lit up and ridiculously quiet, was stunning. Can't wait to visit the inside and grounds closer on our next visit. read more

I took my tour of the US Capitol Building through Washington DC's Free Tours By Foot. If you don't know, Free Tours By Foot provides tours of places you're interested in seeing and based upon your experience and how much you enjoyed yourself....is how much money you pay. My tour was 1 hour and 45 minutes and I enjoyed it so I gave $25. The good thing about these types of tours is that they're good for any kind of budget. Once I arrived at my group's meeting place, our tour actually started with exploring the Library of Congress. This was good for me as I was able to see 2 iconic Washington DC landmarks all in one tour. About half the time is spent at the Library of Congress. But after finishing this first part of the tour, it was onto the US Capitol building. The itinerary of the tour is blended well from the Library of Congress to the US Capitol. You actually enter through a back passageway of the Capitol where there are fewer lines and people. You do though have to go through security no matter what, so don't bring any liquids and expect typical airport protocol. Through Free Tours By Foot, you do get FREE entry into the Capitol, which is a plus. At this point your guide leaves you permanently and you can pay for your Library of Congress experience they took you on and along with the history they spoke about from outside the Capitol building. Upon entry into the Capitol Visitors Center, you wait briefly in line for a 15 minute film. After the short movie, you're broken into smaller groups where you receive headphones and a tour guide for exploring the grounds. Although you're listening to your head set, be careful to stay with your guide and group as the Capitol is very crowded with lots of other tours going on and getting lost can certainly happen. The tour does give you access to almost everywhere at the Capitol, but it's done on a timely basis so you have to follow along. Even if you're interested in one section more than others or trying to take more photos at certain spots than others, you have to keep moving. Walking the grounds of the Capitol takes about 30 minutes and then you are dropped off back at the Visitors Center. The US Capitol is a beautiful building and the immense columns everywhere reminded me of a Greek Cathedral. Each room you enter is painted with murals and sculptures of important people who helped shape our country today. The ceiling of the rotunda is a sight to see and definitely an opportunity for picture taking. Also don't forget to check out a replica Statue of Freedom (the real one sits high above on top of the Capitol building) located next to the Visitors Center. I know you can sign up for a tour of the US Capitol building on your own, but I enjoyed using Free Tours By Foot. It felt like a much more intimate experience along with receiving a background and history of the Library of Congress. Although it may have cost more to use Free Tours By Foot, I was happy I chose this route and recommend it to others. read more

The US Capital Building Tour began with a line up and headphones for everyone. Kids loved the headphones. Our guide started talking through them, and eventually we saw his bright red jacket coming towards us. He was very informative on each and every section that we walked through, and found good places for our group to settle in together away from other groups. The headphones definitely made it easier because there were so many people there getting tours. Overall though, it was a good time and very educational. Lots of statues and paintings. read more

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The US Capitol Building is awesome. You learn so much when you go on the guided tour. You have to make sure you can get the right tour guide that makes it fun and engaging. We had to pleasure of having Mr. Malone who was really funny and dropped some great puns! This is a definite must when you're in DC! read more

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It was an awesome tour. We surprised my grandmother with tickets to the tour and she really enjoyed herself. Our tour guide was so very kind as well and very knowledgeable. read more

The tour is free and so cool...it's about 45 min...Our guide D Ike was so cool, laid back and entertaining. The tour took us through the interior and history of the capitol. Be warned: You cant bring bottled liquids, aerosols, and anything else you wouldn't think of bringing with you to a courthouse (weapons..drugs lol common sense kind). Also be prepared for a possible short hike (depending what side you are coming from on the capital grounds) The entrance is on the opposite side of The reflection pool (down the stairs by the basement). I don't believe there is a place to buy food inside either ( so plan accordingly) We ate at Mcdonalds about a block away. Once inside go to the bottom floor (visitor center) and get in line for a tour. The lines are long but move pretty fast. It's a guided tour with headsets mostly explaining key points of the interior building..interesting moments in the past and how it got to how it sits now. If you want to see the rooms Congress meet in (if not in session) then you are able to but you would have to exit go across the street to another place to get you a pass then get back into the Capitol to stand in another line to see it. So yeah it was extremely hot walking half way around the Capitols yard..going down stairs to get screened and wait in long lines but it wasn't too bad and worth it! read more

