Learn all you need to know about visiting and touring America’s center of democracy.
The U.S. Capitol Building is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world and the center of American democracy. The world-famous domed building is home to the United States House of Representatives and Senate, where America’s members of Congress conduct business, debate laws and pass bills on behalf of the American people. The U.S. Capitol and U.S. Capitol Visitor Center are also among DC’s most popular monuments and museums, welcoming millions of visitors each year.
How and when can I visit the U.S. Capitol?
Visitors enter through the Capitol Visitor Center, located underground on the east side of the Capitol. Please leave time to go through security and review the U.S. Capitol’s prohibited items list before your visit.
The Center is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and Inauguration Day).
Do I need a ticket to enter the building?
No, entering the building is free and does not require a ticket unless you'd like a guided tour or access to the House and Senate Galleries. Visitors can enjoy the Café, Gift Shop, statues in the main hall or the Exhibition Hall.
The Exhibition Hall features interactive exhibits that tell the story of Congress and the U.S. Capitol. Highlights include rarely seen historic documents from the National Archives and the Library of Congress, artifacts from around the country and an 11-foot-tall touchable model of the Capitol Dome. It also includes a hands-on education gallery called the Democracy Lab (targeted to children ages of 8-14).
When can I access the Viewing Galleries?
The Viewing Galleries are open different hours depending on whether members of Congress are in- or out-of session. They require separate tickets and a supplemental security screening.
House of Representatives Gallery
- Open any time the House of Representatives is in session
- When the House is out of session, the galleries open at 9 a.m., Monday through Friday. The last entry will be no later than 4 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to arrive before 4 p.m.
- Closed on weekends and federal holidays (unless in session) and is subject to unplanned, temporary closures
Senate Gallery
- Opens 30 minutes prior to the Senate’s convening.
- Typically open during scheduled recesses of one week or more, and visitors are admitted to the gallery from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. On recess days, visitors are welcome to stay until 4:30 p.m., at which time the gallery closes.
- Closed on weekends and federal holidays (unless in session)
How do I arrange a tour of the United States Capitol Building?
Plan your visit in advance! A public tour of the U.S. Capitol is free and open to anyone who makes an advance reservation (available 90 days prior to the desired tour date). Visitors can also request tours through any of their Congresspeople: Senate or House of Representatives. Most have a request form on their DC office website.
Some same-day tickets may be available by standing in line at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center. Note that lines can be long during the spring and summer.
All tours are led by professional tour guides, excluding the Senate and House Galleries. While the route is subject to change, all tours begin and end at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center and typically take about 45 minutes. They are fully accessible for people with disabilities.
Specialty tours are offered Monday through Friday with passes available at the North Information Desk. These tours focus on: Halls of the Senate, Votes for Women, Indigenous Peoples in Capitol Art and Heroes of Civil Rights.
What will I see on a Capitol tour?
Guided tours begin with a 13-minute intro film, followed stops in the Capitol Rotunda, where guides point out the center point of the District of Columbia, as well as demonstrate the unique acoustical effect where a speaker several yards away can be heard more clearly than a speaker close to the listener.
The Capitol Dome is encircled by murals, and the fresco on the eye of the ceiling is called The Apotheosis of Washington showing President Washington rising to the heavens in glory with Liberty and Victory/Fame beside him. Below, on the walls of the Rotunda, are large paintings depicting significant events in American history: The Signing of the Declaration of Independence, The Baptism of Pocahontas, The Embarkation of the Pilgrims, The Landing of Columbus and General George Washington Resigning His Commission.
Other stops on the 45-minute walking tour include the Crypt, National Statuary Hall and connecting corridors of the U.S. Capitol, where you’ll see statues representing every state.
Can I see Congress in session?
The guided tour doesn't include the Senate and House galleries. However, visitors can obtain free passes through their congress members to view both chambers when Congress is in session. International visitors can ask about gallery passes at the House and Senate Appointment Desks on the upper level of the Capitol Visitor Center.
When Congress is not in session, the galleries are open to the public. However, viewing hours are subject to change and are not always the same for the House and Senate galleries.
You can check the schedules with your Congressional office when requesting gallery passes. Read more information about watching Congress in session and viewing the House and Senate galleries.
What’s in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center?
You’ll find a cafeteria and gift shop in the Capitol Visitor Center. The gift shop carries merchandise inspired by the art and architecture of the U.S. Capitol. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. for continental breakfast and lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you haven’t printed your tour reservation, bring along the number you were assigned. There are free listening devices in multiple languages for international visitors.
How do I get to the U.S. Capitol and the Visitor Center?
Because there is very little parking, it is best to travel via the Metro or the DC Circulator. There are three Metro stops within walking distance of the U.S. Capitol: Union Station (Red Line), Capitol South and Federal Center SW (Orange, Silver and Blue lines). The Capitol Visitor Center, which serves as the main public entrance, is located beneath the East Front plaza of the U.S. Capitol at First and East Capitol streets.
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