The White House

I was disappointed that our tour bus didn't take us closer. We didn't know they changed those plans until we were on it. So, unfortunately, we were only able to see it from afar. Nevertheless, it is an impressive building. I would love to go back one day for a full tour.

Frankly sharing with you there is not much to see and move around the white house. Visited this place in 2013 and a bit disappointed. One can see WH from a far distance. It is just ritual to visit this place while in DC/USA.

Amazing

(Translated by Google) Well shielded. But you can take a picture with the building in the background... (Original) Gut abgeschirmt. Ein Foto mit dem Gebäude im Hintergrund kann man aber schon machen...

I attended a holiday tour. The White House was beautiful at Christmas. Extra rooms were on display this year. The weather was chilly and rainy while I was in line to enter. The passes include prohibited items. Umbrellas without metal tips are allowed. I brought a waterproof pouch, which hung on my neck. That allowed a safe place for my phone & keys. Metro was around the corner. If you use an uber, give the White House Visitor's Center address.

Wait....so....Trump named the Gulf of Mexico .....the Gulf of America....on day 1? Is this like the top complaint of the rich? IDGAF what we call it, Gulf of my Arsehole, L.A. just burned down. What world do we exist in, like actually? This is sad

Spectacular Holiday self guided tour of the People's House! Follow the rules and the screening in process will be uneventful. I applaud the staff responsible for all of the decorations, the attention to detail and the secrete service for safety. The rooms visited were especially appropriate to the theme and history of the room. Make sure you look up and catch the details of classical craftsmanship, moldings, drapes, displays of lights, doves and shiny tinsel. The talented official military band elevated the holiday spirit! The harmony accompanied me throughout the tour. Everyone was courteous, helpful and dressed to impress for holiday photos. There were so many opportunities to create that holiday card!

It was nice to get a peak before new tenants moved in. Limited access for obvious reasons. Ridiculous security. Again for obvious reasons. It was nice to see the few rooms that get limited use beyond tourist traffic. Certainly worth a visit.

Amazing experience during the holiday season. Truly the People's house. Decor was amazing- visited during the Biden administration, very tasteful, very demur. While I thought we'd have a personal guide- we did not, there's was a lot of staff posted in corners and in the halls to answer questions and provide historical perspective and commentary. It takes some gymnastics to get a date to visit, but once you're in, it's a magical experience and I highly recommend at least doing once.

1978: I visited The White House only once, years ago as a tourist! We spent a long weekend there, & stayed at a hotel. It was during President Carter's Administration. The White House also known as: "The People's House" was very much on "MY"bucket list! Also on "MY" bucket list, was to visit: The Smithsonian Museum, The National Gallery + The Capitol, The Lincoln Memorial etc., we made the most of it! A long weekend is a short vacation, but a lot can be done if you plan ahead! The White House for me as an American Citizen, is also "MY" house! It's now part of "MY" history! "May God Bless America!" NYC.

Pretty cool history. If you get the opportunity, GO! It's not a huge tour but worth it.

It was a wonderful tour and a long time dream. I was holding back tears at every step. I'm glad I went when I did as now, with America choosing an insurrectionist as President, the White House has lost its luster for me. It's spoiled as an emblem of America and democracy.

What more can we say, it's The White House! We just passed by as we headed to another spot within DC proper. A tour would definitely be pretty cool so maybe we can make that happen on day. If you're in the area, it's still pretty neat to see even if you are just passing thru.

I contacted the Illinois rep about getting a tour of the White House. Initially, it seemed easy with filling out our information and then waiting for the official confirmation email. Nope, I was denied a week prior to the date I wanted. I applied a couple months before, but they said there were too many people. Ridiculous since I've been wanting to go here the past couple times. One star taken off for that. Tickets are free. If you want to get a great view of the outside, don't go on the side facing the National Mall. They pushed the barrier back so you're like zooming in with your cameras. Instead go on the other side of it. You'll get a much better view. Be ready to have annoying people photo bomb your pictures.