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If you're coming to Washington DC, then you need to add this tour to the list of "Things to Do". It's not as thrilling but you do get to see a few historic rooms and learn some facts. You need to reach out to your local U.S. representative to get the tour scheduled. The tour begins with a video showing how the building was built and what happens there. Afterwards you are split into groups and get your own tour guide. The tour guide takes you around the building to explore and goes behind the history on the statues and rooms. If you want to see more rooms then you can make an appointment with your local representative to get access. Unfortunately, for me I didn't have to time to do this, but you get to see the inside of the dome which is exciting. My tour guide was D. Ike and he was nice, outgoing, and funny. Overall, it's a must thing to do while you're in Washington DC. read more

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THIS SITE IS NOT AFFECTED BY CURRENT 2018-2019 Government Shutdown! Can't let the people who actually "run" the government not have any support staff, right!?!? Soooo... they are still funded for a longer duration compared to those working in all the Smithsonian Museums. And of course all the politicians are still getting paid too! Things that make you say, "Hmmm???" If you can't do your job, why do you still get paid? How about diverting those politicians' income to the working staff of the many museums affected, during these shutdowns? Really puts a BIG DAMPER on us tourists visiting Washington D.C. during this time... BIG LETDOWN FOR SURE! I completely digress though LOL! So you can't just show up and hope to get tickets to the U.S. Capitol Building Tour. We had to call/email our local U.S. representative, who's aide returned our call 1 week later and indicated we could be included in this tour. We originally requested White House tickets but apparently you have to start requesting those EARLIER than 3 weeks prior to the date desired. No problem, maybe next time for the White House then ;) So entry to the building is on the First Street side, opposite side from the National Mall. Give yourself some time to FIND parking and get there. It's not as close and accessible to the general public. Gotta go through security of course. Don't worry if you're a few minutes late to the assigned time, they started the tour fashionably late. Nice thing is everyone in your group is provided a headset after the Introduction movie, so you can comfortably hear your tour guide during the stroll within. We see some historical components of the U.S. Capitol but we don't get to see the actual galleries of the current Senate and House of Representatives during the tour unfortunately, which I was hoping to see... oh well. That requires a separate, additional pass given by your Senator or Representative. Security has made access & movement through the building much more limited but still worth doing! Our Tour Guide, Ms. Jackson, was very informative, spoke clearly and easy to engage. Hopefully she's the norm for tour guides here. Allow about 90 minutes for the tour itself, more if you wanna roam any areas accessible to the public. Oh, and the bronze statue that sits atop of the Capitol dome? Her name is Freedom ;) Easy Recommendation ;) read more

