14 Best Things to Do in Washington, DC
There's the DC you see on C-SPAN footage and blaring cable news clips. Then there's DC that residents know, the livable city where you can spend a Saturday exploring indie boutiques, cool restaurants and breweries, and amazing concert venues. Your visit to America's capital city can include both sides of town, seeing awe-inspiring museums and memorials—or trying to find a presidential motorcade if you're a "West Wing" super fan. Next up, see a free concert at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, hear the birds chirp in one of The District's many parks (both wild and manicured), or even see the sights from the Potomac River on a water taxi. Need more ideas? Here's our list of the best things to do in Washington, DC, both on and off the beaten path.
Read our complete Washington, DC, destination guide here.
Every review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that activity. When choosing things to do, our editors consider landmarks and experiences that offer an insider’s view of a destination, keeping authenticity, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind. This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
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GettyactivityNational Museum of African American History and Culture
It’s hard to imagine improving upon the grandeur of the historic National Mall, miles of greenery surrounded by world-class monuments and museums. But in September 2016, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture did just that. This relatively new addition to an iconic landscape houses artifacts, photography, and other media that reflect African American culture and experiences. Here you’ll find Harriet Tubman’s personal hymnal and silk lace and linen shawl, a bill of a sale for a young enslaved girl, Louis Armstrong’s trumpet, photos capturing the participation of Black women during the Civil Rights Movement, and a collection of costumes from ‘The Wiz’. Given the scope and size of the space (85,000 square feet), this is best saved for a day when you have plenty of time to devote.
AlamyrestaurantBen’s Chili Bowl
$You can’t miss Ben’s Chili Bowl. The restaurant’s bright red and yellow facade on the U Street Corridor proudly broadcasts itself as a Washington landmark. The institution is best known for its chili dogs and half-smokes—half-beef, half-pork smoked sausage smothered in chili—and has presided over U Street since it opened in 1958. Much has changed in 60 years: U Street has become a hipster hotspot and Ben’s has expanded to five other locations, including one inside Washington Reagan National Airport and another at Nationals Park. Former President Obama has been known to dine at Ben’s; his likeness graces a mural on the side of the building. Prepare yourself for an animated, if not downright rowdy, crowd. By day, the restaurant is a popular tourist destination—everyone is here to try a half-smoke—and by night it’s a perfect late-night spot to recover from an evening at one of U Street’s many bars.
AlamyshopUnion Market
Washingtonians love spending their weekends at Union Market, in the industrial NoMa neighborhood, a sweeping space filled with local food vendors, restaurants, and shops. Union Market offers more than enough to meet anyone’s needs. Get fish and chips from The District Fishwife, eat Venezuelan at Arepa Zone, or go for Southern comfort food like étouffée from Puddin'. For a sit-down meal, try the Michelin-starred Masseria or St. Anselm, a perfect steakhouse from restaurateur Stephen Starr. For drinks, head up to Hi-Lawn, a rooftop bar and open-air eatery. Or hit mixologist Gina Chersevani's two outposts: the New York soda shop–inspired Buffalo & Bergen and carefree dive bar Last Call. And if you’re in the mood to explore Latin American culture, you’re in luck, thanks to the nearby 20,000-square-foot Latin market, La Cosecha.
Waldorf Astoria Washington DCactivityOld Post Office Tower
This massive Romanesque Revival building completed in 1899 is covered with arches and turrets. It's a formidable presence on Pennsylvania Avenue, nicknamed America's Main Street. The building is now the grand home of the Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C. (the tower entrance is at the back of the hotel next to Sushi Nakazawa). This is also DC's second tallest structure, according to the GSA, second only to the nation capital's most recognizable building: the Washington Monument. But the Old Post Office Tower is much lower-profile for the tourist hordes, which makes a visit here a cheat code for taking in a sweeping view of the Washington skyline. No tickets or reservations are needed for a trip to the 270-foot observation deck within the clock tower.
AlamyactivityPhillips Collection
In a town full of museum after-hours parties, the Phillips Collection's monthly "Phillips After 5" is one of the longest-running events of its kind and still hits it out of the park. For example, a party celebrating an exhibit with French post-Impressionist artist Pierre Bonnard partners up with the Embassy of France to bring in a live band, snacks like spring vegetable galettes with edible flowers, and a floral arranging workshop.
Courtesy Busboys & PoetsrestaurantBusboys & Poets
$$It’s hard not to be taken with Busboys and Poets, particularly if you have an affinity for cozying up with a compelling book and a steaming cup of coffee. Part restaurant, bookstore, and hub for driving social change, the establishment is eclectic and comfortable, outfitted with murals and art depicting activists and progressive movements. The crowd varies, based on time of day, event lineup, and what’s going on in the world when you visit. Weekend mornings can be lively, with folks tucking into a DC favorite brunch.
The Washington Post/GettyactivityThe Yards Park
If you're looking to hike and disappear into nature within the city limits, head to Rock Creek Park. But for an outdoor escape that combines showy landscape architecture with DC's peaceful Anacostia riverfront, check out the Yards Park. This very modern urban park is an anchor of the redeveloped Capitol Riverfront neighborhood, turning a former industrial space into a slice of greenery for residents and visitors to enjoy amidst the office towers—with amenities like a dog park and water features that little ones can splash around in during the summer. The futuristic Yards Park Bridge, a pedestrian bridge with striking, swirling steel supports that glows at night, tempts photographers to capture a unique angle. The bridge is located near the park's Canal Basin and Waterwall, a unique water feature where kids are invited to wade and play in the 11-inch deep water on hot days.
