🏆 Washington, D.C. Things to Do
Things to Do in Washington, D.C.
Free Smithsonian museums, National Mall monuments, Capitol Hill history, and Georgetown charm — 77 verified attractions organized by category.
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🏛️ Smithsonian Museums (Free)
🖼️ Other World-Class Museums
🏛️ U.S. Capitol & Govt Buildings
⛪ Historic Landmarks & Religious Sites
🎨 Georgetown
🇺🇸 Arlington National Cemetery
🎭 Kennedy Center & Performing Arts
🌳 Parks & Outdoor Spaces
🚌 Guided Tours & Sightseeing
🐼 Family & Kids Attractions
🗺️ Neighborhoods Worth Exploring
🚗 Day Trips
10 Things to Do
Lincoln Memorial
An iconic Greek Doric temple honoring Lincoln and the site of the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.
Washington Monument
A 555-foot obelisk honoring George Washington, with an observation deck reached by elevator.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
A neoclassical rotunda on the Tidal Basin honoring the Declaration’s author.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The Wall, listing over 58,000 names of the fallen.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Steel statues of soldiers on patrol, honoring Korean War veterans.
World War II Memorial
A plaza and fountain honoring the 16 million who served in WWII.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Four outdoor ‘rooms’ tracing FDR’s presidency.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
The newest presidential memorial, honoring Ike as general and president.
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
The ‘Stone of Hope’ sculpture on the Tidal Basin.
Tidal Basin & Cherry Blossom Trail
A famous walking loop around the Tidal Basin, with peak cherry blossom bloom typically late March/early April.
15 Things to Do
National Museum of African American History and Culture
A major Smithsonian museum on Black history and culture; timed-entry passes are recommended.
Check National Museum of African American History and Culture →
National Museum of American History
Home to the Star-Spangled Banner, First Ladies’ gowns, and American history exhibits.
National Museum of Natural History
Home to the Hope Diamond, the dinosaur hall, and Ocean Hall.
National Museum of the American Indian
Native art, history, and culture, with an on-site cafe.
National Air and Space Museum
One of the world’s most-visited museums; most galleries have reopened post-renovation, with the final phase completing in 2026.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Modern and contemporary art in a distinctive cylindrical building.
Arts and Industries Building
A historic 1881 Smithsonian building that recently reopened in 2026.
Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)
The original 1855 Smithsonian headquarters and visitor center, recently reopened.
National Museum of African Art
Art of the African continent and its diaspora.
National Museum of Asian Art
Asian art spanning millennia, formerly known as the Freer|Sackler.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
American art from colonial times to today.
National Portrait Gallery
Presidential portraits and portraits of notable American historical figures.
Renwick Gallery
Craft and decorative arts in a landmark 1859 building.
National Postal Museum
The history of the U.S. mail, with extensive stamp collections.
Anacostia Community Museum
Focused on African American history and DC neighborhoods.
13 Things to Do
National Gallery of Art
Old Masters through contemporary art across the East and West Buildings; free admission.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
A permanent exhibition and archive on the Holocaust.
International Spy Museum
Espionage history and interactive exhibits at L’Enfant Plaza.
The Phillips Collection
America’s first museum of modern art, located in Dupont Circle.
National Building Museum
Architecture, design, and engineering exhibits inside the grand former Pension Building.
Planet Word
An interactive museum devoted to language and literacy.
DAR Museum
Decorative arts and Americana, run by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
Marjorie Merriweather Post’s mansion with Russian and French art collections and formal gardens.
President Lincoln’s Cottage
Lincoln’s summer retreat, where he drafted the Emancipation Proclamation.
Woodrow Wilson House
The only former presidential residence in DC open to the public as a museum.
Heurich House Museum
The ‘Brewmaster’s Castle,’ a Victorian mansion in Dupont Circle.
Anderson House
A Beaux-Arts mansion housing the American Revolution Institute’s museum.
The Kreeger Museum
A modern art collection housed in a Philip Johnson-designed home.
7 Things to Do
U.S. Capitol / Capitol Visitor Center
The seat of Congress, with free timed tours through the Capitol Visitor Center.
The White House
The president’s residence and workplace; tours require a congressional request, but the Visitor Center is open daily.
National Archives Museum
Home to the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
Library of Congress
The world’s largest library, housed in the stunning Jefferson Building, with timed entry passes.
