Things to Do

Things to Do in Washington, D.C.

There are 153 attractions in Washington, D.C.. National Mall, ceremonial park hosting national monuments and museums, is the most popular.

Most Popular By Name
National Mall
1
National Mall
Ceremonial park hosting national monuments and museums
Park
White House
2
White House
U.S. president's official residence and executive office
Park
Lincoln Memorial
3
Lincoln Memorial
Neoclassical monument honoring Abraham Lincoln with reflecting pool
Monument
United States Capitol
4
United States Capitol
U.S. Congress's domed legislative building in Washington, D.C.
Building
Smithsonian Institution
5
Smithsonian Institution
Group of museums and research centers in Washington
Museum
National Museum of Natural History
6
National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian natural history museum with global specimen collections
Museum
National Air and Space Museum
7
National Air and Space Museum
Museum preserving aviation and spaceflight artifacts and exhibits
Museum
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
8
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Minimalist memorial wall inscribed with Vietnam War casualties' names
Monument
Kennedy Center
9
Kennedy Center
National performing arts center hosting concerts, theater, and dance
Park
National Gallery of Art
10
National Gallery of Art
National art museum with extensive European and American collections
Museum
National Museum of American History
11
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian museum documenting American social, cultural, and technological history
Museum
World War II Memorial
12
World War II Memorial
Memorial honoring Americans who served in World War II
Monument
Smithsonian American Art Museum
13
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Museum exhibiting American art across centuries and media
Museum
Korean War Veterans Memorial
14
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Outdoor memorial featuring reflective wall and soldier sculptures
Monument
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
15
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Presidential memorial honoring FDR with outdoor sculptures
Park
National Mall and Memorial Parks
16
National Mall and Memorial Parks
National park area encompassing Washington monuments and memorials
Park
Rock Creek Park
17
Rock Creek Park
Urban park providing trails and nature in DC
Park
Jefferson Memorial
18
Jefferson Memorial
Monument honoring Thomas Jefferson with neoclassical architecture
Monument
National Zoological Park (United States)
19
National Zoological Park (United States)
Urban zoo housing global wildlife and conservation programs
Zoo
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
20
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Museum documenting Holocaust history and survivor testimonies
Museum
Washington Monument
21
Washington Monument
Obelisk memorial honoring U.S. President George Washington
Monument
President's Park
22
President's Park
Parkland surrounding the White House and public grounds
Park
National Museum of the American Indian
23
National Museum of the American Indian
Museum dedicated to Native American cultures and histories
Museum
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
24
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Memorial honoring Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington
Park
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
25
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Modern and contemporary art museum with sculpture garden
Museum
Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac
26
Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac
Riverside memorial grove honoring President Lyndon B. Johnson
Park
International Spy Museum
27
International Spy Museum
Interactive museum exploring global espionage and tradecraft
Museum
Freer Gallery of Art
28
Freer Gallery of Art
Asian and American art collection within Smithsonian complex
Museum
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
29
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
Historic house at Arlington preserving Robert E. Lee's legacy
Monument
National Postal Museum
30
National Postal Museum
Museum dedicated to postal history and philately
Museum
National Portrait Gallery
31
National Portrait Gallery
Museum of American portraiture and historical figures
Museum
National Museum of African Art
32
National Museum of African Art
Museum exhibiting African art and cultural artifacts
Museum
Theodore Roosevelt Island
33
Theodore Roosevelt Island
Washington D.C. memorial island with wooded trails
Park
Renwick Gallery
34
Renwick Gallery
American craft and contemporary art museum
Museum
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
35
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Asian art gallery within the Smithsonian Institution
Museum
S. Dillon Ripley Center
36
S. Dillon Ripley Center
Smithsonian research and visitor center on National Mall
Museum
37
Clara Barton National Historic Site
Home and workplace preserving Red Cross founder Clara Barton
Park
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
38
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
Historic home of Frederick Douglass and abolitionist memorial
Park
National Cryptologic Museum
39
National Cryptologic Museum
Museum of cryptology and NSA history exhibits
Museum
National Museum of Health and Medicine
40
National Museum of Health and Medicine
Medical museum focusing on military medicine and anatomy
Museum
Anacostia Community Museum
41
Anacostia Community Museum
Smithsonian museum exploring African American communities' culture
Museum
Belmont–Paul Women's Equality National Monument
42
Belmont–Paul Women's Equality National Monument
Historic house museum dedicated to women's suffrage history
Park
Arts and Industries Building
43
Arts and Industries Building
Historic museum building once housing Smithsonian exhibitions
Museum
The Pentagon
44
The Pentagon
Headquarters of the United States Department of Defense
Building
Arlington National Cemetery
45
Arlington National Cemetery
United States military cemetery honoring fallen service members
Monument
Washington National Cathedral
46
Washington National Cathedral
Neo-Gothic cathedral in Washington, D.C., national landmark
Church
Mount Vernon
47
Mount Vernon
Historic plantation house, George Washington's Virginia residence
