Things To Do In Washington Dc

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1. The National Mall

The National Mall
4.5 /5

2 km
from city center
1 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The National Mall is home to a huge number of museums, monuments and memorials; along with some beautiful government buildings. This is the first place visitors usually catch-up with, and definitely the one you can't afford to miss.

2. Potomac River

Potomac River

2 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The Potomac River originates from two sources. The north branch originates at the Fairfax Stone in West Virginia, while the south branch originates in northern Virginia. It combines in West Virginia and eventually drains into Chesapeake Bay. The river is renowned for its diverse flora and fauna, while also providing water for almost 5 million people.

3. Capitol Hill and the White House

Capitol Hill and the White House
4.3 /5

3 km
from city center
3 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The Capitol Hill boasts of the most popular site in Washington DC- The United States Capitol building. It accomodates the judicial and legislative segments of the US government, and the staff which helps it work. The world-famous White House is where the US President resides, and you can visit this place for free!

4. Anacostia River

Anacostia River
3.7 /5

7 km
from city center
4 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The Anacostia River gets a name from history of being a settlement of the Anacostan Native Indians. Combining with the Northwest and Northeast branches, this river eventually drains into the Potomac.

5. Rock Creek

Rock Creek

5 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

One of the lesser known rivers of Washington DC, Rock Creek is a tributary of the Potomac River that eventually drains into Chesapeake Bay. This river flow through most parts of the Rock Creek Park, while also acting as a source for the man-made Lake Needwood, located north of Rock

6. Renwick Gallery

Renwick Gallery

2 km
from city center
6 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

A branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Renwick Gallery is home to Contemporary arts and crafts of American origin.

7. Oxon Creek

Oxon Creek

17 km
from city center
7 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Oxon Creek is a creek that lies within the Oxon Creek National Park. Also known as Winkle Doodle Run, it starts within the DC region before flowing into the Potomac in Maryland. This creek flows under the Anacostia Freeway and the Oxon Hill Farm Trail bridges, with the former lying along the Interstate 295.

8. Piney Branch

Piney Branch

8 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

One of the smallest rivers of Washington DC, the Piney Branch is amongst the few tributaries of Rock Creek that lies entirely within the limits of Washington DC. The valley formed by the creek led to the first road through the modern day Rock Creek Park area. The most iconic landmark along this river is the 16th Street Bridge, built in the early 20th century.

9. Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
3.9 /5

103 km
from city center
9 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was completed by 1850, providing a crucial water route for coal to be transported from the mountains to the DC area. After ceasing operation in 1924, President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered the construction of a national park in 1961 to protect its remains.

10. Tiber Creek

Tiber Creek
3.6 /5

10 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Tiber Creek was formerly a free flowing tributary of the Potomac River, that was formerly named Goose Creek. The mouth of the creek is where the Lockkeeper’s House, one of the oldest buildings in the National Mall, now lies. Nowadays, a major part of the Tiber Creek flows under the streets of Washington DC, including under Constitution Avenue.

11. Washington Monument

Washington Monument
4.3 /5

2 km
from city center
11 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The tallest obelisk in the world, it is impossible to miss the towering Washington Monument if you’re visiting the DC area. Standing tall at 555 ft, the monument honors the legacy of George Washington and his contribution to the American nation.

12. Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial
4.5 /5

2 km
from city center
12 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most visited memorials of Washington DC. Designed like a neoclassical temple, it pays tribute to the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the US, who is credited with abolishing slavery and moderinixing the US economy.

13. Jefferson Memorial

Jefferson Memorial
3.9 /5

3 km
from city center
13 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The Jefferson Memorial honors Thomas Jefferson,one of the Founding Fathers of America and the author of the United States Declaration of Independence.

14. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
4.1 /5

2 km
from city center
14 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The Martin Luther King Memorial honors the leader of the Civil Rights Movement. The statue of King is known as the “Stone of Hope”, taken from a line in his famous “I Have A Dream” speech. It is one of the few non-presidential memorials and the first African-American to be honored within or near the National Mall.

15. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

3 km
from city center
15 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial honors the legacy of the 32nd President of the US, who oversaw the American effort during World War II. This monument of Washington DC is amongst the pioneers to giving access to disabled people with various needs.

16. Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

2 km
from city center
16 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors the sacrifice of the men and women who served during the Vietnam War. Located in Constitution Garden, the memorial comprises primarily a memorial wall, the Three Soldiers statue and the Vietnam Women’s Memorial.