Supreme Court of the United States
Public building tours, and oral arguments open to the public when the Court is in session.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Free tours watching U.S. currency being printed.
The Pentagon
Guided tours of the Department of War headquarters, by advance reservation only.
5 Things to Do
Washington National Cathedral
A Gothic cathedral with the Space Window and the city’s highest viewpoint.
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
The largest Catholic church in North America.
Check Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception →
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
Cedar Hill, Frederick Douglass’s home overlooking the Anacostia River.
Congressional Cemetery
A historic 1807 cemetery with notable burials and self-guided walking tours.
Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America
Replica Holy Land shrines set among peaceful gardens.
5 Things to Do
Georgetown
A historic riverside neighborhood with shopping along M Street and Wisconsin Avenue.
Georgetown Waterfront Park
A riverside NPS park with fountains and paths along the Potomac.
C&O Canal National Historical Park (Georgetown segment)
A historic canal towpath through Georgetown for walking and biking.
Check C&O Canal National Historical Park (Georgetown segment) →
Dumbarton Oaks
A historic estate with renowned formal gardens and Byzantine and pre-Columbian art collections.
Tudor Place Historic House & Garden
A Federal-era mansion and gardens tied to the Custis-Peter family.
2 Things to Do
Arlington National Cemetery
Home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Changing of the Guard, and the JFK gravesite.
Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial)
The iconic flag-raising sculpture near Arlington National Cemetery.
2 Things to Do
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The national performing arts center, with free daily Millennium Stage performances.
Ford’s Theatre
Site of Lincoln’s assassination, still an active working theater with an on-site museum.
5 Things to Do
Rock Creek Park
A large urban forest park with trails, biking, and a nature center.
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
Historic water-lily gardens along the Anacostia River.
Meridian Hill Park (Malcolm X Park)
A cascading fountain and formal terraces, with drum circles on Sundays.
United States National Arboretum
A 446-acre USDA garden featuring the National Capitol Columns.
Smithsonian Gardens
Landscaped gardens surrounding the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall.
3 Things to Do
Big Bus Washington DC Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
Open-top double-decker bus routes covering the major sights across the National Mall and downtown.
Old Town Trolley Tours of DC
Narrated hop-on hop-off trolley sightseeing tours around the city.
National Mall Ranger-Led Tours
Free ranger-led talks and walks across the National Mall’s monuments.
2 Things to Do
Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Home to giant pandas and free admission, part of the Smithsonian.
Nationals Park
Home of the Washington Nationals, with games and stadium tours.
6 Things to Do
Adams Morgan
An eclectic dining and nightlife district.
U Street Corridor
The historic ‘Black Broadway,’ with live music venues and Ben’s Chili Bowl.
Dupont Circle
Embassy Row, bookstores, and the historic traffic circle and park.
Eastern Market
A historic 1873 public market on Capitol Hill, with weekend flea and farmers markets.
The Wharf
A redeveloped Southwest waterfront with dining, live music, and water taxis.
Union Station
A Beaux-Arts train station that doubles as a shopping and dining destination.
2 Things to Do
George Washington’s Mount Vernon
George Washington’s historic plantation estate on the Potomac.
Old Town Alexandria
A colonial-era waterfront town with cobblestone streets, shops, and restaurants.
Planning Tips
- Every Smithsonian museum, plus the National Zoo, is free — a huge reason DC is one of the most budget-friendly major-city trips in the country.
- Book timed-entry passes in advance for the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Library of Congress, which can sell out, especially in peak season.
- The National Mall is bigger than it looks on a map — budget a full day if you want to see multiple Smithsonian museums plus the monuments, or split it across two days.
- Cherry blossom season around the Tidal Basin (late March/early April) is the single busiest week of the year — expect crowds and book ahead.
Are the Smithsonian museums really free?
Yes — all 15 Smithsonian museums and galleries on the National Mall, plus the National Zoo, offer free general admission with no ticket required for most exhibits.
Do I need a reservation to tour the White House or Capitol?
White House tours require advance request through a member of Congress. The Capitol offers free timed tours through the Capitol Visitor Center, which can be booked online in advance.
How does NME choose which attractions to feature?
We verify each listing directly against its own official site and current operating status rather than relying on aggregator lists, and we exclude anything we can’t confirm is still open. Read more on our methodology page.
