Quick Summary:
- Washington, DC offers a wide variety of free or low-cost attractions open daily for visitors.
- 11 museums and sites throughout the city are open to the public for free as part of the Smithsonian Institution, including the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural History, and the National Zoo.
- All three branches of the United States government offer public tours of their respective historic buildings, with limited free-admission courtroom seating available to watch history in the making as Supreme Court cases are decided.
- Check out the National Cherry Blossom Festival in the spring.
- Updated with new information since originally published.
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- Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.
Summary & FAQ
The Smithsonian Institution
Arlington National Cemetery
The United States National Arboretum
White House Tours
The United States Botanic Garden
Meridian Hill Park
Rock Creek Park
The National Zoo
The National Archives Museum
The National Gallery of Art
The Supreme Court of the United States
The Shakespeare Theatre Company
The United States Capitol Building
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The Folger Shakespeare Library
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The Library of Congress
National Park Service Guided Tours
DC Farmers Markets
The National Cherry Blossom Festival
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