Must See! DC Monuments at Night
There are many “must see” places in Washington, DC. I could name several - The White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Smithsonian museums, the Washington Monument, the National Mall (green space), the Washington National Cathedral, etc… While seeing the government buildings and monuments are a fabulous experience during the day, it is also a special experience to view them lit up at night.
The easiest way to see the city after dark is to take a bus or other type of transport tour, as things can be pretty spread out. Walking from place-to-place is doable, but fairly time-consuming and may be too strenuous for some, including those with already-tired legs. You can take night tours from several companies. I have taken night tours from two companies and they were both okay, but nothing to brag a bunch about. One company was obviously too focused on getting social media publicity so we had to take numerous group photos (note-one is enough, thanks 😏) and the other basically told me where I was to sit (I did not book several months in advance and wait several hours in a park to be told I got to sit facing backwards the whole trip). 🧐 So be sure to ask a number of questions and do your research before you go to get the best fit for you.
I will not name specific companies, but there are several types of tours. There are:
Group Bus Tours - Things to keep in mind are buses take a while to park and load. Plus you may sit on the “wrong side” to photograph something you really wanted to see on a drive-by. Also, you may be touring with 40+ new friends. You may need to wear a headset and it may be that the commentary is recorded and in more than one language. Just something to know ahead of time. Pros - usually reasonably priced and some live tour guides are great and can keep you entertained the whole time.
Trolley Tours - These are usually smaller tours than bus tours and guides may be “live” or recorded so ask or do research on that before you book. Also, if it is chilly weather, some trolleys are open-air and may be chilly. Dress accordingly.
Electric Vehicle Tours - These tours are usually in small vehicles that allow you to get in and out easily. Tours are smaller with “live” guides. Vehicles are likely open-air so dress accordingly.
Small Group Tours - These tours are sometimes customized to your preferences and often tour in smaller vehicles such as vans, shuttles, or mini-vans. There is usually a “live” tour guide who may or may not double as the driver. These are usually more expensive than large group tours but may allow more time at stops. Something to find out is if the tour is priced per person or per group. Don’t assume or you could be in for an expensive surprise. 🧐
Private Tours - These tours are likely the most expensive, but may save you time and allow you to customize stops and length of time at stops. Again, always be sure to check if the tour is priced per person or per group to prevent an unpleasant surprise.
For some tour recommendations, check out the post below written by a DC writer. Also research numerous review sources and lots of reviews before booking your tour. The extra time you spend may make or break your experience.
I have three additional tips before booking a tour:
Always be aware of the cancellation/refund policy. You never know how plans will change due to weather/traffic/large events/movement of government officials, etc… in DC. The best tours offer flexible cancellation/refund policies.
Don’t book a night tour after a full day of travel, whether it be on a plane or car or just a full day of seeing the sights. Take the afternoon off to relax, however that looks for you. This is especially true for young children and those not accustomed to walking for long distances, whatever your age.
You will need to decide which sights are critical for you to see and book a tour accordingly. Some tours visit more sights but for a short amount of time. Some tours are obviously longer than others as well or take more time to load or unload travelers.
Book a tour as far ahead of time as possible. Good tours in DC, especially, sell out ahead of time. This is especially true in the summer or during special events such as when the cherry blossoms are blooming. Again, be aware of cancellation/refund policies.
Here are a few DC night photos. My favorite spots after dark are The White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool, the Korean War Memorial, the MLK Memorial, the World War II Memorial, and the Roosevelt Memorial (with a dog statue).
Note: This is a panoramic photo that I needed to remove my child from, so it looks a bit off.
