Tips for Visiting Washington DC

*This post was updated April, 2023
Visiting the Nation’s Capital is a wonderful opportunity to see history come to life, spend time in amazing free museums, and enjoy the view of the monuments that make the city so special. There is so much to see and do, but Washington, DC can often be overwhelming for the first time visitor. This post focuses on tips and tricks to help make the most of a visit to DC. You can read my Guide to Visiting Washington DC page for overall recommendations and information on favorite museums, walking tours, food, and other must-see attractions . And be sure to let me know if you have any other helpful tips to add to the list.

Best Time to Visit the Smithsonian Museums. The Smithsonian Museums are free and awesome, but can often be very crowded. If you have never been to DC, it’s helpful to know which museums are the most popular. The top five Smithsonian museums in DC based on visitation (data through July, 2022) include the National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of American History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian American Art Museum (+ Renwick Gallery), and the National Portrait Gallery. Saturdays are often the busiest day to visit. Allow at least half a day or longer in each museum for the best experience.

Extra Museum Activities for Kids. Before you go, get online and print out select pictures from the museum websites, glue them onto index cards, and challenge your kids to be the one to find them in each museum. It’s a cheap scavenger hunt that is sure to keep them entertained. Or buy postcards from the museum shop before you start your tour. Finally, don’t forget to stop by the front desk at each museum to see what other resources are available for kids and families.

Head Outside in Between Museum Visits. Break up your museum visits with some outside activities on the National Mall. You can download different Junior Ranger books or pick up a copy from a Park Ranger. There are some great scavenger hunt-type activities that kids can do related to all the nearby Memorials. Visit the National Park website to find Junior Ranger Programs in DC. Also, depending on the time of year and the weather, the area near the Washington Monument is a great place to fly a kite!

Plan Ahead. It’s definitely worth the small convenience fee to reserve tickets online for some of the more popular attractions. At the National Archives, reserve tickets ahead of time, and then skip the outside line (which is almost always wrapped around the block during tourist season). Same is true for Ford’s Theatre, where it’s worth the small convenience fee to get tickets ahead of time or risk not getting in. Again, spending some time on-line before you visit may save you hours of waiting in line.

Look for Deals. You are probably wondering if it is worth paying admission for attractions when there is such a variety of free museums around the city. I would definitely consider visiting at least one of the paid museums like the International Spy Museum or the National Geographic Museum. Check online for deals, possibly through a site like Groupon. Try to get on their mailing list several months before you go.

International Spy Museum - Tips for Visiting Washington DC

Take Advantage of Metrorail With new Metro stations in Northern Virginia, there are more options than ever for hotels if you don’t want to stay in the city. For certain attractions, such as the National Zoo, taking Metro is definitely your best option. It will be helpful to visit the Metro website before you come to town to become familiar with the system and to find out the latest delays and track closures. The lines are all color coded and the maps are pretty easy to read. Keep in mind that kids four years or younger ride free (up to two per paying adult). And as a local, I will tell you that if you are heading to the National Zoo on Metro, get off at the Cleveland Park station so that you don’t have walk half a mile uphill (important if you are pushing a stroller!).

Read Reviews. When we travel, I rely heavily on online reviews, particularly from my favorite review site Tripadvisor. To me, it’s essential for hotels, restaurants and paid attractions. There is nothing worse than spending a ton of money only to have a bad experience.

There IS an App for That. In today’s technology driven world, there are so many helpful apps for the family traveler. It’s might be a good idea to download one or two apps ahead of time to make your visit run more smoothly. Check out the National Park Service app to start. It contains helpful information for the National Mall and Memorial Parks.

Try This Not That. Don’t want to deal with the crowds on the Tidal Basin to see the Cherry Blossoms? Head to the National Arboretum instead. Can’t get tickets to the top of the Washington Monument? Visit the observation deck in the Old Post Office Tower to take in an amazing view of DC. The National Park Service is on site to answer questions.

Other Helpful Hints. Here are a few more tips that you might find helpful.

Bike Riding on the National Mall: There are a number of Capital Bikeshare locations around the Mall and along Constitution Avenue. Any of these would be great spots to rent a bike if you just wanted to pedal around the National Mall for an hour and you can check on-line to see how many bikes are available.
Parking: If you are driving, especially during the week, consider using a parking website like Spot Hero to save money on parking. I’ve used them a number of times and have saved a bit on parking in both DC and NYC. Finding street parking can be challenging. The DC Circulator offers a National Mall bus route as an option to get around.
If you can’t get tickets ahead of time for the new National Museum of African American History & Culture, you might have luck finding same day entry passes online. Check the website at 8:15 a.m. each morning, as time slots are released for the day.

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