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Budget Travel

With more than 100 free and almost free things to do (including visiting our 15 Smithsonian museums plus the National Zoo), plus great hotel rates, Washington, DC's is the budget-concious traveler's dream.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Guide to 100 Free (and Almost Free) Things to Do in DC
Put away your pocketbook! No other city offers as many fun, free attractions to fill your days.
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DC's most recognizable monument, the Washington Monument, stands at the top of the National Mall. A host of visitors, school groups, joggers and locals live in its shadow every day.
Washington, DC on a Budget
Read our guide to attractions, hotels and restaurants that meet your bottom line.
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The elephant in the National Museum of Natural History's rotunda is one of the largest land mammals on record.
Visiting the Smithsonian Museums
Explore 15 museums, plus the National Zoo -- all free of charge!
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DC Travel Inspiration

Trip Ideas

Eastern Market hosts permanent fresh food vendors, a flea market and a farmer's market, one of the city's largest, on weekends. Market Lunch, a hot-food counter inside, serves terrific crab cakes and blueberry pancakes.
Washington, DC Farmers' Markets
Sample the flavors of the season at DC's farmers' markets, where you'll find food and entertainment.
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Known for its sweeping views of the Potomac River, Watergate and National Mall, the Kennedy Center's stern exterior belies a lively performance center boasting free daily concerts on the Millennium Stage at 6 p.m.
100 Free Things: Theater and Performing Arts
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Celebrity clientele at this U Street food staple include Barack Obama and Bill Cosby, but it's the half smokes at Ben's Chili Bowl that have kept it in business for more than 50 years.
100 Free Things: Restaurants, Food & Wine
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A bike tour is one of the best ways to get the lay of the land and see DC's most iconic buildings, like the U.S. Capitol.
Family-Friendly Tours in Washington, DC
By foot or by water, on two wheels or four, families can tour all of DC's iconic attractions.
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Jaleo by José Andrés opened in DC's Penn Quarter in 1993 and quickly became a staple of the neighborhood. Known for its tapas and paellas, the restaurant underwent a stylish redesign in 2012.
DC Dining for Families
Whether a fancy sit-down dinner or a quick bite from a food truck, DC's got what you're craving.
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Washington, DC is a city in bloom during the spring's National Cherry Blossom Festival. A bike tour around the Tidal Basin is a great option to experience the blossoms.
Outdoor Activities in Washington, DC
Between hiking, biking, boating, running or Segwaying, you'll get plenty of fresh air in DC.
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DC's most recognizable monument, the Washington Monument, stands at the top of the National Mall. A host of visitors, school groups, joggers and locals live in its shadow every day.
100 Free (and Almost Free) Things to Do in DC
Put away your pocketbook! No other city offers as many fun, free attractions to fill your days.
read now
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum holds the world's largest collection of aircraft and spacecraft. To display so many treasures, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center opened in 2003 in Chantilly, VA.
Visiting the Smithsonian Museums
Explore the world-renowned museum and research complex of 15 museums and the National Zoo in DC.
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One of the most iconic shots in all of DC, it's not hard to take advantage of this photo op yourself. It was taken from across the Memorial Bridge.
Washington, DC on a Budget
DC equals budget-friendly: monuments out in the open, free museums and safe public transportation.
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