Things to Do in Washington
92 things to do in Washington
Washington, D.C. is a city built on history, with nearly every corner telling a story about America's past and present. Whether you're walking along the National Mall, visiting intimate neighborhood gems, or exploring the Tidal Basin, there's something meaningful around every turn.
The monumental landmarks are unmissable: the Washington Monument rises above the city's core, while memorials like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial draw millions seeking reflection. The Smithsonian museums—including the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Gallery of Art—are world-class and free to enter, making them accessible to everyone. Beyond the big sites, neighborhoods like Georgetown offer tree-lined streets and independent shops, while smaller museums like the Heurich House Museum and The Museum at Dumbarton Oaks reveal the city's elegant residential side.
For nature lovers, the United States Botanic Garden and Smithsonian National Zoological Park provide peaceful escapes, and the International Spy Museum offers a lighter, more entertaining dive into American history. Whether it's your first trip or your tenth visit, Washington rewards both rushed itineraries and leisurely exploration.
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National Mall
Must-seeDefining symbol of Washington DC and America itself; world-class free museums and monuments concentrated in one walkable area.
Washington, DC, USA - 2
Lincoln Memorial
Must-seeAmerica's defining civic monument; missing it means missing Washington DC's core identity.
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW, Washington, DC 20002, USA - 3
The White House
Must-seeDefining symbol of American democracy and government; essential Washington experience.
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500, USA - 4
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Must-seeWorld-class natural history museum on the National Mall; essential Washington sight with free admission.
10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560, USA - 5
Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum
Must-seeIconic world-class museum with defining artifacts of aviation and space history. Essential DC visit.
650 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC 20004, USA - 6
Washington Monument
Must-seeIconic 555-foot landmark and defining DC sight; central National Mall location, views spanning region.
2 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20024, USA - 7
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Must-seeEssential Washington memorial documenting Holocaust history with unflinching clarity and profound impact.
100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl SW, Washington, DC 20024, USA - 8
Space Needle
Must-seeIconic Seattle landmark and essential viewpoint; defining symbol of the city since 1962.
400 Broad St, Seattle, WA 98109, USA - 9
National Gallery of Art
Must-seeWorld-class art museum, free entry, centerpiece of DC cultural landscape. Essential visit.
Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20565, USA - 10
Kerry Park
Must-seeSeattle's most iconic viewpoint; essential for experiencing the city's defining skyline composition.
211 W Highland Dr, Seattle, WA 98119, USA - 11
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Must-seeEssential Smithsonian museum on the National Mall with comprehensive African American history and iconic architecture.
1400 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560, USA - 12
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Must-seeEssential civil rights monument on National Mall; defining DC landmark visited by millions annually.
1964 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20004, USA - 13
Olympic National Park
Must-seeRare triple ecosystem park with mountains, rainforest, and Pacific coast in one destination.
3002 Mt Angeles Rd, Port Angeles, WA 98362, USA - 14
World War II Memorial
Must-seeMajor National Mall landmark honoring US military service; deeply meaningful, free, and draws millions annually.
1750 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024, USA - 15
Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Must-seeEssential National Mall museum with 18 million objects spanning all of American history; free admission makes it unmissable.
1300 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560, USA - 16
Cape Flattery
Must-seeDramatic westernmost US coastline with accessible boardwalk hike and genuine sea views.
Cape Flattery Trail, Washington 98357, USA - 17
Ford's Theatre
Must-seeSite of Lincoln's assassination and working theater; defining DC historical landmark.
511 10th St NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA - 18
United States Capitol
Must-seeIconic landmark where Congress meets; defining symbol of US democracy and Washington.
Washington, DC 20004, USA - 19
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Must-seeOne of America's most significant memorials; architecturally revolutionary; defines the National Mall experience.
5 Henry Bacon Dr NW, Washington, DC 20002, USA - 20
National Archives Museum
Houses original Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights—unmissable American history.
701 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20408, USA - 21
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
One of America's oldest, largest zoos with free admission; major family draw but optional for non-families.
3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA - 22
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Iconic neoclassical monument, 2M annual visitors, essential DC sight with free access.
16 E Basin Dr SW, Washington, DC 20242, USA - 23
Gas Works Park
Iconic Seattle viewpoint with unique industrial aesthetic and skyline views.
2101 N Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103, USA - 24
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Visually stunning glass art museum at Seattle Center; pairs well with Space Needle visit.
305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109, USA - 25
The Museum of Flight
World-class aviation museum with walkable historic aircraft including Concorde and presidential Air Force One.
Seattle, WA 98108, USA - 26
United States Botanic Garden
Historic National Mall institution with 65,000 plants; free and family-friendly but less iconic than nearby monuments.
100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20001, USA - 27
Seward Park
Rare old-growth forest within city limits with accessible trails and Mount Rainier views.
Seward Park, Seattle, WA 98118, USA - 28
International Spy Museum
Specialized museum with strong reputation; compelling for history and Cold War interest, though not essential Washington landmark.
700 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024, USA - 29
National Portrait Gallery
World-class free museum in historic building with unique portraiture focus; essential for art lovers.
8th St NW & G St NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA - 30
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
Iconic Frank Gehry architecture and definitive Seattle music history museum; core to understanding the city.
325 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109, USA - 31
Woodland Park Zoo
Pioneering immersive zoo design with 92 acres; essential for families, strong even for adults.
