Best Georgetown's Guided Tours

One of the things you must do in Washington DC is to visit Georgetown. It is a neighborhood that was created before the establishment of Washington and the District of Columbia, so it has a great historical value. In addition, it is home to tourist sites that are often overlooked by tourists, but worth a visit.

In Georgetown you will discover streets with shopping malls, restaurants and bars where you can take a gastronomic tour. If you like to know about the history of the neighborhood, you can walk the streets with a professional guide. In case you like horror stories, a ghost tour will be the best for you. Visit Georgetown and choose the best tour following the tips I give you here.

Do you like to try new foods in the places you visit? Then you can't pass up this tour made for foodies like you. Enjoy a walking tour to visit a number of local restaurants in Georgetown while learning about its history. If you're interested in this type of experience, I recommend one of our Washington food tours.

The foodie tour in Georgetown takes about 3 hours and costs about 69 €. This includes tastings at the different restaurants you will visit. In addition, the guide will take the opportunity to explain historical facts about the streets as well as the food. The food tastings include vegan options, tastings and pairings with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage options.

The tour will start at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, from here you will walk about 20 minutes with your guide and group to the first local restaurant. Restaurant stops will be approximately every 20 minutes, so don't worry, it will be enough time to try small samples of food while listening to your guide.

Depending on the type of food and the restaurant, you will either sit at a table or do your tasting standing up. Among the restaurants to visit you will find dishes inspired by Italian food, others are much more indigenous to the area, blending the flavors of the northern and southern United States. You will also taste traditional charcuterie, American bakery, among other things.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 69 €.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Means of transportation: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: with this tour you will get to know a different side of Georgetown, besides knowing a bit of the history of its streets. Also, you won't have to look for a place to have lunch because I'm sure you will be satisfied.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour focuses only on food and history.

Traveller tip

When visiting a new city keep in mind that your stomach will not always react the same to new foods. Be cautious and avoid foods that may upset you. I advise you to bring some medicine to help your digestion and to make clear to your guide what your allergies or food restrictions are.

The Georgetown neighborhood in Washington D.C. is known for being the historic core of the U.S. capital. During a tour of approximately 2 hours and for an approximate price of 63 €, you will learn about the past and present of Georgetown. You will pass by the main attractions while your guide tells you all the historical details.

The meeting place is usually the Georgetown Waterfront Park. There your guide and tour group will be waiting for you. From here you will begin your tour through the famous family homes you've probably heard of: the Lincolns and Kennedys.

You will also pass by the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which linked the cities of Washington D. C. and Cumberland, Maryland, in the United States. At one time it was used to transport coal from the Allegheny Mountains. It is currently a national park.

Other stops on this tour are the Tudor Place Mansion which was home to Thomas Peter and his wife; and Martin's Tavern, a site that many American presidents have visited. The tour ends at Georgetown University. For each of the stops you will have approximately 20 minutes to hear the history of the site and take pictures.

The pace of the tour is set by the group you are traveling with, but normally the guide will try to keep the tour on schedule.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 63 €.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transportation: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: thanks to this tour you will get to know all the historical details of Georgetown.
• Disadvantages of this option: the whole tour of approximately 2 hours will be done on foot. This is not ideal for everyone, as some people have mobility problems or simply get tired quickly.

Do you like horror stories? If you will be in Washington for at least 2 days I recommend you not to miss a tour of the ghosts of Georgetown. This tour of only 3 hours approximately and an average cost of 200 €, will help you discover the most chilling legends of this town.

The streets of Georgetown not only hide legends of ancient ghosts, but also stories of real crimes. The fact that it is certain that they really happened only makes the tour more frightening. To complement the experience, your tour guide will take you to visit the neighborhood cemeteries. There he will tell you the story of some of the people who are laid to rest for eternity.

On this tour you will also visit the most terrifying churches and alleys. However, the most frightening stop of all is the Old Stone House. This is the oldest colonial building and the one that has changed the least over time. Some locals claim that sometimes you can hear noises and murmurs coming from this place.

The Exorcist stairs are another of the most requested tourist sites by visitors. They are concrete stairs located on 36th Street, at the corner of Prospect St and 36th St NW. They became famous because they appeared in the 1973 movie The Exorcist. However, before this film they were already related to horror and were known as "Hitchcock's steps".

If you love horror, this could be one of the best night tours in Washington D.C. for you.

Details of interest

• Price: around 200 €.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Means of transportation: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: on this tour you will experience many emotions and discover stories that not everyone knows about Georgetown.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you are a person who tends to be easily frightened or impressed, it may not be advisable to take this tour. Although no one will come out to scare you, the whole tour is intended to be suspenseful and scary.

