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Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do in District of Columbia [2025]
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United States Capitol
4.6
/5
587 reviews
7.6
Northeast | 2.8 km from downtown
Phone +1 202-226-8000
Address: Washington, DC 20004, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours
Featured in 2025 Americas 50 – Night Attractions
Highlights:
360° view of Washington
Neoclassical architecture, 200+ years
Saved by 111 users139 positive reviews
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The Capitol building needs to make an appointment to buy tickets in advance to visit. Arrive on time according to the requirements. There are many people. Be sure to have an advance amount to not affect the itinerary. You can make an appointment for a Chinese tour in advance. Although it is a Chinese tour, it is also a foreigner tour guide who speaks English and uses a translator to translate it into Chinese to play it for us. It is very interesting. The interior of the Capitol is also very good from the perspective of the building itself. You must explain it when you go in and visit.
⌚️Time: 8:30-16:30, Monday-Saturday
It is free to make an appointment to visit the Congress Hall, but the number of visitors per day is limited. It is best to make an appointment in advance. We went at 9:30 in the morning. They will give you a white strip to stick on your clothes (see the white one on my mother's chest in Figure 1, and the green one is from the Library of Congress). There is only one time period with Mandarin explanation. I thought it was a Chinese, but it turned out to be a foreign girl. I was quite surprised. I thought she could speak Chinese, but it turned out that she spoke English and translated it into Mandarin for us using translation software! Can't they find a Chinese American to serve? But what should I do? The girl was very friendly and took a photo with us!
The Capitol is a must-visit stop in Washington. The entire building is also very magnificent and distinctive. It is a pearl-white marble building. The three-story flat-top building has a three-story dome in the center. The sculpture on the top of the Capitol is the goddess of freedom.
The Library of the Capitol is also suitable for checking in together. Most museums in Washington are open to the public for free.
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The White House
4.5
/5
1040 reviews
7.5
Based on 8,279 reviews
The Mall | 962m from downtown
Phone +1 202-456-1111
Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
White House & gardens view
Iconic building for presidents' work & residence
Saved by 148 users287 positive reviews
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Came here on September 22, 2017.
I heard that the White House has not been open to the public since 9/11. When we went there, we could only watch it from a distance outside the fence, so the White House became a boring landmark. We took a tourist check-in photo to end our visit.
There is a big pine tree on the south side of the White House. I didn’t expect it to be a "landmark" as well, the "National Christmas Tree"... Well, it seems that we should choose to visit during Christmas.
The White House is a three-story flat-roofed house. It is called the White House because the outer walls are painted white. It is where the president of the United States works and lives. If you want to visit, you need to apply to the embassy in advance, but it is said that after the 9/11 attacks, foreigners are no longer allowed to visit. When we went there, we watched from a distance through the fence and lawn outside.
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Lincoln Memorial
4.7
/5
726 reviews
6.9
Based on 32,119 reviews
2.4 km from downtown
Phone +1 202-426-6841
Address: 2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW, Washington, DC 20002, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Featured in 2025 Americas 50 – Night Attractions
Highlights:
Lincoln statue & reflective lake
Greek temple honors President Lincoln
Saved by 104 users179 positive reviews
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[Value for money] It is open 24 hours a day and is free. Although we went there at 6 o'clock, it gets dark early in winter. But the momentum is still there.
But why do I feel that the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei is so similar to the Lincoln Memorial!
[Scenery] It is magnificent! Facing the Washington Monument! At this moment, I suddenly remembered Chairman Mao's poem "The country is so beautiful, attracting countless heroes to compete for it!
Came here on September 22, 2017.
The Lincoln Memorial is located at the west end of the central axis of Washington, facing the Capitol Hill at the east end. The midpoint between the two is the Washington Monument, which shows how high President Lincoln's status is in the United States.
The Lincoln Memorial is a typical Greek-style building. It is said to commemorate his contribution to American democracy by liberating black slaves. The origin of Western democracy is Greece, and this style similar to the ancient Greek temple can also reflect Lincoln's greatness.
There is no other attraction in the memorial hall, just take photos and check in. There is a small souvenir shop in the memorial hall, which is quite good to buy. You can go shopping.