It is a bit cumbersome to get tickets here (through your congressman) and takes some planning ahead. We had to go through 2 checkpoints, and you have to thoroughly read the rules because you can't bring any bags and you have to be on time. And sure it's crowded and you can only see a few rooms (like you're not getting into the West Wing) but hey, it's still a really cool and unique place to visit. There's an app with audio, but it's the same info that's written out in the rooms. There are guides around to ask questions, but it will bepacked. You do get to see several of the public rooms. It is self-guided, so you can linger as little or as much as needed. Photos are allowed. It probably won't take more than an hour, but it's definitely worth doing once, just takes some advanced planning.

This used to be a wonderful place. Unfortunately, as of Jan. 21st, 2025 a new renter took over the building and thinks he owns it. This building and this Country belongs to the People of the United States not to Billionaires. Eviction papers should be sent to the new renter before he destroys the place. e

We have toured the White House twice now. I highly recommend doing so! We went in June and again in December. I had to see it decorated. Be sure to listen and read all the rules before visiting. You can look up on the internet on how to get in on the tours. I feel we will tour the White House whenever we can, because it just never gets old. The staff has always been awesome including the security staff.

The home of our President. Every four years we get to decide whether to renew the lease of evict the current resident. We are fortunate to live in a country with that opportunity! Although inside tours have to be reserved with some advance notice (and why I'm not making this review 5 stars), the White House is visible from the outside and I had the chance to take pictures and enjoy the beautiful architecture. The Secret Service guards were actually pretty pleasant, and even laughed when I made a "Can I pet that dog" joke about the working K9's. There are fences surrounding the perimeter and you can see all sorts of cool antennae and electronics on the roof. Another beautiful thing about The White House is that people of all stripes - left, right, different religions going to petition and protest. That's another beautiful thing about the US and A.

We arranged a tour of the White House with our Congressmen months in advance. We left bags at our hotel, brought photo identification, went through security and had our names checked off at the gate. We waited at the front door and our guide welcomed us and ushered us through. I toured the White House last about 30 years ago. We spent about an hour ushered through the public rooms. It was magical walking through marble rooms with such history.

Such a cool bucket list experience! To tour The White House, you will first need to contact your member of congress. My member of congress had a page on his website for requesting a White House tour. You can submit your request 3 weeks to 3 months in advance. This is a popular experience so it is not guaranteed to get a tour, but you should still try. We received our tickets for the tour exactly two weeks before. The ticket includes information on where to meet for the tour and the items you cannot bring in. You can't bring in bags, so make sure you have an outfit with good pockets to fit your ID, keys, etc. Once you arrive, you will join the line of others on your tour. Once it is your tour time you will go through a couple different security checks. Once you are done with security, you get to go inside The White House. The tour is self guided, so you can walk at your own pace. We spent about a hour walking through. On the tour you will get to walk through or look into 10 different rooms in the East Wing. The rooms have Secret Service members available that you can ask questions. They also have a gift shop in the beginning of the tour, if you want to get a souvenir.

The White House Holiday Theme: "Magic, Wonder and Joy" The 2023 White House Holiday Display is designed to capture the pure, unfiltered delight and imagination of childhood to encourage visitors to reflect on this time of year with hearts open to the magic, wonder, and joy of the season. _- First Lady Jill Biden Please remember the following text: Before your visit: Before your visit, make sure to download the WHExperience app. This app offers a audio guided tour to enjoy while walking around The White House. One of my favorite features of the app is the presidential lookalike feature. You can take a selfie and the app will tell you which president or first lady you resemble the most, based on a database of portraits. I tried it myself and got a 15% match with Ellen Wilson and a 9% match with Ronald Reagan. LOL! Security: Be prepared for tight security when visiting the White House. You are not allowed to bring any bags inside the building, not even transparent ones. You can only bring what can fit in your coat pockets, such as your tickets, phone, ID, credit card, earbuds, and lip balm. Unfortunately, there is no coat check available, so please be sure to pack light. Highlights Inside: Before entering the White House, take a photo with the giant Christmas tree on the building. Ask someone nearby to take a group photo, and soon enough, a line of visitors will be eager to return the favor. Once inside, every visitor receives a Magic, Wonder, and Joy holiday book. The entryway will immediately fill you with feelings of nostalgia. The giant candy-shaped decorations will make you feel like you're inside Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. The First Lady, Jill Biden, did a fantastic job with the decorations! The first Christmas tree inside the White House is dedicated to the brave men and women in our military who died for our country. It also honors servicemen and women who are Missing in Action. The tree is beautifully decorated with gold stars, ribbons, and glitter. This is my favorite tree! The hallway leading to the fine china room is whimsical. It looks like the Candyland game has come to life. The natural light from the windows makes the gold and silver tones sparkle and shine. In the next room, you'll find a gift shop where you can purchase the annual White House Christmas ornament and other items. As you wander from room to room, remember that taking photos is allowed, but recording videos is prohibited. Occasionally, The Secret Service may ask you to stop recording. Other highlights include a giant advent calendar, the gingerbread White House, and displays of former presidents' holiday Christmas cards. I highly recommend visiting the White House during the holidays. You can make a full day out of it, have dinner at a local restaurant, and see a museum before heading home.

