Looking for the best things to do in Washington DC? Locals point visitors to the National Mall — the monuments and the free Smithsonian museums — plus the US Capitol, the Tidal Basin, and Georgetown. The headline: an unusual share of DC is completely free. Here’s how Washingtonians actually spend their time, by area, by night, by budget, and by who you’re with.
Things to do in Washington DC, by area
The National Mall
The heart of it: the Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, MLK and WWII memorials, and the free Smithsonians — Air & Space, Natural History, American History, and the National Gallery of Art.
Capitol Hill
The US Capitol, the stunning Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, and Eastern Market on weekends.
Georgetown
Historic cobblestones, the waterfront, the C&O Canal towpath, and shopping along M Street and Wisconsin Avenue.
U Street & 14th Street
DC’s nightlife and dining spine — music history, Ben’s Chili Bowl, and blocks of bars and restaurants.
The Wharf & Navy Yard
The revitalized Southwest waterfront for dining, boat rides and riverside walks.
Things to do in Washington DC at night
U Street and 14th Street, Adams Morgan, The Wharf, and Navy Yard. Don’t miss the monuments lit up after dark — a free, quintessential DC night.
Indoor & rainy-day things to do in Washington DC
The free Smithsonians make DC unbeatable in bad weather: Air & Space, Natural History, American History, and the National Gallery of Art.
Free things to do in Washington DC
- Every Smithsonian museum and the National Gallery of Art
- The monuments and memorials
- The National Zoo
- The Tidal Basin (cherry blossoms in spring)
- The Georgetown waterfront and C&O Canal
Things to do in Washington DC for couples
The monuments at night, a Tidal Basin walk in spring, the Georgetown waterfront, dinner on 14th Street or at The Wharf, and the free Kennedy Center rooftop.
Things to do in Washington DC with kids
Family wins, all free: the Air & Space Museum, the dinosaurs at Natural History, the National Zoo, and the hands-on exhibits at American History.
What Washington DC locals actually recommend
Which museums to prioritize, where to eat beyond the Mall, the best time for the Tidal Basin — that comes from people who live here. On Neighborhood Nurturers’ Washington DC community, real DC neighbors answer “what should I actually do this weekend?” Join your DC neighbors free →
Frequently asked questions
What are the top things to do in Washington DC?
Locals send visitors to the National Mall for the monuments and the free Smithsonian museums (Air & Space, Natural History, American History and the National Gallery of Art), the US Capitol and Library of Congress, the Tidal Basin, and Georgetown’s waterfront. The best part: most of it is free.
What is there to do in Washington DC at night?
DC nights center on U Street and 14th Street (bars, music, Ben’s Chili Bowl), Adams Morgan, The Wharf on the waterfront, and Navy Yard. The monuments are especially striking lit up after dark.
What can you do in Washington DC when it rains?
This is DC’s superpower: the free Smithsonian museums. Spend a rainy day in Air & Space, Natural History, American History, or the National Gallery of Art — you won’t run out.
What are free things to do in Washington DC?
An unusual amount: all of the Smithsonian museums, the National Gallery of Art, the monuments and memorials, the National Zoo, and the Tidal Basin (spectacular during cherry-blossom season) are free.
What are the best things to do in Washington DC for couples?
The monuments at night, a Tidal Basin walk (especially in spring), the Georgetown waterfront and C&O Canal, dinner on 14th Street or at The Wharf, and the Kennedy Center rooftop.
What are fun things to do in Washington DC with kids?
Family favorites: the Air & Space Museum, the Natural History Museum’s dinosaurs, the National Zoo, and the interactive exhibits at the American History Museum — all free.