Do you love to appreciate the architecture of all the places you visit? If so, I recommend taking a tour focused on the architecture of Georgetown. Being a town steeped in history, it is home to buildings and homes with architectural details worth appreciating. The tour usually lasts about 2 hours, with an average price of 200 €.

This tour begins with a meeting with your tour guide and your group at a central location in Georgetown. As with most tours, you will cross the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. As you walk through here, your guide will explain details of this site, how it was built and its usefulness at the time.

You will then visit several historic sites such as the Laird-Dunlop House, the Newton D. Baker House and the Lydia Seminary School for Girls boarding school. Upper class people boarded their daughters at this site. You will also pass by the Grafton Tyler Double House, Christ Episcopal Church and the Hyde-Addison School. Each has an interesting history.

Other sites of interest include the historic Yellow Tavern or White Horse Tavern. You can also stop by the Pomander Walk, Georgetown Preparatory School, Healy Hall and the Georgetown University Library. Other interesting visits are the Car Barn (a streetcar depot), the Francis Scott Key Memorial and Cady's Alley. The last stop on the tour is the Georgetown Waterfront, an iconic site in this neighborhood.

Details of interest

• Price: 150 € more or less.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: unlike other historical tours, this tour takes care of detailing the history of each building on another level. You will learn about how they were built, the uses they had and other important facts.
• Disadvantages of this option: as it is a walking tour it does not include snacks and you may feel tired very soon.

If you want to have a more intimate experience and be sure you won't miss anything, I recommend a private guided tour of Georgetown. These tours usually have a duration of 3 hours and an average price of 120 €. You can take this tour with two or more people.

On these tours your guide will usually ask you if you want to visit a specific site of interest to you. If you do not have something in mind, the guide will offer you a fairly complete itinerary so that you will get to know most of the iconic sites of Georgetown. In addition, you will appreciate the architecture of the neighborhood and its pre-revolutionary buildings. You will also learn about the post-Civil War African-American community. If you are interested in this topic, I recommend a visit to the Museum of African American History in Washington D.C.

The most anticipated part of this tour is undoubtedly the visit to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal which is now a National Historical Park. Here you will find a variety of activities for the whole family. You can paddle the Potomac River, hike the Towpath Trail and the Capital Crescent Trail, the most popular trails in the park. The guide will usually point out the activities you can do here, but does not accompany you to each one.

If you are fascinated with your activities in the park, you can take a guided tour on the canal boat. These usually last at least an hour, but remember that they are not included in the private tour. If you like these plans, I recommend booking a Washington D.C. cruise.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 120 €.
• Duration: about 2 hours and a half.
• Means of transportation: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: this option is perhaps one of the most complete as it includes an exploration of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Park.
• Disadvantages of this option: The only disadvantage of this option is that it does not include a guided boat tour on the canal. This must be done, if you wish, at the end of your tour with your private guide.

• As you may have noticed, the tours of Georgetown are walking tours. Although the walks do not exceed 3 hours and include breaks, I am sure you will get tired at some point during the walk. That's why I advise you to go as prepared as possible. For starters, wear comfortable, ergonomic shoes that you can handle the day in.
• In addition, you need to wear light and comfortable clothing that will allow you to walk quietly through the streets. Keep in mind that you will be under the sun, so it is best to wear something light and apply sunscreen on your skin. These tips should be taken into account in all the things you do in Washington during the summer.
• If you are looking for things to do in Washington during the winter, then when you go outdoors your attire should be different. Be prepared with warm but lightweight coats and boots that let you walk at ease. Tours will probably include stops for a hot drink at one of Georgetown's restaurants.
• On the other hand, if you want to visit the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, I recommend that you go prepared to enjoy nature. Some activities are done on the river, such as boat rides or paddling or kayaking lessons on the Potomac River. I recommend that you carry a cloth in your backpack in case of an accident.

Georgetown is a town with many hidden historical sites. Although it is a relatively small neighborhood, it is home to natural and historic beauty that should be explored by tourists visiting Washington. It features cobblestone sidewalks, prominent trees and old buildings such as the Old Stone House and Georgetown University.

Most of the sites can be visited without purchasing a ticket. Most of them are houses with historical value, streets, churches and even cemeteries and staircases famous for appearing in horror movies. It also has stores, restaurants and luxury hotels.

However, if you travel on your own you will miss the details of the history of all these sites. The magic of your visit to Georgetown will be the stories your guide will tell you as you get to know this iconic site. If you do the tour on your own, you will have to check Google Maps to make sure you don't get lost, as well as look up information about the sites you visit. Honestly, spending your vacation looking at the screen of your cell phone is not the most ideal thing to do.

The only detail of these guided tours is that they are done on foot. However, in Washington you can get tours in private vehicles and even tour buses. You could also book some of the best bike tours in the city. Those options are the best if you feel that walking for several hours is not your thing.