Wonderful patriots that have given it a great review but there are issues: 1. You really only see a certain section of the White House. (Understandable because it IS the presidents house after all But the biggie: 2. No guided tour. You just file through. Had so many questions Worth doing once (it's so lovely and impressive) but a long wait for not much

100% a must-stop on any Washington D.C. Trip. There is no more cultural or iconic stop than here. I am only give it a 4/5 because we were unable to get into the tour. You have to reach out to your local representative 90 days in advance for them to arrange a tour, but unfortunately for us, it was a busy visiting time, and we were just a tad too late. Regardless of whether or not you have tour tickets, it's still such a special treat to be able to see the White House in person, find a good viewing spot between the fence rails, stand there, and really take it all in for what it means for our country.

Great to see it live and in person. Most tours will have to be conducted y someone you know that work at the WH.

Trip to Baltimore and drive over to DC to see some landmarks. My first time visiting. Good to at least experience once.

Note: This review concerns solely the White House Garden Tour, which is offered one to two times, annually, in the Spring and or Fall. -- While free to attend, I cannot say that the garden tour is anything noteworthy. I make a habit to take people who have not been or who are visiting from out of town to attend this, should scheduling align; but it is more of a footnote and thing I attach arbitrary necessity to completing, rather than something which solicits enjoyments solely and matter-of-factly on its own merits. The lines are long; the exhibition is small and limited; the purview and scope of exhibition is limited; the amount of flowers and items may vary with each subsequent exhibition (it seems smaller and smaller as of late); antisocial behavior is rife, wherein people shamble and shuffle aimlessly, and pose for pictures with disregard of others; enforcement of standards seems arbitrary and mixed; and, to reiterate, the exhibition is very, very small and limited. If you have other things to do in the area; can incorporate this into a logistically efficient plan; and do not think you will have the opportunity to revisit DC, this may be something to incorporate. If those do not apply, however, it isn't a worthwhile expenditure of time and opportunity. For out-of-towners: as it has recently re-opened, do attempt to book tickets to the Washington Monument. It was closed for many years. Likewise, George Washington's Mount Vernon estate is a worthwhile visit, though outside of DC. If you rent a car and have time, however-- and depending on how much time and energy you have, mind-- I would also recommend visiting other presidential estates in Virginia. While DC and the surrounding area is rife with political, cultural, and historical points of interest, very little tends to be engrossing and in-depth, so much as brief footnotes.

Alway a fun spot with the tourists. Went here, and I beautiful day, and enjoyed just walking around. always think the White House is just such a beautiful building.

Last time I was here they told us to mind our steps because Joey was sleeping. I found it quite ironic because when I was there during the Trump administration, it was all hands on deck to see who could have a great time. I will have to come back to see what has changed in the last couple of years. The historic nature of the location is pretty dope, I mean it is our tax dollars so it should be for the people. I saw Chuck Schumer drinking wine here once and he was not representing the people of New York.

