10 must-do’s in Washington D.C.
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
6. Take a stroll around Tidal Basin Park during cherry blossom season
The peak cherry blossom season here usually falls around the first week of April. Sometimes it’s a bit earlier (for instance in 2026, the bloom occurred in late March). I am so glad that we timed our visit just right to see these beautiful trees. They really add an extra something to the background when surrounding the historic sites.
In Japan, cherry blossoms (known as Sakura), due to their short blooming period, represent the fleeing nature of life. Typically, you only have about a week to see these trees after peak. It’s difficult to plan your trip just a the right time. If you live far away obviously it will be hard to pre plan a flight at the right time. The estimated blooming cannot be predicted more than a week or so beforehand. If you live within driving range, I recommend checking the cherry blossom watch on the NPS website to stay updated.
3000 cherry blossoms were donated by the Japanese in 1912 in honor of their friendship with the US. There are now thousands of trees all around the Capitol Hill region, with an especially high concentration at Tidal Basin Park. As this park features a wonderful view of the Jefferson Memorial, it’s a prime tourist photo spot when cherry blossoms reach their peak.
7. Take a free tour of the Capitol Hill building
The Capitol building, home of the U.S. Congress, is one of the most architecturally gorgeous buildings in the country. Established in 1793, the grand building is now one of the most recognized symbols of American democracy.
Free tours are available by walk in or via advance registration. If you register in advance, you will be taken on a longer more personalized tour. Although the walk in tour does not take you through the Senate and House Galleries (separate passes required), it does include a walk through The Crypt (originally built as a tomb for Washington), the beautiful Rotunda, and the National Statuary Hall. This tour is definitely worth it even if you can’t get in for the specialized tour.
As soon as you begin your tour, you will be taken aback by the gorgeous architecture. The fresco painted on the dome ceiling in the rotunda was completed in 1865 by Greek-Italian artist Constantino Brumidi. This incredible piece of art is known as The Apotheosis of Washington. You will learn more on you tour.
8. Take a tour of The White House
Every President since John Adams in 1800 has lived in The White House (Washington oversaw the construction, although he did not actually reside at the house). This massive space is home to 132 rooms and 35 bathrooms. At 55,000 square feet, it surprisingly ranks as only the 34th largest house in the US! The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, at a whopping 175,000 square feet is the largest (you can tour this one too!).
Although the house is much further back then you would expect due to the huge lawn and gate, it’s still a must to at least snap one quick photo. Tours are available, although you must request your spot at least 21 days in advance (up to 3 months in advance). Tours operate on a first come, first serve basis and are free of charge.
The White House is conveniently walkable from many of the Smithsonian museums, so you can easily incorporate a quick viewing into your schedule. There is a great gift shop (White House gifts) in the vicinity. Here you can find just about anything including tons of cherry blossom and Presidential themed souvenirs.
White House historical info and tour details
9. Explore The Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
The Hirshhorn is an amazing modern art museum, a bit off-the-radar, and thus, does not see nearly as much traffic as the more popular museums. It’s pretty small too, easily visited in just an hour or so, and therefore, the perfect small break in between attractions. After visiting the extremely hectic Air and Space Museum (located just next door), a visit to The Hirshhorn comes really was a breath of fresh air for us. We were tired and a bit frustrated from the crowds, and this hidden gem was a real treat.
The focus here is on contemporary art from the last few decades. Some of the art is a bit odd, and thus, this museum may not be everyone’s cup of tea. However, modern art lovers will definitely want to plan for a stop here. I prefer classic art like impressionism, but still loved taking in all the colorful pieces. Like all other Smithsonians, admission is completely free! There are a number of interesting interactive exhibits – be sure to check out “Pulse.”
The Sculpture garden is what I found really impressive. There are over a dozen unique artistic representations. Currently on exhibit is Yayoi Kusama’s monumental Pumpkin sculpture. Kusama says “Pumpkins bring about poetic peace in my mind. Pumpkins talk to me.”
Also on-site is a nice little cafe which serves excellent espresso and gelato. Treat yourself before getting back on your feet!
Additional info on current Hirshhorn exhibits
10. Tour the history of the US postal industry
The National Postal Museum is an underrated D.C. gem which will take you on an adventure through the history of the U.S. postal industry. Compared to the uber popular museums in town, this museum barely sees any traffic. There is barely any wait to get through security, and the whole experience is really laid-back.
