Get an insider's look at the design of the District with DC Design Tours! Explore Washington's architectural marvels and best kept secrets, while hearing about the conflicts, controversies, and personalities involved in the development of our Capital City. From Neo-Classical to Brutalist, learn the history behind the brick and mortar on our design-focused Washington tours!
We offer both public and private tours on a regular basis. DC Design Tours conducts walking tours of nine fascinating neighborhoods in Washington DC. We also offer private walking, driving, and virtual tours.
We offer both public and private tours on a regular basis. DC Design Tours conducts walking tours of nine fascinating neighborhoods in Washington DC. We also offer private walking, driving, and virtual tours.
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A former architectural designer and lover of all things brick and mortar, Carolyn left her drafting desk and started DC Design Tours so she could talk about buildings rather than draw them. She has not-so-secret crushes on Pierre L'Enfant and Montgomery Meigs, and can spot a mansard roof a mile away.
Book a private walking or driving tour with just you, your family or group, and your design guide. Choose from any of our walking tours to be conducted privately, or let us customize a walking or driving itinerary just for you. Private two hour walking tours are available to book online at 10am, 2pm, and 7pm.
Visit our calendar page to sign up for scheduled walking tours from mid-February through November. If you don't see the tour you want on the date you're free, please get in touch, and we can schedule a private tour! Tickets for our public tours cost $35 per adult and $20 per child. Private family tours (up to six people) cost $250.
Check out our photo gallery to see some of DC's most beautiful hidden (and not so hidden) gems. Scroll over the photo to learn more. See these sights and more on tour with us! The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and Washington Monument help make up the monumental core of Washington DC. Part of our National Mall- Monuments & Memorials Walking Tour!
Reviews (20)
Buck Johnson
Jan 29, 2022
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Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
I absolutely loved the virtual tour of Embassy Row! I learned sooo many great stories. Wow. I live right off of Embassy Row and I'm amazed at all the history that is right before my eyes every day. Thank you for the tour! I look forward to the next one!
I absolutely loved the virtual tour of Embassy Row! I learned sooo many great stories. Wow. I live right off of Embassy Row and I'm amazed at all the history that is right before my eyes every day. Thank you for the tour! I look forward to the next one!
Stephanie Rosner
Dec 05, 2021
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Carmen Echols
Nov 22, 2021
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Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
We did the private tour of DuPont Circle and Embassy Row with Carolyn. It was amazing. She’s very knowledgeable and did an excellent mix of history and architecture. I wish I could do a tour with her everyday of my trip. I will be using DC Design Tours anytime I’m back in DC.
We did the private tour of DuPont Circle and Embassy Row with Carolyn. It was amazing. She’s very knowledgeable and did an excellent mix of history and architecture. I wish I could do a tour with her everyday of my trip. I will be using DC Design Tours anytime I’m back in DC.
Carmen E.
Nov 21, 2021
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Alexandra Ashbrook
Nov 18, 2021
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Sam took us on an informative and entertaining tour of Dupont Circle and Embassy Row. As a native Washingtonian, I wish I had done this tour ages ago so I could recommend it to anyone who comes to visit DC or lives here. It was the perfect COVID activity and I am signing up for more tours. Sam is a delight.
Kelley Cruickshank
Nov 11, 2021
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Went on the 16th St & Adams Morgan Neighborhood tour with Carolyn. It was a great experience. Carolyn was a great tour guide. Very knowledgeable and engaging.
Carolyn pointed out the call boxes you find on the street corners. The next day I noticed one on my way to breakfast that I had walked past and not noticed before.
Great way to explore a neighborhood I had never been to before. Would recommend for both tourist and locals.
Carolyn pointed out the call boxes you find on the street corners. The next day I noticed one on my way to breakfast that I had walked past and not noticed before.
Great way to explore a neighborhood I had never been to before. Would recommend for both tourist and locals.
Gregg R.
Nov 07, 2021
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We took DC Design's National Cathedral tour and were blown away! Carolyn gave an interesting, engaging, and informative tour of the National Cathedral and Cleveland Park neighborhood. We've taken many tours throughout DC and found this one to be one of the best and most interesting! We can't wait to take another one of DC Design's tours. You won't be disappointed
Elizabeth Thornton
Oct 19, 2021
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My husband and I did both a nighttime Capitol/Union Station tour with Sam and a daytime Embassy Row tour with Carolyn. Both tours were exactly what we look for when we book tours in any city we visit. Lots of great new information, hilarious stories, stunning architecture, and an overall feel like you're walking around with a good friend. Sam and Carolyn are both a lot of fun and clearly know their stuff (this is kind of pretentious but when you go on lots of tours you know who cares about the topic at hand and who barely googled it). I would absolutely recommend anyone take a tour with DC Design
Tricia L.
Aug 06, 2021
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My family and I had such a fun and enjoyable time with Carolyn as we walked and she shared some of Georgetown's rich and fascinating history. She was so friendly, personable, and made us feel safe and comfortable the entire time we were together. I highly recommend taking her guided tour if your in the DC area.
