Close Icon
Gear IconImportant Reminder:The City Guide app will be sunsetting on December 15, 2024, with the web version to follow in early 2025. Please visit our FAQ to learn more or to download our Swarm app.
Learn more
D.C.

1. US Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima)

US Marine Memorial Cir, Arlington, VA
Memorial Site · 84 tips and reviews

ChevroletChevrolet: All American, 24-7; This is one of the few official sites where the American Flag is required to be flown at all times.

The Pentagon is one of D.C..

2. The Pentagon

1400 Defense, Arlington, VA
Government Building · The Pentagon · 98 tips and reviews

3. Korean War Veterans Memorial

9.2
10 Daniel French Dr SW (at Independence Ave SW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 74 tips and reviews

C-SPANC-SPAN: 19 Statues: 14 Army, 2 Marines, 1 Navy, 1 Air Force. Each weighs~1,000 lbs. Reflected on the wall it creates the image of a total of 38 statues, symbolic of the 38th Parallel & 38 months of the war. Read more.

4. Vietnam Veterans Memorial

9.3
5 Henry Bacon Dr NW (at Constitution Ave NW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Northwest Washington · 91 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The memorial currently consists of three separate parts: the Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam Women's Memorial & the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, where over 58,000 names are engraved.

5. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

9.3
1850 W Basin Dr SW (at Independence Ave SW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 144 tips and reviews

ChevroletChevrolet: Visit the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial and help bring his vision to life: “With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.” Read more.

6. 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.

7. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

8.9
100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl SW, Washington, D.C.
History Museum · Southwest Washington · 256 tips and reviews

Ann Marie B.Ann Marie B: A must-see museum in the District. Prepare to be emotional throughout the exhibits. If you have a military/govt ID, you get an immediate pass. Tip: read everything & take in as much as you can.

8. Smithsonian American Art Museum

9.0
800 G St. NW (8th and F Streets, NW), Washington, D.C.
Art Museum · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 86 tips and reviews

Rachel U.Rachel Utsch: LOVE the "open" conservation labs and storage! An interesting side to museums that you rarely see. Don't leave without seeing this part of the museum on the third floor mezzanine and fourth floor.

9. 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

ConciergeQConciergeQ: What is your favorite indoor activity in Washington D.C.? The Fairmont Washington, D.C.: "The museums – newly renovated National Portrait Gallery." Read more.

10. United States National Arboretum

9.2
3501 New York Ave NE (at Hickey Ln NE), Washington, D.C.
Botanical Garden · National Arboretum · 60 tips and reviews

DC Preservation LeagueDC Preservation League: The national arboretum of the United States, is a major element of the city's park system. It is the noted work of landscape Federick Law Olmstead, Jr.

11. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

7.1
2401 S Smith Blvd (at George Washington Memorial Pkwy), Arlington, VA
Airport · 1523 tips and reviews

Presidential LibrariesPresidential Libraries: In 1998, DC's National Airport was renamed to honor the 40th President of the United States. The original idea came from Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform and the Ronald Reagan Legacy Project

12. Ford's Theatre

8.3
511 10th St NW (btwn F St NW & E St NW), Washington, D.C.
Theater · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 72 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: On the second floor of the Theater, you can see the boxseat where Abe Lincoln was sitting when he was killed. On the lower level the museum displays exhibits about Lincoln’s life and his tragic death.

13. Sir Winston Churchill Statue

7.7
British Embassy (on Massachusetts Ave NW), Washington, D.C.
Outdoor Sculpture · Woodley Park · 1 tip

C-SPANC-SPAN: William McVey sculpted this nine-foot statue of Winston Churchill. One bronze foot is planted on British soil and the other on American. Watch this video for more info. Read more.

14. Washington National Cathedral

9.1
3101 Wisconsin Ave NW (at Massachusetts Ave NW), Washington, D.C.
Church · Woodley Park · 80 tips and reviews

C-SPANC-SPAN: It took 83 years to construct the National Cathedral (began in 1907). It has 231 stained glass windows, 112 gargoyles & a Darth Vader sculpture in the west tower. Watch this video for more history. Read more.

15. US Department of the Treasury

1500 Pennsylvania Ave NW (at 15th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Government Building · Northwest Washington · 24 tips and reviews

C-SPANC-SPAN: The statue to the south of the Treasury Dept is of Alexander Hamilton, sculpted by James Earle Fraser and standing ten feet tall, it was unveiled in 1923. See more info in this C-SPAN YouTube video. Read more.

