If you are a Virginian and plan to visit Washington, D.C., my office would like to help you make the most of your stay. We can assist with tour requests for the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Treasury Department. Tours fill up quickly and are allotted on a first-come, first-serve basis, so we recommend submitting your request as early as possible.
Please read through this page carefully for further instructions.
Official Capitol Tours
The United States Capitol is the heart of democracy and has welcomed millions of visitors from around the world. The Capitol building represents our nation’s rich history and traditions, but it is also a working office building where issues facing the nation are debated and addressed through legislation. In advance of your visit, we recommend visiting the Capitol Visitor Center website. It provides a wealth of knowledge about the Capitol building, as well as practical advice for your trip.
The Capitol Visitor Center is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tours begin every 10 minutes until 3:20 p.m. Reservations are recommended, but not required. Visit the schedule a tour page to select a day/time for a reservation. Visitors without reservations are encouraged to arrive at the Capitol Visitor Center as early in the day as possible, but no later than 2:30 p.m., to obtain passes.
staff-led tours
Staff-led tours of the U.S. Capitol can be requested by filling out our form with your group size, address, and at least three options for dates.
Visitor groups are limited to 15 participants. Please note, our office may not be able to accommodate all staff-led tour requests. Because tour availability is limited and is in high demand, we request that you submit your official request at least 6 weeks in advance.
Gallery Passes
Gallery passes may be used to watch the Senate debate and vote from the galleries above.
We are excited to share a new virtual pass option with constituents. The E-Gallery Pass System provides visitors with a convenient virtual ticketing option that allows constituents to obtain a virtual Gallery pass using your own device. To obtain digital E-Gallery Passes, please visit this webpage, where you will create an account for this process. You will be prompted to provide the number of guests in your group, and your preferred date and time. Once completed, you will be provided with a QR code that you will need to show the Senate Doorkeeper on the day of your visit in order to enter the gallery. This system allows visitors 1 pass for up to 100 guests and offers flexibility to change dates, number of visitors, and more.
Alternatively, traditional paper Gallery passes can be picked up from our office, 703 Hart Senate Office Building, from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. If there are any international visitors in your group, they will need to pick up an international gallery pass from one of the information desks located in the Capitol Visitor’s Center.
Gallery Information: The galleries open 30 minutes prior to session and will remain open until adjournment each day. When the Senate is not in session, the Senate Galleries will be open from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays.
virtual capitol tour
Join one of the Capitol’s knowledgeable tour guides for a live, virtual tour of the Capitol. The tour includes the Crypt, Rotunda, National Statuary Hall, the Old Supreme Court Chamber, and the Old Senate Chamber. The tour will have live video and audio with time for questions and answers.
These online tours are available upon request by emailing CVCReservations@AOC.gov. Tours are 45-60 minutes, including time for questions and answers. Tour participation requires a device that plays sound and video. Participants will not be on camera and will submit questions via the chat feature.
visit the white house
Public White House tours are available Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and Friday & Saturday, between 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., excluding Federal holidays. The White House reserves the right to schedule blackout dates or cancel already-approved tours based on their events schedule.
Tour requests must be submitted a minimum of 21 days in advance and no more than 90 days in advance of the date you are requesting. Tickets can be requested on a first come, first served basis by clicking “Schedule A Tour” and completing the form.
Please include your first and last name, group size, and three preferred tour dates. We will do our best to accommodate every group, but there are a limited number of slots available, and we will process requests in the order that they come in.
other tours
Tours for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Treasury Department, and the FBI can be requested by filling out our form.