Looking for the best things to do in Arlington? Just across the Potomac from Washington, Arlington pairs solemn national landmarks with a lively, walkable urban scene. Locals point to Arlington National Cemetery, the Marine Corps (Iwo Jima) Memorial, the dining and nightlife of the Clarendon-Ballston corridor, and Potomac views.
Things to do in Arlington
Arlington National Cemetery
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and its Changing of the Guard, President Kennedy’s grave and eternal flame, and sweeping views back toward DC.
Memorials & Views
The U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima), the Air Force Memorial, and the skyline-and-monument views from Rosslyn.
Clarendon & Ballston
Arlington’s walkable, Metro-linked corridor — restaurants, bars, shops and nightlife in Clarendon, Courthouse and Ballston.
Along the Potomac
Theodore Roosevelt Island, the Mount Vernon Trail, Gravelly Point (planespotting by the airport), and Long Bridge Park.
Things to do in Arlington at night
Clarendon leads for bars and dining, with Ballston and Pentagon City close behind — a lively, young-professional nightlife scene, and all of DC one Metro stop away.
Free things to do in Arlington
- Arlington National Cemetery and the memorials
- Theodore Roosevelt Island and the Mount Vernon Trail
- Planespotting at Gravelly Point
What Arlington locals actually recommend
The best Clarendon spots, quiet trail corners, the timing for the Changing of the Guard — that comes from people who live here. On Neighborhood Nurturers’ Arlington community, real neighbors answer “what should I actually do this weekend?” Join your Arlington neighbors free →
Frequently asked questions
What are the top things to do in Arlington, VA?
Visit Arlington National Cemetery and the Changing of the Guard, see the Marine Corps (Iwo Jima) Memorial, enjoy the dining and nightlife of the Clarendon-Ballston corridor, and walk Theodore Roosevelt Island and the Mount Vernon Trail.
What is Arlington, Virginia known for?
Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon, its national memorials, and the walkable, Metro-linked Rosslyn-Ballston corridor just across the Potomac from DC.
What are free things to do in Arlington?
Arlington National Cemetery and the memorials, Theodore Roosevelt Island and the Mount Vernon Trail, and planespotting at Gravelly Point are all free.
Is Arlington worth visiting near DC?
Yes — for Arlington National Cemetery, the memorials, and the lively Clarendon scene, all a quick Metro ride across the river from Washington.