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Bottom Line: Knowing that the scope of the tour was limited I wasn't expecting much but our tour guide alone was worthy of five stars. Here are the mechanics of visiting The Capitol for their standard tour: - Get your tickets in advance online and head to the Visitors Center or get your tickets when you arrive at the Visitors Center. Your entry tickets will be for a specified time so you can meander through the Visitor Center's exhibits while you wait. - At your assigned time, line up at the specified theater for a 13 minute movie called "E Pluribus Unum, Out of Many, One" which briefly tells the history and accomplishments of Congress. - Exit the theater at the top to greet your enthusiastic and knowledgable tour guide who will hand you a handset which is broadcasts the tour guide's voice so you can always hear them. I appreciate how well this is done so you never have to struggle to hear your guide or be distracted by other tour guides. (There will be many tours going at the same time so be prepared for masses of people who are led by guides through a mostly well choreographed dance of the rotunda.) - The tour guide will briefly greet each person in their group to conduct a sound check and find out where everyone is from. From there your guide seamlessly leads you from what is technically the Visitors Center building to The Capitol. Again, a very well orchestrated part of the tour. - First stop on the tour is the crypt where George Washington is not buried. What I enjoyed most about the crypt is seeing the spot that marks the geographical center of the federal city. Also, our guide was great about discussing some of the statues from the first thirteen states that are located here. - Next it's time to ascend the stairs to the rotunda where you can view the famous rotunda painted by Constantino Brumidi, known as The Apotheosis of Washington. Apotheosis means the rising to the rank of a god or the glorification of a person or ideal and that is exactly what is shown here. The guides explain the painting a bit but if your neck cramps and you need a refresher, there is a nice brochure (as well as many others) discussing the symbolism of the great art work. The rotunda also houses the famous oil on canvas paintings depicting significant events in the United States' history. Unfortunately during my recent April 2016 visit the artwork was largely blocked by scaffolding so I plan to return in the Fall for a closer look. The final stop on the tour is the restored Senate Chamber, which now serves as National Statuary Hall. The room is very ornate and there are some markers on the floor indicating where the desks of famous politicians were when the Senate was in session. As the name indicates, this room is full of statues. It's unfortunate that with several tour groups in here at a time that you can't see them all but your guide will point out ones that may be of interest, especially those relevant to your home states. Despite limited scope and lots of scaffolding I really enjoyed my tour thanks to Laurel, our amazing tour guide! Not only is her brain saturated with United Stated history but she knows her facts so well that she can easily retrieve information from her large mental database to answer unlikely questions. Laurel was also warm, welcoming, engaging, entertaining and funny! read more

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We arranged a tour through our state's representative (Minnesota) and went on a tour with an intern that works in her office, Tenzen. He did a great job and the tour was fantastic! It was very busy on the day that we went but having a private tour made the process go very smoothly with minimal waiting. Seeing the statues and old architecture is so interesting. I definitely would come back! Thanks Tenzen! read more

Our tour guide Lauren was excellent! The Capitol has been on my list for some time and I wasn't disappointed! Loved the smaller size groups and the audio so we could hear our guide in extremely crowded spaces; loved seeing that state statues and was ASTOUNDED by the dome. This is a definite must for any history lovers, and a should be a must for every US citizen!! read more

I set out one summer a few years ago to visit as many public buildings as I could in DC. My tour of the U.S. Capitol Building did not disappoint! Just standing under the Rotunda (looking up) was a spectacular sight. All of the detail, on detail, below the detail, encased in detail... that also happened to be detailed with more detail will leave you at a loss for words. When admiring the furnishings, paintings, masonry, and statues, it will be easy to see that only the best-skilled participated in that creation. At the time I scheduled my tour, I was required to make my appointment through the office of my House Representative. A background check was conducted, and then I was notified via email, to come pick up my tickets. The process has changed a few times over the years, so be sure to check online before making your way there. This link may be helpful: https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/plan-visit/book-tour-capitol If you're able to visit on a day when the Senate or House of Representatives is in session, I highly recommend getting a gallery pass and sitting in on that session. It is a once in a lifetime experience! The Capitol is a exquisite building with beautiful architecture and interesting history. That alone will make your visit worthwhile! Tip: Dress comfortably, because a tour will last anywhere from 2 to 3 hours (depending on crowds!) read more

U S Capitol Building Tour - U.S. Capitol Building: Standing in front of the cast used to form the "Statue of Freedom" that sits atop the dome. - Tours Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I really enjoyed my tour! One thing to note is that it's super crowded here, so be ready for that. Otherwise, I found that my guide was extremely knowledgeable and personable. You do get a headset while you tour the building, so you will definitely be able to hear your guide as you progress through the building. I wish that they would try to enforce the noise a bit, since I feel like this should be a more solemn/respectful tour. Nonetheless, it's incredible history to be able to tour the rotunda and other rooms. read more

