Washington, DC, has over 70 unique museums to explore, with many of the most popular belonging to the Smithsonian Institution.
With so many options, I decided to rank the top museums in Washington, DC, focusing on the Smithsonian museums.
In addition to the Smithsonians, you'll find some off-the-beaten-path and unique museums.
- Smithsonian Museums
- Other Museums
- List of Museums Open Late, Kid-Friendly, Free & Unique Options
- Advice from Locals & Visitors
- Guided Museum Tours
What Do We Know about Museums in Washington DC?
Literally, everything. I bring groups and visitors to museums around Washington, DC daily.
DC by Foot offers guided museum tours of select museums.
Guides know the best way to avoid the crowds, get through security, and the stories behind the exhibits.
As a homeschooling parent, I use the museums in DC to help educate my children (check out our adventures on our YouTube Channel and Instagram).
All our advice on the Best Museums in DC comes from decades of visiting them ourselves and from discussions in our 75K+ member-strong DC Travel Tips Facebook Group.
SMITHSONIAN MUSEUMS
When people think of museums in DC, they think of the free Smithsonian museums.
Here are all the Smithsonians ranked by popularity, using the Smithsonian's records of visits last year.
- Air and Space (National Mall)
- Natural History Museum
- American History Museum
- National Zoo
- National Museum of African American History & Culture
- Air and Space (Udvar-Hazy)
- American Art Museum
- National Portrait Gallery
- Hirschhorn Museum
- American Indian Museum
- Freer Gallery of Art
- Renwick Gallery
- Asian Art Museum
- National Postal Museum
- African Art Museum
- "The Castle"
- Anacostia Community Museum
Most Smithsonian Museums do NOT require tickets; you can enter at your leisure. So, which Smithsonians require tickets?
- Only NMAAHC, Air and Space (Mall location), and the National Zoo require tickets.
There isn't just one Smithsonian. There are nearly 20 Smithsonian Museums, including the Smithsonian Castle, art galleries, and a zoo.
The Smithsonian Institution operates various museums, and while they are all free, some require timed tickets. I'll go over that below, as well.
Below is a list of all the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, DC, starting with the most popular ones and briefly highlighting each.
The Smithsonian Museums are open from 10 am to 5:30 daily (except Dec 25) with a few exceptions, which I have noted in the descriptions.
We offer guided tours of Smithsonian Museums to ensure you get the most out of your visit.
For other free things to do in DC, check out our master post.
All of the locations in the Washington D.C. area are free to visit.
Some, however, do require timed tickets due to high demand.
The National Zoo, the Air and Space Museum’s National Mall location, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture require free-timed tickets.
The most popular Smithsonian Museum depends on who you ask. There seems to be no definitive answer.
We've included our six favorite Smithsonian Museums in the boxes below, but you can read about every Smithsonian as you continue down the page.
A few short answers on the best Smithsonian Museum for specific groups.
BEST SMITHSONIAN MUSEUMS IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE DAY
Honestly, I can't answer this for YOU, but I can give you a few words of advice.
You may choose to skip the Zoo or Natural History Museum if you have similar museums near your hometown.
- Our Zoo is awesome, but it is not significantly better than other zoos if you have one near you (especially until the Panda's return in Fall 2025).
- There are also other great Natural History Museum around the country/world (think NYC, London, I'm partial to the one in North Carolina!)
- The American Indian Museum is a personal favorite, but it also has a location in NYC.
If you aren't interested in Air or Space, you can skip the location on the National Mall.
Though if you have a way to get there and time in your schedule, the Udvar-Hazy location of Air and Space is fascinating even for those of us who don't care so much about that topic.
There are few places in the world that can compete with American History or the NMAAHC.
If you only have one day, aren't interested in Air and Space, have a Zoo and a Natural History Museum near you - go visit American History & NMAAHC!
BEST SMITHSONIAN MUSEUMS FOR KIDS
According to my 7-year-old, these are the best Smithsonian for kids. They all have kids' sections, scavenger hunts, and more.
OVERWHELMED? We offer private Smithsonian museum tours to small groups of American History, the National Gallery of Art, Natural History, National Archives, Air and Space, and the National Portrait Gallery! Find out more.
What is the Smithsonian Institution?
The Smithsonian Institution, often referred to as The Smithsonian is a group of museums, education, and research centers.
It is named in honor of James Smithson, a British scientist who was the founding donor and who, ironically, never visited the United States.
It is the largest such complex in the world.
