Museums in Washington DC
THE 10 BEST Washington DC Museums
Museums in Washington DC
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159 places sorted by traveler favorites
- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.
Speciality Museums
Admission tickets from $30
Speciality Museums • Historic Sites
Upper Northwest
Speciality Museums • History Museums
National Mall
Speciality Museums • Historic Sites
Upper Northwest
Historic Sites • History Museums
Upper Northwest
Architectural Buildings • Libraries
National Mall
Military Museums • Speciality Museums
Upper Northwest
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What travelers are saying
- Jose R12 contributionsThis museum is huge so you may need to stay at least 3 hours. We stayed only 1/2 hr as we were in a rush and it was our second time. The kids enjoyed that little bit we had though, especially the dinosaurs.Written March 17, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Jose R12 contributionsYou need free advanced tickets to get in. Make sure you get them at least a few days in advance. The museum is under renovation until 2026, so half of the museum is closed. You can see it in less than 2 hours, including the planetarium (which is not free, 4 people is $32). It’s nice and educational for the kids.Written March 17, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- D MCincinnati, OH33 contributionsTop notch art and experience. I sat in the gallery on a couch and sketched for an hour.
Clean bathrooms and secure. Beautiful sculptures and art.
Easily accessible on the national mall.Written February 29, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Boyd JMaleny, Australia1,688 contributionsThe United States Holocaust Memorial Museum requires a timed pass to get in and the security procedures similar to boarding an aircraft. The exhibits are laid out so that you take an elevator to the third floor. The lift is steel, has no buttons or signs and 15 people are crammed into the car. Half way up a short announcement begins about – I can’t remember what – as I was still taking in how the elevator car ride is meant to represent in a minuscule way the journey of Jews in airless freight cars to a concentration camp. The door opens and the exhibits are unrelenting from there on, as they should be. The story then unfolds over three floors as you move through the exhibit and descend each floor. The special children’s exhibit tells the story of Daniel in a way that doesn’t shy away from what happened, yet in a sensitive way more suitable for children.
It is a confronting, sobering, yet compelling experience. Not to be missed out of all of the museums in Washington D.C.Written February 24, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - SongbirdSpirtWalkerAlbuquerque, NM71 contributionsThe National Museum of African-American History and Culture is a top of the line museum!
There are 4 floors to see. You can begin your experience on the bottom level where the story of a “stolen people” is told. You work your way up to the fabulous collections which highlight the contributions of African American people!!! These achievements hard earned achievements have really only had about 60 years to blossom through a degrading institution called “slavery.”
There is so much to see and feel and reflect upon. It took me 2 days and a second visit to begin to engage the brilliantly displayed exhibits!
There are references to: Jim Crow, Black Codes, Segregation, civil rights, education, industry, sports, music, and the people who persevered to help build the nation. There are references to the African American people who built the U.S. Capital and so much more!!!
The gift store has free information cards to take as well as books, dolls, statues, jewelry, clothing and wonderful Knick knacks for purchase.
You need to plan to have had a hearty breakfast, break for lunch and a dinner plan. Wear comfortable shoes as you will walk a great deal.
Reservations can be made online. The Smithsonian has formulated one of the finest museums in the nation.
This is a place to visit at least once in your lifetime!Written March 16, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - GreenMountainGirlsMontpelier, VT209 contributionsTake your time here! The presidential gallery is wonderful, and there are special exhibits which can be great so check them out also. The portrait gallery and American Art section are both in this building, be sure to see the American art, which includes landscapes, modern, etc.Written March 13, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Cassie S30 contributionsThe Ford theater was fantastic. It had a great museum. It showed the gun that killed Lincoln and one of the pillows he died on. The theater part of the tour is great. Although you can really get close to where he got shot. The rooming house was good. But they don't have the original bed he died in. Overall, it's pretty good.Written March 9, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Adamj7777London, UK97 contributionsInteresting displays (with most interpretation boards in both English and Spanish). A good range of topics on display in the galleries and some very interesting artefacts. Cafe was the most expensive (eye watering) of all those I have been to at the Smithsonian museums and options for vegetarians are really limited to the salad bar.Written March 1, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Erin H99 contributionsThis is one of the best kept secrets in Washington DC. I have heard that this Museum boasts the largest collection of Russian art outside of Russia. It is located within a house of the heiress Merryweather Post, the heris to cereal fortune. I think the story goes that she was married to a diplomat or something who was in Russia as was she during the revolution of 1917, and to preserve much of the art she bought it and brought it all to her home. The home is preserved just as it would have been in the 1950s when I believe she passed away. It is a stately mansion with a number of outhouses, a greenhouse, and amazing Gardens and even one of the best gift shops in DC. You can take a picnic lunch and eat on the ground or take a lunch from the on-site catering facility that has lovely food and a nice atmosphere in which to eat it. I went to the museum about a year ago with my toddler who was either a two or three year old. Let's just say that the house is not accessible so strollers cannot be brought in to the house / Museum. Of course she could walk all over the museum, but in order to preserve the mansion, they haven't really made any modifications to facilitate wheelchairs or strollers, and everything is pretty much out in the open. At the time I went, I had to close friend visiting from Britain, and he tried to hold my daughter on his shoulders the entire time we were in the mansion. This is a little stressful for us. So I think it's advisable not to take young kids to this Museum, which is unfortunate. I have to be able to bring my daughter and other visitors to the museum now that she's a little bit older. She loves the grounds, the restaurant, and of course the main attraction itself. You don't have to love Russia, but they used to and to a certain extent, still do produce some of the most amazing art and pottery in the world.Written February 9, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Jida NHouston, TX148 contributionsWe were excited to check out the museum. A well built museum with interesting exhibits.