I had the incredible opportunity to visit the White House, and it was an experience I'll never forget! From the moment we entered, we were greeted with the beautiful sound of a live band playing, which set a welcoming tone for the visit. The rooms were absolutely stunning, each one meticulously maintained and filled with history. I felt like each room would have made an iconic zoom background. Every detail, from the decor to the layout, was impressive and showcased the grandeur of this world-renowned residence. The organization of the tour was top-notch. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and ensured that everything ran smoothly. There were clear directions and helpful guides at every turn, making it easy to navigate and enjoy each part of the tour. We were fortunate to attend an open house during AAPI History Month, which added a special significance to our visit. It was wonderful to see the recognition and celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander contributions within such a historic setting. Overall, this was a memorable and enriching experience. The White House is not only a symbol of American heritage but also a place where history comes alive. I highly recommend visiting if you get the chance. Definitely worth every effort to check out White House if you have the opportunity. For those working with the representative, do as much research and plan ahead for your visit!

This review is for the official White House tour. You must apply with your local US Congress Senator or House of Representative around 2-3 months prior to your requested days. I did email 2 senators and one did arrange for us to have the tour. The tour is free. We parked at the JW Marriott and pre booked with spot hero the day before. Cost was $23 for the entire day. The meeting point was really close by. Our tour was at noon but we got in the que around 11:30am. They don't allow any purses so don't even bother trying. I would suggest carrying water for the standing in line part. You can't bring it in for tour. We went through security pretty quickly. It's a self tour so just take your time. It was pretty fascinating to me to see the rooms. There's secret service posted at each room. They did allow us to bring in our phones and a camera. No flash photography or video was allowed. .

I had never been so it was good to check out. My wife was able to obtain passes for us to visit due to submitting a request to our local congressman's office. To grow up learning about U.S. history that includes discussion on all the presidencies and then being able to visit and see the rooms and the grounds was quite surreal. Granted, we only were able to visit the first level and second levels that included the green, red, and gold rooms, the theater room, and the press room, but it was cool to step inside and walk through these rooms where so much history has taken place since the 1800s with the building of the replacement house since the original was burned by the British in the war of 1812. Do note that you will be waiting to get inside between the line to enter the outside grounds from the street, the security check to read the passes before the second outside gate, and then through a metal security check and possession scanner when you walk inside, before walking onto the interior grounds to reach the actual White House building entrance. But the waiting is worth visiting the White House if you have never visited before.

If you do get a chance, take the tour through The White House. It took about an hour to get in because of the huge line and very thorough security check, but there is a lot to see inside. I was worried about not being able to take photos. You can take photos but you can't use flash. Also you can't bring in anything other than your phone and wallet. If you have a bag or purse leave it behind. Tour is a self guided tour and it wasn't that long but it was a great experience.

One of the oldest spots in DC, The White House always manages to keep it new and exciting. The holiday decorations are not to be beat. I've been coming here since the Carter Administration, but it is still my favorite dinner spot hands down.

This was an amazing experience! It's not easy to be able to tour The White House as you have to first contact a member of congress to inquire about a tour. A congressional aide will then guide you through the application process that includes background checks of everyone in your group. Once this is done, your group gets sent into a pool and you only find out 2 weeks before your date if you've been chosen and what entry time you've received. That being said, it's 100% worth the hassle! My wife and I were in town for a conference and we brought 6 of her colleagues on the tour. Everyone said that this was the highlight of their trip. You have to get here early and get in line and the line can be several blocks long depending on how busy it is at the time. You have to go through several security screenings, but once you're in you enter The White House through the East Wing. The tour lasts about 45 minutes and you get to see several historic rooms within the house. It's amazing how different the decor is for all of these rooms and you can see layers of different styles from different presidential families (how often do you tour homes that were lived in by dozens of different people over a couple hundred years?). My two favorite things were seeing the Washington Monument from inside The White House and seeing all of the presidential paintings on the walls; it's amazing to have that view of the monument since so few people have seen it that way and it's always amazing to see pieces of artwork in person when you've known of them and seen them in books your whole life. Touring The White House is truly an amazing experience and we would do it again in a heartbeat!