Formed in 1846 by the U.S. government, it is separate from the three branches of government.
Much of its budget comes from the federal government, allowing all D.C. locations to remain free to visit.
The Smithsonian slowly expanded over the 1800s and early 1900s. For a long time, it was considered “the nation's attic” and perhaps a bit stuffy.
In the 1960s, there was a move to modernize and popularize museums, redesigning exhibits, expanding their reach, and leading the way to becoming must-see destinations for visitors nationwide and worldwide.
There are more than 19 museums in the Washington, D.C. area, plus the National Zoo, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution.
Two more museums are planned for the near future - the National Museum of the American Lation and the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum (National Museum of Women's History)
There are also two Smithsonian museums located in New York City.
Smithsonian Castle
- ADDRESS: Located on the National Mall (Independence Ave side) Address: 1000 Jefferson Dr. SW, Washington, DC 20560
- OPEN: As of Jan 2025, this remains closed for renovations.
- Free and No Tickets Required
The Smithsonian Institution Building (or Castle) is the original Smithsonian Museum.
Finished in 1855, it was built with money gifted by Henry James Hungerford, who inherited the fortune from his uncle, a British scientist named James Smithson.
The money was to go towards creating something "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge."
After much debate in Congress, the money was finally channeled into the creation of the Smithsonian Institution.
The building is impossible to miss on the National Mall, and it is a great place to start your exploration of the Smithsonian, with highlights from each of the other museums' collections.
African American History and Culture Museum
- ADDRESS: Located on the National Mall ( Constitution Ave side) |1400 Constitution Ave., NW
- OPEN: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday | 12 to 5:30 p.m. Monday | Closed Dec. 25
- Free, but Tickets Required
- Guide to the African American History and Culture Museum.
This newest addition to the Smithsonian Museums still requires a ticketed entrance.
Tickets are released at 8 am each day for the next month, 30 days out (so on May 26, you can book tickets for June 25.)
They book out within the first few minutes!
You can get same-day tickets to the museum by checking online at 8:15 am
This museum focuses on the African American experience and begins its exhibits back to the slave trade era through today's experience.
American History Museum
- ADDRESS: Located on the National Mall ( Constitution Ave side) | 1300 Constitution Ave., NW
- OPEN: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily | Closed Dec. 25
- Free and No Tickets Required
- Guide to the American History Museum.
This museum highlights the events and cultural phenomena that have shaped American history.
You can see the original Star-Spangled Banner that inspired our national anthem, Julia Child's kitchen, the First Ladies' Inaugural gowns, and so much more.
Natural History Museum
- ADDRESS: Located on the National Mall ( Constitution Ave side) | 10th and Constitution Ave., NW
- OPEN: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily | Closed Dec. 25
- Free and No Tickets Required
- Guide to the Natural History Museum
This Smithsonian is all about the natural sciences.
There is an oceanic exhibit, a mammals exhibit, a minerals and gemstone exhibit that showcases the cursed Hope Diamond, and a Bone Hall with all sorts of skeletons and dinosaur fossils.
Air And Space Museum
- ADDRESS: Located on the National Mall ( Independence Ave side) | 6th and Independence Ave SW
- OPEN: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily | Closed Dec. 25
- Free and Tickets Required for National Mall location
- Guide to Visiting the Air and Space Museum
The Air and Space Museum has two locations- one on the National Mall and the other by Dulles Airport.
Our Guide to the Air and Space Museum highlights and compares both to help you better decide.
Both celebrate flying and space travel and are considered two of the most popular Smithsonian Museums.
Only the National Mall location requires tickets. Though timed tickets are required, they are free.
The Air and Space Museum releases tickets in chunks. Same-day tickets are released online at 830am and 1230pm daily. The following were the dates for last year. For the year 2025 the dates are to to be announced.
| Release Dates | Available for Reservation |
| Friday, April 26, at 12:00 pm ET | Saturday, June 1 - Monday, July 15 |
| Friday, June 14, at 12:00 pm ET | Tuesday, July 16 - Saturday, August 31 |
| Friday, July 26, at 12:00 pm ET | Sunday, September 1 - Tuesday, October 15 |
| Friday, September 13, at 12:00 pm ET | Wednesday, October 16 - Saturday November 30 |
| Friday, October 25, at 12:00 pm ET | Sunday, December 1 - Wednesday January 15 |
| Friday, December 13, at 12:00 pm ET | Thursday, January 16 - Friday, February 28 |
American Indian Museum
- ADDRESS: Located on the National Mall ( Independence Ave side) | 6th and Independence Ave SW
- OPEN: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily | Closed Dec. 25
- Free and No Tickets Required
Step back into America's roots with the American Indian Museum.