Wow, get your reservations early from your Congressional staff and come and see the history packed into this place of governance. Walking through the hallways on tour, made me realize how precious this place is, and how those wingnuts desecrated this place when I watched it happen on live TV, thinking to myself that there was a new level to the term "Crazy Americans". The history and art in this building is so amazing. Come and see if for yourself so you can really appreciate it. We came earlier than our appointed time, and we're easily switched to an earlier time for the guided tour. That was so nice. After the guided tour, take some time to visit the presentation areas and learn about the history of this building and our democracy. When we were done, we found the underground walkway to the Library of Congress. It's nice to be able to walk there in a cool air conditioned hallway. A very nice visit and highly recommended. read more

*DC State of Mind* Yelp 365 Challenge x 2 #223/365 **Stand in the middle or view where Senator Daniel Inouye was laid in state **See the door that John Boehner walks through for each session **Stand in the place of Abraham Lincoln's desk **View the different paintings... **Oooh and aaahhh over the beauty of the building... **Take a picture outside with the Capitol in the background and think of Schoolhouse Rock song, "I'm just a bill on Capitol Hill" (if you grew up in the 70's-80's) Seriously!!! This should be on your "must visit" list when visiting DC. It's free and it's an experience that you shouldn't miss because you'll be standing in the middle of American history as well as be in the very place where the decisions are made for the American people. After touring around the visitor center, we stood in line for our scheduled time. We were brought into an auditorium that featured a 15 minute film of the Capitol's history then the attendant will take you on a tour, which you will have to use headphones to hear them as they speak because there are other group tours going around you. The tour is about an hour but the wealth of information shared while looking at different displays, the architecture, paintings, rooms...is just impressive. But, definitely email your State representatives before your trip to secure a date and time to visit the Capitol. It will save you time and it will be so worth it. read more

One of the free things in DC which completely live upto the hype and expectation. Just few days before my trip to DC with my parents I booked the building tour online and was able to get an afternoon slot. As we walked in ,the email confirmation was checked and we were handed over the passes. They don't allow any eatables inside, so make sure not to carry them. We saw so many people throwing their drinks and food away before entering the security check point. The first part of the tour included a movie about the history of the Capitol building. It lasts for a good 20 mins and is a very good refresher for all those who are not aware of the history. After the movie ends one walks into the main hall where a tour guide takes approximately 15-20 people in one group. They handed over the headphones for the audio tour. The length of the tour depends on the tour guide. Our tour lasted little more than one hour and the tour guide was really nice. She explained everything in detail and also made sure all the queries were answered. Definitely a must thing to do in DC! read more

First of all - woah! So many haters on the Capitol Tour! Ok, so this might not be the most exciting spot in all of D.C., but I definitely advocate everyone taking a tour at least once - visitors and residents alike! I mean, how awesome is it that we common folk can tour a government building such as this? Not every country offers such a privilege, and in our post-9/11-security-to-the-max-world, I am impressed that this is even available. (And yes you have to go through a security line, like most places, but it is nothing to kvetch about. Safety people, safety). To get in, there is always going to be a ridiculous line, rain or shine (yes, even in the pouring rain...as I experienced). So get here early. You certainly do not need to procure tour tickets way in advance. The people who work here are more than willing to give out tickets (if you ask nicely and chat them up!) to the House of Reps side. Really neat to see the room where the State of the Union is delivered. My parents and I all thought it looked smaller than when televised but it is indeed "the room." A downside is that such a ticket only works for one side - you need a separate ticket to see the Senate side. The entry hall/visitor's center has a great collection of statues depicting important figures from American history, including John Glenn, Sacajawea, Hellen Keller, the last king of Hawai'i, etc. The rotunda is, of course, impressive. Statuary hall and the John Adams "whisper spot" (which your tour guide will undoubtedly show off) is also quite neat. The old supreme court library (small and quaint feeling) is also a tour highlight. In all, if you like US history or politics or just want to see the heart of where the action takes place, hit the Capitol up. You don't need more than two hours to spend and I believe it is certainly worth the time spent. read more

