24 Must-See Places in Washington DC (All For Free!)

Where to stay in Washington DC

If you want to explore the city calmly, it's best if you spend at least one night in Washington DC. From our experience, the one-day visit from New York is a little bit exhausting, as you'll spend many hours on transportation and you won't have time to see everything (only the essentials).

In case you decide to stay in Washington DC, the best areas are Downtown and Logan Circle. In both you'll find many options and, as happen with accommodation in New York, it's important to select hotels with good ratings (above 7.5) and read the most recent reviews so you don't end up paying a lot of money for a mediocre hotel.

You can find all accommodations in Washington DC here, but our suggestions are:

Things to do in Washington DC

Ready for discovering the must-see things in Washington DC? Free museums, government buildings, viewpoints, cemeteries, charming neighborhoods... Let's go!

1. Enter the Union Station (even if you don't need to take a train)

If you plan to get to Washington DC from New York by train, you'll get off at Union Station. If not, we recommend you to visit this marvelous building anyway! This station, which opened its doors in 1907, is one of the busiest in the country.

💡Recommended: How to get to Washington DC from New York |Options and cost|

We were very surprised by the elegant white marble interior with domes, statues and columns. Its exterior, designed by Daniel Burnham, followed the Beaux-Arts style and was inspired by Greek and Roman architecture. For example, the main entrance with 3 arches and colossal statues is inspired by the Arch of Constantine in Rome!

Its location is no coincidence either: with the aim of being 'The great gateway to the capital', it was built at the confluence of Massachusetts, Delaware and Lousiana Avenues and First and E Streets. Thus, it can be seen from every angle of the city!

2. Take a free tour of Washington DC

We love free walking tours! Washington DC isn't an exception, as there isn't a better way to know a place than with an expert guide.

ℹ️We suggest you this free tour of Washington DC. During 2 hours you'll discover some of the most iconic spots in the capital!

If you prefer something longer, you can take a look at this 3-hour guided tour of Washington DC. With this option you'll visit more must-see sights in Washington DC!

3. Walk the National Mall

The National Mall is that huge green strip in the heart of Washington DC that always appears in movies and series. This large lawn expansion, itself a public park, runs from The Capitol to The Lincoln Monument, with The Washington Monument in the center.

Here you'll also find several memorials, the most interesting museums and gardens. We talk about all these spots below!

4. Visit The Capitol, a must-see sight in Washington DC

This emblematic building, the seat of the U.S. Congress, is located at the east end of the National Mall. With a neoclassical style and an immaculate white facade, the central dome (known as the Rotunda), stands out. As a curiosity, under this point is the crypt, a room with Doric columns that was designed to bury George Washington, president who was finally buried elsewhere.

Inside the Capitol are also the two chambers of the U.S. Congress (Senate and House of Representatives), as well as a Botanical Garden, the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court.

ℹ️Did you know that it's possible to visit the Capitol for free? From Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm there are guided tours to visit the Crypt, the Rotunda and the Hall of Statues. Although reservations aren't mandatory, we strongly recommend you to do it through the official website, otherwise you risk being left without a place.

In addition, you can book this Capitol Hill tour. It lasts 3 hours and you'll visit the Capitol (including the interior), the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress.

5. Enter the Library of Congress

Enter the Library of Congress, located next to The Capitol, is one of the best things to do in Washington DC. The national library of the United States is one of the largest in the world: it houses more than 32 million books, over 61 million manuscripts and the world's largest collection of rare books 😲.

One of the most remarkable documents are the draft of the United States Declaration of Independence and a Gutenberg Bible (one of only 3 parchment copies in the world). In addition, its main reading room is extremely beautiful!

ℹ️ We can imagine that you already have a crazy desire to visit this building and the good news is that you can do it for free. In this case it's mandatory to make a reservation online in advance through the official website. Please note that the library is only open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (Thursdays until 8:00 pm). The main reading room can only be visited for 5 minutes at certain times of the day, it's best to check the opening hours on their website.

6. Marvel at the plants of the US Botanic Garden

The Botanic Garden, located very close to The Capitol, is an ideal place to disconnect from the chaos of the city. In most cities the botanical gardens are fee-paying, but in the case of Washington DC the entrance is completely free.

☘️ Apart from the beautiful facade of the building with its glazed vaults, inside you'll find a conservatory with plants from different environments: tropical, medicinal, desert, Mediterranean, orchids, native Hawaiian, etc. The enclosure also has outdoor gardens.

