Washington D.C. Sightseeing Pass Review: Is it Worth it?

Besides being home to the seat of democracy, the United States capital is full of sights to behold for travelers from across the fifty states and all over the world.

From Capitol Hill to the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial to the International Spy Museum, and much more, Washington D.C. contains some of the top attractions of America.

First-time visitors will be eager to hit all the sights without worrying about different tickets, tours, and breaking the bank. Those problems can be solved by certain destination passes offered at tourist hotspots which act like a master ticket or discount pass for individual attractions included with it.

In Washington, D.C., one of the top choices for something like this is the Sightseeing Pass offered by Sightseeingpass.com. But is the pass worth it? Can you save money or time by making this purchase in advance?

Let’s look at the pass in detail below and decide if it will get you to the best DC highlights at the lowest cost and most convenient way in our Washington D.C. Sightseeing Pass review.

Methodology

My technique for reviewing the Washington D.C. Sightseeing Pass is based on my personal experience from dozens of trips to our nation’s capital.

As a relatively frequent visitor who needs to watch the budget, I think I can provide a fair perspective on what you should see and what value the pass brings.

With this logic, a fellow traveler should be able to decide whether they should get this destination pass or not, and if so, which version is best for them.

What is the Washington D.C. Sightseeing Pass?

The Washington D.C. Sightseeing Pass is a digital pass that visitors purchase and store on their phones before starting their trip.

Theoretically, you could purchase spontaneously while standing on the National Mall; but most travelers will be more comfortable preparing something like this in advance.

The only other pass that Washington D.C.’s tourism website advertises is the Ivy Pass Whiskey Tasting Passport, which is not exactly a competitor and instead will take you to Mount Vernon plus the distilleries of the area.

That could be a cool thing to do for whiskey lovers and history buffs who want to see the sites of the Whiskey Rebellion of the late 1700s. There are two options to consider: the DAY Pass and the FLEX Pass, depending on your type of traveler and what you want to do.

The DAY Pass

The DAY Pass is advertised as best for first-time visitors who want to see as many Washington D.C. sights as possible, as well as families who want to see the city at their own pace and at ease with the hop-on, hop-off bus tour.

The DAY Pass is valid for two or three days, costing $104.30 or $139.30, respectively. Once you purchase it, you have up to 12 months to activate it by simply using it at one of the attractions it includes. Once you do that, the two or three-day clock starts.

The pass has a ton of inclusions that will get you in the door to attractions and tours for nothing. You scan your pass at the door in place of a ticket. Besides that, certain DC restaurants and stores offer discounts to pass holders.

Here are some of the attractions that this pass includes entrance to for free:

• The Big Bus Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour; or the Panoramic Night Tour
• Spirit of Mount Vernon Cruise
• George Washington’s Mount Vernon
• The International Spy Museum
• Unlimited Biking tours:
  • Monuments & Memorials Bike Tour
  • All-Day Bike Rental
  • Washington D.C. Capital Sites Bike Tour
• Madame Tussaud’s DC
• Potomac Riverboat One Day Water Taxi
• Scavenger Hunts – Washington D.C.
• Spirit of Mount Vernon Cruise
• Urban Adventures – American Politics & Debate on Capitol Hill Bike Tour

Besides these, the pass also gets you various discounts at restaurants and shopping in the city. It’s all tied together with the Sightseeing Pass mobile app, which can give you all of the information on your pass and help you plan your activities. 

As you can see, the DAY Pass has a ton of value. You’ll see the full price of each of those activities if you were to pay without the pass to prove it.

The FLEX Pass

This option works very similarly to the above, but as the name implies allows for a bit more flexibility in choosing only what you want to see.

If you aren’t on a big trip that has time for everything, or you’ve been to DC before and have a few things on your list, this could be the better money-saver for you.

The FLEX Pass gets you on the hop-on, hop-off bus for a day, allowing you to choose one, two, or four specific attractions your pass will get you into. The price varies based on that – for example, if you choose two attractions, the pass is $64; if you choose four, it’s $89.

Besides the price flexibility of this option in adding only what you need, you also have time flexibility. Your attractions can be used over 60 days, once each.