Well here it is our nations capital & the building that houses our fierce less leaders! This was not first visit & probably won't be my last, I would love to take a tour but maybe next time. The white house is such a historical building that it is nice to see even if you are seeing it from outside the gates. The surrounding area is guarded & the premises outside can be a bit much, there seems to be always be some sort of protest or gatherings, there were tents set up outside not really sure why? but oh well aside from a few of these disruptions coming by to see the building is not bad at all.

Since the city is on high alert, we could only get close by foot. We took an electric cart tour and were able to take pics! The pics will show how close we were able to get. Overall, D.C. is filled with historical prominence and weird energy - which I mean I mean in best way possible.

I live local so visiting the WH is easier for me. I would say this...... one and done and I would never do it again. The four screenings snd security wasn't the problem just be prepared to carry absolutely nothing not even a small purse. It's a self guided tour and you visit a section of hallways and 4-5 rooms. I went around the holidays expecting to at least see some decorations..... nope. When I have friends or family visiting I have to visit the same sites over and over again which isn't a problem but the WH I won't do it again. Everyone should see it but just be prepared for confusion and a long wait even if you have a time entry. Foreign visitors have even a longer wait. I wouldn't go at peak season so maybe Feb.-March.

Free holiday tours available to the public! Book this in advance through your Congress member and get a rare opportunity to see the beautiful White House decorations. Such a memorable office outing, unlike any other!

My husband and I went on a tour of some of the East Wing rooms. The tour guide was very nice and informative! He also would challenge the tourists with questions. He allowed us plenty of time to take photos, which was also very nice. The White House is breathtaking in person. The history behind the rooms we toured is very interesting.

the greens live in the green house and the browns live in the brown house, who lives in the White House? well the president silly. they do not tolerate silly by the way. nor to they allows Fanny packs, you've been warned yet again!I mean what did you expect? lucky to be allowed to tour, fyi, you must start this request months ahead, etc etc. the day we went, the president was presenting in the east room later that day, history, im part of it now. gift shop kiosk about 3 minutes into the show, no bathroom. I won't get political

My second time driving to the White House and in both times I was amazed how easy it is to get there and take pictures with no check points. Parking can be difficult but there are some public parking lots that you can pay to park.

What an amazing tour:) It was the basic tour. You still get to see a good amount of rooms:) A bunch of history here from the architecture to the city:)

You cannot come to DC without visit the outside of the White House. It was a beautiful day so was able to get a good view of the front of the house. It was not too crowded, but there was political protest going out. Beautiful and massive flower gardening with a water fountain.

We felt incredibly lucky to be at the 2023 White House Christmas Tour, because the passes are hard to get. Everything was BEAUTIFUL, and the planning it takes to see the holiday decorations is so worth it. (I requested passes from my Congressman in September.) There's always a long line for any type of White House Tour, but the lines move quickly and the staff is extremely organized. And don't let the crowds deter you, because everyone is usually very friendly. I highly recommend!!

An amazing experience- just be sure to plan ahead! We visited The White House in February 2022 and submitted a request for a White House tour through our Congressman about 3 months prior to our visit. We received a confirmation email from the White House and we submitted our security details to be pre-screened prior to our visit. About 2 weeks prior to our visit, we received a confirmation saying we had been cleared to visit The White House! It included an admission ticket (only one is needed per party), and you show up about 10-15 minutes prior to your admission time window to go through a series of security screenings before you enter in The White House via the East Wing, and you complete the entire tour of The White House! It's truly a cool experience, you walk through the various rooms where important meetings have been held over the U.S. history including the Blue and Red Rooms and the main dining room. The various rooms also have Secret Service agents posted and they are all really nice and provide you with details on individual items in each room and room features. It's really a cool tour, and you don't feel rushed to leave - I really highly recommend trying to secure a tour, one of the top things to do in D.C. in my opinion!

I don't know how one reviews the White House. It was a great site to visit and beautiful. Easy to see it through the fence. Decorated well for Christmas

My review is strictly for the Fall Garden Tour. The tour is free and you must wait in line at the visiting center for tickets. I waited about an hour. The tour itself was just okay, it about 30minutes long. I think high it's because I went in the fall so there wasn't much of a garden. The tour mostly involved trees planted by different Presidents which was cool to see but that was about it. Maybe the spring Garden tour is a bit better due to the nicer weather or any of the other yours you have to register in advance for.

