Best views in Washington, D.C.

Best views in Washington, D.C.

1. 
   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 month·Free · Free entry · Wi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible
2. 
   SeeAnacostia

   Saint Elizabeth's Hospital

   Why visit a mental hospital? Because the historic grounds and buildings are beautiful (if a little run-down and creepy). On top of that, you can see some great views from here of the D.C. skyline. The hospital was founded in 1852 as the first major government-run mental institution, and at its peak housed 7,000 patients, which at one point included both President Lincoln's and President Garfield's assassins. The hospital still operates, but on a much reduced scale. The Department of Homeland Security has plans to relocate here in 2021. Construction may have already started, as money for the purpose was requested in the 2016 Federal budget. You aren't really supposed to drive into the facility, but a little smooth talking at the gate may get an architecture buff inside. The east campus, owned by the District instead of the federal government, is being redeveloped. The centerpiece of the east campus is a newly opened arena that became home to the Capital City Go-Go, the NBA G League farm team of the Washington Wizards, in 2018 and the WNBA's (women) Washington Mystics in 2019. (The WNBA season falls during the NBA offseason.) The complex also serves as the practice facility for the Wizards, whose parent company also owns the Mystics and Go-Go.
3. DoSummit

   Bunker Hill

   14th St NE

   71 m high

4. DoSummit

   Camp Hill

   85 m high

5. DoSummit

   Lees Hill

   63 m high

6. DoSummit

   Mount Alto

   107 m high

7. DoSummit

   Round Hill

   61 m high

8. SeeObservatory

   US Naval Observatory

   3200 Massachusetts Ave NW

9. SeeObservatory

   Georgetown University Astronomical Observatory

   Georgetown University, 3700 O St NW

10. SeeObservatory

    Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory

    SW & 4 Th St SW

11. SeeViewpoint

    Elephant Overlook

    Wheelchair accessible

12. DoSummit

    Jackson Hill

    45 m high

13. DoSummit

    Linnean Hill

    44 m high

14. SeeViewpoint

    Panda Overlook

    Wheelchair accessible

15. DoSummit

    Peters Hill

    28 m high

16. SeeViewpoint

    Freedom Park Viewpoint

17. SeeViewpoint

    Overlook

18. SeeViewpoint

    Viewing Area

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