Amazing Things to Do And Places To Visit in Washington DC

This site uses affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The District of Columbia, on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia, was set aside as the nation’s capital so that the federal government would not be located in any single state. Pierre-Charles L’Enfant was commissioned by George Washington to plan the city, and you can clearly see L’Enfant’s layout of a street grid intersected by broad avenues.

The most important of these is Pennsylvania Avenue, connecting two iconic buildings: the White House and the impressive domed Capitol Building. Alongside and maintaining L’Enfant’s vision of an open and spacious city stretches the wide National Mall with its museums and monuments.

National symbols such as the Capitol and the White House are accessible to visitors, along with dozens of other tourist attractions, which include world-class museums and important monuments. Many of the most important things to see and do are in the northwestern quadrant along the National Mall and are best seen on foot. Summer can be unpleasantly hot and humid, so the best times to visit Washington are spring and autumn.

Start_Your_Journey_Lifestyle_EN_v4_936x120

Library of Congress

With more than 167 million items, the Library of Congress is the second-largest library in the world.

Its shelves hold everything from rare, fragile books to contemporary recordings for popular music.

It also boasts maps, manuscripts, photographs, paintings, murals, news reels, sheet music and just about everything else that a seeker of knowledge could want.

The library has three buildings in total, and each one showcases breathtaking architecture that’s just as incredible as the materials within.

The most famous is probably the Thomas Jefferson Building with its ornate, golden-toned central reading room, but all of them are worth a visit.

Special events are often held at the library as well.

For example, one of the buildings has a performance theater; another has an auditorium for live musical performances; another has television and motion picture rooms.

Cheap flights with cashback


National Museum of the American Indian

The National Museum of The American Indian is dedicated to the history of Indigenous people throughout the Americas. The museum has an impressive range of artifacts, documents, and images that catalog the lives of Native Americans from the Arctic down to the tip of the South American continent.

The on-site cafe is classed as one of the museum’s highlights; it serves a range of Native American dishes from the five different geographical ranges, e.g., the Great Plains, South America, and the Northern Woodlands.

For those looking to learn more about Native American cooking, the museum has also published a cookbook.

728*90


The Lincoln Memorial

The best-loved of all Washington’s memorials, the Lincoln Memorial stands at the far end of the mall, separated from the Washington Monument by the Reflecting Pool. At its center is a 19-foot marble statue of a seated and pensive President Abraham Lincoln surrounded by 36 columns, one for each of the states that existed at the time of Lincoln’s death. This is the most famous work designed by noted sculptor Daniel Chester French. Jules Guerin painted the murals on the inside walls, showing important events in Lincoln’s life.

Since its completion in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial has been the scene of a number of historic events. 1n 1939, when the all-white Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) refused to let celebrated African American singer Marian Anderson perform at a concert in nearby Constitution Hall, President Franklin Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt arranged for her to give an open-air concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, attended by 75,000 people and broadcast to millions of radio listeners.

Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I have a dream…” speech from the memorial steps in 1963, again making history here.

Visiting this and other Mall monuments is one of the favorite things to do in Washington, D.C. at night. The monuments are all lighted, and many, like the Lincoln Memorial, are open 24 hours. The statue of Lincoln is especially powerful lighted at night inside the darkened interior of the temple and framed by the floodlit white columns.

Cheap flights with cashback


Home of Robert E. Lee, Arlington House Memorial

Considered to be one of the most brilliant military tacticians of the Civil War, Robert E. Lee is memorialized at his old family home, Arlington House.

The exhibits tell the story of the Lee and Custis families that lived here but also of the generations of enslaved people who lived and labored at the house and its grounds.

The story of Lee and his allegiance to his Virginia homeland is complicated. The Arlington House memorial takes a wide look into the whole story and uncovers the truth about this revered general and his complex legacy.


Trip.com WW


Ford’s Theatre

Despite being the place where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, Ford’s Theatre is still open today, and it’s still bringing plays, musicals, speeches, comedy shows and other live events to the residents of Washington, DC.

It retains a lot of its original decor from the 1800s, including red carpets and golden railings in front of the balcony seats.

