For a city that has made a name for itself as the seat of power for the United States President and Commander in Chief, Washington DC tours have been popular among tourists for eons. While a reverential walk around the external perimeters of the White House is not to be missed, one cannot help but realize that there is so much to the city than the images we see time and again on all the tourist knick knacks and memorabilia.

Depending on the things that interest you the most, you can choose to pick from among a number of Washington DC tours, each of which focuses on a different aspect of the capital. Here are some of the options that you can choose separately or combine to further enrich your experience of this city.

• Congressional Tour

Most of the Washington DC tours have what is called the Congressional Tour that lasts for approximately the entire day, and involves visiting all the major and important buildings and monuments in the city. From the White House, to Capitol Hill, and the Senate Office Buildings, and World War memorials, this tour allows visitors with a chance to spend a lot of time viewing these monuments and giving them a feel of the history and the power that lies within the bricks and stone that comprise these monuments. These tours are usually ideal for people who are spending a few days in the city and would like to finish viewing all the important monuments at one go.

• The Presidential Tour

This tour is usually much shorter than the Congressional one and focuses on the more important buildings and the seat of power of the American President. Lasting approximately half a day, it allows you to view the Capitol Hills, White House, Pentagon, and other important locations that most of us have only seen on the television screen. For the average tourist, this is what they want to see on the Washington DC tours, and they will not be disappointed when they do so. During the year, these tours run in two sessions; one in the day and the other at night. Depending on your preferences you can choose between either of the tours and see very different aspect of the city.

• The Memorial Tour

On one of the Washington DC tours, it is also interesting to visit the different monuments that have been built in memory of the hundreds and thousands of lives that have been sacrificed in the name of war and the preservation of peace and human rights. For many of the visitors to the city this is something they prefer to view in passing, while they try to get a glimpse of the President or another important parliamentary figure. But there are a few tourists who enjoy visiting the memorials and paying special homage to those who selflessly sacrificed their lives for the others.

While these are only some of the tours that run across the city, you can opt for either travel in the luxury of your own private vehicle, or be a part of a deluxe tour with a few other tourists. Whichever you pick up finally, it must be stated that none of the Washington DC tours will prepare you for the grandeur and the awe that this city inspires. So, get ready for the surprises and the overwhelming splendor.