Things to Do in DC

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Arlington House, Robert E. Lee Museum

Located in Arlington National Cemetery.

• Hours: Open all year from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm The Robert E. Lee Museum at Arlington House is open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Arlington House grounds are open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm between October 1 and March 31.
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (703) 557-0613
• Metro stop: Arlington Cemetery

 

Arlington National Cemetery

Located in Arlington, VA.

• Hours: Open to the public at 8 am 365 days a year. From October 1 to March 31, the cemetery closes at 5:00 pm
• Admission: Free.  Narrated Bus Tour: Adults - $6.00, Children - $3.00.
• Contact: (703) 607-8052
• Metro stop: Arlington Cemetery

 

B’nai B’rith National Jewish Museum

Located at 2020 K Street, NW.

• Hours: Tours available Monday-Thursday, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm,
• Admission: Free, with advanced reservations required.
• Contact: (202) 857-6583
• Metro Stop: Foggy Bottom-GWU, Farragut West

 

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Located at 14^th and C Streets, SW.

• Hours: Public tours offered every 15 minutes, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 10:45 am & 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm
• Admission: Free (No tickets required September through February).  Photo ID required.
• Contact: (202) 874-3019
• Metro Stop: Smithsonian

 

Corcoran Gallery of Art

Located at 500 17^th Street, NW.

• Hours: Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; extended hours until 9:00 pm on Thursdays.
• Admission: $8.00 for adults, free for children under 12.
• Contact: (202) 639-1700
• Metro stop: Farragut West

 

Dumbarton Oaks Gardens

Located at 1703 32^nd Street, NW.

• Hours: From November 1 through March 14, gardens are open Tuesday - Sunday, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• Admission: Free from November 1 through March 14.
• Contact: (202) 339-6401
• Metro Stop: Not directly Metro accessible.  The closest stations are Foggy Bottom-GWU and Dupont Circle; the Gardens are an approximate 15 minute drive by taxi.

 

Folger Shakespeare Library

Located at 201 East Capital Street SE.

• Hours: Open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Admission: Free admission. 
• Contact: (202) 544-4600
• Metro stop: Capital South

 

Ford’s Theatre and Lincoln Museum

Located at 511 10th Street, NW.

• Hours: Open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with tours beginning every 45 minutes.  Certain areas of the theatre may be inaccessible during live productions and theatre operations.
• Contact: (202) 426-6924
• Metro Stop: Metro Center

 

The Freer Gallery of Art

Located at 1050 Independence Avenue, SW.

• Hours: Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 633-4880
• Metro Stop: Smithsonian

 

The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Located at Independence Avenue at 7^th Street, SW.

• Hours: Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 633-1000
• Metro Stop: L’Enfant Plaza and Smithsonian

 

International Spy Museum

Located at 800 F Street, NW.

• Hours: Open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm during the month of February.
• Admission: $15, Adults; $14, Seniors/Military & Intelligence (with valid I.D.); $12, Children (ages 5-18); Free, Children 4 and under.  Last tickets sold one hour prior to closing.  Museum welcomes groups of 20 or more with discounted tickets (advanced reservations required).
• Contact: (202) 393-7798
• Metro Stop: Gallery Place/Chinatown or National Archives/Navy Memorial

 

Iwo Jima Memorial

Located at the edge of Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

• Hours: Open 24 hours daily.
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (703) 289-2500
• Metro stop: Rosslyn

 

Jefferson Memorial

Located along Ohio Drive, SW at 14^th Street, SW.

• Hours: Open 8:00 am to 11:45 pm daily.
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 426-6841
• Metro Stop: Smithsonian

 

John F. Kennedy Centerfor the Performing Arts

Located at New Hampshire Avenue at Rock Creek Parkway, NW.

• Hours: Free tours of the Kennedy Center are given by the Friends of the Kennedy Center from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday.
• Admission: Tours and performances on the Millennium Stage (6:00 pm daily) are free.  Performance prices vary.
• Contact: (202) 416-8340
• Metro Stop: Foggy Bottom (walk or take shuttle bus to Kennedy Center). 
   

Library of Congress

Located at 101 Independence Ave, SE.

• Hours: The Visitor’s Entrance is open from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.  Public tours are offered at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, and 3:30 pm Monday - Friday in the Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building.  Saturday public tours are offered at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 2:30 pm.  Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more.
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 707-8000
• Metro Stop: Capitol South

 

Lincoln Memorial

Located at Constitution Avenue, NW and 23^rd Street, NW.

• Hours: Open daily from 8:00 am until 11:45 pm.
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 426-6841
• Metro Stop: Foggy Bottom

 

Korean War Memorial

Located at Ohio Drive, SW and Independence Avenue, SW.

• Hours: Open daily from 8:00 am until 11:45 pm.
• Admission: Free.
• Contact: (202) 426-6841
• Metro stop: Foggy Bottom-GWU or Smithsonian

 

Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens

Located in Mount Vernon, VA.

• Hours: Open 365 days a year, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm November through February.
• Admission: $13 for adults, $12 for seniors, $6 for children (6-11), and free for children under 5.
• Contact: (703) 780-2000
• Metro Stop: Mount Vernon is located approximately 16 miles south of Washington, DC. Car or taxi required.

 

National Aquarium in Washington, DC

Located at 1401 Constitution Ave, NW (entrance on 14^th Street, NW).

• Hours:  Open daily (except Christmas Day) from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Admission: $5 for adults, $4 for Senior Citizens/Military, and $2 for Children (ages 2-10).
• Contact: (202) 482-2825
• Metro Stop: Federal Triangle

 

National Arboretum

Located at 3501 New York Avenue, NE.

