Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
US East Coast: New York, Philadelphia and Washington by Train
8 days from New York to Washington by Amtrak: three nights in Manhattan, two in Philadelphia with a day in Lancaster County, and two in the capital.
8 days · New York to Washington, DC · up to 12 guests
A cast-iron bridge over the bridle path north of the Reservoir, Central Park Photo: Jet Lowe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Central_Park_New_York_City_New_York_23_cropped.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days, 7 nights
- Start and end
- New York to Washington, DC
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
City walking every day, about 5 to 9 km on pavements, park paths and the stairs of subway and Metro stations, plus three Amtrak rides of one to two hours. Arlington National Cemetery is hilly. Each long day has an easier option: a taxi in place of a walk, or an afternoon back at the hotel.
- Meals included
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 1 dinner
- Room of your own
- + CAD 1,065 (estimated price)
- Season
- April to June and September to November
Highlights
Why this trip
- The first ferry of the day to the Statue of Liberty, with pedestal access, then Ellis Island before the crowds build
- Central Park on a morning walk, then Williamsburg in Brooklyn and the NYC Ferry back down the East River
- Amtrak between the cities: no coach, no motorway days
- Independence Hall on a timed tour, the Liberty Bell and lunch at Reading Terminal Market
- A day in Lancaster County with a local guide: the farmers market, Amish farm lanes and a buggy ride
- The Washington Monument at the top, then the memorials of the National Mall as the light goes
- Arlington at opening and the Changing of the Guard, then the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives on the last morning
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 1,065 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in New York
JFK, LaGuardia or Newark airport to your hotel in Midtown Manhattan
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in New York
- Drive about 1.5 h
Fly into New York: JFK, LaGuardia (LGA) or Newark (EWR). Our driver meets you in arrivals for the ride into Manhattan, usually 45 minutes to an hour and a half depending on the airport and the traffic, so plan to land by about 3 pm. Your hotel is in Midtown, central enough that most of the next three days start on foot or from a subway station a few blocks away. At about 6 pm your See Sight Tours guide meets the group in the hotel for a short briefing: how the subway works, what the security line for the Statue of Liberty is like, and how the trains between the cities run.
Evening
Then we walk a few blocks together, through the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal under its painted ceiling of constellations or into the lights of Times Square, depending on where the hotel sits, and sit down to a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Included
- Pick-up at JFK, LaGuardia (LGA) or Newark (EWR)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Short evening walk in Midtown
- Welcome dinner
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
Statue of Liberty early, then Lower Manhattan
Midtown by subway to Battery Park, ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, then the Financial District
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in New York
- By train
Morning
Breakfast is early today: we leave the hotel at about 8 am and take the subway downtown to be in line at Battery Park for the first ferry of the day, around 9 am, before the queues for the security screening grow. Our tickets include the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, booked weeks ahead because numbers are limited. On Liberty Island, walk around the statue, climb into the pedestal for the view back to the Manhattan skyline, and see the original torch in the Statue of Liberty Museum. The same ferry goes on to Ellis Island, where more than 12 million immigrants were processed between 1892 and 1954; the National Museum of Immigration fills the restored main building, and many guests look up family names in the arrival records.
Afternoon
Back in Manhattan, lunch is a sit-down meal in the Financial District. In the afternoon we walk past Wall Street and Trinity Church to the 9/11 Memorial, two pools set in the footprints of the Twin Towers, and spend about two hours in the museum below before its 5:30 pm last entry.
Evening
We are back in Midtown by about 6 pm; the evening is free.
Included
- Statue of Liberty with pedestal access, on the first ferry of the day
- The Statue of Liberty Museum
- Ellis Island and the National Museum of Immigration
- Sit-down lunch in the Financial District
- Wall Street, Trinity Church and the 9/11 Memorial with your guide
- The 9/11 Memorial & Museum
Easier option: Skip the 9/11 Museum and go back to the hotel after lunch; the memorial pools outside are open to everyone if you want to return another time.
More active option: After the museum, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO, about 2 km, and take the subway back to Midtown.
Free time: Evening free
Activity: A full day, about 8 am to 6 pm: the Liberty and Ellis Island ferry loop takes 4 to 5 hours with security, and the 9/11 Museum about 2 hours. About 6 km on foot, with time standing in security lines and on the ferry deck. Small day bags only: the bag screening is like an airport's.
Central Park and Brooklyn on foot
Central Park on foot, the subway to Williamsburg, then the NYC Ferry back to Manhattan
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in New York
- By train
Today is about New York's neighbourhoods, seen on foot and from the subway rather than a bus window.