It has a kind of throwback atmosphere that’ll make you feel like you’re stepping back in time to the days of top hats and narrow-waisted gowns.

If you’re a history buff, you should also know about the museum located beneath the theater.

It’s the best place in the city to learn about Lincoln, and it’s home to one-of-a-kind relics like the bloodstained pillow used during Lincoln’s final moments.

There’s no shortage of famous places in Washington, DC, but Ford’s Theatre manages to stand out from the rest with both its vintage charm and its utterly unique backstory.


NH-Hotels Many GEOs


National Portrait Gallery

From its formative years to its current standing as a world leader, America has been home to many inspirational people. The National Portrait Gallery aims to display and celebrate the people who influenced today’s America through its collection of portraits.

The gallery is the only place you will find a complete collection of American Presidents’ portraits outside of the White House. When it was established, the National Portrait Gallery focused solely on traditional painted portraits but has since grown its collection of other mediums, including digital images.


Zenhotels WW


The White House

The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States. The home of every president except George Washington, it was originally built by James Hoban in 1792, and after being burned down by British forces in 1814 was rebuilt in 1818.

Although tours of the interior that include the East, Blue, Green, and Red Rooms; the Ballroom; and the State Dining Room must be reserved well in advance through your Congressional office or embassy, every tourist to Washington will want to see this iconic building, at least from the outside.

The free White House Visitor Center, a short distance away, has excellent interactive exhibits, which show details about the White House and the presidential families. It includes furniture of past presidents, a model of the residence, historical changes, and videos with insights from presidents about their time living there.

The Ellipse, a 54-acre stretch of lawn stretching to Constitution Avenue, hosts summer concerts by the US Army Band. Next door to the White House are the elaborate 1833 Greek Revival Treasury Building and the 1871 Executive Office Building, one of the most striking old government buildings in Washington. From Lafayette Square, one of the city’s best-known, statues of Lafayette and others overlook the White House.

Cheap flights with cashback


Hop on a bus or trolley tour

There are few things more magical than a moonlight tour of some of DC’s most famous historical monuments (all fully illuminated) by open-air trolley, and few better things to do in Washington DC in general.

There are also tours available during the day! And best of all, there are multiple spots available to hop on one of these guided and narrated tours at your convenience!



Booking.com


Heurich House Museum

You can be forgiven for assuming that the Heurich House Museum is some grand palace built for long-forgotten aristocracy.

Its Victorian-style architecture includes stone archways, wide windows, spire-topped towers and all of the stairs and alcoves that you’d expect from a gothic building.

The truth, however, is that the Heurich House Museum was built by a European immigrant in the 1890s.

He ran a successful brewery a few miles away, and he wanted a taste of home in Washington, DC.

The brewery went out of business after the man died, but thanks to careful preservation by his descendants, the house survived.

It stands today as a tribute to turn-of-the-century living in Washington, DC.

Its first few floors have all of their original rooms and furnishings, including boudoirs, parlors, fireplaces, spiral staircases, servant’s quarters and more.

Tours are available every weekday.

Consider a trip to the Heurich House Museum if you’re looking for fun and unusual things to do in Washington, DC.

You’d never expect a piece of centuries-old gothic architecture to be sitting in the middle of a busy metropolis, but that’s exactly why it’s a must visit!


The Escape Game Georgetown

In Georgetown, you will find a unique experience that is great for downtime or if you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day (I love escape rooms regardless)!

This Washington DC escape room has several different rooms to escape from and many different games!

If you’re looking for one that is an hour-long, you can try your hands at Dr. Whack’s Elixir of Life, a 60-minute game where you will need to retrieve the secret to eternal life or you can play What’s in the Woods – The Cabin where you will have 45 minutes to break into the cabin and lock yourself in before it becomes too late!

Escape rooms are an awesome end to the monotony of museums, in my opinion, and are a great unique activity in Washington DC!


NH-Hotels Many GEOs


Capitol and Capitol Hill

Recognized around the world as a symbol of the United States, the Capitol is the seat of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The huge dome, based on the dome of St. Peter’s in Rome, stands out above all other Washington buildings.

Like Washington itself, the building has grown over the years since the central portion was built between 1793 and 1812. The last addition, in 1958-62, enlarged the main façade where presidents take the oath. On the other side, a marble terrace offers beautiful views over the mall and the city.

