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Washington, D.C. Attractions
If you’ve never been to Washington, D.C., your mission is clear: Get thee to the National Mall and Capitol Hill. Within this roughly 2 1/2-by- 1/3-mile rectangular plot lie the lion’s share of the capital’s iconic attractions, including presidential and war memorials, the U.S. Capitol, the U.S. Supreme Court, t ...
If you’ve never been to Washington, D.C., your mission is clear: Get thee to the National Mall and Capitol Hill. Within this roughly 2 1/2-by- 1/3-mile rectangular plot lie the lion’s share of the capital’s iconic attractions, including presidential and war memorials, the U.S. Capitol, the U.S. Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, most of the Smithsonian museums, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Archives.
In fact, even if you have traveled here before, you’re likely to find yourself returning to this part of town, to pick up where you left off on that long list of sites worth seeing, to visit new ones, like the National Law Enforcement Museum, and to revisit favorites, which in the interim have often enhanced and updated their exhibits in the most captivating ways.
You’ll want to know about the new Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, designed by Frank Gehry and dedicated to commemorating the life and career of the 34th president. Or Black Lives Matter Plaza, 1 block from the White House, where giant letters in the street spell out a reminder that the fight for racial justice continues in this city and country. You’ll also want to tour the Hall of Fossils at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, which recently underwent a complete renovation and representation of its more than 700 specimens, including near-complete skeletons of the T-Rex, triceratops, and a saber-toothed cat.
Beyond the Mall and its attractions, iconic or otherwise, lie the city’s charming neighborhoods, standalone museums, historic houses, and beautiful gardens; you don’t want to miss those, either. Tour national landmarks and you’ll gain a sense of what this country is about, both politically and culturally. Tour off-the-Mall attractions and neighborhoods and you’ll get a taste of the vibrant, multicultural scene that is the real D.C.
Heads Up
Security precautions and procedures are a fact of life everywhere in America, but especially in the nation’s capital, thanks to the preponderance of federal structures and attractions that are open to the public. What that means for you as a visitor is that you may have to stand in line to enter a national museum (like one of the Smithsonians) or a government building (like the Library of Congress). At many tourist sites, you can expect staff to search handbags, briefcases, and backpacks, either by hand or by X-ray machine. Some sites, including the National Air and Space Museum, require you to walk past metal detectors. During the busy spring and summer seasons, you may be queuing outside as you wait your turn to pass through security. So pack your patience, but otherwise carry as little as possible, and certainly no sharp objects. Museums and public buildings rarely offer lockers for use by visitors.
Call Ahead and Check Online
Here’s a crucial piece of advice: Call ahead or check the websites of the places you plan to tour each day before you arrive in Washington. Many of the city’s government buildings, museums, memorials, and monuments closed down to the public as a public health precaution during the height of the pandemic. Many have reopened, but they’re operating on limited schedules or partial closures and things continue to change.
The good news is most sites are keeping their websites up to date, with regular updates on hours, visitor guidelines such as mask or vaccine requirements, and even which exhibits are open or closed. You can also call, but since hours may be limited, the web is your best bet for getting the latest info.
You’ll also need to go online to actually book tickets to many museums, historic homes, and government buildings. While Washington’s sights are still overwhelmingly free to visit, social distancing and capacity considerations have caused many buildings to require visitors to sign up for a spot in advance. This includes attractions such as the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and the National Zoo.
Because timed ticket availability can be tricky, you’ll need to be a little more thoughtful in your planning; it’s just not as easy to pop into any sight as time opens up in your schedule.
While docent-led tours are typically available at many sites, they may not be offered when you arrive. If you prefer not to go the self-guided route, websites, such as GetYourGuide.com, Viator.com, and ToursByLocals.com can connect you with a local tour guide at various attractions; they also sometimes offer discounts on high-volume products like bus and boat tours.
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Museum
African American Civil War Memorial and Museum
Not everyone knows that thousands of African Americans, mostly slaves, fought during the Civil War. This modestly sized museum displays old photographs, maps, letters, and inventories, along with ankle shackles worn by slaves and other artifacts accompanied by text to tell the…U & 14th Street Corridors
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Historic home
Anderson House
A visit to Anderson House is about marveling over the palatial architecture and interior design (love the ballroom), and the display of artwork—from Flemish tapestries to Asian and European paintings and antiquities to Revolutionary War artifacts. A bit of background: This…Dupont Circle
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Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is, without hyperbole, the United States’ most important burial ground. This shrine occupies approximately 639 acres on the high hills overlooking the capital from the west side of Memorial Bridge. More than 400,000 people are buried here, including…Northern Virginia
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Art museum
Art Museum of the Americas
Contemporary Latin American and Caribbean artworks are on display inside this picturesque Spanish colonial–style structure. The museum rotates art from its permanent collection of 2,000 works, and sometimes collaborates with other organizations on special exhibits, often with the…The White House Area
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Museum/Architecture
Arts and Industries Building
Completed in 1881 just in time to host President James Garfield’s inaugural ball, this redbrick and sandstone structure was the first Smithsonian museum on the Mall, and the first U.S. National Museum. But despite the near completion of a decade-long renovation, the building remains…The National Mall
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Museum
Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument
Note: The monument will be closed through 2022 for renovations. Welcome to a national park site dedicated to women’s history, its status officially proclaimed by President Obama on April 12, 2016. The National Park Service roster of 417 national park units includes only a dozen or so…Capitol Hill
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Plaza
Black Lives Matter Plaza
Many of Washington’s monuments and memorials take years to come to life. This one happened nearly overnight. In the summer of 2020, D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser commissioned the massive yellow block letters to be painted, along with the D.C. flag, on the 2 blocks of 16th Street…The White House Area
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Park/Garden
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Hidden behind the bustling streets of Georgetown is the picturesque C&O Canal and its unspoiled towpath, which extends 184.5 miles into Maryland. You leave urban cares and stresses behind while hiking, strolling, jogging, cycling, or boating in this lush natural setting of…Around Town
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Monument/memorial
D.C. War Memorial
This often-overlooked memorial commemorates the lives of the 499 citizens of Washington, D.C., who died in World War I. It’s worth a stop on your way to grander, more famous edifices. President Herbert Hoover dedicated the memorial in 1931; John Phillip Sousa conducted the Marine…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Museum
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Museum
The DAR Museum gives visitors a glimpse of pre-1840 American life through its displays of folk art, rocking chairs, quilts and other furnishings, silverware, samplers, and everyday objects. Its 31 Period Rooms reflect trends in decorative arts and furnishings from 1690 to 1935. On…The White House Area
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Historic home
Dumbarton House
Built between 1799 and 1805, Dumbarton House is the headquarters for the National Society of Colonial Dames of America. Stop here to admire gorgeous architecture and antique decorative arts, and to glean a bit of early American history. Self-guide your way through the house, whose…Georgetown
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Gardens & Museum
Dumbarton Oaks
One block off Wisconsin Avenue in upper Georgetown delivers you far from the madding crowds to the peaceful refuge of Dumbarton Oaks. The estate includes a museum devoted to Byzantine and pre-Columbian art, a research center and library, and 10 acres of formal and informal gardens.…Georgetown