Morning
We walk from the hotel into Central Park in the morning, when runners and dog walkers have it mostly to themselves: the Mall under its elms, Bethesda Terrace and its fountain, Bow Bridge over the Lake, and on north to the Reservoir and the cast-iron bridges along the bridle path. A subway ride then takes us under the East River to Williamsburg in Brooklyn, where old factories and warehouses now hold shops, cafés, bakeries and painted walls.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal in the neighbourhood, then we walk to Domino Park on the waterfront, laid out beside the old sugar refinery, for the view across the river to Manhattan. From the Williamsburg pier we ride the NYC Ferry down the East River back to Manhattan.
Evening
The evening is yours; if you want a Broadway show, tell us when you book and we buy seats for the performance you choose.
Included
- Central Park walk with your guide: the Mall, Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge and the Reservoir
- Subway to Williamsburg, Brooklyn
- Williamsburg neighbourhood walk and Domino Park
- Sit-down lunch in Williamsburg
- NYC Ferry down the East River to Manhattan
Optional experiences
- A Broadway show in the evening, seats bought for you at the price of the show you choose
Easier option: Leave the park at Bethesda Terrace by taxi to meet the group at the subway, cutting the morning walk to about 2 km.
More active option: Walk back to Manhattan over the Williamsburg Bridge footpath, about 2 km above the river, instead of taking the ferry.
Free time: Evening free
Activity: The longest walking day in New York: about 9 km on park paths and pavements, with subway stairs.
Amtrak to Philadelphia and Independence Hall
New York Penn Station by Amtrak to Philadelphia 30th Street, then Old City on foot
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Philadelphia
- By train
Morning
After breakfast we make the short trip to Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station and board an Amtrak train to Philadelphia, about an hour and a half on reserved seats. A van meets the group at William H. Gray III 30th Street Station and takes the bags on to the hotel in the historic center.
Afternoon
Lunch is at Reading Terminal Market, a covered market hall open since 1893, where you choose from the stalls: a cheesesteak, a roast pork sandwich or Pennsylvania Dutch cooking from the Amish-run counters on the days they open. In the afternoon we walk into Independence National Historical Park for our timed tour of Independence Hall, led by a park ranger, in the room where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776 and the Constitution was drafted in 1787. The Liberty Bell hangs in its glass pavilion across the street. We finish at the Museum of the American Revolution, a few minutes' walk away.
Evening
The evening is free in Old City, where Elfreth's Alley, a lane of early 18th-century houses, is worth a short detour.
Included
- Amtrak train from New York to Philadelphia, reserved seats
- Luggage transfer from 30th Street Station to the hotel
- Lunch at Reading Terminal Market
- Independence Hall on a timed tour with a park ranger
- The Liberty Bell
- Museum of the American Revolution
Easier option: Skip the Museum of the American Revolution and rest at the hotel after the Liberty Bell.
Free time: Evening free in Old City
Activity: About 5 km on foot on flat pavements and some brick and cobbles.
A day in Lancaster County
Philadelphia by Amtrak to Lancaster, the farmland around Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse, and back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Philadelphia
- Drive about 1.5 h
Morning
A morning Keystone train takes us west from 30th Street Station to Lancaster, about an hour and a quarter through the Main Line suburbs and into farm country. On the days it opens (Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays), we start at Lancaster Central Market, in its brick market house of 1889, where Amish and Mennonite farmers sell bread, cheese, whoopie pies and vegetables a short walk from the domed county courthouse. A local guide who lives in the county then takes us out in a van along the back roads east of town, through Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse, past farms worked with horses and mules and the one-room schoolhouses Amish children still attend. We stop at a farm to hear how families here live without a connection to the public electricity grid, and ride a horse-drawn buggy along the farm lanes.
Afternoon
Lunch is a family-style Pennsylvania Dutch meal.
Evening
We are back on the train in the late afternoon and in Philadelphia by early evening, free for dinner. Amish farms and most shops close on Sundays, so we set departures so that this day never falls on one.
Included
- Amtrak Keystone train from Philadelphia to Lancaster and back
- Lancaster Central Market (on market days)
- Amish farmland with a local guide: Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse
- A farm visit
- Horse-drawn buggy ride
- Family-style Pennsylvania Dutch lunch
Easier option: Stay in Philadelphia for a free day: the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rittenhouse Square or the Barnes Foundation.
Free time: Evening free in Philadelphia
Activity: An easy day: about 3 km on foot, and about 1.5 hours in the van on country roads.