The interior is resplendent with frescoes, reliefs, and paintings, especially the rotunda under the great cast-iron dome with a ceiling painting by Constantino Brumidi and huge paintings of scenes from American history on the walls. Beside it is the former Chamber of the House of Representatives, with statues of leading historical figures. The small Senate Rotunda leads into the beautifully restored Old Senate Chamber, where the Senate met until 1859, and the Supreme Court until 1935.

When free tours resume, they can be reserved online and begin at the visitor center on the lower floor, where there is an interesting exhibition on the building’s history. Free tours on weekday afternoons explore the ornate paintings on the walls and ceilings of the corridors in the Senate wing, designed by Brumidi between 1857 and 1859. To visit the Senate or House in session, you need to contact your Senator or Representative for a pass; foreign visitors can arrange visits through the visitor center.

East of the Capitol are the Supreme Court Building; the Library of Congress; and Folger Shakespeare Library, home of the world’s largest collection of the printed works of William Shakespeare.


Pay tribute to the 300,000 fallen heroes buried at the Arlington Cemetery

The Arlington National Cemetary is one of the most famous cemeteries in all of the United States, and a visit here gives you the opportunity to pay respects to more than 300,000 of the military’s fallen heroes.

Both public and private tours are guided by passionate experts, and sites include the Tomb of the Unknowns, Memorials to the Columbia and the Challenger space shuttles, and the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy himself.



Eastern Market

Spilling out of an old brick building as a hybrid indoor/outdoor shopping space, the Eastern Market is one of the oldest of its kind in Washington, DC.

It’s open every day of the week except Monday, and it offers a constant rotation of farmers, florists, artists, butchers, blacksmiths, jewelers, booksellers and more.

If you’re feeling hungry, you can grab everything from warm flatbreads to shaved ice cups topped with homemade syrups and candies.

If you want to support small businesses, you can shop for shawls, necklaces, quilts, picture frames, seaglass gems and other goodies.

There are even specialty services available for things like leather working and shoe making!

The Eastern Market is one of the most fun things to do in Washington, DC.


National Arboretum

The United States National Arboretum is an extensive collection of trees and wooded plants that aid research projects by the United States Department of Agriculture.

The arboretum is split into several outdoor gardens, including one dedicated to state trees. There is also a Bonsai and Penjing museum on site.

While the 446-acre site is mainly devoted to trees, there are also a few man-made items, including the National Capitol Columns and the ruins of the United Brick Corporation Brick Complex.



National Air and Space Museum

The National Air and Space Museum is one of the world’s most popular museums, with a collection of history-making air and spacecraft that includes the original 1903 Wright Brothers Flyer and Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, the first plane to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

More recent flight history is represented here by the Apollo 11 command module, part of the first manned lunar landing mission. Permanent and changing exhibitions illustrate the science, history, and technology of aviation and space flight, covering topics like the use of air power in both world wars, the space race, flight pioneers, and up-to-the-minute flight and space technology.

Many of the exhibits are interactive, and all contain actual historical objects, such as a moon rock you can touch. Not only do permanent exhibits illustrate history, they show the how and why of flight and space science, explaining how things fly, how jet engines work, and what keeps the International Space Station in orbit.

In addition to the exhibits, there is the Albert Einstein Planetarium, an IMAX theater, and the Public Observatory on the east terrace, where you can examine lunar craters and see planets and other astronomical features through telescopes. Flight simulators (fee charged) allow kids and adults to fly combat missions with aerial maneuvers like 360-degree barrel rolls or experience naval aviation in an F-18 Super Hornet.

The museum is also the home of the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, adjacent to Dulles Airport, has even more historic aircraft and space exploration artifacts, including a Concorde and the space shuttle Discovery. You can watch from observation walkways through the hangars where experts are restoring historic aircraft.


Regale yourself with history in Old Town Alexandria

The rich history of Old Town Alexandria dates all the way back to the founding fathers. Located here is Mt Vernon, one of America’s most beloved plantations which was owned by none other than George Washington himself. It’s even been restored to look just as it did when he was still alive.


You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *