Sights and landmarks in Washington, D.C.

997 sights worth seeing in Washington, D.C.: landmarks, galleries, monuments and viewpoints.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 997.

Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)

SeeHistory museumNational Mall
National Museum of Natural History
The real show stoppers here are the gargantuan, complete dinosaur fossils, and you won't have to search to find them! Further into the museum you'll find displays of world cultures, meteorites, mineral samples, and the evolution of life from beginnings to today. Don't leave without seeing the overawing precious rock collection, including the Hope Diamond, the enormous blue diamond of legend. A dining area is on the first level of this museum. The food is good, but somewhat pricy.
10:30AM-5:30PM daily, 10AM-7:30PM during the summerWi-Fi · Free entry · Built 1910
SeeArt museumNational Mall
National Gallery of Art
The staggering depth and breadth of the world-class collections here are a clear testament to U.S. wealth and power. The east building of this museum is devoted to modern art, while the west building showcases traditional, mostly European, paintings and sculptures. The west wing's impressionist gallery is likely the most popular, although it would be a shame to skip the east wing's fauvist and abstract expressionist galleries. Just west of the buildings is the relaxing sculpture garden, with a foot pool for cooling off tired feet. There are dining options within the Gallery. Among popular options are the Garden Café and various dining options in the area connecting the east and west wings of the museum. Also, food is available in the park on the Gallery grounds.
Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM; Sun 11AM-6PMWi-Fi · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeAerospace museumNational Mall
National Air and Space Museum
The most-visited museum in the U.S., with over 8 million visitors per year, this impressive repository covers the history of human flight, rocketry and space flight. It contains thousands of impressive artifacts, including the Wright brothers' 1903 Flyer, Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, Apollo 11's command module Columbia, and the simulated bridge of an aircraft carrier. Enthusiasts should try to also make it to the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum out in Chantilly near Dulles International Airport; the Center houses full aviation and space aircraft (e.g., SR-71 Blackbird, Enola Gay B-29, Concorde, Space Shuttle Discovery, etc.) that would not fit on the Mall.
10AM-5:30PM dailyFree entry · Wi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible
SeeMuseumNational Mall
National Museum of the American Indian
This museum displays the cultural traditions of the Native peoples of North, Central, and South America. It focuses on 20th century and present day culture much more than pre-Columbian and colonial periods. The exhibits can be fascinating, but are not as grandiose as those of the other museums. Perhaps the most important attraction is the gorgeous building itself, designed by famous Native Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal of Blackfoot descent, echoing the ancient stone formations of the American Southwest, and surrounded by manifestations both metaphorical and literal of natural North American landscapes.
10AM-5:30PM dailyFree entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeMuseumNational Mall
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Both a museum and a memorial, this space is dedicated to the exposition of just what exactly occurred during the Holocaust, its pointless inhumanity and unbelievable suffering. Exhibits include video and audio testimonies as well as more traditional museum exhibits. This is without a doubt the most somber, and even disturbing place for visitors on the Mall, and a good portion of the visitors leave sobbing—make sure your kids are old enough for this material. Entrance is by free timed ticket on a first come, first served basis during the busy months of March-August.
10AM-5:30PM dailyFree entry
SeeHistoric siteNational Mall
Washington Monument
No man looms larger over American history than the first president, and no monument looms larger over D.C. than this, both the world's tallest stone structure and its tallest obelisk. When completed in 1884 it was the world's tallest structure, and remains one of the tallest buildings in D.C. Viewed from either end of the Mall its size may not be evident, but enter the enormous square on which it stands, and you'll realize just how monumental it is. The view from the 555-foot top is great on a clear day, allowing you to see up and down the Mall, and out as far as the Shenandoah Valley. The observation level reopened in September 2019 and is open for viewing with a ticket. Entrance is by timed ticket, which are distributed on a first come first served basis starting at 8:30AM from a National Park Service booth on 15th St east of the monument or online, if booked months in advance.
open daily except for July 4th and December 25th- regular hours-9AM-4:45PM, summer hours (Memorial Day to Labor Day) 9AM to 9:45PMFree · Wheelchair accessible
SeeHistoric siteNational Mall
Lincoln Memorial
Most of the D.C. memorials, especially those for U.S. leaders, are meant to awe and impress in a very direct manner. None more so than this impressive monument in a commanding location at the end of the Mall. Modeled after the Greek Temple of Zeus, Lincoln sits with a commanding presence overlooking the reflecting pool, straight across the Mall to the Washington Monument and beyond it the Capitol Building. Few monuments in the world can match the simple power of the Lincoln Memorial at night.