Amtrak to Washington and the Mall at dusk
Philadelphia by Amtrak to Washington Union Station, then Capitol Hill and the National Mall on foot
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Washington, DC
- By train
Morning
We take a mid-morning Amtrak train south, about two hours through Wilmington and Baltimore, to Washington Union Station, and a van takes the bags on to the hotel near the National Mall.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal on Capitol Hill. In the afternoon we walk past the US Capitol and the Supreme Court to the Library of Congress, where the Thomas Jefferson Building holds the marble Great Hall and the domed Main Reading Room, seen from the gallery above. Later we walk down the Mall to the Washington Monument, where we hold timed tickets for the elevator to the top and the view along the Mall to the Lincoln Memorial and across the Potomac. As the light goes we walk on past the World War II Memorial and the Reflecting Pool to the Lincoln Memorial, then to the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, both quieter after the day visitors have left.
Evening
Dinner tonight is your choice.
Included
- Amtrak train from Philadelphia to Washington, reserved seats
- Luggage transfer from Union Station to the hotel
- Sit-down lunch on Capitol Hill
- The US Capitol and the Supreme Court from outside, and the Library of Congress
- Washington Monument on timed tickets
- The memorials of the National Mall at dusk with your guide: World War II, Lincoln, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans
Easier option: Take a taxi from the Library of Congress to the Washington Monument and from the Lincoln Memorial back to the hotel.
Free time: Evening free after the memorials
Activity: About 8 km on foot, mostly flat, on pavements and the gravel paths of the Mall.
Arlington and the Smithsonian
Washington by Metro to Arlington National Cemetery and back, then the Smithsonian museums
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Washington, DC
- By train
An early start: we leave the hotel at about 7:30 am and ride the Metro's Blue Line across the Potomac to Arlington National Cemetery as it opens at 8 am, ahead of the tour groups. Your guide walks you up between the rows of white headstones to the grave of President John F. Kennedy, marked by the eternal flame, and on to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the Changing of the Guard, held every half hour from April to September and every hour in the colder months. Arlington House, once the home of Robert E. Lee, looks back over the river to the Lincoln Memorial.
Afternoon
After lunch back in the city, the afternoon is for the Smithsonian. We hold timed passes for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where the history galleries begin below ground with the transatlantic slave trade and rise floor by floor to the present day. If you prefer, spend the afternoon at the National Air and Space Museum or the National Museum of Natural History instead; all three are free.
Evening
We meet again in the evening for a farewell dinner.
Included
- Metro to Arlington National Cemetery and back
- Arlington with your guide: the Kennedy graves, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Changing of the Guard, Arlington House
- Sit-down lunch
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture on timed passes, or another Smithsonian museum of your choice
- Farewell dinner
Easier option: Ride the cemetery's tram between the main sites (a small fare, paid on the day) instead of walking the hills.
Free time: Late afternoon free before the farewell dinner
Activity: About 6 km on foot; Arlington's paths climb steadily to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Arlington House.
The founding documents and home
The National Archives, then Reagan National (DCA), Dulles (IAD) or Union Station
- Breakfast
- Drive about 45 min
Morning
A last morning in Washington. After breakfast we walk to the National Archives for its 10 am opening, when the line is short, to see the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights in the Rotunda: the documents you heard argued over in Independence Hall four days earlier, under low light to protect the ink. From there it is a short walk back to the hotel to collect your bags, and around 12:30 pm our driver takes you to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), about 20 minutes away, or to Washington Dulles International (IAD), about 45 minutes to an hour. If you are going on by train, Union Station is a short ride away. Your guide sees you off and checks your onward plans before saying goodbye. Book a flight from DCA after about 3 pm or from Dulles after about 4 pm so there is no rush. With an earlier flight, skip the Archives and we take you to the airport straight after breakfast, or at whatever time suits you.
Included
- The National Archives with your guide: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
- Drop-off at Reagan National (DCA), Dulles (IAD) or Union Station
Activity: Book a flight from DCA after about 3 pm or from IAD after about 4 pm to see the Archives. Road time is about 20 minutes to DCA or 45 to 60 minutes to IAD.
