40+ FREE Things to do in Washington DC (Art, Museums, Parks & More!)

  GENERAL TRAVEL INFO FOR VISITORS TO THE USA

Visa: Travelers from countries that are members of the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) do not require a visa when visiting the USA. However, it is recommended to check up-to-date visa entry requirements before your visit regardless of what country you are coming from to avoid issues and concerns on the date of your travel.

Currency: The official currency in Washington DC is the U.S. dollar or American dollar ($, USD, US$). 
You can withdraw currency from ATMs using your local bank card or a designated travel card. If you are visiting from another country, be sure to check any fees and charges from your bank prior to using it and carry a second source of payment/cash in case your primary card gets ‘eaten’ by an ATM.

Language: English is the primary and most widely spoken language in the USA (although not the official one at the Federal level!) There are 350 other languages spoken, the main ones being Spanish, Chinese, French, and Vietnamese.

WiFi/Internet Access: Depending on your length of stay, you can either purchase a local sim card (in advance or on arrival) – to swap out with the one in your own phone to avoid roaming charges. OR, grab a pay as you go portable Wifi Devices which means you can keep your sim active and connect wirelessly. Just remember to turn off data roaming so you don’t incur any hefty charges.

Walk through the U.S. Capitol Building

Home of the United States Congress, this is the building that truly punctuates the city as the emblem of DC. The Capitol Building allows visitors to tour the space for free but tickets are granted daily on a first-come-first-served basis, so be prepared for an early morning start.

(And don’t worry if you are not a morning person, when standing on the steps of Capitol Hill preparing to enter one of the most important buildings in the USA, it will quickly become clear why this is one of the best free activities to do in Washington DC)

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Step Inside the Lincoln Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial is a national monument that honors America’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. It was designed by Henry Bacon and constructed between 1914-1922.

The memorial is located inside West Potomac Park, across from the Tidal Basin, at the opposite end of the National Mall to Capitol Hill. The site is accessible from either Independence Avenue or West Basin Drive.

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Gaze up at (or out from!) the Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is one of the most important and tallest landmarks in Washington DC. The monument was designed and constructed in 1848 and is 555 ft tall from base to the top and is surrounded by 50 American flags representing the 50 States.

If you’d like to go inside, be sure to obtain a timed ticket the day before your intended visit from here and enjoy a 70-second elevator ride that whisks you up (and back down) from the viewing platform 500 feet above the ground.

Entry is free, but tickets attract a $1 reservation fee – so while going up isn’t technically a free thing to do in Washington DC – is a bargain price for one of the most incredible views of the city (and one of the most impressive elevators in the world!)

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Visit the Jefferson Memorial

Dedicated to one of the nation’s founding fathers Thomas Jefferson, this beautiful white marble monument is located on its own peninsula right on the water.

Set away from the hustle and bustle of downtown and the National Mall, many visitors will be able to enjoy a calm and serene experience while exploring the grounds. Inside the monument itself, there is a large bronze statue of the monument’s namesake.

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Visit the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is a monument in Washington, D.C. to the American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., located just off the National Mall near the Washington Monument and west of the Reflecting Pool. Dedicated on October 16, 2011, it is America’s first memorial on an active national mall to honor an African-American man who was not the president or a general of the army.

The Memorial consists of a 30-foot (9 m) statue of Dr. King, whose likeness is almost identical to his image.

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Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial (FDR Memorial) was dedicated on May 2, 1997 and is one of the twenty-six presidential memorials in Washington DC. It is situated south of the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial and north of the Tidal Basin, near 17th Street NW in West Potomac Park.

The memorial honors Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose presidency ran from 1933 to 1945, for his dedication to democracy at home and abroad, establishing Social Security, providing relief for the American people during the Great Depression, advocating freedom from fear while leading America’s efforts to defeat Adolf Hitler’s Germany in World War II.

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Art, History & Culture related Free Things to do in DC

With iconic institutions such as the Smithsonian museums, the world’s largest library and the famous Kennedy Center, Washington DC truly packs a punch in terms of cultural discovery. This is far from an exhaustive list- so be sure to iron out your to-do list of museums in Washington DC before you arrive.

Check out the Smithsonian Museums

The Smithsonian Institution is an educational establishment that encompasses 17 museums and research centers throughout the city of Washington DC. Whether you’re interested in art, animals, culture, or history museums – you’ll be truly spoilt for choice.

Visit the Largest Library in the World

If you think of libraries as fusty old buildings full of dusty books – a visit to the Library of Congress may change your view. Its domed ceilings, frescoes, regal architecture, and marble columns make it a true sight to behold. You can pay a visit to uncover a specific exhibition or take the one-hour walking tour of the Jefferson Building and head to the 6^th floor of the James Madison Memorial Building for spectacular views over the city.

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Unveil History the National Archives

Fancy getting a proper glimpse at historic documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights? The National Archives building houses over three billion records and documents to uncover.

Examine them yourself or take a guided tour with an educated leader explaining the history and significance of the documents, their purpose, and how they are taken care of and maintained.

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Bureau of Engraving and Printing

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is one of the law enforcement divisions of the United States Department of the Treasury, created by an Act of Congress in 1862.

