Free Attractions

Explore DC’s museums, memorials and other attractions without breaking the bank. There are more than 100 free things to do in Washington, DC.

Please note that there is limited access to the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial through spring 2018 while it undergoes a major renovation . During the renovation, the memorial will be surrounded by scaffolding and the loop road and memorial parking will be closed. Pedestrians still have access to...

Visiting the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC

What is the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and where is it? The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is situated on a four-acre site along the National Mall's Tidal Basin, adjacent to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memoria l and shares a direct line of sight between the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials...

Visiting the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC

What and where is the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum? The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is located on the National Mall , just south of Independence Avenue SW, between 14th Street and Raoul Wallenberg Place SW. Its official address is 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, Washington, DC...

Visiting the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC

Planning your visit to the museum The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History opened in 1910 to invoke discovery and education of the natural world. Its green dome and immense size (comparable to 18 football fields) are signatures, as well as the 140 million-plus natural science specimens...

Visiting the Smithsonian Freer and Sackler Galleries in Washington, DC

What are the Freer and Sackler Galleries and how do I get there? The vibrant and colorful world of Asian art is all around at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art , both located on the National Mall and part of the Smithsonian Institution museums . The Sackler Gallery is...

Free Things to Do: Theater & Performing Arts in Washington, DC

There is no shortage of free theater in Washington, DC, from shows with no admission charge to events and concerts. Some of the city’s most prestigious venues offer free opportunities, including the Kennedy Center (most notably, its Millennium Stage), the National Theatre, Ford’s Theatre,...

8 Must-See Monuments & Memorials on the National Mall

According to the American Institute of Architects, half of Americans’ top 12 favorite architectural gems line the National Mall . There’s no denying the significance of the Mall for its symbols to American history and for its uniquely designed monuments. Check them all out here, then it's time to...

Free Things to Do: Family-Friendly Washington, DC

There’s no shortage of free things to do in DC with kids, as well as family-friendly events that won’t cost a cent. From kid-friendly attractions to cool activities that the entire family can enjoy, the nation’s capital is a great destination for a vacation any time of the year. We’ve put together...

Guide to Visiting Arlington National Cemetery

What is Arlington National Cemetery? The Arlington National Cemetery is the country’s largest military cemetery and serves as the final resting place for more than 400,000 military veterans and their immediate family from the fronts of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as World Wars I and II, the...

8 Reasons to Check Out The National Gallery of Art’s Gordon Parks Exhibit

Gordon Parks is a seminal African-American artist, a trailblazer whose 60-year career featured photography, music, film, writing and painting. Parks is often credited with creating the blaxploitation movie genre, influencing countless African-American filmmakers with Shaft , released in 1971. In...