Things to Do in Washington DC
Ten stops running from the world's largest museum complex, where every single one is free, to a chili parlour that's fed presidents and civil rights leaders alike since 1958.
Washington DC runs on more than just its role as the seat of government, this list heads toward the world's largest free museum complex, a historic canal towpath, and a chili parlour that's fed everyone from Duke Ellington to Barack Obama. Ten stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site if you fancy testing what stuck.
The Smithsonian Museums
The largest museum, education, and research complex in the world, 21 museums spread mostly across the National Mall, every single one free to enter without exception, a properly rare thing for institutions holding collections of this calibre. The National Air and Space Museum, home to the actual Wright Flyer and Apollo 11 command module, and the National Museum of Natural History, holding the Hope Diamond, both rank among the most visited museums on Earth.
This runs considerably larger than a single visit can properly cover, pick two or three museums specifically rather than attempting to see all of them in one trip.
Hours Daily, roughly 10am-5.30pm, hours vary by museum
Address National Mall, Washington DC
National Mall Memorials
The stretch of memorials running along the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial's seated statue, carved from 28 blocks of Georgia marble assembled so precisely the joints are barely visible, remains one of the most recognisable monuments in the country. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a black granite wall inscribed with over 58,000 names, runs as one of the more emotionally direct memorials anywhere, allow proper time to walk its full length.
This walk covers considerable ground, comfortable shoes and a proper half-day help if you want to cover the Lincoln, Vietnam Veterans, Korean War, and MLK memorials together.
Hours Grounds open 24 hours, staffed roughly 9.30am-11.30pm
Address National Mall, Washington DC
The National Zoo
Free to enter, home to giant pandas since 1972 following a diplomatic gift from China, the zoo's panda cam remains one of the most-watched live animal streams in the country when cubs are born. The zoo runs across roughly 163 acres of hillside terrain, elephants, lions, and a properly well-regarded reptile house all sit within reasonable walking distance of each other.
This works particularly well for a full family day, wide, mostly paved paths throughout make it a manageable outing across a range of ages, though the hillside layout involves a fair bit of walking.
Hours Daily, roughly 8am-5pm, hours vary seasonally
Address 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC
Georgetown & the C&O Canal
DC's oldest neighbourhood, cobblestone streets and Federal-style rowhouses considerably older than most of the rest of the city, home to a proper shopping and dining district alongside the historic C&O Canal, a 19th-century transportation route now run as a walking and cycling towpath. Georgetown University's campus, with its distinctive stone architecture, sits at the neighbourhood's western edge, earns a walk through even without any university connection.
This runs well for an afternoon stroll and shopping, the canal towpath offering a properly quiet, green counterpoint to the busier commercial streets just a block or two away.
Address Georgetown, Washington DC
Library of Congress
The largest library in the world by number of items held, the Thomas Jefferson Building's Main Reading Room runs a properly striking domed ceiling, ornate enough that it regularly ranks among the most beautiful rooms in the country. A copy of the Gutenberg Bible, one of only a few complete surviving examples, sits on permanent display, alongside Jefferson's own original book collection, which formed the library's initial foundation.
Free guided tours run throughout the day, book a specific slot ahead given how popular they run, self-guided visits only access a more limited section of the building.
Hours Mon-Sat, roughly 8.30am-4.30pm
Address 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington DC
Ben's Chili Bowl & DC's Half-Smoke
The half-smoke, a smoked sausage similar to a hot dog but coarser and spicier, topped traditionally with chili, mustard, and onions, remains DC's own distinctive contribution to American street food. Ben's Chili Bowl, operating on the same U Street corner since 1958, has fed a properly significant list of cultural and political figures over the decades, and remained open even through the 1968 riots that damaged much of the surrounding neighbourhood.
Order it 'all the way,' chili, mustard, and onions together, the most traditional way to eat it, try it at Ben's specifically given the direct historical significance of the spot.
Address 1213 U St NW, Washington DC
Washington National Cathedral
A properly enormous Gothic cathedral, construction began in 1907 and took 83 years to finish, considerably longer than most buildings of any kind. A carved gargoyle depicting Darth Vader sits among the cathedral's more traditional grotesques, added following a 1980s children's design competition, a properly unexpected detail to spot if you visit.
The cathedral's central tower offers sweeping views over the whole city on tours that run periodically, check the current schedule if that specific access interests you.
Hours Daily, roughly 10am-4.30pm, hours vary
Address 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington DC
Tidal Basin & Cherry Blossoms
The Tidal Basin's cherry trees, a diplomatic gift from Japan in 1912, bloom each spring for roughly two weeks, drawing well over a million visitors to the National Cherry Blossom Festival held around the same time. The Jefferson Memorial and the FDR Memorial both sit directly along the basin's edge, a good combination with a blossom walk and visiting either given how close they run to each other.
The exact bloom dates shift year to year depending on weather, check the National Park Service's current bloom forecast before planning a trip specifically around it.
Best time Late March-early April, dates shift annually
Address Tidal Basin, Washington DC
International Spy Museum
A museum covering the history of espionage, holding the largest collection of spy-related artefacts ever put on public display, a real KGB lipstick pistol and other concealed weapons sit alongside interactive exhibits letting visitors attempt their own spy tradecraft challenges. This runs particularly well for kids and teens specifically, the hands-on missions and gadgetry hold attention considerably longer than a standard static museum visit.
Book tickets ahead, this runs on timed entry and sells out regularly, particularly during peak tourist season and school holidays.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am-7pm, hours vary seasonally
Address 700 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington DC
The Kennedy Center
The official living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, running as the country's premier performing arts venue, hosting opera, ballet, theatre, and concerts across several venues within the same building. The Millennium Stage runs a free performance every single day at 6pm, no ticket required, a proper way to experience the venue without committing to a full paid show.
The rooftop terrace offers sweeping views over the Potomac River, a walk out there pays off even if you're not attending a specific performance that evening.
Hours Daily, building open roughly 10am-midnight
Address 2700 F St NW, Washington DC
Best time to visit Washington DC
March through May and September through November cover the most comfortable weather for this list, mild enough for the outdoor and monument stops without summer's serious heat and humidity.
Late March through early April specifically suits the cherry blossoms, plan a trip around the current bloom forecast if that's a priority.
Getting around Washington DC
The Metro covers most of this list well, DC runs one of the more walkable, transit-friendly capital cities in the country, a car generally isn't necessary for a stay focused on the National Mall and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Washington DC worth visiting beyond the monuments?
- Yes, easily, the free Smithsonian museums alone justify a multi-day trip, and Georgetown, the National Cathedral, and Ben's Chili Bowl all add real character beyond the government buildings.
- How many days do you need in Washington DC?
- Four days gives a comfortable pace to cover the National Mall, a few Smithsonian museums, and either Georgetown or the National Cathedral.
- Is Washington DC expensive to visit?
- Moderate, the free museums and memorials help offset costs considerably, though accommodation runs pricier than the wider national average.
- What's the best Washington DC trip for kids?
- The National Zoo and the International Spy Museum both rank as the most reliably kid-friendly stops on this list.
That's ten decent slices of a city that runs considerably deeper than its role as the seat of government.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