Seeing the diverse variety of postage stamps and the various means of transporting mail throughout the years is a unique experience you will not find elsewhere. I thought this place was really cool even though it doesn’t receive a lot of press.
If you are a stamp collector, you will definitely want to place this museum high on your list. There is a really cool exhibit here where you can view stamps from around the globe. Another exhibit highlights all the popular U.S. stamps used throughout the years – it’s really a walk down memory lane to see old specialty postage like the Breast Cancer Research stamps.
Each stamp truly is a work of art and it’s great that we have a museum dedicated to spotlighting these old treasures. From Elvis, to Martin Luther King, so many cultural icons have been honored throughout the years by way of a commemorative postage stamp.
Learn more about the exhibits at the National Postal Museum
More great museums to add to your bucket list
Here’s a few more to add to your itinerary if you have the extra time.
The National Gallery of Art: The impressive collection includes more than 141,000 paintings, sculptures, and drawings. I really love this museum and probably should have included it on the must-do’s list. This is an amazing place, especially around the holidays with all the poinsettia displays. During the holiday season, I would definitely bump this one up higher on the list.
The Air and Space Museum: Informative, but extremely crowded museum highlighting both the space and aviation industry. Get here early and plan on spending at least a few hours exploring the detailed exhibits.
National Museum of the American Indian: A museum spotlighting the history of native cultures in the Western hemisphere.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: The official US memorial to the Holocaust.
Full list of Smithsonian museums
If you are into quirky attractions
Capitol Hill Books is a must-see for any book lover. This eclectic shop has been a city icon for decades. The space is super small and jam packed with people all the time. You will find some really great books here, including quirky and hard-to-find gems, in addition to the classics. The quirky signs all over the shop really made for the most unique book shopping experience. You will see exactly what I mean if you stop in (the owner really has a sense of humor).
If you love shopping local
The Eastern Market takes place every Saturday on 7th ST S.E., just a few blocks from Capitol Hill. Here you will find unique handcrafted pieces from local artists, as well as locally sourced fruits, produce, and specialty goods. This is a great place to pick up a unique art piece or a few souvenirs. I found a wonderful Washington Monument with Van Gogh’s Starry Night mini art piece with easel. Local restaurants, coffee shops, galleries, and bookshops are all easily accessible from the market.
Daytrips in the vicinity
Georgetown is home to a beautiful quaint downtown, loaded with great boutique shops and local restaurants. The architecture is gorgeous and cherry blossom trees surround the beautiful brick homes every April. Treat yourself to a specialty cupcake at Baked & Wired and then a fantastic Italian dinner at Il Canale.
Arlington National Cemetery – See the graves of President’s William Taft and John F. Kennedy, plus more than 16,000 Civil war soldiers. This cemetery is gorgeous especially during cherry blossom season.
The National Zoo – Located about a half hour outside of the city, the zoo is worth the drive for anyone seeking a break from the museum congestion. The highlight here is the Panda exhibit, being that it is 1 of just 3 US zoos to house these adorable bears, native only to China.
Things to Know
Security procedures are in place at most museums. Prepare to have your bags checked. Some like the Postal Museum, Air and Space Museum, and the American Art Museum also have metal detectors. Note that sharp items like knives and firearms can not be brought into the museums.
Staying in a hotel in the Capitol Hill area will save you a lot of time and money. Even if the hotel costs more, you will save on being able to walk everywhere instead of taking pricey Ubers and Lyfts. Plus, you can get to everything right at opening with the convenient location.
You don’t have to resort to a common chain. While it’s not known as a fabulous food city, we did find a lot of great restaurants. Founding Farmers is an amazing place if you are seeking comfort food (I love their Butternut Squash ravioli!). Hunan Dynasty is a quiet gem: an authentic Chinese restaurant tucked away from the crowds. The food is so good and I love the ambiance.
Winter is actually a pretty great time to plan your visit. There are barely any crowds at this time and the museums are so much more peaceful. Plus, there are tons of extras you can look forward to like garden holiday displays, ice skating rinks, and gorgeous Christmas trees (both the Capitol Hill and The National Tree are so amazing).
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