Your guide to ticketed and timed-entry attractions in the nation's capital
While Washington, DC is known for its free things to do, many attractions require timed-entry tickets to ensure a smooth visitor experience. Find out which locations encourage advanced reservations and which charge admission so you can plan a seamless visit to the District.
Free attractions that require timed-entry passes
Select Smithsonian sites and other popular destinations require timed passes to manage capacity and save visitors from waiting in long lines, especially during peak visitation windows such as cherry blossom season.
Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Hours vary by season and timed entry typically cuts off one hour before closing. Animal buildings operate on reduced hours (opening later and closing earlier).
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Timed passes are highly recommended and can be reserved up to 30 days in advance. A limited number of same-day passes are also released online at 8:15 a.m. each morning. Each pass provides a one-hour window to enter the museum.
National Air and Space Museum
Entry times are hourly from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. but may change during peak season. Visitors are able to enter any time within their booked hour. For the National Mall location, the museum releases individual passes two months in advance and is open every day except Dec. 25, generally open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Library of Congress
Timed-entry passes are required for all visitors. A limited number of tickets are released up to 30 days in advance on a rolling basis. Same-day tickets are released online daily at 9 a.m.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
Timed passes are required to enter the permanent exhibition. Passes are available online three months in advance and same-day passes are released daily beginning at 6 a.m. A small service charge of $1 per ticket applies to online bookings. Timed passes are not required for non-permanent exhibitions or for the permanent exhibition from September through February. From January 2027 – 2029, the acclaimed exhibition Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. will be the museum's must-see attraction as it remains open to the public during construction of its new Permanent Exhibition.
Washington Monument
Admission is free but a timed ticket is required. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, available 30 days in advance. A limited batch of tickets is also released at 10 a.m. the day before, and visitors can try the walk-up line for same-day entry. One person may reserve up to six tickets, and all visitors, including children ages 2 and older, must have a ticket.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Admission is free. March through August, visitors must book a ticket for a guided tour in order to see the production floor. These are distributed on the day of your visit, beginning at 8 a.m. until all tours for the day are full. Lines form early and, during peak season, tickets are often distributed by 9 a.m.
Lincoln Memorial Undercroft
Admission is free but a timed ticket is required. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, available 30 days in advance. A limited batch of tickets is also released at 4 p.m. the day before, and visitors can try the walk-up line at the Korean War Veterans Memorial kiosk for same-day entry. One person may reserve up to six tickets, and all visitors must have a ticket.
Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream
Admission to the American Dream Experience is free, but timed-entry tickets are required for all visitors, including those attending the Holodeck Experience. Tickets are released monthly, and advance reservations are recommended to secure your preferred date and time. A limited number of walk-up tickets may be available, and visitors should arrive within 30 minutes of their scheduled entry time.
The People's House: A White House Experience
General admission to The People’s House is free. Advance reservations are recommended to secure your preferred date and time, though limited walk-up passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are released one month before. The museum is generally open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4 p.m.
Planet Word Museum
Timed-entry passes are recommended for Planet Word, with reservations required for visitors ages 2+. tickets for the following month are released at 10 a.m. on the first of each month, while a limited number of same-day passes are available on-site on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, and groups of 20+ must book a group visit in advance.
Ford's Theatre
Timed-entry tickets are required for all visitors to Ford’s Theatre. Advance reservations are recommended and include a $5 convenience fee per ticket. A limited number of free same-day tickets are available at the box office beginning at 8:30 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Access to the historic theatre or museum may be restricted during rehearsals and productions.
Attractions that require paid tickets
You can buy tickets for some of Washington, DC's most popular ticketed attractions at the venue or on their website. This includes popular attractions such as:
Some attractions offer discounts to those who buy tickets online ahead of their visit. You can also explore the city's iconic sights at your own pace with hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tours from Big Bus Tours or Old Town Trolley Tours. Big Bus Tours offers 24- and 48-hour tickets, allowing you to discover the wonders of the National Mall at your convenience. (Use code VISITDC to save.)
Government buildings with advance tour requirements
Touring the White House
White House tours are only available by advance arrangement through your member of Congress. Find your member of Congress and contact information here and submit your request up to three months in advance and no less than 21 days prior to your visit. International visitors who want to visit the White House should contact their embassy in Washington, DC for assistance submitting a tour request. More information is available at whitehouse.gov.
Touring the U.S. Capitol
You can obtain tickets to tour the U.S. Capitol through your member of Congress or via visitthecapitol.gov. Tickets for the general public are available 90 days in advance. Some limited same-day tour passes may be available at the public walk-up line in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Learn more in our guide.
Free attractions and museums that do not require tickets
There are also plenty of attractions in Washington, DC that are open to the public and do not require tickets, including most Smithsonian museums, the National Gallery of Art, the Supreme Court and the monuments and memorials on the National Mall.
However, you may want to check schedules in advance to take advantage of guided interpretive tours, lectures, IMAX movies and other programs that may require special tickets.
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