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Must-See D.C. Places
Ben's Chili Bowl is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

1. Ben's Chili Bowl

8.3
1213 U St NW, Washington, D.C.
Hot Dog Joint · U-Street · 386 tips and reviews
Busboys and Poets is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

2. Busboys and Poets

9.0
2021 14th St NW (at V St NW), Washington, D.C.
American Restaurant · U-Street · 356 tips and reviews
Palena is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

3. Palena

3529 Connecticut Ave NW (at Porter St. NW), Washington, D.C.
New American Restaurant · Cleveland Park · 51 tips and reviews
Obelisk is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

4. Obelisk

8.3
2029 P St NW (btwn 20th & 21st St NW), Washington, D.C.
Italian Restaurant · Northwest Washington · 16 tips and reviews
Johnny's Half Shell is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

5. Johnny's Half Shell

400 N Capitol St NW (at E St NW), Washington, D.C.
Seafood Restaurant · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 33 tips and reviews
Teaism is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

6. Teaism

400 8th St NW (at D St NW), Washington, D.C.
Tea Room · Penn Quarter · 130 tips and reviews
Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

7. Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe

8.8
1517 Connecticut Ave NW (at Q St NW), Washington, D.C.
Bookstore · Northwest Washington · 328 tips and reviews
Jaleo is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

8. Jaleo

8.7
480 7th St NW (at E St NW), Washington, D.C.
Tapas Restaurant · 256 tips and reviews
Sushi-Ko is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

9. Sushi-Ko

2309 Wisconsin Ave NW (at Observatory Ln NW), Washington, D.C.
Sushi Restaurant · Glover Park · 27 tips and reviews
Michel Richard Citronelle is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

10. Michel Richard Citronelle

3000 M St NW (at M St), Washington, D.C.
French Restaurant · Georgetown · 23 tips and reviews
Cashion's Eat Place is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

11. Cashion's Eat Place

1819 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, D.C.
American Restaurant · Adams Morgan · 50 tips and reviews
Proof is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

12. Proof

775 G St NW (at 8th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Wine Bar · Chinatown · 106 tips and reviews
Dumbarton Oaks Gardens is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

13. Dumbarton Oaks Gardens

8.9
1703 32nd St NW (at R St NW), Washington, D.C.
Garden · Georgetown · 17 tips and reviews
United States Botanic Garden is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

14. United States Botanic Garden

9.0
100 Maryland Ave SW (Independence Ave), Washington, D.C.
Botanical Garden · Southwest Washington · 111 tips and reviews
C&O Canal Towpath is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

15. C&O Canal Towpath

8.6
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park, Washington, D.C.
Hiking Trail · Foxhall-Palisades · 11 tips and reviews
Rock Creek Park is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

16. Rock Creek Park

9.3
Beach Dr NW (at Park Dr NW), Washington, D.C.
National Park · Rock Creek Park · 43 tips and reviews
Washington National Cathedral is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

17. Washington National Cathedral

9.1
3101 Wisconsin Ave NW (at Massachusetts Ave NW), Washington, D.C.
Church · Woodley Park · 80 tips and reviews
Theodore Roosevelt Island is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

18. Theodore Roosevelt Island

8.7
Analostan Island, Washington, D.C.
Monument · Northwest Washington · 28 tips and reviews
United States National Arboretum is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

19. United States National Arboretum

9.0
3501 New York Ave NE (at Hickey Ln NE), Washington, D.C.
Botanical Garden · National Arboretum · 60 tips and reviews
Smithsonian’s National Zoo is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

20. Smithsonian’s National Zoo

9.0
3001 Connecticut Ave NW (at Hawthorne St NW), Washington, D.C.
Zoo · National Zoological Park · 326 tips and reviews
National Gallery of Art - Sculpture Garden is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

21. National Gallery of Art - Sculpture Garden

9.2
Constitution Ave NW (at 7th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Sculpture Garden · Northwest Washington · 93 tips and reviews
National Mall is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

22. National Mall

9.5
Constitution & Independence Ave (btwn 1st & 17th St), Washington, D.C.
Plaza · Northwest Washington · 268 tips and reviews
National Museum of American History is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

23. National Museum of American History

9.0
1400 Constitution Ave NW (at 14th St NW), Washington, D.C.
History Museum · Northwest Washington · 357 tips and reviews
National Museum of the American Indian is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

24. National Museum of the American Indian

8.2
950 Independence Ave SW (4th St. SW), Washington, D.C.
History Museum · Southwest Washington · 178 tips and reviews
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

25. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

8.9
100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl SW, Washington, D.C.
History Museum · Southwest Washington · 256 tips and reviews
Newseum is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

26. Newseum

555 Pennsylvania Ave NW (at 6th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Museum · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 307 tips and reviews
National Air and Space Museum is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

27. National Air and Space Museum

9.2
6th St. (Independence Ave SW), Washington, D.C.
Science Museum · Southwest Washington · 639 tips and reviews
African American Civil War Museum is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

28. African American Civil War Museum

7.7
1925 Vermont Ave NW (btwn T St NW and U St NW), Washington, D.C.
History Museum · U-Street · 6 tips and reviews
Tudor Place Historic House and Garden is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

