2024 Christmas at the White House

It's almost time for the annual White House Holiday Tours.

White House Tour 2024

White House Tours

White House tours are a popular attraction for visitors to Washington, D.C. They provide an opportunity to see the historic home of the President of the United States, as well as the artwork and furnishings that are on display.

Public tours of the White House are free of charge and can be scheduled through your congressional representative. Refer to the ticketing section below for details.

White House Tour Map

Official White House tour map - East Wing Lobby, East Garden Room, East Colonnade, Family Movie Theater, Library, Vermeil Room, China Room, Center Hall, East Room, Red Room, Blue Room, Green Room, 
	State Dining Room, Old Family Dining Room, Cross Hall, Entrance Hall, North Portico



Guests will enter the White House complex from the south side of East Executive Avenue. After passing through the security screening area, visitors will enter the East Wing of the White House and proceed down the East Colonnade following the route to the Residence depicted on the White House tour map above.

Visitors will see multiple rooms in the East Wing and Residence, including the State Dining Room, East Room, Blue Room, Red Room, Green Room, and the Family Theater.

 

Map of White House Grounds

map of White House grounds - tour entrance and exit points, Northwest appointment gate, East appointment gate, Southwest appointment gate,
		East Executive Avenue, West Executive Aveneu

 

White House Tour Tickets

Requests for the White House tour must be submitted through your Member of Congress in either the House or Senate. You can also call the House switchboard at 202-225-3121 or the Senate switchboard at 202-224-3121 to reach your Member of Congress.

White House tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis and can be submitted up to 90 days in advance. The minimum time is 21 days in advance of your visit, but the sooner the better.

Some time after you submit a tour request through your congressional office, you will receive an email from the White House with a link to submit your security information. Be sure to do so by the deadline. You will be notified of the status 2-3 weeks prior to your requested tour date.

These self-guided tours are available from 9:30AM - 12:30PM on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You can call the Visitors Office information line 24 hours a day at 202-456-7041 for updates about any last minute schedule changes or cancellations of tours.

Want to see the holiday decorations? Submit your Christmas tour requests in the Fall. All tours are free of charge.

White House Tour Photos

The White House lifted its longstanding camera and photo ban on public tours. Guests are now welcome to take photos throughout the White House tour route and are encouraged to share their photos using the hashtag #WhiteHouseTour. Phones and compact still cameras with a lens no longer than 3 inches are allowed.



White House tour photogallery



White House Virtual Tour

Click on the arrow to begin your virtual tour of the White House or take the Google narrated virtual tour.

(Source)

 

 

White House West Wing entrance

West Wing Tours

While the standard public tour is interesting for architectural and historical reasons, nothing can beat the excitement of the West Wing Tour. These coveted tours are led by knowledgeable members of the White House staff and Secret Service. They take you into the working areas of the White House and allow you to witness our democracy in action.

From the West Wing Tour booklet:

"In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt relocated his office from the second floor of the residence to this newly constructed building. The West Wing has expanded and undergone several renovations since then, but it has remained the official workplace of the President. In our country, the halls of government are not reserved for a privileged few, and the President’s workplace should be no exception."

At this time, the only way to experience a West Wing Tour is by invitation from the White House or through a personal connection to a White House staffer willing to lead you on an after-hours tour. Download the official West Wing Tour booklet from the White House.

 

 

West Wing Tour Map

White House West Wing map - White House Mess, Situation Room, Rose Garden, Oval Office, Cabinet Room, Roosevelt Room, West Wing Lobby, Press briefing room

 

White House West Wing Tour Photos

White House West Wing tours photogallery

 

Official List of West Wing Tour Participants

You may be wondering just who gets to go on a West Wing tour. This information was first made available by the Obama Administration via the publication of the official White House Visitors Records. This practice was discontinued under the Trump Administration, but has been reestablished under the Biden White House.

 

West Wing tours visitors list

View the current White House Visitor Logs


White House Spring Garden Tour and Fall Garden Tour

Guests are invited to stroll through the White House gardens during certain weekends in the Spring and Fall. For more information about upcoming tours, visit the White House Spring/Fall Garden Tour page.



If you have children, you can enter the Easter Egg Roll lottery for a chance to attend the Easter Egg Roll held every Spring on the South Lawn of the White House.



 

White House Tour Security


All guests 14 years of age or older are required by the United States Secret Service to submit their name, date of birth, social security number and country of citizenship. All guests 18 and older will be required to present photo identification with information exactly matching the name previously submitted for clearance.

 

Prohibited Items

Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, the following: Bags of any kind (including fanny packs and clutches), food and beverages of any kind, strollers, video cameras, selfie sticks, tobacco products, personal grooming items (make-up, hair brush or comb, lip or hand lotions, etc.), any pointed objects (pens, knitting needles, etc.), aerosol containers, guns, ammunition, fireworks, electric stun guns, mace, martial arts weapons/devices, or knives of any size. The U.S. Secret Service reserves the right to prohibit any other personal items.

Umbrellas without metal tips, wallets, compact cameras with a lens no longer than 3 inches, cell phones and car keys are permitted. Come prepared; there are no storage facilities on-site.

Refer to the this page of the White House website for detailed security requirements.

 

Parking

The closest Metrorail stations to the White House are Federal Triangle (blue and orange lines), Metro Center (blue, orange, and red lines) and McPherson Square (blue and orange lines). On-street parking is not available near the White House, and use of public transportation is strongly encouraged.

 

Restrooms

The nearest public restrooms to the White House are in the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion (the park area south of the White House) and in the White House Visitor Center. Please take advantage of these public facilities prior to your tour.