The Tour and Visitor Center is closed on weekends, Federal holidays, and the week between Christmas and New Years Day. The Tour and Visitor Center is open on the day after Thanksgiving, which has historically been our busiest day of the year. Please plan accordingly if you expect to visit on that day.
Policies
Cameras are allowed in the facility, but their use in the tour gallery is prohibited.
Visitors must pass through a metal detector and belongings will be screened before entering the building.
Strollers are allowed in the facility, but may not be taken on the tour.
Anyone found in violation of BEP policies as written or explained by the tour guides, will be escorted off the premises by a police officer. Visitors must follow the direction of the BEP Police while on BEP property.
Non-Peak Season Hours
September - February
No tickets required
Space is given on a first-come, first-served basis with the line forming at the Visitor Entrance on 14th Street.
Tours run every 15 minutes from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. with advance reservations held for large groups between 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. The Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (door closes at 3:00 p.m.)
Peak Season Hours
March - August
Free tickets required
Free tickets are required for all tours from the first Monday in March through the last Friday in August, on a first-come, first-served basis. The ticket booth is located on Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th Street). We offer same day tickets only. The Ticket Booth opens at 8:00 a.m. - Monday through Friday, and closes when all tickets have been distributed. Lines form early (some days as early as 5:30 a.m.) and tickets go quickly, most days' (especially during the first two weeks in April ~ Cherry Blossom/Spring Break) tickets are gone by 8:30 a.m. Please plan accordingly.
Tours run every 15 minutes from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. in March. April through August tours run every 15 minutes from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with advanced reservations held for large groups between 11:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
The Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (door closes at 3:00 p.m.) in March, and 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (door closes at 7:00 p.m.), April through August.
Groups
Tours for groups of 10 or more people run every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. There is a 50-person maximum. Group tours MUST be scheduled in advance with the tour office. Please call the Tour Scheduler at (202) 874-2330 or 1 (866) 874-2330. Group reservations are free and must be submitted by faxing the BEP's group reservation request form to (202) 874-6331. The forms are available in MS Word and PDF formats below:
Congressional Tours
The BEP grants special requests for tours made through the office of your local United States Senator or Representative. These tours take place Monday through Friday at 8:15 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. May through August, Congressional tours also run every 15 minutes from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Please contact your local United States Senator or Representative for more information. Click here to download the Congressional Tour Reservation Form.
For the most recent opening and closing information please call the tour office at (202) 874-2330 or toll-free at (866) 874-2330. Please be advised that all tour policies are subject to change.