17. National World War II Memorial

National World War II Memorial
4.1 /5

2 km
from city center
17 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The National World War II Memorial honors the soldiers who fought during the second World War. It also remembers the contributions of the civilians who aided the war effort. The memorial consists of 56 columns, standing for the 48 states and various territories under the US at the time of the war. The columns are flanked by two triumphal arches. These structures surround a square and fountain that can be accessed by the public.

18. Korean War Veterans Memorial

Korean War Veterans Memorial
4.1 /5

2 km
from city center
18 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The Korean War Veterans Memorial honors the soldiers who fought during the Korean War of the 1950’s. The main components of the memorial include a mural wall, the column, a United Nations wall and a Pool of Remembrance. The design of the Mural Wall consists of two granite walls intersecting a circle at the end. It contains around 2500 images of the American service personnel photographed during the war, with these images being sandblasted into the granite.

19. Titanic Memorial

Titanic Memorial
3.9 /5

4 km
from city center
19 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The Titanic Memorial was opened in 1931 to honor the victims of the Titanic tragedy that saw as many 1,500 people lose their lives. The memorial especially honors those who sacrificed their lives to save others. The statue was erected by the Women’s Titanic Memorial Association.

20. Peace Monument

Peace Monument
4.2 /5

3 km
from city center
20 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The 44ft high white marble Peace Monument stands tall on the grounds of the United States Capitol. Also known as the Naval Monument or Civil War Sailors Monument, it was established between 1877 and 1878 to commemorate the lives lost at sea during the American Civil War.

21. Columbus Fountain

Columbus Fountain
3.5 /5

3 km
from city center
21 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Located in the centre of the Columbus Circle, the Columbus Fountain was built in 1912 as a tribute to Christopher Columbus, who discovered the Americas in the 15th century.

22. National Museum of Women in the Arts

National Museum of Women in the Arts
4.0 /5

22 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

"The only major museum in the world solely dedicated” to celebrate and honour the works of female artists, the National Museum of Women in the Art is a construction based on the architectural style of classical revival.

23. National Gallery of Art- Sculpture Garden

National Gallery of Art- Sculpture Garden
3.9 /5

7 km
from city center
23 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

A recent addition to the National Gallery of Art, the Sculpture Garden hosts around 21 modern and contemporary sculptures inside its 6.1 acres ground.

24. National Gallery of Art

National Gallery of Art

7 km
from city center
24 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Offering free admission to explore the plethora of arts that the world has to offer, the National Gallery of Art gives access to everyone who wishes to experience the beauty of “art, creativity and our shared humanity” through its vibrant collection.

25. Smithsonian American Art Museum

Smithsonian American Art Museum
Top Attraction 3.8 /5

1 km
from city center
25 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Hosting the largest collection of American Art in the entire world, Smithsonian American Art Museum popularly known as SAAM promises its visitors an encounter with artworks that goes back to the pre-Colonial era.

26. The Phillips Collection

The Phillips Collection
3.9 /5

7 km
from city center
26 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Founded by Duncan Phillips in 1921, The Phillips Collection exhibits more than 3,000 artworks based on American and European impressionists and modernists.

27. The Hirshhorn Museum

The Hirshhorn Museum
3.9 /5

7 km
from city center
27 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Leading and iconic gallery housing collections from post-war Europe and American art, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden focuses on digital and technological arts and performances.

28. Freer Gallery of Art

Freer Gallery of Art
3.7 /5

2 km
from city center
28 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, the permanent collection at the Freer Gallery of Art focuses on Asian Art.

29. National Museum of African Art

National Museum of African Art
4.1 /5

29 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Another Smithsonian gem, the National Museum of African Art is an art gallery in Washington DC exhibiting more than 9,000 Contemporary as well as traditional African art.

30. National Portrait Gallery

National Portrait Gallery
4.3 /5

7 km
from city center
30 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

A historic and unique art gallery in Washington DC, the National Portrait Gallery is also a part of the Smithsonian Institution.

31. Kreeger Museum

Kreeger Museum
3.5 /5

2 km
from city center
31 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

A modern and contemporary art gallery in Washington DC, the Kreeger Museum displays collections majorly drawn from the genre of Modernist, impressionist and Expressionist school of arts.