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Memorial
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
This Frank Gehry–designed park just south of the Air and Space Museum honors the life and career of the 34th president and leader of the Allied forces during World War II. The monument is straightforward yet powerful, a nod to the man it represents. As a five-star general during…Southwest of the Mall
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Market
Eastern Market
A mainstay of the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood and of the city itself, Eastern Market has been operating continuously since 1873, with the exception of a short closure in 2020. Inside, vendors sell fresh produce, pasta, seafood, meats, cheeses, sweets, flowers, and pottery…Capitol Hill
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Garden
Enid A. Haupt Garden
Named for its donor, a noted supporter of horticultural projects, this pretty 4 1/4-acre garden presents elaborate flower beds and borders, plant-filled turn-of-the-20th-century urns, 1870s cast-iron furnishings, and lush baskets hung from reproduction 19th-century lampposts. The…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Library
Folger Shakespeare Library
I also highly recommend productions staged in the Elizabethan-styled Folger Theatre at the Folger Shakespeare Library ★★, on Capitol Hill, 201 E. Capitol St. SE, at 2nd Street (www.folger.edu; [tel] 202/544-7077), which celebrates its 87th anniversary in 2019. The theater typically…Capitol Hill
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Historic Site
Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site
On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was in the audience at Ford’s Theatre, one of the most popular playhouses in Washington. Everyone was laughing at a funny line from Tom Taylor’s celebrated comedy, Our American Cousin, when John Wilkes Booth crept into the President’s Box,…Penn Quarter
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Museum
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Since it opened in 1997, the FDR Memorial has proven to be one of the most popular of the presidential memorials. Its popularity has to do as much with its design as the man it honors. This 7 1/2-acre outdoor memorial stretches out, mazelike, rather than rising up, across the…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Museum
Freer Gallery of Art
This single museum houses one of the world’s finest permanent collections of Asian art as well as the most comprehensive assemblage of the works of American artist James McNeill Whistler. The museum’s namesake, Charles Lang Freer, was a self-taught connoisseur, who started out in…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Monument/memorial
George Mason Memorial
George Mason’s name is not famous today, but it should be: He was the Virginia politician who authored the Virginia Declaration of Rights, upon which the first part of the U.S. Declaration of Independence is based, as well as the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known as…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Historic home
Heurich House Museum
Wealthy German businessman and brewer Christian Heurich built this turreted, four-story brownstone and brick Victorian castle in 1894, and lived here with his family until he died in 1945. Old Heurich was a character, as a tour of the 31-room mansion/museum reveals. Allegorical…Dupont Circle
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Historic home
Hillwood Museum and Gardens
The magnificent estate of Post cereal heiress, businesswoman, philanthropist, and collector, Marjorie Merriweather Post encompasses the beautiful mansion where she lived from 1955 until her death in 1973, and 25 acres of gardens and woodlands. The Georgian-style manse is filled with…Upper Northwest D.C.: Glover Park, Woodley Park & Cleveland Park
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Art museum
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
This cylindrically shaped, concrete-and-granite building holds provocative art at its best, from de Kooning to Jeff Koons. Look for Thomas Hart Benton’s dizzying sprawl of figures in his 1920 painting People of Chilmark, Ellsworth Kelly’s vivid minimalist paintings, Dan Steinhilber’s…The National Mall
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Museum
International Spy Museum
It’s not hard to believe the claim made in the museum’s 5-minute introductory film that Washington, D.C., has more spies than any other city in the world. Yikes. Well, if you can’t flee them, join [‘]em. This museum gives you the chance to do just that, learning the tricks of the…Southwest of the Mall
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Monument/memorial
Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II
n February of 1942, President Roosevelt issued an executive order that forced 120,000 Japanese Americans from their homes, businesses, and communities out of fear that they could be acting as spies for Japan. These people, who, of course, were not spies for Japan, were sent to… -
Monument/memorial
Jefferson Memorial
President John F. Kennedy, at a 1962 dinner honoring 29 Nobel Prize winners, told his guests that they were “the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Monument/memorial
Korean War Veterans Memorial
This privately funded memorial, founded in 1995, honors those who served in the Korean War, a 3-year conflict (1950–53) that produced almost as many casualties as Vietnam. It consists of a circular “Pool of Remembrance” in a grove of trees and a triangular “Field of Service,”…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Art museum
Kreeger Museum
You have to make an effort to visit the Kreeger, because it’s located in a residential neighborhood away from downtown, the heart of Georgetown, and public transportation. But if you don’t mind driving, taking a taxi, or riding the D6 bus from Dupont Circle, then walking a half-mile…Georgetown
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Library
Library of Congress
You’re inside the main public building of the Library of Congress—the magnificent, ornate, Italian Renaissance–style Thomas Jefferson Building. Maybe you’ve arrived via the tunnel that connects the Capitol and the Library of Congress, or maybe you’ve climbed the Grand Staircase…Capitol Hill
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Monument/memorial
Lincoln Memorial
When famed architect Charles Follen McKim was asked to work on the 1902 McMillan Commission to reshape the overall design for the Mall, he made his views clear on what he felt would be an important addition. “As the Arc de Triomphe crowns Place de l’Étoile in Paris, so should stand a…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Museum
Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.
Calling all tweens! Justin Bieber’s in the house! And OMG, is that Rihanna? On display throughout this museum are upwards of 100 lifelike wax figures, dressed and poised true to form, and grouped by theme: U.S. Presidents, First Ladies, Sports, Music, A-List Party, Cultural Icons,…Penn Quarter
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Monument/memorial
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial
I must confess my disappointment in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, which provides little context for King’s life and work as, arguably, the United States’ most important civil rights activist. I would have preferred a memorial more like the one for FDR, whose panels illustrate…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Historic home
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
This town house is the last D.C. residence of African-American activist/educator Bethune, who was a leading champion of blacks’ and women’s rights during FDR’s administration. Born in South Carolina in 1875, the 15th of 17 children of former slaves, Mary McLeod grew up in poverty but…U & 14th Street Corridors
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Museum
Museum of the Bible
This privately funded facility was founded (primarily) by the evangelical billionaire Green family, owners of the chain of Hobby Lobby arts and crafts stores. It’s known for its controversial displays, which, in its early days, included what turned out to be fake fragments of the…Southwest of the Mall
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Museum
National Air and Space Museum
Big news: The National Air and Space Museum has embarked on an enormous, multi-year, nearly $1 billion makeover that will transform the entire visitor experience and is expected to be fully completed by 2025. In October 2022, half of the museum reopened, debuting eight shiny new… -
Museum
National Archives Museum
The Rotunda of the National Archives displays the country’s most important original documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights (collectively known as the Charters of Freedom). Fourteen document cases trace the story of…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Museum
National Building Museum
The first thing you notice about the National Building Museum is the actual building, its pressed redbrick exterior and decorative terra-cotta frieze, and its size, 400 feet by 200 feet, big enough to hold a football field. Inside the impressive Great Hall is an Italian Renaissance…Penn Quarter