Besides your day on the Big Bus, here are the activities you can choose to visit for free. Note that it’s the same list as the DAY Pass, but you must choose in advance and a limited amount!

• Spirit of Mount Vernon Cruise
• George Washington’s Mount Vernon
• The International Spy Museum
• Unlimited Biking tours:
  • Monuments & Memorials Bike Tour
  • All-Day Bike Rental
  • Washington D.C. Capital Sites Bike Tour
• Madame Tussaud’s DC
• Potomac Riverboat One Day Water Taxi
• Scavenger Hunts – Washington D.C.
• Spirit of Mount Vernon Cruise
• Urban Adventures – American Politics & Debate on Capitol Hill Bike Tour

The FLEX Pass also gets you the same discounts at shopping and dining as the DAY Pass; as well as access to the Sightseeing Pass mobile app for planning and information.

This activity pass is a great way to see the sights of DC at your own pace and around your interests, and as the price breakdowns show, there is definitely value in it.

See Related: GoCity Amsterdam Review: Is it Worth it? 

The Short Version: Sightseeing Pass Washington D.C. Review

Now that we’ve seen what it’s all about, I will tell you briefly: the Sightseeing Pass is a great deal for the right traveler to Washington D.C.

You’ll have to read the specifics as we describe them below to see if you fall into this category of ‘the right traveler’. The pass makes sense for you if you plan to visit certain activities, have the right amount of time, and like the types of tours and activities offered.

But, if you are a big walker and an independent traveler who wants to see things independently, it’s not necessarily a great money-saver for you. So, read on to see if it makes sense for your trip.

See Related: CityPASS New York vs New York Pass: Which is Better?

Pros and Cons

As usual with these destination passes, the Sightseeing Pass Washington D.C. Pass has positives and negatives. It’s not necessarily right for every traveler but it can be great if your interests, budget, and time constraints align.

Pro: Wide Range of Options Provide Flexibility For Your Trip

If you are thinking that your super-short or extra-long stay in Washington, D.C. might mean this pass isn’t for you, that’s not necessarily true.

If you are on a business trip with just a bit of time, you’ve been to DC before, and you want to see a few things that you haven’t before, or if you’re in a generally similar situation, the FLEX Pass could be perfect for you.

If this is your big trip to DC and you want to do it all in the time you have, the DAY Pass could save you some serious money. Plus, you can add another layer of choice and flexibility with a two- or three-day itinerary.

Great Hotel Near the National Mall: The Hilton Washington D.C. National Mall The Wharf

Pro: Popular Attractions, Historical Tours, and Niche Tours Included Free

The pass covers most of the big things to see in Washington, D.C. Between the tours, entry tickets, and stops with commentary on the Big Bus; you’ll be able to check off some of the most important things to see in DC from your list.

Some of the places you’ll see are listed in the inclusions we saw above. But within those tours and activities are visits to important memorials like the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

Of course, you’ll also hit government sites like the scenic National Mall, the United States Capitol Building, and the White House.

But besides the typical things you might see from a Washington D.C. itinerary, you can do some very cool historical and niche experiences.

These would be things like bike tours, political debate tours, and even scavenger hunts around the city. It’s always cool to try something interesting outside of the typical tourist route.

Great Hotel Near the White House: The Westin Washington D.C. City Center

Pro: Multiple Fun Ways to Visit American History Sites & Monuments

Of all the things in Washington D.C. that we’ve mentioned so far, some of them can be seen in several different ways depending on how you want to plan your days and how active you want to be.

For one, you have access to the Big Bus Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour which provides you with guided commentary all around the city and on more than 40 attractions. The guide even hops off with you for a quick guided walking tour at the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean War Memorial.

But if you’d rather do something more than enjoy the city by bus, you certainly have options. Take one of the bike tours offered for free with an expert guide, or rent the bike for a day and do it yourself. Alternatively, see the sights from the Potomac River on the Water Taxi Tour.

Great Hotel Near the Potomac: Mandarin Oriental Washington D.C.

