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Contrasts of D.C. - A Private Walking Tour

New To The Site! Washington DC, USA

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3 hours (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: Italian
and 2 more
Spanish, Portuguese

Overview

Go beyond the monuments and discover the hidden layers of Washington, D.C. on this private journey through history, culture, and architecture. Travel through historic neighborhoods to the breathtaking Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, North America’s largest Roman Catholic church, renowned for its Romanesque-Byzantine design and 70+ cultural chapels.
Continue through vibrant districts to the majestic Washington National Cathedral, an inspiring example of English Gothic architecture. Cruise along Embassy Row, home to international embassies and the Vice President’s residence, and conclude in Georgetown, where historic charm meets world-class dining.
This is more than a tour, it’s Washington, D.C. revealed.

What's Included

  • Bottled water Water is available in a cooler at the back, please just ask if you would like one.
  • Private transportation
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Gratuities
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Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point
Pickup details

A professional Continental City Tours guide will pick you up at the scheduled time from your hotel, restaurant, or museum within downtown Washington, D.C., the National Mall area, or Arlington, VA. If your pickup location does not appear in the online system or is flagged as outside the service radius, simply message or text us the address and we will gladly confirm it or suggest the nearest convenient pickup point.The pickup radius is designed to maximize your 3-hour Contrast Tour, allowing more time to focus on the city’s diverse neighborhoods, iconic landmarks, and architectural highlights rather than travel time.Your guide is also your driver, providing engaging narration as you travel through Washington, D.C. You’ll enjoy informative drive-by views of key areas such as Embassy Row, the Naval Observatory, Adams Morgan, and other notable corridors, with stories that bring the city’s contrasts to life. The tour also includes dedicated stops to explore the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington National Cathedral, Georgetown, the “Exorcist” Steps, and Georgetown University, blending scenic drives with walkable experiences.If you are arriving with your own vehicle, contact us in advance and we will provide free parking recommendations—either within D.C. on weekends or near the Pentagon on weekdays. Your guide can pick you up from the parking location and return you there at the end of the tour.We look forward to welcoming you and sharing a unique perspective of Washington, D.C.

What To Expect

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a large minor Catholic basilica and national shrine in the United States in Washington, D.C., you will enjoy a walking guided tour throughout the Shrine, view the Trinity Dome Mosaic, the recently completed crown jewel of the Shrine and much more!
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1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Naval Observatory (Pass By)

The Vice President's residence. The United States Naval Observatory is a scientific and military facility that produces geopositioning, navigation and timekeeping data for the United States Navy and the United States Department of Defense.
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Embassy Row (Pass By)

Embassy Row is the informal name for a section of Northwest Washington, D.C., with a high concentration of embassies, diplomatic missions, and diplomatic residences.
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Washington National Cathedral

The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the City and Diocese of Washington is commonly known as Washington National Cathedral or National Cathedral.
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45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Adams Morgan (Pass By)

Adams Morgan is a multicultural neighborhood centered on the happening nightlife scene around 18th Street. The stretch buzzes with eclectic bars, music venues and international restaurants from Vietnamese to Ethiopian, plus late-night pizza and falafel spots.
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Georgetown

Georgetown is a charming area with Federal-style architecture, cobblestone streets and fashion and design shops. The dining scene is defined by upmarket restaurants and waterfront seafood spots, while nightlife spans boisterous college bars, traditional taverns and intimate live music lounges.
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30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

"The Exorcist" Steps

The Exorcist steps are concrete stairs, continuing 36th Street,[1] descending from the corner of Prospect St and 36th St NW, down to a small parking lot, set back from the intersection of M Street NW, Canal Rd NW, and Whitehurst Freeway NW in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., famous for being featured in the 1973 film The Exorcist.
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20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Georgetown University

Georgetown University is a private Jesuit research university in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., United States.
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25 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Contrasts of D.C. – A Private Walking Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

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Activity code: C-7283P9


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What's Included

Activity name

  • Bottled waterWater is available in a cooler at the back, please just ask if you would like one.
  • Private transportation
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Gratuities

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

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Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EST).

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Cool Rewards Terms & Conditions

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Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

Redeeming rewards

  • To redeem rewards, you must be logged into your Cool Destinations account.
  • Any available rewards will be automatically applied the next time you make a booking, and their value will be deducted from your order at checkout, unless you choose not to apply them, which requires you to indicate this via the toggle switch. Bookings made using rewards are subject to the standard Cool Destinations Customer Terms of Use.
  • You will not be able to redeem only a portion of your available rewards at checkout. It is only possible to redeem all or none of your available rewards.
  • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
  • Rewards are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
  • If rewards are redeemed against a booking that is canceled or refunded, the rewards will be reissued to your account.

Miscellaneous

  • You can check your Cool Destinations account to see the rewards you have collected at any time. You are responsible for ensuring that your rewards balance is correct.
  • We reserve the right to modify these Cool Rewards Terms and Conditions at any time, with or without notice, including the rules for earning and redeeming rewards. Any changes will be reflected in the updated Terms and Conditions.
  • We reserve the right to terminate the Cool Rewards program and cease issuing any further rewards on future bookings. All pending and available rewards balances will be honored.
  • By earning and redeeming rewards, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, as well as any subsequent changes made to them.