32. Culture House

Culture House

7 km
from city center
32 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

An art centre hosting community arts and cultural exhibitions inside its Victorian and Romanesque church architecture, Culture Centre is not a typical art gallery with varied collections. It can rather be categorised as a piece of public art after its makeover by a muralist.

33. Connersmith

Connersmith
4.3 /5

2 km
from city center
33 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Founded in 1999 this art gallery in Washington was formerly known as the Conner Contemporary Art. Currently called Connersmith, the museum is famous for its collection of contemporary art and post-war paintings.

34. Fenwick Island Beach

Fenwick Island Beach

34 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

A family-oriented beach town offering a relaxing atmosphere and lots of amenities, Fenwick Island is located between Rehoboth and Ocean City. This barrier island is a great spot for you to engage in fun and adventurous water activities like swimming, crabbing and kayaking.

35. Dewey Beach

Dewey Beach

35 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Popular for the musical Wednesday bonfires and Monday night movies, Dewey Beach is located just down the road of Rehoboth Beach. It remains a unique destination that offers a gorgeous ocean view on one side of the street and a beautiful bay on the other.

36. Washington DC

Washington DC

0 km
from city center
36 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The national capital of the United States, Washington DC is one of the most renowned cities across the globe. The city is named after President George Washington, who ordered the famed architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant to design the layout of the city in 1791

37. Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria, Virginia

11 km
from city center
37 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Located in Virginia just 7 miles south of Downtown DC, Alexandria is the perfect blend of natural beauty and historic buildings. The city holds an important place in the early history of the United States, and maintains a large part of this history in the city center, popularly known as Old Town. Here, one can walk on cobblestone pavements, while walking past houses that have existed for centuries, each with their own unique story.

38. East Potomac Golf Course

East Potomac Golf Course

38 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Recognized by Audubon International for its environmentally friendly maintenance practices, East Potomac is awarded as one of Golf Digest’s Best Places to Play in 2008. It is a full-service golf facility offering affordable and accessible recreational opportunities to local residents and tourists. It has 36 Holes of Golf, 3-Hole Practice Courses, Potomac Grille, Heated/Covered Driving Range and 15,000 sq. ft. Putting Area along with Capital City Golf School and Miniature Golf. It is open throughout the year.

39. Langston Golf Course and Driving Range

Langston Golf Course and Driving Range

6 km
from city center
39 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Langston golf course and driving range is a hilly 18-hole course stretched for almost 6300 yards (5800 m) par 72. Considered one of the best public owned courses in the district, it is the only golf course in the city with water hazards. Containing two 500+ yard par-5s, the course can be played in 9 or 18 holes. Also it offers a 30+ stall driving range with its own parking entrance.

40. Pinecrest Golf Course

Pinecrest Golf Course

40 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Pinecrest Golf Course is a 9-Hole Golf Course 18-Hole FootGolf Course with Indoor Practice Facility along with 10-Station Outdoor Nets. It has a Golf Academy with full lesson offerings. It has a recently renovated clubhouse offering a full-service restaurant and an upper lounge overlooking the 18th hole. This place is perfect for groups up to about 60 people and can be a great spot to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, small business meetings and family functions etc.

41. Rock Creek Golf Course

Rock Creek Golf Course

7 km
from city center
41 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Compatible for all levels of golfers, Rock Creek Golf Course is a 18-hole course, putting area, GolfDC Academy, pro shop, & snack bar, all at one place. Open throughout the year, it features 2,284 yards of golf from the longest tees for par of 32. Honours Golf manages this facility where Lester Perrin is the General Manager.

42. Sligo Creek Golf Course

Sligo Creek Golf Course

13 km
from city center
42 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The oldest 9-hole course in the county within the Montgomery County Parks system, Sligo Creek Golf Course is said to be one of the most challenging 9-hole courses. Built on hilly terrain, it is designed into a park-like setting golf course. It also features a clubhouse, a pro shop and full service snack bar for the golfers.

43. Falls Road Golf Course

Falls Road Golf Course

20 km
from city center
43 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Falls Road Golf Course was the first MCG golf course started ever. It is a public golf course located in Potomac, MD on 150 acres of former. It has a scenic rolling terrain offering a fun round of golf. Accompanied by 4 sets of tees, generous fairways and large greens all around, this particular golf course is compatible to all- beginners, juniors, women and senior golfers.

