Washington, DC: monument, memorial tours and bikes

The short answer

Washington, DC here means the District of Columbia. The seven products split into three decisions: how to see the National Mall monuments and memorials, how to visit Arlington National Cemetery with a guide, and where to pick up a rental bike. Only one product, the Washington Monument ticket, includes entry to a monument's interior; the walks and the bus pass the memorials as stops.[6][3][1]

Two of these products start in Virginia, not in DC. Arlington National Cemetery is in Arlington County, Virginia, and the Old Town Alexandria bike shop is in Alexandria, Virginia.[11][9]

Up the Washington Monument

The Washington Monument Ticket with Optional Walking Tour is timed entry to the observation deck with a guidebook. It has two options: Admission, which is self-guided, and Admission + Walking Tour, which adds a small-group walking tour of the National Mall memorials in English; in that option your monument entry time is after the walk ends. SkyGate's listing says every guest goes through physical security screening, that strollers are not allowed inside, and that minors 17 and under must be with an adult.[1]

The National Park Service says the monument rises more than 555 feet and that the elevator needs a timed-entry ticket, released on Recreation.gov typically 30 days ahead, with same-day tickets handed out on site from 8:45 each morning.[2] SkyGate's listing does not say how its timed entry relates to those NPS tickets. See the Washington Monument page on XTOUR.

The memorials at night, on foot

The Washington, D.C. Night Memorials Walking Tour is a guided evening walk with no admissions in the price.[3] It starts with skyline views from Arlington Ridge, crosses Arlington Memorial Bridge, stops at the Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean War and World War II memorials, and ends at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. The listing's address is the Netherlands Carillon, which OpenStreetMap places in Arlington County, Virginia, so the walk begins on the Virginia side.[4][3]

The National Park Service says the Lincoln Memorial chamber and exterior are free and open to the public.[5] SkyGate's listing describes a route of about 2.2 miles that is not wheelchair accessible, with steps at the Lincoln and World War II memorials, and a group of up to 15.[3] See the Lincoln Memorial page on XTOUR.

The Big Bus: hop-on hop-off or a sunset loop

The Big Bus Washington, D.C. Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour has two kinds of option. The Discover (24 hours), Essential (48 hours) and Explore (72 hours) tickets include the Red and Blue routes, a self-guided digital walking tour with a multilingual audio guide, and a guided walking tour of Arlington National Cemetery that departs at 1:00 PM from inside the cemetery's visitor center. The Sunset Tour is a two-hour non-stop panoramic tour from Stop 6 (L'Enfant Plaza) and is not hop-on hop-off. The page names the White House, Capitol Hill, the Jefferson Memorial and the Smithsonian Castle as landmarks on the route; those are stops to get off at, not admissions.[6]

Arlington National Cemetery: group or private

Both cemetery tours are guided walks in Arlington County, Virginia.[9] XTOUR could not read the cemetery's official website, so its hours and visitor rules are not given here.

The Arlington Cemetery Guided Tour with Changing of the Guard is a small-group walk of up to 15 people that meets inside the cemetery's Welcome Center.[7] Its option names the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with the Changing of the Guard, the Eternal Flame at President John F. Kennedy's memorial, the Memorial Amphitheater and the Supreme Court Justices' graves. The listing describes about 2 miles of walking, security screening, and photo ID for guests aged 16 and over.[7]

The Arlington National Cemetery Private Walking Tour is the private version, with a tram ride to the upper grounds and then a downhill walk. Its three options are the same tour priced for 2, 3 or 4 adults, booked as one unit, and the page names the Kennedy gravesite and the Columbia and Challenger space shuttle memorials. The options give no meeting point, and the listing says routes may vary because of ceremonies and funerals.[8]

Bike rentals: National Mall or Old Town Alexandria

Both rentals come from Unlimited Biking and have the same six options: a standard bike or an eBike, each for 2 hours, 4 hours or a day, with a helmet, lock, bike bag and map. The eBike options are for riders aged 16 and over, and both listings ask for photo ID and a credit card for the deposit.[11][10]

The National Mall Bike Rental, Washington, D.C. is collected at 701 D Street NW, inside the District, and the listing suggests the length of the National Mall and the Tidal Basin.[10] The Old Town Alexandria Bike Rental is collected at 1199 North Fairfax Street in Alexandria, Virginia, and the listing suggests riding along the Potomac or on to Mount Vernon, which it puts 18 kilometres away; Mount Vernon entry is not included.[11]

How to choose

• To go up the Washington Monument: the Washington Monument Ticket with Optional Walking Tour, choosing the walking-tour option if you also want a guide on the Mall.
• The memorials lit up, on foot: the Washington, D.C. Night Memorials Walking Tour.
• Several days of getting around, with an Arlington walk thrown in: the Big Bus Washington, D.C. Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour.
• A group tour timed for the Changing of the Guard: the Arlington Cemetery Guided Tour with Changing of the Guard.
• A private group of two to four adults: the Arlington National Cemetery Private Walking Tour.
• A bike from the centre of DC: the National Mall Bike Rental, Washington, D.C.; from Virginia: the Old Town Alexandria Bike Rental.

Before you book

• Expect security screening at the Washington Monument and at Arlington National Cemetery.[7][2]
• For the group cemetery tour, bring photo ID for everyone aged 16 and over.[7]
• For a bike rental, bring photo ID and a credit card; eBikes are 16 and over.[11][10]