Washington National Cathedral Tours
1,431 Reviews
The Washington National Cathedral bills itself as a place that welcomes all visitors regardless of faith. More than 400,000 visitors and worshipers set foot inside the imposing neo-Gothic limestone building each year, and the historic structure serves as a de facto venue for state funerals, including for 21 American presidents.
The Basics
Set on 59 acres (24 hectares) of grounds, including gardens and forests, the Washington National Cathedral is more than a place of worship. It is a community meeting place, a center for advocacy and change, and the final resting place of more than 220 significant individuals, including Hellen Keller and President Woodrow Wilson.
Join a weekly service or pick an experience from its extensive program of events. The cathedral offers a variety of concerts and specialty tours that cater to all tastes. There are art and architecture tours, a behind-the-scenes look at little-known stories and details, a formal English tea service, and a guided climb up the cathedral’s towers to inspect some of the 112 gargoyles built into its exterior.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Washington National Cathedral is ideal for the faithful, architecture fans, and all first-time visitors to Washington DC.
- There is a fee to enter the cathedral; children under age 5 are free to enter. Admission is free for everyone on Sundays.
- The cathedral holds an organ recital program (check the website for details), and cathedral choristers sing Evensong at 4pm Sunday.
- An on-site café offers coffee and light food options.
- Washington DC can have extreme weather, so check the forecast and dress accordingly.
- The cathedral is accessible to wheelchair users.
How to Get There
The Washington National Cathedral is located in northwest Washington DC, northwest of downtown and north of Georgetown, at the corner of Massachusetts and Wisconsin avenues. It is easily accessible by bus, and while there are paid underground parking garages nearby, parking is very limited.
When to Get There
The cathedral is open year-round for worship and tours. Check the website for program schedules and up-to-date weekly worship times. The sprawling grounds and manicured gardens are best enjoyed in the spring and fall.
A Children’s Cathedral
The Washington National Cathedral offers a robust experience to kids. It is home to a rare children’s chapel scaled to the proportions of a 6-year-old child, with a mini pipe organ and low, fan-vaulted ceiling. The cathedral also offers special tours and programs designed for young visitors, such as a scavenger hunt that explores hidden delights built into the cathedrals stained glass windows and ornate exterior.
Address: Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues NW, Washington D.C., District of Columbia 20016, USA
Admission: Free
12 Tours and Activities to Experience Washington National Cathedral
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Dynamite Day Tour: Small-Group DC Bus Tour
117
Explore the famous monuments and war memorials of Washington, DC on this guided, small-group sightseeing tour. Climb aboard a Dodge Sprinter van and enjoy an educational and entertaining narrated history of the US nation’s capital. Travel around and through the plethora of famous monuments and memorials, featuring the White House, the United States Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and many other landmark locations. A variety of lunch options (own expense) will be made available.
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From
$81.17
From
$81.17

Washington DC Private Tour with Spanish or Portuguese Option
118
Explore the famous sites of Washington DC on this private tour. Choose from a morning or afternoon departure, then climb aboard a luxury vehicle and enjoy an educational and entertaining account of the nation’s capital with a private guide. Travel around and through the plethora of famous war memorials, monuments, and landmarks. From DC’s residential neighborhoods to Arlington, Virginia and back, experience this comprehensive tour of the city. Hotel pickup/drop-off included.
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From
$410.96
per group
From
$410.96
per group

Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour of Washington DC: Monuments, Landmarks and Memorials
66
Explore the most popular sites in Washington, DC on this hop-on hop-off bus tour. Visit many of the top attractions in the nation’s capital — like the White House, Washington Monument, the National Mall, historic Georgetown, Arlington National Cemetery and more. Select a 1- or 2-day pass, for access to three separate routes and get to know the city in custom fashion, with live and recorded narration.
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From
$49.00
From
$49.00