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4 stars for a solid DC tour. If you are reading this review, you are probably trying to determine whether or not the U.S. Capitol Building Tour is worth checking out while you are visiting DC. I'm here to tell you that this tour is definitely worth checking out after you've finished looking at the Smithsonian Museums. My dad and I arrived at the Capitol Visitor's Center around 1pm on a weekday in the middle of August. After looking around the large open visitors area for a few minutes, we decided to head over to the tour reservation area to see if any tours were available. Since there was hardly anyone in line, we were handed stickers for a 1:20 tour. After standing over in the tour line (there is a North and South tour line, but there is no difference in the actual tours between the two) for about 15 minutes (FYI: these tours don't really start on time), we were led into a large theater to watch a 15 minute video. While it was mostly just an inspirational video with basic information about our country, I could see how it would definitely be valuable for international visitors and young children. After the video, we headed up the stairs and were directed to pick one of the 5 lanes for our tour. Once we picked our lane, our tour guide introduced himself and handed out headphones so that each group (which was about 20 people) could listen to him as we went. While I could tell that the tour guides were hit or miss, our tour guide was quite excellent and made an effort to ask us about our backgrounds to help him personalize our tour. After he made his introduction, we made our way up the escalator to start the tour. The tour mainly consists of going through the various parts of the Capitol, which include the Crypt on the lower level, the Rotanda on the upper level, and the Statutory Hall off to the side (our tour didn't include the Hall of Columns or the Old Supreme Court Chambers unfortunately). We stopped at various points along way so that the tour guide could tell us about the area and give us history about various points, statues and paintings in each room. It was pretty breathtaking to see some of these areas and stand in some of the very same spots where many of America's great leaders and thinkers once stood. After finishing our tour, the tour guide collected our head sets, gave us directions on how to obtain passes to see the senate and house galleries, and advised us to head down the tunnel to check out the Library of Congress (which we did and I advise everyone to check out). The entire tour took around an hour to 90 minutes to complete, which in my view was just the right amount of time for someone who wants to see all the sites while getting the chance to really take in those sites. Overall, the U.S. Capitol Building Tour is a solid free tour that moves at a good pace and allows you to see and learn about some of America's wonderful history. If you are in sightseeing in DC for more than a day, then I would definitely make sure this tour is on your list. read more

US Capitol Building Tour is one of the two main highlights to do (the other is visiting the House & Senate Galleries) while you are in the US Capitol Visitor Center. You can either get free tickets online (https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/plan-visit/book-tour-capitol - click on "Book a Tour Yourself Online") or get tickets at the Visitor Center desks. The tour is approximately 45 ~ 60 minutes. I did the Capitol Hill & Library of Congress Tour with DC by Foot and it also came with a complimentary ticket for the US Capitol Building Tour. Our group got tickets for 11:20 AM tour time, but we didn't actually get until 15 minutes later. The tour started with 13-minute long introduction video. Afterward everyone lined up and received an audio receiver (I wish all other guided tour can do this because I was able to hear my tour guide loud and clear). Our guide took our group around the Capital Building and our group saw the Old Supreme Court Chamber (1810 - 1860), the Rotunda (saw various paintings & the guide mentioned that no statue in Washington DC can be taller than the Statue of Freedom on top of the Capital Building at 19 1/2 feet high), the Crypt (George Washington was supposedly buried here, but ended up buried in Mount Vernon; you will also find 13 different statues from the 13 original states), the Old Senate Chamber (1810 - 1859), and the National Statuary Hall (our guide did a pretty cool parabolic sound trick - each state submitted two statues to display in the Hall & each state can choose to remove and add a new statue). Other than seeing some of the great architecture & statues, the tour was pretty dull and it was difficult to spend additional time reading more historical information as our guide had to keep everyone moving along because another group was waiting behind our group. US Capitol Building Tour is still a must-do tour because this is the ONLY tour that will let you see inside of the Capitol Building, but just know that you won't be able to go at your own pace. read more

