Attractions
The bustling and exciting city of Washington DC boasts a number
of must-see attractions. Visitors will love the iconic statues,
buildings and museums that have become synonymous with Washington
DC and have made regular appearances in TV shows and movies.
Visit National Mall, the place where Martin Luther King Jr made
his legendary
'I Have a Dream' speech, marvel at the
Washington Monument, have your picture taken outside the White
House, and see the Capitol Building. The Lincoln Memorial is a must
for history buffs, as is the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Culture
lovers will enjoy the National Gallery of Art and kids of all ages
will love the International Spy Museum. Another popular attraction
on any tour of Washington DC is a drive along Embassy Row.
Visitors should purchase the Washington DC Power Pass, or
VisiTicket, which entitles the bearer to admission to many of the
top Washington DC attractions and is available in one, two, three
or five-day durations. The cost of the pass starts at $27 per day.
However many of the best things to see in Washingto DC, including
the Smithsonian Museums, the National Archives, and Ford's Theatre,
are free to the public, making sightseeing in Washington DC a very
affordable activity.
National Mall
Extending for over two miles (3km) from the US Capitol to the
Potomac River, the tree-lined grassy strip known as the National
Mall is the central hub of tourist activity in the city, containing
many of Washington DC's most famous attractions. It is...
see full detailsUS Capitol
The heart of American government is also Washington DC's most
prominent landmark, the US Capitol, sited on the top of Capitol
Hill, with its giant white dome visible from all over the city. It
is one of the city's top tourist attractions, as...
see full detailsWhite House
The White House has been the private residence and
administrative headquarters of every President of the United States
since 1800. Today an American flag flies over the house whenever
the president is in residence. Situated at the edge of the National
Mall, the palatial...
see full detailsWashington Monument
In recognition of his leadership in the fight for American
independence, George Washington earned the title 'Father of the
Nation', and was the first president of the United States. The
Washington Monument was built in memory of this great leader. As
the tallest structure...
see full detailsLincoln Memorial
The grandiose Lincoln Memorial is a tribute to the 16th US
president who preserved the Union during the Civil War and ended
slavery. It also serves as a Civil War memorial, symbolising the
ideas of Freedom and American Democracy. The use of classical
architecture,...
see full detailsFederal Bureau of Investigation
Officially named the J Edgar Hoover FBI Building after its
notorious long-time director, the ugly concrete structure is
headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Public tours
have been suspended indefinitely, but were once the most popular
attraction in Washington, DC. Guided tours took...
see full detailsNational Gallery of Art
Two buildings, the West and East Wings, make up the visually
stunning National Gallery of Art that is the most popular art
museum in North America. Together they house one of the world's
leading collections of Western paintings, graphics and sculptures
from the Middle...
see full detailsUS Holocaust Memorial Museum
One of the city's best museums, but also the most disturbing, is
the US Holocaust Memorial Museum that hauntingly commemorates the
discrimination and murder of millions of Jews by the Nazis between
1933 and 1945. The permanent exhibition is divided into three
floors, starting...
see full detailsFord’s Theatre
On April 14th, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated
while watching a performance at Ford's Theatre in Washington DC.
His killer, an actor named John Wilkes Booth who sympathised with
the Confederates in the ongoing Civil War, then jumped to the stage
and shouted...
see full detailsNational Archives
While looking at papers may sound dull compared to Washington
DC's exciting museums, the National Archives is one of the most
popular attractions, housing priceless documents from US history,
including the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the
Constitution, the Emancipation Proclamation, and...
see full detailsWashington National Cathedral
One of the largest cathedrals in the US, the Washington National
Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and
Saint Paul, is a magnificent Neogothic structure standing 301 feet
(91m) tall. The interior of the cathedral is just as grand,...
see full detailsKennedy Center
One of the most prestigious performing arts centres in the US,
the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is also its
busiest, hosting roughly 2,000 performances each year for an
audience totalling nearly two million people in its eight separate
performance halls....
see full details