7. Visit several free Smithsonian Institution museums

You can't leave the city without visiting one (or more) of its free museus, a must-do thing in Washington DC! For a reason it's known as the capital of the free museum! It's true that you could spend days and days visiting all of them, so you'll have to make a selection of the ones that interest you the most.

Some of the most recommended are part of the Smithsonian Institution, which houses a total of 17 museums and galleries, including some of the most visited in the country! The zoo is also part of this institution, but we aren't in favor of visiting places where animals are deprived of the freedom they deserve.

Here is a list of all the museums for you to choose from:

• National Air and Space Museum: if you can only visit one, make it this one! The world's largest collection of objects related to aviation and space: spacecraft, the suit Neil Armstrong used to reach the moon, a piece of moonstone...😲. Online reservation required.
• Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center: also exhibits aircraft and spacecraft. It has an observation deck from where you can see the restoration process of museum pieces. It's quite away from downtown, near the airport.
• National Gallery of Art: divided into 2 buildings and with a beautiful sculpture garden, it has a large collection of art from various periods.
• National Museum of Natural History: dedicated to the natural world, here you can learn about animals, fossils, natural stones and the marine world.
• National Museum of American History: the history of the US is displayed through exhibits and objects such as the flag of the country, dresses of the first ladies, Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves and a Prince's guitar.
• National Museum of African American History: the African American history of the United States, from slavery to the achievements of this community in music, politics and art. Online reservations required.
• American Art Museum & Renwich Gallery: 2 separate buildings trace the development of American art through paintings and art collections.
• Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle): red-fronted building where to learn about the history of the Smithsonian Institution and the man who created it.
• National Museum of the American Indian: history, culture and traditions of the Indian population through objects, photographs and artifacts. The building is very original!
• Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden: modern and contemporary art with paintings, photographs and sculptures.
• National Portrait Gallery: portraits, sculptures and photographs of influential people in the history of the US (actors, politicians, poets, musicians, athletes, etc.).
• National Museum of Asian Art: Asian art from different eras and regions (Islamic, Chinese, Southeast Asian, Himalayan, Middle Eastern, etc.).
• National Postal Museum: everything related to the postal service and its history (collection of stamps and transport vehicles, manufacturing process and design of stamps, etc.).
• National Museum of African Art: the largest collection of African art in the United States, with pieces ranging from ancient to contemporary.
• Anacostia Community Museum: examines, documents and interprets the impact of social and historical issues on different communities.

8. Climb the Washington Monument, the best viewpoint in Washington DC

Few spots in the city are as iconic and photogenic as the Washington Monument. This great 170-meter-high obelisk stands out with its white color in the middle of the National Mall.

It was built as a memorial to the first president of the United States, George Washington, imitating an Egyptian obelisk and with the aim of symbolizing the respect and gratitude that the population felt for its founder. When its construction was completed in 1884, it was the tallest building in the world! 😲

ℹ️ Did you know that you can go up for free (and by elevator) to the Washington Monument and have the best views of the city? To do so, you have 2 options:

• To get a ticket the same day: you must go to the Washington Monument Lodge. Each day at 8:45 am tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. One person can get up to 6 tickets.
• Advance reservation: through the Recreation.gov app, every day at 10:00 am tickets are available for 30 days from now. You'll have to pay $1 to make the reservation and we advise you to have your account already created in advance as tickets sell out quite quickly.

9. Say hi to Thomas Jefferson at his memorial

On the National Mall you'll find several memorials, but undoubtedly the one dedicated to Thomas Jefferson is one of the most beautiful. Its neoclassical architecture, columns and dome give it a certain resemblance to the Pantheon in Rome. In addition, it's located on the banks of the Tidal Basin, an artificial basin adorned with cherry trees that during the spring looks beautiful with its pink colors.

To give you some historical context, Jefferson was the third president of the United States and the author of the Declaration of Independence. Inside you'll see a 20-foot bronze statue of him facing the White House and on the walls several of his texts as a philosopher.

You can view the memorial from a distance from the National Mall or take a pleasant 15-20 minute walk to get to the interior of the memorial.

10. Tour the World War II memorial

With its beautiful central fountain, the World War II Memorial is dedicated to the 16 million people who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II.

Surrounding the fountain are 56 granite columns decorated with laurel wreaths, symbolizing the union between the different states and federal territories. In addition, two opposing arches represent the victory of the Atlantic (north side) and the Pacific (south side).

