Washington D.C. Travel Guide

1. Tour the White House

Take a tour of where the most powerful person in the country lives. Built in 1800, here you can learn the history of the building and all those who have inhabited it. You have to apply in advance to get tickets through your member of Congress (within 21-90 days of your visit). If you are a citizen of a foreign country, you need to arrange tours through your embassy in D.C. You will be asked to provide security information several weeks before your tour to be approved so be sure to book early! Tours are free.

2. Visit the Supreme Court

This Neoclassical building, known as the Marble Palace, was built in 1935 and is home to the highest court in the land. Court sessions are open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis and there are free 30-minute lectures in the main hall that explain how the court functions. Definitely try to attend one of the lectures as they offer a lot of information about how the court works.

3.Visit the Holocaust Museum

The Holocaust museum is both wonderful and heart-wrenching. It features a large permanent exhibit that takes up three whole levels and tells the story of the Holocaust through films, photos, artifacts, and first-person stories. Exhibits show how the United States responded to Nazism, including first-person stories about the soldiers who saw the aftermath of the Holocaust. There’s even an exhibit that talks about the path to genocide through what happened to the Rohingya in Burma. It’s a very moving museum. Be prepared to cry. Tickets are free but must be reserved online (with a $1 USD advance reservation fee).

4. Take a free walking tour

One of the best ways to take in the city is on a free walking tour (I always start my visits to a new city with one). You get to see the city’s main sights, learn about its history, and have an expert on hand to ask any questions you have. Free Tours by Foot has a good selection to get you started. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!

For a unique paid tour, check out the history tour & pub crawl from D.C. Crawling. The tour is $59.

5. Visit the National Zoo

This zoo opened in 1889 and is home to over 1,800 animals spread over 160 acres (65 hectares). Here you’ll find lemurs, great apes, elephants, reptiles, pandas, and more. It was one of the first zoos in the world to create a scientific research program too. While I normally don’t like zoos, the scientific and conservation work they do here is ethically done and with great care to the animals. As part of the Smithsonian, the zoo is free to visit though you will still need to make a reservation online.

6. Visit the Spy Museum

Opened in 2002, the International Spy Museum has exhibits on both historical and contemporary spy craft. See shoes with false bottoms, photos of infamous spies, and interviews with former intelligence officers. There are over 7,000 items in the collection, with information going back to ancient Egypt and Greece and how their spies operated. It’s super interesting! Tickets start at $27 USD.

7. See the cherry blossoms

If you’re in Washington between March and April, don’t miss the Cherry Blossom Festival, which brings in 1.5 million visitors each year. The trees were a gift from Japan to the United States in 1912 and their blossoming is marked by a celebration that includes concerts and fireworks. Tidal Basin, East Potomac Park, and the Washington Monument are the best places to see them up close.

8. Visit Alexandria’s Old Town

Head across the river to Alexandria, VA, a small town with cobblestone streets dotted with colonial buildings and historical landmarks. You can grab a drink or a meal at one of the many restaurants along the waterfront or visit the Carlyle House, a manor from the 1700s. For a look at what the pre-Revolutionary Alexandria harbor was like, check out the replica of the first ship commissioned by the Continental Navy, the Providence. One of the most fun things to do here is the pub crawl/haunted ghost tour, where you explore historic places and haunted buildings while also visiting different pubs. Nightly Spirits runs tours for $30 USD per person. While you’re here, don’t miss the old colonial manors, the former torpedo factory, and the skinniest historic house in the USA (it’s just 7 feet wide!).

9. Explore the National Gallery of Art

The museum was dedicated in 1941 and currently houses more than 150,000 works of art. There are has two wings to explore: the east wing, which houses the gallery’s more modern works (including works by Henri Matisse and Mark Rothko); and the west wing, which contains the collection’s older works (such as works by Sandro Botticelli and Claude Monet). There’s even a painting by Leonardo da Vinci on display. You’ll see a lot of artists painting here and it’s fascinating watching them work to recreate these historic masterpieces. During the summer, the Sculpture Garden often hosts live music too. Admission is free but reservations need to be made online.

10. Visit Embassies during Passport DC

During this annual springtime celebration, more than 70 embassies open their doors to visitors, staging cultural demonstrations, food tastings, and music and dance performances. It’s a remarkable way to spend a few days learning about various cultures and eating tons of delicious food! It takes place every year throughout the month of May. You can learn more at culturaltourismdc.org.

11. Visit the Library of Congress

This is the largest library in the world. There are over 16 million books here and over 120 million other items. Established in 1800, over 3,000 staff help keep this place running. It’s the main research center of the U.S. Congress and is home to the U.S. Copyright Office. Check the website for any special tours happening during your visit (sometimes they open the Music Division’s Whittall Pavilion for public viewing). Don’t miss Thomas Jefferson’s library, Bob Hope’s personal documents (including his famous joke file), and the Gershwin Room dedicated to famous musicians.

12. Hang out on the Tidal Basin

Built in the 19th century, the Tidal Basin is a manmade pond stretching two miles along the National Mall. It covers 107 acres and is about ten feet deep. It serves as a popular hangout spot for locals and visitors and is the best place to see the cherry blossom trees each spring. If you walk the 2.1-mile Tidal Basin Loop Trail, you can see a number of historical sites and memorials like the John Paul Jones Memorial, the Japanese Pagoda, and the site where the first cherry tree was planted. In the spring and summer months, you can rent a paddleboat ($38 USD/hour for a 4-person boat) and spend the afternoon relaxing on the pond.

13. See the National Arboretum

The 446-acre (180-hectare) National Arboretum provides a quiet oasis and is a peaceful spot to hang out with a book and enjoy some nature away from the busy city. It’s home to the National Capitol Columns, giant historic columns that once supported the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol from 1828-1958. Surrounding the columns are gardens as well as exhibits devoted to botanical research and conservation. The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum is located here as well. The arboretum and museum are free to visit with no advance tickets needed.

14. Explore the National Archives Museum

The National Archives Museum houses the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution, plus one of the few remaining copies of the Magna Carta left in the world. It’s a great place for history buffs as it’s filled with really informative panels. If you’re traveling with children, there are plenty of interactive exhibits inside too. They also host history lectures and panels, so check the website to see what’s happening during your visit. Admission is free, but space is limited, so online reservations are a good idea. There is a $1 convenience fee for making online reservations.

15. Go distillery hopping

If you’re a fan of fine spirits, Washington has several distilleries around the city — many of which are within walking distance of one another. You can visit Republic Restoratives, One Eight, and Don Ciccio & Figli without having to walk far. Most have a tasting room and some even offer self-guided tours.

16. See live music at Wolf Trap

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is a scenic nature park that doubles as a music venue. It hosts tons of live music year-round at the Filene Center. Big performers like Lenny Kravitz, Sting, and The Beach Boys have played here in the past so check the website to see what’s on during your visit.

17. Take a food tour

Blue Fern DC runs a food tour around U Street, which was the heart of Black culture in the USA from the 1920s-1940s. Learn about the history of the area and sample some iconic dishes as you explore. Tours are three hours and start at $112 USD per person. You’ll hear stories about “Black Broadway” during the Jazz Era and how the Civil Rights movement impacted this area while you enjoy samples of the cuisines that directly relate to the stories you’ll hear. Unscripted Tours will take you through a handful of local neighborhoods, like NoMa and Swampoodle, and give you a chance to sample their flavors. This tour is three hours and costs $125 USD per person. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, the Underground Donut Tour is the perfect choice. You’ll stop at four different donut shops and learn about their history and significance to the area along the way. The tour is two hours long and costs $70 USD per person.