Leesburg

Things to do in Leesburg

Search attractions or local attractions & tours
Search

Explore top experiences

Top 10 attractions in Leesburg

View all Attractions
Washington Monument
No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Washington D.C.

Washington Monument

7.5
4.5/5
794 reviews

The Washington Monument stands in the center of the National Mall. Built to commemorate George Washington, the first president of the United States, it is an obelisk approximately 169 meters tall, standing out prominently in the predominantly low-rise urban landscape of Washington, D.C. Construction began in 1848, but was halted for over twenty years due to funding shortages. The federal government then took over the project, and construction was finally completed in 1884. Because the two sections of stone were sourced from different periods and locations, their varying degrees of weathering have resulted in a distinct color dividing line on the monument, a clear marker of this turbulent construction history. The monument is entirely simple, devoid of elaborate carvings, and tapers to a four-sided pyramidal apex at the top. The tower is hollow inside, with nearly two hundred commemorative stones embedded in its inner walls, donated by various states, cities, organizations, and countries across the United States. One particularly special stone is a Chinese inscription donated by a person from Ningbo during the Qing Dynasty. The inscription is taken from a passage praising Washington in *Yinghuan Zhilue*, a work by Xu Jiyu, a renowned official of the late Qing Dynasty, and is the only Chinese inscription among these commemorative stones. Inside the tower, there are nearly nine hundred spiral steps, but these are not open to visitors. The only way to reach the top is by elevator, which takes about 70 seconds to reach the observation deck at a height of approximately 150 meters. While downhill ride the elevator, pay attention to the commemorative stones flashing by on the inner walls. The observation deck has two viewing windows in each of the four directions: east to the U.S. Capitol Building, west to the Lincoln Memorial, south to the Jefferson Memorial and the Tidal Basin, and north to the White House. Daily access to the tower is limited, so advance reservations are recommended.

Washington D.C. · 52.3km from Leesburg

Experiences you can't miss in Leesburg

Featured Food & drink in Leesburg

View all Food & drink
Loudoun County: 3-Winery Tour from Falls Church or Leesburg
󱌍
4.5/5
· 2 reviews
Duration: 7 hrs
Free cancellation
FromPHP 7,624.10
Washington D.C.'s West Market: college life, food hall, and the Foggy Bottom neighborhood
󱌍
FromPHP 14,507.36
DC: Evening Local Neighborhood Food Tour with DrinkEatWalk
󱌍
5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 4 hrs
English
Free cancellation
FromPHP 10,666.97
Washington DC: Best Donuts & Sweet Treats in DC Walking Tour
󱌍
Duration: 2 hrs
English
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromPHP 4,765.85
Washington DC: Food Tour with 6+ Local Favorite Bites
󱌍
5.0/5
· 2 reviews
Duration: 3 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromPHP 6,309.14
DC's Original Food & History Neighborhood Tour
󱌍
5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 3 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromPHP 7,069.50

Featured Culture & history in Leesburg

View all Culture & history
Small Group Max 13: Half-Day Washington DC Monuments and Landmarks Tour
󱌍
FromPHP 3,503.00
Museum of the Bible: Entry Ticket
󱌍
Free cancellation
Book now for today
FromPHP 2,209.22
Washington D.C. Landmarks Day Tour from New York
󱌍
5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 9.7 hrs
English
Free cancellation
FromPHP 7,020.32
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Washington D.C.) 2-hour guided tour
󱌍
FromPHP 15,903.31
2-hour walking tour: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. (includes admission ticket)
󱌍
FromPHP 5,969.05
2-hour historic walking tour: National Mall in Washington D.C. (includes admission ticket)
󱌍
Duration: 2 hrs
English
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromPHP 5,046.65
National Mall Audio Tour: The Great Memorials
󱌍
Duration: 1.5 hrs
English
Free cancellation
Book now for today
20% off
Limited-time sale
FromPHP 450.44PHP 563.06
Washington D.C. self-guided audio walking tour (9 stops, approx. 2 hrs)
󱌍
Duration: 2 hrs
English
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
Book now for today
FromPHP 493.29

Featured Outdoor & sports in Leesburg

View all Outdoor & sports
Washington, D.C. - Shannado National Park + Luray Cave Day Trip | Small Group Tour (No More Than 13 People)
󱌍
FromPHP 11,927.49
Washington DC Bike Rentals
󱌍
4.7/5
· 9 reviews
Duration: 2–9 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for today
FromPHP 675.13
Luray Caverns and Shenandoah National Park Small Group Day Tour
󱌍
FromPHP 11,464.36
iFLY Loudoun - Ashburn First Time Flyer Experience
󱌍
Duration: 1.5 hrs
English
Book now for today
FromPHP 7,243.56
iFLY Montgomery-Gaithersburg First Time Flyer Experience
󱌍
Duration: 1.5 hrs
English
Book now for today
FromPHP 6,417.66
Self-guided Waterfall Hiking Tour in Great Falls National Park
󱌍
3.4/5
· 7 reviews
Duration: 2–3 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for today
FromPHP 318.46
Leesburg Today's weatherCloudy 7-17℃
Leesburg weather for the next 2 days11/13: 2-10℃, 11/14: 3-9℃

Free things to do in Leesburg

What travellers say about Leesburg

user-avatar
YoYo_1I8Q7O5O1 July 2026
5.0
The Washington Monument looked like a giant pencil stuck in the ground, blindingly white. We queued to go in and take the elevator; my ears were ringing as I went up. Looking out the window, the plaza's pool and Lincoln Hall looked like tiny squares. An old lady pointed into the distance, saying that was her state, but I couldn't really see anything. My legs were a little weak as I came down; walking around the base, I noticed the stone's color varied from top to bottom, darker above the waist. People were lying on the lawn sunbathing, and kites floated gently in the sky.

Washington Monument

Popular cities near Leesburg

Frequently asked questions

What are the must-do things in Leesburg?

Don't miss these attractions in Leesburg: Stone Tower Winery, Leesburg Animal Park, and Markoff's Haunted Forest. If you like Food & drink, try Loudoun County: 3-Winery Tour from Falls Church or Leesburg. If you enjoy Culture & history, try Small Group Max 13: Half-Day Washington DC Monuments and Landmarks Tour.

You can give Loudoun County: 3-Winery Tour from Falls Church or Leesburg and Washington D.C.'s West Market: college life, food hall, and the Foggy Bottom neighborhood a try. Before you go, please check their opening hours and menus online. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak hours.

Get help anytime, anywhere within 30 secondsContact customer support

Change and cancellation policies vary by attractions and tours. Please check the product details page for more information.

Ticket prices may vary between weekdays and weekends, as well as during peak and off-peak seasons. When booking with Trip.com, you can also use Trip Coins to get extra savings. For more tips on booking discounted tickets, please visit Trip.com for the latest information.