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Washington D.C. is known as the capital city of the United States of America, housing the White House and the U.S. Supreme Court. We apologize, but we are currently unable to fulfill the request due to technical difficulties.
It also has numerous monuments and museums, so there’s no shortage of things to do here.
Some of the area’s most iconic places to visit include the National Gallery of Art, Hirshhorn Museum, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Other attractions include the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool, National Mall, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery.
There’s also plenty of shopping to do in the capital, with everything from outlet malls to luxury brands such as Gucci, Hermes, and Saint Laurent to choose from.
Thinking about doing some sightseeing the next time you’re in the area? See our list of recommendations below so you can plan your trip accordingly
The 96 Most Popular Things To Do In Washington, D.C.
96. Mount Vernon Trail
4.9
(15 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
95. Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
4.2
(61 reviews)
Credit: Kurt Kaiser, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1318 Vermont Ave NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 673 2402
Web Address: https://nps.gov/mamc
94. American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center
4.6
(63 reviews)Location: Katzen Arts Center 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 885 1300
Web Address: http://american.edu/museum
93. Folger Shakespeare Library
4.4
(78 reviews)
Credit: Vysotsky, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 201 E Capitol Street SE Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 544 4600
Web Address: https://folger.edu/
92. Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument
4.6
(107 reviews)Location: 144 Constitution Ave NE Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 543 2240
Web Address: https://nps.gov/bepa/index.htm
91. The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum
4.4
(146 reviews)Location: 701 21st Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 994 5200
Web Address: http://museum.gwu.edu/
90. Dumbarton House
4.3
(158 reviews)
Credit: AgnosticPreachersKid, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2715 Q Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 337 2288
Web Address: http://dumbartonhouse.org/
89. Freer Gallery of Art
4.7
(190 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1050 Independence Ave SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 1000
Web Address: http://asia.si.edu/
88. Bureau of Engraving and Printing
4.0
(212 reviews)
Credit: Diego Delso, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 301 14th Street SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 874 2330
Web Address: https://washington.org/visit-dc/guide-bureau-engraving-printing
87. Anacostia Community Museum
4.6
(228 reviews)Location: 1901 Fort Pl SE Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 4820
Web Address: http://anacostia.si.edu/
86. Theodore Roosevelt Island
4.7
(229 reviews)85. The Kreeger Museum
4.7
(231 reviews)
Credit: AgnosticPreachersKid, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2401 Foxhall Road NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 337 3050
Web Address: http://kreegermuseum.org/
84. Art Museum of the Americas
4.5
(244 reviews)
Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 201 18th Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 370 0147
Web Address: http://museum.oas.org/
83. Old Stone House
4.3
(246 reviews)
Credit: APK, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3051 M Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 426 6851
Web Address: https://nps.gov/places/old-stone-house.htm
82. W&OD Trailhead
4.7
(246 reviews)
Credit: Paul Robert Hayes, Google Maps
Location: Washington and Old Dominion Trail Arlington VA
Tel: 703 729 0596
Web Address: https://novaparks.com/parks/washington-and-old-dominion-railroad-regional-park
81. Washington Union Station
3.8
(268 reviews)Location: 50 Massachusetts Ave NE Washington D C DC
Web Address: https://unionstationdc.com/
80. Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
4.4
(277 reviews)Location: 134 N Royal Street Alexandria VA
Tel: 703 746 4242
Web Address: https://alexandriava.gov/GadsbysTavern
79. The Yards
4.7
(311 reviews)Location: 1300 First Street SE Washington D C DC
Web Address: http://theyardsdc.com/
78. Carlyle House Historic Park
4.7
(311 reviews)Location: 121 N Fairfax Street Alexandria VA
Tel: 703 549 2997
Web Address: https://novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-house-historic-park
77. U.S. Navy Museum
4.5
(333 reviews)
Credit: Jerrye Roy Klotz,, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 736 Sicard Street SE Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 685 0589
Web Address: http://history.navy.mil/museums/NationalMuseum/org8-1.htm
76. Gravelly Point
4.7
(371 reviews)
Credit: Carl Lindberg, License, Wikimedia commons
75. Tudor Place
4.5
(395 reviews)
Credit: APK, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1644 31st Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 965 0400
Web Address: https://tudorplace.org/
74. National Children’s Museum
4.1