No.
4
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Washington Monument
4.5
/5
786 reviews
6.8
Based on 9,572 reviews
The Mall | 1.8 km from downtown
Phone +1 202-426-6841
Address: 2 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20024, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
No.2 of Night Attractions in District of Columbia
Highlights:
Panoramic Washington view at 555ft
169-foot marble Washington monument
Saved by 107 users292 positive reviews
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Washington DC monument is one of the landmark buildings in Washington DC... It was built to commemorate the first president of the United States, George Washington. This stone monument was once the tallest building in the world... Today, it is still the tallest stone obelisk in the world...
I came here on September 21, 2017.
The Washington Monument is located in the center of the capital of the United States. It is about 169 meters high and is shaped like an ancient Egyptian obelisk. It is tall, eye-catching, beautiful and generous. It is a very outstanding landmark.
There is a large lawn around the monument, where you can sit casually. During the epidemic, tens of thousands of Americans died of the disease. At that time, everyone planted a small white flag for each deceased person to express condolences, which was also on this lawn. It can be seen how big this lawn is.
Because the monument is very tall, you need to walk far away from the monument to take a check-in photo. You can sit and take photos on the edge of the high platform where the monument is located. It would be better to take photos at dusk. Sitting on the west side of the monument, facing the sunset, the sunlight is softer and the colors will be better.
No.
5
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National Mall
4.6
/5
135 reviews
6.6
Based on 8,449 reviews
2.1 km from downtown
Phone +1 202-426-6841
Address: Washington, DC, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Camping by the spaceship overnight
360° view of National Mall
37% positive reviews
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The National Mall is a must-check-in place for Washington tourism. One is the Lincoln Memorial and the other is the Washington Monument. There is a pool of water between them and green spaces on both sides. There are monuments such as the Victory Memorial of World War II, the Vietnam War and other monuments, and the Jefferson Memorial. The beautiful cherry blossoms of the annual Washington Cherry Blossom Festival are also in full bloom around this area. We arrived in Washington at the end of April. It is a pity that the cherry blossoms have been lost and have not left a trace. I can only imagine that the scene of blooming must be beautiful.
Came here on September 21, 2017.
Between Capitol Hill and the Washington Monument, there is a long and narrow green space, which is the National Mall of the United States. There are many national museums and memorials around the square. Each venue is very interesting and you can spend half a day visiting a single place.
If you don't have enough time, it's also good to take pictures. These buildings have different shapes, and taking pictures and checking in are very photogenic.
No.
6
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Capitol Hill
4.8
/5
174 reviews
6.5
Based on 3,499 reviews
Capitol Hill | 3.7 km from downtown
Phone +1-202-2268000
Address: Washington, DC, USA
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
No.3 of Night Attractions in District of Columbia
Highlights:
Free Capitol tour: 35-minute explanation
Symbol of American democracy
29% positive reviews
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Capitol Hill is located in Washington, D.C., on a small hill. From a distance, the Capitol looks like a cylindrical building with a new dome in the middle. The whole building is mainly white. You can see a white circular building on a high ground from a distance, which is very easy to identify.
The Capitol is divided into the lower house on the south and the upper house on the north. Visitors can visit or join a guided tour. The whole journey takes about 35 minutes. You can check in at the tourist counter on the first floor. The guide uses the guide, and the tourists wear headphones to listen to the explanation. Because there are too many tourists, it is difficult to hear clearly without equipment.
The visit is free and requires security check. It is recommended that everyone come to visit when they have time. It is worth a walk and understand the various operations of Congress.
Capitol Hill is a neighborhood in Washington, D.C., and is called Capitol Hill because of its high terrain, like a small hillside, and the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress are located here. It is recommended to visit the Library of Congress first. There is an underground passage between the Library of Congress and the Capitol. After visiting the Library of Congress, you can walk to the Capitol from this underground passage, so you can avoid the long queues when entering from the front of the Capitol. The Library of Congress and the Capitol together took three and a half hours to visit.
No.