Pro: You Can Avoid Public Transportation by Using the Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour

To add to the value of the hop-on, hop-off bus tour, you don’t have to just think of it as a sightseeing tour option. In fact, the three loops that you have access to (if you choose this over the Panoramic Night Tour) basically cover anywhere you might want to go in the city.

So, don’t worry about buying metro tickets or ordering Uber’s on the day that you have access to the Big Bus. You can activate your pass for the bus at the Union Station stop; buses run roughly every hour.

Great Hotel Near Union Station: YOTEL Washington D.C.

Pro: Save on Shopping, Select Restaurants & Even on a Rental Car

Besides the free entry to the activities on the list, buying the pass offers discounts around the Washington D.C. area. Stores like Bloomingdales, various luggage storage services, and shopping centers like Tyson’s Corner Center offer 10-15% off for pass holders.

On top of that, one of the most valuable perks on the ‘discounts’ side of the card is the car rental benefit. At the Advantage Rent A Car agency at the Reagan National Airport, pass holders receive 10% off their rental plus extra drivers for no fee.

This is a great way to save money on a rental car and is especially useful if your trip will extend out of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area: for example, why not make the trip up to Shenandoah National Park just two hours away? Or see the historical towns in Virginia like Williamsburg?

Great Hotel Near Shenandoah National Park: Holiday Inn Express Woodstock-Shenandoah Valley

Pro: Free Cancellation for a Full Refund if Your Plans Change

We all know (especially nowadays) that stuff happens. Canceled flights, delayed flights, worldwide pandemics… unfortunately plans change, and the travel industry sometimes isn’t friendly about it.

But, that doesn’t have to apply to the Washington D.C. Sightseeing Pass. At checkout, you have the option to add insurance for 4% of your total. This insurance policy allows a full refund of your passes if you aren’t able to use them, and I’d say it’s worth it.

Keep in mind that the refund won’t apply once you use the pass at your first attraction. Also, if you don’t buy the insurance, you will still have the possibility of extending the validity of your pass for up to 12 months, at the discretion of management.

Great Hotel Near Dulles International Airport: Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Washington Dulles International Airport

Con: Inconvenient Scheduling Policies for Certain Tours

Unfortunately, scheduling isn’t completely smooth sailing for all of the activities and tours included. While it is completely understandable that individual attractions vary in their requirements for advance reservations of a day and time, some policies are quite inconvenient.

For example, the bike tours require that you arrive at the meeting point on the day that you want to take the tour as early as you can to secure a spot. They fill up on a first-come, first-served basis, which can be a frustrating stressor for the DC traveler.

Other attractions have specific days and times that they can be used; such as Thursdays thru Sundays only or Spring thru Fall only. Furthermore, the Spirit of Mount Vernon Cruise is advertised as an inclusion, but it appears that this tour has been closed indefinitely since 2020.

Great Hotel Near George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Best Western Plus Mount Vernon – Fort Belvoir

Con: Pass Doesn’t Include Tours of the Smithsonian Institution Sites

While maybe we shouldn’t complain about lack of access to a single attraction, in this case, it’s not really just one single attraction and it is a significant thing to do in Washington D.C..

The Smithsonian Institution is “the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex” and is a very important complex of awesome things in the city. Previously called the United States National Museum, the collections are home to items numbering in the hundreds of millions.

In my opinion, this is an important thing to do in Washington D.C., and it’s unfortunately not included in the pass. Don’t worry, as Smithsonian Institution attractions are generally free in terms of admission; but I would have liked to see some sort of guided tour option of some sites included.

Great Hotel Near the Smithsonian Museums: citizenM Washington D.C. Capitol

See Related: Boston CityPASS Review: Is It Worth It?

Key Features

While we’ve described each in detail, let’s look directly at the key features of each version of the pass as they are displayed on the Sightseeingpass.com site. 

Common Features of the DAY and FLEX Passes

First of all, it’s important to note that the list of attractions to choose from included in both versions of the pass is the same. Below, we have the list of attractions that are unlimited in the DAY Pass and to choose from in the FLEX Pass.