Often overlooked, it is home to one of the world’s most extensive collections of Native objects, photographs, and media from the entire Western Hemisphere.
It's hard to miss this building with its unique curvilinear design evoking a wind-sculpted rock formation.
The museum is also a cultural destination. Its Mitsitam cafe serves a menu of seasonal, gourmet Native American fare well worth checking out.
Smithsonian Art Museums & Galleries
DC has several art museums to suit various tastes. The ones below are part of the Smithsonian, but we have a guide to all of DC's art museums here.
National Portrait Gallery & American Art Museum
- ADDRESS: 8th St NW & G St NW (Chinatown-Gallery Place Metro)
- OPEN: 11:30 am - 7:00 pm | Closed Dec. 25
- Free and No Tickets Required
One building with two museums!
This is the nation's first collection of American art and is home to one of the world's largest and most inclusive collections of American art.
The National Portrait Gallery balances traditional and contemporary art exhibits and is best known for housing the most extensive collection of presidential portraits outside the White House.
National Museum of African Art
- ADDRESS: on the National Mall at 9th & Independence Ave SW (Smithsonian Metro)
- OPEN: 10:00 am - 5:30 pm | Closed Dec. 25
- Free and No Tickets Required
This is the only national museum in the United States dedicated to the collection, exhibition, conservation, and study of the arts of Africa, and the exhibits expand all of Africa in their examples of traditional and contemporary art.
Freer Gallery of Art & National Museum of Asian Art
- ADDRESS: on the National Mall at 12th & Independence Ave SW ( Smithsonian Metro)
- OPEN: 10:00 am - 5:30 pm | Closed Dec. 25
- Free and No Tickets Required
These are the Smithsonian's two Asian art museums.
Hirshhorn Museum
- ADDRESS: Independence Ave SW &, 7th St SW (L'Enfant Plaza Metro)
- OPEN: 10:00 am - 5:30 pm | Closed Dec. 25
- Free and No Tickets Required
If you love contemporary art, this one's for you. The cylindrical building is impossible to miss, houses unique contemporary art, and includes a sunken sculpture garden.
Renwick Gallery
- ADDRESS: 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue NW #1 (McPherson Square Metro)
- OPEN: 10:00 am - 5:30 pm | Closed Dec. 25
- Free and No Tickets Required
This museum is located across from the White House and houses contemporary art.
It is also the first building in the United States to be built specifically as an art museum.
National Zoo
- ADDRESS: 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW
- OPEN: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (Mar. 15–Sept. 15) | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (Sept. 16–Mar. 14) | Closed Dec. 25
- Free, but Tickets Required
- Guide to Visiting the National Zoo.
The National Zoo is a great way to spend a beautiful day outside. It's probably best known for its giant pandas, but it also has a multitude of other animals.
The zoo's hours vary from those of the other Smithsonian museums. In the summer, it is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and even later, until 6 p.m.
Entrance to the National Zoo requires timed tickets, and parking passes must also be reserved in advance.
Passes open on a rolling basis four weeks in advance. Some same-day passes are available at the gate.
While tickets are free, there is a fee to park at the Zoo lot.
The zoo also hosts a number of after-hours events, such as Brew in the Zoo and sleepovers, which you can check out on its website.
Since the zoo is situated away from the National Mall and the other Smithsonians, here are a few other things to do in that area:
- Visit the National Cathedral.
- Explore Embassy Row.
Postal Museum
- ADDRESS: 2 Massachusetts Ave., NE (right next to Union Station)
- OPEN: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily | Closed Dec. 25
- Free and No Tickets Required
This museum is located next to Union Station and offers a walk through the postal service's history.
See how mail delivery evolved through the decades and view the world's largest collection of stamps and philatelic material.
This includes vehicles that delivered mail, mailboxes, and postal material used before stamps.
Anacostia Community Museum
- ADDRESS: 1901 Fort Place, SE in the Anacostia neighborhood
- OPEN: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily | Closed Dec. 25
- Free and No Tickets Required
If you find yourself across the river, the lesser-known Smithsonian focuses on the impact of social issues on urban communities.
You can wander through the exhibits, which explore different aspects of urban community life, such as environmental change, gentrification, and globalization.