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Museum
National Children’s Museum
A 50-foot slide, an “immersive sandbox,” interactive exploration, bubbles, blocks, lights. This sprawling 30,000-square-foot museum, opened in 2021, is designed to “spark curiosity and ignite creativity for kids and the young at heart.” Highlights include a cloud-inspired climbing…The White House Area
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Art museum
National Gallery of Art
Best. Art museum. Ever. That’s my opinion, but let me quickly say that world-renowned critics also consider the 80-year-old National Gallery of Art to be among the best museums in the world. Its base collection of more than 150,000 paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture,…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Museum
National Law Enforcement Museum
Way back in 2000, both houses of Congress passed a bill that was signed into law by President Clinton, authorizing the creation of a museum that would tell the story of law enforcement in the United States. It took another 18 years to raise the money and complete construction on this… -
Cultural complex
National Mall
As part of his vision for Washington, Pierre L’Enfant conceived of the National Mall as a bustling ceremonial avenue of distinguished buildings. Today’s 2-mile, 700-acre stretch of land extending westward from the base of the Capitol to the Potomac River, just behind the Lincoln…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Museum
National Museum of African American History and Culture
A profound and essential American experience awaits you at the Smithsonian’s newest museum, which opened in 2016. Conceived as a place where visitors of all backgrounds might comprehend America’s narrative through an African-American lens, the museum succeeds on every level. History…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Museum
National Museum of African Art
This inviting little museum does not get the foot traffic of its larger, better-known sister Smithsonians, but that only makes for a happier experience for those who do visit. Find it by strolling through the Enid A. Haupt Garden, under which the subterranean museum lies, and enter…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Museum
National Museum of American History
How does one museum possibly sum up the history of a nation that is 243 years old and 3.8 million square miles in size and has a population of 326 million people? And how does the museum sort through its collection of 1.8 million artifacts, which include every imaginable American…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Museum
National Museum of Asian Art
Two major galleries, the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, come together to form the Smithsonian’s museum dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Asian art. Together, the collection spans 44,000 objects from China, Japan, Korea, South and Southeast…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Museum
National Museum of Natural History
Fair warning: For many visitors, this museum can be just too much. Not only is it the most visited museum in town (get ready to fight the crowds!), but there are so many exhibits, and so many items within the exhibits, that it's easy to experience sensory overload. With 146 million…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Art museum
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Yes, you can see Georgia O’Keeffe’s stunning works at the National Gallery of Art. And you can visit Ann Hamilton’s immersive installation At Hand at the Hirshhorn. But nowhere else in the world will you find such a large collection of art by only female artists as at the National…Penn Quarter
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Museum
National Museum of the American Indian
This striking building, located at the Capitol end of the National Mall, stands out for the architectural contrast it makes with neighboring Smithsonian and government structures. It is the first national museum in the country dedicated exclusively to Native Americans, and Native…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Museum
National Postal Museum
If you’re at all interested in the romance and adventure of the story of U.S. mail correspondence and its delivery (that’s right, I said romance and adventure!), and in the international artistry and invention of that most miniature of art forms, the postage stamp, you really need to…Capitol Hill
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Monument/memorial
National World War II Memorial
When this memorial was dedicated in 2004, 150,000 people attended, among them President George W. Bush; actor Tom Hanks and now-retired news anchor Tom Brokaw, both of whom had been active in soliciting support for the memorial; and most important, thousands of World War II veterans…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Historic home
Octagon House
This is the country’s oldest museum dedicated to architecture and design. Dr. William Thornton, first architect of the Capitol, designed the house in 1801. As its name suggests, the structure is an architectural marvel. Eight sides, though? Nope, try six. Thornton made the house for…Midtown
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Historic Site
Old Post Office Clock Tower
The Clock Tower offers a commanding view of the capital that’s second only to that of the nearby Washington Monument. As the second-tallest structure in D.C. after the Washington Monument, it offers fabulous 360-degree views, 270 feet up, of Pennsylvania Avenue, from the Capitol to…Penn Quarter
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Historic home
Old Stone House
This 1766 structure is said to be the oldest in Washington. The National Park Service owns and operates the house, and NPS rangers provide information and sometimes demonstrations related to the site’s pre-Revolutionary history. See more information about the Old Stone House on our…Georgetown
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Museum
Phillips Collection
The Phillips is beloved in Washington, mostly because of its French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings by van Gogh, Bonnard, Cézanne, Picasso, Klee, and Renoir, whose Luncheon of the Boating Party is the most popular work on display. But as familiar and traditional as…Dupont Circle
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Museum
Planet Word Museum
"We are all born collectors of this one thing: words,” according to this museum’s founder Ann Friedman. We just don’t always know how to use or appreciate them. That’s where Planet Word’s mission comes in: to inspire and renew a love of words and language. The museum, opened in 2020…The White House Area
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Park/Garden
Potomac Park
The National Mall and Memorial Parks’ individual spaces known as West and East Potomac parks are 720 riverside acres divided by the Tidal Basin. The parkland is most famous for its display of cherry trees, which bloom for a mere 2 weeks, tops, every spring, as they have since the…Around Town
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Art museum
Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Long the city’s go-to venue for lovers of American decorative arts, traditional and modern crafts, and architectural design, the museum in the past few years has morphed into a funhouse showcasing room-size installations of innovative, immersive artworks. A highlight is Janet…The White House Area
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Cultural center
Ripley Center
Part of the Smithsonian complex but not officially counted as a museum, the S. Dillon Ripley Center is notable for hosting Smithsonian Associates arts, education, and entertainment programs (open both to members and to the general public; there’s usually an admission fee) and…The National Mall
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Park/Garden
Rock Creek Park
Created in 1890, Rock Creek Park was purchased by Congress for its “pleasant valleys and ravines, primeval forests and open fields, its running waters, its rocks clothed with rich ferns and mosses, its repose and tranquility, its light and shade, its ever-varying shrubbery, its…Around Town
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S. Dillon Ripley Center
Part of the Smithsonian complex, but not counted as a museum, the Ripley Center is notable for housing Discovery Theater, which stages children's plays and entertainments, and the International Gallery, which hosts rotating exhibits of works from various Smithsonian collections, like…Around Town
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Museum
Sackler Gallery
The Sackler is one-half of what is formally known as the National Museum of Asian Art in the United States (the Freer Gallery is the other half). Though the two museums are connected by purpose, research, staff—and subterranean passageway—they occupy separate buildings.The Sackler…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Art museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery
Walt Whitman called this historic Greek Revival structure “the noblest of Washington buildings,” and if he were around today, he’d likely stick with that opinion. If you’ve been flitting around the Penn Quarter, you had to have noticed it, with its porticoes modeled after the…Penn Quarter
