Best things to do in Washington DC

Relax by the water and see some of America's proudest monuments at Tidal Basin. This man-made inlet was created in the 19th century as a means to control the high tides of the Potomac River. Today, along the banks you can visit some of Washington D.C.’s famous memorials honoring historic figures, including Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The scenic basin, with approximately 3,750 cherry trees in its vicinity, is also noted as the venue for the National Cherry Blossom Festival at the start of spring each year. If you'd like to do your sightseeing from the water, you can rent a paddle boat. The basin is also a great spot to take an aimless stroll or have a picnic. From the area, you have easy access to the National Mall and its many sites.

Housing the largest collection of air and spacecraft in the world, National Air and Space Museum features the Apollo 11 command module and the Wright Brothers' biplane that launched the age of aviation in 1903. View IMAX films, try a flight simulator, visit the planetarium, or just explore hundreds of air and spacecraft, plus thousands of smaller objects--including several spacesuits worn on the moon and a real lunar rock. The museum is a haven for fans of the history and science of aviation, spaceflight, geology, and geophysics. Check online or at the entrance for IMAX movie times, daily tours, and educational activities.

Renowned as one of the world's greatest museums, National Gallery of Art holds a collection of paintings, prints, drawings, medals, photographs, sculptures, and decorative arts from the Middle Ages to the present. The museum's campus includes the original neoclassical west building designed by architect John Russell Pope, the modern east building designed by I.M. Pei, and a sprawling sculpture garden. Don't miss the two major highlights of the museum's collection: the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Americas and the largest mobile ever created by American sculptor Alexander Calder. For the sake of expediency, consider exploring the staggering collection of over 100,000 artworks on a guided tour of the galleries.

Discover the many wonders of the natural world at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the most-visited museum in North America. View the vast collection of more than 126 million plants, animals, minerals, and human cultural artifacts, which are spread throughout dozens of interactive and themed exhibits. Learn more about our beginnings in the Hall of Human Origins. Get up close to a life-size Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton at the Hall of Dinosaurs, where you can interact with your favorite prehistoric creatures in the simulated Walking with Dinosaurs experience. See the most famous diamond in the world, the Hope Diamond, in the Hall of Minerals. Admission is free year-round.

Honor the thousands of Americans who served during the Vietnam War at Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Adjacent to the National Mall in Constitution Gardens, the memorial consists of two giant stone walls, stretching almost 76 m (250 ft) long, engraved with the names of more than 58,000 fallen U.S. soldiers. Despite its simplicity, the awe-inducing monument makes a powerful statement. The Women's Memorial statue, depicting two nurses treating a fallen soldier, represents the importance of women in the Vietnam War. After your visit, make the short walk down to the Lincoln Memorial or past the reflecting pools to the Washington Monument.

Pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the Holocaust at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Adjacent to the National Mall, the museum serves as a memorial as well as a platform for documentation and study of that time. Travel through the exhibits chronologically, from the Nazi rise to power to the liberation. You can experience it all through a series of artifacts, photographs, and personal testimonies. Visit the Hall of Remembrance before you leave to light candles in memory of the victims. An exhibit called Remember the Children: Daniel's Story is designed for kids eight and older, and several other areas are suitable for young children as well as adults. However, children under 11 are discouraged from viewing the permanent exhibit due to the emotional and often horrifying subject matter.

Standing at a height of 170 m (555 ft), Washington Monument represents the world's tallest structure made entirely from stone. Constructed in two stages between 1848 and 1884 as a memorial to George Washington, the monument at the time of its completion briefly seized the crown as the tallest building in the world. See the view for yourself by taking the tower's elevator to the top, where you'll find a small museum and a sweeping panorama of Washington, D.C. To ensure that you get to see the interior, reserve tickets ahead of time online (for a fee), or pick them up in person for no cost at the monument's lodge nearby.

