Tours and Entry to the Capitol are free. Reservations are recommended.

Hours

The Capitol Visitor Center is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Tours

All tours, programs and activities are free of charge and led by our professional tour guides. Visitors are encouraged to book a timed-entry tour pass. Reservations are recommended, not required, and same day passes may be available. Visitors without reservations should arrive at the Capitol Visitor Center as early in the day as possible to obtain passes. The last tour of the day begins at 3:20 p.m.

Visiting the Capitol

All visitors entering the U.S. Capitol are screened by the U.S. Capitol Police. Plan to arrive at least 60 minutes prior to your reservation as there may be extended wait times. Before you arrive, please review the prohibited items list. Absolutely no food or beverages are permitted inside the U.S. Capitol. To expedite your security screening, we strongly recommend leaving bags or personal items at home. The Capitol Visitor Center does not provide storage for bags. To help prepare for your visit, review the Know Before You Go page.

While at the Capitol Visitor Center, you can also visit Exhibition Hall, peruse our Gift Shops or get a bite to eat at our restaurant. For details about these and other offerings, visit the Things To Do page.

Please note: there is a separate screening process for visitors with disabilities.

Getting Here

Visitors enter through the Capitol Visitor Center, located underground on the east side of the Capitol. Parking in the area is extremely limited. Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation. The Union Station and Capitol South Metrorail stations are the most convenient to the Capitol. Bus stops are nearby. For detailed directions, visit the Getting to the Capitol page.

Foreign Language Tours

For information on tours offered in Mandarin and Spanish, please view the Foreign Language Tours page.