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Museum
Smithsonian Information Center (“The Castle”)
This 1855 Medieval-style building, with its eight crenellated towers and rich red sandstone facade, lives up to its nickname, at least from the exterior. The building closed in February 2023 to begin renovations that will take five years to complete. During the interim, the Enid A.…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Zoo
Smithsonian’s National Zoo
The National Zoo was created by an act of Congress in 1889 and became part of the Smithsonian Institution in 1890. A leader in the care, breeding, and exhibition of animals, the zoo occupies 163 lushly landscaped and wooded acres and is one of the country’s most delightful zoos. In…Upper Northwest D.C.: Glover Park, Woodley Park & Cleveland Park
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Government Building
State Department Diplomatic Reception Rooms
This is a fine-arts tour of rooms that serve as our country’s stage for international diplomacy and official entertaining. The rooms house a collection of early American paintings, furniture, and decorative arts dating from 1740 to 1850. Tours are by reservation only, made online or…Foggy Bottom
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Government Building
The Capitol
In Washington, D.C., one catches sight of the Capitol all around town. That’s no accident: When planner Pierre L’Enfant laid out the capital in 1791, he purposely placed “Congress House” upon this bluff, overlooking the city. The importance of the Capitol and of Congress is meant to…Capitol Hill
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Museum
The George Washington Museum and the Textile Museum
This two-museums-in-one building lies in the heart of the George Washington University’s urban campus. Originally located in a charming Embassy Row mansion (which Amazon founder Jeff Bezos now owns as a private residence), the nearly century-old Textile Museum tripled its space and…Foggy Bottom
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Historic Site
The House Where Lincoln Died
This site is the concluding stop on the tour of Ford's Theatre, across the street, and entry is only open to visitors who have their timed tickets from that tour. In other words, you can't visit the Petersen House on your own. After Lincoln was mortally wounded at Ford's Theatre, the… -
Government Building
The Pentagon
Completed in January 1943 after a mere 16 months of construction, the structure is the world’s largest low-rise office building. The Capitol could fit inside any one of its five wedge-shaped sections. Twenty-three-thousand people work at the Pentagon, which holds 17[bf]1/2 miles of…Northern Virginia
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Government Building
The Supreme Court of the United States
On many days, the Supreme Court is the most exciting place to be in town, despite the building being closed to the public when the Court is in session (except for a limited number of seats, more on that below). Beginning on the first Monday in October, the nine justices hear cases,…Capitol Hill
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Government Building
The White House
This house has served as residence, office, reception site, and world embassy for every U.S. president since John Adams. The White House is the only private residence of a head of state in the world that opens regularly to the public, free of charge, a practice that Thomas Jefferson…The White House Area
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Museum
The White House Visitor Center
Whether or not you’re able to tour the White House, try to stop here for a behind-the-scenes understanding of the history and everyday life inside the executive mansion. Its wide range of intriguing offerings includes a 14-minute film, “White House: Reflections from Within,”…The White House Area
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Park/Garden
Theodore Roosevelt Island Park
A serene, 88 1/2-acre wilderness preserve, Theodore Roosevelt Island is a memorial to the nation’s 26th president in recognition of his contributions to conservation. During his administration, Roosevelt, an outdoor enthusiast and expert field naturalist, set aside a total of 234…Around Town
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Historic home
Tudor Place
Designed by Dr. William Thornton, architect of the Capitol, Tudor Place was constructed between 1796 and 1816 for Martha Parke Custis, George Washington’s step-granddaughter. Family descendants lived here until 1983. Tours of the garden and house are currently self-guided, though…Georgetown
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Market
Union Station
When it opened in 1907, this was the largest train station in the world. It was designed by noted architect Daniel H. Burnham, who modeled it after the Baths of Diocletian and the Arch of Constantine in Rome, so its facade has Ionic colonnades fashioned from white granite and 100…Capitol Hill
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Garden
United States Botanic Garden
For the feel of summer in the middle of winter and the sight of lush, breathtakingly beautiful greenery and flowers year-round, stop in at the Botanic Garden, located at the foot of the Capitol and next door to the National Museum of the American Indian. The grand conservatory…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Museum
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The Holocaust Museum documents Nazi Germany’s systematic persecution and annihilation of 6 million Jews and others between 1933 and 1945, presenting visitors with individual stories of both horror and courage in the persecuted people’s struggle to survive. The museum calls itself a…Southwest of the Mall
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Monument/memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is possibly the most poignant sight in Washington: two long, black-granite walls in the shape of a V, each inscribed with the names of the men and women who gave their lives, or remain missing, in the longest war in American history. Even if no one close…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Monument/memorial
Washington Monument
Step inside the Washington Monument and onto the elevator that whisks visitors to the 500-foot observation deck of this towering obelisk with views for miles in all directions. Or gaze up at the monument’s exterior—it’s hard not to; it stands out. And while you’re gazing, keep this…The National Mall and Memorial Parks
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Cathedral
Washington National Cathedral
Pierre L’Enfant’s 1791 plan for the capital city included “a great church for national purposes.” Possibly because of early America’s fear of mingling church and state, more than a century elapsed before the foundation for Washington National Cathedral was laid. Its actual name is…Upper Northwest D.C.: Glover Park, Woodley Park & Cleveland Park
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Historic home
Woodrow Wilson House Museum
America’s 28th president’s final residence is preserved as he left it. The story here focuses on Wilson’s Washington years (1912–24), examining his public persona while allowing a peek behind the draperies into his and his wife Edith’s personal life, much of it quite tragic.…Dupont Circle
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Monument/memorial
World War I Memorial
In a wide-open plaza across from the Willard Hotel you’ll find Washington’s newest monument. The space, known for years as Pershing Square as a tribute to General John J. Pershing, leader of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) during World War I, has been expanded to be inclusive…The White House Area
Washington, D.C. Shopping
Historic Georgetown, with its 19th-century brick buildings, is Washington's favourite shopping district, famous for its trendy boutiques, high-end chain stores, wine shops and antiques, like Potomac Wine & Spirits and Cherub Antiques. U Street and Adams Morgan are the best areas for up-and-coming styles. Th ...
Historic Georgetown, with its 19th-century brick buildings, is Washington's favourite shopping district, famous for its trendy boutiques, high-end chain stores, wine shops and antiques, like Potomac Wine & Spirits and Cherub Antiques. U Street and Adams Morgan are the best areas for up-and-coming styles. The city's best outdoor produce and food markets include historic Eastern Market and Maine Avenue Seafood Market. Shops typically open daily, 9am-5pm, later in high season.
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Arts & Crafts
A Mano
Owner Adam Mahr frequently forages in Europe and returns with unique handmade French and Italian ceramics, linens, and other decorative accessories for home and garden.$$Foggy Bottom
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Art
Addison/Ripley Fine Art
Representing internationally, nationally, and regionally recognized artists, Addison/Ripley shows works traditional to abstract, in all media and sizes, including large-scale paintings, sculpture, and photography. -
Books
Amazon Books
Open daily, Amazon’s first D.C. brick and mortar bookshop sells new releases and books that are bestsellers and/or rated 4 stars or higher on its website. E-readers, Alexa devices, toys, and games are also for sale. The two-level store includes a cafe and kids' section. -
Shopping
America!