• Hours: Open daily, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 245-2726
• Metro Stop: RFK Stadium/Armory (additional transportation – by bus or taxi cab – is recommended).

 

National Archives

Located at700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

• Hours: Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm (Labor Day through March 31).
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 357-5000
• Metro Stop: Archives/Navy Memorial

 

National Gallery of Art

Located at Constitution Avenue, between 3^rd and 9^th Streets, NW.

• Hours: Open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Sunday 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
• Admission: Free admission
• Contact: (202) 737-4215
• Metro Stop: Judiciary Square, Archives/Navy Memorial and Smithsonian
   

National Museum of African Art

Located at 950 Independence Avenue, SW.

• Hours: Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: 202-633-4600
• Metro Stop: L’Enfant Plaza and Smithsonian

 

National Museum of Air and Space

Located at 4^th Street and Independence Avenue, SW.

• Hours: Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 633-1000
• Metro Stop: L’Enfant Plaza and Smithsonian

 

National Museum of American History

Located at 14^th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW.

• Hours: Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 633-1000
• Metro Stop: Federal Triangle and Smithsonian

 

National Museumof the American Indian

Located at 4^th Street & Independence Ave., S.W.

• Hours: Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 633-1000
• Metro Stop: L’Enfant Plaza

 

National Museumof Natural History

Located at 10^th and Constitution Avenue, NW.

• Hours: Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 633-1000
• Metro Stop: Federal Triangle, Archives/Navy Memorial and Smithsonian

 

National Zoological Park

Located at 3000 Connecticut Avenue, NW.

• Hours: From September 16 through April 30, grounds are open from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, buildings from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 673-4717
• Metro Stop: Woodley Park

 

Octagon House

Located at 1799 New York Avenue, NW.

• Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
• Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for students.
• Contact: (202) 638-3221
• Metro Stop:  Farragut West and Farragut North

 

Renwick Gallery

Located at Pennsylvania Avenue and 17^th Street, NW.

• Hours: Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 633-2850
• Metro Stop: Farragut North and Farragut West

 

Sackler Gallery

Located at 1050 Independence Avenue, SW.

• Hours: Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.
• Admission: Free.
• Contact: (202) 633-4880
• Metro Stop: Smithsonian

 

Smithsonian Institution Building

Located at 1000 Jefferson Drive, SW.

• Hours: Open daily from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 633-1000
• Metro Stop: Smithsonian

 

United States Botanic Garden

Located at 100 Maryland Avenue, SW.

• Hours: Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 225-8333
• Metro Stop: Federal Center or Capitol South

 

United States Capitol

Located at 1^st Street, NW and Independence Avenue, SW.

• Hours: Tours conducted Monday through Saturday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.  Open on National holidays.  Contact your member of Congress for passes to the House of Representatives and Senate Galleries.
• Admission: Visitors must obtain free tickets for tours on a first-come, first-served basis, at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk located along the curving sidewalk southwest of the Capitol (near the intersection of First Street, S.W., and Independence Avenue). Ticket distribution begins at 9:00 am daily.
• Contact: (202) 225-6827
• Metro Stop: Capitol South

 

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Located at 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place.

• Hours: Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
• Admission: Timed entry passes distributed beginning at 10:00 am for same-day passes.  Reservations for groups of 21 or more are required.
• Contact: (202) 488-0400
• Metro Stop: Smithsonian

 

United States Naval Observatory

Located at 3450 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

• Hours: Tours are available, weather permitting, Monday evenings, October 1 through March 31 at 8:30 pm.
• Admission: Free individual and group tour passes must be reserved in advance for every Monday night tour. You register online or send a fax to the Public Affairs Office at (202) 762-1489.
• Contact: (202) 762-1438
• Metro Stop: Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan (additional transportation – car or taxi cab – is recommended).

 

United States State Department

Located at 2201 C Street, NW.

• Hours: Guided tours are conducted Monday through Friday at 9:30 am, 10:30 am, and 2:45 pm. Tours are 45 minutes in duration. Reservations are required and should be made approximately four weeks in advance, due to the large volume of requests.
• Admission: Free admission.
• Phone: (202) 647-3241
• Metro Stop: Foggy Bottom

 

United States Supreme Court

Located at 1^st Street and Maryland Avenue, NE.

• Hours: Open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact:  (202) 479-3211
• Metro Stop: Capitol South or Union Station

 

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Located at Constitution Avenue, NW and 23^rd Street, NW.

• Hours: Open daily from 8:00 am until 11:45 pm.
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 426-6841
• Metro Stop: Foggy Bottom
   

Washington Monument

Located on the mall at 15^th Street, NW.

• Hours: Open daily from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm.
• Admission: Free tickets are distributed for that day's visit from the kiosk on the Washington Monument grounds at 15th Street and Jefferson Drive, NW on a first-come first-served basis. Hours for the ticket kiosk are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
• Phone: (202) 426-6841
• Metro Stop: Smithsonian

 

Washington National Cathedral

Located at Wisconsin and Massachusetts Avenues, NW.

• Hours: The Cathedral is open to the public from Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, and Sunday from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm.  Tours are offered at various times, except during services; visit the Cathedral website for specific tour availability. 
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 537-6200
• Metro Stop: Not directly Metro accessible.  The closest stations are Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle; the Cathedral is an approximate 15 minute drive by taxi.

 

White House Visitor Center

Located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

• Hours: Open daily 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
• Admission: Free admission.
• Contact: (202) 622-2000
• Metro Stop:  Federal Triangle and Metro Center