Top Things To Do in Washington DC Rankings
The best attractions, experiences, and things to do in Washington DC.
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The National Mall — two miles of monuments, memorials and the world's greatest free museums—
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Hope Diamond, dinosaurs and ocean hall—
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum — from the Wright Brothers to the moon—
National Gallery of Art — world-class European and American art in two stunning buildings—
The Lincoln Memorial — Daniel Chester French's brooding seated Lincoln overlooking the Mall—
Vietnam Veterans Memorial — Maya Lin's moving black granite wall of 58,000 names—
Korean War Veterans Memorial — haunting stainless steel soldiers at night—
The Washington Monument — 555-foot obelisk with panoramic views, book tickets in advance—
The White House — take a tour, or at least see it from Pennsylvania Avenue—
The United States Capitol — free tours of the seat of American democracy—
Library of Congress — the world's largest library in a breathtaking Beaux-Arts building—
Supreme Court of the United States — watch oral arguments or tour the building—
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — the essential DC museum—
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum — profoundly important and deeply moving—
National Archives — see the original Declaration of Independence and Constitution—
Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery — presidential portraits and American identity—
Smithsonian American Art Museum — largest collection of American art in the world—
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden — contemporary and modern art on the Mall—
Renwick Gallery — American craft and decorative arts in a magnificent Second Empire building—
The Phillips Collection — intimate Impressionist and modern art in Dupont Circle—
National Zoo — free Smithsonian zoo with giant pandas, great apes and big cats—
Georgetown neighbourhood — Federal architecture, boutiques and waterfront dining—
Georgetown Waterfront Park — stroll along the Potomac River on a summer evening—
Dupont Circle — fountain plaza, bookshops, LGBTQ+ bars and great restaurants—
Adams Morgan — diverse neighbourhood with Ethiopian restaurants and late-night bars—
U Street Corridor — DC's Black Broadway, jazz heritage and vibrant nightlife—
Eastern Market — weekend farmers market and flea market in Capitol Hill—
The National Building Museum — architecture exhibitions in a spectacular Great Hall—
Newseum (former) — now replaced, but the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue fills cultural needs—
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site — Cedar Hill, Anacostia, home of the abolitionist—
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — world-class theatre, opera and ballet—
Arena Stage — respected regional theatre company in Navy Yard—
Washington National Cathedral — the second-largest cathedral in the US, Gothic masterpiece—
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception — the largest Catholic church in the US—
Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms — peak bloom in late March/April is magical—
Jefferson Memorial — stunning rotunda reflected in the Tidal Basin—
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial — the most moving of the newer Mall memorials—
FDR Memorial — four-room outdoor memorial tracing the New Deal and WWII presidency—
Old Town Alexandria day trip — cobblestoned waterfront town, George Washington connections—
Mount Vernon — George Washington's stunning plantation home on the Potomac—
Bike the Mount Vernon Trail — 18 miles of riverside trail from DC to Mount Vernon—
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian — Indigenous cultures of the Americas—
International Spy Museum — entertaining and surprisingly substantive museum in Penn Quarter—
The Crime Museum — DC's history of crime and justice—
Ben's Chili Bowl — DC institution since 1958, a pilgrimage for chili half-smokes—
Founding Farmers — farm-to-table restaurant symbolising modern DC's food renaissance—
Minibar by José Andrés — avant-garde tasting menu from America's most acclaimed chef—
DC United at Audi Field — MLS soccer in a soccer-passionate city—
Washington Nationals at Nationals Park — baseball with a Capitol building backdrop—
Capital One Arena — DC's arena for Capitals hockey and Wizards basketball—
Rock Creek Park — 1,754 acres of wild woodland running through the heart of the city—