Open now · open 24 hoursWheelchair accessible
SeeMuseumEast End
National Museum of Women in the Arts
This is the only museum devoted to art made by women. Its special exhibits can be really interesting, often featuring works from a specific part of the world. The big, beautiful building is a historic former Masonic Temple. The gift shop is extraordinary, with a collection of very unique handmade gifts from around the world.
Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun noon-5PM$10 adults; $8 students, ages 65+; free 18 and younger
SeeArt museumNational Mall
National Museum of African Art
A much smaller museum of art than the massive National Gallery and Hirshhorn museums, but it is excellently exhibited, and extremely family-friendly, with daily events and programs for kids. The exhibits subvert the name of the museum, showing that creative arts from the African continent, traditional and contemporary, are too diverse to fit neatly under the title of "African Art." The museum hosts frequent performances of storytellers, musicians, films, etc.
10AM-5:30PM dailyFree entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeAttractionWest End
White House
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800 when the national capital was moved from Philadelphia. The White House is also a metonym for the Executive Office of the President.
Tours: Tue-Thu 7:30AM-11AM, Fri 7:30AM-noon, Sat 7:30AM-1PMFree
SeeMonumentNational Mall
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Often described as the most moving memorial in the city, the Vietnam Memorial stands as tribute to those who died or went missing, intended to transcend political controversy in remembrance of the soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Its centerpiece is a simple black granite wall engraved with the 58,256 names of each.
24 hrs daily. Rangers on duty for questions and interpretive programs: 9:30AM-10PM
SeeArt museumNational Mall
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Asia is a rather large place, and a tour through these Asian Art museums is a bit like a travel from Japan to Turkey. The Asian galleries, along with the connected African Art museum are a lot quieter and more peaceful than the huge museums to the east, which can be quite a relief! Like their companion museum above, the Freer and Sackler galleries host very frequent events.
10AM-5:30PM dailyFree entry · Built 1923
SeeArt museumNational Mall
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
Home to D.C.'s premier collection of international modern and contemporary art, housed in an intimidating brutalist spaceship of a building. The exhibits are wonderfully stimulating and cutting-edge, albeit often not made accessible to casual viewers (a free docent-led tour available noon-4PM can be helpful), and very often not family-friendly with very graphic content. The museum tries to make it clear when you are about to walk into an "adult exhibit," but do not count on this if you are with children. The sculpture gardens, however, are great fun for kids, and a nice quiet escape from the Mall proper. And this modern sculpture collection of several Rodins, a huge Lichtenstein brushstroke, and other famous works, is world-class!
Mon noon-5:30PM, Tue-Sun 10AM-5:30PMFree entry
SeeGardenCapitol Hill
United States Botanic Garden
U.S. Botanic Garden
The national conservatory is one of the least visited attractions around the Mall, and that is one of the best reasons to visit. The botanical collection is extensive, the climate is often a welcome respite, and the catwalk through the leaf canopy in the jungle room is a favorite. Bartholdi Park, south of the conservatory, is small but majestic, centered around the Bartholdi Fountain.
10AM-5PM dailyFree · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeArchaeological museumGeorgetown
Dumbarton Oaks
Most famous for its role in 1944, when world leaders convened here to draw up the United Nations charter. But that's not why you should come. The extensive gardens are the biggest draw; they are extraordinarily beautiful—almost palatial—and peaceful, uncrowded. The best time to come is a Spring weekday, when the gardens are practically empty, and the trees are budding with bright pinks and purples. The mansion, built in 1800 for John Calhoun (one of the most powerful senators in American history), houses an extraordinary collection of pre-Columbian and Byzantine art. And rest assured a stroll around the mansion would be worthwhile even without the exhibits. Don't thank Sen. Calhoun for all this though; he was rather a boor. The second owners, the Blisses, a wealthy couple from the U.S. Foreign Service, are responsible for the magnificent landscaping and collections. If you are up for a little homework, look for Stravinsky's Dumbarton Oaks Concerto, commissioned by Mrs. Bliss for their 30th wedding anniversary.
Museum: Tue-Sun 2PM-5PM, Gardens: Tue-Sun 2PM-6PM (15 Mar-31 Oct), Tue-Sun 2PM-5PM (1 Nov-14 Mar)Museum: free; gardens: $15, Free in the winter - 2PM-5PM
SeeHistory museumCapitol Hill
National Postal Museum
The Smithsonian's own philatelist Shangri-La has one of the world's largest collections of rare stamps, as well as exhibitions of how mail has been delivered throughout history, and other ways that the mail shapes culture.
