Choose from 95 Fun Things to Do in Washington Dc
White House Visitor Center
Practical Info
US Navy Memorial
Practical Info
The Phillips Collection
Practical Info
Watergate Complex
The scandal, though, made Watergate a household name. In 1972, high-level officials from the Nixon administration were sent to headquarters of the Democratic National Committee –then located on the sixth floor of the Watergate Hotel and Office Building – to burglarize the office, photograph documents and tap the phones. A subsequent investigation by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of The Washington Post revealed the break-in, and in 1974, Richard Nixon was forced to step down as president.
The Watergate Complex remains a series of expensive apartments and offices, but the Watergate Hotel has been closed for renovations since 2010. There isn’t much diversion here for visitors, but set near Georgetown and the Kennedy Center, it makes an easy stop on a visit to those areas or on a walk along the Potomac around Foggy Bottom.
Practical Information
Washington Monument
The Basics
- Please note: the Washington Monument interior is currently closed to visitors while the National Park Service conducts renovations on its elevator. It's expected to reopen in spring 2019, but in the meantime, the site can still be admired from the outside.
- When the monument is open, a limited number of free same-day tickets are available at the Washington Monument Lodge on 15th Street. To avoid the crowds, book exclusive skip-the-line tickets with Viator.
- There are no restrooms inside the monument; instead, head to the Washington Monument Lodge.
- Food, large bags, and beverages other than water are not allowed inside.
- Due to security concerns, all visitors to the interior must use the monument's elevators and no one is allowed to take the stairs to the top.
The Washington Monument is located on the National Mall, directly south of the White House and north of Tidal Basin. It's easily accessible by Metro and within walking distance of many other famous landmarks.
When to Get There
For now, timing is flexible as you can only check out the monument from the outside. Once it reopens, plan in advance to be sure you have a chance to take the memorable elevator ride to the top for 360-degree views. People line up for same-day free tickets before the ticket office opens in the morning, and advance tickets also sell out fast, especially in spring and summer.
What Else to See Nearby
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- National Park Service rangers are available from 9:30am to 10pm daily to help visitors find relative names and make wall rubbings, which involves transferring wall names from the stone to paper.
- The memorial is wheelchair accessible.
- Visitors can download an official Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall smartphone app to locate specific names on the wall.
Verizon Center
In addition to games, matches and bouts, the Verizon Center regularly hosts the biggest musical acts in the world, as well as ice skating shows, the circus, and equestrian and wrestling events.
While several of the Center’s restaurants and nightlife options are privately reserved for their own members, there are a few public eateries and/or bars on site: Hard Times Café (concession stands), The Clubhouse and The Greene Turtle (both sports-focused cocktail bars), and Dunkin’ Donuts. Additionally, the Center is set amidst two of the most condensed commercial districts in the city, with a slew of nearby restaurants and bars from which to choose.
Practical Info
White House
Every year, people from all over the world flock to Washington DC just to get a peek at the 132-room United States White House, which has been the official residence of each US president since 1800.
The Basics
The White House is most often admired from afar, as wandering tourists are unable to step inside and the grounds are only open for special events, such as the White House Easter Egg Roll. In lieu of touring the interior (which can be arranged by making a request through Congress), travelers can catch sight of the structure from behind the front gates or head to the National Park Service’s White House Visitors Center to browse exhibits, watch historic reenactments, or stop by the gift shop.
How to Prepare for the White House Tour
Requests for free, self-guided tours of the East Wing must be submitted through your member of Congress. Tour requests can be made up to three months in advance; this is advised given that they are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and space is limited. The names, birthdates, and social security numbers of everyone in your party must be submitted. Once approved, you’ll be assigned a tour time (they are available Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30am to 11:30am and Friday and Saturday until 1:30pm). Call the White House Visitors Office information line at (202) 456-7041 for additional tour information.
If you do secure one of these public tours, highlights include the Red Room, used primarily for afternoon tea; the Green Room; and the Blue Room, the setting of the White House Christmas tree. West Wing tours (including the Oval Office) are by invitation only.
What to Know Before Visiting the White House
Here are a few tips to help you plan your visit.
- Be sure to have your government-issued photo ID with you at all times during your visit.