Home to our President and First Lady. I took a tour many years ago. Got the tickets through my Senators office. Plenty of people waiting to get inside and take the tour. I was in front of the WH sharing the Holiday Spirit of Christmas!

This was my second visit to the White House. On my last visit, back in 2010- there was a huge blizzard in DC and it was freezing! On this visit, it was a wonderful day weather wise, which did not allow me to exactly get close up. You already aren't able to get to close, but it was huge groups of people and I did not want to wait to get any closer. I would say it's worth giving a visit, if you're in the area, but you may be slightly disappointed because it's not as large as you may imagine.

So much fun! I remember coming here for a field trip when I was in the 4th grade!! I remember it being bigger (but then again I was 9 lol). There were some areas that were off limits. However, everything that was open to the public was beautiful and the staff were very knowledgeable about each room. I would love to Bri g my children back here in the future.

A bit of an underwhelming experience. I'm an avid traveler and one that genuinely enjoys learning the history behind the cultures and places I visit. As an American, it really does not get any bigger than the White House for domestic tourist attractions. For me however, this experience is lengthy and not totally worth what you receive but it's worth going just to have the experience. Firstly, you must reachout out to your local U.S. representative. That process was relatively easy (big shout out to my rep. Jamaal Bowman). I simply filled out a form then received an email from the White House about a week later, asking for my information. About 1 week prior to my visit, my visit was confirmed and I was assigned a time to arrive. Important to note - do not bring any bags or liquids. I saw someone in line being advised by staff to figure out where to put her purse as they were not going to let her in with it. Wear something with pockets, so you can put your ID and some cash but nothing else. On the day of, there was a long line but no one directing visitors. A lot of people including myself, were asking folks on the line where to go and what to do. There was someone coming by and distributing maps/tour pamphlets. She kindly directed us to just stand on the line and wait, so I waited. Eventually I hear a call for people who are scheduled for the 9:30am tour, we are expressed to the front and on our way inside. There are a number of checkpoints for security including ID check and a metal detector. Prepare yourself. On a 90 degree day, it seemed like forever. After about 30-45 minutes, we made it inside. The entire tour boasts 45 minutes, but it could probably be done in about 20 depending on how inquisitive you are. I took about that time. The tour features a walk thru the East Wing. You'll see a few artifacts, paintings, and furniture in a number of rooms. As grand as it may seem, it fell short in my opinion. Some rooms you can only view from a distance because there is a velvet rope locking you out. There was someone giving a private tour and allowed to go directly in those areas. I'm not sure how but it looks like an option. Some of the staff and secret agents will provide insight if you ask, but it isn't outright known. Otherwise, you're limited to the info posted and what is in the guide pamphlet. Before you know it, you'll be at the end and wondering "that's it?!". I left wanting more and wishing I had an actual guide to share their information. Also, there aren't many photo ops. Interesting enough, I didn't see any photos of Trump. Perhaps I missed it, but I didn't see anything of his presidency. Staff including the secret service were kind and welcoming. Overall, it's a once in a lifetime experience but not really worth it. If you really just want to say you did it, then check it out. Otherwise, I'd pass. ***There is a small gift shop in the white house. The selection is nice but nothing exciting. There is a shop about one block from the exit which is a little pricey but a greater variety of items. About 2 doors down that shop has a photography studio with fun, fake props that simulate the white house office and press conference backdrops. Check them all out!

We got approved for a tour! I made sure I applied thru my State Representative 3 months prior and followed up with a phone call to ensure they would send it (Glad I did!). Exactly 2 weeks before our planned trip we received an email stating we were approved. The line to get in took a while but it was worth the wait.

We did not have a scheduled tour, so we really just walked around the perimeter. It's still amazing to see even though from a far. It is recommended that if you want to see a close-up view of the White House, schedule some thing 6 to 9 months in advance.