- New York3 nights
- Philadelphia2 nights
- Washington, DC2 nights
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Spring and autumn bring mild days for walking; July and August are hot and humid, so we move the longest walks to the morning. Washington's cherry blossom weeks in early spring are crowded, and hotel rooms are hard to find and dear.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- First-time visitors who want New York, Philadelphia and Washington without driving or a coach
- Travellers who like walking cities and riding trains
- American history: the Revolution, immigration, civil rights and the memorials
- A mix of guided mornings and free evenings for restaurants and shows
Not for you if you want
- Travellers who need step-free access everywhere: subway and Metro stations have stairs and long walks
- Niagara Falls or Boston on the same trip
- Anyone who wants a car or coach door to door
- A slow beach or countryside holiday
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
7 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- New York3 nights
- Philadelphia2 nights
- Washington, DC2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 7 nights in central hotels of at least 3-star-plus standard: 3 in Midtown Manhattan, 2 in Philadelphia's historic center, 2 in downtown Washington near the National Mall
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
- We name each hotel when we confirm your dates
Transport
- Pick-up at JFK, LaGuardia or Newark on day 1 and drop-off at Reagan National, Dulles or Union Station on day 8
- Amtrak trains with reserved seats: New York to Philadelphia, Philadelphia to Lancaster and back, Philadelphia to Washington
- A van for the luggage between the stations and the hotels, and a van and driver for the Lancaster County day
- Subway and Metro fares on touring days
- The ferries to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, and the NYC Ferry from Williamsburg
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from New York to Washington
- A local guide for the Lancaster County day, and the park ranger's tour of Independence Hall
Activities
- New York: the Statue of Liberty with pedestal access, the Statue of Liberty Museum, Ellis Island and the National Museum of Immigration, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, a Central Park walk, a Williamsburg walk and Domino Park
- Philadelphia: Independence Hall on a timed tour, the Liberty Bell, the Museum of the American Revolution
- Lancaster County: Lancaster Central Market on market days, a farm visit and a horse-drawn buggy ride
- Washington: the Library of Congress, the Washington Monument on timed tickets, the National Mall memorials at dusk, Arlington National Cemetery and the Changing of the Guard, the National Museum of African American History and Culture on timed passes, the National Archives
Meals
- 7 breakfasts
- 6 sit-down lunches, days 2 to 7, including Reading Terminal Market and a family-style Pennsylvania Dutch lunch
- 2 dinners: a welcome dinner in New York and a farewell dinner in Washington
Not included
- International flights to New York and from Washington
- Travel insurance
- An ESTA or US visa where your nationality needs one
- Lunch on days 1 and 8, and dinners on days 2 to 6
- Drinks
- Tips for your guide and drivers
- Broadway tickets and other optional activities in your free time
- Crown access at the Statue of Liberty, which is sold separately in very small numbers
- Personal spending
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 1,065 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Seven nights in central hotels, 7 breakfasts, 6 sit-down lunches and 2 dinners, Amtrak trains between the cities, subway and Metro fares, airport pick-up and drop-off, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, and every entry in the day plan: the Statue of Liberty with pedestal access, Ellis Island, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Independence Hall, the Lancaster County day, the Washington Monument, Arlington and the National Archives.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests. That keeps the group quick through the subway and the security lines, small enough to hear the guide on a crowded pavement, and able to sit at one table for lunch.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from the welcome dinner in New York to the last morning in Washington. A local guide who lives in Lancaster County leads that day, and park rangers lead the timed tour inside Independence Hall.
Why trains and not a coach?
Amtrak is the quickest way between these cities: about one and a half hours from New York to Philadelphia and two hours on to Washington, centre to centre, with no traffic or parking. Inside the cities we walk and ride the subway and Metro, which is how the people who live there get around.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderate. Expect 5 to 9 km of walking a day on pavements and park paths, plus stairs in subway and Metro stations and a climb at Arlington. Each long day has an easier option, such as a taxi between sights or an afternoon at the hotel. Two mornings start early, at about 7:30 to 8 am.
I am travelling solo. Is there a single supplement?
Yes, a room of your own is from CAD 1,065 more, because hotel rooms in New York and Washington are priced per room. Pay the supplement and the room is guaranteed yours alone. You are never charged more for anything else, and solo guests sit with the group at every included meal.
When is the best time to go?
April to June and September to November bring mild weather for walking all day. July and August are hot and humid, so we start the longest walks early. Washington's cherry blossom weeks in early spring are crowded and hotels are dear, and winter is cold with short days.
How does booking work?
The small group starts from CAD 5,930 per person sharing a room, taxes included. Pick a start date and request to book; we confirm your place within 24 hours, and no payment is taken until then. We then book your timed tickets and send hotel names and the day plan.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip runs as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we can quote the hotels, trains and tickets.
Do I need a visa for the United States?
Canadian citizens need only a valid passport for a visit like this. Most other visitors need an ESTA or a US visa before they fly, so check your own rules early. We ask for your passport name when you book because the Statue of Liberty and train tickets carry it.
Can I see a Broadway show?
Yes, if you would like to. The evenings of days 2 and 3 in New York are free, and when you book you can ask us to buy seats for the show and performance you choose. The ticket is priced at booking and is not part of the trip price.
Why are Niagara Falls and Boston not included?
Niagara Falls is a full day's drive each way from New York, and adding it means long coach days, which this trip avoids. We run Niagara Falls tours of our own, and our Cape Cod and New England trip covers that coast, so either pairs well before or after this one.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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