Top Ten Washington DC
The top ten attractions in Washington, D.C. offer a spectacular blend of world-class museums, historic monuments, and beautiful public parks.
The best part of exploring the nation’s capital is that most of these major landmarks are completely free to visit, though some require booking timed-entry passes in advance.
1. National Mall, Washington, DC: This iconic 2-mile landscaped park serves as the anchor for the city’s most famous monuments and museums. It is open 24/7, making it perfect for crowd-free night strolls when the monuments are beautifully lit.Besides the memorials to America’s most famous Presidents Lincoln and Washington there are moving memorials to Martin Luther King, Franklin Delano Roosevelt , and the Vietnam, Korean and Secind Wold Wars.
2. Lincoln Memorial: A grand, Parthenon-inspired tribute featuring the famous 19-foot marble statue of Abraham Lincoln. Climb the 87 steps for an incredible sweeping view over the Reflecting Pool toward the Washington Monument.
3. United States Capitol: The historic, domed home of the U.S. Congress offers impressive guided tours of the Crypt, Rotunda, and National Statuary Hall.
4. The White House: The official residence and workplace of the U.S. President. While interior tours require early booking through a Member of Congress, the exterior north lawn view from Pennsylvania Avenue provides excellent photo opportunities.
5. Washington Monument: This massive 555-foot stone obelisk dominates the city’s skyline. An elevator ride takes visitors to an observation deck at the very top for unmatched panoramic views.
6. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: The most visited natural history museum in the world houses over 148 million specimens. Must-see exhibits include the 45-carat Hope Diamond and the massive ‘Deep Time’ dinosaur fossil hall.
7. Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum: A treasure trove for aviation enthusiasts featuring the original Wright brothers’ plane, Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit, and the Apollo 11 command module.
8. National Gallery of Art: This world-renowned museum features classical European masterpieces, an outdoor sculpture garden, and the only Leonardo da Vinci painting on public display in the Americas .
9. Georgetown: A historic neighborhood famed for its charming 18th-century architecture, cobblestone streets, and the scenic Georgetown Waterfront Park. It is the premier spot in the city for boutique shopping and upscale waterfront dining.
10. Arlington Cemetery: A massive cemetery of be containing the remains war dead and the famous including President John F Kennedy. Arlington National Cemetery spans nearly 700 acres, snd serves as the final resting place for more than 400,000 active-duty service members, veterans, and their families.
Historic sites in the cemetery include:
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: A historic monument dedicated to unidentified fallen service members. It has been guarded continuously 24 hours a day since 1937, with the public able to witness the precise Changing of the Guard ceremony.
President John F. Kennedy Gravesite: One of the most visited locations in the cemetery, marked by the Eternal Flame and the nearby burials of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Robert F. Kennedy.
Arlington House: The historic 19th-century mansion of Robert E. Lee and his family, sitting atop a hill that offers panoramic views of the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol.
Destination: Washington DC