Also take a look at the walls where scenes of the war are depicted in bronze, telling the story from beginning to end. And finally, on the Freedom Wall you can see the tribute to the dead in the form of stars: there are a total of 4,048 and each one represents 100 fallen.

11. Reading the names at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

We hope you haven't gotten tired of the memorials yet, there're quite a few left! One of them is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial which, as you can imagine, honors the soldiers who died or disappeared during the Vietnam War.

Here you'll find 2 identical 75 meter (246 feet) walls with a total of 58,000 engraved names. The names are arranged in chronological order according to the day of the person's death and, within the same day, in alphabetical order.

Something that may seem uncomfortable when trying to read the names is that the figure of the visitors is reflected on the walls. This isn't by chance, but quite the opposite: the visitor can see himself while reading and in this way to connect the present with the past.

If you're a woman you may notice that only men are honored at memorials, you're right! But this one is an exception, as you can find a sculpture commemorating the 265,000 women who served during this war, including 11,000 nurses!

12. Remembering the Korean War at its memorial

The Korean War Veterans Memorial, in the shape of an isosceles triangle, commemorates the fallen during the 3 years of the Korean War. In it you can see a black granite wall with images of troops engraved with sandblasting, it's very curious! Next to it, there are 19 steel statues representing a patrol squadron.

As a curiosity, when the statues are reflected in the wall, it seems that instead of 19 soldiers there are 38. This is no coincidence either: it represents the 38th Parallel, the line that divides North and South Korea.

Don't miss the granite wall that reads 'Freedom is not free' and the Pool of Remembrance, which has inscriptions on the number of soldiers killed, wounded, missing and prisoners.

13. Entering the Greek Temple of Abraham Lincoln

It's time to visit one of the most emblematic stuff to see in Washington DC: the memorial dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States.

Located at one end of the Reflecting Pool (which we found without water due to maintenance work 😥), this monument inspired by a Greek temple stands out in the distance with its 36 marble columns representing the number of states that made up the USA when Lincoln declared himself president.

Enter the temple to see the 6 meters (20 feet) high and 175 tons statue of Lincoln. To the left you can read the Gettysburg Address (one of the most famous speeches in US history) and to the right the Second Inaugural Address, delivered by Lincoln a few months before his death.

14. Visit the White House, the most American building in Washington DC

Can there be a more American building than The White House? The official residence and main workplace of the President of the United States since 1800 is one of the most legendary stops you can make in Washington DC.

Again the city gives you a neoclassical building, this time inspired by the Leinster House in Dublin, as its designer was Irish. It's true that what you can see today is the result of several reconstructions and extensions, as the White House has suffered several fires and attacks throughout history.

The same for its interior: nothing that can be seen today is original. In fact, during the Kennedy's mandate, a historical redecoration of the various rooms was carried out, inspired by European nobility.

ℹ️ Did you know that you can visit the interior of the White House for free? If you aren't satisfied with just seeing the building and gardens from the gate, you can join a tour to see the different public rooms. They usually last 45 minutes, are self-guided and take place from Tuesday to Thursday from 7:30 am to 11:30 am and from Friday to Saturday from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm. If you aren't a US citizen, you msut contact your embassy in Washington DC between 7 and 90 days before the date you want to visit.

15. View the most important documents of the history of the USA in The National Archives

The National Archives Building in Washington is the home of the National Archives and Records Administration. Among the thousands of records it houses are three of the most important documents in U.S. history: the Constitution, the Bill of Rights of 1789 and the Declaration of Independence.

You can see them for free in the space known as Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, inside the building. In addition, you can also visit other exhibition halls.

ℹ️ The National Archives is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. Although admission is free and it isn't mandatory to book in advance, you can do it online to secure a place on the day of your visit.

16. Climb the Old Post Office tower

The old post office is another of the buildings you cann't miss in Washington DC. It highlights the tower with its old clock, which you can climb for free to enjoy beautiful views of the city and its most emblematic monuments. In addition, inside the building you'll find several stores, bars and restaurants.

17. Feeling like you're in a movie at FBI headquarters

Don't miss the opportunity to pass in front of the FBI building during your visit to Washington DC. Not that it's pretty by any means, but it's a curious thing to do after seeing so many American movies.

💡Please note that there're free tours inside the venue, but they're only available to U.S. citizens and Green Card holders.

