His_Dudeness

We have some friends coming to visit from Europe and they want to take a day trip to Washington DC. Has anyone taken a hop on/off bus in the city? Is that a reasonable way to get between sights and see some of the city at the same time?

Sassafrass

Read all the reviews you can on TA , yelp, etc.
When the tours are good, they are great. When they are bad, running late, too hot, etc. they are really bad.
Some people love that approach, just seeing a bit here and there.

There are several different companies. Each offers several different tours. They have to research and know what they want to see before they sign up for a tour.
What specific things do they want to see? Museums, White House, Capital Building, Old Post office, Vietnam Memorial, Arlington, Ford's Theater, etc?
Where are they coming from for a day trip to DC?
If they could stay overnight, they could also see Mount Vernon, Old Town Alexandria, etc.

I prefer to pick three or four things to see more,thoroughly. If they simply stroll down and around the mall, they can see a lot of museums, the Capital Building, monuments, etc.

tovarich

We took the Old Town trolley tours both day and night tours and it was great. It's Hop on,hop off so you can get off at all the interesting places you want to see and continue taking the next bus.Paul

NewbE

I think it also depends on how busy a time/day it is. I have seen really long lines in the summer at the most popular stops, but on a weekday in the fall none at all. And if you don't get off much and just enjoy the ride, it's non-issue.

longhorn55

Because of long waits (sometimes even in the fall), I never recommend the HO/HO buses EXCEPT if the rider plans to ride all the various loops first before considering getting off to see anything up close.

Actually, the "tourist" area of D.C., the National Mall, is not all that big. The distance from the U.S. Capitol, at one end of the Mall, to the Lincoln Memorial, at the opposite end, is only 2 miles. And the Tidal Basin area is only a bit further. Using a combination of feet, taxi and Metro, one can see a lot in D.C. in one day.

I agree with Sassafras that your guests may want to prioritize what they want to see and do in D.C. If their goal is to visit some of the Smithsonian Museums (or other museums/galleries), then it would make little sense to pay for a HO/HO bus. But, if they really just want to ride around and hear about the city as they look at the sites, then HO/HO might be the way to go. If so, they should look for a company that offers live, rather than pre-recorded, commentary.

obxgirl

Agree that the National Mall will provide the densest target of opportunity especially for a one day visit to DC. It is primarily a walking experience.

I think Metro rail is a useful way to get to the National Mall but not an especially efficient one for getting around it. Metro introduced a National Mall service in June to it's Circulator Bus system (http://nationalmall.dccirculator.com...ator-Route.pdf) with stops or close access to:

· African American History and Culture Museum (opening 2016)
· African Art Museum
· Air and Space Museum
· American History Museum
· American Indian Museum
· Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
· Freer Gallery of Art
· Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
· National Gallery of Art
· Natural History Museum
· Postal Museum
· Smithsonian Institution Building
· The Smithsonian Castle
· United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The service stops in front of or near the following monuments and memorials:
· DC War Memorial
· Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
· Korean War Veterans Memorial
· Lincoln Memorial
· Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
· Thomas Jefferson Memorial
· Vietnam Veterans Memorial
· Washington Monument
· World War II Memorial
It also stops in front of the United States Botanic Gardens and U.S. Capitol.

Cost is $1 per ride, exact change or using a SmarTrip card available at any Metro rail station. If you use the card, you may reboard for free within two hours. The route originates at Union Station where there is a Metro rail station.

I'm a big fan of this new service in DC both for locals and visitors. It's the first public transportation option with direct access to the tidal basin & the Jefferson Memorial.

SeaF

I did the Moonlight Monument tour on the Old Town trolley--I thought it was great. The drivers are very informative.