The Bureau has been around for over 150 years, designing, producing, and shipping currency to Federal Reserve Banks throughout the United States, and one of its main functions was to ensure that the US’s paper currency was (and is) secure and difficult to counterfeit.

Visitors are to take a guided tour to see how U.S paper currency is made on state-of-the-art printing presses – from behind a glass wall – overlooking production floor operations for both large and small notes.
*Editors note* Guided tours were suspended in 2020 due to the virus, and no date has been set for the recommencement as yet – but hopefully they will soon.

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War Memorials in Washington DC

The Nations Capital is (clearly) home to several important monuments and memorials, but the various War Memorials in DC are especially important. They are a testament to those who sought and served for not only the freedom of American’s but freedom for citizens around the world. They are free to visit and we encourage all visitors to DC to spare some time to pay their respects to the fallen (whether you agree with the wars themselves or not).

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was completed in 1982 and is the only national memorial dedicated to veterans who served in a war that took place after World War II.

The designer, Maya Lin, used a black granite wall and had 57,939 names inscribed on its surface. As of May 2021, there are 58,281 names on The Wall, each of whom gave their lives or remain missing as a result of the conflict.

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Arlington National Cemetery

Walking the grounds of Arlington Ceremony is considered by many to be close to a religious experience. The rolling green hills of this 624-acre compound are accented with white marble gravestones that mark the final resting place of more than 400,000 veterans and active-duty military members.

Tour the grounds and pay your respects at JFK’s gravesite before making your way over to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to watch the changing of the guards’ hourly ceremony.

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Korean War Veterans Memorial

The Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington DC is a physical reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served. It was built to serve as a tribute to the 5.7 million Americans that served in the Korean War, including those that are still alive today.

It was designed by Maya Lin, who also designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and consists of two walls with an area between them which is called “the valley.”

The north wall displays 58,000 names of people killed or missing during the war. The south wall displays 100 photographs of various soldiers and scenes from the war, which are organized into five sections: “ordinary soldier,” “soldier at war,” “soldier back home,” “civilian at home” and “civilian abroad.”

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World War II Memorial

The World War II Memorial was completed in 2004 and includes a combination of 56 columns (representing US states and territories) with 2 arches at either end, curving around an oval plaza with the Rainbow Pool and Fountain at its center.

Through stone architecture, bronze sculptures, reliefs, and the Wall of Stars the World War II Memorial recognizes the ways Americans served in the military and on the home front, honors those who fell and recognizes the victory that was achieved to restore freedom and end tyranny around the globe.

Located on the National Mall adjacent to the Washington Memorial, it is open 24 hours a day.

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United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

The effects of World War II stretched even to the farthest reaches of the world, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum does a fine job at remembering the war and those that were lost.

Discover just how World War II intertwines with American history in one of their 5 in-depth exhibits. View artifacts and films as you hear personal stories showcased in a unique way.

Visiting this internationally acclaimed museum offers an emotional and eye-opening experience that is not to be passed by. Timed tickets are required, and are free, but are subject to a $1 transaction fee when reserving them online.

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Wander through historic Georgetown

Spend some time uncovering the treasure trove of the Georgetown Historic District. It’s so significant it has been inscribed on the list of National Historic Landmarks (along with 75 other national historic sites and buildings in DC). 

Georgetown, which was originally a trading dock in the 1700s pre-dates the city of Washington DC. Its charming cobbled streets, boutiques, pubs and restaurants have an other-worldly vibe to the rest of the city, making it a great place to explore on foot.

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Enjoy the US National Arboretum

The US National Arboretum is a great place for anyone who loves plants because there are more than 4,000 species of plants, shrubs, and trees. And if you are the type of person that doesn’t know their petunias from their peonies (I have no green thumb in case you were wondering) you could join one of the free guided tours (but note that due to the virus-that-shall-not-be-named, are not running this time)

While you’re here be sure to check out the Arboretum’s popular National Bonsai & Penjing Museum (open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. most days), the Gotelli Conifer Collection and the Instagram-worthy National Capitol Columns.

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Go hiking on Theodore Roosevelt Island

Uncover the beautiful slice of woodland that is Theodore Roosevelt Island. Situated in the middle of the Potomac River, the 89-acre island which is accessible via a pedestrian bridge houses forest trails, wooden paved pathways through lush green marshland, and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot a few deer along the way.

Embark on a Free City Walking Tour

There are a number of great walking tours on offer in the city of Washington, many of which are free or at a ‘name your price’ donation (Please always donate – the guides often rely on these ‘tips’). Uncover the ghosts of the city on a night tour or discover the beauty and history of the city’s riverside areas. Check out Strawberry Tours or Free tours by foot for some great options.

If you feel awkward paying what you feel, or would prefer not to walk, or are simply short on time and want to see as much as possible, there are plenty of organized tours on a variety of different modes of transport including bus, trolley, bike, segway, boat etc.

Visit the National Zoo

Home to over 1,800 animals, this historic zoo is over 130 years old. The sprawling parkland which makes up part of the Smithsonian houses elephants, pandas, cheetahs, tigers and even bears, among many more, so you can get up close and personal with some of the world’s greatest creatures and critters for the day.

Entry is free (parking is paid) and all visitors require a ticket which can be reserved online before your visit via the main website (linked above).

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