National Portrait Gallery Tours and Activities

Depart from the Washington DC Welcome Center and take a 90 minute Washington DC trolley tour to explore the nation’s capital. The route encompasses the city’s top attractions, including the White House, Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall.

Hop aboard a rickshaw (also known as a pedicab) for a 40-minute whirlwind tour of D.C.'s highlights. Bring your own wine or beer (ages 21 and older) and sit back while your guide pedals and narrates the sites. Areas covered include Penn Quarter, Chinatown, and Metro Center areas.

Sip a variety of top-notch, international wines or liquors at Central Wines, a classy wine, beer and spirits shop in the lively Penn Quarter District (or take your tastings to go), and then sit back and enjoy your pedicab ride. Your driver-guide pedals you through Chinatown and the Federal Triangle, as well as past key sights such as the National Portrait Gallery, the Friendship Arch and Ford Theatre. This small-group tour is limited to 9 people or fewer.

Explore the best of Washington, DC on this narrated, hop-on hop-off trolley tour. Visit more than 100 points of interest among DC’s top attractions—like the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, to name just a few. Depending upon your interest, select a silver, gold, or platinum pass, then board at any of the stops and get to know the nation’s capital in customized fashion, with live onboard commentary from a professional tour conductor. A guided moonlight trolley tour to the same landmark locations, illuminated for the evening, is also included.

Two of Washington’s most iconic museums take up residence in the historical Old Patent Office Building, where history and art collide. Visit the National Portrait Gallery and the American Art Museum on a 2 to 2.5 hour private tour and discover the best of American-made works all under one roof.

Experience the history and grandeur of the nation’s capital on a private 3-hour tour. Work with your personal guide and driver to curate the ideal tour incorporating your must-see spots or rely on their local expertise to create a fascinating tour. Go inside the House and Senate Galleries and see where the nation’s laws are debated. See the White House, Supreme Court and much more. This tour is ideal for visitors looking for a personalized experience

Explore two of Washington D.C.’s beloved museums with an art historian on this guided tour. Enjoy a small, personalized experience—the tour will include no more than eight participants—while learning about the National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum. Discover the amazing history of the 19th century building where both museums are housed and the amazing works within it.

With no in-person contact, our smartphone-guided tour brings the real facts and stories behind Washington DC to life with the quality of a personal private tour crafted by DC locals. We've taken the same stops and sights we share with our friends and families when they come to town, and created an interactive web-based tour. Read the stories behind the city, answer questions about what you've seen to reveal fun facts, and experience what makes Penn Quarter incredible! Purchase your tour and then navigate to our website to enter your access code and launch the tour. You can either start immediately or create an account and come back when you've reached the starting location and are ready to explore.