10AM-5:30PM dailyFree · Free entry
SeeArt museumDupont Circle
The Phillips Collection
The Phillips Collection, opened in 1921, is America’s first museum of modern art. Featuring a renowned permanent collection of nearly 2,500 works by American and European impressionist and modern artists, the Phillips is internationally recognized for its incomparable art and for its intimate atmosphere. Housed in founder Duncan Phillips' 1897 Georgian Revival home, The Phillips Collection is widely regarded as one of the world’s finest small museums.
Tue-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun noon-6:30PMSpecial exhibit prices vary; permanent collection: Tu-F free, Sa Su adults $10, seniors and students $8
SeeHistory museumNational Mall
National Museum of American History
There is a lot here in one of the city's most informative museums, covering topics ranging from war to technology, social and political history. The biggest draw, though, is the Treasure Room, with an astonishing set of iconic Americana objects, ranging from the original Star-Spangled Banner and Abraham Lincoln's top hat, to Kermit the Frog and Dorothy's ruby slippers!
10AM-5:30PM dailyWi-Fi · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeAttractionCapitol Hill
Union Station
Not just a train station or metro stop, the grandiose 1908 Beaux Arts building by legendary American architect Daniel Burnham makes it worth a look—the ceremonial entrance is stunning. Open long after the museums close, it contains shops and restaurants. A large monument to Christopher Columbus stands outside the building.
Wheelchair accessible
SeeMuseumEast End
Smithsonian American Art Museum
The collection here is a walk through encyclopedia of American Art—Gilbert Stuart's stern presidential portraits through Nam June Paik's house-sized America sculpture of neon and televisions.
11:30AM-7PM dailyFree · Wi-Fi · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeAttractionCapitol Hill
Capitol Building
The center of the legislative branch of America is home to the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as numerous impressive paintings, statues, historical exhibits, and one magnificent dome. The visitor center features an exhibition of the history of the Capitol and of Congress. Tours of the Capitol building are free and can be arranged online or by same-day walk-in and start from the visitor center. You may not bring food or drinks inside. Only the smallest and thinnest bags will be allowed. If lines for security are long, an alternative is to use the tunnel from the Library of Congress. When you are looking at this beautiful structure, remember that it was built during the era when slavery was legal in D.C., and enslaved laborers were used in the original construction that was completed in 1800 and the expansion that took place in the 1850s. The impressive rotunda is where deceased former presidents and other distinguished individuals granted the privilege by the U.S. government lay in state.
Mon-Sat 8:30AM-4:30PMFree · Built 1800 · Wheelchair accessible
SeeHistoric siteNational Mall
Jefferson Memorial
Thomas Jefferson played an outsized role as one of the republic's founding fathers, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and the third president. Accordingly, he has an enormous statue in a circular, neoclassical, open-air building, based largely on the design of the Roman Pantheon (and Jefferson's Monticello and University of Virginia), and standing prominently on the bank of the Tidal Basin. Quotes from Jefferson's writings, including the Declaration of Independence, are reproduced on the walls.
Open now · open 24 hoursWheelchair accessible · Built 1943
SeeAttractionCapitol Hill
Library of Congress
Founded by the third U.S. president, Thomas Jefferson, this grand building, also called the Jefferson Library, has the largest collection of books in the world. The most popular points of interest are the massive main reading room and Great Hall. On the Winter and Summer solstices, the Great Hall is filled with an odd silver glow that gives the impression you are surrounded by floating clouds, and this makes those days the most crowded. The main reading room is known as the Sacred Room, and is absolutely stunning. You must be 16 or older to use the reading rooms and have a reader identification card, which can be obtained by presenting a driver's license/passport and completing a self registration form. Guided tours will not bring you into the reading room, but will take you up in the dome, where you can see the room in its full glory. There are also a number of rotating exhibitions from the Library's vast collection on display at any one time, as is a Gutenberg Bible.
Mon-Sat 8:30AM-4:30PMFree · Wheelchair accessible
SeeHistoric siteNational Mall
National World War II Memorial
Many of D.C.'s monuments have a simple, sudden, and grandiose impact, and don't require much time to visit. Not so for this new memorial. WWII was the defining event of the twentieth century, in which sixteen million U.S. soldiers served, and 400,000 died—the enormity of the war is hard to grasp in one's mind, and the architect aimed to convey that enormity in this central memorial. To best appreciate it, you will have to walk around and slowly take it in. Kilroy was here—look for the hidden carving behind the Pennsylvania obelisk.