Stop here if you want to pick up a baseball cap with commander in chief printed across its bill, a T-shirt proclaiming i love my country, it’s the government i’m afraid of, White House guest towels, Obama coasters, or other impress-the-folks-back-home items. Or save your shopping for… -
Shopping
Anthropologie
It’s a chain, but the fashions seem so individual. Dresses, blouses, sweaters, even accessories are ultrafeminine, their labels bearing names like “Maeve,” “Guinevere,” and “Left of Center.” The Georgetown store also carries whimsical housewares. You either love it or you don’t. I… -
Shopping
Apple Store
Head to Massachusetts Avenue and Ninth Street NW in Mount Vernon Square to tour the beautifully renovated 116-year-old Carnegie Library and the Historical Society of Washington’s three galleries showcasing D.C. history exhibits, and, yes, to check out Apple’s brand-new flagship… -
Wines & Liquors
Barmy Wines & Liquors
Located near the White House, this store sells it all, but with special emphasis on fine wines and rare cordials. -
Clothing
Betsy Fisher
A walk past the store is all it takes to know that this shop is a tad different. Its windows and racks show off whimsically feminine fashions, shoes, and accessories by new American, French, and Italian designers. Betsy Fisher often hosts an evening cocktail hour to introduce a new… -
Shopping
Bloom
Shop here for costume jewelry that doesn’t look like costume jewelry, at prices that are actually affordable, say $30 for a fine necklace, $10 for stud earrings. The shop also sells sterling silver pieces and semi-precious stones, and assorted other items, like soaps and towels.$Dupont Circle
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Beauty
Blue Mercury
Half “apothecary,” half spa, this chain’s five D.C. locations offer a full selection of facial, massage, waxing, and makeup treatments, as well as a smorgasbord of high-end beauty products, from Acqua di Parma fragrances to Kiehl’s skincare line.$$Georgetown
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Antiques
Brass Knob Architectural Antiques
When old homes and office buildings are demolished in the name of progress, these savvy salvagers spirit away salable treasures, from lots of light fixtures and chandelier glass to wrought-iron fencing. -
Shopping
Bread Line
Bread Line attracts the White House crowd for lunch, with favorite sandwiches like the roast pork bun or the muffuletta; tasty soups; and desserts such as bread puddings, pear tarts, and delicious cookies. Seating is available, but most people buy carryout. The shop also sells…Around Town
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Books
Bridge Street Books
A small, serious shop specializing in politics, poetry, literature, history, philosophy, and publications you won’t find elsewhere. Bestsellers and discounted books are not its specialty. -
Shopping
Brooks Brothers
Brooks sells traditional men’s clothes, as well as the fine line of Peal & Company Collection shoes. It also sells an extensive line of women’s clothes. A Brooks Brothers store is expected to open in Georgetown at 3077 M St. NW, but call one of these other locations first to… -
Shopping
Burberry’s
Here you’ll find those plaid-lined trench coats, of course, along with well-tailored English clothing for men and women. Hot items include cashmere sweaters and camel’s hair duffel coats for men. -
Books
Busboys and Poets
It’s a bookstore, restaurant, community gathering place, theater, and political activist center. Its book inventory reflects all those angles, showcasing works by local authors, writers from diverse backgrounds, and subjects dealing with social and political struggles. The 14th St.… -
Kitchenware
Cady’s Alley
Cady’s Alley refers not to a single store, but to the southwest pocket of Georgetown, where about 20 stores reside in and around said alley, which lies south of M Street. Look for tony, big-name places such as Waterworks and Design within Reach; European outposts, such as the hip… -
Books
Capitol Hill Books
This longtime local favorite used-book store has books crammed into every possible bit of space throughout the two-story shop located directly across the street from Eastern Market. Look for foreign-language books in the bathroom and cookbooks in the kitchen sink! -
Wines & Liquors
Central Liquors
Dating back to 1934, Central Liquors is like a clearinghouse for liquor: Its great volume allows the store to offer the best prices in town. The store specializes in small estate wines, single-malt scotches, and small-batch bourbons. -
Antiques
Cherub Antiques Gallery
Open since 1974 (since 1983 at this location), this gallery specializes in Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Arts & Crafts, and Vienna Secession design periods. Look here for rare cocktail shakers and barware, candelabra, and jewelry. -
Gifts
Chocolate Moose
Its website welcomes browsers with the words “Serving weirdly sophisticated Washingtonians since 1978, but now attempting to reach out to the rest of you!” I guess my family qualifies as weirdly sophisticated, because we’re longtime fans. My husband endears himself to me and our… -
Shopping
Comfort One Shoes
This locally owned family business was founded in Old Town Alexandria in 1993. Its three D.C. stores sell a great selection of popular styles for both men and women, including Doc Martens, Birkenstocks, and Ecco. You can always find something that looks smart and actually feels… -
Antiques
Cote Jardin Antiques
This very pretty shop just off busy Wisconsin Avenue specializes in 18th- and 19th-century French formal and country antique home furnishings and late 19th- to early 20th-century antique French garden ornaments and furniture. -
Shopping
Dean & Deluca
This famed New York emporium operates in a historic Georgetown building that was once an open-air market. Though it is now closed in, this huge space still feels airy, with its high ceiling and windows on all sides. You’ll pay top prices, but the quality is impressive—charcuterie,… -
Flea Markets
Dupont Circle FreshFarm Market
About 50 local farmers sell flowers, fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, and cheeses here. The market sometimes features kids’ activities, live music, and guest appearances by the chefs of some of D.C.’s best restaurants. It's open Sundays rain or shine, year-round, from 8:30am… -
Flea Markets
Eastern Market
Historic Eastern Market has been in continuous operation since 1873. Today Eastern Market’s restored South Hall is a bustling bazaar, where area farmers, greengrocers, bakers, butchers, and others sell their wares Tuesday through Sunday, joined by a second line of farmers outside on… -
Shopping
Firehook Bakery
Known for its sourdough baguettes, apple-walnut bread, fresh fruit tarts, red-iced elephant and blue-iced donkey cookies, and sandwiches like smoked chicken on sesame semolina bread, Firehook also runs the cafe at the National Building Museum -
Shopping
Foundry Gallery
In business since 1971, Foundry is non-profit and artist-owned and –operated. It features the pieces of local artists, who work in various media and styles, from abstract painting on silk to mixed-media collages. The gallery moved in summer 2015 from the Dupont Circle neighborhood to… -
Beauty
George at the Four Seasons
If you have a hair emergency or just need a cut or styling and don’t want to take any chances, George is a safe bet. George Ozturk has a devoted following, as does his team of 13. In addition to hair services, the salon offers waxing, makeup, and nail treatments.$$Foggy Bottom
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Shopping
Glen’s Garden Market
Down a side street in Dupont Circle is this 10,000-square-foot treasure run by a former pastry chef from 1789 Restaurant. Things to carry back to your hotel room for private devouring are sandwiches of house-smoked charcuterie, roast chicken dinners, and thin crust pizzas. The market… -
Beauty
Gloria's Hair Salon
Gloria Piedra, formerly of Interiano Salon, is gifted in coloring, cutting, and styling hair. I should know: Both my husband and I have been going to her for decades. Gloria concentrates on hair only, with coloring a specialty (no nail or spa services). She counts local politicians…$$Foggy Bottom
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Shopping
H&M
This Swedish-based store sells trendy clothes for the whole family at reasonable prices. -
Kitchenware
Hill’s Kitchen
This gourmet kitchenware store occupies an 1884 townhouse adjacent to the Eastern Market Metro station on Capitol Hill. Precious take-homes are cookie cutters shaped like the Washington Monument and the Capitol dome; topflight cooking utensils; and colorful aprons and towels. -
Housewares
Home Rule
Unique housewares; bath, kitchen, and office supplies; and gifts cram this tiny store. You’ll see everything from French milled soap to martini glasses. -
Clothing
Hugh & Crye
This online retailer of “better-fitting menswear” launched in 2009 in Georgetown and maintains a brick-and-mortar version of the shop, open weekdays. Its two founders, Pranav Vora and Philip Soriano, felt called to act against “unsustainable clothing and manufacturing practices with… -
Shoes
Hu’s Shoes
Fashion models in every D.C. photo shoot wear Hu’s shoes, it seems. The Georgetown shop sells designer ready-to-wear footwear, handbags, and accessories. Owner Marlene Hu Aldaba travels to New York, Paris, and Milan in search of elegant specimens to suit her discriminating eye.… -