The same rule applies to the discounts that the pass will get you around town at shopping, dining, and rental cars. The below list is shared for both versions of the pass.

Sightseeing DAY Pass Features

Below is an easy summary of what you’ll get by choosing the DAY Pass. The main difference is the unlimited sightseeing as compared to the Flex option.

Going to the Plan & Save page will show you potential itineraries to help inspire your trip with the pass. You can choose two or three days, and besides your schedule, you will see your savings as compared to not having the pass; like below.

Sightseeing FLEX Pass Features

The FLEX Pass builds some flexibility into your schedule as well as your budget, allowing you to only pay for what you need. Below, we can see that this is the main difference.

Likewise, visit the Plan & Save page to see your possibilities when it comes to combinations of attractions. You’ll see samples with one, two, or four attractions plus can build your own and see all the savings.

Ratings

East-of-Use: 3/5 

I had to knock a few points off my rating for this one because I didn’t find the information on the website immediately easy to locate and often misleading.

For example, it wasn’t immediately clear to me how exactly the pass worked, and I had to spend some time understanding it (so, I hope this review is helpful to you!).

Furthermore, I was disappointed to find hidden information several clicks away that certain activities were unavailable on certain days.

On the flip side, the ease of use of the actual pass, once you purchase it, is quite convenient: scan your phone each time you visit an attraction, and you are in.

Features: 4/5 

You can’t complain too much about what’s included in the pass. Nearly all of the great American history and government sites are included in some fashion, along with some really cool tours and activities.

As we saw, I was disappointed that the Smithsonian sites weren’t included in some fashion, and I wasn’t thrilled with the reservation process of some things. So, a 4/5 seems appropriate here.

Customer Service: 5/5

A bright spot of this pass is the availability of help if you need it. Unlike some service providers which hide this information, you can easily find a phone number and email form at the bottom of the site. Plus, they have a help desk right there in Washington D.C. (which is also home to Bike and Roll DC).

In addition, the insurance option to get a refund in case of problems is a great thing to offer. It makes it easier for the unsure traveler to feel better about an advance purchase like this.

Value for Money: 4.5/5 

Overall, I think the Washington D.C. Sightseeing Pass is of great value. The numbers speak for themselves when you see the individual attraction prices side-by-side, and if you plan to do those things anyway, you can’t really argue with the value.

I only remove half a point here for the inconveniences we’ve talked about already, but overall this should be a great money-saving choice for the right traveler.

See Related: Best Walking Tours in Washington D.C.

Alternatives

There is often an alternative or two to these types of passes in the cities they exist in. The Sightseeing Pass is the main choice, but you might be wondering about a few others being advertised.

As we mentioned above, Washington D.C.’s tourism website advertises the Ivy Pass Whiskey Tasting Passport. This is a very particular type of destination pass as it focuses on a niche of tourism for visitors who want to see Mount Vernon plus the distilleries of the area. It is great for whiskey-lovers and history buffs interested in the Whiskey Rebellion, but not a great choice to see the main sights of DC.

Another pass is GoCity.com’s Go Washington D.C. Explorer pass. The first thing you may notice about this one is a pop-up quickly informing you that the pass isn’t currently being sold ‘due to Covid-19’ – making your purchase decision an easy one!

However, it’s worth mentioning that this pass could begin sales again and its attractions are similar to the Sightseeing Pass. Many of the tours included are with the same tour companies. But this pass offers a few museums and sights that the Sightseeing Pass does not, which could be interesting for the right traveler.

If the Go Washington D.C. Explorer pass was actually for sale, we might be tempted to dive deeper into the deal. But for now, it’s not an option, and you can keep an eye on their website in case that changes. Note that the default language seems Chinese, and you may need to change that in the top right corner.

The Verdict

In conclusion, as someone who has been to the capital many times and loves Washington D.C., I would definitely recommend the Sightseeing Pass to a traveler who wants to see at least one, if not a few, of the attractions, included plus take the Big Bus tour. 

As I said in the short version earlier, the pass isn’t for everyone. Make sure it’s compatible with your preferences and your type of vacation. If it is, then there’s really not much of an argument to make against saving money!

FAQ

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