AlamyshopEastern Market
Open since 1873, Eastern Market is a National Historic Landmark and a beloved local institution. Long before farmers markets cropped up in every neighborhood across the city, Eastern Market was the go-to place for fresh produce, meat, cheese, and baked goods—and still is. One can easily spend an afternoon wandering the stalls, which are packed with fresh produce, cheeses, meats, poultry, and flowers, as well as items like shaved ice snowballs, canned pickles, and Filipino food. If you’re really hungry, sit down for a meal at Market Lunch, a 46-year-old institution famous for its blueberry-buckwheat pancakes. On weekends, local artists sell handmade wood carvings, letterpress prints, soaps, and the like. A community staple for more than 140 years, Eastern Market offers a fascinating look into local life DC—beyond the buzzy new restaurants and the politics.
Ron BluntactivityThe John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The John F. Kennedy Center is a sight to behold, inside and out. Set on the banks of the Potomac River—between the Watergate Hotel and the Lincoln Memorial—this performing arts center is stately and iconic; it's the true monument to J.F.K. Edward Durrell Stone designed the modern marvel, whose halls are decorated with plush red carpets, enormous crystal chandeliers, and a bevy of state flags; its rooftop restaurant is a favorite place for Washingtonians to watch the sunset with a cocktail or coffee. The National Symphony Orchestra and Washington National Opera both call The Kennedy Center home. In September 2019, the Kennedy Center doubled down on its commitment to the arts with the opening of The REACH. Filled with intimate performance spaces and lecture halls, the expansion aims to create deeper connections between performers and audiences.
GettyactivityNational Mall
Each year, millions of people come to see the monuments and memorials that dot the more than 1,000 acres of the National Mall, which is flanked at one end by the U.S. Capitol Building and at the other end by the Lincoln Memorial, where Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his famous “I Have a Dream" speech in 1963 (his own memorial is a half-mile away). At the center of the park, dubbed “America’s Front Yard," the Washington Monument honors the first U.S. president and the founding of American democracy. Though the National Mall stars in myriad movies and TV shows, it's far more awe-inspiring in real life. From the solemnity at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the stirring energy at the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial, you’ll find that each monument or memorial has its own atmosphere. In other words: Prepare to feel all the feels.
GettyactivityNationals Park
Nationals Park, home to the Washington Nationals, is one of the finest baseball stadiums in America; from the upper decks, you just might spy the top of the U.S. Capitol Building. While you’re cheering on the Nats, you can enjoy a burger from Shake Shack, brews from more than a dozen local breweries, or a half-smoke from Ben’s Chili Bowl, a local institution. Since it opened in 2008, the ballpark has become the glittering centerpiece of a revitalized Southeast Waterfront—so don't forget to check out the neighborhood while you're here.
Mady SierackishopShop Made in DC
Shop Made is stocked with the work of the best artisans and makers from across Washington, DC, including prints, photography, ceramics, jewelry, clothing, toys, kitchen goods, clothing, and food. The boutique bursts with local pride, making it a perfect way to get to know the city while wandering around Georgetown. It also hosts regular events—like pottery painting sessions and calligraphy workshops—so be sure to check the website before your visit. The shop has been so successful, there are now six other locations throughout DC.
GettyactivityRock Creek Park
Sprawling out across a whopping and wild 1,754 acres of public land, Rock Creek Park is one of the most awe-inspiring destinations in DC Officially authorized in 1890, it was the third national park to be designated by the federal government. It has something for everyone: a Nature Center for explorers; running, biking, and hiking trails for fitness enthusiasts; equestrian, golf, and tennis centers for sports lovers; and picnic spots, historic forts, a 19th-century gristmill, and concert venues for everyone else. While the verdant grounds are a peaceful escape from urban life, it also offers a planetarium—the only planetarium in the National Park Service, in fact—and the Smithsonian National Zoo. Both are free.
Sam JohnsonshopThe Spice Suite
This Takoma-area specialty shop is as eclectic, warm, and creative as its entrepreneurial founder, Angel Gregorio. Step in, and you might feel like you’re in the self-taught cook, mother, and activist’s own kitchen. At any given time, you’ll be able to select from more than 75 different food products and 23 kitchen accessories to outfit your own cooking space. The store is filled with glass jars whose labels read of interesting blends, including black cardamom, as well as red curry from Zanzibar.
Courtesy Black Broadway TouractivityAttucks Adams: “U Street: The Art & Soul of Black Broadway”
Tim Wright, the owner of Attucks Adams, is the host of this tour that dives into why U Street earned its nickname of Black Broadway, complete with a 40-song playlist you'll hear as you walk. It's an inside look at this vibrant neighborhood: the story begins back in 1867 with the founding of Howard University and covers up until the go-go music scene of today. The tour often spans small groups, and you'll definitely want to reserve a spot. Howard Theatre, the grand, circa-1910 building where jazz great Duke Ellington once played, is a fitting starting point. The overarching theme of the U Street tour hits home how Black people had to recreate the institutions they were locked out due to racism and segregation, be that musical institutions or legal institutions and beyond. Tour stops include the site of Washington Conservatory of Music and School of Expression, Ben's Chili Bowl, the site of the Waxie Maxie Record Store, and the section of the neighborhood known as Little Ethiopia.
Potomac Water TaxiactivityPotomac Water Taxi
Why get stuck in gridlock or Metro delays when you could glide serenely along DC's Potomac River to your next vacation stop, with gorgeous views along the way? The Potomac Water Taxi connects Washington's bustling new Wharf development to three different locations: Georgetown, Old Town Alexandria in Virginia, and National Harbor in Maryland. These bright yellow boats depart throughout the day and are an easy, non-committal way to drift along seeing the sights (instead of booking a dinner cruise, for example). Two routes (Alexandria to Georgetown and the Wharf to Georgetown) offer an accompanying audio tour if you download the City Experiences App. Otherwise, relax and enjoy the ride.
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