44. Henson Creek Golf Course

Henson Creek Golf Course

14 km
from city center
44 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Henson Creek Golf Course is a 9-hole, par-33 public course stretching over 53 acres of rolling hills and tree-lined fairways. It features 2,444 yards of golf and has a rating of 62.2 apart from a slope rating of 108 on Bermuda grass.

45. University of Maryland Golf Course

University of Maryland Golf Course

12 km
from city center
45 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

University of Maryland Golf Course is a public 18-Hole Golf Facility with Driving Range, Short Game Practice Area and a Restaurant.

46. Paint Branch Golf Course

Paint Branch Golf Course

14 km
from city center
46 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Paint Branch Golf Course is a 9-hole course, par 33 offering a Practice center, a Clubhouse/Pro Shop, a Driving Range and a Short Game Area. Open throughout the year with certified instructors, it is a great place to sharpen the skills while having fun.

47. Jefferson District Park

Jefferson District Park

47 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

Jefferson District Golf Course is a 9-hole executive course which is very beautifully landscaped. With a gently rolling playing surface (with four ponds), it is ideal for golfers who prefer walking. The course offers a very challenging round of golf and has a par five and sometimes certain par fours.

48. Tropicalia

Tropicalia

2 km
from city center
48 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

An artistic underground nightclub in Washington DC embellished with quirky graffiti, murals and other wall art, Tropicalia has become quite a popular brand among the crowd seeking fun nightlife.

49. Café Citron

Café Citron

0 km
from city center
49 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

The star of Dupont Circle, Café Citron becomes home to Latin pop, salsa and reggae tunes after 10:00 PM and before that, it plays the role of a Latin American restaurant serving an assortment of dishes from Bolivia, Peru, and Mexico. Its colourful décor and a happening ambience make up the hype that it has gathered in all its glory years. The three levels inside this fun architecture are embellished with the varied sizes of mirrors which in turn compliments the blue and yellow colour palette of the club. There is a neon sign that says “meet your soul mate” that becomes a beautiful and desired photo space for the patrons. The club also hosts free salsa lessons from Wednesday to Saturday at night. So, pick up your shoes and get dressed to visit this unique place offering to refill you on your Vitamin Citron intake.

50. Heist

Heist

2 km
from city center
50 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

A hidden underground space embellished with black leather seats and shiny tones of gold Heist is an intimate nightclub in Washington DC. Serving the best of classy champagnes and cocktails to the crowd, the club “gives a nod” to the thieves of the world.

51. Soundcheck

Soundcheck

2 km
from city center
51 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

A very popular music venue embellished with honeycomb-tiling, Soundcheck has hosted many renowned DJs and other artists like Martin Garrix, Tiesto, Zedd, and Steve Aoki. It has established itself in the lists for the best nightclubs in Washington DC courtesy of its ability to host EDM parties, Salsa nights, trance music, and hip-hop nights alike. With a minimalist stage and soundproofed walls and ceiling, the club sets out to offer the best dance experience in the US capital.

52. SAX

SAX

2 km
from city center
52 out of 102
Things To Do in Washington

An extravagant nightclub that plays the role of an elegant restaurant before 11:30 PM, SAX has developed into a trustworthy and classic presence in most of the lists of nightclubs in Washington. The club houses an iconic enclosed stage over the bar which has hosted a multitude of artists over the years since its establishment. It has been home to many cabaret artists, ballet dancers, acrobat pole dancers and even jazz groups.

FAQs on Washington

How can I commute within Washington dc?

Metro rail is the most efficient way to get around Washington DC. Some other public transport options include metro buses and cabs. Driving in DC is a bad idea.
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What are the top activities in Washington dc?

The top activities in Washington dc are Go Washington DC Card - Explorer Pass, Washington DC Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tours (Open-Top), Washington DC National Mall Segway Tour, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum Ticket in Washington DC, US Capitol Building and Capitol Hill Walking Tour, DC Deluxe Half Day Tour with Reserved US Capitol Entry.

What are the top hotels in Washington dc?

There are 622 Hotels in Washington dc which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Washington dc are Federal Rowhouse - Union Station, 238 Northeast Townhome #1063 Townhouse, DC Retreat in Dupont with roof deck, Garon & Diane's Place, Apt ideally situated in DC walk to metro, Dupont, Logan, & monuments!, Charming 2BD in Hip Neighborhood - 3 Blks to Metro. You can see all the hotels in Washington dc here
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