Top 5 things to do in Washington DC

Washington DC gives you the Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian museums, Arlington National Cemetery, the U.S. Capitol, and Georgetown, most of them free. Walk the National Mall at any hour, reserve timed-entry passes for the most popular museums, and plan at least half a day for Arlington. Almost no other American city hands visitors this much for nothing.

1. The Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall

The most visited site in Washington DC is the Lincoln Memorial, on the National Mall. The grand Lincoln Memorial towers over the Reflecting Pool, anchoring the western end of the National Mall. The memorial itself is 190 feet long and 119 feet wide, reaches a height of almost 100 feet, and holds a 19-foot, 175-ton statue of President Lincoln. The walls carry the carved texts of two of Lincoln's most famous speeches: the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural Address.

In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his 'I Have a Dream' speech from this very memorial. Around 6 million people visit the memorial every year. It is open around the clock and never charges admission.

The space beneath the memorial is larger than the visible space above. Its 15,000-square-foot exhibit space lets visitors examine replicas of the statue and trace the construction history of the memorial, exploring how its meaning has evolved across generations. That undercroft experience is worth the detour.

From the Lincoln Memorial, it is a straight walk east along the Mall past the World War II Memorial and the Washington Monument to the U.S. Capitol. The National Mall and Memorial Parks are open 24 hours a day.

2. The Smithsonian museums

Washington DC is home to the largest collection of free museums in the United States. The Smithsonian runs 17 museums and the National Zoo, and none of them charge admission. That covers everything from dinosaur fossils to the Wright Brothers' plane to the original Star-Spangled Banner.

Of the Smithsonian museums in DC, only two need free timed-entry passes: the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Everything else in the Smithsonian family, Natural History, American History, the Portrait Gallery, the Hirshhorn, and the rest, you can simply walk into.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture deserves special attention. Free timed-entry passes are required for entry. All visitors, regardless of age, must have a pass. A limited number are available. Advance passes are released 30 days out on a rolling basis, and same-day passes drop online at 8:15 a.m. ET daily. Book ahead. Same-day passes go fast.

The National Museum of Natural History, at 10th St. and Constitution Ave. NW, is the easiest of the big three to walk into. It is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with free admission and no passes required. Dinosaurs, the Hope Diamond, and ocean life are the headliners.

At the National Air and Space Museum, the 1903 Wright Flyer, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, and the Apollo 11 command module Columbia are the standout exhibits.

3. Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place of over 400,000 men and women. It covers 624 acres. More than three million tourists pass through the cemetery each year.

U.S. Presidents buried at Arlington National Cemetery include John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft. The Kennedy gravesite is the final resting place not only of the former president, but also his wife Jackie, his two brothers Robert and Edward Kennedy, as well as a memorial to his brother Joe Jr.

The Tomb of the Unknowns is guarded 24/7 by the best, most qualified members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard. The Changing of the Guard is one of the most solemn ceremonies in the country and costs nothing to watch.

Arlington National Cemetery is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. An alternative to walking the grounds is the interpretive tour tram, which stops at John F. Kennedy's gravesite, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and other notable sites. It sits in Arlington, Virginia, directly across the Potomac from the National Mall, one Metro stop from Foggy Bottom on the Blue or Orange line.

4. The U.S. Capitol and Capitol Hill

The U.S. Capitol sits at the eastern end of the National Mall, at First St. NE. Free tours run through the Capitol Visitor Center; book through your congressional representative's office for the best access. The Capitol dome is 289 feet tall, and the Rotunda directly below it holds eight large-scale paintings depicting key moments in American history.

After the Capitol, the surrounding Capitol Hill neighborhood is worth an hour or two. The National Archives, just north of the Mall, holds the three most important documents in American history: the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. All free. The David M. Rubenstein Gallery features a 17-foot touch screen and one of four surviving originals of the 1297 Magna Carta.

5. Georgetown

Washington DC's oldest neighborhood, Georgetown, is named after England's King George II. Its history is visible in the beautiful Federal-style architecture and cobblestone streets. Those streets are now home to upscale restaurants, fashion boutiques, and lively college bars.

The neighborhood runs along the Potomac waterfront, roughly between M Street to the south and R Street to the north. The Old Stone House on M Street is the oldest building in Washington DC still on its original foundation. It was built in 1765, making it older than the United States itself.

The C&O Canal, which runs through Georgetown, provides a scenic pathway for walking, jogging, or cycling, offering tranquil views and a glimpse into the area's historical significance in early-American commerce. By night, you can sip a drink riverside at one of the Washington Harbour's waterfront bars or take in a live jazz show at Blues Alley.

The Exorcist Stairs, 75 steps at 3600 Prospect St. NW, were designated a Historic Landmark in 2019 and include a commemorative plaque. Locals run them for exercise on weekend mornings.

Sources

• National Park Service: Lincoln Memorial
• Smithsonian NMAAHC: Plan Your Visit
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
• washington.org: Lincoln Memorial guide
• Arlington National Cemetery: official visitor information
• washington.org: Georgetown neighborhood
• washington.org: Which attractions require tickets?
• WETA: Facts on Arlington National Cemetery