16. Thomas Jefferson Memorial

9.4
16 E Basin Dr SW (at Ohio Dr SW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 144 tips and reviews

C-SPANC-SPAN: Designed by John Russell Pope, the Memorial was built between 1939 and 1943. The bronze statue of Jefferson, added in 1947, is 19ft tall and weighs 10,000lbs.

17. National Museum of Crime & Punishment

575 7th St NW, Washington, D.C.
Museum · Penn Quarter · 58 tips and reviews

C-SPANC-SPAN: Opened in 2008, this museum includes a crime lab, simulated shooting range, high-speed police-chase, and the filming studios for America's Most Wanted. More in this C-SPAN segment shot at the museum. Read more.

18. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

445 12th St SW, Washington, D.C.
Government Building · NoMa · 1 tip

C-SPANC-SPAN: Watch a C-SPAN interview with FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell discussing recent efforts to reclassify certain broadband services. Read more.

19. George Washington's Mount Vernon

9.2
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy (at George Washington Memorial Pkwy), Mount Vernon, VA
Historic and Protected Site · 117 tips and reviews

C-SPANC-SPAN: Mount Vernon was home to George Washington for more than 45 years. Washington enlarged the residence and built up the property from 2,000 to nearly 8,000 acres. See video for more history. Read more.

20. National Geographic Museum

1145 17th St NW (at Sumner Row NW), Washington, D.C.
Museum · Connecticut Avenue - K Street · 49 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The National Geographic Society formed in 1888 for the advancement and diffusion of geographical knowledge. You'll find artifacts ranging from expeditions to temporary exhibits on the world's cultures

James A. Garfield Monument is one of D.C..

21. James A. Garfield Monument

7.3
83 Maryland Ave SW (1st St SW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 4 tips and reviews

M Squared Real EstateM Squared Real Estate: The statue's base is surrounded by three statues of a student, a warrior, and a statesman, representing his distinguished academic, military, and political careers.

Peace Monument is one of D.C..

22. Peace Monument

7.0
100 Pennsylvania Ave SW (First St NW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Northwest Washington · 5 tips and reviews

M Squared Real EstateM Squared Real Estate: Facing the Capitol is the statue of Peace, holding an olive branch, and surrounded by symbols of prosperity.

Robert A. Taft Memorial and Carrilon is one of D.C..

23. Robert A. Taft Memorial and Carrilon

6.9
1 Louisiana Avenue NW (New Jersey Avenue NW), Washington, D.C.
Sculpture Garden · Northwest Washington · 7 tips and reviews

M Squared Real EstateM Squared Real Estate: The bells ring every quarter-hour, although the best time to visit is undoubtedly the Fourth of July, when the bells ring to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner at 2PM.

24. National Museum of Health and Medicine

7.1
2500 Linden Ln (The Forest Glen Annex), Silver Spring, MD
History Museum · 15 tips and reviews

Tim C.Tim Clarke: The Museum is open daily 10a-5:30p even weekends and federal holidays (exc Dec 25). Parking available. 2nd and 4th Saturdays: free public tour at 1pm, no reservations required. Read more.

Ulysses S. Grant Memorial is one of D.C..

25. Ulysses S. Grant Memorial

8.8
1st St NW, Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 11 tips and reviews

M Squared Real EstateM Squared Real Estate: Grant's monument occupies the single most prominent location on the Capitol Grounds, directly over the reflecting pool.

Georgetown is one of D.C..

26. Georgetown

Washington, D.C.
Neighborhood · 96 tips and reviews

M Squared Real EstateM Squared Real Estate: Run the Exorcist stairs made famous in the 1973 horror classic. The stairs are located at Prospect St NW & M St. NW.

National Museum of Women in the Arts is one of D.C..

27. National Museum of Women in the Arts

8.6
1250 New York Ave NW (at 13th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Art Museum · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 29 tips and reviews

M Squared Real EstateM Squared Real Estate: This is a hidden gem in DC at the corner of New York Ave. and 13th St. The art work, all by women, is magnificent, covering a wide range of art from different eras.

Newseum is one of D.C..

28. Newseum

555 Pennsylvania Ave NW (at 6th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Museum · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 307 tips and reviews

M Squared Real EstateM Squared Real Estate: One of the top destinations in DC. Plan on spending the day, if you get tired, here are numerous small theaters showing films where you can rest your weary feet.