Customized, Private Guided Tour of Washington, DC
8
THIS COST OF THIS TOUR IS BY GROUP. Concierge Tours ensures that all our guests, no matter the size of the group, see exactly what they want in the time they are in the Washington, DC area. A customized itinerary will be created and reviewed so that our guests know exactly what sights they will visit on the day(s) they spend on tour.
Concierge Tours also caters to children! We keep them entertained and engaged during the tour.
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From
$438.36
per group
From
$438.36
per group

Private Customized Tour of Washington DC with US Veteran
17
Delve into the nation’s military history with a twenty-year Navy veteran as your guide on a private tour. Choose from an extensive list of museums, monuments, memorials, battlefields, cemeteries, and even the Pentagon (90 day advanced notice required) on an exclusive tour of Washington, DC and surrounding areas. Get unmatched insights and history and spend the day walking through the pages of a real life history book.
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From
$575.35
per group
From
$575.35
per group
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
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Morning DC Small-Group Bus Tour
32
Discover the best of Washington DC on this half-day bus tour. Your guide takes you to some of the U.S. national capital’s most famous spots, such as the WWII Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and the White House. Make stops to explore the major landmarks and take pictures, while your guide fills you in on the history behind each place.
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From
$60.62
From
$60.62

Washington DC Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour and Attractions Pass
70
This hop-on hop-off Washington DC bus tour includes three different loops with live commentary plus a night bus tour and admission to up to five total attractions. Use your 48-hour pass to explore memorials and monuments such as the US Capitol, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Lincoln Memorial. Choose entry to attractions including the International Spy Museum and Madame Tussauds, or select a full-day bike rental.
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From
$69.00
From
$69.00

Washington DC Super Saver: Hop-on Hop-off Trolley + Monuments by Moonlight Tour
79
Explore the best of Washington, DC on this narrated, hop-on hop-off trolley tour. Visit more than 100 points of interest among DC’s top attractions—like the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, to name just a few. Depending upon your interest, select a silver, gold, or platinum pass, then board at any of the stops and get to know the nation’s capital in customized fashion, with live onboard commentary from a professional tour conductor. A guided moonlight trolley tour to the same landmark locations, illuminated for the evening, is also included.
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From
$94.00
From
$94.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Private Tour of Washington DC Stopping at 11 Iconic Sites
13
Experience the history and grandeur of the nation’s capital on a private 3-hour tour. Work with your personal guide and driver to curate the ideal tour incorporating your must-see spots or rely on their local expertise to create a fascinating tour. Go inside the House and Senate Galleries and see where the nation’s laws are debated. See the White House, Supreme Court and much more. This tour is ideal for visitors looking for a personalized experience
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From
$375.00
per group
From
$375.00
per group
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

WE THE PEOPLE SPECIALTY TOUR ~ (4 Hour) Option 2
The We The People Tour is an enlightening and compelling tour of the history, culture, legacy of the foundation of America’s liberty, and the Constitution. Our licensed, professional guides will help you discover the principles of liberty which were written into our nation’s founding documents and that are the basis for how it still operates today. If desired to do a private tour, customization of tour is optional for our guests at an additional cost.
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From
$86.58
From
$86.58

In God We Trust Tour
1
Our "In God We Trust Tour" is great for church groups, faith-based academies, and/or individuals seeking to understand the history behind the religious roots of the United States of America. This tour will help explain how faith was intertwined and helped establish the founding of U.S. government and how it has greatly impacted our culture through the decades.
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From
$133.70
From
$133.70

Day or Night Private DC Sightseeing Tour
7
Explore Washington D.C.’s most important destinations with a fully-customizable, 4 or 5-hour private sightseeing tour for your group of 6 to 14 people. Work with an experienced guide to tailor the itinerary to your interests, and visit the city’s landmarks, memorials and museums. Enjoy convenient hotel pick-up and drop-off within the D.C. beltway and beyond in a comfortable minibus. Finish your tour with return transfer to your hotel, or make the most of your time in the capital by heading directly to one of the D.C. airports.
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From
$299.00
per group
From
$299.00
per group
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More
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