Art
IA&A at Hillyer
The International Arts & Artists center occupies a three-room gallery within a restored historic carriage house situated in an alley behind the Phillips Collection. Its shows of contemporary art fulfill its mission to “increase cross-cultural understanding and exposure to the…Around Town
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Arts & Crafts
Indian Craft Shop
The Indian Craft Shop has represented authentic Native-American artisans since 1938, selling handwoven rugs and handcrafted baskets, jewelry, figurines, pottery, and other items. The shop is situated inside a federal government building, so you must pass through security and show… -
Shopping
Keith Lipert
This decorative-arts gallery sells Venetian glassware, high-end costume jewelry by designers such as Oscar de la Renta, and cute little old things, like Art Deco–style handbags. The owner shops in Europe for fashion jewelry and for gifts suitable for diplomats and international… -
Books
Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe
Opened in 1976, Kramer’s was the first bookstore/cafe in Washington, maybe in this country, and has launched countless romances. It’s jammed and often noisy, stages author readings, live music, and other events, and is open until 3am on weekends. Paperback fiction takes up most of… -
Electronics
Leica Camera
This store is one of only eight the German company has opened in the U.S. If you know your way around cameras and don’t mind spending a bit of money, this shop will likely delight. FYI: The store also sells used equipment and occasionally sponsors photo walks around the city. -
Clothing
Little Birdies Boutique
This precious little shop sells precious little clothes for precious little children, newborns to size 14. Young Versace, Darling Betty, and Petite Plume are among the brands on sale.$$Foggy Bottom
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Clothing
Maketto
It’s a cafe, it’s a bar, it’s a store, it’s an award-winning restaurant —it’s all of that and more. Maketto the shop is primarily about menswear, its inventory of international footwear, clothing, and accessories laid out in glass display cases and on open shelving. Puma, Raised by… -
Clothing
Meeps
For men and women attracted to local designer wear and vintage clothes, from 1930s gabardine suits to 1950s cocktail dresses to satiny lingerie. -
Jewelry
Mia Gemma
This pretty boutique sells the original designs of American and European artists, including Judy Bettencourt, Sarah Richardson, and Randi Chervitz. All pieces are handcrafted, either a limited edition or one of a kind. Customized design available, too. -
Housewares & Furniture
Miss Pixie’s Furnishings & Whatnot
The name says it all. Vintage home furnishings from armoires to old silver cram the space. The owner buys only from auctions and only things that are in good shape and ready to use. New inventory arrives every Wednesday. -
Flea Markets
Old Town Alexandria Farmers’ Market
The oldest continuously operating farmers’ market in the country (since 1753), this market offers locally grown fruits and vegetables, along with baked goods, cut flowers, and more. It's open year-round, Saturday mornings from 7am to noon. -
Shopping
Politics and Prose Bookstore
This much-cherished shop has vast offerings in literary fiction and nonfiction alike and an excellent children’s department. It has expanded again and again over the years to accommodate its clientele’s love of books in every genre, as well as a growing selection of greeting cards,… -
Clothing
Proper Topper
For the longest time, I thought this store was just a hat boutique. Wrong! It’s a one-stop shop for stocking stuffers and bigger gifts: lovely designs by Velvet and Victoria Road, pretty jewelry, adorable clothes for children, stationery, all sorts of gifty things, and yes, hats. -
Clothing
Redeem
The mission of this hip shop is to support interesting and unique, but unsung companies—Misanthrope, Oak, Religion, and Dusty among them. Both menswear and womenswear. -
Books
Reiter’s Bookstore
Open since 1936, Reiter’s is D.C.’s oldest independent bookstore. Located in the middle of the George Washington University campus, it’s the go-to place for scientific, technical, medical, and professional books. The store is also known for its intriguing, sometimes amusing,… -
Shopping
Rizik's
Rizik’s is 108 years old, and still working it. This downtown high-fashion store sells bridal dresses and other high-toned fashions by European and American designers such as Carolina Herrera, Sylvia Heisel, and Lourdes Chavez, but lately has expanded to sell designer sportswear and… -
Wines & Liquors
Schneider’s of Capitol Hill
Two blocks south of Union Station is this family-run liquor store, in business for nearly 70 years. With a knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff, a 12,000-bottle inventory of wine, and a fine selection of spirits and beer, this shop is a find on Capitol Hill. -
Books
Second Story Books
If it’s old, out of print, custom bound, or a small-press publication, you’ll find it here. The store also trades in used CDs and vinyl and has an interesting collection of campaign posters. -
Clothing
Secondi Inc.
On the second floor of a building right above Starbucks is this high-style consignment shop that sells women’s clothing and accessories, including designer suits, evening wear, and more casual items—everything from Kate Spade to Chanel. Open since 1986, Secondi is the longest-running… -
Gifts
Shop Made in DC
This is the kind of shop I’m always looking for when I travel to another city. Everything in the shop, from the music playing to the coffee you’re drinking (it’s a cafe and a boutique) to the jewelry you’re eyeing, is made by a DC artisan and is for sale. The shop/cafe is a joint… -
Art
Studio Gallery
The city’s oldest and most successful cooperative gallery, in existence for 63 years. It represents American and international artists, whose works are in all media: paintings, sculpture, installations, video, and mixed media. Don’t miss the sculpture garden. -
Art
Susan Calloway Fine Arts
On display are antique European and American oil paintings; contemporary art by local, regional, and international artists; and a carefully chosen selection of 17th- to 19th-century prints. -
Shopping
Susquehanna Antiques
This is Georgetown’s largest collection of fine American, English, and European furniture, paintings, and garden items of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. -
Clothing
The Outrage
Feeling the need to rise up in passionate resistance these days? Here’s a shop that allows your clothing to speak for you. Tops and tees, sweatshirts and pants are emblazoned with messages, including “THE FUTURE IS FEMALE” and “THERE IS NO PLANET B.” -
Arts & Crafts
The Phoenix
Around since 1955, the Phoenix sells high-end Mexican folk and fine art; clothing in natural fibers from American and international designers (Eileen Fisher and Flax are two); jewelry; and decorative doodads in tin, brass, copper, and wood. -
Shopping
Thomas Pink
Tucked inside the Mayflower Hotel, this branch of the London-based high-end establishment has beautifully made, bright-colored shirts on offer, along with ties, boxer shorts, women’s shirts, cuff links, and other accessories. -
Jewelry
Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany is known for exquisite diamonds and other jewelry that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. But you may not know that the store carries less expensive items as well, like $35 candlesticks. Tiffany will engrave, too. Other items include tabletop gifts and fancy glitz:… -
Jewelry
Tiny Jewel Box
Opened and owned by the same family since 1930, this jewelry store is the first place Washingtonians go for estate and antique jewelry, engagement rings, and the finest brands of watches. Tiny Jewel Box also sells the pieces of many designers, from Links of London to Alex Sepkus, as… -
Flea Markets
Union Market
Worth a detour from sightseeing, this year-round indoor market includes pop-up marketers hawking a particular specialty, such as small-batch pickles. At least 40 local vendors set up in stalls or at counters selling fresh produce, flowers, cheeses, artworks—everything from olive oil… -
Clothing
Upstairs on 7th
Ricki Peltzman’s shop is neither upstairs nor on 7th Street (that was its original location) and its Pennsylvania Avenue street address is also misleading—you enter an office building at 12th and E streets and walk through the lobby to your left to find the shop, further obscured… -
Clothing
Urban Outfitters
For the latest in casual attire, from fatigue pants to tube tops. The shop has a floor of women’s clothes and a floor of men’s clothes, as well as apartment wares, travel books, and accessories, cards, and candles. -
Clothing
Violet Boutique
This Georgetown shop is a favorite of fashionistas on a budget. Feminine and trendy, the offerings range from cocktail dresses to colorful T-shirts, everything priced under $100.$Dupont Circle
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Clothing
Zara
This cheery store is an outpost of a popular chain started in Spain. Clothes are both dressy and casual, but all trendy. A sprinkling of coats is also found here, when the season calls for it.