- There are no general public storage facilities on site; most visitors bring only their wallet, keys, and cell phone. Compact cameras are also allowed.
- Prohibited items include no-brainers such as electric stun guns and martial arts weapons/devices. You’ll also want to leave purses, backpacks, video cameras, and book bags at home. The U.S. Secret Service reserves the right to prohibit any other personal items.
- The nearest restrooms are in the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion.
- Note that visitor access records to the White House complex are made publicly available 90 to 120 days after each visit.
How to Get There
Supreme Court
Practical Info
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Practical Info
The Pentagon
- No photos, videos, or recordings are allowed during Pentagon tours.
- Travelers must exit the building directly after their tour concludes and are not allowed back into the Visitor Center.
- The Pentagon is accessible to wheelchair users, although they must travel with someone to assist them inside the building.
West Potomac Park
Practical Info
Woodrow Wilson House
Washington’s only presidential museum, the home has been maintained much as it looked at the time of Wilson’s death here in 1924; Edith continued to live in the house until her own death in 1961. In addition to an 8000-volume library and a slew of personal artifacts and memorabilia, Woodrow Wilson House features an elevator installed to accommodate the former president, who had suffered a semi-paralyzing stroke in 1919.
Practical Information
St. John's Church
Completed in 1816, St. John’s features dozens of intricate stained-glass windows, as well as a wooden steeple with an almost-1,000-pound bell cast by Paul Revere's son, Joseph, at his Boston foundry in 1822; reminiscent of Revere’s bell during the American Revolution, St. John’s bell once served as an alarm for the surrounding neighborhoods.
Practical Information
Washington National Cathedral
Open to all faiths and creeds, the Washington National Cathedral conducts services for many faiths and peoples. Martin Luther King Jr gave his last Sunday sermon here; now it's the standard place for state funerals and other high-profile events. It’s often considered the country’s most beautiful church.
The building is elegant, but also powerfully Neo-Gothic. With its pale limestone walls, flying buttresses, intricate carving and exquisite stained glass, it is intended to rival Europe's great cathedrals. Take the elevator to the tower overlook for expansive city views; posted maps explain what you see. Chapels in the main sanctuary honor the Apollo astronauts, Martin Luther King Jr, Abraham Lincoln, and abstract ideas like peace and justice.
The endearing Children's Chapel is filled with images of real and imaginary animals. Famous folks like Helen Keller and Woodrow Wilson are buried downstairs in the crypt. Outside, walk through the charming Bishop's Garden, a small English-style garden with winding paths that lend a mood of solitude.
Practical Info
The Washington National Cathedral is located northwest of downtown, and north of Georgetown. You can get here via metro or bus. The 11am Sunday service features lovely choral music and a 10-bell peal of the carillon afterward. Cathedral choristers sing Evensong at 6:30pm Tuesday to Thursday during the school year.
Washington DC Chinatown
Practical Info
US Capitol
- Areas beyond the visitor center are only accessible by guided tour.
- Separate passes are required to view a session of Congress or a Congressional committee hearing. US citizens can obtain one from their state senator or representative; foreign visitors can try at the Capitol’s House and Senate appointment desks.
- When Congress is in session, a flag is raised above the appropriate wing (either the Senate or House). The spectacle is especially impressive when both are in session simultaneously.
- Capitol tours are family-friendly.
- No food, drink, or bags larger than 18 inches (46 centimeters) are permitted.
- A wide range of accessibility services are available to visitors. There is an on-demand shuttle service for those with limited mobility.
US Marine Corps Sunset Parade
Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and picnics and spread out on the surrounding lawns to enjoy the Parade. No on-site seating is provided.
Practical Information
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- The museum’s main exhibition is not recommended for children under 11 years old.
- Bring a sweater, as some of the exhibition rooms are kept cool to help preserve the artifacts on display.
- The museum is wheelchair-accessible.
United States Botanic Garden
The Conservatory is arguably the most popular section of the museum, with exhibits on a wide variety of the world’s natural landscapes. Always warm and humid indoors to keep the plants happy, here you’ll find a fern-filled jungle beneath a 93-foot-high glass dome, and a sprawling room full of over 5,000 different types of orchids.