29. Tudor Place Historic House and Garden

7.9
1644 31st St NW (Q St), Washington, D.C.
Garden · Georgetown · 5 tips and reviews
The Phillips Collection is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

30. The Phillips Collection

8.8
1600 21st St NW (at Q St. NW), Washington, D.C.
Art Museum · Northwest Washington · 80 tips and reviews
National Portrait Gallery is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

31. National Portrait Gallery

9.3
800 F St NW (at 8th St. NW), Washington, D.C.
Art Museum · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 183 tips and reviews
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

32. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

8.4
2700 F St NW, Washington, D.C.
Performing Arts Venue · Northwest Washington · 16 tips and reviews
Shakespeare Theatre Company - Harman Hall is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

33. Shakespeare Theatre Company - Harman Hall

9.0
610 F St NW (at 6th Street NW), Washington, D.C.
Theater · Chinatown · 35 tips and reviews
Politics and Prose Bookstore is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

34. Politics and Prose Bookstore

9.3
5015 Connecticut Ave NW (btwn Nebraska Ave & 36th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Bookstore · Chevy Chase · 81 tips and reviews
Eighteenth Street Lounge is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

35. Eighteenth Street Lounge

1212 18th St NW (at Jefferson Pl NW), Washington, D.C.
Lounge · Connecticut Avenue - K Street · 89 tips and reviews
Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle) is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

36. Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)

8.7
1000 Jefferson Dr SW (btwn 9th & 12th St SW), Washington, D.C.
History Museum · Southwest Washington · 86 tips and reviews
United States Navy Memorial is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

37. United States Navy Memorial

9.0
701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C.
Plaza · Penn Quarter · 22 tips and reviews
Korean War Veterans Memorial is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

38. Korean War Veterans Memorial

9.1
10 Daniel French Dr SW (at Independence Ave SW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 74 tips and reviews
U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

39. U.S. Capitol Visitor Center

8.3
E Capitol Cir (at E Capitol St), Washington, D.C.
Museum · Capitol Hill · 65 tips and reviews
Capitol Reflecting Pool is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

40. Capitol Reflecting Pool

8.9
1st St NW (btwn Pennsylvania Ave NW & Maryland Ave SW), Washington, D.C.
Fountain · Northwest Washington · 42 tips and reviews
Lafayette Square Park is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

41. Lafayette Square Park

8.3
1601 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C.
Park · Northwest Washington · 39 tips and reviews
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

42. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

9.0
700 Independence Ave SW (at 7th St SW), Washington, D.C.
Art Museum · Southwest Washington · 104 tips and reviews

43. The White House

8.8
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW (btwn 15th St NW & 17th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Government Building · Northwest Washington · 512 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: Completed in 1800, The White House is the oldest public building in Washington, DC and has been the home of every president except George Washington.

National Museum of Natural History is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

44. National Museum of Natural History

9.3
1000 Constitution Ave NW (at 10th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Science Museum · Northwest Washington · 428 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The Smithsonian Institution was founded for the "increase and diffusion" of knowledge from a bequest to the United States by the British scientist James Smithson, who had never visited the US himself.

Washington Monument is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

45. Washington Monument

9.5
2 15th St NW (btwn Constitution Ave NW & Independence Ave SW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 344 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The Washington Monument was formally dedicated on February 22, 1885, and at the time of its construction, it was the tallest building in the world; it remains the tallest stone structure in the world.

Arlington National Cemetery is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

46. Arlington National Cemetery

214 McNair Rd, Arlington, VA
Cemetery · 129 tips and reviews

Dave H.Dave H: If you visit Washington DC, you have to pay respect to the soldiers and American's that paved the way for us. Very moving.

47. The Pentagon

1400 Defense, Arlington, VA
Government Building · The Pentagon · 98 tips and reviews
World War II Memorial is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

48. World War II Memorial

9.5
1750 Independence Ave SW (at 17th St SW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 160 tips and reviews

The Transit NavigatorThe Transit Navigator: A gorgeous tribute to those who lost their lives in WWII.

International Spy Museum is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

49. International Spy Museum

800 F St NW (9th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Museum · Penn Quarter · 207 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The museum opened on July 19, 2002 and is the only public museum in the United States solely dedicated to espionage that has shaped history and continues to have a significant impact on world events.

Lincoln Memorial is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

50. Lincoln Memorial

9.6
2 Lincoln Memorial Circle NW (btwn Constitution & Independence Ave SW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 472 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: Construction began in 1914, and the memorial was opened to the public in 1922. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech to a crowd by the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 .

Albert Einstein Memorial is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

51. Albert Einstein Memorial

9.0
2100 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, D.C.
Outdoor Sculpture · Northwest Washington · 25 tips and reviews

C-SPANC-SPAN: Dedicated in April 1979, coinciding with Einstein's 100th birthday, the statue is 12 feet tall and weighs about 4 tons. Watch this 90 second C-SPAN YouTube video about the memorial. Read more.

Library of Congress is one of Must-See D.C. Places.

52. Library of Congress

9.3
101 Independence Ave SE (btwn 1st & 2nd St SE), Washington, D.C.
Library · Southeast Washington · 186 tips and reviews