Washington, D.C. Nightlife
Washington has a vibrant performing arts scene. The city's finest venues are in Penn Quarter and Foggy Bottom, including the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Ford's Theatre and Blues Alley. You'll find trendy urban clubs in Adams Morgan and U Street districts. On Capitol Hill there are several bar ...
Washington has a vibrant performing arts scene. The city's finest venues are in Penn Quarter and Foggy Bottom, including the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Ford's Theatre and Blues Alley. You'll find trendy urban clubs in Adams Morgan and U Street districts. On Capitol Hill there are several bars that are popular with visitors and locals alike, including Capital City Brewing Co. and the Dubliner.
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The Club & Music Scene
9:30 Club
The 9:30 Club is now a mini-dynasty, with the Lincoln Theatre and the Anthem part of the family. But this venue still rules. It’s a 1,200-person-capacity concert hall with excellent sightlines, state-of-the-art sound system, four bars, and most important, a nightly concert schedule… -
The Performing Arts
Arena Stage
Founded in 1950, Arena Stage has long been about “putting the American spirit in the spotlight” as the company tagline phrases it. What that means is that the theater produces the works of American artists, choosing plays that explore themes of American diversity, challenges, and…Around Town
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Performing Arts Venue
Arena Stage
Founded in 1950, Arena Stage has long been about “putting the American spirit in the spotlight” as the company tagline phrases it. What that means is that the theater produces the works of American artists, choosing plays that explore themes of American diversity, challenges, and… -
The Club & Music Scene
Black Cat
This club is D.C.’s flagship venue for alternative music. When it opened on 14th Street in 1993, the neighborhood was a red-light district and D.C. was not a major player in the live-music scene. So hats off to the Black Cat, which played a part in the changes that have happened…$$Downtown
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Bar
Black Jack
Downstairs is the super popular Pearl Dive Oyster Palace restaurant, and upstairs is its super-cool bar. Red velvet curtains part to reveal the fully stocked bar, and old movies project black-and-white images on the brick walls. Other bars may have pool tables and DJs; Black Jack has…$$Downtown
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Bar
Bluejacket Brewery
A Washington Nationals baseball game at Nationals Park is one reason to visit the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood. Bluejacket is another. Opened by Greg Engert and his band of master brewers, the same team behind ChurchKey. Bluejacket brews 20 unique ales and lagers daily at its…$$Capitol Riverfront
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The Club & Music Scene
Blues Alley
An inconspicuous alley off busy Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown delivers you to the door of Blues Alley and another world entirely. It's a showcase for jazz greats like Wynton Marsalis and Ahmad Jamal and up-and-comers. The club usually offers two sets a night, at 8 and 10pm, with the…Georgetown
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The Club & Music Scene
Bohemian Caverns
Despite increasing competition from nearby Howard Theatre (see below) and other venues, the Caverns remains a player, hosting both its own orchestra and international jazz artists like Federico Peña. Decades ago, the likes of Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday performed here, and for…Bloomingdale
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Bar
ChurchKey
This mellow hangout draws a diverse mix, from boomers to their 20-something children, all sprawled on loungey banquettes or perched on stools at the long bar. It’s a haven for beer lovers with its 50 drafts, 500 bottles, and 5 cask ales on tap. ChurchKey’s downstairs sibling, Birch…$$Downtown
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Gay & Lesbian Bars
Cobalt
This is “D.C’s premier gay bar and nightspot.” So says Cobalt’s owners, but so does everyone else, too. Cobalt is actually the name of the club’s third-floor dance space, while the first floor holds the club’s Level One restaurant and the second floor its 30 Degrees lounge. The club…Dupont Circle
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The Performing Arts
DAR Constitution Hall
DAR Constitution Hall is housed in a beautiful turn-of-the-20th-century Beaux Arts building and seats 3,746. Its excellent acoustics have drawn an eclectic group of performers, from Regina Spektor to John Legend.Around Town
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The Club & Music Scene
Eighteenth Street Lounge
Ever the hotspot, ESL is the place to go for dressing sexy and dancing to live music and DJ-spun tunes, a range of acid jazz, hip-hop, reggae, Latin jazz, soul, and party sounds. The setting is somewhat surprising: a restored, century-old mansion, once the home of Teddy Roosevelt,…$Downtown
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The Club & Music Scene
Gypsy Sally's
Gypsy Sally’s features bluegrass and “Americana” acts. Ticketed performances take place in the Music Room, which holds 300 people, and follow a Wednesday through Saturday schedule. Most shows offer a mix of reserved seating and general-admission standing. The club incudes the Vinyl…$Georgetown
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Bar
H Street Country Club
The main draw of this Atlas District fave is its assortment of activities: Skeeball, shuffleboard, and the District’s only indoor miniature golf course. Up top is a huge rooftop deck. H Street serves pretty good Mexican food, too.$$Hill East
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Bar
Hill Country Barbecue
Everybody knows to go to this Penn Quarter restaurant for awesome barbecue, strong drinks, and, downstairs, live music nearly nightly. The music tends toward outlaw country and honky-tonk; most Wednesday nights, the HariKaraoke Band provides live backup as a singer takes the… -
Performing Arts Venue
Howard Theatre
A $29-million renovation of this historic arts landmark theater, built in 1910, has helped restore not just the building but also a piece of history. The Howard Theatre of old was the Black Broadway showcase for musicians like Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald, and later hosted…$$Bloomingdale
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Gay & Lesbian Bars
J.R.'s Bar and Grill
This friendly place is always packed, whether it’s Thursday night between 5 and 8pm, when $15 gets you all you can drink, or on “Showtunes Monday” nights. The all-male Dupont Circle club draws an attractive crowd, here to play pool, sing along, or simply hang out.Dupont Circle
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Bar
Jack Rose Saloon
Said to be one of the best whisky bars in the country (its inventory numbers 2,700), this saloon has much going for it, including an expansive open-air (but enclosable) rooftop terrace with a great view of the neighborhood; a subterranean, speakeasy-like cellar; and all-around nods… -
The Performing Arts
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The capital’s most renowned theater covers the entire realm of performing arts: Presentations of ballet, opera, plays, musicals, modern dance, jazz, hip hop, comedy, classical and chamber music, and children’s theater all take the stage at this magnificent complex overlooking the…Around Town
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The Performing Arts
Lincoln Theatre
Under management by the 9:30 Club ,the historic Lincoln Theatre showcases indie favorites such as Feist, jazz legends like Roy Ayers, and assorted others. Once a movie theater, vaudeville house, and nightclub featuring black stars such as Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway, the theater…Around Town
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The Club & Music Scene
Madam's Organ Restaurant and Bar
Everyone stops by the legendary Madam’s at some point. There’s a lot going on throughout its eclectically decorated three levels, and it’s all fun: live music nightly on the first floor, from funk/jazz/blues on Sunday and Monday to regional blues bands on weekends; the second-floor…$Mt. Pleasant
