Capitol Tickets and Tours in Washington DC

You may know the Capitol from films about the United States or as a symbol of the country's democracy, but it is also one of the city's most iconic buildings due to its importance and beauty.

Located in the heart of Capitol Hill, it is one of the most famous sites and is built on top of a hill, making it visible from anywhere in the city. Here is everything you need to know to visit it and not miss a single detail:

The best option

Washington DC Capitol Hill Guided Tour

Take a tour of Capitol Hill to learn all about Washington, D.C.

You will visit the Capitol and the most iconic buildings located on the National Mall in an electric vehicle.

From S$89 at Hellotickets

The US capital is one of the most powerful cities in the world, and its historic centre is also home to important monuments and buildings. The Capitol is one of the most popular attractions for visitors, so taking :::link|text=a tour with an expert guide::: can save you hours of queuing.

Capitol Hill is also a very interesting gastronomic area, so I recommend choosing an option that includes a visit to a restaurant at the end of the tour after a long walk.

Recommended if... you have limited time in Washington DC and want an organised visit to the buildings and monuments of the National Mall.

Access to the Capitol is free, so you do not need to purchase a ticket, although if you are spending several days in the city, it is advisable to reserve your place in advance on the official website, as entry passes are restricted.

It is also possible to book a free guided tour, which is a group tour lasting a total of an hour and a half, including a thirteen-minute welcome video on the history of the United States Congress and the building.

The Capitol Visitor Centre has an entrance at the rear of the building on First Street. In addition to the traditional guided tour, you can opt for specific tours, such as one that includes a tour of the Senate chambers or the internal gardens.

Tickets to the building are free, although it is advisable to reserve your place in advance, as the number of visitors allowed per day is very low. One option is to do so directly from the official Capitol website or to book a tour of Capitol Hill and make sure that tickets are included.

If you arrive on time, you may still be able to enter the Capitol, although you will have to queue at the Visitor Centre and wait for them to confirm availability, which is not very common.

Some bike tours of Capitol Hill and the National Mall also include a stop to visit the Capitol, but keep in mind that this does not apply to night tours, as the building closes its doors at 4:30 p.m.

You can book guided tours of the Capitol, which include a general tour of the entire building and detailed information about the history of the United States. You will be able to see the main hall and the dome from the inside.

Another option is to sign up for themed tours, such as those offering visits to the Capitol's internal gardens or tours that include the crypt, the connecting corridors and the National Statuary Hall.

The Capitol also has one of the largest art collections in Washington, which you can also see on a specific guided tour that lasts 45 minutes, leaving you enough time to see everything the city has to offer.

It is important to note that, unless you have a free pass from a member of the United States Congress, visits do not include attending parliamentary sessions.

Due to its size and historical significance, the Capitol can seem like a city unto itself, full of gardens, walkways, plazas, security buildings, and even its own police station on its ten hectares of land. It is also a very beautiful building architecturally, which is why you cannot miss seeing its enormous dome and the columns that support it. The best way to do this is to book a guided tour where they will explain everything about the building in detail.

Inside, the dome features murals and paintings that reflect the spirit of the city and the importance of George Washington as a founding father in the War of Independence, the first president in the history of the United States, and the person responsible for laying the cornerstone of the building in 1793.

I also recommend that you don't miss the opportunity to visit the Library of Congress and the Senate Chamber, and keep an eye out for the restaurants in the Visitor Centre.

The traditional guided tour of the Capitol lasts an hour and a half, which also includes a thirteen-minute introductory video on the history of democracy in the United States. The documentary is narrated in English, but headphones with translations in several languages are available at the Information Centres.

If you only have that amount of time, it will be enough to see the building, but if you have a few more hours, you can sign up for specific themed tours, each lasting forty-five minutes, which will take you through the internal gardens or the crypt.

The Capitol also has the largest art collection in the city outside the :::link|text=Smithsonian museums|element=sc-8-1054:::, which you can explore on a themed tour. The paintings in the Dome Rotunda reflect key events in the country's history, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Pilgrims' Landing, and the National Statuary Hall features references to all the states.

The best way to get to the Capitol is by Metro, which has three stops adjacent to the building: Union Station, Capitol South and Federal Center. You can also get there by Washington DC's circulator bus or one of the tourist buses that stop at Capitol Hill.