While getting there may be a bit out of your way, there are still options: free parking is available if you have a car, you can bus from the Anacostia metro, and you can Uber.
Below is a list of other popular museums to enjoy that are not part of the Smithsonian Complex.
We will list admission prices and hours of operation so you can better plan your visit.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- ADDRESS: Located just south of the National Mall. The public entrance is on 14th Street SW.
- HOURS: Daily except Christmas Day and Yom Kippur 10am-530pm.
- Free but Tickets Required
- Guide to Visiting the US Holocaust Memorial Museum
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a must-see on your trip to Washington, DC. It is the United States' official memorial to the Holocaust.
National Archives Museum
- ADDRESS: Located just north of the National Mall. 701 Constitution Avenue, NW
- HOURS: Daily except Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day 10 am-530pm.
- Free & No Tickets Required but available if you want to skip the line
- Guide to visiting the National Archives
If you've seen the famous movie National Treasure starring Nicholas Cage, you know about the National Archives. This building stores the most important and famous documents in America, including the Declaration of Independence.
It is home to, among other things, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, which we call the Charters of Freedom.
You can't miss these bedrocks of our liberties on your visit to Washington, DC.
The National Archives is free to visit, but a small fee can be paid to reserve timed entry, which we recommend during peak season and holiday weekends.
National Gallery of Art
- ADDRESS: Located just north of the National Mall. 701 Constitution Avenue, NW
- HOURS: Daily except Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day 10 am-530pm.
- Free & No Tickets Required
- Guide to Visting the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art is perhaps Washington, DC's most popular art gallery.
While technically not a Smithsonian, it is still located on the National Mall with the others for easy access.
It is also free to the public, and no ticket is required.
The NGA is divided into two buildings: the East Building, which houses contemporary and modern art, and the West Building, which houses more traditional artwork, including the only Leonardo da Vinci painting found in the Americas.
There is also the Sculpture Garden that hosts cool events, like Jazz in the Gardens every summer.
For other art museums, check out the ones in the Smithsonian section
National Building Museum
- ADDRESS: 401 F St NW (Judiciary Square Metro)
- HOURS: Thurs - Mon 10 am-4 pm
- Tickets Required (except to see the Great Hall)
- Guide to Visting the National Gallery of Art
Across the street from the Law Enforcement Memorial is the National Building Museum, dedicated to the history and impact of architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, and design.
It's best known for its Great Hall, which hosts a rotation of really cool exhibitions.
It is free for the public to visit the Great Hall, but most exhibitions require a paid ticket. To learn more about those, click here.
International Spy Museum
- ADDRESS: 700 L'Enfant Plaza SW (L'Enfant Plaza Metro)
- HOURS: Daily | 9 am - 7 pm
- Tickets Required
- Guide to Visiting the Spy Museum
For anyone enthralled by espionage, this is the place to be! The Spy Museum has relocated to L'Enfant Plaza.
It is now more extensive and more accessible by Metro, and a concise walk if you're visiting the Air & Space Museum.
Since this museum is open longer than the Smithsonian museums, it is a great option for later in the afternoon.
Planet Word
- ADDRESS: 25 13th St NW (McPherson Square Metro)
- HOURS: Wednesday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Saturday – Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Guide to Visiting the Planet Word
- Free but Reservations & Donations Recommended
It is a great new interactive museum about the power of words and language.
This museum is located downtown at Franklin Square, not far from the White House.
It is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Museum of the Bible
- ADDRESS: 400 4th St SW (Federal Center SW Metro)
- HOURS: Daily: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
- Tickets Required
Want to know how the Bible has impacted human history? Visit the Museum of the Bible.
The museum, with rare and interesting artifacts spanning 3,500 years of history, was designed to give guests an immersive and personalized experience with the Bible.
United States Botanical Garden
- ADDRESS: 100 Maryland Ave SW (Federal Center SW Metro)
- HOURS: Daily: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed Christmas Day.
- Free & No Tickets Required
- Guide to Visiting the US Botanic Gardens
If you love plants, this is the place for you!
The U.S. Botanical Garden is an incredible place to browse and learn about various plants and flowers.
There are themed rooms, like desert plants and medicinal plants.
It's even home to three corpse flower plants, the largest flower on the planet known for its awful smell when it blooms.
National Law Enforcement Officer's Museum
- ADDRESS: 444 E Street NW(Judiciary Square Metro)
- HOURS: Thur. – Sat., 10 AM – 5 PM Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day.