Take a trip to National Zoological Park, home to about 1,800 animals of 300 different species--including its famous giant pandas. The nation's zoo covers 66 hectares (163 acres) with habitats for lions, bald eagles, poisonous frogs, Asian elephants, meerkats, orangutans, pythons, sloth bears, and more. Volunteers in red shirts are on hand around the zoo for advice and information about the animals. If you get hungry, you can choose from several food outlets or bring your own picnic.

Parts of an iconic image of the capital city, Lincoln Memorial have been the site of some defining moments in American history. Overlooked by a marble Abraham Lincoln, the pool complements the monument's classic architecture, noted for its 36 fluted Doric columns. Martin Luther King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech here, and the site has since hosted dozens of other social and political events. The monument is open to the public 24 hours a day, so consider stopping by at different times to fully appreciate the building's architecture, the views across the 600 m (2,000 ft) long reflecting pool, and Lincoln's stony gaze.

A tribute to all American soldiers and civilians who served in World War II, National World War II Memorial consists of 56 granite pillars and a pair of small triumphal arches. The pillars stand in a semicircle around a large plaza featuring two walls, which picture scenes of the war in bas relief. Approach the memorial from the southern or the northern end to see soldiers undergoing physical exams, taking the oath, combating the enemy, and returning home. On the western side of the memorial you can also visit a wall featuring 4,048 stars, each representing 100 soldiers who died in the war, with the front of the panel displaying the words, "Here we mark the price of freedom."

Set at the convergence of Washington, D.C.'s four quadrants, United States Capitol serves as both a symbol of the U.S. government and the home to the U.S. Congress. The Neoclassical-style structure was constructed in several stages between 1793 and 1863; however, renovations and structural tweaks to support the weight of the massive, 88 m (289 ft) dome continued well into the 20th century. Walk in and look around--and up--the rotunda contains artwork, statues of presidents and important American figures, and an extensive fresco on the ceiling. You can learn more about the history of the U.S. Congress, Washington, D.C., and the building itself at the visitor center, which is spread over three floors set entirely underground. You'll need to book a tour well in advance (and a tour is the only way visitors can access much of the interior), as tour space is extremely limited.

Modeled on English medieval-style churches, Washington National Cathedral represents one of the largest cathedrals in the United States and the world. Originally begun in 1907 by President Theodore Roosevelt, the final piece was finally placed in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush, and accents and decorative work continued for even longer. Of particular note in the church is the organ, constructed of more than 8,000 pipes. Look for the grave of President Woodrow Wilson. Consult the cathedral's schedule if you'd like to attend an Episcopal religious service.

The Declaration of the Independence, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and 1297 Magna Carta confirmed by Edward I are all housed at The National Archives Museum. These documents, among other important historical documents regarding the U.S. government, are on display in the archives' main chamber, called the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom. Here, you will also find the Louisiana Purchase Treaty and Emancipation Proclamation. Due to popularity, you should expect to stand in (often long) lines to view each of the most important documents exhibited here.

The simple name is doesn’t match the power that comes with White House. This recognizable house serves as the home and workplace of the president of the United States. Originally completed in 1800, the building has housed every U.S. President. Its exterior showcases Neoclassical architectural style, including Greek columns and its signature white facade. The complex itself contains the presidential residence, the West and East Wings, and an executive office building. The Oval Office within the West Wing hosts many of the president's daily meetings and acts as the nerve center for the entire building. To tour the White House, you must arrange your visit through a Member of Congress. Tour reservations are extremely limited. Even if you can't go on a tour, be sure to walk by to see the exterior of this famous residence.

A neoclassical building designed by architect John Russell Pope, Jefferson Memorial features a 6 m (19 ft) bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson and well-known excerpts from his writings. Designed with Jefferson's private library in mind and completed in 1943, the memorial contains circular marble steps, a colonnade of Ionic columns, a shallow dome, and a portico. In addition to the famous bronze likeness of Jefferson, the memorial also contains a sculptural group depicting the founding father with other historical figures, including Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. The memorial is especially photogenic when the surrounding cherry trees blossom in a profusion of gentle pink.