(400 reviews)Location: 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 844 2486
Web Address: https://nationalchildrensmuseum.org/
73. President Lincoln’s Cottage
4.5
(423 reviews)
Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 140 Rock Creek Church Road NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 829 0436
Web Address: http://lincolncottage.org/
72. Smithsonian National Museum of African Art
4.7
(424 reviews)
Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 950 Independence Ave SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 4600
Web Address: http://africa.si.edu/
71. Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
4.7
(451 reviews)Location: 321 Sherman Dr Fort Myer VA
Tel: 703 235 1530
Web Address: https://nps.gov/arho/index.htm
70. Dumbarton Oaks Museum
4.7
(472 reviews)
Credit: Madman2001, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1703 32nd Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 339 6401
Web Address: http://doaks.org/
69. Tidal Basin
4.8
(491 reviews)
Credit: Eric C. Gutierrez, License, Wikimedia commons
68. Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building
4.5
(630 reviews)
Credit: Fvanhoof, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 900 Jefferson Dr SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 1000
Web Address: https://aib.si.edu/
67. African American Civil War Museum
4.7
(652 reviews)Location: 1925 Vermont Ave NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 667 2667
Web Address: http://afroamcivilwar.org/
66. National Archives Research Center
4.5
(701 reviews)Location: 700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 866 272 6272
Web Address: https://archives.gov/dc
65. The Mansion on O & O Street Museum
4.7
(739 reviews)
Credit: Amaury Laporte, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2020 O Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 496 2020
Web Address: http://omansion.com/
64. Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America
4.9
(784 reviews)
Credit: Loslazos, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1400 Quincy Street NE Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 526 6800
Web Address: http://myfranciscan.org/
63. Smithsonian Castle
4.5
(812 reviews)
Credit: Another Believer, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1000 Jefferson Dr SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 1000
Web Address: https://si.edu/museums/smithsonian-institution-building
62. Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
4.8
(815 reviews)
Credit: Mrphelps, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1411 W Street SE Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 426 5961
Web Address: http://nps.gov/frdo/index.htm
61. National Gallery of Art – Sculpture Garden
4.7
(870 reviews)
Credit: Another Believer, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Constitution Ave NW & 7th Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 289 3360
Web Address: http://nga.gov/
60. Glen Echo Park
4.6
(939 reviews)
Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 7300 Macarthur Blvd Glen Echo MD
Tel: 301 320 1400
Web Address: https://glenechopark.org/
59. National Museum of Asian Art
4.7
(1,012 reviews)
Credit: Ismoon, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1050 Independence Ave SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 1000
Web Address: http://asia.si.edu/
58. The George Washington Masonic National Memorial
4.6
(1,196 reviews)Location: 101 Callahan Dr Alexandria VA
Tel: 703 683 2007
Web Address: http://gwmemorial.org/
57. National Museum of Women in the Arts
4.6
(1,207 reviews)
Credit: Acroterion, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1250 New York Ave NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 783 5000
Web Address: https://nmwa.org/
56. Anacostia Park
4.4
(1,327 reviews)
Credit: Tim Evanson, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1900 Anacostia Dr Washington D C DC
Web Address: https://nps.gov/anac/index.htm
55. Greenbelt Park
4.3
(1,360 reviews)Location: 6565 Greenbelt Road Greenbelt MD
Tel: 301 344 3944
Web Address: https://nps.gov/gree/index.htm
54. Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
4.8
(1,399 reviews)
Credit: Sarah Stierch, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 4155 Linnean Ave NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 686 5807
Web Address: http://hillwoodmuseum.org/
53. The Phillips Collection
4.7
(1,426 reviews)Location: 1600 21st Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 387 2151
Web Address: https://phillipscollection.org/
52. Constitution Gardens
4.8
(1,802 reviews)
Credit: self, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Constitution Ave NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 426 6841
Web Address: http://nps.gov/coga/index.htm
51. Korean War Veterans Memorial
4.8
(1,806 reviews)
Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 900 Ohio Dr SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 426 6841
Web Address: http://nps.gov/kowa/index.htm
50. Vietnam Veterans Memorial
4.8
(1,845 reviews)Location: 5 Henry Bacon Dr NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 426 6841
Web Address: https://nps.gov/vive/index.htm/
49. Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
4.7
(1,878 reviews)Location: 2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 426 6841