- Tickets Required
- Visiting Information
The National Law Enforcement Museum houses 300 years of American law enforcement history, including several immersive and interactive experiences.
The latest temporary exhibit, Post-9/11: The Evolution of American Law Enforcement, allows visitors to learn more about the significant changes to U.S. law enforcement in the aftermath of 9/11, including coming together with other agencies, the private sector, and the general public to help make us all safer.
List of Museums in DC
If you're looking for free museums or museums for kids, this list is for you!
Free Museums in DC
Are you planning a trip to Washington, DC, and worried about the cost of activities? Fear not!
You don't have to break the bank or blow your budget to enjoy everything this historic city offers. We have a whole post on FREE THINGS TO DO IN DC.
You can do plenty of exciting things for free - such as visiting one of the many amazing museums in DC.
Whether you're interested in art, history, science, or culture - we've got something for everyone!
Keep reading to find out our top picks for awesome museum
s that won't put a dent in your wallet.
Some of these museums do require free timed-entry passes, however.
- National Gallery of Art
- United States Botanical Garden
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (tickets required)
- National Archives Museum
- White House Visitor’s Center
- Planet Word (though donations are recommended)
- Ford's Theatre (though advanced tickets have a small fee)
- US Capitol Visitor Center
- The Smithsonian Institution
- Anacostia Community Museum
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
- National Air and Space Museum (tickets required)
- National Museum of African American History and Culture (tickets required)
- National Museum of African Art
- National Museum of Asian Art
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of the American Indian
- National Museum of Natural History
- National Portrait Gallery & American Art Museum
- Smithsonian National Postal Museum
- Renwick Gallery
- National Zoological Park
Some of the Memorials on the National Mall and Tidal Basin have museums as well.
- Lincoln Memorial: located in the basement next to the bathrooms
- Jefferson Memorial: located in the basement next to the bookstore and bathrooms
- FDR Memorial: located in the same building as the bookstore at the entrance
- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial does not have a museum, but the Memorial Fund is raising money to build an education center in the future
- Washington Monument Museum is at the top of the monument! Timed tickets are required, and a small fee exists to reserve those in advance.
Museums Open Late
- The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery is ALWAYS open until 7 pm
- Phillips Art Collection is open late on the first Thursday for Philips After 5, a ticketed-themed event.
- The Library of Congress is open late on Thursdays.
- The International Spy Museum is usually open until 7 pm.
- Mansion on O is open until 6 pm and 9 pm on weekends!
- The National Gallery of Art is open late on the second Thursday in Spring and Fall for a party atmosphere with drinks and live performances.
For more things to do at night in Washington DC explore our master post.
Unique Museums in DC
There are many larger museums in DC that you'll also find in places like London and NYC (think Natural History Museum or National Gallery of Art) but we love a small museum that you can only find here in Washington, DC.
- Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum
- President Lincoln’s Cottage
- Woodrow Wilson House
- The Kreeger Museum
- The Mansion on O
- Planet Word
- National Bonsai & Penjing Museum (at the National Arboretum)
- Old Korean Legation Museum
- Dumbarton Oaks Museum
- Hillwood Estate Museum & Gardens
Kid Friendly Museums
For more family-friendly things to do, visit our Things To Do in DC with Kids.
These Smithsonian Museums have special sections just for younger visitors. We go into more detail on each museum's kid's options here.
- National Museum of American History
- National Air and Space Museum
- National Museum of Natural History
- National Museum of the American Indian
- National Postal Museum
Other great museums in DC to visit with kids are:
- National Children’s Museum
- National Building Museum
- Planet Word
- U.S. Botanic Garden
Kids also love these museums and you can get in for free with a tourist pass.
- International Spy Museum
Advice from Locals and Visitors
One way we are able to share our insight into Washington, DC is our Washington DC Travel Tips Facebook Group.
With over 65K members comprised of locals and visitors, our members share advice and up to the minute information!
This is a popular question and hopefully if you've read this far in the post you know which museums need tickets.
Many guests answer that the Natural History, Air and Space, and US Holocaust Museum were their favorite.
Groups members report back some of their favorite museums, especially smaller ones that don't get as much recognition!
Renwick Gallery is a Smithsonian museum that doesn't require tickets! It's right next to the White House.
How long to spend at a museum can be very subjective.
It depends on how much you are interested in the subject. But it can nice to know what other people are doing at each museum.