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Tours go every 20 min but are very popular. As of this writing the Capitol is under renovation and the outside of the dome has scaffolding all around and the inside of the dome has some netting and tarps as workmen work. Yet if you find yourself in Washington and you have never seen our Capitol building don't let that stop you! You can book through your US Senator or US Representative but nowdays thanks to computers its easier to just do it yourself and you then have a printout with your confirmation so don't bother your representatives. I cant list a website or my review can be knocked out ,but go to visit the capitol dot gov and you will see options. Ignore the doing it through your representatives and hit the lower one and do it instantly yourself! THEN when you get to the lower level you can turn right and get in at your time booked, while everyone on the left side waits for open spaces. You first go into an auditorium for a film. After the film you will file into roped off lines. NOTE if you are a family or a group DONT get in different lines as each line is a separate group. ALL go in single file one behind the other or else you will totally screw up the whole operation!!!! As you enter the line a red jacket guide hands you a headset that is set on their frequency and they will be that guide. If you are in a different line or row, your headset is set to the person who gave you that thus you GOT TO be in the same line. This way there can be many tours at once and they don't all have to yell over each other. The guide collects your headset after the tour and then they are cleaned and reused. On slower days you might be able to see a bit more as crowds are smaller. The only closed days are Thanksgiving and Christmas. So...since many people think these buildings are closed on other holidays, that's the time to go! I went on Veterans day and there was next to nobody there! There is a special once a day outside tour also, and at 200pm, a once a day tour of the Brumidi wall painting on the lower level. Again this is only one time a day so these fill up fast and its first come first serve. Those DONT go on Federal Holidays though. Inside you will see the original Supreme Court Chambers. Yes it will be dark as they worked by candlelight! Some of the original furnishings survived. Your guide will advise you on that. You will see the spot where many President has lied in state in the Capitol Rotunda. Countless statues of famous citizens abound as states continue to send in famous people statues. Some very well known, and many you have never heard of before. Not all of the ceiling is visible due to the workmen and their tarps. Since this like most Government attractions in Washington is free and historical, if you have never yet been you have to go! You enter from the north side of the Capitol building. Hard to say what you might call the front or the back, but it is the part on the OPPOSITE side of the mall, the OPPOSITE side of the reflecting pool. Notice the building right across from the Capitol as you enter, that is the current Supreme Court building. If you still have time once you exit, turn right and take the walkway over to the mall side and the first building you will see there is the National Botanical Building. This is not to be confused with the National Arboratum which is over many acres on New York Ave a few miles away to the north. read more

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This tour is not worth doing unless you are getting a guided tour from a staff member of your congressman's office. If you do decide to take the tour, your best bet is to bring NOTHING with you. They do not allow any food or beverage and my liquid makeup was even questioned. I understand the need for security precautions, but the rules seem to be overly strict for no real reason. One thing that really bugged me is that they make people who were unaware of this rule throw away their food. In the short amount of time I was outside waiting for my friends, I saw at least four unopened bags of chips, jars of peanut butter, boxes of granola bars and cans and bottles of pop thrown into the trash. What waste! They should have donation bins for the local food bank to avoid so much good food getting thrown away. There was typically a large line for security, and they treat visitors poorly. I had forgotten that I had a granola bar in my coat pocket. You would have thought I was trying to smuggle in a gun with as much of a fuss as they made over an innocent mistake of forgetting to empty my pockets. The kicker was that instead of the guard being able to throw the granola bar out, I had to go outside to throw it out and then wait in line and go through security again. Crazy. After the security hassle, there are more lines. You are herded like cattle into a large group to wait for entry into the theater. It is an idealistic piece "out of many, one" that lauds on how fantastic our history has been. It doesn't really provide much useful information about the Capital or how Congress functions. After the video, you are provided with head sets and herded into smaller groups for the actual tour. It is a shame with all the beautiful rooms and features of the Capitol building that you are allowed to visit so few areas. They talked about how statues got into the rooms and why they were there along with minimal details about the artwork. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't soured just entering the building, but with all that there is to see and do in DC, I do not think the Capitol tour is worth the amount of time it takes, especially if you have limited time in the city. Take a virtual tour online instead. read more