Patricia Van Bergen
Jun 13, 2021
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Positive: Professionalism, Punctuality, Quality, Value
Carolyn is the best! She customized the "Iconic Capitol Hill" tour for my Latin students. The students, as well as the parents, had a blast, and learned a lot. Thank you, Carolyn, for sprinkling this tour with plenty of Roman influences, and answering everybody's questions.
Services: City tours, Private tours, Group tours
Carolyn is the best! She customized the "Iconic Capitol Hill" tour for my Latin students. The students, as well as the parents, had a blast, and learned a lot. Thank you, Carolyn, for sprinkling this tour with plenty of Roman influences, and answering everybody's questions.
Services: City tours, Private tours, Group tours
Mel Korobkin
Jun 04, 2021
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Positive: Professionalism, Punctuality, Quality
We had a wonderful experience with DC Design Tours. Our team of real estate agents went on this tour to learn a little history and architecture about DC. We truly learned so much and had so much fun. The bus was gorgeous and our guide was so knowledgeable and personable. Highly recommend!!
Services: City tours, Private tours, Group tours
We had a wonderful experience with DC Design Tours. Our team of real estate agents went on this tour to learn a little history and architecture about DC. We truly learned so much and had so much fun. The bus was gorgeous and our guide was so knowledgeable and personable. Highly recommend!!
Services: City tours, Private tours, Group tours
Natalie W.
May 09, 2021
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Jillian B.
Jul 28, 2020
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I have done two DC Design tours, Georgetown and Dupont/Embassy Row, and both were an incredible experience. The guide, Sam, was fun, engaging, and had so many cool facts to share. I have lived in the DC area for almost 9 years but found myself blown away by what I learned on these tours. They make great gifts and I recommend them even for locals. A great COVID-19 tour/activity. DC Design tours are the best! Thank you, Sam!
Cathy S.
Jun 11, 2020
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Carolyn has been my tour guide for five years now with my group of fifth graders I bring to DC every Spring Break. She has always done an outstanding job. Super knowledgeable and does so well with the students. My own family returned to DC one summer and toured with her. She never disappoints. Best Guide Ever!!!
Robin E.
Jan 16, 2020
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The tour of the Georgetown area was wonderful! Sam is an excellent guide--professional, knowledgeable, and personable. I learned so much and it was very enjoyable-- so much better than just wandering around alone. I definitely will recommend your company to friends and I look forward to taking more of your tours when I'm in the area again!
Flo H.
Sep 13, 2019
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My friends and I were in DC for the evening, and we wanted to see as much as possible. Our guide Sam was very kind and personable. I could immediately tell that history was his passion. He was very knowledgeable about everything he showed us. I thoroughly enjoyed going to the places I've dreamt of. Sam made the experience even better with his extra insight. I would recommend Sam to anybody looking for a guide in DC.
Brian K.
Jun 22, 2019
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Faith D.
Jun 03, 2019
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We were looking for something fun to do with visiting family members and, inspired by a recent walking tour in NYC, we decided to take our families on a similar excursion in DC. We were not disappointed! We booked a private tour of Dupont Circle--great bang for buck--for 8 people on a Saturday morning at 10am. Carolyn was informative and passionate. (Makings for the absolute best kind of tour guide!) She took all of our questions, even extending the tour a bit beyond the anticipated time just to tell us more about some of the buildings on our return leg.
We're planning to take other tours
We're planning to take other tours
Henry C.
Sep 21, 2018
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I took a personal tour of Georgetown with Carolyn. There is quite a lot of history that we either never learned or misunderstood. A quality tour such as this one is priceless and triggers a desire for further exploration.
Tours are wonderful resources to get to know a new area. DC Design Tours is an exceptional resource for Washington DC.
I was very impressed with Carolyn's command of history and architecture. I am very grateful for her patience with my questions. I look forward to taking another tour if the opportunity should arise.
Carolyn has a great conversational style. You can tell
Tours are wonderful resources to get to know a new area. DC Design Tours is an exceptional resource for Washington DC.
I was very impressed with Carolyn's command of history and architecture. I am very grateful for her patience with my questions. I look forward to taking another tour if the opportunity should arise.
Carolyn has a great conversational style. You can tell
Austin G.
Oct 01, 2017
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My wife and I have lived in DC for ten years and have joined a number of tours and this one is by far the best. We joined that Dupont Circle waking tour on a Saturday at 1PM. Our tour guide was named Kelly and she was the perfect blend of funny, real, and knew really interesting facts about the neighborhood and design. She was able to break down design using fashion metaphors that made it more accessible.
The Dupont Circle tour started by the Dupont Circle Metro. We walked past the Philips Collection up the Spanish Steps into Kalorama. You pass many embassies, the Woodrow Wilson House and to
The Dupont Circle tour started by the Dupont Circle Metro. We walked past the Philips Collection up the Spanish Steps into Kalorama. You pass many embassies, the Woodrow Wilson House and to