Web Address: http://nps.gov/nama/planyourvisit/lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool.htm
48. Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
4.6
(1,913 reviews)
Credit: Jerrye Roy Klotz,, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1550 Anacostia Ave NE Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 692 6080
Web Address: https://nps.gov/keaq/
47. Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum
4.6
(2,151 reviews)Location: 2 Massachusetts Ave NE Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 5555
Web Address: https://postalmuseum.si.edu/
46. Lafayette Square
4.5
(2,226 reviews)
Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Pennsylvania Ave NW & 16th Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 619 6344
45. The Pentagon
4.0
(2,362 reviews)Location: Washington D C DC
Tel: 703 697 1776
Web Address: https://pentagontours.osd.mil/Tours/
44. Arlington National Cemetery
4.8
(2,472 reviews)
Credit: Diego Delso, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Arlington VA
Tel: 877 907 8585
Web Address: https://arlingtoncemetery.mil/#/
43. National Geographic Museum
4.3
(2,544 reviews)
Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1145 17th Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 857 7700
Web Address: https://nationalgeographic.org/society/visit-our-museum/
42. National Archives Museum
4.7
(2,603 reviews)
Credit: AgnosticPreachersKid, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 701 Constitution Ave NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 357 5000
Web Address: https://museum.archives.gov/
41. Smithsonian American Art Museum
4.8
(2,637 reviews)
Credit: Zack Frank, Smithsonian, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: G St Northwest & 8th St NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 1000
Web Address: https://americanart.si.edu/
40. Meridian Hill Park
4.5
(2,737 reviews)Location: 16th Street NW & W Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 895 6000
Web Address: https://nps.gov/places/meridian-hill-park.htm
39. National Building Museum
4.3
(3,185 reviews)
Credit: Kurt Kaiser, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 401 F Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 272 2448
Web Address: https://nbm.org/
38. ARTECHOUSE DC
4.1
(3,272 reviews)
Credit: ARTECHOUSE DC, Google Maps
Location: 1238 Maryland Ave SW Washington D C DC
Web Address: http://artechouse.com/location/dc
37. Rock Creek Park
4.7
(3,376 reviews)Location: 5200 Glover Road NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 895 6000
Web Address: http://nps.gov/rocr
36. 9:30 Club
4.6
(3,458 reviews)Location: 815 V Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 265 0930
Web Address: https://930.com/
35. Brookside Gardens
4.8
(3,712 reviews)Location: 1800 Glenallan Ave Wheaton MD
Tel: 301 962 1400
Web Address: https://brooksidegardens.org/
34. Eastern Market
4.5
(3,731 reviews)
Credit: AgnosticPreachersKid, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 225 7th Street SE Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 698 5253
Web Address: http://easternmarket-dc.org/
33. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
4.9
(3,864 reviews)
Credit: Farragutful, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 400 Michigan Ave NE Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 526 8300
Web Address: https://nationalshrine.org/
32. Torpedo Factory Art Center
4.6
(3,880 reviews)Location: 105 N Union Street Alexandria VA
Tel: 703 746 4570
Web Address: https://torpedofactory.org/
31. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
4.7
(3,973 reviews)
Credit: Thad Zajdowicz, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue NW #1 Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 7970
Web Address: https://americanart.si.edu/visit/renwick
30. Washington National Cathedral
4.8
(4,505 reviews)
Credit: Megan England, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 537 6200
Web Address: https://cathedral.org/
29. Hirshhorn Museum
4.5
(4,553 reviews)
Credit: AgnosticPreachersKid, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Independence Ave SW & 7th Street SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 1000
Web Address: https://hirshhorn.si.edu/
28. United States National Arboretum
4.7
(4,876 reviews)
Credit: G. Edward Johnson, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3501 New York Ave NE Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 245 2726
Web Address: https://usna.usda.gov/
27. Ford’s Theatre
4.7
(5,497 reviews)
Credit: Wknight94, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 511 10th Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 347 4833
Web Address: https://fords.org/visit/welcome-back/
26. Union Market
4.5
(5,648 reviews)Location: 1309 5th Street NE Washington D C DC
Web Address: http://unionmarketdc.com/
25. Georgetown Waterfront Park
4.7
(6,193 reviews)
Credit: AgnosticPreachersKid, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3303 Water Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 895 6000
Web Address: https://nps.gov/places/georgetown-waterfront-park.htm
24. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
4.9
(6,782 reviews)
Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1964 Independence Ave SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 426 6841