Seattle, WA 98103, USA - 32
Pioneer Square
Seattle's historic core with distinctive Romanesque revival architecture and cultural institutions.
Pioneer Square, Seattle, WA, USA - 33
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Iconic memorial with unique walkthrough design; essential American history site for DC visitors.
400 West Basin Dr SW, Washington, DC 20002, USA - 34
Golden Gardens Park
Premier west-facing sunset spot with Olympic Mountain views; quintessential Seattle waterfront experience.
8498 Seaview Pl NW, Seattle, WA 98117, USA - 35
Library of Congress
World's largest library with iconic architecture and foundational American documents; worth a visit on Capitol Hill.
101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20540, USA - 36
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Largest church in US by volume; striking architecture and free entry warrant a visit.
400 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017, USA - 37
Washington Park Arboretum
Exceptional 230-acre curated plant collection; major Seattle nature destination free to explore year-round.
2300 Arboretum Dr E, Seattle, WA 98112, USA - 38
Discovery Park
Seattle's largest park with beach, cliffs, lighthouse, and diverse hiking; defining green space for the city.
Seattle, WA 98199, USA - 39
Seattle Aquarium
Well-executed regional aquarium with genuine Puget Sound species; worth a few hours for families.
1483 Alaskan Way Pier 59, Seattle, WA 98101, USA - 40
Ballard Locks
Unique engineering spectacle and free; accessible but not essential to Seattle experience.
3015 NW 54th St, Seattle, WA 98107, USA - 41
Elliott Bay Book Company
Established indie bookstore with curated selection; strong cultural identity in Capitol Hill.
1521 10th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122, USA - 42
Tidal Basin
Washington's defining spring attraction and essential National Mall experience; iconic cherry blossoms draw millions annually.
Tidal Basin, Washington, DC, USA - 43
The Fremont Troll
Iconic quirky Seattle landmark; central to understanding Fremont's unique character and vibe.
North 36th Street, Troll Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103, USA - 44
Seattle Art Museum
Strong collections in Northwest Coast Native American and Aboriginal art; iconic landmark near Pike Place Market.
1300 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101, USA - 45
Rialto Beach
Iconic Pacific Northwest beach with dramatic sea stacks and tide pools; easily accessible within Olympic National Park.
Rialto Beach, Mora Rd, Forks, WA 98350, USA - 46
Olympic Sculpture Park
Free major artwork, waterfront views, and accessible outdoor art—Seattle's best value cultural destination.
2901 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98121, USA - 47
Kubota Garden
Authentic 20-acre Japanese garden with rare history, free entry, and genuine solitude rare in Seattle.
9817 55th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118, USA - 48
Ruby Beach
Iconic Olympic Peninsula beach with distinctive sea stacks and garnet sand; highly photographed but genuinely striking.
Ruby Beach, Washington 98331, USA - 49
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Major National Mall memorial with distinctive design; essential for history-minded visitors.
900 Ohio Dr SW, Washington, DC 20024, USA - 50
Hirshhorn Museum
Renowned modern art collection on the National Mall, free admission, iconic building worth the visit.
Independence Ave SW &, 7th St SW, Washington, DC 20560, USA - 51
Sky View Observatory
West Coast's highest public viewpoint with shorter queues than Space Needle; worth the visit for superior vistas.
700 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, USA - 52
Supreme Court of the United States
Functioning seat of judicial power; iconic neoclassical building essential to understanding American governance and law.
1 First St NE, Washington, DC 20543, USA - 53
Seattle Central Library
Iconic modern architecture defining Seattle's downtown; free access makes it unmissable for any visitor.
1000 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, USA - 54
Hurricane Ridge
Most accessible alpine viewpoint in Olympic National Park with panoramic mountain and strait views.
Hurricane Ridge, Washington 98362, USA - 55
Alki Beach
Unique Seattle beach with iconic downtown views; free, distinctive for the region.
Alki Beach, Seattle, WA 98116, USA - 56
Ye Olde Curiosity Shop
Unique century-old waterfront odditorium capturing Seattle's quirky character and history authentically.
Pier 54, 1001 Alaskan Wy, Seattle, WA 98104, USA - 57
Seattle Great Wheel
Iconic waterfront viewpoint with unique views of Puget Sound; overpriced but genuinely distinctive.
1301 Alaskan Wy, Seattle, WA 98101, USA - 58
Volunteer Park Conservatory
Rare Victorian glasshouse with distinctive architecture and diverse plant collections worth visiting.
1400 E Galer St, Seattle, WA 98112, USA - 59
Quinault Rain Forest
Authentic temperate rainforest with old growth trees, less crowded alternative to Hoh Forest.
S Shore Rd, Quinault, WA 98575, USA - 60
Frye Art Museum
Free museum with solid 19th-century collection; worth visiting precisely because it costs nothing.
704 Terry Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
Things to Do in Washington: FAQ
What are the must-see monuments and memorials in Washington?
The Washington Monument, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and World War II Memorial are the city's most iconic stops, all located on or near the National Mall. You can visit them free and at your own pace any time of day.
Are Washington's museums really free to visit?
Yes—the Smithsonian museums, including the National Gallery of Art, National Museum of African American History and Culture, and dozens of others, offer free admission. Some smaller museums like Ford's Theatre and the International Spy Museum charge admission.
What neighborhoods should I explore beyond the Mall?
Georgetown is the most popular, with historic architecture and shopping along its main streets. For quieter, residential charm, visit the areas around Tudor Place or Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens.