History · Washington, D.C. · United States
8 historic sites to see in Washington, D.C.
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 4.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Start with National Mall, Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 15–20 hours across 2 areas; 8 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 8
- Time to see them all
- 15–20 hours
- Areas
- National Mall and Capitol Hill
Historic sites in Washington, D.C.
.jpg){kind=link}
Park · National Mall
1.National Mall
Walking its length past the World War II Memorial and the Reflecting Pool is the best introduction to the city, and the lawns are where Washington gathers for concerts, festivals and the Fourth of July.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Outdoors
- History
- Kids
Landmark · National Mall
2.Lincoln Memorial
An inscription on the steps marks where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his 'I Have a Dream' speech in 1963, overlooking the Reflecting Pool.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- After dark
- Views
Landmark · National Mall
3.Washington Monument
A lift takes visitors to an observation level about 152 metres up, with views over the Mall, the White House and across the Potomac to Arlington.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Kids
Architecture · Capitol Hill
4.United States Capitol
Free guided tours visit the Crypt, the Rotunda with its painted canopy, The Apotheosis of Washington, and National Statuary Hall, where each state is represented by statues of notable figures.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · National Mall
5.National Museum of African American History and Culture
Objects include Emmett Till's casket, a segregated railway car and Chuck Berry's red Cadillac; the upper floors cover music, sport and culture.
- Time needed
- 4–5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Architecture · Capitol Hill
6.Library of Congress (Jefferson Building)
Entry is free.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · National Mall
7.National Museum of American History
The Smithsonian's museum of American life displays the original Star-Spangled Banner that flew over Fort McHenry in 1814, Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, Julia Child's kitchen and a section of the Greensboro lunch counter from the 1960 civil-rights sit-ins.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · National Mall
8.United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
It is intense and recommended for visitors aged 11 and over; a separate exhibition, Remember the Children: Daniel's Story, is aimed at younger visitors.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| National Mall | National Mall, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of American History and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum | Half a day + 45 minutes + 1 hour + 4–5 hours + 2–3 hours + 2–3 hours |
| Capitol Hill | United States Capitol and Library of Congress (Jefferson Building) | 1.5–2 hours + 1–1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 8 free. Book ahead for Washington Monument, United States Capitol, National Museum of African American History and Culture and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The longest visit is National Museum of African American History and Culture; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Washington Monument: Entry to the top is by timed ticket booked online, with a small service fee; tickets for spring and summer go quickly.
- United States Capitol: Reserve a free tour slot online in advance; same-day availability is limited in spring and summer.
- National Museum of African American History and Culture: Free timed-entry passes are often needed, especially at weekends and in spring; book online in advance.
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: Free timed passes are needed for the permanent exhibition in the busier spring and summer months; reserve online.
How to fit them into 6 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (National Mall): National Mall → Lincoln Memorial, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (National Mall): Washington Monument, at least 1 hour.
- Half-day 3 (National Mall): National Museum of African American History and Culture, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (National Mall): National Museum of American History, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 5 (National Mall and Capitol Hill): United States Holocaust Memorial Museum → United States Capitol, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 6 (Capitol Hill): Library of Congress (Jefferson Building), at least 1 hour.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 9°C (48°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Chilly and often damp, among the quietest months for the Mall and the museums.
- January: highs of 7°C (45°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold and grey with the occasional snowfall, but the museums are quiet and hotel rates are low outside inauguration years.
- September: highs of 27°C (81°F), about 8 rainy days, moderate crowds. Warm and less humid, with Congress back in session and conferences pushing up midweek hotel prices.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- National Mall and Penn Quarter — Museums, theatres and the Capital One Arena between the Mall and Chinatown
- Capitol Hill — Painted rowhouses, Eastern Market and the Library of Congress
- Foggy Bottom and West End — George Washington University, the State Department and quick walks to the Lincoln Memorial
More of Washington, D.C.
All things to do in Washington, D.C. · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Washington, D.C.?
National Mall. The Mall runs about 3 km from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, lined by the Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery, with the Washington Monument at its centre.
+Which of these are free in Washington, D.C.?
National Mall, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, United States Capitol, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Library of Congress (Jefferson Building), National Museum of American History and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.