Unforgettable DC: Open-Top Hop-On/Off City Explorer
Explore DC with our flexible hop-on hop-off tours. With 17 stops to explore, you have the freedom to create your own itinerary and discover the city's iconic landmarks at your own pace. Discover Arlington Cemetery with an expert local guide leading you through the historic landmarks and resting places of this national memorial ground. Our tours allow you to experience the best of DC while enjoying the comfort of open-top double-decker buses. Hop on and off at any stop throughout the city, giving you the flexibility to explore. From the historic landmarks of the National Mall to the hip neighborhoods of Georgetown, our routes cover the must-see sights of DC. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and the White House as our professional digital audio provides insightful history and hidden stories along the way. Whether you're interested in history, culture, or simply soaking up the atmosphere of the city, our tours offer the perfect way to discover DC.
Reviews
Reviews and Rating (Tripadvisor)
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Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
178alejandrau, 10/27/2025 4:07:18 PM
It’s a good circuit and the explanations are great. Lema and Jnr supported me and helped find my phone. I loved the Lincoln memorial
868jocelynw, 10/27/2025 11:35:12 AM
We had a great experience visiting the DC with the big bus. The trip covered all the places we needed to visit. We met Lena who was very helpful and friendly to help us plan the whole trip. Would definitely recommend to other visiting friends.
Brittany_D, 10/26/2025 9:49:27 AM
The hop on hop off was great in theory except for when the bus driver stopped at a stop spot and bitched and complained about stuff for 15 to 20 minutes while we were waiting to get to the next stop before it closed. Then the bus driver told us that we had to be back on the bus by 4:15 or we wouldn’t have a way back to our original Location and we saw buses picking up people at 6:00 so we had to pay $118 for the tour and then we had to pay an additional $40 for an Uber to get back when the bus could’ve taken us back but he said he wouldn’t. Very unprofessional, but it was nice to get to see everything in one bus.
U332EZlisab, 10/23/2025 9:28:22 AM
Christina did a fabulous job on the Arlington tour! It was very informative and had the perfect amount of walking through the cemetery. I appreciated learning so much history from her. I highly recommend!
Allison_P, 10/21/2025 10:58:20 AM
It was absolutely amazing. It made our trip to Washington DC memorable. There are many stops and all very important , the bus is very punctual and the audio tour is nice and complete.
Abhishek_J, 10/21/2025 9:14:03 AM
Ease access to the tickets and great way to get around a well renowned city in the world. Would definitely recommend this to the avid travelers.
jeremygY3575GT, 10/20/2025 8:43:51 PM
Outstanding. The Staff was so kind and helpful. We had a great experience and will come back again. The only thing that might need attending to is the headphone jacks didn’t work very well. I’m sure they get plenty of use and things wear out. Thank you
Greg S, 10/20/2025 5:37:25 PM
Great experience we saw the majority of places we wanted to see. Devaughn was a great help and was very friendly with great advice.
worldtraveler77077, 10/17/2025 10:59:41 PM
I paid over $200 for 4 tickets and it feels like I overpaid. It would have been WAY cheaper to take short Uber rides to sites and walk to nearby sites. If you are traveling solo, the price kind of works but is still a lot. The tour route is arranged based on Penn Station (not where I boarded at Arlington Cemetary). This point should be made clearer at time of booking. I had to wait nearly 20 min at Penn Station around 4pm, as it’s the official starting point even if not broadcasted as such . I wish there had been a brief overlap with the prior bus that left the moment we pulled up. I had to take an Uber back to Arlington Cemetery because it was going to take so long to get back
497jacquieh, 10/17/2025 5:32:03 AM
We purchased our tickets online, but never received our confirmation email with our passes. The money came out of our account right away. When we went to union station to talk to someone about it we were directed outside to talk to someone else. When we got there the guy didn’t want to help us. He immediately started saying “who sent you? What guy? Who? What desk? Who” he kept cutting me off and wouldn’t even let me answer. He finally walked us back in and dropped us with the first guy again. He finally called his supervisor and we were able to get our tickets. The bus was ok, seats were very uncomfortable. After a long day of walking, when you’re sitting in traffic, not moving on a packed bus it’s hard. And the only way the tour is actually a tour is if you plug in with headphones (which are nicely provided) to hear. However- when you have a squirmy toddler on your lap, that’s not convenient. I ended up not hearing anything. I’ve been on other guided tours, and they actually talk to you about things and tell you things on the way, and you don’t have to listen to an old static recording over headphones which I prefer. We waited close to 40 mins for one bus at one of our stops. It was overall ok, a nice way to jump on/off to get around the city to see things, but not at all what we were expecting. Some of the drivers were amazing. So nice. Other staff members had horrible customer service. I will add, my parents have done the night tour (5 or more years ago) and loved it. Not sure if it’s changed since then, but they always tell people to do that one.
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Download the free Big Bus app for city information and live bus tracking
- Strollers must be folded while aboard bus
- Free White House Commemorative Photo: Present your ticket at White House Gifts (701 15th ST NW) to receive a free Oval Office digital photo. One photo per ticket.
- Unlimited Biking Offer: Rent a bike for one hour and get an additional hour free. Rental includes bike, helmet, basket, lock, roadside assistance and an illustrated map featuring key routes and attractions.
- Arlington Walking Tour with Guide: departs at 1PM and meets at the Arlington Cemetery Visitors Center. Included in 48/72-hour tickets only. Operates September to October 30.
- Guests 18 and older must provide valid photo identification to enter Arlington National Cemetery.
- Guests may activate ticket in two ways: 1. Download and open the Big Bus app. Tap "Add Booking" and enter your booking reference. On the day of travel, open your ticket and press "Activate" then show your activated ticket to the driver at any stop along the route. Plus, use the app for route information and live bus tracking. 2. Redeem voucher and activate with Big Bus staff at Stop #1 - Union Station - bus meeting point in front of Union Station (50 Massachusetts Ave NE), or with any driver at any stop along the route.
No departure point available
Redemption
Guests may activate ticket in two ways: 1. Download and open the Big Bus app. Tap "Add Booking" and enter your booking reference. On the day of travel, open your ticket and press "Activate" then show your activated ticket to the driver at any stop along the route. Plus, use the app for route information and live bus tracking. 2. Redeem voucher and activate with Big Bus staff at Stop #1 - Union Station - bus meeting point in front of Union Station (50 Massachusetts Ave NE), or with any driver at any stop along the route. Sunset Tours depart from Stop #1 only. Arlington Walking Tour starts at 1PM and departs from Arlington Visitors Center. Operates Sept 10 - October 30. Download the free Big Bus app for city information and live bus tracking.24 hours before travel date - 100% refund
Less than 24 hours before travel date - 0% refund