We were disappointed in some of the exhibits that were one sided and did not show Israel’s occupation of Palestine for example. Quite frustrating with the exhibits of the Oklahoma bomber who was not classified as a terrorist but the terrorist word used for the terrorist that identified as Muslim only.
It’s a large museum and overwhelming we just wanted to get through at the end.
The interactive mission was under whelming. No activities or missions to accomplish. If you skipped it you aren’t missing anything.
Some of the interactive exhibits were interesting such as the interrogation activity.
Interesting to visit but a few exhibits need to show a more holistic view of the Israel and Palestinian topic.Written December 26, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Cassie S30 contributionsThis is amazing. But there are pros and cons.
Pros:
•Has the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the deed to the staute of liberty.
•It's great.
•It's free.
Cons:
•It's tiny, only has 2 open exhibits, (The rights exhibit and the Declaration of independence exhibit)
•It under construction (2 exhibits are closed)
•Seeing the Declaration of independence is like a buffet line.Written March 9, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Urban ExplorerToronto, Canada291 contributionsYes yes we know about the magnificent collection: A Van Gogh here, Renoir, El Greco, a Diebenkorn, one half of the Jacob Lawrence Migration series (the other half lives at MOMA) and much much more. Because in the old days people who made millions upon millions bought art…and eventually made it available to the rest of us as a museum. And it’s lucky for us they did because it’s a terrific memorable collection.
But what you shouldn’t miss is the cafe. I usually stay away from these museum cafes but the food was excellent and the coffee robust. Fairly reasonable considering it’s a museum (pricey but not absurd). The cup of squash soup was bursting with flavour, had a bit of kick, and came with a generous slab of rustic bread. Held us over until dinner.
Altogether worth visiting on every trip to DC.
The cafe too!Written February 21, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Nan P4 contributionsThis is a world class museum experience. Allow at least one day to view all of the exhibits, fascinating artifacts and interactive video displays. After visiting this museum, you’ll never think of the Bible the same way again.Written March 13, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- montanapescadoAlbuquerque, NM1,316 contributionsWhat's more boring than history?
The post office!
So this must be the most boring museum of all, right?
Not so fast.
This was a surprisingly interested museum with a good variety of displays. It is well laid out and continually engaging. It may not be the most essential from a historical or cultural perspective, but I believe still highly recommended.Written March 3, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Robert DBrooklyn, New York2,718 contributionsThe Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) are both housed in the old Patent Office building. In SAAM, there were many interesting exhibits, both permanent and temporary. The exhibits give a broad picture of American art from the colonial period until the 21st century.Written January 4, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Washington DC
- These are the best places for kid-friendly museums in Washington DC:
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- National Air and Space Museum
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- National Postal Museum
- Museum of the Bible
- These are the best places for couples seeking museums in Washington DC:
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- National Air and Space Museum
- Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
- National Gallery of Art
- National Portrait Gallery
- These are the best places for groups seeking museums in Washington DC:
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- National Air and Space Museum
- Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
- National Gallery of Art
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- These are the best places for budget-friendly museums in Washington DC:
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- National Air and Space Museum
- Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
- National Gallery of Art
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- These are the most romantic places for museums in Washington DC:See more romantic museums in Washington DC on Tripadvisor
- These are the best hidden gems for museums in Washington DC:
- Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
- Dumbarton Oaks
- The Phillips Collection
- National Postal Museum
- Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art