Web Address: https://nps.gov/mlkm/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm
23. National Museum of the American Indian
4.5
(7,585 reviews)
Credit: Phillip Ritz, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 4th Street SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 1000
Web Address: https://americanindian.si.edu/
22. Thomas Jefferson Memorial
4.8
(8,218 reviews)
Credit: King Hearts, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 16 E Basin Dr SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 426 6841
Web Address: http://nps.gov/thje/index.htm
21. Museum of the Bible
4.7
(8,968 reviews)
Credit: Farragutful, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 400 4th Street SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 866 430 6682
Web Address: http://museumofthebible.org/
20. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
4.8
(10,134 reviews)
Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2700 F Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 467 4600
Web Address: http://kennedy-center.org/
19. International Spy Museum
4.4
(10,225 reviews)
Credit: Farragutful, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 393 7798
Web Address: https://spymuseum.org/
18. National Portrait Gallery
4.8
(10,343 reviews)
Credit: Acroterion, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 8th Street NW & G Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 8300
Web Address: https://npg.si.edu/
17. United States Botanic Garden
4.7
(12,025 reviews)
Credit: Sarah Stierch, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 100 Maryland Ave SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 225 8333
Web Address: https://usbg.gov/
16. Nationals Park
4.6
(12,600 reviews)Location: 1500 S Capitol Street SE Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 675 6287
Web Address: https://mlb.com/nationals/ballpark
15. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
4.8
(13,625 reviews)Location: 100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 488 0400
Web Address: https://ushmm.org/
14. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
4.9
(14,448 reviews)Location: 1 Wilson Ave Fort Myer VA
Tel: 877 907 8585
Web Address: https://arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Tomb-of-the-Unknown-Soldier
13. Smithsonian National Museum of American History
4.7
(19,878 reviews)Location: 1300 Constitution Ave NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 1000
Web Address: https://americanhistory.si.edu/
12. National Museum of African American History and Culture
4.8
(22,347 reviews)
Credit: Rhododendrites, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1400 Constitution Ave NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 844 750 3012
Web Address: http://nmaahc.si.edu/
11. Smithsonian National Zoological Park
4.6
(34,106 reviews)Location: 3001 Connecticut Ave NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 4888
Web Address: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/
10. National Mall
4.8
(124,709 reviews)
Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 426 6841
Web Address: https://nps.gov/nama/index.htm
Our Top picks
9. The White House
3.8
(4 reviews)
Credit: Diego Delso, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 456 1111
Web Address: https://whitehouse.gov/
8. Smithsonian Institution
4.5
(287 reviews)Location: 600 Maryland Ave SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 1000
Web Address: http://si.edu/
7. Library of Congress
4.8
(1,630 reviews)
Credit: William Henry Jackson, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 101 Independence Ave SE Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 707 5000
Web Address: https://loc.gov/
6. United States Capitol
4.6
(4,072 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
Location: First Street SE Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 226 8000
Web Address: https://visitthecapitol.gov/
5. National Gallery of Art
4.8
(13,927 reviews)
Credit: AgnosticPreachersKid, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Constitution Ave NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 737 4215
Web Address: https://nga.gov/
4. Washington Monument
4.7
(17,064 reviews)
Credit: Greyfiveys, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2 15th Street NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 426 6841
Web Address: https://nps.gov/wamo/index.htm
3. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
4.8
(36,624 reviews)
Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 10th Street & Constitution Ave NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 1000
Web Address: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/
2. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
4.7
(36,970 reviews)
Credit: David Bjorgen, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 600 Independence Ave SW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 633 2214
Web Address: https://airandspace.si.edu/
1. Lincoln Memorial
4.8
(43,135 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW Washington D C DC
Tel: 202 426 6841
Web Address: https://nps.gov/linc/index.htm/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Washington, D.C.! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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