War Memorials and Arlington National Cemetery in Washington

Separated from downtown Washington on the other side of the Potomac River is Arlington Cemetery, where thousands of American soldiers are buried and which you'll recognise from seeing it so many times in the movies. This is one of the must-visit places to visit in Washington. I'll tell you why!

The most complete option

Arlington National Cemetery Tour

Arlington National Cemetery

On this approximately 2-hour tour of Arlington National Cemetery with a professional historical guide you will discover the history of this legendary site.

From £41 at Hellotickets

On this tour of Arlington National Cemetery, one of the most historic in the United States and home to the graves of soldiers who have served the country in local and international wars since the 19th century, you'll visit monuments such as the tomb of President John F. Kennedy, USS Maine Memorial, USS Maine Memorial, USS Maine Memorial, USS Maine Memorial, USS Maine Memorial, USS Maine Memorial, USS Maine Memorial, USS Maine Memorial, USS Maine Memorial, and USS Maine Memorial. Kennedy; the USS Maine Memorial, which honours the soldiers who died in the explosion of the battleship USS Maine (ACR-1) in Havana harbour; and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, considered the most emblematic place in the cemetery. There lie the remains of an unidentified soldier who died in the First World War.

A walking tour of approximately two hours with a professional guide who will explain the history of the place. The tour starts at the Welcome Centre, which has a number of historical artefacts alluding to the importance of the military cemetery to the country's society. In addition, you will also see the changing of the guard of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment.

Recommended if... you are a history buff.

Covering 250 hectares, this military cemetery is the largest cemetery in the world. Given its characteristics, to get to know such a place in depth it is advisable to opt for a visit to Arlington Cemetery with a professional guide who will show you its history in detail and its most emblematic spaces.

Although it is predominantly a military cemetery where the remains of more than 400,000 Americans who took part in all the war conflicts the country has been involved in since the Civil War rest, civilians who gave valuable services to the nation and presidents such as William Howard Taft and John F. Kennedy are also buried here. Kennedy on which rests the "eternal flame".

On a walking tour of Arlington Cemetery you can discover other important sites such as Arlington House (the former residence of Confederate General Robert E. Lee), the memorial to the USS Maine, the Pentagon memorial, the memorials to the space shuttles Challenger and Columbia and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, among others. During your trip to Washington you can dedicate part of the morning to this visit. It won't take long and you'll see one of the most outstanding American National Parks.

The Arlington National Cemetery tram tour is a very comfortable way to visit this monumental enclave, as you will see the graves of soldiers who participated in wars and armed conflicts since the 19th century and you will learn about the history of the place from a professional guide.

Moreover, you can get off and on the tram whenever you want and enjoy the experience in the most personal way possible. A historical journey through the military culture of the United States!

You also have the option of taking a 90-minute sightseeing tram tour of Washington DC with free stops. A comfortable way to get to know the capital of the USA and its main attractions with the commentary of a professional guide.

You will see the most emblematic places in Washington DC such as the White House, the Washington Monument or the Lincoln Memorial, among many others. You can also add a visit to Arlington National Cemetery to the experience.

And if you are looking for the most personalised experience possible, you can opt for the Arlington National Cemetery small group tour, where you will walk for approximately two and a half hours in small groups of up to eight people, this emblematic place that honours the memory of the military dead in battle in different wars.

The professional guide expert in history will explain the facts and details essential to understand the importance of this legendary space of American culture and you will visit monuments such as the Eternal Flame of John F. Kennedy. And, of course, you'll also witness the famous changing of the guard of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment.

You also have the option of taking the tour exclusively with your group. To do so, simply request the private tour option at the time of booking.

If you don't have much time during your trip to Washington but don't want to miss the opportunity to visit the most famous cemetery in the United States, then I recommend choosing a bus tour of Arlington Cemetery with hop-on hop-off stops.

The great thing about the Hop-on Hop-off system is that you can devise your own route to visit the cemetery at your own pace, getting off at the stop of your choice to explore a particular area and then hopping back on the tour bus to continue the itinerary to the end.

During the Arlington Cemetery bus tour you will have a guided narration explaining the places you see along the route. Once you get off the bus to explore an area, I recommend downloading the ANC Explorer app on your mobile phone, which has self-guided tours and helps you locate specific graves you want to see, such as those of President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie or the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, among others. You can find it on iOS or Android.

Although admission to Arlington Cemetery is free and you can visit it on your own, given its large size and its importance and background for the feeling of the country, in my opinion the best way to get to know its history in depth and that of its most outstanding spaces is to take an organised tour with a professional guide. It is also much more entertaining.

There are different organised tours to Arlington Cemetery with different prices. These vary depending on factors such as the length of the tour, the size of the group, whether it is on foot or by bus, whether you have a guide, and the number of locations you visit along the route. You can find options from as little as 14 euros.

Arlington Cemetery is open from 8 AM to 5 PM. During its opening hours you can visit this National Park by choosing the tour that best suits your schedule.

The shortest Arlington Cemetery tour lasts about 30 minutes while the longest tour can last approximately 5 hours.

There are different schedules available! At Hellotickets you can compare tours, schedules and prices to choose the most suitable for you.

Of course you can! In fact, a visit to Arlington Cemetery is the most recommended option because it is huge and has so much to see.

To make sure you don't miss any details, it's best to join a guided tour of the cemetery that will show you its most emblematic sites and explain its history and origins.

Some of the highlights of a visit to Arlington Cemetery include:

Although it is a cemetery and may not seem like a touristy place at first glance, a visit to Arlington Cemetery is an opportunity to learn about the history of the United States by viewing the tombs and monuments dedicated to important national figures and events.

It is also a very moving and poignant place as thousands of soldiers and veterans who gave their lives for their country are buried here. Seeing the long rows of white gravestones that we have seen so many times in the movies is truly awe-inspiring. As is watching the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Arlington Cemetery is also striking for the solemn beauty of its gardens and the sense of calm it conveys. In fact, it was declared a National Park in 2004, so it's a great place to stroll around on a sunny day and take beautiful pictures of nature and the colours of spring and autumn. Did you know it has over 8,500 exotic and native species of trees? Amazing!

If you would like to witness the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony at Arlington Cemetery, it takes place from 1 October to 31 March every hour on the hour and from 1 April to 30 September every half hour.

It takes place in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and is conducted by soldiers of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment known as the 'Old Guard', the oldest active duty infantry unit in the army serving since 1784, who have guarded the tomb every day, 24 hours a day, since July 2, 1937.

Documentation

To enter Arlington Cemetery and visit the cemetery, foreign visitors must present their passport at the security checkpoint, as foreign IDs are not accepted.

However, Americans are required to present a government-issued or state-issued photo ID.

Dress

Arlington Cemetery is a huge place and you will have to walk quite a bit between the different points of interest so it is advisable to wear comfortable shoes during your visit.

Regarding clothing, as this is a visit to a cemetery I advise you to wear smart-casual clothes out of respect.

Any time is a good time to visit Arlington Cemetery, but if your trip falls in November you can book your tickets for the special occasion of Veterans Day (11 November).

On this day you can go to the Memorial Amphitheatre to hear the president's address to veterans and watch a small military parade in full dress uniform.