Wondering which D.C. tourist attractions are worth the hype and which ones are worth skipping?
Washingtonians have shared their favorites and kindly offered up their wisdom on which ones are just a “tourist trap”.
While the season and your interests might heavily influence what D.C. tourist attractions, you’d find most fascinating, these are the recommendations of Washingtonians who know this city better than anyone else:
“Must-see” Washington, D.C. tourist attractions according to locals:
- The National Mall & Monuments at Night
- National Museum of African American History
- National Cathedral
- Martin Luther King Jr. Monument
- Kennedy Center Show
- Planet Word
- National Gallery of Art
- Sunset at the Lincoln Memorial
- National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
- US Botanical Gardens
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
- Great Falls
- Glenstone
- Library of Congress
- Monument tour at night
- Hillwood Estate and Gardens
- National Zoo
- Vietnam Memorial
- National Cryptographic Museum
- Mansion on O Street
- Old Post Office Lookout
- La Vie Restaurant
- Holocaust Museum
- Dumbarton Oaks Gardens during wisteria season
- Japanese Lantern Sculpture at the Tidal Basin
Washingtonians say to “Skip” these Washington, D.C. tourist attractions:
- Georgetown
- Washington Nationals and Washington Commanders
- National Mall during the day
- Jefferson Memorial
- Museum of Natural History
- Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
- Washington Monument Lookout
- Tidal Basin Boats
- July 4th at National Mall
A few contenders had mixed reviews. Unsurprisingly, some Washingtonians said riding the Metro is a quintessential D.C. experience, while others warned to avoid it like the plague!
The National Portrait Gallery also had a mix of reviews in addition to the National Air and Space Museum and Spy Museum.