18. Enter Ford's Theatre, the place where Lincoln was assassinated

In addition to visiting a beautiful and historic building, to enter Ford's Theatre is to remember the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. On the night of April 14, 1865, while he and his wife were watching the play Our American Cousin, an actor entered the area where they were standing and shot him in the head. The next day he died at the nearby Petersen House.

ℹ️ The visit to Ford's Theatre includes the museum, the theater, the Petersen House and an exhibit on the aftermath of the assassination. Please note that not all 4 can be visited in all spots. There are 2 ways to get tickets:

• Same day ticket: this is the free option. The same day of the visit you must go to Ford's Theatre Office at 8:30 am, where tickets are handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. In high season they usually sell out in 30 minutes.
• Advance reservation: through their website you can book online and choose day and time. The cost is $5 per person.

19. Take the Washington DC contrasts tour

Similar to the contrasts tour of New York, in Washington DC it's also possible to visit its alternative neighborhoods with a guide - an ideal plan if you're in the capital for more than 1 day!

Take a look at this Washington DC contrasts tour. It lasts 4 hours and includes the guide, pick up and drop off at your hotel, minibus transportation and entrance fees. You'll visit cool places like the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the National Cathedral, Embassy Avenue and Georgetown (among others).

20. Strolling through the Georgetown neighborhood

Known as the historic district of Washington DC, Georgetown is located on the banks of the Potomac River. Accessible in a short time from downtown by bus, it stands out for being much more quiet, picturesque and colorful than the rest of the city.

Although you'll be guided here during the Washington DC contrasts tour, if you feel like going on your own, you should know that this is an ideal area for shopping (for example along M Street) as well as for eating, as there are plenty of restaurants.

Some things to do in Georgetown include going to see the beautiful University building with its youthful atmosphere, photographing the steps where The Exorcist was filmed, strolling around the harbor area or touring the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.

21. Visit Arlington Cemetery

Possibly one of the most famous cemeteries in the world? Yes! The largest military cemetery in the United States contains the graves of 400,000 veterans (and their immediate family) who participated in the battles of Iraq, Afghanistan, World War I and II, Vietnam, Korea, the Cold War and the country's own Civil War. Also buried here are famous personalities, such as John F. Kennedy and part of his family.

Arlington Cemetery consists of a large grassy esplanade with white graves arranged in a line, reminiscent of a giant domino. Here you can see the famous Tomb of the Unknwon Soldier, a white mausoleum that honors all unidentified soldiers and is guarded by guards 24 hours a day. The changing of the guard is also a moment worth seeing: it takes place every hour on the hour from October to March and every 30 minutes from April to September.

To get there you can easily take the blue metro line or the Metrorail, you must get off at the Arlington Cemetery stop. As it's very large, there is the possibility to take a bus tour that makes 6 stops and costs $21.50.

22. Approaching the most pentagonal building in Washington DC

If you're up for a visit to Arlington Cemetery, why not stop by the Pentagon? They're close by! The headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense, with its distinctive pentagonal shape, is one of the largest office buildings in the world.

ℹ️ There are free tours to visit the inside of the Pentagon, but online booking is only available for U.S. citizens. For foreigners, you should contact your embassy in Washington DC. You can visit with any problems the Pentagon Memorial.

23. Eating at Eastern Market

Are you a market lover wherever you go? We must confess that we love it and in Washington DC you have the opportunity to do so in the picturesque Eastern Market. Located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, here you'll find different stalls of local products, both food and crafts.

🍽️ You can eat at one of the stalls: there are crepes, Mexican food, Filipino food and much more. Please note that it's closed on Mondays and the street vendors are only there on weekends.

24. Walking the streets of Chinatown

Washington, like New York and San Francisco, also has its own Chinatown (in this case much smaller). Although it's true that it doesn't have a great traditional decoration, you can't miss the huge and colorful entrance gate (the Friendship Arch), as well as stroll through its streets full of local businesses and restaurants where you can taste delicious Chinese food.

🎉 If your stay coincides with Chinese New Year's Day, don't miss the celebration in this neighborhood!

Washington DC must-see places Map

In this map we point out all the places to visit in Washington DC that we have talked about throughout this article to make it easy for you to locate them:

We hope you've enjoyed all these things to see and do in Washington DC!

Pictures Georgetown, Arlington y Chinatown: Wikimedia Commons