The Capitol is located at the head of the National Mall, so if you plan an early visit to the building, you can then take advantage of the day to visit the city's most symbolic monuments, such as the Obelisk, the Lincoln Memorial, or the war memorials.

Due to the lack of parking in the Capitol Hill area, I do not recommend driving to the Capitol.

The Capitol Visitor Centre is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. The last tour starts at 3:30 p.m.

Due to the limited number of visitors the museum accepts each day, it is advisable to book a tour in advance, which can be done up to one day before the visit. Without a reservation, you can choose to queue at the Capitol from opening time.

When Congress is not in session, the Senate and House of Representatives galleries are open for visits from 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

It is advisable to arrive early for your scheduled visit, as you will need to go through security checks before entering, which can take around 45 minutes.

The total area of the building, including the gardens and outdoor spaces, is ten hectares, so although the visit to the main building lasts ninety minutes, if you want to explore the entire area, it is advisable to wear comfortable shoes and clothing. If you want to eat before or after the tour, you can do so at one of the restaurants and cafés in the Visitor Centre.

To help preserve the building and protect the legislative activity that takes place in the Capitol, a limited number of tickets are distributed daily. It is also important to note that activities and opening hours are subject to change without notice and that on session days many corridors in the building are closed. Also, there are no public toilets in the Capitol, only in the Visitor Centre.

The Capitol Police strictly enforce security measures for the building and members of Congress, which is why it is essential to comply with the control measures in place for the tour. Before entering, you will have to allow your bags and purses to be checked, wear appropriate clothing that does not include sports or beachwear, keep your mobile phone on silent, accept the ban on taking photos in some rooms, and stay with your guide throughout the tour. This is important to know in order to avoid delays, especially if you are on a short stay.

If you need a break, there are benches and places to rest along the route. If you have an emergency, it is important to inform your tour guide, who will be able to assist you with the support of the Capitol Police, but do not run or raise your voice as this will disturb other visitors.

If you arrive at the Capitol after a long walk through other parts of the city or if your visit coincides with lunchtime, there are several restaurants and cafés in the Visitor Centre where you can buy food or drinks.

Please note that the only place in the Capitol where you can consume food or drinks is in the restaurant area of the Visitor Centre. Outside of this area and during the tour, consumption of food and drinks is prohibited.

There are also several restaurants in the areas near the Capitol that you can visit after your tour, although they can be very busy on certain days and at certain times of the week.

The Capitol is one of the most popular buildings for tourists visiting Washington DC, soit is always busy, but during the week there is also the legislative activity of the building. If you have several days in the city, I recommend visiting on a Saturday.

Another option to avoid the crowds and legislative activity at the Capitol is to visit when the session is closed. This happens for a few weeks in December, as Congress resumes activity in January.

Visiting the Capitol during a holiday is also an option, but keep in mind that it is closed to the public on Christmas, New Year's Day, and Thanksgiving.

The Capitol Visitor Centre ensures that anyone can access the facilities, so those with disabilities are able to request assistance during their visit and priority service. To do so, the interested party must contact the Congressional Accessibility Services Office in advance.

Animals are also allowed when they are service animals, which makes it very common to see a dog assisting a person during their visit to the Capitol. Security personnel must approve the entry of the service animal in accordance with current vaccination requirements.

Although the Capitol is not the most attractive destination for a child, there are nappy-changing facilities in the public toilets of the Visitor Centre and themed tours are scheduled for school groups.

A virtual tour of the Capitol is available, accompanied by a guide who will take you through the same sites as the in-person tour.

You can visit the National Statuary Hall, the crypt, and the Dome Rotunda on tours that last one hour and are available Monday through Friday.

At the end of the tour, there is a question and answer session that the guide will answer via chat.

As it is a free visit, the Washington DC pass does not include admission to the Capitol, but it does offer nearby options that include bike tours of the National Mall and the Capitol Hill area, so by planning your visit in advance, you can combine both activities and save time and travel costs.

The Washington Sightseeing Pass also includes several bus options with more than forty stops, including some on Capitol Hill, as well as tourist buses that you can hire and walking tours with the assistance of an expert guide to learn more about the history of the city.

The Capitol is located at one end of the National Mall, so starting your tour of the city at the legislative building and travelling there from your accommodation is a highly recommended option, before continuing along the Potomac River and Arlington.