Wheelchair accessible
SeeCathedralUpper Northwest
National Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
The impression of walking up to the world's 6th-largest cathedral, a hulking mass cut over a period of 83 years of 150,000 tons of stone, is alone worth the trip. Tours are a must if you really want to see the cathedral, and the towers and the crypt are off limits without a guide during the busy season. The organ demonstrations are spectacular and loud. Check the website for events, as there is often children's programming as well as major concerts.
Visitor hours: Mon-Fri 10AM-5:30PM, Sat 10AM-4PM, Sun 8AM-5:15PM. Tours: every half hour (Sun last tour at 2:30PM). Mass (Episcopalian): Mon-Fri noon; Sat 7:30AM, noon; Sun 7:45AM, 8:45AM, 10AM (contemporary), 11:15AM. Evensong: usually Mon-Fri 5:30PM, Sun 4PM. Organ demonstration: Mon Wed 12:30PM-1PM$12 adult; $8 for seniors, children 5–17, students, teachers, and military; Sundays free · Heritage listed
SeeMonumentNational Mall
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
The newest of the Mall's memorials, dedicated to the fallen civil rights leader. You enter between two slabs of granite that symbolize a "Mountain of Despair" before standing before the "Stone of Hope", both named based on a line in King's "I Have a Dream" speech. A 30-foot likeness of King is carved out of the Stone of Hope overlooking the Tidal Basin, while a nearby wall contains inscriptions of quotes from many of King's speeches.
SeeHistory museumWaterfront
Museum of the Bible
A privately-owned museum founded by David Green, founder of Hobby Lobby, that displays the history and impact of the Bible.
Open now · closes 5 pm$25 adults; $20 seniors/military/first responders/students; $15 children 7-17; free for children under 6 · Wheelchair accessible
SeeMuseumEast End
National Portrait Gallery
Its most popular exhibit is the Hall of Presidents. The enclosed Kogod Courtyard has received several architectural accolades. It has a small cafe and is a peaceful, quiet place to escape for a break. Free WiFi.
11:30AM-7PM dailyFree · Wi-Fi · Free entry
SeeMuseumNear Northeast
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet is the world's only university where all classes and services are tailored to the needs of the hearing-impaired. Aside from being the principal institution for teaching and learning American Sign Language, the campus includes several buildings of fanciful North American High Gothic architecture and is a National Historic Landmark District. The most famous building is the campus' centerpiece, Chapel Hall. Guided tours are available, but unless you give three days notice, the tours are given in ASL. Self guided tours are also available.
Open now · closes 4 pmParking $3/day. Enter at 8th St. Front Gate and stop at kiosk
SeeMonumentNational Mall
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Filled with sculptures, wartime and depression era quotes, and numerous waterfalls (beautifully lit up at night), the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is one of the city's most peaceful and contemplative places for a walk. It is divided into four sections, each dedicated to one of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's four terms in his twelve year presidency.
SeeAttractionCapitol Hill
Supreme Court
The home of the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, charged with interpreting the Constitution and protecting equality and justice for all. The Neoclassical building, just opposite the Capitol, was constructed in 1935; until then, the Court met in various locations in the Capitol. The imposing facade, with its lofty portico, Corinthian columns, and wide marble staircase, is familiar from TV news as the place where spectators, protesters, and journalists gather to witness the defining rulings of our generation. The court is in session from October to April, with oral arguments heard M-W. If you want to see an argument, you have two options: line up in front of the building to hear the entirety of the day's arguments, but there is another line, often shorter, for those who only wish to hear a three-minute sampling of the case. The rest of the year, public lectures are held every hour in the courtroom. The spiral staircases on the sides of the court room are beautiful and impressive parts of the building not to be missed. Other things to see, besides the courtroom itself, are the Great Hall, with its long line of busts depicting former Chief Justices, and the Lower Great Hall below it, where you can watch a short film about the Court and see a stone and aluminum sculpture of the legendary Warren Court, as well as a statue of John Marshall, the Chief Justice who established the Supreme Court as we know it.
Mon-Fri 9AM-3PMFree
SeeHistory museumEast End
National Archives
For history buffs, a visit is a must, as it has a display containing declassified top secret documents related to the Cold War. The original copies of the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights are also on display, though the writing is so faded on the latter two that you will not be able to make it out. No photography of the documents is allowed.
