10 Top-Rated Things to Do in Washington DC

By Ryan Prudhomme |
|5 min read

Washington DC offers attractions and activities for everyone with exciting things to do that won't disappoint. Washington DC might be the best city in America to visit if you're looking to stick to a budget because it hosts an entire collection of free museums, the Smithsonian. Also, you can visit the White House, watch a Shakespearean play, or take in a show at the Kennedy Centre. To name a few of the activities you can enjoy, here are top 10 things to do in Washington DC.

Pay your respects at the Lincoln Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial stands at the far western end of the National Mall and it was built in the honor of 16th president of United States. This memorial was opened on Memorial Day in 1922, 57 years after the death of Abraham Lincoln. An exquisite mural of an angel of truth liberating a slave, alongside different depictions inside the memorial are reminders of the significant changes with which Lincoln is remembered. A place of motivation and an image of distinction of this extraordinary present, the Lincoln Memorial is the most visited site in this area.

Cherish the memory of heroes at National World War II Memorial

The World War II Memorial was commemorated on 29 May 2004 to honor sixteen million who served in the US military during 2nd World War 2, honoring the more than 400K who died and millions who upheld the war exertion from home. Honor a Veteran – you may experience former servicemen at the memorial. The Honor Flight Network is committed to bringing vets to Washington DC to visit the memorials which honor their service to the United States. These visits are often loaded with feelings and help provide closure to veterans by strengthening the significance of their service.

Get close to president at White House

A visit to the White House can be one of the top things to do in Washington DC during any trip to the nation's capital. The White House was built in the early 1800s to serve as the residence of the most powerful office of the world. If you are interested in attending a public tour of the White House, make your reservation well ahead of your arrival to Washington DC. The tour of the White House permits you to see the dining room, red room, blue room, green room and offers a good photo opportunity from all angles. Overall, it looks very beautiful.

Find your interests at Library of Congress

The well-known largest library on the globe is The Library of Congress. There is a huge collection of books, newspapers, recordings, maps, photographs and manuscripts in the library. The library is used as the main research center of U.S. Congress and U.S. Copyright office. The library is a great source of knowledge to inform, inspire and engage you in your endeavors. It is not just a perfect place to work, study or search for books but you are visiting a beautiful building – beautiful inside and outside.

Enjoy a free visit to Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is the most visited museum in the United States with more than 8 million tourists recorded each year. It is an unquestionable must-see on your things to do in Washington DC list. It has thousands of objects on display including the 1903 Wright Flyer, the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia and a lunar rock you can touch. There are more things to do at the Air and Space Museum with exhibition galleries, the Albert Einstein Planetarium, and the IMAX-large format films projected on screen five-stories-high with digital surround sound. Furthermore, this museum is full of dreams.

Visit Washington National Cathedral on Easter Sunday

Visiting the Washington National Cathedral during a trip is an amazing and inspiring thing to do in DC. It is located just north of Georgetown and it is the sixth largest cathedral in the world. Washington National Cathedral was built using America's 15th Century style of architecture. Its architecture is breathtaking and beautifully complements the superb music and spiritual feel of the place. Their Sunday services are marvelous and it boasts stunning stained glass windows.

Take a walk at National Mall

The National Mall while being the most toured national park in the United States, is where the past, present and future come together. The landmarks and memorials in this park honor American progenitors and legends who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service of this nation. The Mall hosts significant symbols to American history and interestingly designed marvels. Being close to the Lincoln Memorial makes it easy to catch both the memorial and the mall in the same afternoon.

See pandas at National Zoo

It's not all elephants and donkeys in Washington DC. At the National Zoo, tourists can find a wide range of creatures that don't subscribe to party lines. Lions, tigers, giraffes and the zoo's dearest giant pandas are just some of the 2,000 animals that call the 163-acre park home. The zoo's natural Washington DC things to do habitats feature animals from 400 distinct species. Around 25 percent of the zoo's inhabitants are jeopardized. It is just an amazing and beautiful zoo – the giant pandas won't let you get bored. You will find animals all over the world in various exhibits such as Elephant Trails, Cheetah Conservation, and more. All of the animals are cared by world-class zoologists and veterinarians.

Taste the local food

When you visit Washington DC, you'll experience a food scene as brilliant and eclectic as America itself. What to do in Washington DC if you want to eat something? Here are some restaurants which will not disappoint you at all – Lapidus Restaurant, Tony & Joy Seafood, Charlie Palmer Steak, etc. Washington DC's restaurant flavor keeps one thing in common: it's all delicious.

Go for shopping at Washington

One of the excellent things to do in Washington DC is shopping because this city is home to some of most spectacular shopping in the world. In fact, it is fair to say Washington DC's shopping beats shopping anywhere else in the world. Be sure to check out the following:

Crystal City Shop – It is located just outside the nation's capital, from fashion to food, jewelry to beauty products, this underground shopping emporium has it all and serves as one of Crystal City's top goals.

Fashion Center at Pentagon City – This shopping destination has more than 170 stores to tempt your wallet and bank account, you will find high-end stores mixed in with name-brand shops, including Apple and BOSS.

With a plethora of things to do in Washington DC, it doesn't come as a surprise that this city is one of the most visited destinations in the US. Explore this multi-faceted city catering to different types of visitors from history buffs to gourmand, Washington DC is the perfect place to spend a vacation.

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