Magpie
5.0(188 reviews)

Smithsonian Natural History Tour

From$95.4
2 hours
Washington DC, USA

About this activity

Join a semi-private guided tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, exploring iconic exhibits and learning about the natural world with an expert guide.

Highlights

  • Explore iconic exhibits like the Hope Diamond
  • Discover ancient fossils and dinosaur skeletons
  • Learn about human evolution and cultural artifacts
  • Experience interactive displays and multimedia presentations
  • Enjoy a personalized tour with a small group

Full description

Dive into the wonders of the natural world with a semi-private guided tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. With a maximum of 8 participants, this tour offers an intimate experience as you explore iconic exhibits like the Hope Diamond, ancient fossils, and dinosaur skeletons. Your expert guide will provide in-depth insights into human evolution, cultural artifacts, and interactive displays, ensuring a memorable and educational visit. Skip the lines and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of natural history.

Included / Excluded

  • Semi-private guided tour with a maximum of 8 participants
  • Skip-the-line access to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
  • Expert guide providing in-depth insights into exhibits
  • Food and beverages

Itinerary

1

Your guide will take you to visit the highlights of the collection, housed in a massive building that covers the area of 18 football fields. Gaze into the world-famous Hope Diamond, whose brilliant blue sparkle, and immodest size at 46 karats, captured the attention of former owner Marie Antoinette. Wander through the displays of gems and minerals, including the Dom Pedro Aquamarine, the world’s largest gem of its type, which glows brilliantly from within. Travel back in time to learn about death rituals while exploring real mummies from Ancient Egypt. Then step out of the past into the wild, exploring the mighty polar bears, elephants, and giraffes that roam across earth’s surface. From the land, jump into the sea at the Ocean Hall, where you’ll discover a live coral reef exhibit as well as a 45-ton whale, Phoenix, which is a replica of a real living what that the museum tracks. By the end, you’ll understand why so many people come to visit the 126.5 million artefacts housed at the National Museum of Natural History.

Duration: 2 hoursAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE

Meeting point

Start Location

Unknown location

Important information

Know before you book

  • Tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for the weather.
  • Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • The museum is wheelchair accessible; please inform in advance if assistance is needed.

Know before you go

  • Wear comfortable walking shoes as the museum is extensive.
  • Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated during the tour.
  • Photography is allowed, but flash and tripods are prohibited.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 1 days before the activity starts

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Accessibility

  • Stroller Accessible
  • Easy Public Transport

Good to know

  • It is imperative that you provide us with guests MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (including country code)
  • A moderate amount of walking is involved, comfortable clothing and shoes recommended
  • Notes: National Museum of Natural History and other attractions or museums in DC may be subjected to occasional closures without previous warning from the museum management. When this occurs, we will provide guests with an appropriate alternative if the museum opening time is delayed more than 1h from the tour starting time. In these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts. Appropriate dress is required for entry into some sites on this tour. No large bags or suitcases are allowed inside the museum, only handbags or small thin bag packs are allowed through security. Due to increased security measures at many attractions some lines may form on tours with 'Skip the Line' or 'No Wait' access. Some specific rooms inside the museum are subjected to a very quiet or restricted right to speak inside, in this cases your guide will provide the information about this places before entering the specific rooms where this rule applies. Some collections may vary along the year.
  • 100% Satisfaction Guarantee – Important Details We stand by our commitment to providing the best tour experience. If for any reason your experience did not meet expectations, we offer a 100% Guarantee under the following conditions: 1. Contact Us Within 24 Hours – To qualify for any potential refund or resolution, you must reach out to us within 24 hours of your tour. 2. Give Us a Chance to Make It Right – Before posting any negative reviews online, please allow us the opportunity to address your concerns. We take pride in our customer service and are committed to finding a fair solution. To request a resolution, please contact us at after tour. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to ensuring every guest has an amazing experience!

Traveler reviews

5.0
188 reviews
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Great tour

Debra S. was excellent. She was extremely knowledgeable & moved the tour along nicely, seeing a lot of the exhibits. She was very professional & made the tour a “must see”. She was fantastic.

WilliamP14Jul 1, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Excellent tour of Natural History with KATE

My family of four (two parents and 2 kids, ages 9 and 11) took a tour of the Natural History Museum with KATE (Katherine). We booked the “small group tour”, so we expected others the be on the tour with us, but it ended up just being us, which was a pleasant surprise. Kate walked us through the museum in about 2.5 hours. There is SO much in this museum, so it really helped to have her steer us around the the highlights. Her knowledge of the exhibits was incredible. There was no question she could not answer! Highly recommend!

509kerrynJun 29, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Learned so much from Rebecca

This was a wonderful tour, and Rebecca was a fantastic guide. The time flew by! She showed us around the huge museum and learned a great deal.

jwV350JAJun 27, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Best tour guide for Smithsonian

Leigh was an amazingly knowledgeable tour guide. The small group tour was great, but Leigh’s knowledge base and sense of humor made this truly special.

lorieb791May 28, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Excellent tour of The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

We went on the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History with Brenda. Brenda was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic! She reached out to us prior to the tour which made meet up on the day of the tour seamless. Brenda asked a lot about our interests and incorporated them where she could. Our teenage daughter instantly felt comfortable with Brenda’s warm personality, which isn’t typical. It was our favorite tour of our DC trip. I would highly recommend taking this tour with Brenda!

Kristine SMay 22, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Additional information

It is imperative that you provide us with guests MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (including country code) A maximum of 8 people permitted per tour allowed A moderate amount of walking is involved, comfortable clothing and shoes recommended Notes: National Museum of Natural History and other attractions or museums in DC may be subjected to occasional closures without previous warning from the museum management. When this occurs, we will provide guests with an appropriate alternative if the museum opening time is delayed more than 1h from the tour starting time. In these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts. Appropriate dress is required for entry into some sites on this tour. No large bags or suitcases are allowed inside the museum, only handbags or small thin bag packs are allowed through security. Due to increased security measures at many attractions some lines may form on tours with 'Skip the Line' or 'No Wait' access. Some specific rooms inside the museum are subjected to a very quiet or restricted right to speak inside, in this cases your guide will provide the information about this places before entering the specific rooms where this rule applies. Some collections may vary along the year. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee – Important Details We stand by our commitment to providing the best tour experience. If for any reason your experience did not meet expectations, we offer a 100% Guarantee under the following conditions: 1. Contact Us Within 24 Hours – To qualify for any potential refund or resolution, you must reach out to us within 24 hours of your tour. 2. Give Us a Chance to Make It Right – Before posting any negative reviews online, please allow us the opportunity to address your concerns. We take pride in our customer service and are committed to finding a fair solution. To request a resolution, please contact us at after tour. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to ensuring every guest has an amazing experience!
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