7
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Library of Congress
4.9
/5
126 reviews
6.5
Based on 9,207 reviews
Capitol Hill | 3.1 km from downtown
Phone +1 202-707-5000
Address: 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20540, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Highlights:
Renaissance-style interior & sculptures
Over 170 million historical artifacts
33% positive reviews
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The Library of Congress is next to the Capitol and needs to be reserved before visiting. The interior feels more beautiful than the Capitol. The library is in use, and some people read books inside, so you must be quiet when you enter the library. Individual areas are not allowed to take pictures. Signs must be subject to management. The library building is very beautiful inside and outside, and you can take more pictures if you have time.
It is worth a visit and highly recommended. It is a free library that must be visited in the Washington area. The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world. It is not only the national library of the United States, but also an important global research center. It has a rich collection of documents in various forms, including books, manuscripts, maps, photos, music, movies, etc., with a total of more than 170 million items. In such an environment, time seems to stand still, and every detail can trigger infinite reverie. The Library of Congress is not only a palace of knowledge, but also a meticulously crafted work of art. Every visitor is fascinated by it and feels its unparalleled beauty.
No.
8
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National Gallery of Art
4.6
/5
254 reviews
6.5
Based on 10,020 reviews
The Mall | 2 km from downtown
Phone +1 202-737-4215
Address: 6th and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
East & West wings' style fusion
140,000 artifacts & 8 centuries
25% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The National Gallery of Art is located in Washington, D.C. and is managed by the Smithsonian Institution. The building itself is divided into two buildings, east and west, which can be connected by underground passages or across the street on the ground. It also includes a sculpture park. The museum is free to visit and is closed on Sundays.
I originally went there for Leonardo da Vinci's original works, but when I arrived, I found that the exhibition part of Leonardo da Vinci's original works was not open, which was a pity. There are more than 40,000 products in the entire exhibition hall, from the European Middle Ages to the modern era, including oil paintings, sculptures, prints, sketches, etc. There are exhibits. It takes about 1 hour to visit here. There is a coffee shop inside. You can take a map to see the specific location.
The National Gallery of Art is free to visit. I was in a hurry, so I set aside an hour and a half to visit the National Gallery of Art. I looked at the guide on the Internet in advance and looked at the key paintings in a more targeted manner, including: the original works of Leonardo da Vinci, the portrait of Napoleon, and the self-portrait of Van Gogh. In addition to the paintings displayed indoors, there is also an outdoor garden with some large sculptures. You can take another walk after coming out of the indoor exhibition hall.
No.
9
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Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
4.6
/5
582 reviews
6.1
Based on 23,662 reviews
The Mall | 2.3 km from downtown
Phone +1 202-633-2214
Address: 650 Jefferson Drive SW
Washington, DC 20560, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
No.1 of Family-Friendly Attractions in District of Columbia
Highlights:
Free aerospace exhibition visit
Apollo 11 & aerospace treasures
Saved by 105 users222 positive reviews
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The National Air and Space Museum is large in scale, covering all aspects of aerospace history since the invention of the airplane by the Wright brothers, including gliders, aircraft, airplanes, transport planes, passenger planes, rockets, planetary probes, spacecraft, and artificial satellites. It also displays high-speed racing cars and motorcycles, capturing the vastness of the sky and space and the passion of speed. The gift shop also has a variety of shelves that attract many people's attention.
My first Smithsonian experience. Two floors filled with various sections covering all about planes and space travel in the 20th century.
No.
10
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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
4.7
/5
368 reviews
5.9
Based on 12,634 reviews
The Mall | 1.8 km from downtown
Phone +1 202-633-1000
Address: 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours
No.2 of Family-Friendly Attractions in District of Columbia
Highlights:
IMAX theater shows space exploration
Washington's iconic castle-style landmark
198 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is free to visit. It is the filming location of Night at the Museum. Once you see the African elephant specimens on the first floor, you will be drawn into the movie. This museum is very rich in content. It has 5 floors in total. The top 2 floors are staff offices, and the bottom 3 floors are exhibition halls that can be visited. We took a quick tour and it took us two and a half hours.
One of the most beautiful Natural History Museum. There are a lot to see.
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