Rotunda and exhibit hall, open daily except 25 December; day after Labor Day through March 14: 10AM-5:30PM, March 15 through Labor Day: 10AM-7PM; last admission 30 minutes before closingFree · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeViewpointEast End
Old Post Office Tower
At the top of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel Washington DC. One of the best views of the city.
9AM-4PM. Closed on one day during the first week of each monthFree · Free entry · Wi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible
SeeHistory museumWaterfront
International Spy Museum
Exhibits are interesting to anyone even marginally interested in espionage and Cold War history, and it also has a great exhibit tailored specifically to kids.
9AM-5PM or 9AM-6PM daily, last admission one hour before closeAdults: $21.95; Seniors: $15.95; Youth (7-11): $14.95; Children aged 6 and under: Free
SeeUpper Northwest
National Zoo
A collection of 400 species, including 2,000 animals. Get a map at the entrance, take your time, and be prepared to walk a great deal. Bring water—the concessions here are insultingly expensive. The most crowded exhibits are nearly always the Pandas and the Ape House. The pandas are perhaps the zoo's shyest residents. The Ape House is fun no matter the crowds. Other hits include the Seals & Sea Lions Exhibit, the Reptile House, the remarkable Aviary, and the irresistibly cute prairie dogs.
8AM-7PM; winter: 8AM-5PM, last admission 1 hour before closingFree. Parking $25 (limited availability in spring and summer) · Free entry
SeeMemorialWaterfront
Titanic Memorial
This statue of a woman with outstretched arms was installed in 1934 and is dedicated to the men that stayed on board the Titanic so that women could escape with the lifeboats. The scene in the movie with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio with outstretched arms is based on this statue.
Wheelchair accessible
SeeMuseumEast End
National Building Museum
In the Pension Building, the building itself is highly recommended for its architecture, with an expansive open interior space with massive columns. The space is used on occasion for special events, including 10 Presidential inaugural balls. There is a small cafe inside, to the right of the entrance, and places to sit and relax, as well as a gift shop. The museum features long-term exhibits on the planning and building of Washington, D.C., and on green building and communities, along with various short-term exhibits and special events.
Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun 11AM-5PMFree to enter main hall and shop. Exhibits: $10 for adults, $7 for ages 3-17 and those 60+
SeeMemorialCapitol Hill
Ulysses S Grant Memorial
Grant's monument occupies the single most prominent location on the Capitol Grounds, directly over the reflecting pool. His statue emphasizes his cool, calm demeanor in the midst of battle—he is flanked on both sides by artillery and cavalry units clearly in the heat of battle. Grant's tenure as president was marked by corruption and alcoholism. He is better remembered as the Union General-in-Chief during the Civil War, and indeed the monument is solely dedicated to that image.
SeeMonumentNational Mall
Korean War Veterans Memorial
This memorial is a little hidden in the woods, and perhaps that's appropriate for the memorial to the one major war of the twentieth century (in which over 200,000 allied troops were killed or wounded) that did not leave such a huge impression in the American mind—the Forgotten War. It's easily one of the city's most powerful, though. The focus of the monument is the nineteen very realistic steel statues of American soldiers moving across the landscape (nineteen, because they total 38—referring to the 38th parallel—when reflected in the water). The lighting at night leaves an especially disconcerting, ghostly impression. The best time to visit might be after a winter snow storm, which will help you remember the worst hardship of the war—the snowy marches through the cruel Siberian winds.
SeeHistoric siteWest End
Watergate Hotel complex
The Watergate is and will be best known for its role in the ending of Richard "I am not a crook" Nixon's presidency. On 17 June 1972 five men employed by Nixon's Committee to Re-elect the President were arrested for breaking and entering at the Democratic National Committee's rooms at the Watergate. The ensuing scandal led to revelations of enemies lists, "campaign fraud, political espionage and sabotage, illegal break-ins, improper tax audits, illegal wiretapping on a massive scale, and a secret slush fund laundered in Mexico to pay those who conducted these operations." And those infamous tapes. Conversations in the Oval Office were automatically recorded, and those conversations were subpoenaed in the Congressional investigation. The tapes revealed President Nixon's direct knowledge and involvement in criminal acts under investigation, as well as his deep seated moral corruption and personal bigotries. Top of the Gate rooftop bar with great 360-degree views.

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Washington, D.C. (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).