5 Best Georgetown Tours in Washington DC

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

In Georgetown you will discover streets with shopping malls, restaurants and bars where you can take a food tour. If you like to learn about the history of the neighbourhood, 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 miss 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 the foodie tours of Washington.

The foodie tour of Georgetown takes about 3 hours and costs approximately €69. This includes tastings at the different restaurants you will visit. The guide will also take the opportunity to explain historical facts about both the streets and the food. Food tastings include vegan options, tastings and food 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 every 20 minutes or 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'll find Italian-inspired dishes, others are much more indigenous to the area, blending the flavours of the northern and southern United States. You'll also sample traditional charcuterie, American baked goods and more.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 75 €.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.

Do you like horror stories? If you'll be in Washington for at least 2 days I recommend you don't miss a Georgetown Ghost Walking Tour. This tour of only about 3 hours and an average cost of 200 €, will help you to 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 they are certain to have actually happened only makes the tour all the more frightening. To complement the experience, your tour guide will take you to visit the cemeteries in the neighbourhood. 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 spooky 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 noises and murmurs can sometimes be heard coming from the site.

The Exorcist's Stairs are another popular tourist site. They are concrete stairs located on 36th Street, at the corner of Prospect St and 36th St NW. They became famous because they were featured in the 1973 film The Exorcist. However, before this film they were already associated with 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 55 €.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.

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

This tour starts with a meeting with your tour guide and group at a central location in Georgetown. As with most tours, you'll cross the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. As you walk 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 here. You will also pass the Grafton Tyler Double House, Christ Episcopal Church and Hyde-Addison School. Each has an interesting history.

Other places 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 Georgetown University Library. Other interesting sights include the Car Barn (a tram 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 neighbourhood.

Details of interest

• Price: about $150.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.

The Washington D.C. neighbourhood of Georgetown is known as the historic core of the U.S. capital. During a walking 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 point is usually the Georgetown Waterfront Park. There your guide and tour group will be waiting for you. From here you will start your tour through the famous family homes you've probably heard of: the Lincolns and Kennedys.

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

Other stops on the tour include Tudor Place Mansion, once 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 photographs.

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

Details of interest

• Price: approximately €63.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.

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 last 3 hours and cost an average of €120. You can do 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 don't have something in mind, the guide will give you a fairly comprehensive itinerary so you can see most of Georgetown's iconic sites. You'll also get to appreciate the neighbourhood's architecture and pre-revolutionary buildings. You'll 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 by 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 2.5 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.

• As you may have noticed, the tours of Georgetown are walking tours. Although the walks don't exceed 3 hours and include breaks, I'm sure you will get tired at some point during the walk. That's why I advise you to be as prepared as possible. For starters, wear comfortable, ergonomic shoes that will get you through the day.
• In addition, you should wear light, comfortable clothing that will allow you to walk the streets at ease. Bear in mind that you will be in the sun, so it is best to wear something light and apply sunscreen to your skin. These tips should be taken into account for everything you do in Washington during the summer.
• If you're looking for things to do in Washington during the winter, then when you go outside your attire should be different. Be prepared with warm but lightweight coats and boots that allow you to walk comfortably. 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, be prepared to enjoy the great outdoors. Some activities take place on the river, such as boat rides or paddling and 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 neighbourhood, it is home to a natural and historical beauty that should be explored by tourists visiting Washington. It features cobblestone pavements, 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. They are mostly houses of historical value, streets, churches and even cemeteries and staircases famously featured in horror films. There are also shops, 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 time in Georgetown will be the stories your guide will tell you as you explore this iconic site. If you do the tour on your own, you'll need to check Google Maps to make sure you don't get lost, as well as look up details of the sites you visit. Honestly, spending your holiday looking at your mobile screen is not ideal.

The only downside to these guided tours is that they are walking tours. 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. These options are best if you feel that walking for several hours is not your thing.