Park
National Museum of Women in the Arts
48
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Museum in Washington DC dedicated to women artists
Museum
Northwest Stadium
49
Northwest Stadium
Multiuse stadium in Maryland, United States
Stadium
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
50
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Large Catholic basilica in Washington, D.C.
Church
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
51
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Large Washington stadium formerly hosting major sports and events
Stadium
Ford's Theatre
52
Ford's Theatre
Historic Washington DC theater where Lincoln was assassinated
Amusement Park
Marine Corps War Memorial
53
Marine Corps War Memorial
Large memorial depicting Marines' Iwo Jima flag-raising
Monument
Dumbarton Oaks
54
Dumbarton Oaks
Historic estate in Washington, famous for gardens
Museum
Victims of Communism Memorial
55
Victims of Communism Memorial
Monument in Washington honoring victims of communism
Park
Mason Neck, Virginia
56
Mason Neck, Virginia
Forested peninsula with national wildlife refuge near Washington
Cape
National Museum of African American History and Culture
57
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Washington DC museum documenting African American history and culture
Museum
Newseum
58
Newseum
Former museum in Washington DC about journalism and media
Museum
The Phillips Collection
59
The Phillips Collection
Small museum of modern and American impressionist art
Museum
Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle
60
Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle
Roman Catholic cathedral serving Washington, D.C.'s archdiocese
Church
Pentagon Memorial
61
Pentagon Memorial
Memorial in Arlington honoring 9/11 victims at Pentagon
Monument
Corcoran Gallery of Art
62
Corcoran Gallery of Art
Former Washington DC art museum with historical collection
Museum
Statue of Freedom
63
Statue of Freedom
Bronze statue crowning the U.S. Capitol dome
Park
Ulysses S. Grant Memorial
64
Ulysses S. Grant Memorial
Bronze equestrian memorial honoring President Grant, Washington
Monument
West Potomac Park
65
West Potomac Park
National park area in DC with memorials
Park
Statue of Abraham Lincoln (Lincoln Memorial)
66
Statue of Abraham Lincoln (Lincoln Memorial)
Iconic seated Lincoln statue within Washington's memorial
Tomb
Titanic Memorial (Washington, D.C.)
67
Titanic Memorial (Washington, D.C.)
Memorial in Washington honoring RMS Titanic victims
Park
National Building Museum
68
National Building Museum
Washington museum focusing on architecture, design, and construction
Museum
Peace Monument
69
Peace Monument
Civil War-era memorial near the U.S. Capitol
Park
United States National Arboretum
70
United States National Arboretum
Public arboretum in Washington, D.C. with diverse collections
Park
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
71
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
Long reflecting pool on Washington D.C.'s National Mall
Reservoir
The Ellipse
72
The Ellipse
Public park south of the White House, ceremonial space
Park
District of Columbia War Memorial
73
District of Columbia War Memorial
Commemorative memorial for WWI soldiers on National Mall
Park
House of the Temple
74
House of the Temple
Headquarters of the Scottish Rite, neoclassical temple
Church
John Ericsson Memorial
75
John Ericsson Memorial
Bronze monument in Washington honoring naval engineer Ericsson
Monument
Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C.
76
Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C.
Public park north of the White House
Square
Tidal Basin
77
Tidal Basin
Man-made basin in DC, famed for cherry blossoms
Reservoir
African American Civil War Memorial
78
African American Civil War Memorial
Memorial honoring African American Civil War soldiers
Park
Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II
79
Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II
Memorial honoring Japanese American service and internment history
Park
National Christmas Tree (United States)
80
National Christmas Tree (United States)
Annual US Christmas tree on the White House grounds
Monument
Vietnam Women's Memorial
81
Vietnam Women's Memorial
Bronze memorial in Washington honoring women servicemembers
Monument
East Potomac Park
82
East Potomac Park
Park on Hains Point, Washington, D.C.
Park
Farragut Square
83
Farragut Square
Downtown Washington park and memorial plaza
Park
First Division Monument
84
First Division Monument
World War I memorial and equestrian statue
Park
Garfield Monument
85
Garfield Monument
Monument commemorating President James A. Garfield
Park
Great Falls (Potomac River)
86
Great Falls (Potomac River)
Dramatic Potomac River waterfalls and parkland
Waterfall
Lincoln Park (Washington, D.C.)
87
Lincoln Park (Washington, D.C.)
Urban park in D.C. with Civil War statues
Park
United States Navy Memorial
88
United States Navy Memorial
Outdoor memorial honoring US Navy personnel
Park
Abraham Lincoln/Emancipation Monument
89
Abraham Lincoln/Emancipation Monument
Washington DC statue depicting Lincoln and emancipation
Park
Columbia Island (Washington, D.C.)
90
Columbia Island (Washington, D.C.)
Potomac River island with memorials and parkland
Island
Freedom Plaza
91
Freedom Plaza
Public plaza featuring patriotic motifs near White House
Park
Great Falls Park
92
Great Falls Park
Park featuring Potomac River waterfalls and trails
Park
Judiciary Square station
93
Judiciary Square station
Washington Metro station serving Judiciary Square area
Square
McPherson Square
94
McPherson Square
Public square and transit hub in downtown Washington
Park
Statue of David Farragut (Washington, D.C.)
95
Statue of David Farragut (Washington, D.C.)
Bronze statue commemorating Civil War Admiral Farragut
Park
Adams Memorial (Saint-Gaudens)
96
Adams Memorial (Saint-Gaudens)
Bronze memorial by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in Washington
Park
Dupont Circle Fountain
97
Dupont Circle Fountain
Fountain centerpiece of Dupont Circle traffic circle
Park
Franklin Square (Washington, D.C.)
98
Franklin Square (Washington, D.C.)
Historic Washington, D.C. park and urban plaza
Park
Griffith Stadium
99
Griffith Stadium
Former Washington, D.C. baseball stadium (now demolished)
Park
Mount Vernon Square
100
Mount Vernon Square
Public square and transit hub in northwest Washington
Park