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Bar
Marvin
Downstairs is a soul-food bistro, upstairs is the bar, which includes a lounge, rooftop beer garden, and live music/DJ space. Washington millennials come here to dance; it’s always crowded after 10pm.$$Logan Circle
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The Performing Arts
National Theatre
Open since 1835, the National is the capital’s oldest continuously operating theater and the country’s third oldest. In earlier days, the like of Sarah Bernhardt, Helen Hayes, and John Barrymore took the stage, and presidents Lincoln and Fillmore and others were among those in the…Around Town
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Gay & Lesbian Bars
Nellie's Sports Bar
Washington City Paper’s 2018 Best of D.C. issue reported that readers voted Nellie’s Sports Bar their favorite in two categories, best sports bar and best gay bar. Clearly, Nellie’s has her fans, and they aren’t necessarily all gay. But if the idea of drag brunch or drag bingo…$$Dupont Circle
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Bar
Quill
A pianist plays Tuesday through Saturday starting at 9pm, the perfect accompaniment to that Swept Away cocktail you’re sipping and plate of charcuterie you’re nibbling, at this chicest of lounges inside the city’s chicest hotel.$$$Downtown
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The Club & Music Scene
Rock and Roll Hotel
Located in the Atlas District, this club features a second-floor pool hall, a 400-person concert hall, a separate comfy bar for hanging out, and year-round rooftop deck and bar. Nightly acts range from local garage bands to national groups on tour. Note: Don’t expect to stay…$$Atlas District
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The Performing Arts
Shakespeare Theatre Company at the Landsburgh Theatre and Sidney Harman Hall
This is one of the best Shakespeare theaters in the country, known for its accessible interpretations of plays by Shakespeare, his contemporaries, and modern masters, from Oscar Wilde to Thomas Stoppard. Attend a play here and you’re in for a thought-provoking, of-the-moment… -
The Performing Arts
Studio Theatre
Studio Theatre, since its founding in 1978, has grown in leaps and bounds into a four-theater complex, helping to revitalize its U Street neighborhood in the process. Productions are provocative and the season jam-packed, at least seven plays on tap for the 2018–19 calendar. The… -
Performing Arts Venue
The Anthem
The Anthem, which opened in October 2017, is the much-heralded new sibling of the 9:30 Club, located at the Wharf. Expect to see rock acts, international artists, and local favorites at this “acoustically advanced” concert hall with a 2,500–6,000-person capacity.Around Town
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The Club & Music Scene
The Birchmere Music Hall and Bandstand
This place started out 40 years or so ago showcasing primarily bluegrass and country acts. Its calendar now offers more range, stretching from Maysa & Her Jazz Funk Soul Symphony to John Hiatt. Located in Alexandria, 8 miles and a $20 cab fare from downtown D.C., the Birchmere is… -
Comedy Clubs
The Capitol Steps
Orange is the New Barack is the name of the latest album released by this musical political satire troupe, following fast on the heels of What to Expect When You’re Electing, Mock the Vote, and How to Succeed in Congress Without Really Lying—just four of the 40 albums the troupe has…Capitol Hill
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Bar
The Dubliner
Capitol Hill big names and the media that cover them, as well as neighborhood regulars, hang here for no other reason but that the atmosphere’s Irish and the bar’s got Guinness on tap. Open from breakfast through last call, the Dubliner features live Irish music nightly.$$Noma
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Bar
The Gibson
If the word “mixologist” is in your vocabulary, you’ll like The Gibson, where expert drink-makers will concoct a libation just for you, based on your taste preferences. You can throw anything at them: smoky and tequila or citrusy and sweet, or cinnamon and scotchy, and presto! A…$$$Downtown
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The Club & Music Scene
The Hamilton
Located on the subterranean level of a large restaurant is this live-music venue, with blues, rock, jazz, R&B, and folk performances staged nightly. Seating is at communal tables. The pizza, sandwich, and sushi menu is not recommended (eat before the show). Located in the heart…$$Capitol Hill
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Comedy Clubs
The Improv
The Improv features headliners on the national comedy-club circuit as well as comic plays and one-person shows. Shows are about 1 1/2 hours long and generally include three comics (an emcee, a feature act, and a headliner). Showtimes are at 7, 7:30, or 8pm Tuesday through Sunday,… -
Bar
The Observatory
Crowning Georgetown’s The Graham hotel is this rooftop bar, which wraps around the entire building, so you’re able to view Georgetown and the city, including the Washington Monument. The fact that the bar is open not just to hotel guests but to Washington’s rowdy drinking crowd means…$$$West End
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Performing Arts Venue
The Warner Theatre
The Warner Theatre opened in 1924 as the Earle Theatre (a movie/vaudeville palace) and was restored to its original, neoclassical-style appearance in 1992. It’s worth coming by just to see the ornately detailed interior. The 2,000-seat auditorium offers year-round entertainment,…Around Town
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Bar
Tryst
Tryst is a coffeehouse bar. Coffee to charge you up in the a.m., drinks to get you going later in the day. It’s got a good vibe, too: loungey in the pre-hipster sense of a comfort zone. Morning, noon, and night, customers sprawl on comfy old furniture, juggling laptops and beverages.…$$Mt. Pleasant
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Bar
Tune Inn
In business since 1955, this Capitol Hill watering hole is a veritable institution. The divey Tune Inn is open from early morning ‘til late at night serving police officers, Hill staffers and their bosses, and folks from the hood. Sometimes they eat here, too, from a menu that…$$Capitol Hill
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The Performing Arts
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
The Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company offers as many as seven productions every year, specializing in new, offbeat, and quirky plays, often world premieres. The Woolly resides in a 265-seat, state-of-the-art facility at 641 D St. NW (at 7th St. NW), in the heart of the Penn Quarter.
More To Do in Washington, D.C.
African-American History
The story of African Americans in Washington, D.C., actually predates the founding of the capital, for African Americans were here from the get-go. Records show that blacks were living and working in Alexandria, Virginia, in its early days as a tobacco port. (And worshipping:…
Arlington near Washington, D.C.
The land that today comprises Arlington County, Virginia, was included in the original parcel of land demarcated as the nation’s capital. In 1847 the state of Virginia took its territory back, referring to it as “Alexandria County” until 1920, when Arlington at last became…
More To Do in Washington, D.C.
Best Dining Bets in Washington, D.C.
Best for a Splurge: Barracks Row’s Pineapple and Pearls is a stylish dining room where the ambience is so warm and comfortable, and the servers so amiable, that you feel like you’re dining at a friend’s house. An extraordinarily gifted friend. From the kitchen come 12 courses of a…
Best Family Experiences in Washington, D.C.
Hanging out at the National Zoo: Make faces at the cute giant pandas; listen to the mighty lion’s roar; laugh at the playful monkeys; watch an elephant exercise; ride the solar-powered carousel. The National Zoo is essentially one big (163 acres!), family-friendly park, offering…
Best Free Things to Do in Washington, D.C.
Peruse the Constitution: Only in Washington and only at the National Archives will you be able to read the original documents that grounded this nation in liberty. Here you’ll find the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights—all on…
